BuzzFlash Mailbag for January 17, 2007

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Friends,

Last night I forced myself to watch Mr. Bush's interview on national public television. If you happened to see it I think you will agree that it was a telling exchange. It was the first time I have allowed myself to watch Mr. Bush in recent memory; so great is my contempt for his policies and practices that have weakened our country and strengthened our true enemies in such unprecedented ways.

What struck me most was his demeanor: he looked every bit a defeated man vainly defending himself and his administration. His slouching posture was Nixonian and his closely knitted staccato words expressed a tensioned level of stress I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. One could sense he is really up against it; that wall of isolation and alienation that ultimately awaits most schemers and connivers when their ego-driven madness is finally exposed to the light of day. His habit of smiling and smirking with a short laugh when describing the terrible consequences of his madness created a surreal atmosphere. It was if the very air around his head was mocking and laughing at his labored rationales. I don't know how he sleeps at night.

Mr. Bush's well has gone dry. The braggadocio, self assurance and pomposity that heralded his earlier character have been stripped away, replaced now by a sullen defensiveness. He looked like a criminal under the lights being questioned by a fatherly figure trying to make out any sense of his errant past choices and actions. He looked juvenile, caught in his delinquency.

Jim Lehrer pulled no punches, directly pointing out the dismal failures of this most misguided of misadventures. However, I was bitterly disappointed to see him omit the most crucial questions about the pan-Arab perceptions of American imperialism, attempts at colonialism and control of Middle East oil. And most importantly, he left out the question of permanent military bases in Iraq. These are the true generators of the resistance we face, along with the extreme tactical use of terror and self-immolation of suicide bombers, compounded by the desperation and revenge driven mania of those we describe as "extremists." Fertilized by the religious traditions of many steeped in medieval fundamentalism, it has proven to be a toxic brew. The resulting quagmire threatens to poison the very foundational roots of our Western democracies.

Of course, Mr. Bush was completely oblivious to all these realities. He spoke in terms of WWII symbology. Perhaps this is why he so easily dismissed the multitude of voices of caution and warning before choosing to invade Iraq.

Last night's interview was a telling tale of the consequence of a presidency gone wild, delusional in its naiveté and over-confident bellicosity. It was the very definition of the end result of one lost in his own sense of power and control. The one who most easily and casually demonized others has now become the demon. I believe the best term to describe it is as the result of "imperious thinking."

John R. Bomar

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Subject: Iraq Oil

Does anyone talk about the world's largest embassy reportedly being built in Iraq? Time we all learn the truth about what is going on.

And is it true there is an imminent oil deal with respect to Iraq oil???

Will anyone tell us the truth, please - we can handle it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: A draft law seems quite friendly to the multinationals. From Time Magazine: "As written, the law would end more than three decades of Iraq's nationalized oil industry. It would give 10-year exploration and development rights to foreign oil companies ... 'What we are looking at is Iraq signing deals for next 20 years at a time when it is extremely weak and not fully sovereign,' says Greg Muttitt, co-director of Platform, a watchdog organization in London that monitors the oil and gas industries. 'The U.S. has put a lot of effort into this.'" In contrast, Saudi and Iranian oil is largely state controlled.]

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Subject: The 2008 Elections?

The mainstream media wants everyone in the Democratic party to vote for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the primaries! So, Democrats will lose again in 2008!

But, we here at BuzzFlash know better, and I personally think Tom Vilsack and another nobody will win in 2008! Because Vilsack, unlike Clinton and Obama, can win in red states!

Don't be fooled by the right-wing media -- they want us voting for losers!

Matthew Habben
Sioux City, Iowa

[BuzzFlash Note: "We here at BuzzFlash" will not rally behind any one candidate. You'll see letters disagreeing with your choice and advocating others, which is how it should be. BuzzFlash general policy is not to endorse primary candidates. Also, nobody knows yet who will be "losers."]

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Subject: [Forwarded] A Democrat's Plan

Hello, Mr. Bush.

I am a Democrat. I have a plan, which I sent you a little over a year ago. Here it is again, listing the essential elements of a withdrawal from Iraq with honor:

Leaving Iraq with Honor

Your administration appears to be taking the posture of admitting ... the U.S. invasion was based on incorrect information, widely believed to be true. ... It is important that we eventually sort out truth from fiction and do whatever house-cleaning is indicated.

However, for the purposes of resolving the Iraq crisis and violence, bringing the U.S. into compliance with International Law, and returning our troops home it is only important to admit that a mistake was made. The consequences of this admission are as follows:

1. The U.S. admits responsibility for what we now know to be an illegal invasion of a sovereign country in violation of the UN Charter and International Law.
2. The U.S. agrees to pay reparations for the destruction of life and property in Iraq.
3. The U.S. gives up control of military operations in Iraq, yielding this position to an international peacekeeping force.
4. The U.S. abandons any idea of maintaining permanent military bases in Iraq.
5. The U.S. releases any prisoners of war (ALL captives) held from the mistaken invasion of Iraq, whether held in Iraq or illegally transported elsewhere.
6. The U.S. promptly withdraws military forces from Iraq, except for whatever commitment might be made to an international peacekeeping force.
7. The Iraq Constitution of 1990, illegally put aside during the American Occupation in violation of the terms of the Geneva Convention of 1949 is restored, with the freedom of Iraqis to modify sections that can no longer be fulfilled or enforced on their own schedule.
8. Prisoners of the Iraqi government captured by the U.S. occupation force shall be promptly released. (A Nuremberg-like series of hangings should be avoided).
9. Technical assistance for restoration of infrastructure shall be provided at the request of the Iraqi government, with necessary equipment, supplies and labor costs borne by the U.S. as part of the reparations.
10. Fairness and compliance of terms shall be monitored by an impartial international body, under penalty of international trade sanctions against the U.S. should it fail to comply.

John Williford -- December 10, 2005

A later, slightly reworded list of required steps, sent to Congress in 2006 is:

1. A credible admission that our invasion of Iraq was a mistake.
2. A credible expression of remorse.
3. Payment of reparations for damages -- minimally $100 billion over ten years.
4. Engagement of the international community in pacification and rebuilding of Iraq, replacing the U.S.
5. End Occupation Status by the U.S., recognized by the UN, which expires on December 31, 2006, ASAP, presenting a schedule for withdrawal consistent with safety and security of U.S. forces.
6. Abandon any permanent bases for U.S. military operations in Iraq.
7. Release any hold on the Iraqi oil resources to the free market, including exploration and development agreements to bidders in Europe and Asia.
8. Promptly cease U.S. military actions in Iraq, other than defensive ones.
9. Hand off training and peacekeeping operations to regional or international forces and remove U.S. forces ASAP.
10. Require execution of these steps by the Executive in accordance with the War Powers granted to the Congress by the U.S. Constitution and by the War Powers Act of 1973.

John Williford, November 28, 2006

You may believe that both of these lists are flaming turds, like the Iraq Study Group Report, but they are real plans, and I am a real Democrat.

I hope the other Democrats (and Republicans) will close the two "open Authority to use Military Force Resolutions" foolishly given to you, and begin implementation of these steps.

John F. Williford
Richland, WA

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BuzzFlash is one of the 10 most consistently excellent resources for finding important information as well as divergent views available anywhere, and why I recommend you so often.

Keep up the good fight!

Kate
cut-to-the-chase.blogspot

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Subject: News Hour Interview with G.W. Bush

I sent the following to the News Hour immediately after watching their 01/16 interview with Mr. Bush.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/jan-june07/bush_01-16.html

Mr. Bush was smiling at the end of his half-hour with Mr. Lehrer - and for good reason. In his last, rambling and repetitious “answer,” Mr. Bush linked the Iraqi war - and the violence that has overtaken the country since the United States tried to - to Al Qaeda. He linked the endless bombings to the same folks - or, as he self-corrected - the same kind of folks - who attacked the United States on 9/11. He talked about future threats of violence to our homeland if “the terrorists” find a safe haven in Iraq. And how did Mr. Lehrer respond to this self-serving patchwork quilt of egregious misrepresentations of fact? “Thank you, Mister President.” Earlier in the “interview” Mr. Bush said the reason he was allowing the exchange to take place was to “educate the public” about the situation in Iraq. Mr. Lehrer and his producers are - again - indirectly complicit in the coming deaths of more valiant American men and women. Letting statements like so many of Mr. Bush’s go unchallenged is a crime not just to journalism but to humanity. Shame on you. Now I remember why I decided last year - after 50 years of watching PBS - to refrain from this bad habit in the future.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Obama for President?

Senator Obama talks a good "democracy" but does little to show for it. I'd like to hire his speech writer. He gives a wonderful speech and everyone (RW media, Time magazine, etc.) is excited. It is almost shameless support for him to run for President.

He voted for the Spying and Torture Act, Negroponte, and Gonzales. He voted for Patriot Act II.

The media is pushing him because they know he can't win. He has no record that is acceptable to Democrats. Where was he when workers took to the street fighting against privatization and globalization? Their jobs going off-shore. He has not come out about Bush's power grab negating the the Constitution, land grab, illegal wars, etc.

Like Gerald Ford he votes with the majority and stays out of trouble with the powers that be. He talks a good "we should get along and compromise" bit. How can you compromise on freedom and democracy when your government wants it removed...and many in prisons? Spying everywhere?

The Chicago Tribune is very excited...that is a good signal not to support him as a candidate at this important time in our democracy.

Look up his voting history before you decide. Don't take my word for it.

We need a fighter who will search for the truth about 911, Katrina, World Government, etc. We Democrats deserve better representation than Senator Obama. We need a true Progressive Democrat to get our country back on a road to healing and prosperity.

We don't need another Gerald Ford who covers the crimes of robbers, liars, and those who do genocide for profit of the few in power.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: We encourage everyone to look at his votes, which are generally liberally but not as far left as many Buzzers. We would add, since Sen. Obama's Senate record is short, that his two books tell more about both his positions and his values. Audacity of Hope is available from BuzzFlash]

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Subject: Patriot Act purge sweeps U.S. Attorneys from office across America -- who gave White House this power?

Well, Congresspersons, see what happens when you don't read what you sign!

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

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Subject: Bowl of Stupid

Suggestion: In the vein of Wheaties that puts a picture of sports heroes on their boxes to celebrate their motto as "The Breakfast of Champions", I suggest that Buzzflash.com start a series, ala "The Breakfast of Stupids", and put pictures of selected persons on the front of the cereal box with clown outfit, e.g., Sen. Ted Stevens for his internet description. It would also be a great contrast to the "Wings of Justice" awards.

Dean Wilson
Tacoma, WA

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Subject: Recalling Lieberman

We need to start encouraging Connecticut to recall Lieberman. He certainly baited and switched and as far as I'm concerned - committed fraud on Connecticut voters.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: "Europe's Winter That Wasn't" -- Today's LA Times

Unbelievable, that in an article about this year's snow-less winter in the Alps, the only words that touched upon global warming were, "Europe is enduring one of its warmest winters on record, part of a global trend of higher seasonal temperatures from here to the United States and beyond."

That's not to say that Tracy Wilkinson, the Times staff writer who wrote this article, didn't include something about how our addiction to fossil fuels (SUVS and such) in her original draft as being the reason that the Alps are covered in green and brown now, instead of wearing its usual coat of wintry white. Not a word either about what all this portends for Europe's economy.

Could be that the author's words on these matters got edited out. Perhaps it went something like this, "Hey, Tracy slipped in a couple sentences linking the lack of snow to fossil fuels & such. What if it's true?" "True? We're not paid to tell the truth. Want us to lose our jobs? Cut that s--t out, damn it, and do what you're told."

Snow's a no-show in Europe (LA Times)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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