Feel bad? It gets worse

The masterly Billmon - Failure is an Option:

The most serious threat, though, is that the neocons would use their newly regained freedom of action not to limit the fallout from failure in Iraq, but to invade Iran and/or Syria -- the same "flight forward" response to crisis that ultimately ruined imperial Germany. And this is why, perversely, we probably should regard any sign that the Cheney administration is preparing to withdraw from Iraq as a warning flag of further catastrophes to come.

A pyrrhic victory is assured.

Money is a tree huggin' greenie

British insurers warn on storm costs:

The worldwide cost of cleaning up major storms could rise by two-thirds to $US27 billion ($35.4 billion) annually unless urgent action is taken to fight global warming, British insurers warned on Wednesday.

"Governments now have a chance to make rational choices for the future before it is too late," said Nick Starling, an executive with the Association of British Insurers which issued the warning.

Yay, insurance companies to the rescue!

Shooting the messenger(s)

Reveal your sources or go to jail: judge:

A judge gave two journalists one more week before deciding their sentence for refusing to reveal confidential sources to a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's name to the news media.

This is the last part of a series of events which demonstrated that the Bush Admin's posturing and statements on 'national security' is nothing but posing and rhetoric.

Plame was outed in retaliation and presumedly as a warning to others thinking of doing a similar thing as her husband, Joseph Wilson.

Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador, disputed President Bush's claim that Saddam Hussein had imported nuclear weapons materials from Niger. He did so after visiting the country (yeah, what would he know).

Unfortunately, Robert Novak isn't being questioned by the courts. He was the journalist who actually reported that Plame was CIA. Miller and Cooper reported on the Novak article.

I'm sure the prosecution have not received political pressure to avoid charging Novak, the man who is most likely to know the source. Sure.

So, who was it that committed an offence by divulging the name of a CIA asset, Rove?

Bush: Oil prospector

Revolution, geopolitics and pipelines:

A geopolitical pattern has become clear over the past months. One-by-one, with documented overt and covert Washington backing and financing, new US-friendly regimes have been put in place in former Soviet states which are in a strategic relation to possible pipeline routes from the Caspian Sea.

Big back slaps for Bush. Stay the course, son.

Next!

Fox News Peddles Military Action Against Iran:

This is how Neil Cavuto opened his show today (June 27, 2005): "Remember how much we fussed over this guy? [Video of Saddam Hussein shown while the banner at the bottom of the screen read: Forget Saddam?] Now what if I told you we might be facing a bigger threat from this guy? [Video of Iran's President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while the banner below read: A Bigger Threat?] Why Iran's newly elected President had oil prices jumping and no less than our President talking. [Video of men working on an oil derrick over a banner reading: Fear Factor?]" And that was just the teaser.

Thanks Mista Murdoch.

All of your assets are belong to us

US to freeze assets in illegal weapons blitz:

"This whole thing is going to have to be based on good and reliable intelligence that will not lead to any litigation," one official said. "That's why it is important to be thorough."

A blitz?

That's some pretty tough talking from Dubya. Bold, even.

I won't bother commenting on the above paragraph other than to say two words, followed by an acronym - Iraq, WMD.

The franchise operation

Bombing Attacks on Iraqi Forces Kill 38 in North:

The attacks came as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said that the insurgency could last as long as a dozen years.

Rummy Da'Poet.

The downtrodden: Conservative filmakers

On the Right Side of the Theater Aisle:

"Five years from now, all I hope is that filmmakers to the right have the same access to distribution that Michael Moore has," said Mr. Maloney, the maker of "Brainwashing 101."

If established Hollywood conservatives welcome the energy of this new group, some nonetheless fear that it is heading down the wrong path. "This is the cult of victimization, which says, 'The left has ganged up on us in the media, so we're going to fight back with film festivals for conservatives and screenwriting courses for Christians,' " said Mr. Chetwynd, who directed the agitprop documentary "Celsius 41.11." "I don't support that approach at all, because what you'll end up with is ideologues with laptops."

Even the outspoken Mr. Bannon thinks that little will be gained if conservative ideology moves too far in front of conservative art. "We have the money, we have the ideas," he said. "What we don't have - and what the left has in spades - are great filmmakers."

For all of this time, I've had the belief that the bulk of what slips out of the Hollywood lower alimentary, dropping into the porcelain bowl of the marketplace, is conservative crap (same goes for television).

Gee, I can't wait for the effect of this new push to manifest.

Git R Done!

... if 9/11 taught us anything, it’s how 9/11 could have been prevented had we tortured enough brown people, not that we are torturing anybody.

Sweet. Don't feel bad, give yourself a big ol'pat on the back.

Via.

A commenter to the Poorman's post: # tomato_freak Says:
June 23rd, 2005 at 12:54 am

Time travel…cool.

F*ckin' ruler!

Static

Cheney Attributes Spike in Attacks to Insurgents Sensing Defeat:

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2005 – Increased violence and a growing number of foreign insurgents are signs that the United States is close to accomplishing its objective in Iraq, Vice President Richard B. Cheney said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer June 23.

There is a damn good chance that Sgt. Wood is a good person. Above average, at least.

Via Billmon, More Deadpan Humor.

Cashing in

Series of car bombs rock Iraqi capital:

Army General John Abizaid, who as head of Central Command is the top US commander in the Middle East, declined to endorse Vice-President Dick Cheney's assessment that Iraq's insurgency was in its "last throes". He said more foreign fighters were coming into Iraq than six months ago.

"There's a lot of work to be done against the insurgency," Abizaid said.

Disputing Cheney is like arguing with fools and liars. Pointless.

Why would he (Cheney) say such a thing?

Eat your vegies

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

23 June 2005 -- According to the latest reports from Afghanistan, several top Taliban commanders have surrendered to the Afghan and Coalition forces today.

Commanders Mullah Dadullah, Mullah Badar, Mulla Abdul Hakim, Mulla Hanan and Mullah Baseer surrendered today to the Afghan and Coalition forces in the Mian Nashin District of Kandahar province near the borders with Zabul Province, according to the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense.

Also, Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said today that Afghan and U.S. forces killed more than 100 Taliban fighters this week in the southern part of the country.

Ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said that U.S. helicopter gunships killed most of them as they fled a district on the border of Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces seized by the Taliban last week.

Mashal said that up to 150 guerrillas escaped the three-day onslaught and crossed into Pakistan. He said the Taliban fighters included Urdu-speaking Pakistani militants, and police said at least two militants killed may have been from Chechnya.

U.S. and Afghan authorities have said that the militants are trying to disrupt parliamentary elections scheduled in September.

(RFE/RL's Afghan Service/Agencies)

Seems to be a race around the jungle gym. Whose been tagged?

Busy

In fact, I'd even suggest: Too busy.

Stupid work.

F*ck!

Bomb kills many at Iraq police roll call:

Aljazeera's correspondent in Arbil, Ahmad al-Zawiti, said guards opened fire at the explosive-laden car as it entered the centre.

However, the driver managed to enter and blow up the car inside, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 107 others, the correspondent reported.

This is war.

Bubba

From Newshounds, Bill Clinton Complains About The Media:

Colmes asked, "Are you angry at the people who went after you?"

BC: Not much any more. I really have worked hard on letting it go. ..."Every once in a while, I still get mad but I was more disappointed in some ways in the way the whole, a lot of those things were covered over eight years than what my adversaries were trying to do to me. I mean, the Republicans were in business to beat me and they never really thought, I think they figured that they had a formula that would always beat the Democrats. They never thought we'd have a Democratic president again. They believed President Carter only won because of Watergate and from the time I got elected, the right-wingers thought I was illegitimate and they decided to treat me like that. And it was amazing how much they could depend upon a certain sort of coverage to kind of reinforce that.

Power. Has a habit of wearing down all those who try to oppose it and bring about change.

Stacks on!

King of Zembla posts a part of Cynthia McKinney's speech in U.S. Congress:

The sad fact, even sadder than the way I feel right now after having read those names, is that we may not even have the real story. We may not know the true costs of this war. I am told U.S. military personnel who died in German hospitals [or] en route to German hospitals are not counted. So, in addition to the more than 1,000 Americans who have lost their lives in this war, there are an additional 6,210 who died in German hospitals or en route to those hospitals.

Via Virtual Pus.

All your bases are belong to us

Harry, over at Scratchings:

If this country is ever invaded, I'm sure I could bring myself to defend it. My battle standard sports a very martial spleen for a number of good reasons.

Ditto.

Just to spell shit out. I'd fight like a tomcat if my immediate turf was stepped on by some goons working for their Guv'mint.

In fact, I reserve MY right to pack up and ship out to go and defend ANY nation which I feel an affinity toward from attack/invasion.

Chest beating: over.

Howard: Grand Master of political chess

Tim Dunlop's post, 'The terrorists win', on the changes to Australia's immigration process, which Howard recently announced, attracted a couple of comments from Democrats senator, Andrew Bartlett. Both of his comments limning the reality of the situation. This is the last part of his second:

How people react to this in terms of political assessment or tactics is one thing, but no one should kid themselves that it's a meaningful positive reform to the law. Any 'right' that cannot be leggaly (sic) enforced and depends on a Government Minister to exercise their discretion if they feel like it is a 'right' that can be ignored or taken away depending on the political or personal circumstances of the time.

The 'Kath and Kim' voters out there will be sold. Any change will be seen by this mob 'as a good thing', 'for the best'. They'll give themselves a big pat on the back and return to their cyclical program of compassion.

For f*cks sake! How stupid are Australians? Or worse.. how selfish?

Luck is a fortune

Home team made all the difference:

DOUGLAS Wood sounds like a terrific fellow. Dry sense of humour. Fondness for VB. More interested in his precious Geelong footy club than recounting his traumatic misadventures in Baghdad.

When I heard the news yesterday morning, my heart lifted. And I must say, with all due respect to those who have suffered/sacrificed and are suffering and sacrificing in this used and abused playground of the war profiteers, F*ck yeah!

This story sums up Australia's adventure in Iraq. Apart from an Australian who was part of the RAF, we've lost nobody in the armed services. Politically speaking, the man who has benefited the most, the man who made the decision in taking us into this 'war of choice', John Howard. He should buy a lotto ticket.

"Nice tie"

Lynching Is Bad? Who knew?
By Madeleine Begun Kane

The Senate said that lynching's bad.
It took them long enough.
It's hardly a position rad,
Yet getting there was tough.

The Dems each said that lynching's wrong.
Not so the GOP.
Some fifteen sang some other song:
Of lynching, "Let It Be."

Bill Frist did try to hide that fact.
He nixed a roll call vote.
So those who did not mensch-like act
Could hide behind his coat.

Frist held a voice vote late, at night,
A formal vote denied.
When challenged on this sneaky slight,
Sen William "Fristy" lied.

Not for everybody

Kurt Nimmo posts on Senator Dick Durbin's speech:

On another occasion, not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely loud rap music was being played in the room, and had been since the day before, with the detainee chained hand and foot in the fetal position on the tile floor.

Torture? Some folks have been known to enjoy quadratic expression.

Noted

US blocks massacre inquiry to save military base.

War on terror. Most important. Got it.

"Sorry, Child. Your candy? I needed it for the war on terror."

Scratch my back...

Jakarta's man in Australia called home early

A group of MPs in the Parliament's foreign affairs committee, including Djoko Susilo, successfully lobbied for Mr Cotan to get the job instead, arguing he would be a tougher critic of Australia. However, Mr Susilo said yesterday he no longer thought Mr Cotan was the best person to handle the tricky relationship with Australia.

When I bend over, start f*ckin'!

*Hnnnnnnn*

If you're alive, GOD is dead

Sect expels 1000 boys so men get more wives:

Many of the so-called "Lost Boys", some as young as 13, were dumped on the side of the road in Arizona and Utah by leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and told they will never see their families again or go to heaven.

Sect?

Have terror, will travel

Pakistan sees Afghanistan rid of al Qaeda in 10 yrs:

Musharraf told Reuters in an interview that a sustainable democracy with a central authority needed to be achieved in neighbouring Afghanistan, its militia removed and a strong Afghan army created, before foreign troops could leave.

"All this is do-able in 10 years and I am very sure that the way we are going we will be able to dismantle the al Qaeda organisation totally (within Afghanistan in 10 years)," Musharraf said during the first visit by a Pakistan president to Australia.

Righto, jobs on fellas. Be sure to keep sending money to support Pakistan's struggle.

*Burp*

What now for the Taleban?

It was the same story in the 1980s during the Soviet occupation.

Shut-up, fool. What would you know?

Stupid recent history remembering traitor.

Psy-ops as diplomacy

Pentagon Funds Diplomacy Effort;

Treadwell's group was established last year and includes a graphic artist and videographer, he said. It assists "psyops" personnel stationed at military headquarters overseas. Col. Sam Taylor, a spokesman for the Special Operations Command, which runs the Army's Special Forces, Navy SEALs and other elite combat units, said the contractors might help the military develop commercials in Iraq, for example, illustrating how roadside bombs meant for soldiers also harm children and other innocent civilians.

Beautiful. Like these motherf*ckers care. The ordnance (tonnes of the stuff) that's been tossed about Iraq by the Co-alition Forces makes IED's look like firecrackers (which destroy armoured vehicles and humvees).

Oops, sorry. I forgot. This is psy-ops, it ain't in the least bit sincere. Quite the opposite, in fact. The purpose of this stuff is self-serving.

Five easy pieces

Suicide bomber kills five US troops;

"This was a suicide attack. The person in the car that carried out the act has been torn into pieces."

As I've stated previously, it won't stop soon.

Why would it?

Downing Street Memo II

The above post title is a link to Billmon's post of the same name.

US denies lack of post-war plans;

"We disagree with the characterisation. There was significant post-war planning," said David Almacy, a White House spokesman.

The way I see it, the only thing these crooks planned for.. was a civil war. But I'm a pessimist, as opposed from a sycophant to power.

Liars or just incompetent (liars - considering what the anti-war crew have already pointed out and the Downing Street Memo proves)?

You decide!

Badr or not Badr

Dahr Jamail, in an article about the ascendancy of the Badr Brigade militia titled State Sponsored Civil War, posts up a couple of emails received from ex and current U.S. servicemen;

Another soldier who will be deployed to Iraq this summer said, “I personally believe it was the wrong war…we should have concentrated more on Afghanistan.”

I wrote him back and told him I honored his desire to serve his country, but wished he had better leadership than the current US administration who led the country into Iraq with lies. He responded,

“I feel honored to meet a great American like you. You know man, sometimes we guys feel betrayed by our own government. I personally signed up to serve my country not to serve any particular leader.”

Another US soldier in Iraq right now writes, “Do I think it (the war) was started for moral reasons? Of course not.”

A moral war?

That's a bit like 'friendly fire' or 'civil war'.

Funny, but not.

Got Guns, Got Bling, Got Rapping

Double your money! US Army desperate to recruit;

Army officials have said potential recruits and their families had been wary of service during the conflict, and civilian job opportunities also were affecting recruiting.

"We're having a really tough fight [to recruit] this year, and we're going to have an even tougher fight next year," said Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith.

Yeah, Kid. We got you back. We need you as a bullet stopper in Iraq.

Brutality: Do you want more?

Republican Urges Closing Guantánamo Facility;

Senator Mel Martinez of Florida said Friday that the Bush administration should consider closing the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Mr. Martinez is the first high-profile Republican to make the suggestion.

"It's become an icon for bad stories, and at some point you wonder the cost-benefit ratio," Mr. Martinez said at the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors/Florida Press Association convention. "How much do you get out of having that facility there? Is it serving all the purposes you thought it would serve when initially you began it, or can this be done some other way a little better?"

On the surface, this sounds like a good thing. But then, considering the fact that these types of facilities are more about threatening those on the outside, I'm not too keen on the 'a little better' aspect.

More toilets, more Q'urans?

More beatings, more resulting deaths?

Realists know the answer.

Fish in a barrel

US air strike kills 40 Iraqis;

US forces launched an air strike on Iraqi insurgents near the Syrian border in the restive western province of Al-Anbar on Saturday, killing about 40 rebels, a military statement said. US marines backed by jet fighters and helicopter gunships launched the attack on several large groups of heavily armed insurgents who had set up checkpoints and were stopping civilian traffic near Karabilah.

They don't last long when out in the open. Terrorist tactics are the only way. D'ya think they'll increase or, decrease in frequency?

Yeah, I hear you - why the f*ck should we care?

War. Civilians die.

Tha Afghanistan distraction continues

Armed men have killed the head of an Iraqi police unit in the northern city of Kirkuk while five US marines have died in a roadside bomb blast.

This situation will not get any better. Up until recently I've assumed that the U.S. would have been able to sort their permanent bases in Iraq, eventually.

It seems likely that this rate of death will continue, which not even the 'greyed-out' media coverage of Iraq can continue to hide from the American public.

Remember when Bush was in chest beating mode?

You know, soon after it was acknowledged that his Aircraft Carrier flight deck "Mission Accomplished" call was DEAD WRONG.

"Bring 'em on." He swaggered.

The Iraq distraction continues

June 10, 2005

Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan
Coalition Press Information Center (Public Affairs)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – One U.S. Soldier and seven enemy were killed today after an ambush on an joint Coalition and Afghan patrol near Lwara in Paktika province.

Three U.S. soldiers were also wounded in the fighting. Two were evacuated to a nearby forward operating base and the third was treated and returned to duty at the scene

“Our patrols of Coalition and Afghan forces are relentless in the pursuit of the enemy,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling, Combined Joint Task Force-76’s deputy commanding general. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our Soldier and will honor him by continuing to take the fight to the enemy.”

Coalition forces reported the enemy fleeing shortly after the ambush began. Coalition fixed- and rotary-wing attack aircraft and artillery responded to the attack.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

Their notification of next-of-kin (a spine shivering phrase) will also be relentless.

Googlebomb Andrew Bolt

Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt

Googlebomb Jerry Falwell

Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell

Can we deport Howard?

Howard moves on detention to rein in MPs;

A spokesman for the Immigration Department said Mr Qasim was likely to be transferred to the Glenside Hospital in Adelaide in the next few days. He is suffering from depression after being in detention for seven years. He says he is from Indian Kashmir, something the Government does not accept.

Apparently, Qasim has given three different answers to the question of "where are you from?"

Apparently, he was asked the question in three different ways by immigration officials.

C*nts.

Drugs are good

Lucrative Drug, Danger Signals and the F.D.A.;

Two years later, as reports of heart injuries and deaths mounted, Johnson & Johnson continued defending the safety of Propulsid, but then pulled it from the market before a government hearing threatened to draw attention to the drug's long, largely hidden, record of trouble.

I have to buy shares in these sort of companies. They really know how to exploit the sick.

Be my Sub, you pathetic f*cker

Outrage over anti-rape 'tampon' device;

Opponents of the "rat trap" anti-rape device, meanwhile, are outraged that it might go on sale alongside tampons in supermarkets and chemists next month.

Charlene Smith, a leading anti-rape campaigner, said: "This is a medieval instrument, based on male-hating notions and fundamentally misunderstands the nature of rape and violence against women in this society. It is vengeful, horrible, and disgusting. The woman who invented this needs help."

The device - which has been patented by its inventor, Sonette Ehlers - is worn like a tampon but is hollow.

In the event of a rape, she says, it will fold around the rapist's penis and attach itself with microscopic hooks. It is impossible to remove the clamped device without medical intervention.

No outrage from me. I like the idea. Even though I can see it isn't a real solution (unlike castration of all males at birth), it sure makes me feel better thinking (fantasising) about a rapist peering down at his freshly clamped c*ck.

Sucked in, fool. So, when he turns up at the hospital to have it removed ("Well, well, Sparky, how did THAT get there?") the cops can be called in to give him a beatin' and an arrestin'.

Poetic.

Of course the reality is likely to be much worse and I'm sure some minors will get hurt somewhere in the process.

Bush interviewed by Cavuto on Fox

Melanie at Newshounds has a good post on the Bush interview;

Comment: (l) The word "Iraq" was never mentioned. (2) Does Cavuto seriously mean to say that the Michael Jackson trial has diverted our attention away from Bush, and that's why his poll numbers are so low and why most people oppose his Social Security "plan"? I think so. Too bad Cavuto isn't a part of that "tough" press corps Bush fantasized about.

That's the last paragraph, heaps more in there.

Indiscriminate

June 8, 2005

Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan
Coalition Press Information Center (Public Affairs)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – One U.S. service member was killed and eight others were wounded today in a mortar attack at a forward operating base near Shkin as personnel were preparing to unload supplies from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

The wounded service members were transported to medical facilities at Bagram, Salerno , and Orgun-E for medical care.

Coalition attack aircraft responded to the scene but were unable to locate the insurgents.

“This is a tragic loss for all of us. A U.S. service member has paid the ultimate price for freedom, giving his life so that others might live in a nation free of tyranny and oppression,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James G. Champion, Combined Joint Task Force-76’s deputy commanding general for operations. “Our hearts and our prayers go out to the family and our thoughts are with those who were wounded in this attack. This incident will only strengthen our resolve and commitment to this mission.”

The name of the dead service member is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

They died for them to die

Desert Graves in Northern Iraq Yield Evidence to Try Hussein;

The burial site - a series of deep trenches that held about 2,500 bodies, many of them women and children - is one of many mass graves that dot the country. But it was the first excavated by an American investigative team working with a special Iraqi tribunal to build cases against Mr. Hussein and others in his government.

See, Huh? Ay? This is why the Co-alition of the Willing had to lie its way into an invasion of this country and start dropping bombs on civilians. Pulverising their flesh, transforming them into what is described by professional fighting types as 'red mist'.



The Iraqi civilians killed as a result of the invasion, died cause Saddam was a murderer and was going to start hurling WMD's at the rest of the World (honest).

Iraq has no economic or Global-strategic significance whatsoever. None.

Good job, Dubya, Rummy, Uncle Dick, Blair, Howard and the rest of you evil war-mongering f*ckers.



In Dubya's words, "The consequences are.. are.. difficult."

You dumb f*ck.

Leon's getting larger!

Suicide bombers strike, kill 19;

A fourth car bomb struck a checkpoint in the town of Abasi, near Hawija.

In total, 19 people were killed and 38 wounded in the four attacks, Major-General Anwar Mohammed Amin, the Iraqi army commander in Kirkuk, said.

No security post-invasion, massive amounts of explosive looted. Stuff happens.

Same, same but different

Chen sought asylum from US;

The Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone, conceded yesterday that Australia had rejected Mr Chen's bid for political asylum.

China's ambassador, Fu Ying, promised that Mr Chen would not face jail or execution if he returned home, even though he had tarnished China's image.

Mr Chen - a senior diplomat at China's Sydney consulate who was responsible for monitoring dissidents among the Chinese diaspora in NSW - attempted to defect on May 26, weeks before he was due to be posted back to Beijing.

He says he was a democracy advocate and had helped Falun Gong members, among others, behaviour his successor in the Sydney consulate was likely to uncover.

Rejected by the spreaders of freedom and democracy.

Meanwhile, the 2004 Amnesty report on China;

However, another system, “re-education through labour”, continued to allow for the detention of hundreds of thousands of people for up to three years without charge or trial. In September the Ministry of Public Security announced new regulations aimed at preventing the police from using torture in administrative cases, but it remained unclear how well they would be enforced in practice.

Apparently (who'd believe it?), the Chinese Government is also exploiting the War on Terror as an excuse to crack down on peaceful dissidents. Easy to see why the Australian and U.S. Governments won't grant political asylum to Chen, they use similar justifications

Brutal? Believe it.

Out of toilet paper

Good Intentions Gone Bad;

Some of the worst ambassadors in U.S. history are the GIs at the Green Zone's checkpoints. They've repeatedly punched Iraqi ministers, accidentally shot at visiting dignitaries and behave (even on good days) with all the courtesy of nightclub bouncers—to Americans and Iraqis alike. Not that U.S. soldiers in Iraq have much to smile about. They're overworked, much ignored on the home front and widely despised in Iraq, with little to look forward to but the distant end of their tours—and in most cases, another tour soon to follow. Many are reservists who, when they get home, often face the wreckage of careers and family.

Bleak. Mission accomplished.

Old wounds re-opened

Maxspeak;

Then we have my new nominee for most full-of-shit blogger, deposing our old friend InstaPundit. I speak of Powerline. Here we have the attempt to distract from the crimes of Nixon and Company by dwelling on the problematic motives of Felt and bureaucratic infighting.

Great post. Max (first name basis, don't ya know!) is never one to lose sight of the important issue(s) and the recent outing of Felt as Deep Throat has opened up a multi-layered playing field on which the fanatics and ideologues can play.

Bend it like Beckham, you f*cks!

List: Things to do

Abu’s Secret Syrian Rendezvous: Another Bush Lie;

Let’s call it the “Office of Special Plans Dog and Pony Show.” It is not so much that “some officials are still quick to embrace dubious intelligence,” but rather that they purposely create “flimsy and bogus intelligence” (lies) as a matter of course. In Bushzarro world, such premeditated lies resulting in mass murder are not considered an impeachable offense (while the sexual dalliance of a previous president is, probably because oral sex with an intern is more disturbing to Republicans than killing babies through malnutrition or cluster bombs).

What next?

Red mist

US soldiers killed in Afghan bombing

A bomb has killed two US soldiers and wounded a third as they were driving in a military convoy near the Afghan-Pakistan border, officials say.

There'll be plenty more of this before we see any change in the situation in Afghanistan.

Kill people? You a terrorist

Deadly attacks shake Iraqi cities

The US military announced that two US soldiers assigned to the Marines were killed when a bomb struck their vehicle on Wednesday near the western Iraqi city of Ramadi.

Another US soldier, attached to Task Force Liberty, died of non-battle-related wounds on Wednesday in the northern city of Kirkuk, the military said. The incident is under investigation.

Mission accomplished. Now tie that fool down to the aircraft carrier flight deck, before he gets blown off in the rough weather.

Bush: Idiot

Bush, Cheney Attack Amnesty International;

"It seemed like [Amnesty] based some of their decisions on the word and allegations by people who were held in detention, people who hate America, people had been trained in some instances to disassemble [sic] – that means not tell the truth," Bush went on. "And so it was an absurd report. It just is."

Considering what he is trying unsuccesfully to achieve, he is an evil idiot.

F*ck you, Bush.

Here's Cheney: "Frankly, I was offended by it. I think the fact of the matter is, the United States has done more to advance the cause of freedom, has liberated more people from tyranny over the course of the 20th century and up to the present day than any other nation in the history of the world."

Now, THAT's dissembling.

Ignorant island

Australia the villain in Japan's Corby case: expert:

Prof Wilson, Bond University's head of criminology, said cultural differences went to the extent where the four were not considered genuine tourists because they had not brought cameras to Australia.

He said Honda's failure to aggressively assert her innocence, which is deemed as culturally appropriate in Japan, was seen by the Australian court as a sign of guilt.

And now we are a Nation of terrorists. Big pat on the back, team.

So did Indonesia reserve their right to act pre-emptively, a la Howard Election '04?

Megalomaniac mission

Zimbabwe Takes Harsh Steps to Counter Unrest

The Movement for Democratic Change, an opposition party that was crushed in March elections that Western observers said had been rigged, contended at a news conference in the capital, Harare, on Wednesday that the police and soldiers had forced 1 million to 1.5 million people from their homes. Experts estimate Zimbabwe's population at 10 million to 11 million people.

It's hard work.

Jack-boot jackpot

13 Are Killed in 3 Suicide Car Bombings in Iraq

A few raids had begun earlier, with more than 450 suspected insurgents arrested last week in the Abu Ghraib neighborhood. The raids have brought some successes. The American military said Wednesday that it had captured an Iraqi who worked in Saddam Hussein's secret service.

Suspected insurgents - males of fighting age (excluding those who have signed up with the Iraqi police or army) that they come across in their home invasions.

Meanwhile, all they come up with is this one fella, whom used to work for some Grizzley Adams' bearded, underwear sportin', spidey-hole residing, Rumsfeld hand shaking, ex-CIA asset, dictator of Iraq.

Hmm.. I see.

Murder: Old news

SAS accused of killing Afghan civilians;

The Defence Force says the SAS patrol in question was investigated at the time of the incident and appropriate disciplinary action was taken.

Tell us a story, Cosgrove.

Wrong side of the line

Hicks stuck in 'surreal' world;

"We are just trying to keep him focused," Major Michael Mori said before boarding a flight to the US military base where Hicks has been held in detention since early 2002.

"It's a tough situation for him.

"It's now close to the 3½-year mark that he's been down there."

This guy was a mercenary, fighting for the Taleban.

Not a terrorist.

Let him go.

Got media?

In response to the suggestion that the 'right' has all the ideas (and the 'left', none), Fact-esque divulges;

Here's a secret: buy a flippin' televsion network and shout lies all day every day.

More shit sandwiches

Jeb for Prez;

The US President's father, George Bush, would like to see another Bush in the White House, saying he wants his son Jeb to run for president when the timing is right.

So who said, "It can't get any worse,"?

You had to say it. Now look what you've done.