North Korea: Stop Blaming Bill Clinton!!!

I’m tired of hearing Republican leaders attempting to falsely associate blame for current USA problems on the shoulders of the Great Former President Bill Clinton. The fact of the matter is there were no international incidents, no production of Nuclear weapons, no nuclear test by N. Korea under Bill Clinton.

Do these Republican leaders have no respect for Bill Clinton whom successfully served his nation for 8 years?

Fact, under G.W. Bush whom has been in office for 6 years there has been an increase in Nuclear material & weapons produced in N. Korea, under ground test just conducted last week, and missiles test shot over our ally Japan.

The Buck stops with G.W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, John McCain and the like.

Unlike G.W Bush, the Honorable President Bill Clinton guarded our nation well.

John McCain called his tactics as ‘given carrots’, but in realty in was diplomacy. A talent lacking in G.W. Bush.

Flipping Societal Norms

We live in world where vast changes are on the topping edge of flipping societal norms. The norm that the USA is the lone distinctive internationally power.

I gave a speech at the University of South Florida a few years ago about the future economic, military, and political influence of the USA. Today, I believe the same, that the United States of America is almost no longer a distinctive sole superpower.

Under the leadership of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney we have lost our stature.

You may call this pessimist forecasting. My opinion is not stated for the sack of itself but to emphasis that changes are need to U.S. economic, domestic, and diplomatic policies.

I’m sure there are others that can articulate on my following position more adequately. There is no possibility for a new nation to emerge that truly represents pure equality, opportunity and freedom as the USA did 200 years ago. Therefore there will be drastic changes in those nations where there is “room for and civilian pressure for” change.

Observation shows there are 4 global regions where such changes shall occur.

USA, Russia, China and India will be the countries most unrecognizable altered from their current situation.

South America, Africa, and the Middle East are regions crippled by cultural barriers preventing their advancement.

Significant events could possibly come from Iran, North Korea, and Japan. Because these Countries possess unique independent ‘aspirations’.

Briefly, we must discuss Iran & North Korea. Think of them as 1 hypothetically. Common sense would dictate the following: These 2 sovereign nations are being pressured to remain in the “stone age”, not developing economically and industrially nearly unilaterally by the USA. Do not read more into my statement. Basically, these nations have 2 rights in this situation: to industrialize and to defend themselves.

The interest of no country should impede on such. The development of Nuclear weapons however could logically be argued not a right of all nations.

This is dramatically a detrimental position for the USA to hold. This approach has occurred solely under the leadership of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. No other presidents: not George Washington, not J.F. Kennedy, not Harry Truman, not Jimmy Carter nor Bill Clinton were as foolishly pushing our wonderful nation towards ever lasting War as this G.W. Bush administration. Let’s pray such leadership is an anomaly.

Europe already in advanced political states, will simply adapt to those changes seen in the USA, Russia, China and India.

Only God knows what our world will evolve into. A world of peace & prosperity or a world of conflict and war and for whom?

Foley Fallout Spreads

Foley Fallout Spreads through-out the Republican Party.

Today on C-SPAN a Conservative voter said 'they are now going to vote for Democrats this year because of abuses of power by the GOP'. In addition Conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh fabricated wild speculation that Mark Foley was set up. Speaker Dennis Hastert may be forced to resign as joked by White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. And President Bush is risking political capital by supporting Speaker Hastert.

The FL 16th Congressional District Seat which encompasses areas just south of Sarasota will most likely now go to Democrat Mahoney (C&B).

The following is reported by National Public Radio.

The fallout on Capitol Hill from computer messages resigned Rep. Mark Foley sent to under-age pages continued Tuesday, with a call for Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's resignation coming from a conservative newspaper.

Late Tuesday, Foley's attorney acknowledged for the first time that his client is gay. Speaking to the media in Florida, Attorney David Roth also said that when Foley was a teenager, he was molested by a clergyman.
But earlier in the day, the Republican Party was seeking to cope with a scandal that has derailed hopes of focusing on midterm elections. The day included a show of support for Speaker Hastert from President Bush.
The President spoke in California, where he went to raise money for Republican congressional candidates. In his first public remarks on the Foley scandal, Mr. Bush said he was "dismayed and shocked" to learn of what he called Foley's "unacceptable behavior."

"Families have every right to expect that when they send their children to be a congressional page in Washington, that those children will be safe," the president said.

"We have every right as citizens to expect people who hold high office behave responsibly in that office."

The conservative Washington Times newspaper has called on Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign his post, saying the House leader was either grossly negligent or deliberately looked the other way.

Hastert has said he does not remember being told by his staff that a former page had complained about e-mails Foley sent him in the summer of 2005.

Hastert conceded Tuesday that the e-mails were a red flag that should have warned House leaders of Foley's conduct.

Of Hastert, President Bush said, "I know that he wants all the facts to come out and he wants to ensure that these children up there on Capitol Hill are protected. I'm confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement in this investigation."

The FBI is conducting a preliminary probe into whether any laws were broken by Foley's explicit messaging to minors.
House Republican leader John Boehner seemed to distance himself from Speaker Hastert as he explained his own conduct in the case.
In an interview with Cincinnati radio station WLW, Boehner said he too was aware of the initial concerns about Foley, and said he passed those concerns to Hastert.

"I believe the clerk of the House who runs the page program, the page board, all report to the speaker," Boehner said. "And I believed it had been dealt with."

Boehner's office later released a letter to the editor of the Washington Times, in which he stated that no one the House leadership, including Speaker Hastert, had any knowledge of the warped and sexually explicit instant messages that were revealed last Friday.

Other Republican House members have begun circling the wagons around Hastert. Arizona congressman John Shadegg has been rounding up signatures on a letter in support of Hastert. And Republican Ray LaHood, who represents a district in Illinois near Hastert's, says the speaker was ill-served by his staff."

NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6189877

Mahoney Info:
http://www.timmahoneyforflorida.com/e3/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/091406/tp9ew16.htm?date=091406&story=tp9ew16.htm

Rush Limbaugh has lost All decency

I urge everyone to listen to Rush Limbaugh’s Radio broadcast on October 3, 2006. He defended Mark Foley, the disgraced Congressman from Florida.

Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh made claims of wild speculation that the Democratic Party planted pages in the House to set up Mark Foley.

What an imagination he has, and he claims to report the news.

My lord! Did Rush Limbaugh forget about the children affected in this matter, the families, and the criminal acts of Mark Foley?

Political pundits would be right on to associate Rush Limbaugh with a Pig.

If Republicans will not disassociate themselves from this scandal then God damn, don’t defend the behavior of Mark Foley!

Limbaugh’s show today was simply disgusting (you can quote me on that).

-Anthony T. Brooks
Checks & Balances Blog

The Passion behind the Geneva Conventions

"You don't need blanket advance approval for blanket torture," President Bill Clinton


The title of this commentary is dually fitted for such a discussion. The Passion behind the Geneva Conventions.

“The first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864 to protect the sick and wounded in war time. In 1929, two more Geneva Conventions dealt with the treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war. The Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property was signed in 1954, the United Nations Convention on Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Techniques followed in 1977, together with two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, extending their protections to civil wars. (1 see note)”

The Conventions add civil parameters to war. Without such parameters, military options for governments such as torture and Nuclear bombardment would be acceptable.

In America, pride is taking in the Constitution which states that international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions are law.

The Conventions also state:

“All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely (1 see note)”.

Millions firmly believe that Universal Human Rights should never be washed aside, most definitely NEVER by the government of United States of America.

The flag, the national anthem, the statue of liberty, the Constitution. All symbols of liberty, hope, and freedom which only the United Sates once was a shining beacon of.

Imagine this scenario: you are arrested, you are given no reasoning nor charge. You are afforded no rights, no hearing, no trial, no habeas corpus. Torture may be used upon you. And I ask you, also ask your family, how long would such treatment be acceptable?

The United States government is currently engaged in such a scenario.

This is where the Passion behind the Geneva Conventions is derived from. In my eyes, simple rights belong to all people: American or not.

There are those, many calling themselves Conservatives that ask why we should care about the rights of those in other countries. (Nevertheless American citizens allegedly linked to terrorism).

Well America cared about Rights and the dignity of Life during World War II. America cared about Rights and the dignity of all Life during Kosovo. I ask these so called ‘conservatives (with a little “c”) why not care about Rights and the dignity of life during your War on Terror?

Honorable President William Jefferson Clinton:
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=13558861&src=rss/topNews

Info on the Conventions (1):
http://www.genevaconventions.org/

Iraq War Fuels Terrorism Threat

The U.S. war in Iraq has increased, not decreased, the threat of terrorism, according to a top-level, classified intelligence summary.
Findings of that National Intelligence Estimate on "Trends in Global Terrorism" were first reported over the weekend by The New York Times.

The intellegence report finds the war in Iraq has fueled a new generation of Islamic radicalism, which has spread around the globe.
U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte disputes that characterization of the report, saying published accounts reflect only "a small handful" of the study's conclusions.

Robert Hutchings was the chairman of the National Intelligence Council in 2004 when the Council wrote a similarly critical, but unclassified, review. Hutchings speaks with Renee Montagne about the news.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6137678

Dubai Still Owns U.S. Ports

Six months ago, Dubai Ports World reached an agreement with Congress to sell its North American operations to a U.S.-based firm within four to six months. Six months later, the company still owns those ports, but says it will sell soon. Democrats say they will make it a campaign issue if a sale isn¿t completed before the November elections.

Report:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6108992

Commentary:

The GW Bush Administration in its support of Dubai have placed its goal of privatization above that of the general security of the American people. From my observation the American people do not want a Middle Eastern firm having partial nor complete control over any USA port.

Numerous reports have shown that Americas ports are the nations weakest points on Security, that millions of packages enter the country unchecked. Putting such port points of entry in the control of a Muslim Middle East based corporation is not a good idea.

Furthermore on the economic front, Americans want to keep as many jobs in the hands pf American firms.

Let me tell you something. The true colors of GW Bush is not a sincere concern for national Security but an suspect obsessive interest for certain business affiliations, corporations and the wealthy.

Look for yourself, GW Bush spoke on National television to assist DuBai Ports but offered no assistance to the American company Ford Motor Company. This is why I call GW Bush’s actions suspect.

President Clinton vs. Mr. Bush

There is a movie that has created some discussion of the Honorable President Bill Clinton, whom has served his nation well leading through peace and economic prosperity.

The Face of the matter is that 9/11, the War in Iraq, the London City Bombings, and disdains for USA Policy amongst multiple countries had occurred under the watch of G.W. Bush. Bush who is leading our nation to Wars and economic decline.

9/11

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming!And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:O say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly sworeThat the havoc of war and the battle's confusionA home and a country should leave us no more?Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slaveFrom the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall standBetween their loved homes and the war's desolation,Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued landPraise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,And this be our motto--"In God is our trust."And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Saddam had No Links to Al Qaida

"There is no evidence that Saddam Hussein had any relationship with the late terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or with al-Qaida, the Senate Intelligence Committee says in a new report.

The partially declassified review of U.S. intelligence in Iraq prior to the toppling of Saddam Hussein refutes several claims made by the Bush administration.

Republicans dismiss the report as "old news," but Democrats say the report destroys the administration's case for going to war. The report also raises questions about the role of former CIA director George Tenet in making the case for war.

Release of the committee's report comes more than two and a half years after Democrats on the panel demanded a probe into the use or abuse of intelligence leading up to the Iraq war. Only the first two parts of that probe are in today's report. The most explosive elements of the findings compare pre- Iraq war intelligence with what was learned later.

No Republicans who serve on the committee were on hand to comment on the findings. But the panel's Democratic vice chairman, Jay Rockefeller, declared on the Senate floor that the document shows the Bush administration's case for invading Iraq "exploited a deep sense of insecurity" Americans felt following the 9-11 attacks.

"The administration, in its zeal to promote public opinion in the United States for toppling Saddam Hussein, pursued a deceptive strategy prior to the war of using intelligence" that was either unreliable, inaccurate or fabricated, the Sen. Rockefeller said.

Fellow Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan said that despite evidence to the contrary, President Bush last month continued to insist that Saddam Hussein had a relationship with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the recently killed leader of al-Qaida in Iraq.

The report cites other intelligence reports from both before and after the war that raised serious doubts about Iraq's ties to al-Qaida. It also relates how former CIA director George Tenet issued a statement that bolstered the case for war just before Congress voted on authorizing the use of force in Iraq -- even though the CIA had found unlikely the administration's claim that Saddam Hussein planned to use weapons of mass destruction.
White House spokesman Tony Snow dismissed the report, saying, "We'll let people quibble over three years ago."

"The important thing to do," Snow said, "is to figure out what you're doing tomorrow and the day after and the month after and the year after to make sure that this war on terror is won."

NPR Report:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5952990