Bushkrieg: The Musical!

Often in American history, our country has done things that did not align with American principles. It has been more rare, however, for our country to do things that were against American interests. Jefferson knew that he was acting beyond his authority when he made the Louisiana purchase, but it was in the American interest to do so. The fact that an unknown degree of our foreign and domestic policy is run by the NSA, in secret, belies the ideal of the open and democratic society that seems to have been the goal of the founding fathers. Yet, all we can do is trust that our leaders won't do things that are contrary to the interests of the country at large. Johnson, in Vietnam, Nixon, in virtually everything he did, Reagan and Bush in Iran/Contra and Iraqgate, were all acting against American ideals as well as interests. But even in those cases, we might still believe that they _thought_ they were doing the right (if not the legal) thing. Can Bush II at this point still believe that he is working in the American ideal, or in the interests of America? Does he care? Does anyone really believe that Saddam isn't better left contained, or that if Gore had been allowed to serve in the office to which he was elected, this whole issue would never have come up?

Bush Watch

Matt Taibbi critiques Bush's press conference, and the white house press corps.

Bushkrieg Watch

Via MWO comes this excellent analysis on the failure of the news media to protect us from the folly of the War to End all Peace.

Not that it matters or comes as any surprise, but the UK official who has been most hawkish on the Iraq war has admitted that it is, at least partially, about the oil and energy supplies. We are shocked, SHOCKED!

Hendrick Hertzberg offers a very balanced view of the mess this administration has made for us.

Here's a shocker: "Pelosi: Democrats missed chance to turn Bush away from war". Another "no shit" moment. She also vows at the bottom of the article that Democrats will have defined messages from now on. Good luck, guys.

Thanks to RevSkink for this link to an article by Jimmy Carter, explaining that Operation False Pretense does not satisfy the definition of a just war.

Terry Jones, ex-Monty Python member and director of the film "Brazil" (and who therefore knows Orwellian logic when he sees it) weighs in with "Mr. Bush goes for the Kill"

Check out antiwar.com

History Watch

More from Bob Somerby. This time, he compares Naomi Wolf, Gore's advisor who got nastily smeared, with some other advisors from the McCain and Bradley camps. For some reason, Gore's advisor got more bad publicity. I wonder why? Hmmm. You can also read about Chris Matthews' attention to trivial details about Gore and his efforts to spin them into something nefarious. It is rather bathetic to hear him now rail against Bush's War, as if he didn't work as hard as he possibly could to get Bush elected. At the end of the article, there is a link about smearing of current candidate John Kerrey, specifically his wife who is apparently quite an amazing person. Read the piece, then read the slimy Washington Post editorial Somerby cites. You won't believe your eyes, and you won't believe how otherwise (seemingly) decent people are about to be thoroughly trashed because of the (D) behind their names.

Arrogance Watch

Here is an excellent page! Check it out.

What does it mean to be an American? Watch

We noted with some interest that 2/3 of the respondents to an online poll a few weeks ago said that it was OK for the US or our allies to torture prisoners to get information out of them (presumably terrorist prisoners). Personally, I think that torture is never the way to go, because it lowers us to the level of the people we are supposed to be fighting against. I would rather be killed than lose my humanity that way, but apparently I'm in the minority. Read the chilling post "There is no God Here".

Sign of the Times Watch

I can't really add much to these links, just go see them. I'm at a loss for words, especially if the site is legitimate.

Humor Watch

(from Alterman's blog, with a link to another website)

VIETNAM 2 PREFLIGHT CHECK

1. Cabal of oldsters who won't listen to outside advice? Check.
2. No understanding of ethnicities of the many locals? Check.
3. Imposing country boundaries drawn in Europe, not by the locals? Check.
4. Unshakeable faith in our superior technology? Check.
5. France secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
8. SecDef pushing a conflict the JCS never wanted? Check.
9. Fear we'll look bad if we back down now? Check.
10. Corrupt Texan in the WH? Check.
11. Land war in Asia? Check.
12. Right unhappy with outcome of previous war? Check.
13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.
14. Soldiers about to be dosed with *our own* chemicals? Check.
15. Friendly fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.
16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.
17. B-52 bombers? Check.
18. Helicopters that clog up on the local dust? Check.
19. In-fighting among the branches of the military? Check.
20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.
21. Local experts ignored? Check.
22. Local politicians ignored? Check.
23. Locals used to conflicts lasting longer than the USA has been a country? Check.
24. Against advice, Prez won't raise taxes to pay for war? Check.
25. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.
26. Use of nukes hinted at if things don't go our way? Check.
27. Unpopular war? Check.
28. Vietnam 2, you are cleared to taxi!