The Prissy Patriot

Now that Prissy's own young relative is home safe and sound, Prissy may cut the cabal a little slack...but probably not much.

She spoke with too many soldiers who knew their time and talents given over there are all for naught. Prissy will be posting some of their pictures from Iraq later this the weekend.

Iraq is going to take a long, long time to rebuild. There are few buildings left untouched by this war. With no security, trash is piled as high and long as the eye can see. More than half do not have access to clean water. What a great way for disease to spread. Prissy is grateful our soldiers have the food and water they need, but the people of Iraq are suffering, with little relief in sight if the occupation continues.

The Chickenhawks running this show should hang their heads in shame.

Hot Links

Great site called Educate-Yourself-The Freedom of Knowledge, The Power of Thought educate-yourself.org/cn/chertoff911propaganda06mar05.shtml Ben Chertoff: Propagandist & Illuminati Disinformation Tool- March 6, 2005-Original title: How The Bush Administration Uses Nepotism To Conceal Its Dark Secrets About 911 Exclusive to American Free Press

The Defense Department defines nepotism as the situation when relatives are in the same chain-of-command.

An egregious example of dictatorial-style nepotism occurred when George W. Bush won the White House - twice - thanks to the key "swing state" of Florida, where the presidential candidate's younger brother is governor. In 2000 and 2004, against all odds, Florida swung decisively, the Bush way.

The official canvass from the 2004 election in Florida, certified less than a fortnight after the election by three hand-picked lieutenants of Governor Jeb Bush, shows Republican Members of Congress winning, such as Tom Feeney, without congressional seats without even appearing on the ballot. In other races, a handful of candidates for the Florida state house won with 100 percent of the vote against write-in candidates who didn't even receive 1 vote.

With high federal offices being given to the wives, sons and daughters of senior members of the Bush administration, the Hearst Corporation executives that publish Popular Mechanics magazine probably didn't worry about the ethical considerations of hiring a cousin of Michael Chertoff, a former Assistant Attorney General and the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as senior researcher.

But the March 2005 issue of Popular Mechanics (PM) plumbs new depths of nepotism and Hearst-style "yellow journalism" with its cover story about 9/11. PM's senior researcher, 25-year-old Benjamin Chertoff, authored a propagandistic cover story entitled "Debunking 9/11 Lies" which seeks to discredit all independent 9/11 research that challenges the officialversion of events.

Blair Watch- Here is the page with documents, which Blair's government threatened papers with violation of the Official Secrets Act. As you can see, the people will not let their government continue to interfere with their freedom, nor will they tolerate being lied into a war...www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/716 users.pandora.be/quarsan/craig/npaper.jpgLink directly to document regarding intelligence information obtained by torture. As we know, illegally obtained evidence is not admissible anywhere in the American justice system. In Criminal Justice lingo, this is known as "the fruit of the poison tree doctrine"

That is a doctrine I am sure most neoRepublicans are not familiar with...

www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1839453,00.html From Germany's DW World-Al Qaeda Responsible for Kidnap Says Freed Hostage Osthoff

It is unclear whether Germany paid a ransom for her release but many officials have noted the expense of the effort to free her, including the establishment of a round-the-clock crisis team operating at the foreign ministry.

Hmm...

Flashback- www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=6793&hed=Carlyle's+WayCarlyle's Way Making a mint inside "the iron triangle" of defense, government and industry. December 11, 2001

Despite its VC troubles, however, the Carlyle Group's core business is set for some good times ahead. Though the group has raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill in the past, the firm's close ties with the current administration and its cozy relationship with several prominent Saudi government figures has the watchdogs howling. And it's those same connections that will keep Carlyle in the black for as long as the war against terrorism endures.

For the 11th-largest defense contractor in the United States, wartime is boom time. No one knows that better than the Carlyle Group, which less than a month after U.S. troops began bombing Afghanistan filed to take public its crown jewel of defense, United Defense, a company it has owned for nearly a decade. That this company is even able to go public is testament to the Carlyle Group's pull in Washington.

Hi Dubya! Prissy is here to say End the war... news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051229/ap_on_hi_te/white_house_bug_1 Dec 29, 2005.NEW YORK - Unbeknownst to the Bush administration, an outside contractor has been using Internet tracking technologies that may be prohibited to analyze usage and traffic patterns at the White House's Web site, an official said Thursday.

"Unbeknownst"- Oh, Come Now...

www.freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=16869

The information received via the phone call, was to inform the families that the base did not condone the site, nor the Army, and that it was not to be used; the gist was, families were not allowed to use the site, or they could get into "trouble". Some members reported their soldier calling from Iraq, telling them to be careful about using the site as the Army was monitoring it.

As Web Mistress of the site I needed to respond and qualify this information, as well as to educate this commanding officer as to the rights and liberties of a private web site, which I did. I was told I would have to let a commanding officer on the site to monitor the messages; I did allow this, but I also informed the officer that this was a courtesy, as there is no such law, or right of the military to monitor, shut down or exclude our web site.

We were a group of 77 families from all over the country, at the time of the call. Every single family was phoned and told not to use the site; and I believe some 150 other families were phoned as well, as it was an official order from a commanding officer.

I have waited to speak of this situation, until my son was home safe and sound and also after his transfer to another base. Yes, I was afraid of repercussions that could have harmed him, one way or another. I called my local senators office, 4 months ago, following up every 10 days to 2 weeks, and still have no answers or support.

I admit I am not comfortable writing this, as required to, as I am still concerned for my son and the other soldiers and families involved on the site.

Readers this article of intimidation and possible civil rights violations are important to learn about. Who will be next? Is this more evidence of Dubya's wiretapping? Prissy will refer this article and the author for further assistance. There are people out there willing to help. Prissy is shocked this happened-it is certainly worthy of an explanation from the Pentagon and/or DOD.

Maybe these folks were making calls? www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001772051 Harris Survey: Many Americans Still Think Saddam Was Behind 9/11

NEW YORK More than four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 22% of adults believe that Saddam Hussein "helped plan and support the hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11," according to a new Harris Poll. And nearly one in four (24%) of all adults wrongly believe that "several of the hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11 were Iraqis."

In other results bearing on support for the Iraq war, 26% of adults believe that Iraq "had weapons of mass destruction when the U.S. invaded," and 41% believe that Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda."

Granted the 911 Report was a whitewash-but Geez, it did state there was no 911/Iraq connection, nor did Saddam knock boots with binLaden. Speaking of bin Laden, did you see Rummy hint he may be dead? "If bin Laden is still even alive..." Rummy said a few days ago. Guess the "boogey-man" has served his purpose.

english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6E01FA17-D63D-4687-BC54-48117A8B457F.htm Al-jazeera- Rice backs Iraq poll probe

Sunni representatives have claimed that the elections were tainted by widespread fraud and led street demonstrations demanding a new election. Iraq's electoral commission has ruled out rerunning the election but it may reject ballots found to have been tainted by fraud.

Rice said she welcomed statements from Iraqi parties that had issued complaints supporting the electoral commission's decision to invite international monitors back for a review.

"The Electoral Commission has once again demonstrated its commitment to fair and credible elections that meet international standards," Rice said. "The United States strongly supports the election review process."

Condi is quite the card...they support a review in Iraq-yet they do not support the election review process in their OWN country!

Minister goes in Iraq oil crisis-30 December 2005

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4569360.stm BBCIraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum has been released from his post and the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi has assumed control.

Mr Bahr al-Uloum had publicly objected to the government's decision earlier this month to triple fuel prices.

Iraq's largest oil refinery has been shut since last week following death threats to tanker drivers.

A ministry spokesman told reporters that "production in the north, centre and south is about to suffocate."

From Constant-all about the warrantless National Security Agency searches. Nice work! constantpated.blogspot.com/

All NSA information showing NSA or other officials have known about war crimes -- but have engaged in coverups, or have refused to take action on war crimes -- is also admissible. * * *

GCHG's (Katherine)Gunn has already released information. We have copies of the Downing Street Memos. (See Prissy's archives about the Gunn case www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1156048,00.html)

And more information from other overseas government officials.

If you destroy the files, there are backups.

The US Attorney can bring charges for evidence destruction, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Those who know of war crimes -- and cover it up -- are presumed to be accessories. The punishment for war crimes includes the death penalty.

Quotes of the Day

"President Bush is being criticized by right wing groups because this Christmas cards to friends this year did not say 'Merry Christmas". Instead they said, 'Sorry about the indictment.'" --Conan O'Brien

In his 318th speech in Iraq on Sunday, the President said that the terrorists view the world as a giant battlefield. As opposed to us, who view the world as a giant oil field." --Jay Leno

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.~ Mark Twain

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.~ Mark Twain

The history of our race, and each individual's experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal. ~Mark Twain

We know who they are...does Fitzgerald? Only time will tell. Let Prissy remind you of this; the non-answers from the White House strongly indicate some people silently invoking the Fifth Amendment...Just think, dear readers- one day the Office of the President may again be held in esteem and respect in the world.

Prissy hopes anyone clinging to illusion this will work out in Dubya's favor seek reality therapy immediately...Prissy's favorite reads are a good place to start.

Prissy is pleased to announce her own young relative has returned to the United States. He brings with him a purple heart, Meritorious service award and combat badge. High speed indeed...

Welcome Home soldiers . Thank you for your commitment-our commitment to you is that in the future, there will be a more responsible use of our military might. That is a promise neoRepublicans can take to the bank. Military Families Speak Out is far more determined than any politician to see this through to its conclusion.

It greatly saddens Prissy and other MFSO members to reflect on the fallen ones from this needless war.

Hot Links

Financial Times news.ft.com/cms/s/74970858-7713-11da-a7d1-0000779e2340.html Bonds spark fears of US slowdown-December 27 2005

According to analysts at Bank of America, the past six US recessions have been preceded by an inversion of the yield curve, which plots the yields on Treasury bonds against their maturities. The most recent inversion, in late 2000, came just ahead of the recession that began in March 2001.

Twice in the past 40 years, however, an inversion of the yield curve has not been followed by a recession. Many economists and Alan Greenspan, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, do not think this inversion is the prelude to a major slowdown.

The Nation-www.thenation.com/doc/20060109/editors From the Editors-Bush's High Crimes

For the generations who came of age after the mid-1970s, it is worth recalling why warrantless domestic surveillance so shocks the political system. It needs to be repeated that the same arguments cited by Bush--inherent presidential power and national security--sustained the wiretapping of Martin Luther King Jr., unleashed illegal CIA domestic spying and generated FBI files on thousands of American dissidents. It needs to be repeated that in 1974, the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon included abuse of presidential power based on warrantless wiretaps and illegal surveillance. It needs to be repeated that a few months later, presidential aides named Cheney and Rumsfeld labored mightily to secure President Ford's veto of the Freedom of Information Act, in an unsuccessful attempt to turn back post-Watergate restrictions on homegrown spying and government secrecy.

www.mezomorf.com/emailed/news-18259.html MEZOMORF NEWS OF THE WORLD-Word for Word: The Truce of Christmas, 1914

Rifleman Graham Williams of the Fifth London Rifle Brigade recalled how the mood spread:

Then suddenly lights began to appear along the German parapet, which were evidently make-shift Christmas trees, adorned with lighted candles, which burnt steadily in the still, frosty air! … First the Germans would sing one of their carols and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up "O Come, All Ye Faithful" the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words Adeste Fideles. And I thought, well, this is really a most extraordinary thing - two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.

The shared carols inspired Capt. Josef Sewald of Germany's 17th Bavarian Regiment to make a bold gesture:

I shouted to our enemies that we didn't wish to shoot and that we make a Christmas truce. I said I would come from my side and we could speak with each other. First there was silence, then I shouted once more, invited them, and the British shouted "No shooting!" Then a man came out of the trenches and I on my side did the same and so we came together and we shook hands - a bit cautiously!

Prissy read in A Chorus of Stones, the men from these units were eventually sent home-they had too much difficulty after this experience in dehumanizing the enemy. They lost the will to kill. Interesting, as the enemy we fight continues to be human...

www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7894.shtml Capital Hill Blue-For those who remain skeptics on Bush calling the Constitution, "a g**damn piece of paper."

In a situation like this, false modesty usually kicks in and I say something like “well, sometimes we just get lucky” but to hell with false modesty. Luck had nothing to do with this story just as luck has had nothing to do with many other stories that we all too often break long before the so-called “mainstream media.”

Are we that good? Damn right we are.

On January 22, 2003, before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, we ran a story, Role reversal: Bush wants war, Pentagon urges caution. Among the points in that story:

But conversations with sources within the Bush administration, the Pentagon, the FBI and the intelligence community indicate a deepening rift between the professionals who wage war for a living and the administration civilians to want to send them into battle.

Sources say the White House has ordered the FBI and CIA to “find and document” links between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

“The implication is clear,” grumbles one longtime FBI agent. “Find a link, any link, no matter how vague or unproven, and then use that link to justify action against Iraq.”

We followed that story up the next day, January 23 with this one: Intel pros forced to fabricate Iraqi intelligence:

U.S. intelligence professionals, under pressure from the Bush administration to provide proof needed to justify war with Iraq, say they have been forced to fabricate evidence of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction as well as the location of non-existent hidden chemical weapon warheads.

The fabricated documentation, shared for the first time with the White House on Thursday, provides the basis for material the administration requires to justify an attack on Iraq.

It was two years, repeat two years, before the same information appeared in mainstream media.

Last year, June 7, 2004, we reported on the U.S. government’s spying on American citizens with the story: Where big brother snoops on Americans 24/7:

He certainly makes his case... www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/23/AR2005122301480.htmlF FBI Whistleblower Coleen Rowley-A Zeal to Defend Secrecy

More important, and contrary to Kristol and Schmitt's assertion that "the Justice Department decided there was not sufficient evidence to get a FISA warrant to allow the inspection of his computer files," no evidence of Moussaoui's suspicious flight training and ties with terrorism was presented to the Justice Department. The department was never contacted and so did not decide anything; therefore, no decision was ever made regarding the given evidence and its subsequent application to FISA standards.

Answers the "But Clinton did it too!" This is worse, Bush outright ignored the law...On Rense-Original on KOS- www.rense.com/general69/warr.htm

Here's what Clinton signed:

Section 1. Pursuant to section 302(a)(1) <50> of the Act, the Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches, without a court order, to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year, if the Attorney General makes the certifications required by that section.

You don't have to be a lawyer to understand that Clinton allowed warrantless searches if and only if the AG followed section 302(a)(1). What does section 1822(a) require?

the "physical search is solely directed at premises, information, material, or property used exclusively by, or under the open and exclusive control of, a foreign power or powers." Translation: You can't search American citizens.

and there is "no substantial likelihood that the physical search will involve the premises, information, material, or property of a United States person." Translation: You can't search American citizens.

Moreover, Clinton's warrant waiver consistent with FISA refers only to physical searches. "Physical searches," as defined by 1821(5), exclude electronic surveillance.

robertdreyfuss.com/blog/ The Dreyfuss Report-December 20, 2005-Interview: Baath leader calls for peace talks

The following is a slightly edited transcript of an interview with Salah al-Mukhtar, an Iraqi Baath Party official who has belonged to the party for 47 years. At the time of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Mukhtar was Iraq’s ambassador to Vietnam. Previously, he served as ambassador to India, at Iraq’s mission to the United Nations in New York, and as an official in Iraqi information ministry. Although he stressed that he is not an official spokesman for the party or for the resistance in Iraq, it is clear from his comments that he remains close to those leading the fight in Iraq. Before 2003, Mukhtar was close to Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi foreign minister, who is currently in U.S. custody.

In the interview, Mukhtar calls for talks between the United States and the Baath Party, and he strongly denounced Al Qaeda in Iraq for its attacks on civilians, going so far as to accuse Zarqawi of operating under U.S. and Iranian intelligence control.

At present, Mukhtar lives in Yemen.

Great interview, Dreyfuss asks informative questions.

Quotes of the Day

"Today three wise men arrived at the White House. They're lawyers trying to help President Bush avoid impeachment. They brought gold and other things." --Jay Leno

"Over the weekend, Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Iraq, it was yesterday. Cheney was there, and he gave the troops one of his warm holiday sneers. And if you think about it, when you're at war in some far off corner of the world, what better than a visit from a guy who got five draft deferments? Iraqi officials met with Dick Cheney, or as they call him over there, Lawrence of Arythmi." --David Letterman

"President Bush is trying to put the best spin he can on this eavesdropping scandal, like he said today: "This proves we have a government that listens to the people." --Jay Leno