Think Progress

ThinkFast: May 27, 2008

By Think Progress on May 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am

ThinkFast: May 27, 2008


tf5277.jpg

Despite his characterization of negotiation with difficult leaders as “appeasement,” President Bush “has spoken to or exchanged letters with” Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on numerous occasions, “underscoring how White House policy has departed from his pointed public call to shun talks with radical tyrants and dictators. ”

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) writes that “Republicans are in denial.” In today’s WSJ, he argues that “much is being written about the supposed soul-searching in the Republican Party. A more accurate description of our state is paralysis and denial.”

Twice as many veterans of the Iraq war are running for Congress than in 2006, and this year Republican candidates outnumber Democrats. Although many of the veteran candidates still face primaries and some are long shots, the outcome in November could well increase the number of combat veterans serving in Congress, a group that has been dwindling since 2000.”

Rising inflation and soaring food prices have caused the purchasing power of food stamps to drop since Congress last recalculated benefit levels in 1996. Food stamps are now worth an estimated $37 less per month than they were 12 years ago, while the consumer price index for food has increased faster than in two decades.

In “blunt and detailed report,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran’s suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” and that Iran continued to owe the agency “substantial explanations.”

The Club for Growth, a “conservative, free-market advocacy group,” will begin airing ads this week pressing Senate Republicans and Democrats to vote against a bill introduced by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 71 percent by mid-century.

A new Government Accountability Office report being released today finds that a Department of Homeland Security program “to strengthen port security has gaps that terrorists could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers.”

“Soccer’s world governing body suspended Iraq’s national soccer association on Monday, leaving the players on Iraq’s national team who had united a divided country fearing that they will not be able to participate in the 2010 World Cup.” The suspension by the governing body had “its roots in a decision last week by the Iraqi government to disband the Iraqi Olympic Committee,” determining the “committee was operating illegally.”

And finally: Jenna gives Ellen permission to get married on Bush’s Texas ranch. Jenna and Laura Bush sat for an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, which will air this coming Wednesday. “So, the ranch was a great place to get married – it looked like nobody could fly over and get pictures or bother you, really,” DeGeneres said. “Can we get the ranch?” she asked, referring to her upcoming nuptials with actress Portia de Rossi. “Sure,” said Jenna.

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.



48 Responses to “ThinkFast: May 27, 2008”

  1. Freedom Rebel says:

    Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’
    Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.

    Save the Children says the most shocking aspect of child sex abuse is that most of it goes unreported and unpunished, with children too scared to speak out. A 13-year-old girl, “Elizabeth” described to the BBC how 10 UN peacekeepers gang-raped her in a field near her Ivory Coast home. “I was terrified. Then they just left me there bleeding.” No action has been taken against the soldiers.

    The report also found that aid workers have been sexually abusing boys and girls. Save the Children says the international community has promised a policy of zero-tolerance to child sexual abuse, but that this is not being followed up by action on the ground.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7420798.stm

    Those men should be sent to prison for life. So that they can never, ever harm another child again.

    Family Seed Business Takes On Goliath of Genetic Modification

    Selling seeds is more than just an extra source of income on this organic farm an hour northwest of Montreal. For Meek and partner Frederic Sauriol, propagating local varieties is part of a David and Goliath struggle by small farmers against big seed companies. At stake, they believe, is no less than control of the world’s food supply.

    The 12 million farmers worldwide who will plant GM seeds this year sign contracts agreeing not to save or replant seeds. That means they must buy new seeds every year. Critics charge such contracts confer almost unlimited power over farmers’ lives to multinational companies whose priority is profit.

    The debate over GM seeds has come into sharp focus as the world faces a food-price crisis that threatens to push millions into starvation. In recent months, riots have erupted from Haiti to Bangladesh in the wake of soaring costs for staples like bread, rice and corn. But in the 1980s, the federal government began privatizing agricultural research. Worldwide, GM crops have grown 67-fold in 12 years, now covering 690.9 million hectares in 23 countries, according to the industry’s Council for Biotechnology Information.

    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/25/9189/

    The Federal Government is giving control and power over food to Multi-national agri-businesses like Monsanto. Who has sued farmers after their fields became contaminated by their patented GMOs. Tragically farmers are losing their freedom of choice, which crops they want to eat and grow. All thanks to our government privatizing agricultural research.


  2. RUCerious says:


    In “blunt and detailed report,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran’s suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” and that Iran continued to owe the agency “substantial explanations.”

    Oh, Crap. Just what our Codpiece-In-Chief needs to hear to justify the upcoming bombing campaign…


  3. tom says:

    If Ellen can wait until next January, GDumbya’s fake ranch will certainly be available for her wedding. He, LaLa, Darth Cheney, KKKRoverBoy and the rest of the Keystone Kops will be living in Paraguay by then in order to avoid prosecution.


  4. Freedom Rebel says:

    What didn’t get reported on in MSM..

    Business Gets Condor Experts’ Silence in Land Deal

    Biologist Noel Snyder got an intriguing call from a development-company representative a day after it announced it was moving forward with plans to build nearly 3,500 luxury homes, condos and hotels on land used by the endangered California condor. Would he like to make $3,000 for just one day’s work reviewing the company’s plan to safeguard the condor from the development? There was just one catch: Snyder would have to sign a promise not to publicly criticize the Tejon Ranch Co. project. “My jaw dropped to the floor,” said Snyder, one of the foremost experts on North America’s largest flying bird. “It was very clear to me I could’ve asked for $10,000. I could’ve asked for $50,000.”

    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/26/9194/

    US Academic Deported and Banned for Criticising Israel

    Norman Finkelstein, the controversial Jewish American academic and fierce critic of Israel, has been deported from the country and banned from the Jewish state for 10 years, it emerged yesterday. Finkelstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor who has accused Israel of using the genocidal Nazi campaign against Jews to justify its actions against the Palestinians, was detained by the Israeli security service, Shin Bet, when he landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Friday.

    The Association for Civil Rights in Israel said the deportation of Finkelstein was an assault on free speech. “The decision to prevent someone from voicing their opinions by arresting and deporting them is typical of a totalitarian regime,” said the association’s lawyer, Oded Peler. “A democratic state, where freedom of expression is the highest principle, does not shut out criticism or ideas just because they are uncomfortable for its authorities to hear. It confronts those ideas in public debate.”

    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/26/9193/

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. How the news media fails us

    http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385×138070

    A great speech about right wing media from Robert F. Kennedy-YouTube Video. About 5 guys that control the media and radio stations; most won’t allow criticism of the Bush Administration. He also talks about so many other things you never hear about and should for your own safety. A Must Watch!!!


  5. And the beat goes on says:

    Brit Intel “Leaks” Propaganda: Iran Paying Iraqis to Kill Occupation Troops
    Since the neocon lie about Iran passing IEDs off to the “insurgents” (the resistance) in Iraq didn’t get much traction, we now have the Brits playing second fiddle with a passel of hogwash, just to keep the bomb, bomb, bomb Iran — as McCain likes to sing — agenda front and center.
    “Iran has secretly paid Iraqi insurgents hundreds of thousands of American dollars to kill British soldiers, according to a leaked government document,” reports the Telegraph. “The allegations are contained in a confidential ‘field report’ written by a British officer who served in Basra during one of the most dangerous periods of the conflict. The report, which has never been made public, shows the full level of Iran’s involvement in the insurgency for the first time.”

    In other words, British intelligence, conniving with American intelligence, has crafted a “field report” and “leaked” this to the ever complaisant corporate media. Leaked… you know, sort of like signed, sealed, and delivered. In fact, chances are this “report” was specifically created for the corporate media and its headline readers and sound bite spectators who need to get the idea that the bad guys are now in Iran and they are killing our boys so, of course, we have to bomb them to smithereens.
    Read the article at:

    http://blacklistednews.com/view.asp?ID=6680

    **We are going to be “bombarded” with this type of contrived propaganda for some time to justify attacking Iran. This type of propaganda is what they used for invading Iraq and, if you look back, it worked long enough to get us in there and look where we are now.


  6. Freedom Rebel says:

    NBC News, MSNBC: Uneasy coexistence?

    Clinton, Bush supporters say opinions offered on MSNBC compromise news reporting on NBC. NBC News has managed to achieve the near-impossible this election season in getting Hillary Rodham Clinton and George Bush to agree on something.

    That something, however, is antipathy toward NBC News. Through its unusual public criticism of NBC’s handling of Richard Engel’s interview with the president, the Bush administration struck at the soft white underbelly of the news division’s co-existence with the opinionated personalities of MSNBC.

    “I’m sure you don’t want people to conclude that there is really no distinction between the `news’ as reported on NBC and the `opinion’ as reported on MSNBC, despite the increasing blurring of those lines,” Bush counselor Ed Gillespie wrote to NBC News President Steve Capus in a letter pointedly released to the public.

    It was no coincidence when Clinton ran a campaign ad in Oregon criticizing pundits “who talk about who’s up and who’s down” instead of about issues, pictures of Matthews, Olbermann and Russert flashed past. Olbermann’s success has had a spillover effect on the network, said Eric Burns. “He has made, just in terms of general image, MSNBC and by implication NBC (appear) much more liberal than it really is,” Burns said.

    Grumbling by the Bush administration against NBC isn’t surprising given the savage commentaries Olbermann has unleased against it. “We must be doing something right if people are squawking on both sides of the aisle,” Capus said. “News and news-related programming is not always a popularity contest.”

    http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/NBC_News_MSNBC_Uneasy_coexistence__05262008.html

    They’re both mad at hearing the truth broadcasted to millions of viewers. If you don’t like the criticism, get out of politics. Sorry, I have no sympathy for either one.


  7. And the beat goes on says:

    Freedom Rebel says:

    A great speech about right wing media from Robert F. Kennedy-YouTube Video. About 5 guys that control the media and radio stations; most won’t allow criticism of the Bush Administration. He also talks about so many other things you never hear about and should for your own safety. A Must Watch!!!

    **I couldn’t agree more. He is a wonderful speaker and was right on the mark with this speech!


  8. cavjam says:

    Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) writes that “Republicans are in denial.”

    That quote needs the preface, “Waking from a seven-year coma.”

    Global warming is a hoax; evolution is just a “theory;” abstinence-only works; tax cuts for the middle class; Hugo Chavez is a dictator; we’re making good progress in Iraq; Saddam threw the weapons inspectors out; Iraq is not in a civil war; Saddam/9-11/alQaeda, Saddam/9-11/alQaeda, Saddam/9-11/alQaeda, blah blah blah ad absurdam.


  9. Marie says:

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) trails his Democratic opponent in the latest Rasmussen poll.
    McConnell has this in common with McCain — the second time around, driven by ambition and greed, they each married into wealthy politically influential families.


  10. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >YouTube Video

    I’m personally deeply concerned that Murdock or someone like him is going to try to aquire youtube someday..


  11. Menehune says:

    A new Government Accountability Office being released today finds that Department of Homeland Security program “to strengthen port security has gaps that terrorists could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers.”

    I don’t get it. This was the first thing everyone said was a huge problem back in 2001. It is 2008. These people’s hands really need to be pried from the steering wheel. Over a cliff–that kind of driving they can do–but everything else has been about getting nowhere at a high rate of speed (and huge expense).


  12. Freedom Rebel says:

    #11 Chocolate Jesus Says:

    >YouTube Video

    I’m personally deeply concerned that Murdock or someone like him is going to try to aquire youtube someday..

    That is trully a horrifying thought. Your concern is definitely justified. Any way they can control our thoughts and actions; they are trying their best to do.


  13. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Despite his characterization of negotiation with difficult leaders as “appeasement,” President Bush “has spoken to or exchanged letters with” Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on numerous occasions, “underscoring how White House policy has departed from his pointed public call to shun talks with radical tyrants and dictators. ”

    There’s a simple explanation; neiher Bush nor his minons really believe that simply talking to tyrants constitutes “appeasement”. It’s such a stupid concept to embrace. Yet they’re publicly embracing it.

    No, all they’re seeking to do is demonize liberals along their own twisted narrative lines. If they can convince their wingnut legions that talking is weakness, sure, they’ll erode this nation, but what’s more important is that they’ll make themselves look strong.

    At least that’s what they’ll see when they look in the mirror and suck in their guts.


  14. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Marie Says:

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) trails his Democratic opponent in the latest Rasmussen poll.
    McConnell has this in common with McCain — the second time around, driven by ambition and greed, they each married into wealthy politically influential families.

    May 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am

    But, unlike we do with McConnell, nobody thinks McCain married his wife to hide the fact that’s secretly gay.


  15. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    There’s a simple explanation; neiher Bush nor his minons really believe that simply talking to tyrants constitutes “appeasement”. It’s such a stupid concept to embrace. Yet they’re publicly embracing it.

    No, all they’re seeking to do is demonize liberals along their own twisted narrative lines. If they can convince their wingnut legions that talking is weakness, sure, they’ll erode this nation, but what’s more important is that they’ll make themselves look strong.

    At least that’s what they’ll see when they look in the mirror and suck in their guts.

    May 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am

    I’m sure the few within the Bush adminsistration with IQs in the three-digit range understand that merely talking to your enemies does not constitute “appeasement”, but, as has been noted for centuries, stupid people tend to be conservative, and this administration knows that a large percentage of their supporters (the stupid ones) will believe them when they say that talking to your enemies is equivalent to “appeasibng” them. (But they won’t use the word “equivalent, because that’s too big a word for their stupid followers to understand.)

    What bothers me more is that I know there are intelligent conservatives out there who know that “talking” does not equal “appeasement”. I just wish they would open their mouths more and help people learn the truth, instead of focusing merely on winning.


  16. And the beat goes on says:

    Recount: The Mighty vs. the Many

    I thoroughly enjoyed Recount. It was pretty unforgiving of Repubs, hitting the multiple ways their strategy disenfranchised Dem voters, from pre-election tactics to post election legal strategy. Most of the ideas we’ve read about or covered in the past several years were raised in the film – it’s packed full of these ideas.

    And it also lampooned the spineless strategy of top Dem leadership, another topic we’ve blogged much about. “Country above party” becomes an excuse to avoid the real battle – the powerful deciding what the people rightfully decide – who shall make the laws.

    Recount had me busting a gut laughing at some of the acting comedically pulled off by Laura Dern, as Katherine Harris. Based on what Harris did, the movie was kind to only mock her.

    Portion snipped from:
    http://www.opednews.com/articles/life_a_rady_ana_080526_recount_3a_the_mighty_.htm

    **I have read some criticism that it was not exactly accurate, but I loved this dramatization. This was perfect program to air before the 2008 election. I honestly think it is going to happen again in some manner and we really need to keep our eyes open. I wish I was able to volunteer to be an observer for November 2008.


  17. Freedom Rebel says:

    #8 And the beat goes on Says:

    **I couldn’t agree more. He is a wonderful speaker and was right on the mark with this speech!

    Thank you! The part of his speech about the mercury levels in fish and women, should make people really think long and hard. That the majority of fish that are caught in 17 states are unsafe. What kind of damage is this doing? We have seen the evidence in women with the spike in Autism, as one of the factors.

    Have a great day! :-)


  18. upside99 says:

    I am heartened to see that we will have many more vets running for office, no matter which party they represent.

    This will provide a much better environment for not only veteran’s issue but a truly bi-partisan look at where we go militarily, in the future.

    Too many Chickenhawks spoil the broth, or some such thing, maybe?


  19. RUCerious says:

    BeatGoesOn ~ Whatever happened to Miss Harris? She kinda slinked back into the Florida slime somwhere?


  20. RUCerious says:

    Last week a lightly treated study showed that ocean acidification was approaching the West Coast about one hundred years prior to the best climate model available.
    This acidic water does stuff like dissolving mollusk shells, coral, and of course, fish…


  21. barfly says:

    I am heartened to see that we will have many more vets running for office, no matter which party they represent.

    Iwish I could share your sentiments, but there isn’t any evidence that these vets will be any better at governance, should they be elected. Duncan Hunter’s son would be a reliable republican rubberstamp, as would many of the current republican hopefuls.


  22. RUCerious says:

    Here’s a link. This should be a huge issue, but burying the lead is what the MSM does best

    More acidic seas pose new threat, scientists warn


  23. Exit Stage Left says:

    Rising inflation and soaring food prices have caused the purchasing power of food stamps to drop since Congress last recalculated benefit levels in 1996. Food stamps are now worth an estimated $37 less per month than they were 12 years ago, while the consumer price index for food has increased faster than in two decades.

    It won’t be long health care will take a back seat to the issue of Americans not being able to afford to eat. I just don’t get the mindset of those who wish the poor and middle class to be hungry and unhealthy.


  24. kindness says:

    Jenna just wants to be first in line to kiss the bride(s).

    Wouldn’t that look good on the trashmag covers at the grocery check out line.


  25. And the beat goes on says:

    RUCerious Says:

    BeatGoesOn ~ Whatever happened to Miss Harris? She kinda slinked back into the Florida slime somwhere?

    **She ran for state rep and won. Then ran for state senator and lost. I used to listen to Al Franken’s show before he announced and he interviwed her a couple of times. She insisted on being called “senator” even though she lost. I think she remains active behind the scenes promoting the Christian conservative agenda – she has visited Israel to prepare for the end-time agenda.


  26. Freedom Rebel says:

    #23 RUCerious Says:

    Here’s a link. This should be a huge issue, but burying the lead is what the MSM does best

    More acidic seas pose new threat, scientists warn

    RUC, I’m not sure which is worse, the acidic level or the fact that we are using the ocean as a garbage dump. There is a floating garbage dump about the size of Africa created by Pacific currents now carrying refuse from North America, Asia and the islands, concentrating it into a swirl of flotsam estimated to contain 3.5 million tons of junk, 80 percent of which is plastic.

    They both need to be corrected fast. Or we are going to lose even more biodiversity in the ocean. Thank you for the link it was an informative article.


  27. stewarjt says:

    #2, “Codpiece-in-chief” Damned funny!


  28. katy says:

    YouTube law fight ‘threatens net’
    BBC News – 6 hours ago
    A one billion dollar lawsuit against YouTube threatens internet freedom, according to its owner Google. Google’s claim follows Viacom’s move to sue the video sharing service for its inability to keep copyrighted material off its site.
    YouTube Defends Its Activity In Front Of Copyright Accusations eFluxMedia
    Viacom And Google Assail Each Other In Court: Viacom “Threatens … Search Engine Land
    CNET News.com – dBTechno – Hard OCP – Techtree.com

    they keep tryin’…


  29. Doc Rock says:

    Republicans continue to try to exploit Iraq occupation veterans by having them stand for office as a smoke screen for the Republican party’s continuing corrupt practices and broken promises.


  30. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    LA is still on of the most backward States in the Country.


  31. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    *on=one. sorry.


  32. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    That’s funny about that Barber law. And someone from the licensing part of the gov’t said it went back to the 50’s or 60’s and was the result of “strong arm” efforts by powerful “barber unions”! Oh, those barber unions! Are they the next ones to be added to the watch lists? What kind of clout could they have had? What, they threatened to let everyone’s hair grow long if they didn’t get their way? I think any laws requiring certain businesses to be closed on certain days should be struck down as unconstitutional. There is no logical basis for any of them.


  33. McWars says:

    A 13-year-old girl, “Elizabeth” described to the BBC how 10 UN peacekeepers gang-raped her in a field near her Ivory Coast home.

    My god, FR, what kind of people are living on this planet? And to think these people are still walking around, uncharged for their horrific crimes.

    What is with the obsession with exploiting these children?


  34. McWars says:

    Aid workers, out of all people, doing this to a precious child is unthinkable. Do we have to start questioning the motives of some getting into public service? Unbelievable.


  35. mary says:

    Updated: Lieberman & Graham Serve on Policy Board of Advisors for an Anti-Obama 527

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/25/15634/4792/133/522607


  36. katy says:

    And the beat goes on Says:

    RUCerious Says: Whatever happened to Miss Harris?…

    **She ran for state rep and won.[...] She insisted on being called “senator” even though she lost.

    i’m pretty sure you are confusing AirAmerica interviews…
    i don’t remember franken ever interviewing harris… BUT, sam seder and janeanne garrafilo (sp?) had a running routine/gag where jeneanne would “call in” as harris and insist she be called senator… hilarious…


  37. RUCerious says:

    katy, I’m just glad the obnoxious harridan is off the airwaves. My eyes can only take so much of a beating…


  38. And the beat goes on says:

    i’m pretty sure you are confusing AirAmerica interviews…
    i don’t remember franken ever interviewing harris… BUT, sam seder and janeanne garrafilo (sp?) had a running routine/gag where jeneanne would “call in” as harris and insist she be called senator… hilarious…

    **Thank you, Katy. I must have had a “Harris” moment. It was hysterical! I love Sam and wish someone would give him more air time!


  39. Exit Stage Left says:

    Wayne A. Schneider Says:
    I think any laws requiring certain businesses to be closed on certain days should be struck down as unconstitutional. There is no logical basis for any of them.

    Obviously, it’s a jesus people law.


  40. katy says:

    ’s ok, beat… we all have our “harris” moments…

    a special g’morning and hello out to zooey, whenever she checks in… had a really good time visiting with her yesterday!

    OH! what YOUs don’t KNOW!!! :-)

    kidding! she’s a great lady, a great person…

    i’m off to plant up some deck pots for my brother…
    getting paid too! woohoo!

    back later…


  41. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >Updated: Lieberman & Graham Serve on Policy Board of >Advisors for an Anti-Obama 527

    i am SOo looking forward to 2009 and LIEbermans irrelvancy…at least the initial by his name is finally right..


  42. Freedom Rebel says:

    #34 McWars Says:

    A 13-year-old girl, “Elizabeth” described to the BBC how 10 UN peacekeepers gang-raped her in a field near her Ivory Coast home.

    My god, FR, what kind of people are living on this planet? And to think these people are still walking around, uncharged for their horrific crimes.
    What is with the obsession with exploiting these children?

    When I read the article it made me physically ill. They’re other instances in a box graph that show the incidents in different countries. The fact that these guys are still walking around and haven’t been prosecuted is beyond belief.

    The obsession is that these children can not defend themselves and in most cases are too afraid to report what has happen to them. There have always been monsters that prey on children but now it is reported more.

    Save the Children is at least trying to do something to stop this from happening which is more than what most of the organizations are doing. It just breaks my heart that anyone would take away the innocence of any child.

    I agree with you McWars the crimes are horrific. And the punishment should match the crime in these cases.


  43. Ms_Joanne says:

    Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’

    Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.

    FR, this is what happens when PSYOPS to dehumanize people is used. When you don’t see “the enemy” as a human being, as a person, it doesn’t matter what you do to them. It’s the Nazi’s all over again.

    And we must remember that not all of our troops do or could ever do this. I fear for the younger, more pliable troops. Men and women who are able to think for themselves would never do such a thing. Some people will never forget that those icky brown people over there are still people.

    The likes of Dobbs and the others who demonize any collective group of people are helping dehumanize them to the point where the uneducated take any given power (either here in the US or elsewhere in the world) and abuse it.


  44. Freedom Rebel says:

    Ms_Joanne Says:

    FR, this is what happens when PSYOPS to dehumanize people is used. When you don’t see “the enemy” as a human being, as a person, it doesn’t matter what you do to them. It’s the Nazi’s all over again.

    And we must remember that not all of our troops do or could ever do this. I fear for the younger, more pliable troops. Men and women who are able to think for themselves would never do such a thing. Some people will never forget that those icky brown people over there are still people.

    The likes of Dobbs and the others who demonize any collective group of people are helping dehumanize them to the point where the uneducated take any given power (either here in the US or elsewhere in the world) and abuse it.

    That is so true Ms. Joanne. You have too many people that abuse power in many different ways.

    I know that the majority of peacekeepers don’t or wouldn’t hurt these children. It’s just that these people were suppose to protect them not become their worst nightmare.

    Take care and have a good day! :-)


  45. Ms_Joanne says:

    This is slightly OT but it applies. I posted it elsewhere but will repost it here:

    I have a friend who has been in the military and reserves for more than 20 years, retired from the police to go to Afghanistan to serve after 9/11 because he wanted to do something for the country. He wound up in Iraq and as is his way did some amazing things. (How do you get good intelligence from the locals? Befriend them! He bought one man a pair of shoes – something that man had never owned before.)

    He’s home now, trying to finally finish an education he never was able to seriously work towards (for his many deployments) and can barely afford going to a community college let alone going to a four year university – state or otherwise. He gets his AA this summer and wants to go on – yet is struggling at every turn.

    And this is a man who has served his state and his country for his entire adult life. That he has to struggle as he does is nothing short of a travesty and brings great shame to this country.

    This is the kind of man that should be in leadership (way above where he is, even though he is in a leadership position on the ground). This is how you treat people. This is how you get information – usable information. This is how you treat people.

    Too bad the Who Would Jesus Torture crowd doesn’t see people as people, and that includes US, ever single person in America, in the world who was not born with a silver spoon firmly shoved up his or her a$$.

    GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

    FR, you have a good day, too. I’ll be working on my anger issues today. :-)


  46. Rowan Berkeley says:

    This IAEA stuff all goes back to the infamous smoking laptop, which has been exposed as bogus more times than I have had hot meals in the last year or so.



  47. upright left says:

    ______
    Doc Rock Says:

    Republicans continue to try to exploit Iraq occupation veterans by having them stand for office as a smoke screen for the Republican party’s continuing corrupt practices and broken promises.

    May 27th, 2008 at 10:30 am
    ______
    Give veterans some credit. Despite the views of the likes of John Kerry and Stephen King, veterans are quite able to determine for themselves what they believe and whether or not they want to run for office.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll