A Ray of Light

by Ray McGovernFor those who have doubts about miracles, a double one occurred today. An honest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear program has been issued, and its "Key Judgments" were made public.With redraft after redraft, it was what the Germans call eine schwere Geburt – a difficult birth, 10 months in gestation.I do not know how often Vice President Dick Cheney visited CIA headquarters during the gestation period, but I am told he voiced his displeasure as soon as he saw the first sonogram/draft very early this year and is so displeased with what issued that he has refused to be the godfather.This time Cheney and his neocon colleagues were unable to abort the process. And after delivery to the press, this child is going to be very hard to explain – the more so since it is legitimate.

A Miracle: Honest Intel on Iran Nukes - by Ray McGovern

Ray McCgovern can seem sometimes like an absent minded professor, but I trust his judgments on CIA and intelligence matters.
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The main points of the NIE:

"We judge that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program…

"We assess with moderate confidence Tehran has not restarted its nuclear weapons program as of mid-2007.

"We do not have sufficient intelligence to judge confidently whether Tehran is willing to maintain the halt of its nuclear weapons program indefinitely…

"We judge with moderate confidence Iran probably would be technically capable of producing enough highly enriched uranium sometime during the 2010-2015 time frame.

"We judge with high confidence that Iran will not be technically capable of producing and reprocessing enough plutonium for a weapon before about 2015."

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I think we will learn in the days to come the reason for the delay will have a name - Dick Cheney. So much bullshit from the Bushies, sometimes it's hard to tell whether their that stupid or kicking up dust to fool the American people. Maybe this NIE is why he had to have his pacemaker jump started a while back. In the days to come, the neocons led by Darth Cheney, will be spinning their asses off trying to create all the mischief they can to push Bush into disregarding the NIE and launch the military strikes,on Iran they crave so passionately. Problem is with all 16 intellegence agencies stating their  likely is no Nuke program currently in Iran, what''s a neocon to bomb. But then it's never been about Iran's nuclear weapon ambitions. What they seek is regime change and a chance to vindicate their insane ideology that America's military power can be an instrument of diplomacy to force US hegemony on real and perceived enemies of the west. Bush's statement today that his opinion of Iran hasn't changed is not encouraging.

Ray McCgovern states the situation perfectly.
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Having reached these conclusions, it is not surprising that the NIE's authors make a point of saying up front (in bold type), "This NIE does not [italics in original] assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons."

This, of course, pulls out the rug from under Cheney's claim of a "fairly robust new nuclear program" in Iran and President Bush's inaccurate assertion that Iranian leaders have even admitted they are developing nuclear weapons.

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Just So Long As I'm The Dictator

Email|Print| Text size – + By Charlie Savage Globe Staff / December 1, 2007

WASHINGTON - President Bush this month issued his first signing statement since the Democratic takeover of Congress, reserving the right to bypass 11 provisions in a military appropriations bill under his executive powers.

In the statement, which the White House filed in the Federal Register on Nov. 13 but which initially attracted little attention, Bush challenged several requirements to provide information to Congress.

For example, one law Bush targeted requires him to give oversight committees notice before transferring US military equipment to United Nations peacekeepers.

Bush also challenged a new law that limits his ability to transfer funds lawmakers approved for one purpose to start a different program, as well as a law requiring him to keep in place an existing command structure for the Navy's Pacific fleet.

"The Act contains certain provisions identical to those found in prior bills passed by the Congress that might be construed to be inconsistent with my Constitutional responsibilities," Bush's statement says.

"To avoid such potential infirmities, I will interpret and construe such provisions in the same manner as I have previously stated in regard to those provisions."

By referring only to objections voiced in past documents, Bush's new signing statement struck a less aggressive tone than those he issued during the years when his own party controlled Congress.

In the past, Bush's assertion that he could bypass laws was backed by the invocation of broad theories laying out the scope of a president's power to defy congressional statutes.

In a further sign that the White House adopted a muted tone, the new signing statement also said nothing about two higher-profile provisions in the bill that limit presidential power: One law prohibits the military from using foreign intelligence information that was collected illegally, and the other forbids expending funds to establish permanent US military bases in Iraq.

As lawmakers drafted the bill earlier this year, the White House warned Congress that the illegal intelligence and Iraq-base provisions "impermissibly" infringed "on the president's constitutional authority" over national security and foreign affairs.

But Congress kept the provisions in the final bill and Bush's statement did not mention them.

Analysts said the president's less aggressive tone may be an effort to avoid reigniting a controversy that erupted last year after it came to light that Bush had used signing statements to challenge more laws than all previous presidents combined - including a torture ban. Congress held hearings about signing statements and the American Bar Association called for an end to them.

"They have clearly edited themselves," said Christopher Kelley, a political science professor at Miami University of Ohio who first analyzed the new statement on his blog Thursday. "They've taken out all the rhetoric about executive power."

But Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, denied that there was any "public relations" motive behind the change. Shorter signing statements, he said, are "just easier."

"It's been said," Fratto said. "It's our position and it hasn't changed."

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And wingnuts call Hugo Chavez a dictator.

GI - Expendable Government Issue

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 1st Lt. Elizabeth White-side listened last week as an Army prosecutor outlined the criminal case against her. The charges: attempting suicide and endangering the life of another soldier while serving in Iraq.

Isn't this just awful. A soldier tries to kill herself and instead of the help she needs gets a court martial. When I was in the Army, I saw shit like this all the time.
And I bet the prosecuter and judge claim to be God fearing Christian men.
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"Military psychiatrists at Walter Reed who examined Whiteside after she recovered from a self-inflicted gun wound in the stomach diagnosed her with a severe mental disorder, possibly triggered by the stresses of a war zone. But Whiteside's superiors considered her mental illness "an excuse" for criminal conduct, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post."
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And I wonder what "excuse" these soulless assholes use to call themselves human beings.
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"At the hearing, Wolfe, who already had warned Whiteside's lawyer of the risk of using a "psychobabble" defense, pressed a senior psychiatrist at Walter Reed to justify his diagnosis."
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Awe, yes. the "psychobabble" defense . Take the slacker out back and shoot her. She obviously is a drag on a Godly nation. And for the sake of mental health purity in the military we must erase this stain on America's correctly righteous image as a superpower only with super soldiers. This is what we get for an accountable volunteer military. It gets to create it's own sense of. justice even when it's opposite of what the average civilian would approve.
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"But outside the Pentagon, the military still often deals with mental health issues by relying on the judgment of combat-hardened commanders whose understanding of mental illness is vague or misinformed."
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Herein lies the fault of the military justice system in cases like these and others. The commander of a unit gets final say on all judgments of the military court. Kind of like the Mullah's in Iran.
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"Under military law, Soldiers who attempt suicide can be prosecuted under the theory that it affects the order and discipline of a unit and brings discredit to the armed forces. In reality, criminal charges are extremely rare unless there is evidence the attempt was an effort to avoid service or endangered others."
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"mens rea" or guilty mind is a bedrock principle of American criminal law. It doesn't matter in the military as the commander is the final arbiter on whether or not lt. Whiteside had a guilty mind. I am praying this case gets dropped. What a choice for Miss Whiteside of a dishonorable discharge or being prosecuted for a crime that could give her life in a military prison. I say the only crime here is for the American people to allow such horseshit to exist in their Army with knuckledraggers like the prosecutor, judge, and unit commander involved in this case.

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Gunmen kill at least 20 in Iraqi village

Gunmen kill at least 20 in Iraqi villageBAGHDAD, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A bomb killed one soldier and gunmen killed at least 20 people in two separate attacks in Iraq. The Multi-National Force soldier died Saturday when a bomb exploded near a combat patrol in eastern Baghdad, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, reported Sunday.North of Baghdad, dozens of gunmen Saturday raided the Shiite village of Duwaili, burning homes and killing at least 20 civilians, The Washington Post reported Sunday.Tribal elders blamed the attack on recent U.S. military withdrawals in an area where Iraqi security forces were not ready to assume responsibility for security.

Gunmen kill at least 20 in Iraqi village
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As I noted in a post yesterday, what happens when American troops leave an area they've pacified. Well, this is what happens and there few parts of Iraq where it won't happen. So the question remains. How long do we babysit Iraqi's bent on fighting and killing each other? Would it take 3 years, five, 10-15 years.?

This we won't hear from pro-surge pro-war republicans. Their vision extends to not much more than the length of their nose. And certainly not past next years election. Wingnuts are in a desperate struggle for political survival for the near future and cannot be trusted to do what's best for the country. Their only response is to sling their feces at the "surrender monkey defeatocrats". while rejecting out of hand any democratic alternatives. The "party of faith" is conducting the quagmire in Iraq on a "wing and prayer"  that realty of history in Iraq doesn't exist or is at least different than what it is.

Thirty eight dead GI'S last month. An acceptable level of casualties in America.? Not to most of America who will have a voice in Nov 2008.

 What a pretty pickle American is in, at least maybe until Jan 2009

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By all Means--Purge Away!

What’s needed for a GOP victory in 2008 - A true Conservative CandidateDec 2 at 7:07am by MacrangerI have long said that what the Republican Party needs to revive itself as the party of mention is to purge itself of all the “moss” that has gathered on the “stone” since 2000.To explain we have to go back about 30 years to the last purge.Back in 1974-1975 the President was what would be called a Republican in Name Only, or RINO. That of course was Gerald R. Ford, who passed away this year. Ford was in fact our last true RINO president, after the last president of the Rockefeller wing of the party. He was pro-abortion, tax raising and when it came to being tough on the Soviets he was a disaster.

What’s needed for a GOP victory in 2008 - A true Conservative Candidate by Macsmind - Blog of The MacRanger Show!

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Yes, Macsmind, I think your onto something healthy, wealthy and wise for the Grand Old Party to make it's grand old comeback. As you say, the current times and political landscape is Just like 1976 with another Ronald Reagoon waiting in the wings to sweep the wingnut hordes upward to that venerable "Shining City On A Hill". One question --Are you sure you're not confusing American politics with "The Rapture".?

The 35% of voters who now support the GOP wingnut coalition of the stupids, really needs some more paring down to reach ideological purity. I say throw the commie tax raising abortion loving, war hating RINO's out on their keisters .

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Then a “coup” in 1976 occurred when the “New Right”, conservatives moved to oust Ford for Ronald Reagan as the Republican nominee. It failed, but we didn’t give up. However that “failure” brought Jimmy Carter to the nation and we are still suffering the affects of that disaster. The way to lose to Democrats is not to “out liberal” them, that’s the lesson Ford learned.

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Drat, that damn peanut farmer is causing all the problems in America today.

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"While I both support and admire President Bush the fact is that his eight years have only blurred the lines of conservatism further. His “compassionate conservatism” was really nothing more than big government liberalism, and in retrospect he only adopted a few tenants of conservatism, and in retrospect his presidency might have in some ways been the worst thing to ever happen to our party."
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Everybody knows GWB is nothing but a big fat librul who kilt our party when we wasn't looking. "DAMN YOU JIMMA CARTER"
But Mark Finklestein will have not of it.
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Broder To Republicans: Take McCain-Huckabee

By Mark Finkelstein | December 2, 2007 - 08:09 ET

"A camel is a horse designed by committee." -- ascribed to Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis.

Perhaps the only thing more likely to yield ungainly results than a committee designing a horse is a Democrat designing a Republican presidential ticket. David Broder tries his hand at it in his WaPo column today, "Principles Amid the GOP Pack. The result is a double-humped dromedary known as McCain-Huckabee.
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My God, McCain-Huckabee -- "A double humped Dromedary". I was saying this just the other day, quite easily the most creative wingnut insult of the week.

So what bright wisdom's does the Beltway Oracle have on the GOP Angst in the year of our war 2008 [almost].

# for the those who wonder what's a Dromedary with two humps. Think Humphry the Camel.
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Principles Amid the GOP Pack

By David S. Broder

Sunday, December 2, 2007; Page B07

If the Republican Party really wanted to hold on to the White House in 2009, it's pretty clear what it would do. It would grit its teeth, swallow its doubts and nominate a ticket of John McCain for president and Mike Huckabee for vice president -- and president-in-waiting.

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The wise one never[always] disappoints. It's the dread Dromedary ticket for GOP salvation in 2008.

Further pontifications flesh out Broder's prescription of "pas de deux" for victory.

What will the little children say?

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Secrecy invoked on Abramoff lawsuits [ or how Bushies plan to escape the hoosgow]

StumbleUponSecrecy invoked on Abramoff lawsuitsAdministration Employs New Secrecy Defense in Lawsuits Over Abramoff's White House VisitsPETE YOSTAP NewsDec 01, 2007 16:32 ESTThe Bush administration is laying out a new secrecy defense in an effort to end a court battle about the White House visits of now-imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff.The administration agreed last year to produce all responsive records about the visits "without redactions or claims of exemption," according to a court order.But in a court filing Friday night, administration lawyers said that the Secret Service has identified a category of highly sensitive documents that might contain information sought in a lawsuit about Abramoff's trips to the White House.The Justice Department, citing a Cold War-era court ruling, declared that the contents of the "Sensitive Security Records" cannot be publicly revealed even though they could show whether Abramoff made more visits to the White House than those already acknowledged.

The Raw Story | Secrecy invoked on Abramoff lawsuits

Absolutely hilarious, Abramoff's wingnut crookery is know a matter of National Security. You just can't make this stuff up. Many questions storm the mind as to how Abramoff's visits involved Secret Service secrets. Maybe that creepy outfit Abramoff wore to court was his "double super secret" spy uniform? Or maybe Abramoff was undercover  when he bilked the Indian Tribes out of millions. Think of it, it's perfect, Abram was secretly sniffing out any possible terra plots by those shifty Injun's while picking up a few bucks in the progress. It's all Goviment money anyway, so no harm no foul.

Pathetic no longer describes the Bush administration. I'm not sure any word in the English language  does.

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The Surge-- Folly?

Dozens of gunmen overran a Shiite village north of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 20 people, police said, the latest in a recent spike in attacks in Diyala province, where the U.S. military is rotating some troops out and moving others in.



Last week, a suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint in Diyala's capital, Baqubah, killing seven people, including five policemen. Another suicide bomber blew herself up near a U.S. patrol, injuring seven U.S. soldiers and five Iraqi civilians. On Nov. 18, a suicide bomber killed three U.S. soldier

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Herein lies the problem with Bush's surge. Just the fact of American troops rotating out of Diyala Province while their replacements arrive, provides an opening for increased violence. Al Quaida and the many un-pacified nationalist Iraqi insurgents are not beaten and only need a modicum of breathing space to re-ignite their cause. What will happen when the extra troops in Baquba now begin to be removed starting this month. The victory parades will have to be put on hold and the violence spurred by US presence on Iraqi streets will continue and more Americans will needlessly die. Note to Pro-war wingers--open your small minds and face reality.

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