Incompetent funding of Saddam

David Marr:

Cole never had the power to investigate the Government's competence. But surely he cannot let the issue go unremarked. We have come down this long track only because, as the world tried to bleed Saddam dry with sanctions, for AWB and the Government it was business as usual.

Remember.. Saddam, according to the Australian Gov't, was the biggest threat to the safety of humankind at the time (That's a big bitch!).

Back to the present:

The report, obtained by The New York Times, estimates that groups responsible for many insurgent and terrorist attacks are raising $70 million to $200 million a year from illegal activities. It says $25 million to $100 million of that comes from oil smuggling and other criminal activity involving the state-owned oil industry, aided by “corrupt and complicit” Iraqi officials.

Well then, Downer is still keen, so if we still had a functioning AWB around they could get at least $300M to 'the enemy'.

Preacher poacher

More neat work from Roy:

To add political roughage, I note this Pajamas Media story, "Pierre Gemayel's funeral turns into anti-Syrian rally." Given their previous
sanctimony over the Paul Wellstone memorial, does that mean they condemn it?


Can I get an Amen!?!

Reading blogs is painless...

Roy Edroso on Robert Altman.

My favourite part (which has little to do with the recently passed):

UPDATE II. Been scanning the blogs, and it reminds me of one of the many things I don't like about this 'sphere: just about every blogger whom I already know to be a jackass has, when mentioning Altman, been similarly ignorant and dismissive. In real life, jackasses are more well-rounded than this; they will have a few admirable qualities, which we will sometimes be forced to notice and thus be reacquainted with the wonderful mystery that is life. It is just not common for every asshole you to know to share the same asshole opinion about the same subject. People aren't that dull. Maybe the problem is that the worst popular bloggers are very bad writers, and their comprehension and portrayal of themselves is as weak as their comprehension and portrayal of everything else.

Senseless Discourse

Noel Gallagher :
"The troops want to go, all they want to do is fight! They're soldiers. They're loving it, until they get shot -- then they're claiming compensation.
"If you're bothered about getting shot -- here's a thing -- don't join the army."
…
Private Lionel O'Connor, 22, who had his leg amputated after being caught up in a roadside bomb attack in Basra, suggested Gallagher should go to Iraq to see what conditions were like for soldiers.
O'Connor, who is recovering at a military rehabilitation centre in Surrey following the attack in May, said: ``If he has got a comment like that, send him out there.''

Excellent point, both of them.

Animal House

Bush, Olmert to hold talks on Iran, Palestinians:

With Tehran continuing to reject international calls to halt its nuclear enrichment efforts, Israel has in recent months moved the Iranian threat to the top of its agenda.

Well, sprinkle me with sugar and call me a terrorist lovin' defeatist! Looks like these two frat boys have got a panty raid to plan.

Hope thousands aren't killed and millions suffer as a result.

The wrong day to quit sniffing glue

Iraq war not the only issue, Howard says:

"A lot of Republican supporters stayed at home because they didn't like the fact that the Administration was running a budget deficit," Mr Howard said. But his Government differed from that of George Bush because it ran surpluses.

Prime Minister John Howard, you, sir, are a complete d*ckhead.

Poppa Bush's CIA buddy: Robert Gates

Kurt Nimmo on Da'Poet's (that'd be Rumsfeld) replacement, Robert Gates:

Gates’ curriculum vitae is a near perfect match, as he was neck deep in Iran-Contra and is nothing short of a Bush crime family sycophant. Gates was, according to Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe, involved in the “October Surprise,” the secret agreement between Iran and conniving Republicans, led by Bush Senior, to release the hostages after the November, 4, 1980 elections, thus providing Reagan with election time boasting points.

Likely, you won't get much of this in the Gates' backgrounds currently being churned out by the various news agencies.

Dems score the Senate?

Wait a minute..

Mr. Webb, a former Republican who was secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, ran a fairly listless campaign until the final weeks, when he adopted the persona of the warrior he was in the Marine Corps.

A Trojan warrior!

Repubs to Dems: "You guys, Hungry?"

"Cause we just finished making a whole heap of sh*t sandwiches. So come take a seat at the grown-ups table. There's plenty for everyone"

Time to share the blame for the past 6 years of Chimpy McF*cknuckle's incompetence. From the 'politics as a game of chess' perspective, the next 2 years are gonna be interesting. I wonder which mob are going to run and hide in the toilets?

We got them Dems in the Hizzouse!

and maybe the Senate, too. But there'll be re-counts. Oh, there_will_be_re-counts.

Looks like they need another terrorist attack on home soil.

That'll learn 'em.

Go'n get the rope, Ma

Paul McGeough:

But Saddam certainly got more justice than most of his victims did during the three decades in which he controlled Iraq. At the same time, the soap opera that passed as a criminal trial in Baghdad was so deficient that no appeal court in America, Britain or Australia would allow the verdict to stand.

Love a good milestone.

Sure, I got a little sumptin' sumptin'

Iran says it has fired new missiles in the Gulf:

"In previous years, when American and British forces entered Iranian territorial waters in the northern Persian Gulf we captured them," Fadavi added. "Today we tightly control all of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman region, and no movement can escape our control."

If they could fake a nuclear test like NK's little penny banger, I'm sure they'd say they've sussed nukes, too.

What self respecting member of the Axis-of-Black Hats wouldn't?

After all, according to them nutcase neo-cons, not having them is seen as a perfect reason to invade.

Party people in the place!

Flashback: GYWO 9th April 2003...



Laugh, fools.

Pay to play

This guy campaigned for all sorts of 'moral' issues. What a freak. Sometimes, I wish hell did exist and all the hypocritical suckers were sent there.


After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them.

Let's hope this guy lives in his own kind of hell for awhile.. at least until he can forgive himself.

Tip-dog.

Geriatrics day by the sea

Sculptures by the Sea is on again. Seems to be on every 3 months, or something.

I don't know art, but I know I don't like the increased crowds flocking to my part of the world. They turn up in their Peugeots, Prius and the like by the thousands. Swarming all over the place, gettin all art-appreciative and stuff.

Can't wait 'til they f*ck off.

Ahh, Mr Sausage, I presume

'All religions degrade women'

"The divinely sanctioned world view authenticated by the selective use of scripture … keeps women in subjection."

Finally, someone has said it. Of course attitudes and opinions like Hilaly's are not restricted to the various gangs of God-botherers, you'll find them amongst most males.

Even the flipside where chivalrous attitudes see suspected rapists bashed to death by a mob of Gallahads. 'Gotta protect them frails, y'know?'

Your on your own girls, they're all out to get ya.

Get thick and die tryin'

Kerry Apologizes for Iraq Remark:

At the rally, Mr. Kerry said: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Obviously, he is referring to Bush and his well known average grades.

Be a drug addled idiot like Bush and get your country stuck in Iraq. See?

No need to apologise John. We understand.

Trapped, it turns and...

Worst RNC ad ever?

You be the Judge Judy and Executioner...

FEMALE VOICE: "Hi sexy. You've reached the live one-on-one fantasy line."

Announcer: "A phone number to an adult fantasy hot line appeared on Michael Arcuri's New York City hotel room bill while he was there on official business. And the call was charged to Oneida County taxpayers. Arcuri has denied it, but the facts are there. Who calls a fantasy hot line and then bills taxpayers? Michael Arcuri."

VOICE: "Bad call."

Even if was true, we're talking about a sum of $1.25.

Perhaps a more important issue worthy of discussion prior to an election: who'd lie about a relatively poor and tiny Country's weapons capabilities and insinuate (even explicitly accuse) its' involvement in a traumatic terrorist attack in order to foment support for an invasion?

Yeah, thought so.