Think Progress

Breaking: CentCom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns

By Think Progress on Mar 11th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

Breaking: CentCom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns»

Secretary Robert Gates has announced that Centcom commander Adm. William Fallon has submitted his resignation. Fallon was subject of a recent Esquire article, which stated that the admiral could be “relieved of his command before his time is up next spring,” in favor of a commander more amenable to war with Iran.

According to Gates, Fallon resigned because the fall-out from the article. Gates said Fallon told him: “The current embarrassing situation, public perception of differences between my views and administration policy, and the distraction this causes from the mission make this the right thing to do.” Gates said he approved Fallon’s request to retire with “reluctance and regret.” Watch it:

Screenshot

Last week, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino downplayed Fallon’s possible retirement, decrying “rumor mills that don’t turn out to be true.”

Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ warmongering rhetoric “not helpful.” He rejected the praise in the Esquire piece, calling it “poison pen stuff.”

A reporter noted to Gates there was a “line in that Esquire story that said basically if Fallon gets fired, it means we’re going to war with Iran. Can you just address that?” Gates responded, “Well that’s just ridiculous.”

UPDATE: Sources at the Pentagon said that Fallon was worried the White House would “perceive the magazine piece as a challenge to the president’s authority, and insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

UPDATE II: Last year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.”

UPDATE III: TPM has Fallon’s statement here. The Agonist also has more.

UPDATE IV: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has issued this statement:

I am concerned that the resignation of Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East and a military leader with more than three decades of command experience, is yet another example that independence and the frank, open airing of experts’ views are not welcomed in this Administration.

UPDATE V: Spencer Ackerman writes:

Gates said in a press conference just now that no one should think the move reflects any substantive change in policy. That sure won’t be how Teheran sees it. The Iranians will consider Fallon’s resignation to indicate that the bombing begins in the next five minutes.

UPDATE VI: The National Security Network compiles examples of Fallon’s dissenting views from the Bush administration.

Digg It!

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198 Responses to “Breaking: CentCom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns”

  1. OleHippieChick Says:

    Uh oh. This is the guy who said we won’t attack Iran on his watch .


  2. Fritz Says:

    “Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ warmongering rhetoric “not helpful.” He rejected the praise in the Esquire piece, calling it “poison pen stuff.”

    Can’t have anyone speaking any truth or advocating careful consideration to this administration. Definitely grounds for dismissal.


  3. Exley Says:

    ‘Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq …’

    Well, he was wrong about that….


  4. IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    This isn’t good. I hope Iran is watching it’s butt cuz we are on our way.


  5. lefty Says:

    Here we go. Bombs away.
    Nucular armageddon in 3… 2… 1…


  6. disdaniel Says:

    uh oh…maybe I took my tinfoil hat off too early


  7. IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    UPDATE: Sources at the Pentagon said that Fallon was worried the White House would “perceive the magazine piece as a challenge to the president’s authority, and insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

    It is our fu(king job as a Citizen of the United States to challenge authority especially when that authority is wrong at every level.


  8. YouCantHandleDaTruth Says:

    WOW!!! K, this is dangerous!!! WOW!!!! CRAP!!!

    Please, no….please!!!!


  9. Charles James Napier Says:

    Last year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.”
    ——————————-

    Well it looks like his watch is over.


  10. Alvord Says:

    From Esquire article -

    So while Admiral Fallon’s boss, President George W. Bush, regularly trash-talks his way to World War III and his administration casually casts Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as this century’s Hitler (a crown it has awarded once before, to deadly effect), it’s left to Fallon–and apparently Fallon alone–to argue that, as he told Al Jazeera last fall: “This constant drumbeat of conflict . . . is not helpful and not useful. I expect that there will be no war, and that is what we ought to be working for. We ought to try to do our utmost to create different conditions.”

    Bad news that Fallon is leaving.


  11. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Cue up: Troll Mass Wargasm…

    3… 2… 1…


  12. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    If I lived in Iran I’d flee.


  13. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    Well it looks like his watch is over.
    Comment by Charles James Napier

    And this nasty troll is creaming himself with the prospect of attacking Iran. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will further inflame the middle east and further destroy this country’s standing in the world. It doesn’t matter that attacking Iran will put us in the cross-hairs of both Russia and China. It just wants war, more war, the manliness of war.

    I fear for this country and for what will happen if the Democrats don’t immediately impeach Bush and Chaney. That is the only way they can stop this madness.


  14. oldtree Says:

    so will congress presume to impeach yet?


  15. Charles James Napier Says:

    If I lived in Iran I’d flee.

    Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda
    ———————————-

    Me too.


  16. lefty Says:

    oh impeachment is going to move forward… in the NY State legislature.

    please kill me.


  17. toasterhead Says:

    Me too.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:06 pm

    Traitor.


  18. gulfwargrunt Says:

    Is McCain singing “Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” again?


  19. Mugsy Says:

    12:00 - Bush attacks Iran.

    12:01 - Impeachment proceedings begin in the House.

    Anything less, and I’m voting for Nader. :(


  20. Charles James Napier Says:

    Traitor.

    Comment by toasterhead
    ——————————————–

    How so?


  21. katy HUSSEIN katy Says:

    UPDATE II: Last year, Fallon vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.”

    oh lord… if you’re out there… …


  22. tarazan Says:

    Didn’t Bush criticised the Congress and the media by saying “We should listen to military commaners in the area,and not politicians”???..more than once,in more than one occasion.

    But when the commanders question Bush’s policies ,he fires them.


  23. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Traitor.

    Comment by toasterhead

    I vote for “blood thirsty delusional loon”, toasterhead.


  24. Dr. Matt Says:

    If herr dubyah bombs Iran, poor Gigi is going to have to park her 5 cars because gas will rise to $10+/gallon.


  25. toasterhead Says:

    How so?

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:09 pm

    A hint of war and you’re fleeing the country instead of staying to defend your native Iran. Shame on you!


  26. katy HUSSEIN katy Says:

    i can’t stay… it would be great to come back and read some thoughtful,
    intelligent comments about this topic…

    please… you KNOW what i mean…


  27. Doc Rock Says:

    The handwriting was already on the wall and it didn’t say ” Mene Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”. Fallon was too honest and not a yes-man.


  28. righty46 Says:

    http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/05/fallon-wrong/

    Make up your minds, when he was appointed this site said he was the wrong man for the job (see above), now that he’s resigning he’s your freaking hero.


  29. McWars Says:

    My prediction to replace him?

    Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler

    Not sure of his views on Iran. On the count of experience within CentCom
    though, he’d be the most fitting candidate. Sattler is presently Director, Strategic Planning and Policy, J-3, The Joint Staff.


  30. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Iran has stopped selling oil in U.S. dollars-report
    Tehran, Dec. 8, 2007

    Reuters - Iran has completely stopped selling any of its oil for U.S. dollars, an Iranian news agency reported on Saturday, citing the oil minister of the world’s fourth-largest crude producer.

    The ISNA news agency did not give a direct quote from Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari. A senior oil official last month said “nearly all” of Iran’s crude oil sales were now being paid for in non-U.S. currencies.
    For nearly two years, OPEC’s second biggest producer has been reducing its exposure to the dollar, saying the weak U.S. currency is eroding its purchasing power.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who often rails against the West, has called the U.S. currency a “worthless piece of paper.”

    http://agonist.org/ 20071208/ iran_has_stopped_selling_oil_in_u_s_dollars_report


  31. McWars Says:

    I’m sorry, that’s J-5.


  32. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    If I was Obama I’d announce that Admiral Fallon would be my choice for Secretary of Defense.


  33. Charles James Napier Says:

    A hint of war and you’re fleeing the country instead of staying to defend your native Iran. Shame on you!

    Comment by toasterhead
    ———————————————

    If I lived in Iran I would have fled long before any hint of war.

    Most of the Persians living here in the US fled more than 25 years ago, after the Mullahs took over.

    What freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?


  34. belac Says:

    Maybe now he’ll feel free to speak out,
    oh and righty… when he was appointed he was your freakin’ hero and now that he says (rightly and sanely, how often do you see right and sane together these days?) that attacking Iran would be wrong he’s the wrong man for the job, make up your minds…


  35. billyjoejimbob Says:

    I think that the Esquire article may have been what pushed him out. I’m still not sure how accurate the author of the article was, but Fallon seemed liek the calm we needed in his position.


  36. tanglewood Says:

    Hmm, The Chimpster is sending Cheney to the Middle East to “talk about the oil crisis and the rising cost of it here”. I think this is a big ploy and I have a feeling that we are going full bore into Iran.

    All this nonsense about the surge working–how stupid do they think we are? The ethnic cleansing and paying off different factions with money borrowed from China is just a thumb in the dike. All hell is going to break loose when that caper ends. There is going to be civil war whether we stay or go.

    I bet Adm. Fallon–just said no to any further charade.


  37. BrianFL Says:

    Bush: We should listen to the generals on the ground…..unless they disagree with my neo-con spindoctors. If they do that, their long, honorable careers will be over before you can say “cut and run”.


  38. belac Says:

    What freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:15 pm

    I know three freedom loving people who want to live in Iran… The father was a graduate student with my father at MSU and they went back after he got his PhD. I haven’t talked to them in a little while but last time we talked they were pretty clear that bombing Iran was not their preferred method of democratization, why is it yours?


  39. Charles James Napier Says:

    …bombing Iran was not their preferred method of democratization, why is it yours?

    Comment by belac — March 11, 2008 @ 4:19 pm

    —————————————————————————-

    It’s not.


  40. hellinabucket Says:

    Comment by righty46 — March 11, 2008 @ 4:13 pm

    I’ll give props when they’re due. TP said Fallon was the wrong man for the job. At the time it made sense that placing a Naval officer in charge of a land operation as odd. The initial thread also pointed out the real worry of a larger presence of naval carriers (and planes) in the region. It brought up the possibility of a conflict with Iran.

    Time has shown that Fallon was much more level headed than the initial thread had thought.

    I wonder if Righty46 will admit that.


  41. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Frank, if you’d gather news from any source other than inside your rectum, you would have known:

    Bush: Cheney to prod, ‘reassure’ on Middle East trip

    Cheney — who leaves March 16 bound for Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey — will also pursue US diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran and prod US oil-exporting allies to help rein in skyrocketing prices.

    Actually Dick is just assuring them the Iran attack will be “short, intense, and we’ll be greeted with flowers.” Oh, and the oil revenue will pay for it.


  42. RUCerious Says:

    There’s no room in this chymp’s navy for anyone who doubts chympinfallability .


  43. hellinabucket Says:

    We don’t have the troops available for an occupation of Iran. We don’t have the resources to fulfill this pipe dream.

    Why does this administration continue to think they have the right to push their myopic view on the world?


  44. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    The lefties like open dissent in the ranks even at the expense of national security and military strength.

    Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:21 pm

    Anybody here understand Gibberish?

    This one appears to be trying to say SOMETHING.


  45. RUCerious Says:

    12:00 - Bush attacks Iran.
    12:01 - Impeachment proceedings begin in the House.
    Anything less, and I’m voting for Nader. :(
    Comment by Mugsy — March 11, 2008 @ 4:09 pm

    Anything less, and I’m over the fence and onto the White House grounds, with pitchforks and torches


  46. DieNowForPeace Says:

    . I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.

    Yes, poor Iranians are to blame for our weakened dollar.

    You might want to stop using your head as a hammer.


  47. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Not quite sure what starting a THIRD land war in Asia, and one that just might draw the Russians and Chinese in, has to do w/ “national security”.

    Military strenght? Ya mean, like those substandard helmets? Armorless Humvees? Bad drinking water?

    Ohhh.. those Magic towels from KBR… the ones that are bullet-proof ’cause of the initals!


  48. DieNowForPeace Says:

    one that just might draw the Russians and Chinese

    When we interfere with their legally purchased oil and refineries, they’ll attack us for sure.


  49. Uncle Ho Says:

    Bush/Cheney & the neo-con Nazi’s drool for war with Iran. their own motto is “real men go to Tehran.”

    It may be an effort to ensure McCain gets into the White House. link.
    http://www.commondreams.org see article by Charles Davis: Blowback of Iran War Likely to Be Terrible.


  50. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    He openly disagreed with the commander-in-chief and paid the price.

    Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:29 pm

    Unfortunately, I do understand English, which is why YOU come across as such a complete idiot.

    The Commander-In-Chief? Ya mean that dancin’, singin’ fool who wise cracked about not finding WMDs and said he doesn’t even think about Osama anymore?


  51. hellinabucket Says:

    Frank M, you are the continual flag waver.

    Tell me, what type of attack would you prefer? What do you think will happen to the border between Iran and Iraq once an attack starts? With the military actually pulling out some troops from Iraq don’t you think this will be a problem once 200,000 Iranian troops storm across the border?

    You OK with that?


  52. DieNowForPeace Says:

    You might want to stop using your head as a hammer.

    Hell, on second thought, that’s really what it’s best suited for.


  53. hellinabucket Says:

    Whatever happened to listening to the Generals?

    Admiral is the Naval equal to General.


  54. getsomejosh1 Says:

    Frank M. - You are right, I am a “leftie” and I would happily spare a little national security to allow open discussions in government. This world was not created by Walt Disney, we will be attacked again in the future, but I will take that chance in return for Civil Liberties. Maybe the US should change to a Fascist Dictatorship, then you can have all the Security you need, and we won’t ever have to read your words again.


  55. Uncle Ho Says:

    Ru @ 4:29 pm

    I’ll be right there with you.

    Anyone got blueprints for a guillotine?


  56. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    they’ll attack us for sure.

    Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pm

    No F’in shi-ite.


  57. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Anyone got blueprints for a guillotine?

    No, but I think catapults will be needed first.


  58. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Hell, on second thought, that’s really what it’s best suited for.

    Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 11, 2008 @ 4:32 pm

    Uhoh… that looks like a… hammerhead SNARK ta me!


  59. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >Well, he was wrong about that….

    Why, of all the political progress we’re making? You mean like the allegedly pro-sunni law that all the shia and none of the sunni voted for? Or maybe the your referring to provincial elections that got vetoed? Or maybe you’re referring that pesky oil profit sharing law we want passed thats going knowehere..why exactly was Fallon wrong?

    Once again, bribing insurgents not to attack us is NOT progress.. if its ok to bribe former AQI supporters not to attack us, why dont we bribe the taliban not to attack us as well? why dont we pay mexicans not to cross the border illegally? do you advocate paying these people to not do what we dont want them to do, as well?


  60. Keltoi Says:

    With the military actually pulling out some troops from Iraq don’t you think this will be a problem once 200,000 Iranian troops storm across the border?

    Comment by hellinabucket — March 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pm

    It won’t be like that. That plays to our strength and they won’t do that, columns of armor and infantry would be exactly what our airpower is built to destroy.

    Instead, Al-Sadr will get orders to mobilize everything he has and given whatever he asks for to make Bagdhad look like Beirut in 80s. There is not a damn thing we can do to stop that from happening, either.


  61. Uncle Ho Says:

    hellinabucket; It’s been my observation that the biggest flagwavers, like Frankie, charlie, and GiGi (to name but a few). are the biggest cowards you could EVER find. They love to cheer from the sidelines, but are the FIRST to make sure all their draft-deferments are in order.


  62. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >You can’t have people in your chain-of-command
    >second guessing you.

    Not in a dictatorship, no, you cant…


  63. Fritz Says:

    Hmm, The Chimpster is sending Cheney to the Middle East to “talk about the oil crisis and the rising cost of it here”. I think this is a big ploy and I have a feeling that we are going full bore into Iran.

    All this nonsense about the surge working–how stupid do they think we are? The ethnic cleansing and paying off different factions with money borrowed from China is just a thumb in the dike. All hell is going to break loose when that caper ends. There is going to be civil war whether we stay or go.

    I bet Adm. Fallon–just said no to any further charade.

    Comment by tanglewood”

    Very, very stupid - we have proven it many times. The last, most dramatic time was when the majority of America re-elected the current moronic president.


  64. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    but are the FIRST to make sure all their draft-deferments are in order.

    Comment by Uncle Ho — March 11, 2008 @ 4:37 pm

    And that a goodly number of Depends are handy…


  65. Charles James Napier Says:

    Would you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.


  66. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    The last, most dramatic time was when the majority of America re-elected the current moronic president.

    Comment by Fritz — March 11, 2008 @ 4:38 pm

    In all fairness, Fritz, there is a sizable body of evidence that that election was cooked.


  67. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm

    An “existential threat”? WTF is this idiot babbling about?


  68. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    > I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.

    Frank, if dropping our near worthless currency is considered attacking us, the whole world is going to be piling on soon.. those viscious persians, how dare they stop trading oil in our currency? why, i’ll bet frank hasnt witnessed such a brutal persian assault since he last wh@cked off to his blu-ray copy of “300″


  69. getsomejosh1 Says:

    CJN… No, pre-emptive war is illegal and wrong. (despite what the Bushies and Columbia want you to think)


  70. hellinabucket Says:

    You may be right Keltoi but I wouldn’t doubt some would come thru under cover to disrupt and destroy key areas.

    Either way, we don’t have the logistical support and infrastructure to address this let alone the financial stability.

    To be successful, when you go to war you brind your whole country along. You don’t win by strategic strikes and tax cuts. It would take long term dedication, focus and sacrifice. Something I doubt this administration could muster.


  71. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country

    please list all the countries Iran has attacked or invaded in the last 100 years…


  72. Fritz Says:

    “In all fairness, Fritz, there is a sizable body of evidence that that election was cooked.”

    Doesn’t matter - it was close enough to half whether it was cooked or not. And the great American sheeple have proved it in other ways, as well.


  73. toasterhead Says:

    The lefties like open dissent in the ranks even at the expense of national security and military strength.

    Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:21 pm

    Attacking Iran IS at the expense of national security and military strength.


  74. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >CJN… No, pre-emptive war is illegal and wrong.

    I’m embarrased to share two initials with this guy…

    Re: the actual thread.. yikes.. look like an attack on Iran is increasingly likely.. anyone betting when the false flag attack on one of our ships will be?


  75. Charles James Napier Says:

    An “existential threat”? WTF is this idiot babbling about?

    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
    ——————————————————-

    You don’t know what an existential threat is?…It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the map”.

    Read the banner:
    http://news.yahoo.com/ nphotos/ slideshow/ photo/ / 080310/ photos_wl_afp/ f1d8157b6d45aa4b03d9b99c4a24affc/


  76. toasterhead Says:

    Would you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm

    Hell no. Iran has no strategic reason to destroy their favorite boogeyman, and even if they had nuclear arms they wouldn’t pose a threat to Israel’s right to exist.


  77. toasterhead Says:

    You don’t know what an existential threat is?…It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the map”.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

    Iran never threatened to wipe Israel off the map.


  78. McWars Says:

    Unless there’s some really big loophole, I would like to know how Bush is going to attack Iran w/o approval from our Democratic congress?


  79. Charles James Napier Says:

    and even if they had nuclear arms they wouldn’t pose a threat to Israel’s right to exist.

    Comment by toasterhead
    ——————————————–

    Sounds like wishful thinking to me…

    Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.


  80. Keltoi Says:

    You may be right Keltoi but I wouldn’t doubt some would come thru under cover to disrupt and destroy key areas.

    Either way, we don’t have the logistical support and infrastructure to address this let alone the financial stability.

    To be successful, when you go to war you brind your whole country along. You don’t win by strategic strikes and tax cuts. It would take long term dedication, focus and sacrifice. Something I doubt this administration could muster.

    Comment by hellinabucket — March 11, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

    Yeah…..yeah. I am hoping this Fallon thing was a personal decision of his to get out of a situation he wasn’t comfortable with and not the harbinger of airstrikes on Iran. And airstrikes are all we could do without a draft, which isn’t going to happen barring a major attack in the US.

    We might take out their nuke program, but with Sadr playing nice these days and the NIE taking the wind out of Bush’s sails last fall, $12 billion a month being spent in Iraq, the economy on thin ice, an election in 7 months….I just can’t see them doing it.


  81. Dr. Matt Says:

    Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.
    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

    By that “logic” then the Middle East should attack Canada, the UK, or Australia.


  82. Keltoi Says:

    Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

    And Hamas.


  83. gummitch Says:

    Instead, Al-Sadr will get orders to mobilize everything he has and given whatever he asks for to make Bagdhad look like Beirut in 80s. There is not a damn thing we can do to stop that from happening, either.

    Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:37 pm

    My understanding is that Al-Sadr is a Sh’ite AND an Arab nationalist, and that the last place he’s taking orders from is Tehran.


  84. McWars Says:

    Now we know of the worst job that Fallon has ever had.


  85. Dr. Matt Says:

    You don’t know what an existential threat is?…It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the map”.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

    This is coming from a reich-winger who still “thinks” that Iraq was a threat to the US.


  86. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army
    > know as Hezbollah.

    Israel never attacks anybody frank? Besides, you recall who it was that overthrew Irans democratically elected government?
    Christ, dont you have any new talking points?

    Besides, since when does the U.S miltary have a sacred duty to defend a foreign country?


  87. gummitch Says:

    And Hamas.

    Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm

    Which is heavily funded by Saudi Arabia, hardly a friend of Iran.


  88. Fred Says:

    What freedom loving person would want to live in Iran for goodness sake?

    Comment by Charles James Napier

    Funny, they have legitimate elections since they outed our puppet the Shah……they are more democratic than you are.


  89. Charles James Napier Says:

    Iran never threatened to wipe Israel off the map.

    Comment by toasterhead
    ————————————————————-

    Read the banner in this photograph from Iran from just yesterday…Also note the crosshairs on the heads of the Israelis.

    Please don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations….He’s a stooge.



  90. Juan C. Says:

    It’s when you threaten to wipe a country “off the map”.
    Comment by Charles James Napier

    Somebody sends the “you’ve been lied” memo to the troll.

    And Hamas.
    Comment by Keltoi

    Ever wondered what was Israel response to Hamas willingness to make a lasting peace?


  91. Fred Says:

    keltoi=tracy2


  92. Juan C. Says:

    Please don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations….He’s a stooge.
    Comment by Charles James Napier

    LMAO!!! Worst informed troll ever.


  93. Charles James Napier Says:

    By that “logic” then the Middle East should attack Canada, the UK, or Australia.

    Comment by Dr. Matt
    ————————————–

    Sure, if you’re an Islamist or a jihadi that would be true. And of course they have tried many times….and have been successful at least twice in the UK.


  94. toasterhead Says:

    Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

    And Israel already attacks Iran through its attacks on Iran’s proxy armies of Hezbollah and Hamas, though the Palestinians seem to be the ones who suffer the most from the collective punishment.

    However, apart from the occasional suicide bombing or rocket attack on civilians, what threat do Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israel’s national sovereignty or ability to function as a state entity? I don’t see the Knesset dissolving because a few rockets break windows in Sderot.


  95. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >Please don’t count on Islamophile Jaun Cole for your Farsi translations

    Who should we count on? Oh, a link to a STREET BANNER! well, that clinches it, if its on a street banner in Tehran it must be an accurate translation


  96. stormkrow Says:

    Guess what, we’re going to war with Iran before the election. This is probably the worst news I’ve heard in quite a while. Fallon was the only sane man protecting America from another Neo-Con misadventure.
    Just watch the Iran war rhetoric heat up the next couple weeks and that should be sign enough. Pray.


  97. Charles James Napier Says:

    Ah TP’s resident Jew-hater Jaun C has shown up.

    Hi Jaun.


  98. Keltoi Says:

    My understanding is that Al-Sadr is a Sh’ite AND an Arab nationalist, and that the last place he’s taking orders from is Tehran.

    Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm

    Mmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders - are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?

    At any rate, whether it was Mookie Al-Sadr or militia leaders from the Badr Brigade or whoever, Khameni issuing a fatwah to his co-religionists to rise against the Americans in revenge for airstrikes would cause all kinds of hell for us.


  99. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >And of course they have tried many times

    please compare the number of americans or english killed by their own countrymen to the number of americans or english killed by their own non-jihadi countrymen.

    americans kill more of each other every WeEK than jihadis have managed to do in thier entire existence…

    you stupid d@gfuc3r, your worried about the wrong boogeyman


  100. Badger Says:

    From Scott Ritter’s “Iraq will have to wait”.

    The administration always heeded the justifications for aborting an attack, primarily because there was time still left on the clock, so to speak. But time is running out. Israel has drawn a red line across the calendar, indicating that if Iran has not pulled back from its nuclear ambitions by the end of 2007, military action in early spring 2008 will be inevitable. The attack on Syria by Israel sent a clear message that attacks are feasible


  101. Bobwurst Says:

    Make up your minds, when he was appointed this site said he was the wrong man for the job (see above), now that he’s resigning he’s your freaking hero.

    Comment by righty46

    This is the republican mindset in action. you either agree with everything someone says or does or you agree with nothing. This is how this scum thinks. Here’s the deal idiot. People weren’t in love with him then, but recognized that his position on attacking Iran has merit. I realize that you aren’t capable of understanding that. It’s much easier to just stay in line and goose-step your way to hell. Have a nice trip.


  102. Charles James Napier Says:

    if its on a street banner in Tehran it must be an accurate translation

    Comment by Chocolate Jesus
    ———————————————————

    There is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even thick-headed moonbats can read it.


  103. Fred Says:

    However, apart from the occasional suicide bombing or rocket attack on civilians, what threat do Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israel’s national sovereignty or ability to function as a state entity? I don’t see the Knesset dissolving because a few rockets break windows in Sderot.

    Comment by toasterhead

    The trolls will not discuss a comparison of how many Palestinians have died as opposed to how many Israelies have died. To them, all Palestenians can die and if one Israelie is killed then that one death is the injustice.


  104. Bobwurst Says:

    Unless there’s some really big loophole, I would like to know how Bush is going to attack Iran w/o approval from our Democratic congress?

    Comment by McWars

    He’s going to launch some bombs and when Iran retaliates he’s going to say that we need to protect our troops, and if the dems resist in any way the propagandists will cry foul and bully the dems into line.


  105. MapleStreet Says:

    As the administration likes to compare this to other wars: How many commanders has Iraq gone through in the last few years ? And how many commanders did we go through in WW II.

    Dumb Question: Why do we go through commanders so fast now days ?


  106. Bobwurst Says:

    We need to contact our senators and congressmen now! push back now! Let them know that they will be held responsible if they don’t speak out now.


  107. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >Khameni issuing a fatwah to his
    >co-religionists to rise against the
    > Americans in revenge for airstrikes
    > would cause all kinds of hell for us.

    and this is an argument for attacking iran why? I do agree with you about the accuracy of that statement though.. its too bad we gave the shia islamistis the ability to gain power through majority rules in iraq, eh? was all our blood and treasure worth putting a government in iraq has gives VIP treatment to iranian leaders?


  108. hellinabucket Says:

    Will attacking Iran ease any tensions? Will this improve relations? what is the logic?


  109. Juan C. Says:

    I don’t think Russia will let pass this one…


  110. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >There is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even >thick-headed moonbats can read it.

    Frank..uhm…wow…read what you wrote dude..”theres no need for a translation because its written in english”. Do you think the Iranian leader said it in english? because if he didnt , then anyone writing it in english would be translating it…

    wow, just wow..


  111. Fred Says:

    Ah TP’s resident Jew-hater Jaun C has shown up.

    Hi Jaun.

    Comment by Charles James Napier

    I’m flaggin this……I have gotten crossways with Juan C but he has always made it clear that he opposes the israelie government, not the Jewish race. You can have your own opinion but you cannot put your words in other people’s mouths.


  112. Juan C. Says:

    What cracks me up is that US military is blaming Iran of arming Iraqi insurgency…and they are occupying the damn country!!!

    LMAO!!!


  113. Bobwurst Says:

    Sounds like wishful thinking to me…

    Besides Iran already attacks Israel through their proxy army know as Hezbollah.

    Comment by Charles James

    Wishful thinking is your desire to attack yet another country. If there’s any justice your family members will suffer too.


  114. DieNowForPeace Says:

    I don’t think Russia will let pass this one…

    Precisely, they’ve just needed a plausible reason to confront our “holier than thou” attitude.


  115. ennealogic Says:

    Photo and translation probably provided by JINSA.

    Next?


  116. Fred Says:

    Mmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders - are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?

    Comment by Keltoi

    This is just ignorance on your part Tracy2. The kind of thing you say when you don’t want to be held accountable for the things you say.


  117. Juan C. Says:

    You can have your own opinion but you cannot put your words in other people’s mouths.
    Comment by Fred

    Fred, I appreciate your post. However, Charles’ only purpose in this thread is to derail discussion and inflame other posters. Nothing new in the troll tactic.

    He just comes to petty insults…


  118. dietrich Says:

    And why are people who have admitted their too chicken to serve(can’t guarantee his safety, right FM?) think they have a right to lecture anyone on patriotism?
    You know ifwe do meddle in Iran YOU chickenhawks will probably be drafted. Now I could live with that.
    takecare
    tony and guidedogLido


  119. Keltoi Says:

    and this is an argument for attacking iran why?

    Comment by Chocolate Jesus — March 11, 2008 @ 5:02 pm

    It isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack, along with the others I listed at 84.


  120. MapleStreet Says:

    RE: The comments on the arabic street banner (Comment by Charles James Napier ; March 11, 2008 @ 4:43 )

    Looking at the link, it appears that the English phrase (and indeed the captioning at the upper left hand corner) are superimposed on the picture - as would be done on a TV News Cast.

    Before touting this picture, I’d like to know where the translation came from.


  121. deebaser Says:

    We might take out their nuke program, but with Sadr playing nice these days and the NIE taking the wind out of Bush’s sails last fall, $12 billion a month being spent in Iraq, the economy on thin ice, an election in 7 months….I just can’t see them doing it.

    Comment by Keltoi — March 11, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
    ———

    Never underestimate the current administration’s ability to make terribad decisions.


  122. Fred Says:

    I believe the trolls have mounted a full court press. Think Progress has been making the headlines lately and they feel like they need to stop or damage the influence the website is having. Big retreat over the weekend and they are all pumped up and ready to play the last couple of days.
    Good Luck losers.


  123. Nature Rules Says:

    The trolls will not discuss a comparison of how many Palestinians have died as opposed to how many Israelies have died. To them, all Palestenians can die and if one Israelie is killed then that one death is the injustice.

    Comment by Fred — March 11, 2008 @ 5:01 pm

    Bingo Fred. I’m tired of hearing how the Israelies are the only victims. It makes them look callous and uncaring. The world wants both sides to stop but each side is so full of history based on myth - it’s soooo sad.


  124. Juan C. Says:

    It isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack, along with the others I listed at 84.
    Comment by Keltoi

    Don’t chicken out now. Just remember the shiny, beautiful lights of an Arabian night made by Shock and Awe.


  125. Keltoi Says:

    This is just ignorance on your part Tracy2. The kind of thing you say when you don’t want to be held accountable for the things you say.

    Comment by Fred — March 11, 2008 @ 5:07 pm

    Okay Fred, why don’t you tell me what Khameni said to Al-Sadr the last time they invited you to one of their strategy sessions?

    Or better yet, just STFU.


  126. lefty Says:

    I don’t care what TP said in the past and I don’t care what commenters here said in the past. The situation changes and all you’re doing is playing a stupid game where you try to lock us into a particular view. WE ARE NOT REPUBLICANS. When things change, we adjust. Unlike you.


  127. toasterhead Says:

    Sorry - Link : http://news.yahoo.com/ nphotos/ slideshow/ photo/ / 080310/ photos_wl_afp/ f1d8157b6d45aa4b03d9b99c4a24affc/

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:52 pm

    Wow - so a single poster is now national foreign policy?

    Also, the Farsi words for “map” and “wipe” don’t appear on that poster.


  128. McWars Says:

    Comment by Charles James N.

    How, Charles, will we be able to afford yet another long-term conflict? What troops will we use?

    You do know that the terrorists would love for the U.S. to go bankrupt and have every country view them to be the enemy, right?

    “UNITED STATES FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY” — Al-Qaeda’s dream morning paper.


  129. Fred Says:

    Do you have problems reading German? You can’t have people in your chain-of-command second guessing you. He openly disagreed with the commander-in-chief and paid the price.

    Comment by Frank M

    Spoken just as Adolf Eichman would have.


  130. gummitch Says:

    There is no need for a translation, it’s written in English so that even thick-headed moonbats can read it.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:59 pm

    What about thick-headed wingnuts that can’t distinguish between the photo of a banner and the text overlaying it in English on a television display? Did you notice that the English wasn’t on the banner? That it’s in an entirely different font at a different angle than the banner is hanging? And that it is, even if accurately translated (which is in no way established), from nearly 30 years ago or more? (No attribution other than the Ayatollah’s name is given.)


  131. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >It isn’t, it is why we SHOULDN’T attack,

    ah, ok, sorry, my bad, i got your argument confused with someone elses..


  132. toasterhead Says:

    What cracks me up is that US military is blaming Iran of arming Iraqi insurgency…and they are occupying the damn country!!!

    LMAO!!!

    Comment by Juan C. — March 11, 2008 @ 5:05 pm

    Yeah, that’s cute. Especially when we and Iran are both backing the SCRI horse.


  133. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    we’re spending money over there, so they dont have to..

    Auditors: Iraq faces budget surplus

    http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ ap/ 20080311/ ap_on_go_co/ us_iraq;_ylt=Ao_KNxKgsLShkJXUHuHkuiKWwvIE

    “Iraq isn’t spending much of its own money, despite soaring oil revenues that are pushing the country toward a massive budget surplus, auditors told Congress on Tuesday.
    The expected surplus comes as the U.S. continues to invest billions of dollars in rebuilding Iraq and faces a financial squeeze domestically because of record oil prices.
    The Iraqis have a budget surplus,” said U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. “We have a huge budget deficit. . . . One of the questions is who should be paying.”


  134. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    Back in 2003, just prior to our invasion, I drew a bullseye on the map of the U.S. which hung in my office. I also posted a copy of the 1st amendment as well as article I of the Constitution which clearly states that it is the constitutional role of Congress to declare war….NOT the President. For all who asked, (I worked for a large, very conservative, very Republican company), I told them that the ultimate result of attacking Iraq would be the bullseye they saw on the map. I absolutely believe that if we attack Iran in any but the most minor way, and especially if we use tactical nuclear weapons, neither China nor Russia will stand for it. You CAN expect Russia to point their nuclear-tipped missles BACK at us again, as they were for many years during the Cold War. China will threaten to call their debt. If we don’t withdraw, China will act first…and probably launch both satellite and cyber attacks (they have been practicing for years). Once our defenses are down, Russia will launch.

    Impeachment might have saved us from this, but I fear it’s too late now.


  135. Fred Says:

    Mmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders - are they cynical about it or do they REALLY want to spark the apocalypse to get the 12th Imam to return?

    Comment by Keltoi

    Comon Tracy2, you know this is bull. The only people who are trying to bring about the end of times are your religious righties….


  136. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    #43: Good to know. It’s an interesting coincidence. I guess the Iranian attack on the US dollar finally cinched it.

    Comment by Frank M — March 11, 2008 @ 4:27 pm

    You are a complete idiot! What the hell do you think churning our paper money and cutting interest rates like the Fed has been doing now for a couple of months has done to the dollar. Which hasn’t been in good shape for years as it is! This government, or rather their willingness to let a private centralized banking system control the money, has resulted in the destruction of the dollar. Choosing NOT to use it because of it’s lack of value is the far smarter thing to do. We are just about at the point where a U.S. dollar is the same as monopoly money, for God’s sake!!


  137. 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:

    Guardian story June 7 2006…

    Saddam Hussein stopped trading his oil for dollars before Iraq was invaded. Iran gets set to open a new oil bourse and futures market that will trade in euros, while Venezuela is said to be mulling over whether to follow suit.

    Now Russia has joined the bandwagon. On May 10, President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of a Russian oil and gas bourse along with his intention to convert the ruble into a convertible currency that would be used for the trade.

    Russia has recently swapped some of its dollar reserves for euros.
    Together Iran, Venezuela and Russia corner some 25 percent of the export market in oil. If the three countries do away with the petrodollar, this could seriously buffet the US currency, forcing up interest rates, increasing the cost of imports into the US and contributing to an inflationary economy or a recession.

    William Clark writing in the Energy Bulletin says, “What we are witnessing is a battle for oil currency supremacy. If Iran’s oil bourse becomes a successful alternative for international oil trades, it would challenge the hegemony currently enjoyed by the financial centers in both London (IPE) and New York (NYMEX)…”


  138. toasterhead Says:

    Also, the Farsi words for “map” and “wipe” don’t appear on that poster.

    Comment by toasterhead — March 11, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

    The words for “page” ( صفحه ) and “time” ( روزگار ) ARE on that poster in Farsi, however, which leads me to conclude that the “Islamophile” Juan Cole’s translation of Khomeini’s phrase as “the regime occupying Jerusalem must [vanish from] from the page of time” is indeed correct.


  139. lefty Says:

    I have been convinced that Georgie Bush had one more great fckup left (the economy). Now I’m worried he has two. Holy sh!t he is one crazy motherfcker.


  140. J Says:

    I have read a few places that Karl Rove was the main counterbalance in the Whitehouse to Cheney’s bloodthirst for Iran. While I believe that his reasoning was mainly political, he is gone and now, so is the operational roadblock.

    Obviously Bush no longer cares where he stands politically, so I wonder if the “decider” has enough cajones, or will, or intelligence to stand up to Cheney all by himself.

    I am irrationally hopeful.


  141. Charles James Napier Says:

    What about thick-headed wingnuts that can’t distinguish between the photo of a banner and the text overlaying it in English on a television display? Did you notice that the English wasn’t on the banner? That it’s in an entirely different font at a different angle than the banner is hanging? And that it is, even if accurately translated (which is in no way established), from nearly 30 years ago or more? (No attribution other than the Ayatollah’s name is given.)

    Comment by gummitch
    ——————————————————-

    The type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?

    Please….


  142. toasterhead Says:

    The type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?

    Please….

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm

    No. I’m suggesting that the students who created and put up the poster just took the English mistranslation originally put out by the Iranian news service, instead of translating Khomeini’s actual words which were less hardline.

    Really, if Khomeini had actually threatened 30 years ago to “wipe Israel off the map,” do you think Israel would’ve sold Iran arms in the 1980s?


  143. pete Says:

    Mmmmm….it is hard to say who says what to who in the world of Ayatollahs. So little is known about the actual psychology of these religious leaders

    Excuse me? Apparently we haven’t studied our psychology 101. If you don’t know what makes them tick, here’s a good start:
    http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

    As for the specific “Imams” in Iran? We could: a. Attack them and see how they react or b. talk to them. I would prefer “b”.


  144. Uncle Ho Says:

    gas just jumped up again. now $3.45/gal-regular. If this dipshit administration attacks Iran, $40.00/gal will be a bargain.


  145. Charles James Napier Says:

    No. I’m suggesting that the students who created and put up the poster just took the English mistranslation originally put out by the Iranian news service, instead of translating Khomeini’s actual words which were less hardline.

    Really, if Khomeini had actually threatened 30 years ago to “wipe Israel off the map,” do you think Israel would’ve sold Iran arms in the 1980s?

    Comment by toasterhead
    ————————————————–

    Who said anything about Khomeini?

    I’m talking about now.

    I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.

    There are none so blind as the willfully blind.


  146. RUCerious Says:

    The chymp is just crazy enough to do it.

    I remember the psychology of ‘what are they going to do, send me to Nam?’ Short timer mentality.


  147. Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?

    Are you suggesting a street sign in downtown Tehran represents official policy of the Iranian government? Can someone show a photograph of a sign help up in downtown DC and say it represents the official policy of the united states governemnt? are you that stupid?


  148. Badger Says:

    Shock and Awe…coming to a Gasoline pump near you.


  149. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    Would you folks support Israel if they were to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?….After all Iran does threaten to destroy their country and a nuclear armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel’s right to exist.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm

    No.


  150. toasterhead Says:

    Who said anything about Khomeini?

    I’m talking about now.

    I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.

    There are none so blind as the willfully blind.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm

    You’re talking about now, using a poster - put up by a bunch of hardline students in Tehran - that contains a 30-year-old quote by Ayatollah Khomeini. And you’re trying to use this to say that Iran threatens to “wipe Israel off the map,” which they never have.

    Just because a bunch of bigoted students put up “Islamofascism Awareness Week” posters all over Washington DC in October doesn’t make it official U.S. foreign policy. Neither does this poster represent official Iranian foreign policy. In both cases, they represent the views of a hardline, ultra-right wing faction that’s increasingly being marginalized the forces of reason.


  151. gummitch Says:

    The type is printed on the banner and the photograph was taken and by the Associated French Press (AFP) in Tehran….are you suggesting that the AFP doctored the photograph?

    Please….

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm

    No, I’m telling you that type is not printed on the banner and unless you can find a photo of the banner from a different angle that demonstrates otherwise, I ain’t buying it. The English type is clearly imposed on a background.


  152. Nature Rules Says:

    Excuse me? Apparently we haven’t studied our psychology 101. If you don’t know what makes them tick, here’s a good start:
    http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

    As for the specific “Imams” in Iran? We could: a. Attack them and see how they react or b. talk to them. I would prefer “b”.

    Comment by pete — March 11, 2008 @ 5:33 pm

    Hi pete, I read the intro to the book you linked to. Looks like a very interesting read. Thanks


  153. gummitch Says:

    Who said anything about Khomeini?

    I’m talking about now.

    I guess there is no point in trying to show you something that you’ve already decided that you will not see.

    There are none so blind as the willfully blind.

    Comment by Charles James Napier — March 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm

    The quote is from Khomeini, can’t you read? If you’re going to offer this as “proof” of “now”, find something that wasn’t written by a dead guy.


  154. Ms_Joanne Says:

    Well, well, well, the Emperor continues to do his thing. Not unexpected, little surprises me anymore.

    I wonder if the people will ever rise up against the evil that is our empire.

    But, to rise, you need communications. Hmmm, let’s review shall we.

    Our land and cell lines are being monitored by AT&T, Verizon and possibly others. No telephone communications. We all know enough about that, links are not needed.

    A couple of months ago, we had a rash of underline cables being cut - I had heard up to seven instances, but this link shows the fourth. I am lazy today so if you want to look for the others, feel free. This shut down internet communications in several countries. Ok, no more internet communications.

    Oh, but what about the satellite internet? Well, something about a rogue satellite being shot down comes to mind. Lots of discussion about why this was done when it was never needed before - ever. No satellite internet as well as land based internet? Maybe.

    Mail! Ah, we still have our handy dandy US Postal Service, right? Well, has anyone read H.R. 6407? Let’s take a peek at this gem, shall we? I happened on it as I was blog hopping.

    This little signing statement has a two-fer going on. First, searches:


    The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the Act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.

    No 4th Amendment. No warrant. Just the Okie dokie to search our mail whenever, wherever.

    Well, seeing that we no longer have any reasonable expectation to privacy in phone, internet or mail communications. Uhm, am I missing one that’s not been subverted? Anyone?.

    Let’s now look at that two-fer I was referring to in this little signing statement:


    The executive branch shall construe sections 3662 and 3663 of title 39, United States Code, as enacted by section 205 of the Act, not to authorize an officer or agency within the executive branch to institute proceedings in Federal court against the Postal Regulatory Commission, which is another part of the executive branch, as is consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and the constitutional limitation of Federal courts to deciding cases or controversies.

    (emphasis mine)

    What this does say here? Only he can determine whom anyone can talk to AND no one from an agency can say anything (whistle blower?), AND this is a Unitary Executive Branch AND no court shall determine cases or controversies. Think retroactive immunity? Might that count as a controversy?

    How did this executive order slip by with no fanfare? Have we become so immune to this type of shenanigans that no one pays attention to them any longer?

    Repeat after me…We. Are. Screwed.

    Oh, yeah…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran! WOO HOO!

    (cross posted on TheCarpetbaggerReport and TPZoo.


  155. toasterhead Says:

    No, I’m telling you that type is not printed on the banner and unless you can find a photo of the banner from a different angle that demonstrates otherwise, I ain’t buying it. The English type is clearly imposed on a background.

    Comment by gummitch — March 11, 2008 @ 5:42 pm

    I don’t know - It looks legit to me. The waves in the English text seem to match the waves in the poster. The English text is just wrong, that’s all.