Saddam Hangs, Vatican Denounces Execution

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Just before dawn, Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging, having been found guilty of Crimes Against Humanity committed during his tumultuous reign as dictator of Iraq. It was the end for Saddam, but many fear his execution will only spark the beginning of even greater violence throughout the region.

The Vatican was quick in denouncing the execution, calling it "tragic, and reason for sadness." The Rev. Federico Lombardi added that executing Saddam "is not a way to reconstruct justice".

The Vatican's top prelate for justice issues, Cardinal Renato Martino also spoke out against the execution, saying executing Saddam would mean punishing "a crime with another crime."

In Baghdad, the hanging of Saddam has so far done little to quell the raging violence. At least fifty-five more people were killed today alone in two separate car bombings.

The US military has already lost 108 lives in Iraq during the first 29 days of December, making it the deadliest month for the war in 2006. As of this morning, the official US death count for the war in Iraq remains at 2,990.


National Newswire
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Condoleezza Rice, A Trail Of Failure

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

For Condoleezza Rice, her first two years as Secretary of State have been nothing if not Catastrophic. The once rising star of the Bush administration has proven herself inept at a multitude of levels, unable to cope, let alone demonstrate even a modicum of palpable intellect or diplomacy. She has been an embarrassment to herself and the Bush administration.

Since Rice assumed the position January of 2005, the White House agenda to promote freedom and democracy worldwide has resulted in monumental failure. Under her watch, the crisis in the Middle East has been severely exacerbated. The US has already suffered the loss of nearly 3500 lives fighting an un-winnable war against an un-definable enemy, and any surge in US troops will only worsen the situation.

As for Condoleezza, her demeanor has gone from swagger to stammer. She has lost her confidence. She has lost her nerve.

It must be painful to watch helplessly as one’s reputation and credibility implode under scrutiny. Her jingoistic prediction of pending mushroom clouds were accepted as fact by millions of good Americans, and right about now, many of those same Americans feel deceived. Condi, true to form, has never publicly expressed remorse for the lies.

Condoleezza’s trail of failure runs long. Victories have been few and insignificant at best.
In nearly every notable instance, her style has led to deterioration in diplomatic relations.

North Korea, Iran, Syria, Lebanon; take your pick. All have seen their relationship with the US languish under the Bush administration. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has taken an ugly turn for the worse, while the ongoing genocide in Darfur has been all but ignored. The situation is grim.

I don’t foresee any real shift in administration policy as long as Bush remains in the White House. George W. Bush chose to be a war president. Indeed, war will be his legacy and failure his longest shadow. As Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has contributed in no small way to the undoing of this administration. Hers is a trail of failure, a trail that can only lead to a dead end.


National Newswire
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Message From Dr. Ahmadinejad

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor


On November 29th, 2006 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran presented an open letter to all citizens of the United States and the American People.

In an effort to provide our readers with an opportunity to better understand the gravity of the mid-East crisis as viewed by the controversial Iranian leader, the contents of his letter has been reprinted below in it’s entirety.



Nov. 29, 2006— Message of H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic
Republic of Iran

To the American People

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.

Noble Americans,

Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;

Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;

And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;

Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.

While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.

Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.

Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.

We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.

We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.

We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.

The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.
Noble Americans,

Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.
Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.

As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.

We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.

No day goes by without a new crime.

Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't?

For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.

You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.

Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?

Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Let's take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.

Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.

In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration.

A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.

Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores.

American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.
I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.

Noble Americans,

You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.

You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed "war on terror." But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.

The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.

I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.

The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.

The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.

Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.

My questions are the following:

Is there not a better approach to governance?

Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?

We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.
But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?

If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?

The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.

What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.

What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?

I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.

Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless

Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.

I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:
The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.

Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.

If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.

To sum up:

It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.

It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.

It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.

It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.

Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.

What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.

I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.

The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.

We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur'an:

"But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and
Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him." (28:67-68)

I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
29 November 2006








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Seasons Greetings!

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Season's Greetings!



The holiday candles are burning, my friends. Christmas is only days away. Many presents have yet to be purchased, let alone, wrapped and distributed. Thank the good lord above (thanks be to Allah, etc.) I can always count on Santa to bear the brunt of the load.

Yes, the holiday season is again upon us. Rest assured good old Saint Nick knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, no matter what George W. Bush or Dick Cheney may say to the contrary. I recommend two lumps a piece. Of coal that is, but then I assume you knew where I was going with this.

Ah, but I digress.

We acquired our Christmas tree in the usual manner, and from the usual suspects, whom we have ascertained use the proceeds to fund a covert children’s hospital in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Mum is the word.

The parking lot was dimly lit. Actually, it was not lit at all. It was dark! We peered through the shadows, shaking branches curiously and horse-trading in our best broken Spanish. We settled on a fine tree. The gentle mannered attendant then secured the tree to the roof of our truck with about forty feet of heavy rope I assume was strong enough secure an angry bison to our rooftop. No extra charge.

As we pulled away from the unpaved parking area adjoining the unlit tree lot, we were greeted by the most unusual sign. 'NO REFUNDS OR RETURNS' the sign portended.
They must be on to us, we mused, as we drove away, singing carols in our best broken Spanish.

More later,
Eggnog and fudge await.

National Newswire
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Mr. Bush, Don’t Build This Wall

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

They say history is destined to repeat itself and I tend to believe it’s true. However, I am less certain we really learn from our mistakes, as we‘d have ourselves believe. Take President George W. Bush for example. Wasn’t his father the Vice President of the United States when then President, and Republican Icon Ronald Reagan urged Mr. Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!”

Perhaps Bush the younger does not recall Mr. Reagan’s histrionics. There is a good chance little George was occupied with other matters at the time. Still, one would think he might have studied the subject at some point during his formative years.

You see, much like the follies that have led to the current situation in Iraq, Mr. Bush seems oblique in his understanding of what a seven hundred mile stretch of metal fence really boils down to. Our very own Iron Curtain.


Eastern Europe or Southern Arizona
Can You Tell the Difference?


The Iron Curtain that stretched across much of Eastern Europe for over a half a century started off as a vague line dividing countries and ideals. Before long, barbed wire fences were erected as armed sentries guarded key locations. From there, the problems really began, and well… I believe you know the rest of the story. Certainly the bad parts.

Eventually the wall came down, but for reasons having nothing to do with Ronald Reagan. My fear is that eventually, another wall, this one separating the US from Mexico may indeed be erected, dividing peoples and families again, just as the Iron Curtain did. The result will ultimately shame a generation of Americans, just as the wall shamed Eastern Europe. No good will come of it. Of that you can be certain.


National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

The Truth about Cheney

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Vice President Dick Cheney has long been a leading advocate for the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and has never been one to allow the truth, or for that matter, the law to stand in his way.



Cheney resides in a world of his own design, devoid of reality. He continued to propagate lies about weapons of mass destruction, long after it became obvious none would be found.

He shrugs off polls concluding most Americans no longer believe Iraq is central to the war against terror. Indeed, as far back as May of 2005, Cheney was still claiming the Iraq insurgency was "in its last throes."

Dick Cheney is not a stupid man.

It would be foolish to assume the Vice President was simply mistaken, or misinformed. Which leads one to ask, what would compel Mr. Cheney to look Americans in the eye and lie straight to our faces, while thousands of our bravest men and women are being cut down?

Money? Power? Oil?

Cowards will tell you 9/11 changed everything, that we must protect the homeland from further attacks. Why then have we caused the deaths of over 655,000 Iraqis, when there were no Iraqis involved in the 9/11 hijackings? How does this protect the homeland?

The truth is quite obvious. Vice President Dick Cheney is a war profiteer.

It’s not much of a stretch, really. We’re mostly adults around here. I think it’s a rather obvious conclusion, with his connections to Halliburton and what not. Why else would the Vice President yawn while our children are dying? The man has money on his mind.

Oh, I suppose I could be wrong, but I doubt it. A tangible answer is subjective at best, so let’s just let it go at that, shall we…

Or not.

Have you seen the CHENEY ENERGY TASK FORCE DOCUMENTS?

Frankly, the Vice President did not want you to see what he and his cronies were up to behind locked doors during March of 2001. In fact, Cheney went to great lengths to assure you wouldn’t find out. Fortunately, the GAO was able to persuade a judge to force the release of a handful of these documents, and what we learned is disturbing.

With less than two weeks until mid-term elections, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt for you to have a gander at these documents yourself. I must warn you, they are as real as they are disturbing. I have included links to the pdf's below. Have a look for yourself, and arrive at your own conclusions.



IraqOilFrgnSuitors.pdf

IraqOilGasProj.pdf

IraqOilMap.pdf

SAOilMap.pdf

SAOilProj.pdf

UAEOilProj.pdf

(These PDF's are Located on our secure server. If a warning box pops up, select YES or OK )


National Newswire
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Throw Out the Trash Pt. Two

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Somewhere in the halls of Washington, a stench hangs heavy in the air. It is the stench of corruption and incompetence, and like no other in our grand history. But fear not America, we can overcome this. The answer is simple. When the trash begins to stink, it’s time to throw it out.



Of course, there are always bad actors in both parties. Regardless of party affiliation, we should never be afraid to purge our government of those who have abandoned their posts. Indeed, the Republican controlled congress has done just that, repeatedly playing the terror card whenever their motives are brought into question. Meanwhile, the US Constitution lies in ruin.

According to the governments own reports, George Bush’s invasion of Iraq has already cost America the lives of over three thousand soldiers, but instead of making us safer as promised, it has actually increased the threat of terrorism at home.

Still, it’s not Mr. Bush who is up for re-election in two weeks. It’s those scallywags in Congress who must prepare to face the wrath of angry voters.

And it’s not about congressman Foley, or Iraq, or Gitmo, or even Jack Abramoff. It’s about the kind of leadership that would allow these scandals to become the rule, rather than the exception.

This week we learned George Bush has jettisoned his “stay the course” mantra. Why now Mr. President? The US has already lost more lives in Iraq and Afghanistan than on 9/11. What’s a few thousand more?

And it’s not about “cut and run”. Ideally, we would turn security of Iraq over to the Iraqi government sooner, rather than later, but leaving too soon might leave the Iraqi security forces ill prepared to deal with a crisis we created.

Face the facts, kiddies. This is our own fault. We cannot blame our jingoistic foolishness on a handful of dead hijackers. We played along eagerly. We need to face our failures.

So what’s the solution?
Well, for starters, we can go to the polls in November, and show those scallywags in Congress who really calls the shots in this country!

We can kick the trash to the curb.

B. Thomas Cooper

National Newswire
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Nation Losing Confidence In Bush

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

“They’re weak on defense, and they’ll raise your taxes”.

I bet you know who said that, don’t you? Why, none other than Commander in Chief, George W. Bush! He ‘s the same guy who keeps telling us that we have taken the fight to “them” before they can bring it to us. Some call Mr. Bush a "uniter".


B. Thomas Cooper

Of course, any historian worth a grain of salt will tell you this is essentially the same line of rhetoric pursued by Hitler during World War Two, and the invasion of Europe. Meanwhile, the situation in Iraq has spiraled downward. New reports suggest as many as 655,000 Iraqis have been killed as a result of the invasion.

I listened to Mr. Bush speak this morning, and it was more of the same.
It was not a comforting speech, by any measure. He spoke of consequences for Iran and North Korea, but we must ask ourselves, after years of this blarney are we really better off now?

Obviously, the situation in Iraq is far worse than four years ago.
The situation with Afghanistan is worse than four years ago. The situations with North Korea and Iran are certainly worse, as well.

Bush is openly threatening military action against these “rogue nations”, but the US military is already stretched thin. This, from a man whose job approval rating has dropped to a staggering low of 33 percent. His tone during the speech this morning was that of a desperate man, clinging to power, having been drained of credibility and respect. He said crazy things, and repeated them until it became some sort of demented mantra. It was a tragic display of incompetence.

It’s sad, really,
but George W. Bush is slipping away, one bad decision at a time.



National Newswire
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Foley Sex Scandal Shakes Washington

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Washington’s latest scandal has shaken the faith of many key figures within the Republican party and throughout the nation’s capitol in general. With mid term elections approaching rapidly, the last thing Congress needed was another scandal. Lately, Washington has played host to an endless parade of disasters, most of their own making. We as voters have been left with the following conclusion. Those currently in control are either hopelessly corrupt or hopelessly inept. In either case, the current situation is hopeless. If voters expect real change in Washington, we must first drain the tainted blood, lest it poison the new.

Congress is full of old men behaving badly. As for this latest scandal, you won’t learn anything new about it from me, as I care not to venture too close to the lurid details. I’ll leave that to others in this profession. Those who revel in such. Frankly, I doubt this will be the last scandal that breaks before the mid term elections. In Washington, there is always something simmering on a backburner somewhere, and rest assured, where there’s smoke, there’s some congressman attempting to cover it up.


A word to the wise.

If I were a gay Republican, I would be alarmed by how easily the Republican party was able to turn on me like a pack of dogs. Indeed, like a stampede of frightened elephants.

The mid term elections are just around the corner. Do the right thing, people, vote often and vote loud. The free world will be listenig.

I am B. Thomas Cooper,
and I thank you for joining me


The transcripts for this video and others by B. Thomas Cooper are available at nationalnewswire.blogspot.com


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Gitmo Prisoner Abuse Continues

National Newswire
Editorial Commentary by
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor in Chief

Also Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com

President George W. Bush says the US does not conduct acts of rendition, but of course, it does. It has repeatedly been caught red handed. Bush knows his assertions are untrue. He cares not. He is a blatant liar.

George Bush denies any knowledge of detainee abuse by US soldiers, but he knows. Damn straight he knows. He simply has no respect for the truth.

George W. Bush also knows that thousands of innocent people are dying for all the wrong reasons, but he simply doesn’t care. He has always been willing to murder anyone who stands between him and his twisted ideals, and nothing has changed except the number of dead that lie in his wake.

Only an absolute fool would defend or support the transgressions of the current administration. The Bush legacy will be measured in spilled blood.
He has isolated the US from the rest of the world. We are now the bane of the international community. We are the wolf at the door.

Reports of detainee abuse at Gitmo continue to surface. A Marine who recently visited the Guantanamo Bay detention center alleges guards at the prison bragged about routinely abusing prisoners. One guard admitted to intentionally slamming a cell door on a detainees head.

In truth, countless US and international laws are being ignored. Human rights violations have become systemic. With no clear exit strategy, US troops in Iraq have become disillusioned and desperate. We are witness to America's darkest hour.

Bush and his cronies continue to insist that it’s all about protecting the homeland. He claims we are taking the fight to the terrorists before they can bring it to us. He admittedly doesn’t even know who or where they are, but he’s determined to kill them anyway. It’s all in the pursuit of freedom and justice…

nod, nod… wink, wink





National Newswire
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Donald Rumsfeld, The Man Who Lost The War

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor
Also Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com


Many in Washington share the blame for US failures in Iraq, but none more so than Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. From the beginning it has been his baby, and his battle plan, As Secretary of Defense, he alone shoulders the responsibility for the endless parade of disasters in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld stands front and center. He is without question, the man who lost the war.



US ground troops prepared for the invasion of Iraq by racing their Hummers across the Nevada desert. They did not prepare for an insurgency, as they were told not to expect one. Instead, they were told they would be greeted as liberators. Rumsfeld now steadfastly insists that no-one at the time could have predicted the size or intensity of the current insurgency. A grave error indeed. Rumsfeld ignored the first rule of combat… never underestimate your opponent.

The dead keep piling up. Iraqi hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, and still no running water or reliable electricity. Violence continues to escalate, with August of 2006 proving to be the deadliest month in Iraq since the invasion began. There are no victories, no winners. According the US Pentagon, the streets of Baghdad were safer than the streets of our own nations capital prior to the invasion. Sadly, such is obviously no longer the case.

Still, Rumsfeld continues to willfully send our young men and women into a hostile environment to be maimed or possible murdered. He has shown little remorse the mess he has made. True to form, he refuses to appear weak, when in fact, his conduct has been nothing less than cowardly. Indeed, failure in Iraq is not an option, it’s a fact. One need not strain to hear the fat lady sing. She is well through the second refrain of her swan song. Through acts of arrogance and pride, the cause is lost. There will be no victory, nor vindication. The situation cannot be salvaged, and for that, you can thank US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Or perhaps it would be more accurate if we simply refer to him as the man who lost the war.


National Newswire
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Throw Out The Trash

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Also Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com

It’s time to kick the trash to the curb.

I’m referring to the corrupt Republicans who currently control both the House of Representatives and the US Senate. The situation has become increasingly untenable. The stench of corruption and incompetence hangs heavy in the atmosphere. The answer is simple. When the trash begins to stink, it’s time to throw it out.

Of course, there are plenty of bad actors in the Democratic party, but they cannot be held to blame for the Bush administrations obvious manipulation of Pre-war intelligence, nor the subsequent parade of failures
both at home and abroad. According to the governments own reports, George Bush’s illegal, immoral invasion of Iraq has already cost America the lives of over three thousand soldiers, and has increased the threat of terrorism on the home front, yet Bush continues to do what he does best… he lies about it.

Bush insisted Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, even after weapons experts determined to the contrary. Bush blames bad intelligence sources.

Bush claimed Saddam Hussein was attempting to procure “Yellow Cake”, but in fact, he wasn’t.
Again, Bush blamed everyone but his administration for the false information.

Bush claimed he spoke directly with God prior to the invasion of Iraq, and that God assured him the US would suffer no casualties as a result of the invasion. I suppose God must have provided Bush with bad intelligence. Would God lie to George Bush.?

Well, one thing is certain, US forces have suffered countless casualties in Iraq. Our soldiers on the ground are dropping as fast as we can count them.

So what next?
Americans aren’t ready for failure, but what are the options?

We can do as the Bush administration insists, and “stay the course”. The US has already lost more lives in Iraq and Afghanistan than on 9/11. What’s a few thousand more? We could “cut and run”, but that would embolden the enemy, an enemy that has clearly whupped our sorry ass. We could turn Iraq over to the Iraqi government, but we would leave them ill prepared to deal with the current crisis.

Face the facts, kiddies.
This is our own fault. We cannot blame our foolishness on a handful of dead hijackers. Our willingness to accept the lies and transgressions of the most corrupt administration in US history is a weakness we as Americans must now face, and rest assured, we have not seen the worst of it. Failure in Iraq is not an option. It’s a fact!

So what’s the solution?
For starters, we can kick the trash to the curb.





B. Thomas Cooper
National Newswire
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Iraq “Completely Out Of Hand”

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

As the conflict in Iraq disintegrates from an insurgency into all out civil war, the US military reports the security situation on the ground has become increasingly violent. A recent UN report shows Iraq is now deadlier than ever, with 6599 Iraqis dying violently in the last two months alone, an increase of more than 700 from the previous two months.

Gen. George Casey acknowledged Thursday that security in Iraq is becoming more difficult, saying Iraqi leaders must agree on key issues if progress is to be made.
“We’re starting to see this conflict here transition from an insurgency against us to a struggle for the division of political and economic power among the Iraqis,” Casey told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile torture in Iraq is "completely out of hand" and could now be worse than under the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein, a United Nations human rights investigator reported last night. This bodes poorly for the entire region, as many Iraqis are beginning to lose hope. Over a quarter of a million refugees have already fled the country.

In Baghdad, 38 more bodies have been recovered, after being dragged out of their homes and murdered by death squads roaming the streets. Attacks on coalition soldiers are also on the rise. According to numbers posted at MilitaryCity.com, the combined losses of the U.S. military has surpassed 3,000 as a result of operations related to the current war on terror, a war that has so far proven to be the bane of the Bush administration.

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President's Poll Numbers Continue To Plummet

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

A newly released poll conducted by Zogby International, between Aug. 11th, and Aug. 15th, 2006, indicates the president’s approval rating has dropped to a new low, with only 34% of those surveyed approving of the way Bush is currently handling his job. In addition, a whopping 59% believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

The war in Iraq continues to be a sticking point for most Americans. Asked if the war in Iraq has been worth the loss of American lives, only 38% of those polled said “yes,” while 56% said “no,”.

Pollster John Zogby had this to say: “President Bush’s numbers mainly reflect the country’s thinking on the war in Iraq, and most people have made up their minds that the war overall has not been worth the loss of American lives. Terrorism is an important issue to Americans, but when it comes to judging Bush’s presidency, their decision is based largely on Iraq.”

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to build momentum leading into the November mid-term elections. When asked whether they planned to vote for the Democrat or the Republican in their congressional election, 39% favored Democrats, while 31% said they would be voting for a Republican. This, as an average of just over a hundred Iraqi civilians are being killed each and every day in ever increasing sectarian violence.




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Hubris and Folly

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Also Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com


Just two of the words used by Thomas E. Ricks, senior Pentagon correspondent for The Washington Post to describe the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq and its management of the war and subsequent occupation.

And those were the nice words.

In his new book, Fiasco, Ricks also accuses George Bush of being misguided, and incompetent, providing a plethora of disturbing detail, guaranteed to cause the reader great anxiety.

“President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003 ultimately may come to be seen as one of the most profligate actions in the history of American foreign policy,” Mr. Ricks warns. “The consequences of his choice won’t be clear for decades, but it already is abundantly apparent in mid-2006 that the U.S. government went to war in Iraq with scant solid international support and on the basis of incorrect information — about weapons of mass destruction and a supposed nexus between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda’s terrorism — and then occupied the country negligently. Thousands of U.S. troops and an untold number of Iraqis have died. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent, many of them squandered. Democracy may yet come to Iraq and the region, but so too may civil war or a regional conflagration, which in turn could lead to spiraling oil prices and a global economic shock.”

Indeed!

This as members of Congress prepare to sue the president over his liberal use of so called ‘Signing Statements, believed by many, including myself, to be in direct violation of constitutional restraints preventing erosion of the balance of power.

Meanwhile, Iraqi civilians continue to die at an average rate of one hundred per day, as has been the case since early May. I certainly hope they all enjoyed their brief dance with Democracy.


National Newswire
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U.S. Encouraged Detainee Abuse

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor


U.S. military commanders encouraged abuse of detainees in Iraq, according to a report released Sunday by Human Rights Watch, even after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal erupted in 2004.

According to the report, prisoners were routinely mistreated, deprived of sleep and exposed to extreme temperatures as part of the interrogation process.

"Soldiers were told the Geneva Conventions did not apply, and that interrogators could use abusive techniques to get detainees to talk," stated John Sifton, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch.

The report describes prisoners being stripped naked, thrown in the mud, sprayed with water and then exposed to frigid temperatures during hours of interrogation.

The Bush administration had long claimed certain enemies, including terrorists, were illegal combatants and not protected by Geneva Conventions rules. The conventions prohibit "outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment."

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that in fact, the Geneva Conventions should apply to the conflict with al-Qaida, and any captured combatants being detained.

National Newswire 2006
http://nationalnewswire.blogspot.com/

Sectarian Violence Surges in Iraq

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

ABC NEWS, and the Associated Press, report two American soldiers killed Saturday in Baghdad, while south of the Iraqi capital, U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major attack against a compound believed to be the headquarters of a radical Shiite militia , reportedly killing 15 suspected militiamen during the three-hour siege.

This, as two rockets exploded within the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, which houses the U.S. and British embassies. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

As a result of this recent escalation in violence, the United States intends to increase troop numbers in the Baghdad area, rather than drawing down current levels, as expected. U.S. troop levels in Iraq currently remain around 127,000, according to military sources.

U.S. Central Command reports that as of July 14th, 2006, the combined number of U.S. casualties for Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom stands at 2,843, greater than the total loss of life suffered during the events of September 11th.

U.S. officials blame Shiite militias for the majority of sectarian violence, but this of course, means little to the understandably tense residents of Baghdad, who remain skeptical, and fearful, as the violence grows more intense.


National Newswire 2006
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Your Source for Breaking News

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Welcome to National Newswire,
Your Source for Breaking News, and More!

During the first six years of the Bush administration, the world has become increasingly unstable. Destructive events are occurring closer to home. We find US supremacy fading on the world stage, as once again, the middle east becomes ground zero for hostilities. As America struggles to find a solution, all we can do is watch as the situation sinks deeper into the abyss.

Was it the events of 9/11 that shook our collective consciousness, sending us reeling against the ropes?
Was it the devastation suffered in the south following Katrina? Perhaps the answer is far more sinister.

National Newswire will focus on current geo-political events. We are actively seeking cutting edge stories and commentary that will provide our readers with a fresh perspective. We welcome your editorial comments and contributions.

Fresh content will begin appearing on Monday, July 24th. Thank you for dropping by.

B. Thomas Cooper

National Newswire

National Newswire 2006
http://nationalnewswire.blogspot.com/

A Shot Across the Bow

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Previously Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com

The big news this week is the US Supreme Court overwhelmingly ruling against the Bush administration tactics and policies in regard to prisoners being held at Gitmo. The implications of the ruling strike what may very well prove to be the death knell for the administration of George Bush and his corrupt cronies.

The nations highest court ruled the president overstepped his legal authority, and in doing so, violated established national and international human rights laws, as well as the US Constitution and the Geneva accord. Tony Snow, White House resident spin monkey, attempted to portray the decision as nothing more than a difference of opinion between governing bodies, but such is obviously not the case. George Bush and his administration willfully, and with blatant malice, violated the law.

This is no isolated incident, mind you. The current administration is without question, the most corrupt administration in the history of our formerly great country. We are a nation adrift. We have failed our core values. The events of 9/11 should not be used to frighten ourselves into compromising human rights.
When that happens, and it already has, the terrorists win hands down.

If in fact, we as Americans are truly concerned about ‘justice’, we must suck it in and admit the enemy resides within. The terrorists cannot and will not destroy our nation, but we may very well destroy it ourselves. “Pride comes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. You’ll find that quote somewhere in Bible, and never have wiser words been spoken.

So tell me again why we shouldn’t impeach a president who’s pathos has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives? No really, I mean it. I want to see your mindless, self serving excuses fill my in-box. Help me to understand how you justify continued support for such lawless, unethical conduct.

Enough time has passed. Only an absolute fool would defend or support the transgressions of this administration. It is indeed, time to kick the trash to the curb. This is our country. It is time we take it back.


National Newswire
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Rumsfeld Vs Reality

National Newswire
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Previously Posted At:
http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com


Does a lampoon of Donald Rumsfeld and a wounded soldier go too far?
Such is is the question on the lips of many, following a recent political cartoon drawn by Tom Toles and published by the Washington Post, depicting Donald Rumsfeld with a legless serviceman.

The answer to the question is of course, subjective at best. Satire is protected by the US Constitution, even when deemed distasteful. As for the lampoon of Rumsfeld, humor is seldom pretty, and is at it's ugliest when confronting the truth. Donald Rumsfeld has demonstrated a propensity for disregarding the truth when the truth was inconvenient. From the very outset, he has failed to grasp the realities of the situation in Iraq. Like the story of the emperor and his new clothes, denial of the truth does not make it less true.

Mark Twain, an American literary icon wrote the following on the subject:

“Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation which is attacked, and every man will be glad for those conscience- soothing falsities, and will study them, and will refuse to examine any refutations of them, and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self deception.”

"Grotesque self deception?"
Sound familiar?

He also said:

“Our country, right or wrong. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation?”

Or as George Washington, father of our country put it:

"Loyalty to your country always...
Loyalty to your government when they deserve it"


It has also been said that If one were to throw a rock over a high fence into a yard full of dogs, one can safely assume the dog that yelps is the dog struck by the rock.

You'll know a man by his deeds.
His name is Donald Rumsfeld.

National Newswire 2006
http://nationalnewswire.blogspot.com