Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Prissy Roasts Chickenhawks

Bush's Iraq Victory Strategy is here for your amusement: www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/Iraq%20National%20Strategy%2011-30-05.pdf

Words of Wisdom from our Dubya: "America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, to attain their own freedom and to make their own way."-President George W. Bush, January 2005" “

"One of the most important ways to fight terrorism is to promote democracy, and one of the most important ways to promote democracy is the rule of law."”-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, July 2005

"The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists, and that is why we are on the offense. And as we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own."”

-President George W. Bush, June 28, 2005

Someone needs to tell Dubya we are on the defense- and have been for quite some time now...he and Gonzales should try the rule of law here, before they attempt to impose it there.

Excerpt from A Patriot's Handbook by Caroline Kennedy. Readers, this is a wonderful book. The selections and speeches are truly inspiring.

C. 1900 by Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Twain wrote this essay in opposition to the American imperialism he felt took place in the Philippines.

As Regards Patriotism

It is agreed, in this country, that if a man can arrange his religion so that it perfectly satisfies his conscience, it is not incumbent upon him to care whether the arrangement is satisfactory to anyone else or not.

In Austria and some other countries this is not the case. There the state arranges a man's religion for him, he has no voice in it himself.

Patriotism is merely a relgion-love of country, worship of country, devotion to the country's flag and honor and welfare.

In absolute monarchies it is furnished from the throne, cut and dried, to the subject; in England and America it is furnished, cut and dried, to the citizen by the politician and the newspaper.

The newspaper-and-politician-manufactured patriot often gags in private over his dose; but he takes it, and keeps it on his stomach the best he can. Blessed are the meek.

Sometimes, in the beginning of an insane shabby political upheaval, he is strongly moved to revolt, but he doesn't do it-he knows better. He knows that his maker would find out- the maker of his patriotism, the windy and incoherent six-dollar subeditor of the village newspaper-and would bray out in print and call him a traitor.

And how dreadful that would be. It makes him tuck his tail between his legs and shiver. We all know-the reader knows it quite well-that two or three years ago nine-tenths of the human tails in England and America performed just that act. Which is to say, nine-tenths of the patriots in England and America turned traitor to keep from being called traitor. Isn't it true? You know it to be true. Isn't it curious?

Yet it was not a thing to be very seriously ashamed ot. A man can seldom-very seldom-fight a sinning fight against his training; the odds are too heavy. For many a year-perhaps always-the training of the two nations had been dead against independence in political thought, persistently inhospitable toward patriotism manufactured on a man's own premises, patriotism reasoned out in the man's own head and fire-assayed and tested and proved in his own conscience. The resulting patriotism was a shopworn product procured at second hand. The patriot did not know just how or where he got his opinions, neither did he care, so long as he was with what seemed the majority-which was the main thing, the safe thing, the comfortable thing. Does the reader believe he knows three men who have actual reasons for their pattern of patriotism-and can furnish them?

Let him not examine, unless he wants to be disappointed. He will be likely to find that his men got their patriotism at the public trough, and had no hand in its preparation themselves.

Training does wonderful things. It moved the people of this country to oppose the Mexican war; then moved them to fall in with what they supposed the opinion of the majority-majority patriotism is the customary patriotism-and go down there and fight. Before the Civil War it made the North indifferent to slavery and friendly to the slave interest; in that interest it made Massachusetts hostile to the American flag, and she would not allow it to be hoisted on her State house-in her eyes it was the flag of a faction. Then by and by, training swung Massachusetts the other way, and she went raging South to fight under that very flag and against that aforetime protected interest of hers.

There is nothing that training cannot do. Nothing is above its reach or below it. It can turn bad morals to good, good morals to bad; it can destroy principles, it can recreate them; it can debase angels to men and lift men to angelship. And it can do any one of these miracles in a year-even in six months.

Then men can be trained to manufacture their own patriotism. They can be trained to labor it out in their own heads and hearts and in the privacy and independence of their own premises. It can train them to stop taking it by command, as the Austrian takes his religion.

Bruce suddenly wants to be a real soldier, but alas, he's too old. This midlife crisis hit Bruce shortly after his ex-wife marries the 27 year-old Ashton Kutcher. Act as macho and silly as you want Bruce, it is amusing- apparently Demi tired of it-Prissy notes her new man doesn't have to strut around proving his stuff.

Hot Links

Here is, as Granny says, the same old stuff warmed over...check back later for updates-Prissy is having technical problems with publishing today news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=ArJ14qK9SVFZSf2dKaOSLGys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM- Bush Urges Patience With "Iraq Training"

In a speech defending his policy, Bush said that Iraqi forces have not always performed well in combat but have made substantial progress in the past year.

So take their brightest out of the country, train them and send them back. Someone tell the Bush administration their credibility gap is now larger than the Grand Canyon...

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-elect29nov29,1,4820903.story LA Times-Schwarzenegger Cannot Appoint Successor to Cunningham

SAN DIEGO - Once Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger receives official notification of the resignation of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Rancho Santa Fe), he has two weeks to call a special election in the 50th Congressional District. Unlike a Senate vacancy, he cannot appoint a successor.

www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001611706 Editor and Publisher-'Doonesbury' Strip Showing Bush Defending Frat Torture at Yale is 'Fact-Based,' Says Garry Trudeau

Trudeau, a Yale grad, added: "I did a week on this in the strip back during the 2000 election. The reason I revisited the episode is that it's gained in relevance with the president's reluctance to forego torture in intelligence-gathering."

The branding, which was exposed by the Yale paper, was first covered by The New York Times in a Nov. 8, 1967, article. Trudeau much later told Rolling Stone in an interview that he drew his first editorial cartoon for the Yale Daily News during the branding controversy.

According to that 1967 Times article, "The charge that has caused the most controversy on the Yale campus is that Delta Kappa Epsilon applied a 'hot branding iron' to the small of the back of its 40 new members in the shape of the Greek letter Delta, approximately a half inch wide, appeared with the article." It added that a former president of Delta revealed that "the branding is done with a hot coathanger. But the former president, George Bush, a Yale senior, said that the resulting wound is 'only a cigarette burn.'"

This week's Sunday strip www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/2005/11/27/ shows the Mark Slackmeyer character mentioning that Bush's alleged support of torture has roots in 1967 Yale. The Universal Press Syndicate-distributed comic then switches back in time to show screams emanating from the true-life Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Shouldn't surprise anyone. This is the president who enjoyed inserting firecrackers into frogs to watch them explode as a child. The boys Prissy questioned about this were disgusted that the president would do such a thing to animals.

With Prissy's background working with troubled juveniles- should a mother have come to Prissy, telling her that a nine year-old was doing such activities-Prissy would urged them to seek counseling! This is a red flag for sure.

wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1123231&tw=wn_wire_story Miami Police Take New Tack Against Terror

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami police announced Monday they will stage random shows of force at hotels, banks and other public places to keep terrorists guessing and remind people to be vigilant.

Deputy Police Chief Frank Fernandez said officers might, for example, surround a bank building, check the IDs of everyone going in and out and hand out leaflets about terror threats.

"This is an in-your-face type of strategy. It's letting the terrorists know we are out there," Fernandez said.

The operations will keep terrorists off guard, Fernandez said. He said al-Qaida and other terrorist groups plot attacks by putting places under surveillance and watching for flaws and patterns in security.

Another reason not to let Jeb Bush near another public office if this is the kind of "protection" he provides-PP

Monday, November 28, 2005

Winter Soldier Comes to Columbus

Bush salutes those who accuse him of imperialism and being a spoiled rich brat

(Prissy Patriot readers often write looking for this picture!)

UPDATE: Powell's Ex-Aide finally fires first shot over the bow! BBC news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4480638.stm Cheney accused on prisoner abuse

Col Wilkerson has been critical of Mr Cheney in the past A top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell has launched a stinging attack on US Vice-President Dick Cheney over abuse of prisoners by US troops.

Col Lawrence Wilkerson accused Mr Cheney of ignoring a decision by President Bush on the treatment of prisoners in the war on terror.

Asked by the BBC's Today if Mr Cheney could be accused of war crimes, he said: "It's an interesting question."

"Certainly it is a domestic crime to advocate terror," he added.

"And I would suspect, for whatever it's worth, it's an international crime as well.

Yahoo News news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051128/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/wilkerson_interview;_ylt=AjIJHbAK6g3ShatE4l5He_4b.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

Ex-Powell Aide Criticizes Detainee Effort

WASHINGTON - A top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that wrongheaded ideas for the handling of foreign detainees arose from White House and Pentagon officials who argued that "the president of the United States is all-powerful" and the Geneva Conventions irrelevant.

In an Associated Press interview, former Powell chief of staff Lawrence Wilkerson also said President Bush was "too aloof, too distant from the details" of postwar planning. Underlings exploited Bush's detachment and made poor decisions, Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson blamed Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and like-minded aides. He said Cheney must have sincerely believed that Iraq could be a spawning ground for new terror assaults, because "otherwise I have to declare him a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard."

The Prissy Patriot is proud to announce Military Families Speak Out of Ohio, along with Vietnam Veterans for Peace and Americans for Shared Sacrifice will attend Winter Soldier to promote "Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home Now". Vietnam showed the futility of "staying until things calmed down" in a place we should not have gone.

Many classic films are just as powerful today as when they were first released. We add such films from many genres to our schedule throughout the season. Many are shown on the occasion of their rereleases, in fresh, new or restored prints. Winter Soldier

(Winterfilm Collective, 1972)

Winter Soldier documents a controversial 1971 meeting organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War in which more than 100 veterans (including a young John Kerry) gathered to testify as part of an investigation into war crimes and atrocities.

(Prissy thanks readers that sent this bumper sticker saying)

UPDATE FROM KOS- The List of Who Served, Who Did Not Please pass this list around.

Speaking of real soldiers-let us take a look at who was and who wasn't. These corporate warriors are the same ones saying we cannot leave Iraq. Dear readers, this list says it all. What irony...don't let them tell you who supports our troops! "The Little Piggies Who Tell You To Support Our Troops." by johninwisconsin-Sat Nov 12, 2005 at 01:17:30 PM PDT

* johninwisconsin's diary :: :: *

MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS

DEMOCRATS:

Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71. David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72. Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72. Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.

Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g . Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam. Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII. John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts. Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.

Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam. Paraplegic from war injuries. Served in Congress. Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53. Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.

Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars,and Soldier's Medal. Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit. Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.

Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V. Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star. Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57 Chuck Robb: Vietnam Howell Heflin: Silver Star George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII.

Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311. Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy. Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953 John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and AirMedal with 18 Clusters. Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.

REPUBLICANS (and these are the guys sending people to war):

Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage. Dennis Hastert: did not serve. Tom Delay: did not serve. Roy Blunt: did not serve. Bill Frist: did not serve. Mitch McConnell: did not serve. Rick Santorum: did not serve.

Trent Lott: did not serve. John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business. Jeb Bush: did not serve. Karl Rove: did not serve. Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism.

Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve. Vin Weber: did not serve. Richard Perle: did not serve. Douglas Feith: did not serve. Eliot Abrams: did not serve. Richard Shelby: did not serve. Jon! Kyl: did not serve.

Tim Hutchison: did not serve. Christopher Cox: did not serve. Newt Gingrich: did not serve. Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor. George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate..

Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non- combat role making movies. B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea. Phil Gramm: did not serve. John McCain: Vietnam POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.

Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve. John M. McHugh: did not serve. JC Watts: did not serve. Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem, " although continued in NFL for 8 years as quarterback. Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.

Rudy Giuliani: did not serve. George Pataki: did not serve. Spencer Abraham: did not serve. John Engler: did not serve. Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer. Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.

PUNDITS and PREACHERS:

Sean Hannity: did not serve. Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst.') Bill O'Reilly: did not serve. Michael Savage: did not serve.

George Will: did not serve. Chris Matthews: did not serve. Paul Gigot: did not serve. Bill Bennett: did not serve. Pat Buchanan: did not serve. John Wayne: did not serve. Bill Kristol: did not serve.

Kenneth Starr: did not serve. Antonin Scalia: did not serve. Clarence Thomas: did not serve. Ralph Reed: did not serve. Michael Medved: did not serve. Charlie Daniels: did not serve.

Ted Nugent: did not serve. (He only shoots at things that don't shoot back.)

Please keep this information circulating

--Illinois State Sen. Howard W. Carroll

[urlhttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/12/151730/43[/url]

Hot Links

Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/28/nblair28.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/11/28/ixportal.html Blair brushes off minister's call for swift exit

Tony Blair was under growing pressure yesterday to speed up his departure from No 10 after a Cabinet colleague urged him to give Gordon Brown time to "settle in.

www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=nd05boureston Atomic Scientists Bulletin-Keep your enemy closer-The best way to know the full extent of Iran's nuclear doings is to offer it help.

It now appears a foregone conclusion that Iran will continue its nuclear program no matter what the United States and the European Union offer to stop it.

Short of a U.N. Security Council resolution--which is unlikely, given the reluctance of veto-wielding nations such as China and Russia to impose sanctions--Israel or the United States might seek to end the Islamic Republic's nuclear program through force. But bombing nuclear facilities or launching a preventive war runs the risk of futility because Iran has hardened and dispersed its nuclear complex. Moreover, military action may spark reprisal by Iranian-backed jihadist groups at a time when the U.S. military is already stretched to the breaking point by the insurgency in Iraq.

In pursuing a civilian nuclear program, Iran has international law on its side. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty gives signatories "the inalienable right" to peaceful nuclear technologies contingent on not making nuclear explosives. Although Iran has been less than forthcoming about many of its nuclear activities, inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency have not revealed evidence of a nuclear weapons program.

More than you ever wanted to know about Washington Times Newspaper owner Rev. Sun Myung Moon- www.consortiumnews.com/2001/010301a.html Consortium News-January 3, 2001 Rev. Moon, the Bushes & Donald Rumsfeld

George W. Bush’s choice of Donald Rumsfeld to be U.S. defense secretary could put an unintended spotlight on the role of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon – a Bush family benefactor – in funneling millions of dollars to communist North Korea in the 1990s as it was developing a missile and nuclear weapons program.

www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_ID=10174 Al-Jazeera Iran’s President calls for trying Bush for war crimes

During a nationally televised ceremony marking the 36th anniversary of the establishment of Iran's volunteer Basij paramilitary force, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for trying Bush’s administration on war crimes charges, The Associated Press reported.

Now that is the kind of thing that really makes Dubya see red, no wonder he keeps making threats- besides, Canada has already said our Dubya has Diplomatic Immunity. We must try this case at home...not to worry, the CIA and their neocon approved techniques can dig it out of them.

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/28/MNGIKFV3FK1.DTL San Francisco Chronicle -U.S. alters nuclear weapons policy-Congress rejects 'bunker busters' for more reliable arms

Lawmakers killed the widely criticized nuclear "bunker buster" concept, which critics regarded as too aggressive, and instead appropriated $25 million for research on what is called the reliable replacement warhead, or RRW. Though that initial sum is relatively modest, it signifies an important policy shift that could end up costing many billions of dollars.

Even some arms control advocates have applauded the decision, because many see the new program as a sharp scaling back of the Bush administration's once soaring nuclear ambitions.

Democrats as well as Republicans were so enthusiastic that they voted for almost three times the amount of money requested by the White House, in large part because the program is viewed as an exercise in restraint.

www.nytimes.com/2005/11/28/politics/28strategy.html?hp&ex=1133240400&en=024648c70509a183&ei=5094&partner=homepage NY Times-As Calls for an Iraq Pullout Rise, 2 Political Calendars Loom Large

In public, President Bush has firmly dismissed the mounting calls to set a deadline to begin a withdrawal from Iraq, declaring eight days ago that there was only one test for when the time is right. "When our commanders on the ground tell me that Iraqi forces can defend their freedom," he told American forces at Osan Air Base in South Korea, "our troops will come home with the honor they have earned."

But in private conversations, American officials are beginning to acknowledge that a judgment about when withdrawals can begin is driven by two political calendars - one in Iraq and one here - as much as by those military assessments. The final decision, they said, could well hinge on whether the new Iraqi government, scheduled to be elected in less than three weeks, issues its own call for an American withdrawal. Last week, for the first time, Iraq's political factions, represented by about 100 Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders, collectively called for a timetable for withdrawal.

As Mr. Bush ends his Thanksgiving holiday in Texas on Monday, both his own aides and American commanders say, he will begin confronting these sometimes conflicting military and political issues, including the midterm Congressional elections in this country, part of a delicate balancing action about how and when to begin extracting American troops from Iraq.

Note to politicians: Don't try the old "bait and switch"- pulling some soldiers out until the election is over, then some "incident" requires them to return. The majority of Americans want them O-U-T. So do the Iraqi people-stop telling us otherwise.

www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112805Z.shtml Truthout-Fitzgerald Targets Rove Again-By Jason Leopold

The most serious charges Rove faces are making false statements to investigators and obstruction of justice, the sources said. He does not appear to be in jeopardy of violating the law making it a crime to leak the name of a covert CIA agent, because it's unlikely that Rove was unaware that Plame Wilson was undercover, the sources said.

However, according to the sources, two things are very clear: either Rove will agree to enter into a plea deal with Fitzgerald or he will be charged with a crime, but he will not be exonerated for the role he played in the leak, based on numerous internal conversations Fitzgerald has had with his staff. If Rove does agree to enter into a plea, Fitzgerald is not expected to discuss any aspect of his probe into Rove, because Rove may be called to testify as a prosecution witness against Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. Libby was indicted last month on five counts of lying to investigators, perjury, and obstruction of justice related to his role in the leak.

Moreover, a second high-ranking official in the Bush administration also faces the possibility of indictment for making false statements to investigators about his role in the leak: National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Hadley had been interviewed in 2004 about his role in the leak and had vehemently denied speaking to reporters about Plame Wilson, the sources said. However, these sources have identified Hadley as sharing information about Plame Wilson with Washington Post editor Bob Woodward, whose stunning revelation two weeks ago - that he was the first journalist to learn of Plame Wilson's identity in mid-June 2003 and had kept that fact secret for two years - led Fitzgerald to return to a second grand jury.

A spokeswoman at the National Security Council denied that Hadley was Woodward's source. Hadley, on the other hand, would neither confirm nor deny that he was Woodward's source when he was questioned by reporters two weeks ago. Woodward testified two weeks ago about what he knew and when he knew it. Woodward would not publicly reveal the identity of his source.

If Fitzgerald really does his job, surely he can come up with more charges than that! Call Prissy should you need the news articles showing inconsistent statements.

Quotes of the Day

George Will whining about having to make the only kind of sacrifice he will ever know-taxes...

In the lexicon of the political class, the word "sacrifice" means that the citizens are supposed to mail even more of their income to Washington so that the political class will not have to sacrifice the pleasure of spending it. -- George Will

"The power to command frequently causes failure to think." ~Barbara W. Tuchman, American historian, 1912-1989, The March of Folly

"If the man doesn’t believe as we do, we say he is a crank, and that settles it. I mean, it does nowadays, because now we can’t burn him." ~Mark Twain

Is this why he gave Dubya the "crazy" sign?

"The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life." ~Mohammad Ali

The Prissy Patriot will return Wednesday...with some article updates before then.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Dubya's Last Stand

Dearest Readers, Have you noticed the ones screaming the loudest, telling us "we must win" "failure in Iraq is not an option" STILL have no real plan? Good Heavens, they cannot even define the difference between winning and failing. The majority of these so-called men and women are full-fledged, wing flapping, barnyard cackling Chickhawks!

We hear very few, if any combat Veterans screaming for more war. The ones who do seem to come in two flavors- dangerous and very dangerous. These are the very few Vietnam vets who still think if we had used more force - we could have won that war.

Pray tell, what would we have won that would have honored the 58,000 dead Americans and more dead Vietnamese?

Spare Prissy the "domino theory" as that argument imploded a long time ago...this time it was "dominoes for Democracy".

How about we make a new rule for warfare; that we must base war on facts- not theories...

Hot Links

WEEKEND UPDATE:

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists By Roger Speed and Michael May March/April 2005 www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=ma05speed Dangerous doctrine-A U.S. policy of preemption and a push for new nuclear weapon designs could be a recipe for disaster that makes proliferation more likely, not less.

Actual use of nuclear weapons in combat in theaters where the United States is attempting to intervene is likely to produce dire consequences in the region where they are used, particularly if the other side retaliates with nuclear weapons. Ports, air bases, and aircraft carriers in or near the area targeted could be gone, and the country to be occupied by the United States is likely to be contaminated--as may be neighboring countries. Beyond the area subjected to a nuclear attack, the reaction to U.S. nuclear use will almost surely be to strengthen the hand of those, in Russia, China, India, and elsewhere, who argue that a modern, integrated, tested nuclear force is necessary for their security. Both in the United States and abroad, U.S. nuclear use could be attended by considerable revulsion and controversy, and a deeper political split than has occurred to date.

The community of democratic states committed to increased effectiveness of international law and diplomacy, a community that includes the most effective and powerful U.S. allies, would surely split from the United States on any unwarranted use of nuclear weapons, whether first use or not.

rawstory.com

From NYT Frank Rich-Via RAW Story

Each day brings slam-dunk evidence that the doomsday threats marshaled by the administration to sell the war weren't, in Cheney-speak, just dishonest and reprehensible but also corrupt and shameless. The more the president and vice president tell us that their mistakes were merely innocent byproducts of the same bad intelligence seen by everyone else in the world, the more we learn that this was not so. The web of half-truths and falsehoods used to sell the war did not happen by accident; it was woven by design and then foisted on the public by a PR operation built expressly for that purpose in the White House. The real point of the Bush-Cheney verbal fisticuffs this month, like the earlier campaign to take down Joseph Wilson, is less to smite Democrats than to cover up wrongdoing in the executive branch between 9/11 and shock and awe.

What these revelations also tell us is that Bush was wrong when he said in his Veterans Day speech that more than 100 congressional Democrats who voted for the Iraqi war resolution "had access to the same intelligence" he did. They didn't have access to the President's Daily Brief that Waas uncovered. They didn't have access to the information that German intelligence officials spoke about to The Los Angeles Times. Nor did they have access to material from a Defense Intelligence Agency report, released by Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan this month, which as early as February 2002 demolished the reliability of another major source that the administration had persistently used for its false claims about Iraqi-Qaida collaboration.

The more we learn about the road to Iraq, the more we realize that it's a losing game to ask what lies the White House told along the way. A simpler question might be: What was not a lie? The situation recalls Mary McCarthy's explanation to Dick Cavett about why she thought Lillian Hellman was a dishonest writer: "Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the."'

By George Frank, Prissy thinks you've got it!

NY Daily News nydailynews.com/front/story/369436p-314247c.html All disquiet on West Wing front-Aides: W must right ship

The problem for Bush, advisers admit, is that the ongoing leak probe reinforces allegations that the White House allegedly hyped prewar intelligence to justify a war most Americans no longer support.

And...A card-carrying member of the Washington GOP establishment with close ties to the White House recently encountered several senior presidential aides at a dinner and came away shaking his head at their "no problems here" mentality.

"There is just no introspection there at all," he said in exasperation. "It is everybody else's fault - the press, gutless Republicans on the Hill. They're still in denial."

Science Daily www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051125-15433400-bc-us-ustroops.xml Iraq straining U.S. military. WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The continuing war in Iraq is taking a toll on both the equipment and the troops of the U.S. military.

Gen. Paul Kern, who recently retired as head of Army Materiel Command, estimated the cost of replacing or repairing equipment used in Iraq would come to $60 billion to $100 billion.

The physical and emotional stress on the military has fueled recent calls to get troops out.

"We are grinding down our force structure to the point where we have no force structure," said Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, one of the few Republicans in Congress to oppose the war.

Good for you on opposition to the war, Chuck. Please start yelling louder, Prissy knows you can do it. It's OK-it won't be political suicide, as the public will back you.

Stop making Cindy call you out on this-shame on these so called "tough guys." Someone's mother shouldn't have to point this out-you should be protecting her view and asking questions on her behalf-on OUR behalf.

What is so difficult to understand where Cindy and other military families are coming from? We know the truth-which was not the party line any major news service was feeding or continues to feed the public. That is finally changing.

www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112605X.shtml How Do We Honor Our Fallen Troops in a Wrongful War? By Paul Rockwell t r u t h o u t | Book Review Friday 25 November 2005-A review of Cindy Sheehan's uplifting and soulful book.

Kipling wrote two "Epitaphs for War." In the first, dead soldiers speak:

If any question why we died,

Tell them because our fathers lied.

In the second, "The Dead Statesman," a statesman speaks:

And now all my lies are proved untrue.

And I must face the men I slew.

What tale shall serve me here among

Mine angry and defrauded young.

Would our fallen troops want their own comrades to meet untimely deaths? Would they invite us to take more revenge on Iraqis who possess no weapons of mass destruction? If they could speak to us from beyond, would they not cry out, as did the dead soldiers in Kipling's epitaph: "If any question why we died, tell them because our fathers lied"?

Military invocations of death often resemble those ancient rituals in which tribal leaders required human sacrifice to appease the gods of war. Bush, however, is a sophisticated barbarian. He knows that, without identification with our troops, his morally indefensible war would be repudiated by the American people. It is America's emotional attachment to their troops, who are prepared to risk their lives when their country is under a real attack, that has - so far - saved Bush from self-destruction. And that is why, of course, he delivers so many speeches against the backdrop of the troops.

Such questions answer themselves. But Cindy addresses another kind of question, a spiritual enigma that is not easy to solve. Did our soldiers die in vain? Was it all for nothing? How do grieving families find peace if they face the truth about war?

It is the message of Cindy's book, I believe, so simple and so profound, that only the truth can heal. Only the truth can liberate the memory of the fallen. Our soldiers deserve a reckoning. And we must honor them in a way that affirms the sacredness of life.

We cannot bring back the dead. But we can end the war and hold our leaders accountable for their crimes. We can turn Casey's sacrifice into a message for peace. Then even the dead, through Cindy's inspiration, can save future generations from the scourge of war. Then - perhaps only then - our fallen comrades can rest in peace.

Way to go, Toledo Blade! European fund tied to Noe falters Firm backed by rare-coin money supplied international stamp deal-Sunday, November 27, 2005www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051127/NEWS24/511270357

Mr. Noe, who was indicted last month on three felony counts of laundering money into President Bush's re-election campaign, has been accused by Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro of stealing more than $4 million from the two rare-coin funds he set up and managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.

The former coin dealer's relationship with Greg Manning Auctions is absent from the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and hidden from a public without access to the 500,000 pages of coin funds records. It involved loans, direct payments to a Greg Manning subsidiary, and the off-market purchase by Mr. Noe of company stock from a former lieutenant of Michael Milken, the junk bond king convicted for securities violations in 1990, according to those records.

More than Ohio's money is at stake.

The investigation's findings could damage the fortunes of 140,000 Spanish and Portuguese investors who have invested more than $1 billion in rare postage stamps kept in distant vaults

.

Watch this fun cartoon of Dubya in a free-fall yee.slide.com/c/Bush+Freefallers+Unite_21/2962162

For Prissy's Candian friends: How'd they vote? Have you ever wondered how your member of parliament has been voting? In French and Englishwww.howdtheyvote.ca/

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051126/ap_on_re_us/crawford_war_protest;_ylt=AqrNUayRHnqEeoum5mSEzEes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY- Bush Supporters, Opponents Gather in Texas

"Nobody knew what was going to happen, and we made up Camp Casey as we went along, and it grew and grew and grew," said Sheehan. "But we're here to say that the killing has to stop, that we're not going to justify any more killing on our losses. And we're not going away."

Meanwhile, father Gary Qualls, who lost his Marine son Louis in Iraq last year, was among hundreds of Bush supporters who wanted to counter anti-war demonstrators with their own demonstration. Qualls, who also led a pro-Bush rally in August, said the anti-war demonstration is disrespectful to soldiers and hurtful to troop morale.

"Our sons and daughters have given the ultimate sacrifice, and they deserve nothing less than pure honor and pure respect," Qualls said.

Mr. Qualls, while Prissy is sorry for your loss-killing more of your son's friends for this lie, will in no way show honor or respect to the fallen. It only causes more sorrow-especially since the world knows why America is REALLY in Iraq. And tell the media to stop lying about your "hundreds of Bush supporters."

Gather up your three friends there with you and go apologize to Cindy and the other families who refused to willingly give their child's life to make rich men richer...Bush and the neocons must answer to the nation and to the world for the horrors they have unleashed.

www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051121-08125600-bc-us-torture.xml Report: Cheney advocated U.S. torture-WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI)

Retired U.S. Army Col. Larry Wilkerson, who served as former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff, made the allegation to CNN, and said it was possible the practice was still going on.

"There's no question in my mind where the philosophical guidance and the flexibility in order to do so originated -- in the vice president of the United States' office," he said. "His implementer in this case was (Defense Secretary) Donald Rumsfeld and the Defense Department."

Via Bellacaio- i33.photobucket.com/albums/d70/GDoole01/ea04ffaa.jpg More than you ever wanted to know about "rendition"- the CIA's shell companies they are said to have used to fly people around and torture them. How can these phonies call themselves AMERICANS? Prissy doesn't claim them...

bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=9313 SOME DARE CALL IT ... TORTURE

These treatments are administered directly by CIA officers. To optain harsher treatments, the CIA "renditions" (snatches and transports) the victims to Jordan, Syria (our supposed arch enemy), and Egypt. The CIA’s own methods have been approved by one or more American "physicians" (reminiscent of the Nazi Dr. Mengele), which supposedly has limited deaths from torture to two or three.

More actual rendition details in the article.

Thank you Cindy!crawfordupdate.blogspot.com/

Renewing the Camp Casey protest vigil in central Texas on Wednesday, a dozen anti-war activists challenged the county's recent laws against camping or parking on the side of any public road. Those arrested included Daniel Ellsberg, former diplomat Ann Wright, and DeDe Miller, Cindy Sheehan's sister. They are charged with trespassing and obstructing the road. They were sitting in the ditch along a county road, and no obstruction occurred. Each of these Orwellian criminal misdemeanors carries a possible 180 days in jail, and a $2,000 fine.

Daniel Ellsberg, the Pentagon Papers whistleblower, held the tent's undivided attention with endless tales of civil disobedience against unjust laws and policy. He turned serious when he expressed his doubts that "American justice" and civil rights as we know them would not survive the next 9/11. To Daniel Ellsberg, one important question is how many of us will speak out when the government targets immigrant communities and political opponents are rounded up and placed in detention camps. We should not wait until then, now is the time to resist, he concluded.

villagevoice.com/news/0543,lombardiqa,69280,2.html Village Voice-Mother of All Protesters-Talking with Cindy Sheehan, center of a rallying movement against war in Iraq

You're going to the White House this week. What's the message you want to bring? We have to invest everything we have right now to ensure our children and their children have a future. I believe what the Bush administration is doing is harmful to our present but it will be more harmful to our future. It's contaminating a region with depleted uranium. It's depleting our treasury. And if it has its way, it'll wage an eternal war in the Middle East. We have to change this. I'm going to Washington with my sister, Dede, who was my partner in crime in Crawford. I'm going to relay this message, and get arrested. And when I get out of jail, I'm going to go back and do the same.

news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1064382.php/Anti-war_protest_continues_near_Bush_ranch Anti-war protest continues near Bush ranch

CRAWFORD, TX, United States (UPI) -- Antiwar protesters remain camped near President Bush`s Texas ranch on land belonging to one of his neighbors.

The encampment features a large white tent and a banner that reads 'No Pardon for Crawford`s Turkey.' The group plans to mark Thanksgiving by serving an Iraqi meal, the Washington Post reported.

On Wednesday, a group challenged a new Crawford ordinance that bans roadside camping within 7 miles of the Bush ranch. Those arrested included Daniel Ellsberg, the former government official who leaked the Pentagon Papers on the Vietnam War.

Daniel Ellsberg has said he sees these actions as necessary to end the war. Prissy predicts Bush will never regain his support for the war. It's over.

Perhaps the next civil disobedience will take place in the halls of Congress. Military families could refuse to leave until a pull out plan is approved. It's coming, folks. Prissy thinks that would be the ultimate civil disobedience...one she would be willing to participate in-which would certainly be a first. Five years ago, Prissy would have scoffed that such an event would be needed.

Readers, Prissy doesn't say this lightly-for we are nearing this phase toward a massive and Democratic defiance of our so-called representatives.

Note to politicians: Lead, Follow or Get Out of Our Way! We have said your war has gone on long enough- and we mean it.

www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-faithpris24nov24,0,7203610.story?coll=sfla-news-florida Sun-Sentinel- Gov. Bush opens largest faith-based prison

Bush, a devout Catholic who has defiantly rejected civil libertarians' criticism of the state's faith-based programs, told the inmates how daily prayer has improved his life. He said he shares their belief in the power of faith.

"My expectation is that you'll be better behaved here, but also better prepared when you get out of here to live a productive life," Bush said.

Most of the volunteers who minister to and teach the inmates come from nearby Christian and evangelical churches, but efforts are made to bring in spiritual leaders of many faiths.

"It's just so difficult to get volunteers of faiths other than Christianity to come here," said Marilyn Nase, a volunteer from a nearby Baptist church in Tallahassee

. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected him from your city. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there." --Rev. Pat Robertson, after the city of Dover, Pennsylvania voted to boot the current school board, which instituted an intelligent design policy that led to a federal trial.

One more reason he should never consider running for president-Prissy knows plenty of FL folks who are tired of being "Bush-whacked". Jeb Bush is a religious fanatic who wanted the police to remove Terri Shivo from the nursing home. The police refused-they weren't breaking the law at the Governors request.

Those Bush boys may have grown up wealthy, but family dysfunction knows no income limits. They really believe our world is their oyster.

www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts132.html Lew Rockwell- We Must Hold the Scoundrels Accountable-by Paul Craig Roberts

Consequently, the US and UK governments invaded a country for reasons that were different from the fabricated reasons used to make the case to the public. Thus did the highest officials in the two governments commit a plethora of crimes.

Under the Nuremberg standard, it is a war crime to initiate military aggression.

It is a criminal act both in the US and the UK to commit military forces to action under false pretenses.

Bush/Blair had no intention of getting caught- they truly underestimated the power of the internet.

hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BROWN_DISASTERS?SITE=CODEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Ex-FEMA head starts disaster planning firm

"If I can help people focus on preparedness, how to be better prepared in their homes and better prepared in their businesses - because that goes straight to the bottom line - then I hope I can help the country in some way," Brown told the Rocky Mountain News for its Thursday editions.

Brown said officials need to "take inventory" of what's going on in a disaster to be able to answer questions to avoid appearing unaware of how serious a situation is.

Prissy likes this title better: "Former FEMA Director Now Consulting to Help Officials Appear Competent"

Uh,Oh... www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10356895 EU opens US 'terror gulag' probe

BRUSSELS - A probe into claims the CIA held al Qaeda terrorists in secret prisons in Europe has been stepped up after 45 countries were sent a formal demand to provide information.

The move coincided with news that Austria's Air Force is probing claims that a US plane containing suspected terrorist captives passed through the neutral country's airspace in 2003.

www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=32861&dcn=todaysnews Governement Executive-November 23, 2005 -CIA veterans speak out against torture

Some perennially high-profile retired CIA officers like Bob Baer, Frank Anderson, and Vincent Cannistraro recently spoke out to Knight Ridder about their opposition to torture on practical grounds (Cannistraro said that detainees will "say virtually anything to end their torment"). But over the past 18 months, several lesser-known former officers have been trying, publicly and privately, to convince both the agency and the public that torture and other unduly coercive questioning tactics are morally wrong as well.

Speaking at a College of William and Mary forum last year, for example, Burton L. Gerber, a decorated Moscow station chief who retired in 1995 after 39 years with the CIA, surprised some in the audience when he said he opposes torture "because it corrupts the society that tolerates it."

This is a view, he confirmed in an interview with National Journal last week, that is rooted in Albert Camus's assertion in Preface to Algerian Reports that torture, "even when accepted in the interest of realism and efficacy," represents "a flouting of honor that serves no purpose but to degrade" a nation in its own eyes and the world's.

"The reason I believe that torture corrupts the torturers and society," Gerber says, "is that a standard is changed, and that new standard that's acceptable is less than what our nation should stand for. I think the standards in something like this are crucial to the identity of America as a free and just society."

Indeed!

www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nosnipers24nov24,0,2395328.story?coll=la-home-headlines LA Times-Doubts Now Surround Account of Snipers Amid New Orleans Chaos-11/24/05

But nearly three months later — and after repeated revisions of the official account of the incident and a lowering of the death toll to two — authorities said they were still trying to reconstruct what happened Sept. 4 on the Danziger Bridge. And on the city's east side, where the shootings occurred, two families that suffered casualties are preparing to come forward with stories radically different from those told by police.

A teenager critically wounded that day, speaking about the incident for the first time, said in an interview that police shot him for no reason, delivering a final bullet at point-blank range with what he thought was an assault rifle. Members of another family said one of those killed was mentally disabled, a childlike innocent who made a rare foray from home in a desperate effort to find relief from the flood.

Dubya was looking for a reason to suspend the Posse Comitatus Act and was hoping Hurricane Katrina would give him an "in." Why does he hate Americans freedom? Because they have too much power over the government for Duyba's liking...

Quotes of the Day and a Funny Clip Too

"Vice President Dick Cheney said he is particularly upset when critics say they lied us into the war. I say fine. Just lie us back out and we'll call it even. How about that?" ~Jay Leno

"President Bush had an embarrassing moment after holding a press conference in China, did you see this on the news? He tried to leave the room, but the doors were locked. Once again, no exit strategy."

~Jay Leno

"President Bush is in South America. When he landed, he said 'Oh my god, John Edwards was right, there ARE two Americas!'"

~Jay Leno

"For the first time ever, Republicans in Congress -- Republicans! -- are demanding to know the president's exit strategy from Iraq. Yeah, in response the president said I have an exit strategy, I'm leaving office in 2008."

~Conan O'Brien

toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm The No Fly Zone- Quick cartoon-quite funny- featuring Dick, Rush,Delay and the rest of the gang. The facts given are for real...

The Prissy Patriot will return on Monday...but will be adding updates over the weekend.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Should They Stay or Should They Go Now? Prissy and Betty's List

Betty Buckaneer and Prissy Patriot have put together a list. Our list includes some of the world's most dangerous people.

Betty and Prissy decided who should stay and who should go. Former politicians (American and not), "advisors" and anyone else we think is too cozy with the cabal is named too. The damage this crew have done will last for generations at home and abroad.

Tell us what you think-additions welcome. Let us know if we missed anyone!

Put Your Hands in the Air and Step Away From the Flag:

George W. Bush- Dick Cheney Condi Rice

-Donald Rumsfield-Douglas Feith-Richard Perle (a.k.a. The Prince of Darkness)-Jeb Bush-Neil Bush- Mama Bush-Hillary and Bill Clinton-John McCain-Nancy Polosi-Rick Perry (Gov of Texas)-Bob Taft (Gov of Ohio)- Kenneth Blackwell (Ohio gov wannbe-responsible for major disruptions in the 2004 Election)-Bob Ney-Norm Coleman-Rick Sanitorum-Judith Miller-Rep. Jean (the wicked witch) Schmidt (OH-R)-Bill Bennett-Roberto Gonzales-Supreme Court Justice Roberts-Karen Hughes-Rudolph Giuliani-Tom Delay and all of his indicted associates-

George H.W.Bush-Gen. Sanchez-Gen Casey-ALL of Blackwater Security-Ariel Sharon-Kadhfi(ie: the U.S. does not deal with terrorists-but they come and go from the list)-Tony Blair (a.k.a. Dubya's poodle)-Grover Norquist-Jack Abramoff and all known and unknown associates-mAnn Coulter-Rush Limbaugh-NBC-ABC-CBS-FOX-CNN-Bill O'Reilly-The New York Times-The Washington Post-The Columbus Dispatch (local)-Samuel Alito-William Kristol-Queenie Matthew Drudge-Mary Matlin-Newt Gingrich-Pat Buchanan-Christopher Hitchens-Michelle Malkin (who thinks Japanese interment camps were OK)-Dick Morris-Bob Woodward-Glenn Beck (the man who wanted kidnap Terri Shivo)-

Henry Kissinger-Pat Robertson-John Ashcroft-Joe Lieberman-Joe Biden-Sean Hannity-Jerry Fawell-Rod Parsley-James Dobson-Karl Rove-Scooter Libby- Betty and I recommend one views them in the same spirit as say, a more lethal version of Zha-zha Gabor... they care not for others deemed "not of their class."

Who should stay? It's a short list! Barbara Boxer, Dennis Kucinich, Cynthia McKinney, Ted Strickland, Max Clelland, Congressman Murtha and the one who will soundly whip Ohio Senator DeWine-Paul Hackett.

The "maybe's" - John Edwards, Wesley Clark and any one else with the guts to say they were wrong about the war in Iraq.

Hot Links

Thanksgiving UPDATE: (Bold won't turn off) The Daily Texan www.dailytexanonline.com/media/paper410/news/2005/11/23/StateLocal/Protestors.Reassemble.In.Crawford-1113249.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.dailytexanonline.com

protestors connected to Cindy Sheehan's anti-war campaign are expected to "take up residence" in a ditch in Crawford today to protest county ordinances prohibiting camping and parking on public roads.

"The sheriff will find us camping in the ditch we're not supposed to be in, at which point those who are not willing to challenge [him] in terms of risking arrest will get out of the ditch," said Tammara Rosenleaf, coordinator of the "civil disobedience" action and a member of Military Families Speak Out. "We're pretty confident the law will be found unconstitutional."

The purpose of the protest will be for some protestors to get arrested, making the violation of the ordinances a criminal matter.

Three supporters of the campaign filed a lawsuit Monday, saying the ordinances violated their First Amendment rights of free assembly and speech.

Mona of Military Families Speak Out Ohio tells Prissy that folks are pouring into the Peace House there in Crawford. Daniel Ellsberg, the leaker of the "Pentagon Papers". Mr. Ellsberg risked everything to end the Vietnam War. Prissy is grateful to heroes like him, who truly love America!

Mona says Mr. Ellsberg, somewhere around age 70, has been camping out and is an extremely enthusiastic member of the protest. Although protestors are of all different ages, most are the middle age range. Mona said that make it all that more humorous when a truck load of Texas teens went by Camp Casey yelling "Bunch of Hippies!".

Hey kids! Prissy says if you are pro-war, why aren't you there? Haven't you heard? We're low on recruits...That's right kids, if we keep Dubya's war going past March-there won't be a question of "Will there be a draft?". There will be because we are running out of deployable soldiers.

Besides, they called Prissy about being an alternate for the draft board in November of 2002...that was before Prissy took a public stand against the war.

Flashback on the War in Iraq- portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/06/266752.shtml Indy Media-CIA and DOD Attempted To Plant WMD In Iraq-A DOD whistleblower detail an attempt by a covert U.S. team to plant weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The team was later killed by friendly fire due to CIA incompetence. Pentagon Whistleblower Reveals CIA/ DoD Fiascos 20.06.2003 [08:07]

In a world exclusive, Al Martin Raw.com has published a news story about a Department of Defense whistleblower who has revealed that a US covert operations team had planted "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (WMDs) in Iraq - then "lost" them when the team was killed by so-called "friendly fire."

The Pentagon whistleblower, Nelda Rogers, is a 28-year veteran debriefer for the Defense Department. She has become so concerned for her safety that she decided to tell the story about this latest CIA-military fiasco in Iraq.

According to Al Martin Raw.com, "Ms.Rogers is number two in the chain of command within this DoD special intelligence office. This is a ten-person debriefing unit within the central debriefing office for the Department of Defense.

The information that is being leaked out is information "obtained while she was in Germany heading up the debriefing of returning service personnel, involved in intelligence work in Iraq for the Department of Defense and/or the Central Intelligence Agency.

"According to Ms. Rogers, there was a covert military operation that took place both preceding and during the hostilities in Iraq," reports Al Martin Raw.com, an online subscriber-based news/analysis service which provides "Political, Economic and Financial Intelligence."

Al Martin is a retired Lt. Commander (US Navy), the author of a memoir called "The Conspirators: Secrets of an Iran Contra Insider, " and he is considered one of America's foremost experts on corporate and government fraud.

Ms. Rogers reports that this particular covert operation team was manned by ex-military personnel and that "the unit was paid through the Department of Agriculture in order to hide it, which is also very commonplace."

According to Al Martin Raw.com, "the Ag Department has often been used as a paymaster on behalf of the CIA, DIA, and NSA and others."

Gee Whiz-Between stories like the above and British soldiers dressed in Arab clothing being arrested by Iraqi police while driving a car full of explosives is almost enough to make one think Dubya/Tony do not want us to leave Iraq...

New Zealand Scoop-Pentagon: White Phosphorus is "Chemical Weapon" - www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00282.htm

Recently-discovered evidence of its use as an incendiary in Fallujah has cause the State Department to retract its assertion that phosphorus was only used for illumination and smoke and not used offensively.

The report relates to possible use of phosphorus weapons by Saddam Hussein against Kurdish areas in 1991, following the coalition victory in Gulf War I.

It includes the following statement:

"DURING THE BRUTAL CRACKDOWN THAT FOLLOWED THE KURDISH UPRISING, IRAQI FORCES LOYAL TO PRESIDENT SADDAM ((HUSSEIN)) MAY HAVE POSSIBLY USED WHITE PHOSPHOROUS (WP) CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST KURDISH REBELS AND THE POPULACE IN ERBIL ... AND DOHUK ... PROVINCES, IRAQ. THE WP CHEMICAL WAS DELIVERED BY ARTILLERY ROUNDS AND HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS (NO FURTHER INFORMATION AT THIS TIME)."

The documents were declassified as part of a programme to assist investigation of health problems among Gulf War veterans.

More in depth reports available on the site with article. Prissy suggests the government stop lying-as the whole world is onto them...

www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/051114fa_fact The New Yorker-A DEADLY INTERROGATION- Can the C.I.A. legally kill a prisoner?

According to witnesses, Jamadi was walking and speaking when he arrived at the prison. He was taken to a shower room for interrogation. Some forty-five minutes later, he was dead.

For most of the time that Jamadi was being interrogated at Abu Ghraib, there were only two people in the room with him. One was an Arabic-speaking translator for the C.I.A. working on a private contract, who has been identified in military-court papers only as “"Clint C."” He was given immunity against criminal prosecution in exchange for his coperation. The other person was Mark Swanner.

In the spring of 2004, the fact of pervasive prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib became public, on "“60 Minutes II"” and in a series of articles in these pages by Seymour M. Hersh. Photographs, taken by U.S. soldiers, that showed Iraqi prisoners being hooded, sexually humiliated, and threatened with dogs were published around the world. One of the most harrowing images was of Jamadi's severely battered corpse, which had been wrapped in plastic and put on ice; he became known in the media as the Ice Man.

Reason 10,098 why no agency, foreign or American- should EVER be given a green light to torture. Prissy would like to know why the Swanner is still working for the CIA. Or is a willingness to rape children, kill and torture a prerequisite? Porter, don't look for a resume from Prissy anytime soon...Prissy can say with some authority, after working in a maximum security prison- it is a sad commentary that those were safer conditions, than we allow to others that we imprison within their own (occupied) country.

And rendition? Completely unAmerican. Prissy has worked with the baddest of the bad, so don't tell her "it's sometimes necessary." It isn't. Ever.

globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=ZAM20051117&articleId=1269 Global Research-Shameless BBC: When Misinformation means War Crimes

It is very disturbing that the US lied for a number of months about the use of WP in Falluja, and only came forward with an admission of use after clear evidence. While combatant forces are allowed to withhold certain information from the general public at certain times, the US apparently lied to US Members of Congress and other officials. This is especially disturbing because the use of WP in urban areas is prohibited by operation of law. In this sense, the US was covering up war crimes.

newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/11/23/68309.html Feds seek to dismiss Andersen indictment

Arthur Andersen was convicted in June 2002 of obstructing justice for destroying Enron-related documents prior to the Houston energy company's December 2001 collapse. The conviction essentially meant the demise of Chicago-based Andersen.

rawstory.com/news/2005/Salon_Ohio_congressman_Ney_others_in_1122.html Salon Via RAW Story-Salon: Ohio congressman Ney, others in Congress in bribery probe

"If Bob Ney is not nailed to the wall here, given everything we know right now, it will be quite a surprise," says Norm Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. (buttons available at Cafe Press)

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/20/MNGMJFRADU1.DTL Alito ruling gave women grounds for asylum Key decision cited by number of courts, although he also set high burden of proof

Alito's 1993 opinion in the case of an Iranian woman seeking political asylum was a mixed bag -- he upheld a deportation order against the woman and, in the view of one advocate, made it difficult for women to prove persecution in such cases.

www.awolbush.com/ AWOL BUSH-George W. Bush - AWOL from Supporting our Troops Links: * Americans for Shared Sacrifice * The Midwest Web Group * Vets for Justice * The Retired Military Advocate

Between tax cuts for the rich, war profits for Halliburton, or support for our troops - which does the Bush Administration choose, time and time again?

Bush Administration cuts $1.5 billion from military family housing. The Bush Administration cut $1.5 billion for military family housing, despite Department of Defense statistics showing that in 83,000 barracks and 128,860 family housing units across the country are below standard. ("Nothing But Lip Service," Army Times, June 30, 2003; "House Appropriations Committee Approves $59.2 Million for Ft. Hood," U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards Press Release, June 17, 2003)

Against the cabal...insist on a Democracy!
www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_tom_turn_051118_dick_cheney_3a_war_pro.htm Dick Cheney: War Profiteer During Cheney's tenure as CEO from 1995 to 2000, Halliburton Products and Services set up shop in Iran. The Halliburton subsidiary does approximately $40 million a year worth of oil field service work for the Iranian government. 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl visited the subsidiary in the Cayman Islands and found that it had no office and no employees. The mailing address was a local bank with which the subsidiary is registered. Stahl was met there by the bank's manager who informed her that all mail to the subsidiary is forwarded to Halliburton headquarters in Houston. Halliburton had created the subsidiary to allow itself to do illegal business with a rogue state and to skip out on its taxes in the process.

With Iran's president vowing to destroy Israel and being accused by the Bush administration of harboring and aiding al-Qaeda operatives, Cheney's company is doing business with Iran through a subsidiary and dodging its tax obligations to the U.S.

Halliburton has been more closely associated with the invasion of Iraq than any other corporation. Before the Iraq War began, it was 19th on the U.S. Army's list of top contractors and zoomed to number 1 in 2003. In 2003 Halliburton made $4.2 billion from the U.S. government. Cheney stated he had , "severed all my ties with the company, gotten rid of all my financial interest."

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) recently asserted that Cheney's stock options which were worth $241,498 a year ago, are now valued at more than $8 million-- for an increase of 3,281% . Cheney has pledged to give the proceeds to charity. Cheney continues to received a deferred salary from the company. He was paid $205,298 in 2001; $162,392 in 2002; $178,437 in 2003; and $194,852 in 2004.

Congressional Research Service has concluded that holding stock options while in elective office does constitute a "financial interest" whether or not the holder of the options donates the proceeds to charities, and deferred compensation is also a financial interest.

Have a wonderful holiday, from Betty and Prissy- The Prissy Patriot

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Yankee Soldiers Without a Song in Their Heart

Dear Readers, do you recall this tune?

'Over there, over there,

Send the word,sent the word over there,

That the Yanks are coming,

the Yanks are coming,

During WWI, George M Cohan wrote this song in 1917 to encourage enlistment. Interestingly enough, the most popular song of 1915 was "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier". President Woodrow Wilson made campaign promises to keep the United States out of the war. World War I and WWII, were going to be the "war to end all wars."

People never want war-it is always the politicians lying their country into it. A politician taking advantage of a soldiers patriotism and love of country.

The Unknown Soldier

There's a graveyard near the White House where the Unknown Soldier lies,

And the flowers there are sprinkled, with the tears from Mother's eyes,

I stood there not so long ago, With roses for the brave,

And suddenly I heard a voice speak from the grave,

"I am the Unknown Soldier," the spirit voice began, And I think I have the right

To ask some questions man to man.

Are my buddies taken care of? Was their victory so sweet?

Is that big reward you offered, selling pencils in the street?

Did they really win the freedom, they battled to achieve?

Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre, above that empty sleeve?

Does a Gold Star in the window, now mean anything at all? I wonder how my old girl feels, When she hears a bugle call...

And that baby who sang "Hello, Central, give me no man's land'- Can they replace her Daddy, with a military band?

"I wonder if the profiteers, Have satisfied their greed? I wonder if a soldiers Mother, Ever is in need?

I wonder if the kings, who planned it all, Are really satisfied? They played their game of checkers, And eleven million died.

I am the Unknown Soldier, And maybe I died in vain, But if I were alive and my country called, I'd do it all over again."

- Billy Rose, 1921 (Excerpts from A Patriot's Handbook, Selected and Introduced by Caroline Kennedy)

Little has changed, we still have greedy old men taking advantage of patriotic young soldiers. Only difference today, we let our daughters fight and die too.

Dick Cheney should be kicked out today! Jailed, nursing home, whatever...he should not be let out to continue his attempts to justify his war.

Prissy says they only thing that ole liar should be attempting to justify is the cost of his health care to this nation. If Dick was on the dole with his "condition", he would already be dead.

He is a very rich man and we taxpayers should not have to pay his healthcare bill. Dick has his own team of doctors traveling with him! If a true "life assessment" was done on Dick, Prissy bets he'd get cut from the list quickly. Far too costly for the ole boy's life expectancy based on age... And besides, how do we know that it wasn't Dicks "lifestyle choices" which caused his four heart attacks?

As for those of us fortunate enough to have health insurance, see below:

Hot Links

UPDATE: news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051122/NEWS01/511220352 Schmidt in war of words Rookie lawmaker's 'coward' remarks ricochet

Via RAW on Bloomberg-Iraqi Leaders Urge a Timetable for Eventual Troop Withdrawal www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aDLgOBgqARvw&refer=top_world_news <P>Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi leaders, meeting at a reconciliation conference in Cairo, urged an end to violence in the country and demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq.

In a final statement, read by Arab League chief Amre Moussa, host of the three-day summit, they called for ``the withdrawal of foreign troops according to a timetable, through putting in place an immediate national program to rebuild the armed forces.'' No date was specified.

Legitimate Right -The final statement also stated that ``resistance is a legitimate right for all people.'' The conference almost collapsed earlier today when Sunni leaders objected to the definition of ``resistance,'' al-Jazeera said.

Someone tell Dick and Dubya they think it is OK for locals to shoot at our troops. Does Dubya think military families will back down before he does? Not hardly-we have a lot more to lose...Readers, this is about the 100th time the Iraqi government have "asked" us to leave. From June 20, 2005:

Iraqi Lawmakers Call for Foreign Troops to Withdraw By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BAGHDAD

Iraqi lawmakers from across the political spectrum called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from their country in a letter released to the media June 19.

The move comes as U.S. President George W. Bush is under increasing domestic pressure to set a timetable for the pullout of American forces in the face of an increasing death toll at the hands of insurgents.

Eighty-two Shiite, Kurdish, Sunni Arab, Christian and communist deputies made the call in a letter sent by Falah Hassan Shanshal of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the largest group in parliament, to speaker Hajem al-Hassani.

Some of those who signed urged that a detailed timetable be established for the withdrawal.

There are currently about 160,000 foreign troops in Iraq, including a 138,000-strong U.S. force, which has borne the brunt of attacks against coalition forces.

In the letter, Shanshal said the 275-member parliament was the Iraqi people’s legitimate representative and guardian of their interests.

”We have asked in several sessions for occupation troops to withdraw,” the letter said. “Our request was ignored.”

”It is dangerous that the Iraqi government has asked the U.N. Security Council to prolong the stay of occupation forces without consulting representatives of the people who have the mandate for such a decision.

”Therefore we must reject the occupation’s legitimacy and renew our demand for these forces to withdraw,” the letter added.

The U.N. Security Council agreed on May 31 to extend the mandate of multinational forces in Iraq “until the completion of the political process” following a request from the Iraqi government.

”Iraqi security forces have managed to break the back of terrorist groups and maintain security in the streets of Iraq, and have gained the trust of Iraqi citizens to arrive at their final goal, total sovereignty for Iraq."

Telegraph Flashback - US 'aiming at Syria regime change' 5/10/05www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=THGW01Z0RC5C3QFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2005/10/05/wsyria05.xml

Israel predicted yesterday that America would impose fresh sanctions on Syria in an attempt to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

NOTE: The wording of this article was changed-from war to sanctions shortly after posting. Next time we shall get a screen shot-as this has happened before... Excuse me-who runs this country? Israel predicted more war? Why? Who would benefit?

Did anyone tell them the military cannot do this, short of a draft? Try that here folks and you will have suburban parents rioting on Capital Hill. They realize, looking at their 17 year-old children, their own could be sitting in a war zone in two years or less...

The anger is rapidly rising in these areas...educated taxpayers who normally do not pay attention to anything except their investments are waking up. (Their investments were not doing so well, you see) Why? Let us tell them to read Prissy's lips, " It's the war, stupids..." Prissy enjoys seeing them get angry-it's about time.

More proof they are indeed insane and incompetent...news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051122/pl_afp/qatarusbritainmediajazeera_051122144116;_ylt=AmwZCZZPBX8tTGmuf.qBmKGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM- Bush plotted to bomb al-Jazeera

The Mirror quoted an unnamed British government official as saying Bush's threat was "humorous, not serious".

Al-Jazeera's perspectives on the war in Iraq have drawn criticism from Washington since the US-led March 2003 invasion.

The station has broadcast messages from Al-Qaeda terror network chief Osama bin Laden and the beheadings of Western hostages by insurgents in Iraq, as well as footage of dead coalition servicemen and Iraqi civilians killed in fighting.

A source told the Mirror: "The memo is explosive and hugely damaging to Bush.

"He made clear he wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in Qatar and elsewhere. Blair replied that would cause a big problem.

"There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do -- and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it."

Another source said: "Bush was deadly serious, as was Blair. That much is absolutely clear from the language used by both men.

This is the poll Ed Schultz couldn't find-when Prissy called in to let him know where it came from, Ed said he thought it was a poll from last year. No Ed, it isn't-so please do not spread any misinformation. We have plenty going around as it is... telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/23/wirq23.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/10/23/ixportaltop.html

Telegraph-Secret MoD poll: Iraqis support attacks on British troops 10/23/05

The Sunday Telegraph disclosed last month that a plan for an early withdrawal of British troops had been shelved because of the failing security situation, sparking claims that Iraq was rapidly becoming "Britain's own Vietnam".

The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals:

• Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified - rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province;

• 82 per cent are "strongly opposed" to the presence of coalition troops;

• less than one per cent of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security;

• 67 per cent of Iraqis feel less secure because of the occupation;

• 43 per cent of Iraqis believe conditions for peace and stability have worsened;

• 72 per cent do not have confidence in the multi-national forces.

The opinion poll, carried out in August, also debunks claims by both the US and British governments that the general well-being of the average Iraqi is improving in post-Saddam Iraq.

The findings differ markedly from a survey carried out by the BBC in March 2004 in which the overwhelming consensus among the 2,500 Iraqis questioned was that life was good. More of those questioned supported the war than opposed it.

Original found at www.villagevoice.com/news/0547,cartoons,70202,9.html

Sutton Impact: Bush and Cheney Answer Critics 'Majority of Americans are un-American' by Ward Sutton

The Prissy Patriot will be reporting Wednesday with an update from our Crawford, Texas correspondant- Mona, a member of Military Families Speak Out.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Who Would Jesus Support? Dubya or Cindy?

If Jesus were walking the streets of the United States, urging us to "love thine enemies" and "be thy brother's keeper"; just how would Bushies handle that?

Would Bush label Jesus an "enemy combatant" lock him up without trial or charges, and torture him? When the Romans nailed Him to the cross, gave him a crown of thorns and let Him slowly die-that was torture. Write Prissy with your case, if you can argue it was not torture.

Torture is what the Romans did to Him... and now Americans do it too. Bush was bent on legalizing it, at the same time saying "the United States doesn't torture." Overlooking the "renditions", Gitmo and the Iraqi prison scandals, apparently.

Prissy is almost sure Jesus would have been in Crawford to comfort Cindy, not Dubya. His words to Dubya would have surely been most interesting...as He wasn't fond of tyrants or rich men.

UPDATE: What are the Bushies afraid of? ALL blogs, message boards and even bank sites have been BLOCKED to our military personnel. Prissy is sorry to hear that, as we have many military readers.

(The legacy of the Chickenhawk's War on Terror -see above-or why The Prissy Patriot despises them)

Obviously, there is a reason the Pentagon doesn't want soldiers to have access to the facts. They know there is little they can do, should field commanders decide to pack'em up and move'em out.

The war is ILLEGAL by our own standards-most soldiers are aware of this. Their JAG's especially know this-Prissy guesses this is why they refuse to particpate in the "tribunals" in Gitmo.

Rummy says Rush Limbaugh on Armed Forces Radio is OK. Indeed, like Tokyo Rose was OK...Rush doesn't support the troops-that Chickenhawk only supports WAR.

Dear Readers, please keep the pressure on your representatives. They are really feeling the heat-it's time to turn up until they do the will of the people!

Write your Representative- International readers, please write to Bush-let him know what you think. Please let Congressman Murtha know we support him!www.house.gov/writerep/

Video-Ali gives Bush "crazy" sign-indeed... www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=5pIn55wD6RM&search=crazy%20bush%20muhammad%20ali%20boxer%20funny

The Prissy Patriot will return Tuesday. From the Charlotte Observer-Oct 29, 2005- War and N.C. Military www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/13027623.htm

An Elon University telephone survey taken this week asked 80 current and former military if the war in Iraq was worth fighting. Here are the results:

Not worth it 28.8 percent (23)

Worth it 18.8 percent (15)

Don't know 51.3 percent (41) (They didn't know-really means "not worth it"-military people are notorious for preferring not to share opinions with strangers-PP)

Refused to answer 1.3 percent (1)

More than 51 percent of military members said they did not know if the war was worth fighting. Roughly 29 percent said the war was not worth it and 19 percent said it was.

Waning enthusiasm for the war among troops and their families is understandable since the president has not clearly "articulated what constitutes victory," said Richard Kohn, a professor of military history at UNC Chapel Hill.

The Bush administration also has not indicated when troops will leave Iraq, and many are serving multiple tours of duty because the military lacks manpower, he said.

"Our military citizens are bearing the brunt of this war," Kohn said. "(Civilians) read about it, but are not impacted.

"Military folks see this. There is a silent but growing sense of resentment.

Not to be silent much longer...

crawfordpeace.nfshost.com/ Come to Camp Casey Crawford TX for Thanksgiving (The Prissy Patriot will have an MFSO member on the ground keeping us updated daily)

Sponsors: * Gold Star Families for Peace * Crawford Peace House Endorsed by * Veterans for Peace * Iraq Veterans Against the War * Code Pink * Peace Action Texas

Schedule of Events: * Tuesday, Nov. 22 - Civil Disobedience action * Wednesday, Nov. 23 - Hurricane relief collection * Thursday, Nov. 24 - Iraqi Dinner of Solidarity [RSVP] * Friday, Nov. 25 - Dedication of Camp Casey Memorial Garden * Saturday, Nov. 26 - Anti-War Rally in Crawford * Sunday, Nov. 27 - Interfaith Service

MSNBC Poll Newsweek Survey-Live Vote-Get your vote in- www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10112386/site/newsweek/#survey

Should U.S. troops begin an immediate withdrawal from Iraq? * 17168 responses

Yes-74%

No-21%

Don't know-5%

Dubya wants us to believe he is a law and order kind of guy. Someone who "does the right thing"...a "strict Constitutionalist"....Yeah, sure-like he has ever read the whole Constitution or Bill of Rights.

When Dubya talks of "strict Constitutionalists", is he speaking of the slave owners running the country and women/blacks being denied civil rights to vote,ect-just like when the Constitution was written?

Prissy thinks he is. Ironic how he can find so many "uncle Tom's" to do his bidding. Often formerly poor who used the system to get ahead, have sold their souls to be a part of the "club". Though they will never really be "members." They are only pawns.

Do Gonzales-Powell-Condi think they would be where they are without laws to force fairness? Why Dubya wouldn't even talk to the likes of them, if they refused to do his dirty work of dismantling civil rights and abuse of the military...

They got where they wanted to be-and now they wish to pull the ladder up behind them. They are neither compassionate nor conservative-think Condi's $1,000 shoes while New Orleans drowned.

Prissy could not in good conscience spend that much on ANY one item of clothing because she could outfit an entire classroom full of poor kids for that kind of cash-at "Once Upon A Child" (resale),of course...spare Prissy and her readers talk of "compassionate conservative".

He loves the military and certainly has their best interest at heart...just ask him.

Cindy Sheehan's quest is one more issue the Bushies must face. Cindy isn't going away-her followers only increase.

As much as the msm and some alternative news, like Eric from Wonkette (who should be ashamed of himself) would like to disrespect this Gold star Mother, people continue to be drawn to her.

Why? Because Cindy is honest in her mission. Truth is on her side, not the Bushies. As the Good book says- "the truth will find you out."

Cindy brought needed attention to the war. The msm was more than content to let it slip to the back pages, so people wouldn't have to think about it. Yet soldiers and civilians are dying in large numbers everyday in Iraq.

Cindy, knowing the pain of losing a loved one unjustly, had to do what she could to stop this war. She just couldn't let others experience the trauma her family went through...she couldn't stand by while our young soldiers, her son's friends-continue to die to do the bidding for rich old men's lies.

No wonder the Bible says for a rich man to get into heaven is like putting a camel through the eye of a needle.

Hear that, Bushies? Or do Bushies just skip over the chapters they don't like?

Hot Links

www.dawn.com/2005/11/17/int1.htm Pakistani Briton to be extradited to US

Babar Ahmad, who lived in the London neighbourhood of Tooting, was arrested in August 2004 on an American extradition warrant. The decision to extradite him follows a long fight by the US for his removal and by Mr Ahmad and his supporters against the move.

In May, Judge Timothy Workman allowed extradition after receiving assurances from US authorities that they would not seek the death penalty or declare Babar an "enemy combatant," a category applied to detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. British law forbids the extradition of suspects who could face capital punishment.

Lawyers for Ahmad say he is being made a scapegoat.

He was previously arrested under anti-terror laws in December 2003, but was released without charge.

www.saudi-us-relations.org/newsletter2004/saudi-relations-interest-11-23.html America's Need to Personalize the Enemy Is a Tough Challenge for Saudis

This almost compulsive need to "personalize the enemy" will continue for some years, at least until an alternative emerges in lieu of the old -- perhaps a new political leader or a new state would have to be identified to bear America's official and popular inimical sentiments.

Throughout modern history, the evolution of this phenomenon has witnessed several individuals and countries promoted to the rank of "America's No. 1 enemy." Some have been political leaders of third world countries, whose interests either ran contrary to or sharply diverged from U.S. special interests. The roster of enemies started with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, passed through Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Iranian cleric Ayatollah Khomeini, and will expectedly not stop at Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden.

..Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a sustained smear campaign has been unraveling in the U.S. in a bid to project Saudi Arabia as the "key enemy" of the American state and society..

Over the past three years, the government and the people of Saudi Arabia have topped the list of "personalized enemies" who allegedly pose a threat against Washington's security and interests. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a sustained smear campaign has been unraveling in the U.S. in a bid to project Saudi Arabia as the "key enemy" of the American state and society.

In other words, the Saudi's think we fight "weird"...we need to hate people, not their policies. Which is a shame-since policies are much easier to change.

Saudi's worry not- only the Americans we call "red necks" think this way. While very loud and very Neanderthal, they are far from being the majority of Americans. Thankfully.

Counterpunch- www.counterpunch.org/roberts11142005.html Indefinite Detentions and the End of Habeas Corpus Power Uber Alles -By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

Habeas corpus is essential to political opposition and the rise and maintenance of democracy. Without habeas corpus, a government can simply detain its opponents. Nothing is more conducive to one party rule than the suspension of habeas corpus.

It is heartbreaking to watch the Republican Party overthrow the very foundation of democracy in the name of democracy. The name of Lindsey O. Graham, Republican senator from South Carolina, the sponsor of this evil legislation, will go down in infamy in the book of tyrants.

The next time Bush declares that "they (Muslims) hate us for our freedom and democracy," someone should ask him how there can be freedom and democracy without habeas corpus.

The Bush administration has also resurrected that second great feature of tyranny--torture. We have the right to torture say President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Attorney General Gonzales.

Dr. Roberts is one of Prissy's heroes for speaking the truth.

TruthOut- www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111705R.shtml Cindy Sheehan Found Guilty; Will Appeal

Washington - Iraq War protester Cindy Sheehan and 26 other peace activists were found guilty Thursday of protesting without a permit near the White House.

They were each ordered to pay $75 in fines and court costs, but Sheehan's lawyer said he plans to appeal the verdict.

"We weren't demonstrating," Sheehan told reporters after the trial.

All the defendants contended they were trying to deliver petitions to the White House calling for an end to the war in Iraq on Sept. 26, but found no one willing to accept them.

"Our petitions were rejected like every request I have made of the president has been rejected," Sheehan said.

Cindy will return to Crawford for Thanksgiving under the Camp Casey tent. Her book comes out next week too. Prissy won't be there, but a member of Military Families Speak Out will be giving Prissy the exclusive, so stay tuned if you want to know what is really happening there.

Cindy is planning a civil disobedience on Tuesday in Crawford.

Get used to this neoRepublicans. Military families are not backing down-where do you think our tough soldier stock came from? Military families who are able to objectively weigh the evidence for this war, are a step away from a "declaration of war" on YOU.

Leaders must stop playing politics with soldiers' and civilian lives. Some neoRepublicans cannot admit they were deadly wrong for supporting this president.

That includes McCain. Prissy is surprised he has the guts to come out against torture-he has let this president call him "nuts" from his Vietnam POW years.

Why do the men with a record to stand on, refuse to stand on their record? Surely Congressman Murtha isn't the only politician with a spine of steel...or is he?

Editor and Pulisher- Excerpt of Editorials across the country www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001525247 UPDATE: After Murtha Pullout Call, Editorials Confront War

In Friday's debate in Congress, several representatives apologized for shirking their responsibility to raise questions about the war earlier and failing to press their oversight role.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and other Knight Ridder papers, Nov. 20:

Despite the semantic games and counterfactual bluster, this is the real issue: Bush made the most momentous decision a President can make, sending American sons and daughters to war, without doing as much skeptical research as most Americans put into buying a car.

Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Nov. 20:

When more and more members of his own party are ready to defy the president in Congress, you know it, too. And when the president can't think of anything to say in response to the growing unease about the war except the same old bluster, you know something's changing.

Americans are waking up. About time.

The Chicago Tribune, in a lengthy editorial (part one of a series on the roots of the war), Nov. 20:

Based on Hussein's indisputable record, the president had ample cause to want regime change in Iraq. Put short, the bumper-sticker accusation that "Bush lied-People died" would be moot today if the president had stuck to known truths.

Houston Chronicle, Nov. 17:

If Iraqis cannot take over the responsibility for their defense within a specified period, ongoing American involvement will only delay the inevitable fragmentation of the country into semi-independent ethnic and religious entities.

How much clearer can the Iraqi's make it? They are more worried about occupation, than civil war. So why aren't fools who forced this occupation? Because they don't understand war isn't what they see in a "John Wayne" movie... www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/11/con05441.html No More Band of Brothers B.S. by M. Swanson- About Congressman Murtha

He learned about military service from the bottom up, beginning as a raw recruit during the Korean War. There he earned the American Spirit Honor Medal, awarded to fewer than one in 10,000 recruits. He rose through the ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. In 1959, Captain Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for Vietnam in 1966-67, receiving the Bronze Star with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallan try. He remained in the Reserves until his retirement. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the Marine Corps Commandant when he retired from the Marines.

This tough old marine is now under attack by a bunch of people who never bothered to serve in the military of their country but are all too willing to let others fight and die.

If the people in this country who have served, as Congressman Murtha served, allow another veteran to be smeared by the lies and innuendo of a bunch of loud-mouthed cowards who never bothered to serve themselves, then the term "Band of Brothers" needs to be eradicated from the English language. If you do not stand up for your own, what possible unity do you represent?

The WSJ must be hurting for business-their numbers are down-just like the rest of msm. online.wsj.com/public/article/SB113236130033602047-zCx1WvfGIuZvGZJVr_MWVRGcFGE_20061118.html?mod=public_home_us_inside_today Rep. Murtha embraced this argument. "The perception of occupation in Iraq is a major driving force behind the insurgency," he said. Even further, he essentially argued that U.S. forces had become the problem in Iraq and that the war may be unwinnable so long as they remain in large numbers.

Within the military, there is considerable disagreement about the potential consequences of a U.S. troop reduction. Critics of an imminent drawdown argue that in areas such as Mosul and Tal Afar, reductions in troop levels have tended to embolden insurgents and produce greater chaos. Even at current troop levels, some U.S. commanders have been quietly arguing that they don't have enough troops to succeed in places such as the restive al Anbar province, which includes Fallujah and Ramadi.

(Prissy strongly disagrees with this statement-brass sitting on their butt in Washington or a geek in a think tank do not have opinions that count in this war. Because they do not use facts in their analysis-they got us into this war,too)

An immediate withdrawal would produce an explosion of violence so great it would be " hard to imagine," said Reuel Marc Gerecht of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank. "You will set the stage for one hell of a civil war."

No, Gerecht-your dum-dums in the White House already set that stage. Gerecht is another geek who thinks he is an expert on warfare, though he has never served a day in the military. Yet another Chickenhawk telling the military how to operate.

It is time to get OUT of Iraq...listen to the soldiers, not the corporations who only boo-hoo when they see their profits evaporating with a withdrawl.

Cut and run? HA. Try packing-up and leaving. Iraq requires a political solution, not a military one. It always did.

Prissy is sure the Iraqi people will be happy to send us packing...as Congressman Murtha said, there is not one solid reason troops cannot go into outlying countries considered allies to see if the situation in Iraq cools down. Of course, (short of false flag operations)-it will.

Diplomatic relations, however, will be another matter.

Quotes of the Day

Only in America can a homeless combat veteran live in a cardboard box while a draft dodger lives in the White House

.~ Unknown

Truth never damages a cause that is just.

~Gandhi

Gandhi's Seven Deadly Sins

Wealth without work

Pleasure without conscience

Knowledge without character

Business without morality

Science without humanity

Worship without sacrifice

Politics without principle