Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is interested in joining with fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., to introduce legislation related to Biden’s “unity through autonomy” idea for allowing Iraq’s Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to each have a state within one Iraq. Under a “three-state, one country” solution, Brownback thinks Baghdad neighborhoods could be divided between Sunnis and Shiites. “I wish it didn’t have to be that way,” Brownback told ABC News. “But it’s the nature of human history.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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62 Comments
Ok I used to agree with this, however, the polls indicate that the people of Iraq do not want that by a large margin.
What would happen if we divided them, say for a brief period of time to cool things off, with the intent that eventually they WOULD begin to allow crossing overs of regions once everything was calmed down?
Brownback they are already separated in territories, are you stupid?
This is about the ultimate example of “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.”
Yeah, the three dominant factions of Iraq are gonna have to work it out amongst themselves, but they’ve gotta work it out amongst THEMSELVES!
A Western nation imposing borders isn’t gonna work any better than when the Brits carved “Iraq” out of the former Ottoman Empire after World War I.
It’s not gonna be pretty to look at, but the only-est resolution of what’s happening in that part of the world absolutley requires removal of American troops and American influence. Four years ago, just after “Mission Accomplished,” there might have been a chance for Americans to help the locals work out a solution to their thousand-year differences.
But that’s not what we’re left with thanks to the botching of the job by Shrub/Rumsfeld.
Iraqis are gonna kill each other for a while until they work something out. They’ll only work something out once Americans are out of the equation.
The longer Americans stay there, the more Americans will die. The final outcome has been fumbled out of American hands by the incompetence of George WMD Bush.
The Bush regime is responsible for this Iraq disaster and all Republicans including Brownback must accept responsibility as well as they handed Bush a Carte Blanche with no oversight at all. Brownback and all the other accomplices have done enough damage it’s time to let the other party try to clean up the mess. The GOP have been in control since 1994 and it has increasingly grown worse. Now we know why the “other” party was in control for 40 years prioir to 1994 look how wreckless and corrupt the GOP gotten in a mere 12 years of absolutism.
Uneasy Alliance Is Taming One Insurgent Bastion
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/world/middleeast/29ramadi.html?ex=1335499200&en=207e681ac8cbbfa5&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
A reality prospective, yes finally some are putting the fight in a good prospective and seeing that in the long run we are the lesser enemy. No those of Ramadi are not breaking out the long awaited flowers and kisses. The Sunni have not forgotten the fact that they would still be the party of favor if not for the American invading. But at least they are seeing the U.S. and the Sunni in the region have a common enemy and that Al-Qaeda is the greater threat to them.
I have no delusions that once Al-Qaeda is gone from Anbar that the Sunni will not then turn back their attention to those they see are as the foreign intruders that spoil they good thing. But that is for another day for now. As long as we are there, we will help keep the Shiite in check and not allow for them to overrun the Sunni areas.
As is said in this article:“ These sudden changes have raised questions about the ultimate loyalties of the United States’ new allies. “One day they’re laying I.E.D.’s, the next they’re police collecting a pay check,” said Lt. Thomas R. Mackesy, an adviser to an Iraqi Army unit in Juwayba, east of Ramadi, referring to improvised explosive devices.”.
There are still many dogs in this fight, the Sunni, the Shiites, Al-Qaeda and the U.S.The Sunni know that they can keep the U.S. at arm’s length, that the Shiites can be kept out at a distance by the Sunni and the U.S. But first they have to deal with the enemy that is running around amongst them that is Al-Qaeda who is as they see it the other foreign intruders.
This is not up to us to decide. The Iraqis have to decide for themselves what they want.
“U.S. launches artillery barrage in Baghdad” MSNBC
The Jews have taught us how to fire artillery shells into civilians neighborhoods, as they do in Gaza, under the guise or pretence that they’ll hope to hit “suspected” something or others”
Read about it yourself…..unbelievable.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18377300/
Scathing Article by One of the Armys Own — most recent Armed Forces Journal ……..
http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2007/05/2635198
exerpts:
A Failure in GeneralshipBy Lt. Col. Paul Yingling
“You officers amuse yourselves with God knows what buffooneries and never dream in the least of serious service. This is a source of stupidity which would become most dangerous in case of a serious conflict.”- Frederick the Great
…………..The Responsibilities of GeneralshipArmies do not fight wars; nations fight wars. War is not a military activity conducted by soldiers, but rather a social activity that involves entire nations. Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz noted that passion, probability and policy each play their role in war. Any understanding of war that ignores one of these elements is fundamentally flawed.The passion of the people is necessary to endure the sacrifices inherent in war. Regardless of the system of government, the people supply the blood and treasure required to prosecute war.
The passion of the people is necessary to endure the sacrifices inherent in war. Regardless of the system of government, the people supply the blood and treasure required to prosecute war. The statesman must stir these passions to a level commensurate with the popular sacrifices required. When the ends of policy are small, the statesman can prosecute a conflict without asking the public for great sacrifice.
However much it is influenced by passion and probability, war is ultimately an instrument of policy and its conduct is the responsibility of policymakers. War is a social activity undertaken on behalf of the nation;
America’s generals not only failed to develop a strategy for victory in Vietnam, but also remained largely silent while the strategy developed by civilian politicians led to defeat.
“unity through autonomy” is nothing more than relabeling “partitioning” and all the wise men who have reviewed this proposition have nixed it because then Turkey will come after the Kurds. IT also splits the country and does not unify anything. Additonally, the MAJORITY OF THE IRAQI’S DO NOT WANT THIS!!!
IF Sam Brownbutt is involved you can bet it is a dumb idea. And this criticism is from a Republican!
“A Failure in GeneralshipBy Lt. Col. Paul Yingling ”
KEn you are only reposting over and over ONE lt. Col, and you do not recognise the overwhelming number of aremed troops and military leaders thad disagree with this one lone wolf. This is not “truth to power” from your favorite Lt. Col., it is because he was passed up for promotion to a General rank and command. Sour Grapes. Only the left does not know about how the military works, and cannot know things like that.
“America’s generals not only failed to develop a strategy for victory in Vietnam, but also remained largely silent while the strategy developed by civilian politicians led to defeat.”
Substitute “America’s politicians” for “America’s generals”, and you have it right. It was the politicians that decided where, when and who to fight in Viet Nam. I know that for a fact, as we were told certain munitions were not allowed.
It was another war that never should have happened.
“The Jews have taught us how to fire artillery shells into civilians neighborhoods, as they do in Gaza, under the guise or pretence that they’ll hope to hit “suspected” something or others”
Quit blaming the Jews for all that is wrong with the world. They didn’t teach us anything. Did we not do the same thing in WW2 and Veitnam? Did we not, in fact, NUKE the civilian population of 2 Japanese cities? Aren’t the Muslims doing the same thing in Darfur? The Jews are no more evil than the Christians and Muslims are.
Interesting tactic by Brownback.
Augustus Stupidus is leading the GOP straight down a toilet permanently detoured to Baghdad. Looks like Brownback figures the only way to escape the whirlpool is to latch onto a Dem idea, and what better Dem idea than one with an actual Dem attached to it. Link up over Iraq with a well-known Dem mug like Biden and poof yeehaw no more whirlpool for Sam. Er, erstwhile President Sam.
Oh, the Iraqis. Not sure this will work, frankly, although it may yield the quickest way to “peace with honor.” And oh by the way, the majority of Iraqis don’t want it either. Also, as Tyler points out who knows how Turkey and the Kurds would play out.
A speedy resolution to the problem of Iraq is probably necessary for any Republican hoping to win the presidency in the next 8-12 years or so, though.
Sen. Sam “I Am Not Bush” Brownback, R-KS, and intrepid presidential candidate.
Then why don’t you hold them accountable?
Wrong –
Lt. Cols. don’t get promoted to general — Colonels do — I am not a lefty, I’m a moderate, independent and retired from the Air Force ::; — and he won’t get promoted to Colonel now,
He’s not alone in his (military personnel) opposition to the way this war has been conducted:Appeal for Redress, says about 2,000 active duty personnel and veterans have signed a petition calling for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. One of its founders, Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, has said 60 percent of the members have served in Iraq. There are about 1.4 million active-duty personnel in the U.S. military.
Maybe you find this insult to all our soldiers more palatable?:
WASHINGTON – Bill and Georgia Thomas reported they were elated Monday when they met in the Oval Office with President George W. Bush to present him with a Purple Heart.”We were just absolutely bowled over. Without reservation, it was one of the highlights of our life. He was such a gracious host,” Thomas said. “It was just an incredible, incredible experience.”The couple was able to meet with President Bush for about 20 minutes to present him with one of three Purple Hearts that Bill Thomas received during his service in Vietnam.”He said he didn’t feel like he had earned it,” Thomas said, noting the president looked thinner in person than on television.Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.”We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds,” Thomas said.This story is jaw-dropping on all kinds of levels. Consider: Then-Congressman George H. W. Bush used his considerable political power to jump Junior to the top of a list of over 500 applicants for his Texas Air National Guard position as a pilot, despite his receiving the minimum passing score on the pilot entrance aptitude test, and listing no other qualifications. In a 1994 interview, Bush stated that he joined the Guard because “I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes.” After the American taxpayers paid $1 million to train the young aviator, he went AWOL.
The Beagle Dog printed their Profiles in Courage column on page 6 (maybe 4 – I didn’t / won’t buy it — read it at Mickey D’s) that recognized a soldier with a short bio, and listed the casualties for the week there also — I was unable to find a link to it on the Dog’s web page ….
The Beagle should honor those soldiers on Page 1 ….
“O God, our Heavenly Father, we remember before Thee this day,those who laid down their lives in the service of their country.We remember their courage and devotion to the Sovereign and the country they served.We pray that their labours be not in vain but that their spirit may live on in us and the generations to come.We pray that liberty, truth and love may spread over all the world ’til war shall cease to be.We remember our brethren who are in sickness or distress.We remember the widows and other dependants.We dedicate ourselves to Thy service in the name of those whose memory we revere.We ask this in the name of our Lord.” “Amen”
He already was in a Command position —–
“…and you do not recognise the overwhelming number of aremed troops and military leaders thad disagree with this one lone wolf ….”
the article was just published on Friday in the Armed Forces Journal — an overwhelming number have not had time to respond to the article yet … he is not my lone wolf — it’s an article he wrote expressing his opinion, many here would not have seen it …
I don’t have any broad sweeping solutions to the Iraq situation.
But in regard to Brownback’s idea, perhaps he should experiment first in southern California. Sam and his staff could dash through the multi-cultural streets of Los Angelos directing people he meets to immediately move to enclaves reserved for Hispanics, Whites, Blacks, Polish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptians, Kansans, South Americans etc.
When successful, Brownback could then start his program on Iraq’s 26,000,000 or so multi-cultural population.
But better shock and awe them first to get their attention, Sam.
For the AP article here is the Beagle link to it — I don’t remember seeing it in todays paper ….
http://www.kansas.com/525/story/55799.html
Yingling, deputy commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment,
“Several retired U.S. generals have delivered similar criticism, questioning planning for the Iraq conflict as well as the management competence of former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.”
“Retired Col. Douglas Macgregor, a prominent writer on military affairs, endorsed many of Yingling’s views, saying the Army was “grinding itself into pieces while the generals stand by watching.”"So when the post-mortem starts, it should begin with the understanding that through no fault of the soldiers, sergeants, lieutenants or captains, U.S. military performance in Iraq has not been the mythic success the generals encourage the public to believe. Politicians must overcome their fear of seeming unpatriotic,” Macgregor said.”
Any soldier, and their families would probably agree that “Armies don’t fight wars, nations do …. ”
Our NATION is not fighting this war in any way shape or form — less than 2% of the nation is
…… many are in fact profiting by it (notice gas prices are up to 2.89 — if it’s a war for oil, looks like we’re losing that one)…
….. and you can’t blame Cpl. Rock, Lt. Scruffy, Major Snafu …. etc …… blame our politicians —- all of em —-
Bush stated that he joined the Guard because “I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes.” After the American taxpayers paid $1 million to train the young aviator, he went AWOL.
Posted by: ken | April 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Ken this is an interesting quote that I haven’t seen before. Will you give me a link where I can find it or tell me your source.
Thanks
The Kurds who are majority Muslim appear to be doing just fine. Open market places with no bombings or gunfire exchanges. Prosperity and generally a peaceful existence. I guess the influence of those Shufi Muslims are just “cooler” than the Sunni or Shiite. :)
What needs to happen is to stop countries like Iran and Syria from stirring up the internal affairs of Iraq.
I submit those “Colonels” were not worth the lead and powder to blow them up with if they don’t carry out the policies of their Commander-in-Chief and maintain a high level of professionalism including high moral for their troops.
These Colonels, retired or not do not set the policy of the United States or are or were in the position to set the rules of engagement in the respective operating theaters.
There have always been military officers who “thought” they could do better if they were in charge. Some of them yowl about it louder than others. What part of following lawful orders do these “officers” not understand.
Back to Brownback’s idea…it does have some merit, but the flaw in it that not all Iraqis can be labeled into a category. Some are Sunnis married to Shiites, some are Kurds married to Sunnis and so on and so forth. Drawing a line on a map will not solve the problem of insurgencies and terrorists being supplied and ideologically driven from outside of Iraq.
ksgrm,
Take the exact words Ken posted — that’s ALL the words between the quote marks and paste them into “the google.” You get hundreds of hits so you may choose the source for bush’s words. Isn’t it impressive what is available on “the internets”!?
There’s an interesting article in Time about heretofore undiscovered oil, including under Sunni-dominant areas. Maybe this will satisfy all parties.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1614000,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner
Sam’s comments sound an awful lot like admitting defeat in the supposed ‘mission’ to create a unified democratic Iraq.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
NOT!
ksgrm,
Take the exact words Ken posted — that’s ALL the words between the quote marks and paste them into “the google.” You get hundreds of hits so you may choose the source for bush’s words. Isn’t it impressive what is available on “the internets”!?
Posted by: lindainks55 | April 29, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Lindalink you are indeed right about what you can find on the internet. But when I followed your link all I saw was an unsourced quote from an unnamed reporter. I personally prefer to use ‘facts’ that are better supported. Finding anything on the internet is possible but authenticating them are something else.
Thanks for the help anyway.
ksgrm, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t post a link. I only suggested you might try to use “the google.” Maybe you don’t know how to use the google?
This sound pretty well authenticated.
Not just one source, but many are available on the Net. As any male from that era knows, if you could not get a deferment, the Guard was the best way to avoid ‘Nam, but you had to KNOW someone.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4114162/
If this isn’t true, why hasn’t Bush sued for libel. NBC/MSNBC/Newsweek have pretty deep pockets.
Keep in mind that this was reported back in early Nineties, before Bush was a public official, exempt from libel.
Sorry Grm — I thought I had posted the link:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/23/decorated-texas-vet-to-present-g-dub-with-a-purple-heart/
…. it credits The Cove Herald …
“I submit those “Colonels” were not worth the lead and powder to blow them up with if they don’t carry out the policies of their Commander-in-Chief and maintain a high level of professionalism including high moral for their troops.
There have always been military officers who “thought” they could do better if they were in charge. Some of them yowl about it louder than others. What part of following lawful orders do these “officers” not understand.”
……..It was one Lt. Colonel — not Colonels ….
What order was not followed?
He did not say he could do better — he said THEY could have done better.
He was writing in a Professional Military Journal — well respected in the military community —
…. and you miss the point of Nations fight wars — not Armies …. that he reiterated several times ….
WS and Lindalinks I have been gone several days and you hadn’t been around much before then. I am still a conservative who likes to have things proven. Ken thanks for the link. I have heard this ‘interview’ never happened and haven’t seen much to disprove that here.
“In fairness, Bush has been candid about why he enlisted in the Air National Guard. Like many young men of his generation, he wanted to avoid Vietnam. He told one reporter, “I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes.”
“In a 1994 interview, Bush stated that he joined the Guard because “I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes.”
These were the two quotes I found in the links provided. Neither says who the ‘reporter’ is who interviewed him. Reporter are vain creatures and want to be credited with their star interviews. This would certainly have been one of those.
You are ignoring the fact that Bush barely passed the test to be allowed into the Guard and was moved to the head of the line over many other candidates when his father intervened in his behalf. He also was allowed to avoid overseas duty at his request. In other words, he is a chickenhawk.
As I noted, everyone from that era knows that the Guard was the best way to avoid Viet Nam if you could not get a legit deferment.
No, no, no, ksgrm — you shouldn’t be sorry! I took you at your word when you posted to Ken:
—–”Ken this is an interesting quote that I haven’t seen before. Will you give me a link where I can find it or tell me your source.
Thanks”—–
I thought I was helping to suggest google since when I googled what he posted I found HUNDREDS of sources including Newsweek, MSNBC, N. Y. Times. And knowing you would only believe certain sources I thought it a good idea for you to choose yours from those hundreds.
No problem. I see now you only wanted to criticize the sources provided. I won’t ask you to choose your own from several reputable ones in the future now that I know your intent.
Linda I’m not putting you or anyone else down I just know how reporters are. They want to see their name in lights. If you use a quote from a source you give the credit to the source not to an annoymous reporter. No harm meant.
ksgrmand you know so much about reporters how?????
Barf.
“SCOTT SHANE REPORTED in Saturday’s New York Times that former CIA chief George Tenet’s dramatic description in his book, At the Center of the Storm, of an August 2002 presentation at the CIA by defense undersecretary Douglas Feith and his staff, is at the very least misleading. In order to suggest that Feith’s staff was utterly out of its depth, Tenet characterized the main briefer, Tina Shelton, as a “naval reservist.” In fact, she had been a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst for almost two decades. Tenet also claimed that Shelton said in her presentation of Iraq-al Qaeda contacts, “It is an open-and-shut case.” Shelton and Feith both deny she said that. One person who served in government with Shelton told THE WEEKLY STANDARD today he finds it “inconceivable” that Shelton, an experienced analyst, would have made such an unequivocal assertion.
THE WEEKLY STANDARD has now learned of a second, more stunning error in Tenet’s book (which is due to appear in bookstores tomorrow). According to Michiko Kakutani’s review in Saturday’s Times,
On the day after 9/11, he [Tenet] adds, he ran into Richard Perle, a leading neoconservative and the head of the Defense Policy Board, coming out of the White House. He says Mr. Perle turned to him and said: “Iraq has to pay a price for what happened yesterday. They bear responsibility.”Here’s the problem: Richard Perle was in France on that day, unable to fly back after September 11. In fact Perle did not return to the United State until September15. Did Tenet perhaps merely get the date of this encounter wrong? Well, the quote Tenet ascribes to Perle hinges on the encounter taking place September 12: “Iraq has to pay a price for what happened yesterday.” And Perle in any case categorically denies to THE WEEKLY STANDARD ever having said any such thing to Tenet, while coming out of the White House or anywhere else.”
Dennis, WS, Ken and Kev, this is a real news story and as you can see it has a real reporter named. That is standard procedure and Dennis if you read news you will know that it is either a by lined column or attributed to a source. Without these things it is an unreliable story. You can make up what you want and write about it but that doesn’t make it real.
grm
I didn’t make anything up — all I said was Tenet was being a good capitalist –
…. and I wasn’t quoting any one it was part of the article about Bush’s purple heart —- I just neglected to post the link to the story I read ……..
Ken all I was saying was that I tried to find authentication for that quote and found none. In three different articles where it was used no one ever said who the reporter was. That is not a good source. Bush has made lots of bad decisions but I still feel that he is doing what he thinks is right for the country. If you listened to Meet the Press this morning you will see that many prominent demo were for the war. After it was underway and not going well they are now fishing tailing out. Thats OK if you are not the prez, but a little hard to do when you are the Commander In Chief. It’s always easier to be a monday morning quarterback.
No doubt you think this article is hokey since ” he told ABC news”, no specific source at abc news listed, hence no credibility for the statement being made correcto mundo?
Brownback can always brag about the numerous successes in Iraq with the rebuilding of infrastructure:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/world/middleeast/29reconstruct.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
It’s no wonder New Orleans still is mired in ruins with these Republican buffoons in charge.
Doug,
You should ask Senator Feinstein’s husband about those contracts in Iraq. He got about 3.9 billion dollars worth of contracts handed to him courtesy of his wife.
“Linda I’m not putting you or anyone else down I just know how reporters are. They want to see their name in lights. If you use a quote from a source you give the credit to the source not to an annoymous reporter. No harm meant.”
This is the perfect example of a conservative’s mind being made irrespective of the facts at hand. Arguing with a conservative is like beating your head against the wall: It feels better when you stop.
“Democrats do it, too!”
Isn’t that the most mature counter one has ever heard? – not!
If that is all you got, it’s all you got.
The architects of the new Iraq are going to be the Iraqi people themselves. Our attempts to impose “democracy” on them while blowing them to kingdom come illustrates very clearly that our current administration has no idea at all what our Founding Fathers were talking about and fighting for!SELF DETERMINATION, not Brownnose, Biden, Halliburton and Bush determination, are the key words were looking for here.We have a history of installing and supporting dictators because dictators are quick to grasp which side of their bread is buttered (Saddam was one of those, see). Unfortunately, their excesses breed revolutionaries, just like King George’s did, and they have differing concepts about the application of butter, or in this case, oil.Our role in this fiasco is over. It’s up to the people of Iraq to now design and construct a state of their own making. The best we can do is offer them advice on avoiding numbskulls in positions of power who want to bomb people and things. Then get our culturally ignorant asses out of their country!
Typical of the neo-cons, they only get upset when Democrats do something. Where were the conservatives complaints after five years of reckless spending on war profiteering? The conservatives have no right to talk since they stood by and did nothing after billions were handed out to cronies. So Republican, there is no excuse for your faux outrage. Feinstein resigned from her post, how many Republicans have resigned after giving contracts to their cronies? The answer would be zero. So until your fascists stand up and show some responsibility for your actions you should just shut up and let the grown ups fix this problem by getting us out of Iraq.
Okay, since I am a registered Republican, according to doug I am a fasscist. Okay. So, Deomocrats are communists. Wow. Did that namecalling feel good. no. But then, I AM a grownup. And since I have stated my opposition to the original entry into this war, and my misgivings about how it has been carried out, I wouild like to ask Doug and those who like to call stupid names, other than get out of Iraq immediately, what is your plan? I am willing to listen. But calling me a fascist kinda closes my ears to anything a communist has to say. Overstated to make a point
Doug,
Feinstein giving her husband an advantage over others with 3.9 billion dollars in contracts is not small thing. Feinstein should resign from the Senate after being censured.
What she did is graft on a huge scale!
Republican – just how did a person NOT in a position of power supposedly give her husband that great advantage?
I posted all of that Ben on an open thread weeks ago. I don’t feel like going back and finding it. Of course, all the Democrats completely ignored it.
How else can a company owned by Feinstein’s husband go from a 97 million a year Gambling Casino construction to a 3.9 billion/year Military Construction company without an inside advantage. That advantage being Senator Feinstein.
I know you can do research Ben, it’s right there in black and white, when Feinstein asked for special information on contracts in testimony and in writing, then utilize that information to an advantage for her husband’s company.
This is equivalent to “insider” information on the Stock market.
No Republican, it is NOT. I read the stuff you posted. That does NOT change the fact that she was NOT in a position of power. She had LESS such information than other bidders had. Remember, the Dems were the MINORITY party back then; it was GOP-connections that counted.
Littlejohn, apparently you don’t know what a fascist is because it’s what the Republican party stands for. Fascism is corporatism and you must be completely naive to think that the Republicans have not pushed for corporations to have a huge role in the government. So if you don’t want to be called a moron then perhaps you should be a bit more informed on the issues.
Republican, Feinstein resigned from her position on the Committee that handles such funding. How many Republicans have resigned after revealing conflicts of interest? Absolutely none. And how many times have you called for their resignations? That would be zero. And who is still in favor of this illegal occupation? It certainly isn’t the majority of the Democrats. You and your party want to continue with these huge payments so why are you complaining when the corruption you support continues? That makes you a hypocrite.
BTW, Republican. The company that Feinstein is part of bought a part of Carlyle which deals with military contracts. That’s how they managed to get huge military contracts. So if you were informed about the issues you wouldn’t be calling other uninformed. I suggest you turn off the Fox Noise channel and actually get informed about the issues.
Carlyle, you might know about them, it’s a business where Bush Sr. and members of the Bin Laden family worked together on the Board of Directors.
Doug-
Thanks for the post. Now that I am a moron, i don;t need to educate myself. And by the way, thanks for the adult conversation
You get what you give Littlejohn. BTW, how are all Democrats Communists? Is it that they follow Karl Rove in trying to create a one party government? Or is it that, like the Republicans, they use the government to spy on civilians and wiretap without warrants?
I shouldn’t be too hard on you since you admitted you are a moron. Perhaps you should stick to your dancing.
doug–As the post said, overstated to prove a point. I don;t believe all or even most or even very many at all Democrats are communists. That was my point. I am tired of the name calling instead of problem solving. I still have not heard a plan from you. What’s yours, other than name calling? And do you know me personally? The comment about dancing intriques me. ANd if you do, have I ever caused you to believe i was a fascist or a moron?if so, my bad.
If not, then your bad. Name calling is only resorted to by those who generally feel inadequate to express themselves any other way, or feel the internet gives them the ability to insult others without consequence. I seldom engage in it, but it’s a free country. Go ahead (shrugs)
From Dicitonary.comfas·cism /?fæ??z?m/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[fash-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation–noun 1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.3. (initial capital letter) a fascist movement, esp. the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
Since I do not espouse these beliefs, I guess i am a Republican that is not a fascist. So, I guess I do know the meaning of the words, I guess I am not a moron either.
Since both were wild speculaitons on your part, perhaps you would like to reconsider, or not.
Here’s another opinion about Fascism. Never have I propounded a belief in this system either. Tell me where I have. I have stated a preference for the republican party. not for fascism. I guess you cannot tell the difference?American Heritage Dictionary – Cite This Source fas·cism (f?sh’?z’?m) Pronunciation Keyn.often FascismA system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.Oppressive, dictatorial control.
[Italian fascismo, from fascio, group, from Late Latin fascium, from Latin fascis, bundle.]
fas·cis’tic (f?-sh?s’t?k) adj.
Word History: It is fitting that the name of an authoritarian political movement like Fascism, founded in 1919 by Benito Mussolini, should come from the name of a symbol of authority. The Italian name of the movement, fascismo, is derived from fascio, “bundle, (political) group,” but also refers to the movement’s emblem, the fasces, a bundle of rods bound around a projecting axe-head that was carried before an ancient Roman magistrate by an attendant as a symbol of authority and power. The name of Mussolini’s group of revolutionaries was soon used for similar nationalistic movements in other countries that sought to gain power through violence and ruthlessness, such as National Socialism.—–
I don;t see anything here that describes my philosphy either
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_fascism
So Doug- Just what do I believe in that makes me a fascist? Perhaps you can give me a new defition of the word so that I can become educated enough not to be classified as a moron? Please educate me, as I have gone to the easiest web sites and those often cited on these blogs to see if I fit the description. Relatively easy, if you really want to do it. But then, I don;t make name calling my trade in stock and how I carry on a discussion.
And as to the word Moron
From WikipediaMoron was originally a scientific term, coined by psychologist Henry H. Goddard from a Greek word meaning “foolish” and used to describe a person with a genetically determined mental age between 8 and 12 on the Binet scale. It was also once applied to people with an IQ of 51-70 and was a step up from “imbecile” (IQ of 26-50) and two steps up from “idiot” (IQ of 0-25). The word moron, along with “retarded” and “feeble-minded” (among others), was once considered a valid descriptor in the psychological community, though these words have all now passed into common slang use, exclusively in a detrimental context.
In his later years, Goddard recanted his previous theories, but they had already been published and translated into German. His writings inspired the Nazis who sent people deemed “morons” to the gas
Guess that doesn’t fit either. But then, you already knew that, didn;t you
Yes, clearly you didn’t ever study Mussolini’s theory and intent of fascism and the history surrounding his government. Is it my fault that you have a complete lack of understanding on something that relates to the largest war in the 20th century? I don’t think so. Come back when you finish high school.
Here are a few examples from the Congressional Record of questionable intersections between Feinstein’s legislative duties and her financial interests:
# At a MILCON hearing in 2001, Feinstein interrogated defense officials about the details of constructing specific missile defense systems, which included upgrading the early warning radar system at Cobra Dane radar on Shemya Island, Alaska. In 2003, Perini reported that it had completed a contract to upgrade the Cobra Dane radar system. It has done similar work at Beale Air Force Base in California and in the United Kingdom. URS also bids on missile defense work.
# In the 2002 MILCON hearings, Feinstein questioned an official about details of the U.S. Army’s chemical demilitarization program. URS is extensively involved in performing chemical demilitarization work at key disposal sites in the United States.
# At that same hearing, Feinstein asked about the possibility of increasing funding for anti-terrorism-force protection at Army bases. The following year, on March 4, 2003, Feinstein asked why the antiterrorism-force protection funds she had advocated for the year before had not yet been spent. On April 21, 2003, URS announced the award of a $600 million contract to provide, among other services, anti-terrorism-force protection for U.S. Army installations.
# Beginning in 2003, both Perini and URS were awarded a series of open-ended contracts for military construction work around the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under Feinstein’s leadership, MILCON regularly approved specific project “task orders” that were issued to Perini and URS under these contracts.
# At a March 30, 2004, MILCON hearing, Feinstein grilled Maj. Gen. Dean Fox about whether or not the Pentagon intended to prioritize funding the construction of “beddown” maintenance facilities for its new airlifter, the C-17 Globemaster. After being reassured by Fox that these funds would soon be flowing, Feinstein said, “Good, that’s what I really wanted to hear. Thank you very much. Appreciate it very much, General.” Two years later, URS announced a $42 million award to build a beddown maintenance facility for the C-17 at Hickam Air Base in Hawaii as part of a multibillion dollar contract with the Air Force. Under Feinstein’s leadership, MILCON approved the Hickam project.
# In mid-2005, MILCON approved a Pentagon proposal to fund “overhead coverage force protection” in Iraq that would reinforce the roofs of U.S. Army barracks to better withstand mortar rounds. On Oct. 13, 2005, Perini announced the award of a $185 million contract to provide overhead coverage force protection to the Army in Iraq.
In the 2005 MILCON hearings, Feinstein earmarked MILCON legislation with $25 million to increase environmental remediation at closed military bases. Year after year, Feinstein has closely overseen the environmental cleanup and redevelopment of McClellan Air Force Base near Sacramento, frequently requesting that officials add tens of millions of dollars to that project. URS and its joint ventures have earned tens of millions of dollars cleaning up McClellan. And CB Richard Ellis, a real estate company headed by Feinstein’s husband Richard Blum, is involved in redeveloping McClellan for the private sector.
This investigation examined thousands of pages of documents, including transcripts of congressional hearings, U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filings, government audits and reports, federal procurement data and corporate press releases. The findings were shared with contracting and ethics experts at several nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based government oversight groups. Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit organization that analyzes defense contracts and who examined our evidence says, “The paper trail showing Sen. Feinstein’s conflict of interest is irrefutable.”
On the face of it, there is nothing objectionable about a senator closely examining proposed appropriations or advocating for missile defense or advancing the cleanup of a toxic military base. Blum profitably divested himself of ownership of both URS and Perini in 2005, ameliorating the conflict of interest. But Feinstein’s ethical dilemma arose from the fact that, for five years, the interests of Perini and URS and CB Richard Ellis were inextricably entwined with her leadership of MILCON, which last year approved $16.2 billion for military construction projects.
There are some serious problems with Perini’s work in Iraq. In June 2004, the Government Accountability Office reported that Perini’s electrical reconstruction contract in southern Iraq suffered from mismanagement and lack of competition. In 2006, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction found that Perini was paid to construct multimillion dollar electrical substations in the desert that could not be connected to the electrical grid. And the company was billing the government for purchasing and subcontracting costs that were not justified, according to the Defense Contract Audit Agency. An October 2005 audit by the Defense Department’s Inspector General criticized the execution of Perini’s cost-plus military construction work in Afghanistan, saying, “The contractor had an incentive to increase costs, because higher costs resulted in higher profit.”
Nice cut and paste job Thuggy. Not surprising you’ll take credit for the work of others. Where was your outrage during the five years prior? Your faux outrage is pathetic.