Cheney dogged again

[BigV]

Vice President Dick Cheney is receiving some very harsh criticism again. The former chief of staff to Colin Powell has suggested that Cheney's behavior could be criminal. Well, that understates the issue somewhat.

Some quotes, from Yahoo:

The Nation -- Larry Wilkerson, who was chief of staff to Colin Powell at the State department, is in the news again. He first made headlines several weeks ago by accusing Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld of running a "cabal" that seized control of national security decision-making in the Bush administration prior to the Iraq war. This Tuesday, he's in the news for blasting Cheney for pushing for an anything-goes policy when it comes to detainees held by US forces. Asked during a BBC interview if he believes Cheney is guilty of war crimes for shoving aside the Geneva accords and pushing for harsh treatment (perhaps torture) of detainees, Wilkerson replied,

Well, that's an interesting question. It was certainly a domestic crime to advocate terror and I would suspect that it is--for whatever it's worth--an international crime as well.

And from my hometown paper:

LONDON -- A former senior U.S. State Department official says he has come to doubt whether President Bush's administration presented an honest intelligence case for the war in Iraq.

"You begin to speculate, you begin to wonder - Was this intelligence spun? Was it politicized? Was it cherry-picked? Did in fact the American people get fooled? I'm beginning to have my concerns," Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff for former Secretary of State Colin Powell, said in an interview broadcast Tuesday.

Read the transcript of the interview for yourself.

[Happy Monkey]

"You begin to speculate, you begin to wonder - Was this intelligence spun? Was it politicized? Was it cherry-picked? Did in fact the American people get fooled? I'm beginning to have my concerns,"

Unless this quote is years old, he's a little late to the party.

[Tonchi]

There is ample reason for him to speak a lot more strongly than this. After all, his boss was made the biggest patsy of the game. Powell put his reputation and his honor on the line when he spoke before the United Nations in favor of invading Iraq, and the information he had been given was bogus

[tw]

Originally Posted by Tonchi

Powell put his reputation and his honor on the line when he spoke before the United Nations in favor of invading Iraq, and the information he had been given was bogus

I remember exactly where I was as I watched Powell give that speech before the UN. I remember exactly my response as he made his points. First, it was obvious why Powell spend so many days (was it 4 or 6?) in the CIA searching for sufficient facts. No reliable fact could be found. I specifically remember how bad I felt for this man, Powell. A man I had so much respect for. I remember saying, well, his wife already said he cannot run for president. Therefore this speech would not be used against him. But I specifically remember feeling so sorry for Powell who was put into that position.

Later I learned why Powell had to give that speech - as a result of a private dinner between Powell, George Jr, Condi Rice, and a fourth party (name forgotten). Once it was clear that George Jr intended to invade Iraq, then Powell had to insist he first make that speech before the UN. He did so because Powell's principles are the good soldier.

If Powell had known how much was based upon lies, would he still have insisted on making that speech? He cannot say so publically since to do so would violate his fundamental principles of a good soldier. He cannot and will not say whether George Jr was lying or not. But I wonder, deep inside, how much Powell regrets that dinner.

[Tonchi]

I would bet that Powell regrets ever laying eyes on that weasley dwarf. Having an association with Dubya's MISadministration has torpedoed both the career and the potential of a very fine man, a man which this country could have benefited from in a positive way for many years to come. Now, all he wants to do is get as far away from the traitors to his ideals as possible.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Tonchi

I would bet that Powell regrets ever laying eyes on that weasley dwarf.

After Sec of State, what is left for Powell to do? His wife had already terminated any possibility of president. He was Secretary of State - truly a phenomenal accomplishment. His only regret would be having not been able to perform his job properly. Remember his meandering through the Middle East - everywhere but in Jenin? Mubarak refused to even see Powell saying something to the effect, "What are you doing here? You should be in Israel and the West Bank." But Powell could not do anything. His mission having been sabotaged by other 'Senior White House officials' as soon as he left.

That was Powell's perspective. Mine and your's is completely different.

Thank god Powell was Secretary of State to stop what could have been a shooting war with China over a silly spy plane. Back then, Powell was the only voice of reason. Powell may be the *only* reason we did not threaten a shooting war with China. White House extremists having a political agenda that far removed from reality. I have no regrets that Powell was Sec of State because the consequences were so negative.

It is my belief that most are only and finally realizing how bad this administration has always been. It could have been so much worse had Powell not been there. Unfortunately it takes a sound byte such as, "You're doing a good job, Brownie" before the public will really see facts. Facts such as how dumb this president really is.

[Tonchi]

Powell's original reason given for not running for higher office was that he and his family would be vivisected by the media and the opposition party and it would not be worth having his loved ones terrorized and his honesty questioned constantly, as had been happening to other people such as the Supreme Court nominees. But the fact was that CLINTON had offered him a high position in his administration and Powell chose to stay on the sidelines for EIGHT YEARS while waiting for another Republican administration to come to power. He got his wish, went to work for Jr., and seems to have instantly regretted it. Almost immediately there seemed to be a distinct cooling on his part, and with almost 2 years to go in Jr.'s first term he said he would be leaving. It's my guess that he got too strong a whiff of the putrid business that was being done by that bunch. He could not speak out or denounce them or reveal what he knew. A once honest and honorable man sat there and sold out his principles for politicians. I'll bet Powell felt dirty all over even being near Dubya

[Elspode]

Bush may be a lying hypocrite, a Right Wing moron, a theocratic despot and the puppet of his masters, but at least he isn't having unscrupulous sex. That's what is *really* important, and if this country wasn't filled with sinning Sodomites, everyone would realize it. Indiscriminate, out of wedlock sex is responsible for everything from global warming (not that it exists, but I'm just saying...) to outsourcing of labor, and it is high time we stopped it. It is naughty in the sight of God, and we are being punished.

It is the teaching of holy Biblical Truths, obeying the revealed word of Jehovah God, the suppression of embryo murder and stem cell research, and the destruction, once and for all, of the teaching of the false and Godless so-called "Theory of Evolution" that will move this country forward, not jobs, wages, universal healthcare and social programs, or your silly World Peace concepts.

I'm glad we've got that straight. Now, on your knees, then back to work, peasants!

[BigV]

The tree at the Captiol, which has been called the "Holiday Tree" for years, should now be called the "Christmas Tree", according to Dennis Hastert.

This does seem like a step toward the simple truth, and away from pretentious political correctness.

[Elspode]

That's the flip side of the sociological/theological coin in this country. People are just too drawn up in the ass about the wrong things. Call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. Put up a Menorah next to it, and toss in a holly bush with some candles on it while we're at it. It all comes from pretty much the same damn source ultimately anyway.

Just don't shove it down anyone's throat in the process.

[BigV]

I couldn't agree more.

Why does there have to be a "winner"? I don't remember that part in Sunday School. I find it contradictory and sad that someone who is a believer, who has faith, can also feel that the subject of their belief can't fend for themselves. That the evidence that they used to support their belief would be insufficient for anyone following them. Proselytizing has it's place, in the revival tent, in the airport terminal ( ), but there are limits. I just am not cut out to be an Evangelist.

And I don't want my elected representatives doing it either, for any side. I like my religion straight, not with a political chaser.

[tw]

Originally Posted by BigV

The tree at the Captiol, which has been called the "Holiday Tree" for years, should now be called the "Christmas Tree

What happened to the National Menorah and National Budda statue? And where is the tribute to atheists - a stick in the mud?

[BigV]

Another prayer in official settings broughaha.

This one makes sense to me too.

This is not hard, folks. Imagine how you would feel if the prayers were specific enough that you felt excluded. That *your* team was being deliberately left out. Have a little compassion. There are countless ways to remain faithful without this kind of "official endorsement".

We elect these men and women to govern, not to evangelize, one way or another or another. Just stay out of that whole area. If you didn't bring enough for the whole class, then you can't have any, y'know? And there's no practical way to include all so don't include any. Not real tough to understand.

[Happy Monkey]

This is what I don't get about people who feel that religion is "under attack":

Even if they lost every single one of these "battles", it would make no impact on their actual religion. No religion requires that one be led in prayer before beginning lessons. No religion requires that one be led in prayer before legal debates. No religion requires that money be imprinted with the word "God". No religion requires that retail sales be named after holidays. Any religion which requires government endorsement is incompatible with the US.

What they are fighting tooth and nail for isn't the right to practice their religion, it's government and corporate assistance in prostelyzation.

[Elspode]

Christianity, the predominant form which religions take in the US, has what I refer to as the "Evangelical Imperative" as its central theme. This imperatve means that a Christian must constantly attempt to make everyone else into Christians, thus saving nonbelievers from the eternal damnation of Hell. There are no forbidden methods of spreading this doctrine, despite the Ten Commandments, at least, not if the Middle Ages were any indication. The rights of non-Christians are not of any concern to fundamentalist Christians because believers in the one and only God are the sole posessors of Truth, and therefore everything else which is not part of that doctrine is inconsequential and just plain wrong. I'm sorry that I can't explain why all Christian paths are not one and the same since all are Truth, but hey, religion is whacky at best, right?

I use Christianity as my model here, but there are other religions that also demand total surrender of oneself and one's activites and lifestyle to it's tenets. No matter what invisible being which is being revered, it seems to me that any religion whose doctrine officially sanctions shoving itself down the throat of others is eventually going to resort to throwing tantrums and claiming that it is under threat and persecution in order to further its immuatable goal...conversion of everyone.

After all, once everyone is converted, then there won't be any more arguments like prayer in schools or teaching of evolution or allowing women to show their faces in public. All problems will then be solved, one world, under God, with penance and guilt for all. Plus, there's an added bonus...no one will ever have to waste their time and energy thinking for themselves! Your entire existence will be reduced to a simple 50/50 equation - be saved or burn in Hell.

That ought to sound good, so why doesn't it?