ThinkFast: September 26, 2007
ThinkFast: September 26, 2007
U.S. military officials are pressing the State Department to “assert more control over” Blackwater USA, “which operates under the department’s authority.” “This is a nightmare,” said a senior military official of the recent incident involving Blackwater. “This is going to hurt us badly. It may be worse than Abu Ghraib.”
While expressing his support for international human rights yesterday at the U.N., “Bush didn’t mention the U.S. prisons in Afghanistan or at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. practice of holding detainees for years without legal charges or access to lawyers, or the CIA’s ‘rendition’ kidnappings of suspects abroad, all issues of concern to human rights activists around the world.”
Negotiators from the United Auto Workers union and General Motors reached a tentative agreement on a groundbreaking deal early Wednesday to end a two-day old strike by 73,000 workers. The agreement “includes a historic restructuring of GM’s obligations for UAW retiree health care.”
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of “interfering with the committee’s work and preventing administration and Blackwater officials from providing pertinent information.” Congress has a “constitutional prerogative” to look into the issues, he wrote, and she is “wrong to interfere with the Committee’s inquiry.”
“Sunni Arab extremists have begun a systematic campaign to assassinate police chiefs, police officers, other Interior Ministry officials and tribal leaders throughout Iraq, staging at least 10 attacks in 48 hours.” Iraqi officials said that the attacks might well have been intended to blunt the administration’s message that “surge” has succeeded in establishing security.
More than 2,000 people in Iraq are suffering from cholera, which is spreading across the country, the World Health Organization said. The spread of the disease has been accelerated by chlorine restrictions imposed on Iraq due to security concerns.
“Senate Democrats moved Tuesday to add an expanded hate-crimes ban to the defense authorization, giving them more time to court GOP votes for a new Iraq withdrawal plan but dimming the must-pass bill’s chances for passage this week.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said he will “press the government for the release of a black teenager held in the ‘Jena 6′ case that spurred one of the biggest civil-rights demonstrations in years.” “Our first responsibility is to get young Mychal Bell out of prison,” he said.
And finally: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has released an ad showcasing the “disturbing relationship between agribusiness contributions” and pork-barrel funding projects. In the ad, a suited man walks into a men’s room with a briefcase, begins tapping his foot, and is handed cash from underneath a neighboring stall. “The next stall occupant? A giant pig, squealing.” Watch it here.
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Blackwater, Cheney’s private army, is a nightmare for all of us, and if we don’t bring them under congressional and legal control, it will destroy our efforts in Iraq and what’s left of our reputation in the world.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:16 amRep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of “interfering with the committee’s work and preventing administration and Blackwater officials from providing pertinent information.â€
It appears Condi works harder preventing access to information than she does on diplomacy. State Dept. employees are too chickenshit to serve in Irag, so private contractors must be used. Is the best we get from our Sec / State?
Condi, you’re old news. Even the networks don’t see you as a ‘player’ anymore, and don’t want you on the Sunday morning news shows.
Is Rice the worst Secretary of State America has ever had?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:17 am“This is going to hurt us badly. It may be worse than Abu Ghraib.â€
Ya think? And its not like they didn’t know what was going on. I read the other day that a military official said about Blackwater “If we investigated every report we get of Blackwater killing an innocent citizen, that’s all we would be doing”. They know that Blackwater are killing innocent citizens in Iraq and the don’t even investigate when they get the reports. The only reason why they are conducting an investigation now is because the Iraqi government blew their cover and publicized the incident.
I still say this is the Democrats golden opportunity. They can give Bush all the money he needs for his troops but not one cent for contractors. They need to tell Bush he will only get 60% of what he asks for because the other 40% is what we are paying for these mercenaries out of our taxes. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my tax dollars going to mercenaries who kill with abandon and are not held accountable for their actions.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:17 amWhile expressing his support for international human rights yesterday at the U.N., “Bush didn’t mention the U.S. prisons in Afghanistan or at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. practice of holding detainees for years without legal charges….
Those poor people at the UN. It must have been very painful for them to have to sit there and listen to this evil person speak his hypocracy for all to hear with no shame. Not to mention how painful it is simply to listen to him speak period.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:21 amCongress has a “constitutional prerogative†to look into the issues, he wrote, and she is “wrong to interfere with the Committee’s inquiry.â€
So what in the hell are they going to do about it? Issue another subpoena that will be ignored? Write a letter. For the life of me I can’t understand how Reid and Pelosi don’t see the immense damage they are doing to the Democratic Party by sitting idly by and allowing these crimes to happen.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:22 amSunni Arab extremists (funded by Saudi Arabia, our supposed friends) have begun a systematic campaign to assassinate police chiefs, police officers, other Interior Ministry officials and tribal leaders throughout Iraq….
September 26th, 2007 at 9:24 amCondi could use some cue cards like Bush had to use yesterday.
Ever notice when she speaks, about every other word is ‘u-m-m-m’?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:24 amThose poor people at the UN. It must have been very painful for them to have to sit there and listen to this evil person speak his hypocracy for all to hear with no shame. Not to mention how painful it is simply to listen to him speak period.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 26, 2007 @ 9:21 am
True, but most of them get it through interpreters on those little earphone things, so they don’t have to listen to Bush directly.
It’s the interpreters I feel bad for – having to make sense of his blather and translate it into French or Swahili or whatnot.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:26 am“The next stall occupant? A giant pig, squealing.â€
I saw that ad last night. It was really quite funny and effective.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:26 amlook at the sign on the blackwater truck in the pic.. “stay back 100 meters” (or we’ll shoot you)… a meter is about a yard, so 100 meters is roughly the length of a football field… how many of you think you could read that sign on the back of the truck if you were on the opposite side of a football field from it? maybe Ron can hook iraqis up with some 20/2 vision for a few hundred bucks…im sure jake doesnt mind pitching in, because iraqis having good eyesight is important for our national security…
September 26th, 2007 at 9:27 amThe unions are striking again. America is back on track.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:28 am“The next stall occupant? A giant pig, squealing.â€
That’s what we here in MN will hear today in Court from Mr. Craig.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:29 amIs Rice the worst Secretary of State America has ever had?
Comment by Zimzone — September 26, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Well, seeing as Bush is the worst POTUS, Cheney the worst Veep, and Gonzalez the worst AG, it would tend to follow, wouldn’t it?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:32 amCondoleezza Soprano.
-GSD
September 26th, 2007 at 9:32 amIt’s the interpreters I feel bad for – having to make sense of his blather and translate it into French or Swahili or whatnot.
Comment by toasterhead
You know, I have never thought about that. And you are right, that must be the ultimate pain. I can’t stand listening to him on the TV. Fortunately I have TIVO so I can fast forward every time I see his ugly mug.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:33 amTrue, but most of them get it through interpreters on those little earphone things, so they don’t have to listen to Bush directly.
It’s the interpreters I feel bad for – having to make sense of his blather and translate it into French or Swahili or whatnot.
Comment by toasterhead — September 26, 2007 @ 9:26 am
They don’t listen to Bush anymore than we do. They are all listening to Justin Timberlake on their Ipods. The only reason Bush was there was to warm up the crowd for Ahmadinejad’s stand up comedy routine.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:33 amRoS,
You neglected to mention Dumsfeld, hands down worst Sec / Def.
And yes, I agree with your logic.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:33 amThis is of course the Bush Cheney idea of sovereignty. Allowing companies to run roughshod over civilian populations.
I am sure they would like to continue bringing this concept to every American city.
-GSD
September 26th, 2007 at 9:34 amAnd yes, I agree with your logic.
Comment by Zimzone — September 26, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Yer correct, and I don’t have time to list ALL the “worsts” the BuschCo Mob has accomplished here. I have to go to work SOMETIME to day.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am“The next stall occupant? A giant pig, squealing.â€
Oh man, I thought they meant a real pig, but instead it’s a guy in a giant pink pig suit. They could have made that so much worse/funnier, slackers.
to add an expanded hate-crimes ban
September 26th, 2007 at 9:36 amIf it’s a crime, isn’t it already banned?
U.S. military officials are pressing the State Department to “assert more control over†Blackwater USA, “which operates under the department’s authority.â€
But what good is having a Mercenary Army at your disposal if you can’t keep them above the law?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:38 amBlackwater was cruising NO after Katrina, carrying automatic weapons.
Did anyone ever look into wtf they were doing there? Was it because all of Louisiana’s guard were in Iraq?
This is dangerous precedent. Allowing private contractors to fight wars is the stuff sci-fi is made of, not America.
Let’s make the State Dept. accountable here. If they can’t initiate diplomacy, what the Hell is their mission?
Condi, you got some ’splain’n to do!
September 26th, 2007 at 9:38 amI have to say that it is so nice here in the mornings when Jake the Flake sleeps in. It’s nice to have an intelligent discourse without having to weed through this inane, juvenile babbling. In a way it’s too bad that he gets kicked off other blogs because that gives him that much more time to come here and pollute this site.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:38 amLet’s see — Blackwater doing what they can at great taxpayer expense to create as much havoc as possible, cholera spreading, Sunni extremists on an assassination binge — things in Iraq are just going great, aren’t they?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:38 amOf course, you realize that having the Mercenary Army under the control of the State Department means they are beholden to Condi!
September 26th, 2007 at 9:39 amCondoleezza Warlord.
-GSD
September 26th, 2007 at 9:39 amCondoleezza Soprano.
-GSD
Doesn’t work. The Soprano Family may be crooks too, but least they’re COMPETENT crooks.
Sarcasm/off…
September 26th, 2007 at 9:39 amBlackwater was cruising NO after Katrina, carrying automatic weapons.
And out taxpayer money paid them $900 a day to terrorize the local population.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:39 amZimzone
September 26th, 2007 at 9:40 amThis is dangerous precedent. Allowing private contractors to fight wars is the stuff sci-fi is made of, not America.
Most wars have had mercenaries fighting on one or both sides. The Hessians in the Revolutionary war are the first group to come to mind.
Good to see you here today, BnF.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:41 am“It may be worse than Abu Ghraib…â€
“Worse Than Abu Ghraib”
Hmmm… sounds like the title of a book.
Perhaps Condi will use it for her memoirs.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:41 amRep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of “interfering with the committee’s work and preventing administration and Blackwater officials from providing pertinent information.â€
What I said above about Condi, plus:
Hey, Waxman, didn’t you get the memo? With Impeachment off the table, you can holler and cry all you want, but the White House doesn’t have to do a damn thing.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:42 am29, Squeege,
Then let’s call them what they are – mercenaries- not private contractors.
Or, as Riddick would say, ‘MERKS’.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:43 amThis is of course the Bush Cheney idea of sovereignty. Allowing companies to run roughshod over civilian populations.
I am sure they would like to continue bringing this concept to every American city.
-GSD
Comment by GSD — September 26, 2007 @ 9:34 am
And the 109th Congress essentially handed that ability to Bush by nullifying the Posse Comitatus act and the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. 331-335)
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
In early 2006, the 109th Congress passed a controversial bill which grants the President the right to commandeer federal or state National Guard Troops and use them inside the United States. This bill, entitled the John Warner Defense Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122.ENR), contains a provision, (Section 1076) which allows the President to:
“…employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to…
restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States…, where the President determines that,…domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order; suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy…â€
Senator Patrick Leahy and others have condemned Section 1076 because it effectively nullifies the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. 331-335) and gives the President the legal ability to define under what conditions martial law may be declared.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:45 amHouse Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said he will “press the government for the release of a black teenager held in the ‘Jena 6′ case that spurred one of the biggest civil-rights demonstrations in years.†“Our first responsibility is to get young Mychal Bell out of prison,†he said.
Ah, yes. The allegedly improper incarceration of one black person is more important to Conyers than Impeaching an Administration for illegally killing hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and men who had the misfortune to live in Iraq.
Maybe race does matter.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:46 am30 – nice to be back. the registration system seems to be working.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:47 amMost wars have had mercenaries fighting on one or both sides. The Hessians in the Revolutionary war are the first group to come to mind.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Up until Napoleon’s time, almost all European wars were fought by hired soldiers. Napoleons’ huge armies were the first national armies and one of the reasons he was successful, at first. He had an overwhelming numerical advantage. And civilians were not considered as part of a country’s war effort, and therefore a legitimate target, until WW II.
To my knowledge, the US hasn’t used mercenaries in the past. I think the reasoning has to do w/ NOT creating a separte military “caste” so to speak, in the US. It is why we try to keep a volunteer army.
If anyone can add to this, feel free. I’m kind of doing the short-hand version here, but I think it’s pretty accurate.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am>If it’s a crime, isn’t it already banned?
It probably means thier expanding what acts are defined as hate crimes and therefore illegal. Or something.
> Then let’s call them what they are – mercenaries-
>not private contractors.
Illegal combatants, actually, by the united states own definition.. no uniforms and not being bound by any military code of justice. These are two of the 5 requirement they say you have to have to be considered a legal combatant..since they lack all 5, they are therefore illegal combatants, with basically zero rights.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:49 am>Most wars have had mercenaries fighting on one or both sides.
9-11 changed everything.
oh wait, sorry, i forget, thats your guys line…
September 26th, 2007 at 9:50 amZimzone
Then let’s call them what they are – mercenaries- not private contractors.
Or, as Riddick would say, ‘MERKS’.
Works for me.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:52 amIllegal combatants, actually, by the united states own definition.. no uniforms and not being bound by any military code of justice. These are two of the 5 requirement they say you have to have to be considered a legal combatant..since they lack all 5, they are therefore illegal combatants, with basically zero rights. -Comment by Chocolate Jesus
Excellent point. So that puts them in the same position as the Iraiqi’s, right? Zero rights, particularly.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:53 amHmmm… sounds like the title of a book.
Perhaps Condi will use it for her memoirs.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 26, 2007 @ 9:41 am
I doubt she’ll be writing about her days with Exxon-Mobil in Nigeria, but it would indeed be a fitting title.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:54 amChocolate Jesus
no uniforms and not being bound by any military code of justice.
I would think they have uniforms. Even if it’s just a t-shirt that says ‘blackwater’
The Republic of Stupidity
September 26th, 2007 at 9:55 amTo my knowledge, the US hasn’t used mercenaries in the past.
I believe we used some in the Pacific theater of WW2, but I would have to spend time googling it to verify, and I’m somewhat lazy today.
To my knowledge, the US hasn’t used mercenaries in the past. I think the reasoning has to do w/ NOT creating a separte military “caste†so to speak, in the US. It is why we try to keep a volunteer army.
If anyone can add to this, feel free. I’m kind of doing the short-hand version here, but I think it’s pretty accurate.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 26, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Are you counting Cold War jackals overthrowing Latin American leftists and expelling indigenous people from Diego Garcia?
September 26th, 2007 at 9:55 amThe US government have now a huge private army,bigger army than many countries’ armies.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:58 amIn fact we have more so called ‘contractor’s army’ in Iraq now more than US military in uniform. The difference is the US army operates under certain rules and codes,and its personnel are required to enforce these rules.
Nobody knows what rules under which company ‘like Blackwater, operates.
If an American soldier kill an Iraqi citizen..then the US army is responsible.
What are the laws under which these private armies operating in Iraq…they are not subject to international treaties like the Geneva Convention and others…
They take their orders from the owner of the company.
Yes they can cause trouble for US soldiers if they kill Iraqi citizen..because the anger and the reaction of the Iraqis can extend to more than just Blackwater’s act, but it will spread to affect all US military and even US citizens in Iraq.
Yes, there should be an oversight over this big private army that we have in Iraq now.
The Republic of Stupidity
Ok, so I ended up doing a bit of googling:
September 26th, 2007 at 9:58 amMercenary off of Wiki:
During the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War (before Pearl Harbor) America didn’t want to become overtly involved in the conflict (due to a non-aggression pact with Japan), yet felt an obligation to assist the Chinese in stopping Japanese aggression. So the United States sent Claire Chennault to assist China and created the American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known as Flying Tigers. The pilots earned roughly $600-700 basic pay per month, plus an extra $500 per confirmed Japanese aircraft that was shot down courtesy of the then Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek.
Re: While expressing his support for international human rights yesterday at the U.N., “Bush didn’t mention the U.S. prisons in Afghanistan or at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. practice of holding detainees for years without legal charges or access to lawyers, or the CIA’s ‘rendition’ kidnappings of suspects abroad, all issues of concern to human rights activists around the world.â€
Heh heh, as Bush would say.
DAVID GREGORY: Thank you very much.
Mr. President, critics of your proposed bill on interrogation rules say there’s another important test. These critics include John McCain, who you’ve mentioned several times this morning.
And that test is this: If a CIA officer, paramilitary or special operations soldier from the United States were captured in Iran or North Korea and they were roughed up and those governments said, “Well, they were interrogated in accordance with our interpretation of the Geneva Conventions,” and then they were put on trial and they were convicted based on secret evidence that they were not able to see, how would you react to that as commander in chief?
BUSH: My reaction is, is that if the nations such as those you name adopted the standards within the Detainee Detention Act, the world would be better. That’s my reaction.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:02 amI believe we used some in the Pacific theater of WW2, but I would have to spend time googling it to verify, and I’m somewhat lazy today.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 9:55 am
I just googled the subject, and all I came up w/ (easily) was some vague references to the CIA using mercs. I found one book that listed all the clandestine “involvements” the US has had in other countries’ affairs since WW II, and I have to say, I was a little disturbed at how long the list appeared to be. Apparently, we’ve been very, very busy overseas for a long time, butting in all over the place.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:03 amRe: And finally: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has released an ad showcasing the “disturbing relationship between agribusiness contributions†and pork-barrel funding projects. In the ad, a suited man walks into a men’s room with a briefcase, begins tapping his foot, and is handed cash from underneath a neighboring stall. “The next stall occupant? A giant pig, squealing.†Watch it here.
Well, I guess we can expect half a day of discussion from the Senate denouncing this ad.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:04 amThe Republic of Stupidity
I have to say, I was a little disturbed at how long the list appeared to be. Apparently, we’ve been very, very busy overseas for a long time, butting in all over the place.
So what your saying, is that to NOT use mercenaries would be un-American. So we should all support Blackwater?
/wow, even for me thats twisted logic
September 26th, 2007 at 10:05 amI thought Condi Candi was sticking to the job she was hired to do: Tryst with the Chimp. She’s really stepping out of line these days and will be punished.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:07 amDoes Blackwater use Dubai as a ‘home location’ for tax purposes?
It occurs to me that many of these entities Bush / Rice have brought in probably don’t even pay taxes here in the USA. Corporate entities that don’t pay taxes should not be allowed to contract with the State Dept or anyone else on the Federal level. Today’s NYT describes the corruption and roadblocks the Dept of the Interior is using to block oil companies from paying back taxes they, by law, owe.
This should be all over the news. It’s all connected! We’re in Iraq for the oil with mercenaries protecting pipelines while the same oil companies will fight tooth & nail to avoid paying a single dime in royalties or taxes.
This is the Republican wet dream. They want it both ways, but never, ever, want to be held accountable.
Mr. Enron goes to Washington…
September 26th, 2007 at 10:07 amDescription from Wiki:
“They were officially employees of a private military contractor, the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company, which employed them for “training and instruction”, and which paid them $600 a month for pilot officer, the typical rank; $675 a month for flight leader (such as Gregory “Pappy†Boyington); and $750 for Squadron leader, though no pilot was recruited at this level.”
Hmmm… sounds like mercs…
September 26th, 2007 at 10:07 amZimzone: That would be Haliburton who moved recently to Dubai to avoid tax implications…..as well as to prepare for the coming indictments against them. It’s called “exiling”.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:08 am/wow, even for me thats twisted logic
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 10:05 am
Nah, what I was commenting on is how much this country apparently feels entitled to meddle in other countries’ business endlessly, all over the place.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:09 amWell, I guess we can expect half a day of discussion from the Senate denouncing this ad.
Comment by Bad Eye — September 26, 2007 @ 10:04 am
And some major complaints from the pork industry too!
September 26th, 2007 at 10:10 amComment by Briseadh na Faire — September 26, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Yes…welcome back! (This is WC…I decided to change my username before registering).
September 26th, 2007 at 10:14 amWas Larry Craig the guy in the pig suit?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:15 amThe Republic of Stupidity
Nah, what I was commenting on is how much this country apparently feels entitled to meddle in other countries’ business endlessly, all over the place.
Well someone has to meddle. So if we stop, we create a vaccuum, and who’s going to step into to fill it? Another super-power, or a bunch of regional-powers in their respective regions?
Not to say there aren’t better ways to meddle than covert CIA missions.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:15 amComment by Chocolate Jesus — September 26, 2007 @ 9:50 am
An even shorter version: “9/11″
September 26th, 2007 at 10:16 amBlackwater operates out of North Carolina. It’s building a facility near San Diego against the protests of residents there. And I believe there’s a compound in Illinois, called Blackwater North.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:16 am“Sunni Arab extremists . . . .” Hey! Aren’t they the guys Bush-Cheney-Petraeus are arming and pinning their hopes on?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:19 amNot to say there aren’t better ways to meddle than covert CIA missions.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 10:15 am
It’s an ugly world these days. Come to think of it, it’s always been an ugly world. Seems at times the US could be a little more “benign” in the way it tries to wield influence, like for instance, In Iran… (from Wiki).
From 1952-53, Iran’s democratically elected nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq began a period of rapid power consolidation, which led the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to a brief exile and then into power again. Much of the events of 1952 were started by Mossadeq’s nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, now British Petroleum.
Established by the British in the early 20th century, an agreement had been made to share profits (85% British-15% Iran), but the company withheld their financial records from the Iranian government. Due to alleged profit monopolization by the Anglo-Iranian Oil company, the Iranian Parliament had unanimously agreed to nationalize its holding of, what was at the time, the British Empire’s largest company.
The United States and Britain, through a now-admitted covert operation of the CIA called Operation Ajax, conducted from the US Embassy in Tehran, helped organize protests to overthrow Moussadeq and return the Shah to Iran. The operation failed and the Shah fled to Italy. After a second successful operation he returned from his brief exile. Iran’s fledgling attempts at democracy quickly descended into dictatorship, as the Shah dismantled the constitutional limitations on his office and began to rule as an absolute monarch.
During his reign, the Shah received significant American support, frequently making state visits to the White House and earning praise from numerous American Presidents. The Shah’s close ties to Washington and his bold agenda of rapidly Westernizing Iran soon began to infuriate certain segments of the Iranian population, especially the hardline Islamic conservatives.
Because of their eventual ascension to power during the 1979 Revolution, Operation Ajax is considered as one of the worst CIA “blowbacks” ever.
GIGO… Garbage In, garbage out…
September 26th, 2007 at 10:21 amIn early 2006, the 109th Congress passed a controversial bill which grants the President the right to commandeer federal or state National Guard Troops and use them inside the United States.
Comment by Theresa — September 26, 2007 @ 9:45 am
It constantly amazes me the things Bush and the Repubs managed to accomplish while the rest of America was sleeping.
The National Guard has always been a key component in state governors’ toolboxes. It can be argued that THEY are the “well-regulated militia” mentioned in the second amendment, as a defense against possible tyranny from Washington. When they are handed over to the president (who already has all the REST of the military), it kind of defeats that purpose, doesn’t it?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:26 amI know what you mean…I was barely able to withstand Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia University.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — September 26, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Let me fix that for ya…
“I’m barely able to understand ordinary speech anywhere”.
There… a FAR more honest statement! BTW, yer a FRAUD!
September 26th, 2007 at 10:31 amThe Republic of Stupidity
Because of their eventual ascension to power during the 1979 Revolution, Operation Ajax is considered as one of the worst CIA “blowbacks†ever.
Or maybe that was their cunning plan all along. With out the ‘79 revolution, we wouldn’t have a new evil enemy now to keep the general populace afraid of their shadows, and a solid reason to hate Carter.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:34 amGM / UAW face reality:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298097,00.html
I applaud GM / UAW reaching this deal. When Dana Corp. shuttered its doors, the UAW accepted 71% of the pension liability from GM, but only after everyone lost their jobs. Now, the UAW has the future of their pensions in their own hands, and GM is able to compete with its foreign rivals, so no one will lose their jobs.
The UAW might just invest in GM, given the current lows of its stock price, which are sure to rise on this news, and their future potential to succeed.
I wish Democrats could compromise with Republicans for the greater good, just as the UAW compromised with GM for the greater good. It isn’t a question of idealogy, it is a question of reality and opportunity.
As for creating a national healthcare program, to bail out union pension plans, I am against that, as I was against bailing out sub-prime lenders. Both these institutions have lost money, due to poor policies, and both are now retooling for new realities. If Hill’reh wants to create mandatory insurance that everyone pays for, subsidies should be based on “means” testing, and with this union pension plan now in place, all union members already have the means to pay.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:35 amNot to say there aren’t better ways to meddle than covert CIA missions.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Depends what you mean by “better.” Driving countries into debt slavery with IMF loans and structural adjustment policies is less bloody, but far more damaging to countries and livelihoods.
Read John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Fascinating and frightening read.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:51 amtoasterhead
Read John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Fascinating and frightening read.
Can you mail it to me?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:14 am“we wouldn’t have a new evil enemy now to keep the general populace afraid of their shadows, and a solid reason to hate Carter.”
Comment by Squegeeboo
What the f*ck are you talking about, Squeege?
What’s this “solid reason to hate Carter?” Not making politically-based arms deals with terrorists?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:40 ambarfly
What’s this “solid reason to hate Carter?â€
His brilliant handling of the Iranian hostage crisis?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:55 amTest
September 26th, 2007 at 2:03 pmComment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 11:55 am
(Sorry if this is a repost)
Those Americans who are afraid of their own shadows are that way because the Republicans have told them to be afraid, and they have complied. Visions of mushroom clouds, “we’ll be attacked again if the Democrats retake the White House/Congress,” unnecessary increases in the terror threat level…take your pick.
When it all comes down to it, we in America are much more likely to be attacked by our own people than we are from a foreign terrorist, whether it is another high school shooting, a college campus shooting, a disgruntled employee at the local Food Mart, or the kidnapping and murder of an innocent child, teenager, or young adult. Add it up; start with the first WTC attack, and add the number of major “terrorist attacks” on American soil (I count three: the first and second WTC attacks, and the Oklahoma City bombing). Next, add up the attacks by ordinary Americans (school shootings, etc.). I can easily count three (I guarantee there are many more): Columbine; Va. Tech; and the Beltway sniper shootings in Va. in October 2002.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:22 pmHis brilliant handling of the Iranian hostage crisis?
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 11:55 am
At least he tried to rescue the hostages, unlike the Reagan administration who was illegally involved in weapons for hostages deals, and unlike Bush Sr. who did nothing to rescue the hostages held during his and Reagan’s administrations (including Terry Anderson, held from 1985 until 1991).
As for Carter’s failed rescue attempt, you can’t put the blame on him. I suggest you read former NBC News anchor John Chancellor’s book Peril and Promise: A Commentary on America, in which he mentions that the failure(s) were due to equipment breakdown in a desert environment and communication problems between the various armed forces that were involved.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:32 pmBad Eye
the Beltway sniper shootings in Va. in October 2002.
That one was a Muslim immigrant wasn’t it? Not to say your point wasn’t valid, just one bad example if I remeber correctly.
As for Carter’s failed rescue attempt, you can’t put the blame on him.
…
were due to equipment breakdown in a desert environment and communication problems between the various armed forces that were involved.
Due to him Ok’ing the mission during a sandstorm.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:43 pmHere’s another attempt by the administration to put fear into a group of people. From crooksandliars.com:
September 26th, 2007 at 2:50 pmFollowing up on Monday night’s Nexus of Terror & Politics report, Keith Olbermann talks with Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) to get more details on the revelation that the Bush Administration used bogus intelligence in order to frighten lawmakers into voting for last August’s expanded FISA bill. Harman says that after much digging she found the classified intelligence document in question and the document clearly stated that the intelligence community did not deem the source to be reliable.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 26, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
I don’t think this counts as a Muslim immigrant (per Wiki):
The older of the pair, born John Allen Williams, age 41 at the time of capture, had joined the black supremacist Nation of Islam some years earlier and changed his name to John Allen Muhammad in October 2001. The younger man was born Lee Boyd Malvo, but also calls himself John Lee Malvo and had posed as Muhammad’s son (17 years old at the time of his arrest).
Nevertheless, you can’t label it a bad example because the actions of the two snipers weren’t exactly considered the work of a larger group of international terrorists. My point is valid.
As for the hostage rescue attempt, they couldn’t forecast a sandstorm because, per a report on the Defense Technical Info Center’s web site, the Air Weather Service had lost the use of several transmission sites after the fall of the Shah. They used historical data instead (you can debate the decision to proceed with the plan, based on this info, but apparently no one in the chain of command suggested that Carter abort because of it), but the info was not shared with all the people involved in the rescue attempt.
This report also confirms, as I mentioned before, a terrible communication problem between the chain of command and those involved in the rescue attempt. The report sums up this failed rescue attempt this way:
The problems were initiated at the NCA/NSC level. The policy makers at this level could not agree on a course of action to take in regards to the hostages. Because of these disagreements,
September 26th, 2007 at 3:47 pmunity of effort suffered and cooperation on the matter dwindled
among some agencies. In short, this affected the President’s decision making process. He was unable to take swift, aggressive action, and when he finally did make a decision to attempt the rescue, it was caveated with notes of caution and timidness. Whether this was borne out of concern for the hostages or fear
of failure is of little consequence; his decision lacked confidence and that spread to his subordinates……The impact is clear at the tactical level as being antonymous to the principles of command and control: interoperability problems, confusion with the chain of command, decentralized direction resulting from compartmentalization, and a lack of common doctrine.
Bad Eye
I see your views are well thought out and make sense.
There for, all I am left with, is:
Yah, well what about that time Carter was attacked by a swimming bunny? And he told my parents to put on a sweater, prob. because he hates America.
In other words, you win this time.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:54 pmHis brilliant handling of the Iranian hostage crisis?
Comment by Squegeeboo
Hate him for not selling weapons to terrorists, like Reagan?
Riight.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:15 pmwhat – is this Righties trying to claim Carter crashed the helicopter??
not sure, but I don’t think he was the pilot or the mechanic of that particular aircraft. I do know I’d rather live in a house Carter built than a pile of brush amassed by the Cheerleader Prince.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:14 pm