Tis the Season

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

Happy New Year!

I don’t generally accomplish much writing during the holidays. This year, unfortunately, has been no different. Even now, the interruptions are more than my limited concentration can handle.

This being the final day of 2007, I would like take a moment to thank my loyal readers. My readership has risen sharply during the last year or so, and of course, you are my readers. Thank you! There are millions of unread blogs and news commentaries drifting throughout the sarcophagus that is cyberspace. Thanks to my readers, I stay relevant.

I have many logs in the fire. Some will burn brightly, while others go down in flames. Others still will smolder on the back-burner. Perhaps 2008 will be the year I complete one of the handful of novels I'm currently working on. Several short stories are nearing completion as well.

I am also obligated to do some touring nest year, beginning in early April. I can almost assure it will be a busy year for me. Busy, busy, busy. Most of the touring will be music related, but I will also be expected to appear at a few lectures and what-not.

Go have a good time, and enjoy bringing in the new year, but by all means, please be safe. I’m going to stay home with my wife and her father. Nick, my assistant, will be here too. I doubt I’ll stay up late. I seldom do. In fact, I’ll be surprised if I hold out till midnight. I’ll be up bright and early however, I always am. Ready to greet the rising sun, and a brand new year.

See you on the up-side.
Oh, and again, happy holidays.

Brad
(B. Thomas Cooper)

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Seasons Greetings!

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

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.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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CIA Torture Probe to Continue

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

Peter Hoekstra, ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, has expressed dismay with the Justice Department, insisting his panel will indeed probe into the destruction of CIA videotapes of secret interrogations, contrary to a request by the Justice Department to suspend any pending congressional inquiries.

"It's important for Congress to hold this community accountable," Hoekstra is quoted as saying. "The CIA did not tell us about the existence of these tapes. They did not tell us that they were going to be destroyed."

Others on the committee agree. "Congress and the Justice Department have conducted parallel inquiries many times in the past," stated California Rep. Jane Harman, the former ranking Democrat on the committee. "So I am worried. It smells like the cover-up of the cover-up."
Harman says she sent the CIA a letter in 2003 warning them not to destroy the tapes.

In a joint statement Friday, Hoekstra and committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes said they were "stunned that the Justice Department would move to block our investigation."

"The executive branch can't be trusted to oversee itself. There's a constitutional responsibility for them to keep Congress informed, and they have not."

"You've got a systemic problem here," Hoekstra said on "Fox News Sunday."
The leadership of U.S. intelligence agencies "is incompetent, it is arrogant" and has "become political,"

"I think that we're going to hold Mike Hayden accountable, because some of these misleading statements to Congress occurred on his watch," Hoekstra stated.

The videotapes, destroyed by the CIA in 2006, purport to have shown agents interrogating terror suspects using a banned torture technique known as ‘Waterboarding’ which simulates drowning, causing panic, brain damage and sometimes even death. In the past, the US has successfully prosecuted individuals accused of ‘Waterboarding’. The Bush administration however, has been less than forthright, denouncing ‘Waterboarding’ in one breath, and embracing it with the next. Bush’s behavior on this issue doesn’t really qualify as flip-flopping, however. It’s been more akin to the kid with his fingers crossed behind his back.

Ultimately, ‘Waterboarding’ is torture, and those who have been subjected to ‘Waterboarding’ have been done so in clear violation of US and international law. Once again, George W. Bush and his administration have gone to unparalleled lengths to circumvent justice and the law. This latest revelation and the prerequisite cover-up is business as usual, for an administration that knows no boundaries.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Donald Rumsfeld, The Man Who Lost The War

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National News wire - The Infinite Echo

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.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Inside the 911 Report

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

I've been reading through the 9/11 Commission Report, and it really doesn't do much to address some of the hard questions. It seems almost unconscionable to suggest the Bush administration could have been complicit in the events of 9/11, and yet, a great many Americans believe it to be true. Then again, one need not be a physicist to realize the official version of the story simply doesn't stack up.

Much like a house of cards, both towers tumbled to the ground in a matter of minutes, defying the laws of physics. The impact of the aircraft, and the subsequent explosion of jet fuel has been blamed for compromising the integrity of the structures, but leaves us with more question than answers. If indeed, the towers fell due to structural failure, why then would building seven also fail, as it was not struck by aircraft, nor was it built in the same manner as the towers. How does a building three blocks long collapse from a localized debris fire? Obviously, it doesn't.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the World Trade Center complex prior to 9/11. As such, it would be easy to overlook the obvious contradictions concerning the event. Throughout history, no other buildings have failed in a similar manner, and yet, we are expected to believe that this fluke of physics occurred not once, but three times, in a single location.

Could the Bush administration have somehow been involved in orchestrating these events? Frankly, the jury is out. We know for a fact, however, that the administration of Dwight Eisenhower drew up plans for similar attacks on US soil to bolster support for invasions of the USSR and Cuba. The covert operation, known as Operation Northwoods' was wholly rejected by subsequent administrations, but a precedent had been set. The US government had proven beyond doubt, a capability to kill innocent Americans.



Could 9/11 be another Operation Northwoods'? Unfortunately, it appears entirely possible. Just as the North tower was beginning to list to one side, a series of explosions occurred at street level, causing the building to buckle from beneath, bringing it straight down. These explosions could not have been the result of exploding fuel, as heat rises. Furthermore, we watched in terror as the jet fuel erupted into flames. What then, could have caused the explosions at street level?

We may never know the truth about 9/11, but we certainly know the official explanation is flawed and unacceptable. Could George W. Bush and his administration have knowingly murdered thousands of Americans? One can only wonder.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Is George Bush Losing it?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

There has been much speculation as of late in regards to George W. Bush’s mental health. Questions began arising as far back as 2004, but in light of recent developments, it seems appropriate to address this very serious issue again. Let there be no mistake, George W. Bush has threatened to start World War III if he doesn’t get his way. Of course, he lays the blame at the feet of others, but the facts are clear. George Bush wants war.


Our Commander in Chief?

George W. Bush has, and continues to threaten to bomb Iran for a weapons program it does not have. The bombing of course, would be done with real bombs the US does indeed have, rather than the make believe ones Iran has been accused of seeking.

We’ve been through this before, folks, and it’s nasty business. This is the exact same rhetoric Hitler used to justify the invasion of France. Then again, why should the excuses for World War III be any different than the excuses for World War II?

It is not unusual for world leaders to suffer from grandiose delusions, but this goes deep into the redline. Bush has his finger on the button, and he is just itching to push it before his term expires. If the president has mental health issues, it would be better to consider them now, rather than later. For instance:

“Aides report “In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as "enemies of the state."



White House Aides paint a picture of an administration under siege, led by a man who declares his decisions to be "God's will" and then tells aides to "fuck over" anyone they consider to be an opponent of the administration."

“Senior aides describe Bush as increasingly “edgy” or “nervous” or “unfocused.” They say the President goes from apparent coherent thought one moment to aimless rambles about political enemies and those who are “out to get me.”

“It’s worse than the days when Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s began setting in,” one longtime GOP operative told me privately this week. “You don’t know if he’s going to be coherent from one moment to the next. What scares me is if he lapses into one of those fogs during a public appearance.”

Aides say Bush, who has always had trouble focusing during times of stress, is increasingly distant during meetings, often staring off into space during discussions on the nation’s security and other issues.”

This represents only a fraction of the information I was able to find on the subject. If you are interested in learning more, simply type the criteria into your favorite search engine. I typed in “George W. Bush mental health” In the past, I have been accused of making this stuff up, but rest assured, I am neither that good, nor that vindictive. The president's mental stability is quickly becoming a real issue, one that we would all be best served if it just went away quietly.

…to a padded cell.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Black Friday, it's All About the Green!

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Black Friday, it’s All About the Green!

The holiday shopping season officially begins in earnest today, as millions of anxious shoppers spend their day jostling for parking spaces among throngs of irritable, but willing participants in this annual ritual. Black Friday, yes, it’s tradition now. Up goes the brilliantly illuminated but obviously artificial Christmas trees, standing testament to what’s really behind this seasonal cash-letting frenzy. It’s all about the cash, my friends. Black Friday is all about the green!

Ah, tis the season. Our new plasma, wide-screen televisions are just jumping with adorable digital images of ice-skating bears, and beer bottles going for the field goal. None of it’s real of course. Not even the fat, jolly guy who get’s all the credit for what many of us will still be paying for next year at this time. The fat guy did it! I’m a victim of identity theft.

And you really feel alright about letting your three year old site on this guys lap? I’d swear, without the hat and beard, he looks like that sex offender who just moved in across the street from the comic book store. You don’t suppose?

And should Santa care who’s been naughty? Isn’t the holiday supposed to be about sharing? If we didn’t share with those who have been naughty, we would have the whole world to ourselves. Correction, you would.

List or no list, I would undoubtedly fall into the ‘naughty’ category, primarily, because I am categorically naughty. You know the bit. Sometimes, when I am angry or impatient, I speak in tongues. I go into fits, slurring and flailing about like some madman, spewing vindictive even the Bible wouldn’t repeat.

In fact I suspect a lot more people can relate than care to admit. Furthermore, I would be willing to be all the money that changes hands this holiday season, thousands, if not millions are speaking in similar tongues at this very moment, shouting, and slurring, as they drive endless circles through endless parking lots in search for a lone space, any space, in a sea of cars and humanity, all in quest of black nirvana. Black Friday, if you prefer.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Pardon Me, Mr. President?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

As is customary around the White House this time of year, president George W. Bush proved once again he is not one to be meddled with. This is a man who as governor of Texas executed more humans than all other forty-nine states combined during the same time period, but pardons the Thanksgiving turkey as a demonstration of his compassion. Only in America!

So in honor of the turkey that got away, let’s all celebrate with a little levity, and a few quotes by perhaps our most quotable president, none other than that decorated bush pilot, out fearless decider… our commander, oh to hell with it! Let’s bring it on!

"America better beware of a candidate who is willing to stretch reality in order to win points." —George W. Bush, aboard his campaign plane, Sept. 18, 2000

"We'll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers." —George W. Bush, Houston, Texas, Sept. 6, 2000

"I'm gonna talk about the ideal world, Chris. I've read — I understand reality. If you're asking me as the president, would I understand reality, I do." —George W. Bush on abortion, MSNBC's "Hardball," May 31, 2000

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?" —George W. Bush, Concord, N.H., Jan. 29, 2000

"I am mindful of the difference between the executive branch and the legislative branch. I assured all four of these leaders that I know the difference, and that difference is they pass the laws and I execute them." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2000

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." —Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000

"If you don't stand for anything, you don't stand for anything! If you don't stand for something, you don't stand for anything!" —George W. Bush, Bellevue Community College, Nov. 2, 2000

"I'm not really the type to wander off and sit down and go through deep wrestling with my soul." —George W. Bush, as quoted in Vanity Fair, October 2000

"Never again in the halls of Washington, D.C., do I want to have to make explanations that I can't explain." —George W. Bush, Portland, Oregon, Oct. 31, 2000

"They said, 'You know, this issue doesn't seem to resignate with the people.' And I said, you know something? Whether it resignates or not doesn't matter to me, because I stand for doing what's the right thing, and what the right thing is hearing the voices of people who work." —George W. Bush, Portland, Ore., Oct. 31, 2000

Now then, wasn’t that fun?
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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If I Were President and Other Bad Ideas

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

If I were president…
A question pondered by many, but one that can only be answered by a select few. What would I do, you ask? Well for starters…

As president of the United States, I’d probably spend much of my time in the White House rose garden, hanging with the gardener. I would undoubtedly seek his advice on a variety of subjects, starting with perennials. I might even appoint him (or her) to the Supreme Court should the opportunity arise. (After all, it almost worked with Harriet Miers).



If I were president, I would use my executive powers to insist upon the completion of the Mount Rushmore busts, which have been left unfinished for over a half a century. (Let’s see the Taliban try to destroy these busts).

I would hire an architect to install some corners in the Oval Office. I would fire Richard Cheney, and replace him with a lawn sprinkler. Actually, I don’t think it really matters what I replace Cheney with, just as long as I replace him.

I would take cooking lessons from the White House chef, and demonstrate my exquisite taste to foreign dignitaries. I would have a Taco Bell installed next to the Lincoln Bedroom. I would stay up late at night watching Conan, and fall asleep on the couch with a mouthful of pretzels.

Come to think of it, I probably wouldn’t make the best president. Then again, who would? Some of us were simply never cut out for the roll of President of the United States, and frankly, the current administration is going to be a tough act to follow.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

An Era of Steel and Steam

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

It was an age of steel and steam. It was a time of great power and wealth. Soon the world would be forever changed by this new mechanical marvel, the steam locomotive, the driving force behind the industrial revolution.

For centuries, man had understood the potential of steam as an energy source, but it took until 1803 before Samuel Homfray was able to successfully harness that energy with his invention of the steam engine. The first successful railway followed soon after, when on March 25th, 1807, England began passenger service between Swansea and Mumbles.

Across the pond, America was developing it’s own railway, and by 1869, eighteen hundred miles of track connected Omaha, Nebraska with Sacramento, California. The resulting improvement of trade routes was felt throughout the world. Within a decade, the industrial revolution was on a roll.



By 1893, the U.S. had completed five transcontinental trunk lines and no less than 260,000 miles of track. Monopolies flourished. A brilliant engineer named Theodore Judah successfully persuaded Washington to pony up ten to twenty square miles of land and at least $48,000 for every mile of track completed. The track was laid by armies of imported Chinese ’coolies’, laborers who toiled relentlessly while rail barons were popping champagne corks and charging glasses in celebration.

Enter, Andrew Carnegie, philosopher and opportunist, and in later years, philanthropist. At age 18, Carnegie caught the eye of Pennsylvania rail baron Tom Scott, becoming his personal secretary and telegraph operator. Carnegie however, had great plans for the future. The unbreakable grip of the iron industry was about to give way to steel.

By the turn of the century, William McKinley was president, and in 1903, New York State enacted legislation prohibiting the operation of steam locomotives south of the Harlem river, thus ushering in the era electrified tracks. The first use of internal combustion engines began in 1913, and was quickly superseded by the invention of the diesel locomotive, which proved more effective. The times, they were a changing.

During the great depression, the railroad became symbolic of the American struggle. Today we look back on these amazing machines as products of a bygone era. The mighty iron horse has been put to pasture. Or has it?

The steam engine may be a thing of the past, but today, light rail tracks and monorails are springing up in greater numbers. Perhaps these are not the romantic machines made famous by daring engineers like Casey Jones, but they provide safer, if not more efficient service. Meanwhile, thousands of miles of railway still grace the countryside, as modern locomotives pull seemingly endless processions of freight cars, hauling lumber, cattle, and virtually everything in between.

Away in the distance, a lonesome whistle blows. Tonight, perhaps further in the distance than in recent memory. The age of steel and steam has passed, but the dreams of those who dared make it happen, remain. An era, vanishes in a puff of smoke. A new era begins.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Is the Party Over for the GOP?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

The Republican party has taken a headlong dive into the bowels of bombast.

No longer representative of American conservatism, the republicans have betrayed their core beliefs, running the US federal deficit into untold territory.
There is no looking back, no slow recovery. It is not to be.


John McCain Breaks Out

Nor has the party been faithful to religious conservatives, without whom the cause would have been lost. Many voters went to the polls expecting the Bush administration to reverse Roe Vs. Wade, a promise made, but never kept. With so little time remaining on the clock, it is little wonder so many voters feel betrayed. They were.

Of course, the Republican party has long reveled in it’s lust for war, as conflict stokes the economy. There is nothing Republicans enjoy more than killing an innocent stranger in the name of commerce. It’s a party immersed in contradictions, a party on the wane.

Indeed, when elections roll around, we can expect more posturing and more absurd spending in the name of the conservative agenda. Some republicans will return to Washington, others will return from the swamp from whence they came. For others, both. Nothing outside of business as usual.

Forget weapons of mass destruction. Forget being greeted as liberators. Forget promises of war on the cheap. Blood is never cheap. Liberation does not come at the point of a gun.

On the other hand, words are often cheap, and promises worth even less.
What voters believe the GOP stands for, and the Republican Party’s real agenda are miles, if not light years apart. Another republican in the White House certainly will not bring about real change.

So as the Bush administration winds down, the Grand Old Party has very little to celebrate. The party is over, blood has spilt like wine, and somebody
has pilfered the pockets of the weary. It is time to clean up and carry the trash to the curb.

Will the last out the door please turn off the lights as you leave?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

George W. Bush, Piltdown Man of La Mancha

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

George W. Bush would like us to believe history will remember him as a man who stood by his convictions. Much like Don Quixote, who rose up against a perceived evil, only to find he was chasing the unobtainable, Bush sees his cause as a noble one, even if it was all based in pure fantasy.


Left: George W. Bush. Right: Piltdown Man

In doing so, Bush the younger drew his sword and spilt the blood of thousands. His little game of shoot ‘em up has escalated into a full scale mash-up of Hell meets high-water. I don’t care for the word “quagmire”. The definition falls way short of describing how bad the situation in Iraq really is.

In truth, I doubt George W. Bush has ever ventured near La Mancha. Had he done so, he would have soon learned it was not inhabited by dragons. Still, I digress.

Lets move on to “Piltdown Man.” The reference may seem somewhat left field for those not familiar with the story, so here’s the set-up.

Until the invasion of Iraq, Piltdown Man represented perhaps the most extraordinary hoax in modern history. As the story goes, a pair of archaeologists claimed to find a human skull in a gravel pit near the town of Piltdown, purported to be the five hundred thousand year old missing link between man and monkey. The skull was in fact constructed from parts of several different skulls, including the jaw of an orangutan. Varnish was then applied to give the finished product a look of consistency. Amazingly, it took the scientific establishment forty years to catch on.

Does this scenario sound at all familiar? Indeed it does!

George W, Bush wants us to believe that in forty years or so, history will recall his presidency as strong and steadfast. He sees himself riding off into the sunset mounted upon his trusty steed, the White Knight, the enemy of evil.

I, however don’t see it happening that way. I suspect history will be far more accurate, and much less flattering. At best, George W. Bush will be regarded as the Don Quixote of presidents. Mission accomplished, the windmill is dead, Jim.

More likely, George W. Bush will be remembered as the reigning Piltdown Man, an unmitigated fraud that has pushed America back into the stone age.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Stench Hangs Over Blackwater as Scandal Reaches Boiling Point

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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The controversial situation with Blackwater is rising to a boil. No surprises there!

By now, I’m certain my regular readers all know how I feel about Blackwater. I have been critical of their contribution to the war effort from day one. Since when does the US military rely on overpriced mercenaries to get the job done? Obviously, it doesn’t. The job isn’t getting done.

The bridge incident was a shot across the bow, a clear warning that something was terribly awry. The military responded by slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians in Fallujah, the tactical equivalent of pouring gasoline into ones pockets before lighting oneself on fire. It was the most arrogant demonstration of stupidity I have witnessed in my lifetime. Thank you, Blackwater… you made it all possible.

The conflict in Iraq has never been the same. The absence of Saddam and his two thug-like sons did not improve the situation, nor did the elimination of key al Qaeda members. On the other hand, Blackwater has done a great deal to make the situation much worse. If the US was seeking disaster in Iraq, they could not have chosen a better outfit to spearhead the job. From day one, Blackwater has had disaster written all over them.

So now Blackwater is under investigation for committing blatant acts of murder in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. Of course, it’s an accusation Blackwater chairman Erik the Red flatly denies, but even the US military is pointing the finger at Blackwater.

According to U.S. military reports from the scene of the Sept. 16th shooting incident, Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation and used excessive force against Iraqi civilians.

“It was obviously excessive, it was obviously wrong” said one US official familiar with the incident. "The civilians that were fired upon, they didn't have any weapons to fire back”, he added, conflicting earlier statements made by Blackwater.

Well, I guess you know what they say… you buy it, it's yours, or is it… You break it, you fix it. Whatever. It all applies. It was inevitable this would come to a boil, but with an outfit like Blackwater, it is difficult to tell if the cauldron is actually boiling, or if it’s black contents are simply oozing out on their own.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Secret Torture Memo Bloodies Bush Administration

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Have you ever considered the source of the phrase ‘caught red handed’?

It’s no cryptic secret, of course. It means precisely what is implied…to be caught with blood on ones hands… caught in the act, so to speak.

That having been said, it is rather obvious the Bush administration has been caught red handed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t involve a cookie jar… it involves the degradation of humane principles upon which this once great nation of ours was founded. Contrary to law, and anything Dana Perino might have said otherwise, the Bush administration has gone to unimaginable lengths to circumvent laws prohibiting torture.

We have learned that in 2005, under the leadership of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the US Justice Department secretly authorized the “use of painful physical and psychological tactics against terror suspects, including simulated drownings and freezing temperatures“, according to Thursdays New York Times.

The Bush administration has adamantly denied allegations of torture in the past, but then, Bush and company are experienced liars. What’s a little nose-bleed among these bloody bastards? What’s that you say? They are all innocent human beings until proved otherwise in a court of law? You don’t say?

Well, Bush certainly doesn’t. He has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for the sanctity of human life. George often speaks of his closeness to God, but he has never gone to any real lengths to describe to us precisely who that God might be. A Christian god that authorizes torture? Clean up… isle nine!

I could go on and on, but I’m afraid that would be torture in and of itself. Who wants to be reminded of all the dirty little secrets that keep popping up in this administration? Don’t worry though, it will all be over soon enough. Just lie back, close your eyes, and endure each and every unspeakable act committed upon you in the name of justice. After all… isn’t that what America is all about?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Inside the 9/11 Report

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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I've been reading through the 9/11 Commission Report, and it really doesn't do much to address some of the hard questions. It seems almost unconscionable to suggest the Bush administration could have been complicit in the events of 9/11, and yet, a great many Americans believe it to be true. Then again, one need not be a physicist to realize the official version of the story simply doesn't stack up.

Much like a house of cards, both towers tumbled to the ground in a matter of minutes, defying the laws of physics. The impact of the aircraft, and the subsequent explosion of jet fuel has been blamed for compromising the integrity of the structures, but leaves us with more question than answers. If indeed, the towers fell due to structural failure, why then would building seven also fail, as it was not struck by aircraft, nor was it built in the same manner as the towers. How does a building three blocks long collapse from a localized debris fire? Obviously, it doesn't.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the World Trade Center complex prior to 9/11. As such, it would be easy to overlook the obvious contradictions concerning the event. Throughout history, no other buildings have failed in a similar manner, and yet, we are expected to believe that this fluke of physics occurred not once, but three times, in a single location.

Could the Bush administration have somehow been involved in orchestrating these events? Frankly, the jury is out. We know for a fact, however, that the administration of Dwight Eisenhower drew up plans for similar attacks on US soil to bolster support for invasions of the USSR and Cuba. The covert operation, known as Operation Northwoods' was wholly rejected by subsequent administrations, but a precedent had been set. The US government had proven beyond doubt, a capability to kill innocent Americans.



Could 9/11 be another Operation Northwoods'? Unfortunately, it appears entirely possible. Just as the North tower was beginning to list to one side, a series of explosions occurred at street level, causing the building to buckle from beneath, bringing it straight down. These explosions could not have been the result of exploding fuel, as heat rises. Furthermore, we watched in terror as the jet fuel erupted into flames. What then, could have caused the explosions at street level?

We may never know the truth about 9/11, but we certainly know the official explanation is flawed and unacceptable. Could George W. Bush and his administration have knowingly murdered thousands of Americans? One can only wonder.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Conservatives Gone Wild

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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It has been the season of conservatives behaving badly. Indeed, a long season at that. Every week, another outlandish story is breaking.

It all began with a cock-sure Washington lobbyist named Jack Abramson. Or was it Enron? At any rate, something set off a chain reaction within the republican community. Without any real warning, skeletons began emerging from closet after closet, until Sodom and Gomorrah began to resemble monks.

Scandals come and go. This current cycle of scandal, however, apparently attempted to outrun a freight train, and has been dragged beyond comprehension. Although devastated by repeated disasters, the carnage continues. Political suicide seems all the rage, with crazed republicans, like rats, leaping from a burning barge.

So should Larry Craig, latest poster child for Conservatives Gone Wild' resign? I would like to believe gays in Idaho deserve representation too! Unfortunately, I don't they can expect fair representation from Larry Craig.
Obviously, Craig has been less than forthcoming with America. I don't care about his particular sexual activities, but he has lost the confidence of his constituents. His words don't match his deeds.

Do you recall those silly playing cards the Bush administration passed around, featuring the faces of various bad guys? Well, the Bush administration has accumulated enough cards of their own to start a whole new deck... all jokers.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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The Dog Days of Michael Vick

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Say it ain’t so, Michael, just say it ain’t so.
On the other hand, perhaps you should simply fess up to your crimes, apologize to the NFL and your fans, and go do your time like a man. I know it won’t be easy, but it isn’t supposed to be. You’re being incarcerated because your crimes were as despicable as they were illegal.



We sports fans have a bad habit of believing our stars can do no wrong. We assume if one is a great quarterback, one is presumably a great neighbor as well. What a farce! I believed in you Michael, and this whole time you were nothing more than a lowly dog killer.

Soon people will starting asking questions. Different questions than they’re asking now. Questions like, do you think you are rehabilitated, and are you remorseful for your crimes? What will you tell them, Vick? What will you tell yourself?

Personally, I would rather you never return to pro football, as I can’t imagine watching you play without harboring ill intent. It just wouldn’t feel right.

You know what, Michael? I hope they put you someplace with guard dogs. Really mean ones with sharp teeth and strong jaws. And you know what else, Michael? I wish those dogs could understand what you’ve done. I really do.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Karl Kalls it Kwitz

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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So Karl Rove has announced he is stepping aside, come September 1st.
Gosh, Karl, so soon? I guess it’s reasonable to assume a lame duck and a beached “whale” have little chance of a future together. So be it, and good riddance. Rove has pottied in the pool too often already. It’s time for the little “turd blossom” to pack his bags and get out of Dodge.

Karl Rove has been called the most powerful presidential sidekick since Harry Truman dropped the bomb. He has also been referred as Bush’s brain, although that is hardly a compliment. Karl Rove played a major roll in disseminating the lies leading up to the invasion of Iraq. He is also believed by many to have been instrumental in the outing of former CIA agent Valerie Plame. He will certainly not be missed by Americans with even the slightest ethical fabric.

I must admit, find his expiration date more than just a tad curious. How odd that Bush would insist those still with his administration on the first of September are somehow obligated to stick around the rest of his term. Unless of course, George Bush is expecting the entire busload of bozos to take a turn for the worse shortly thereafter. Understandably, I am becoming increasingly anxious about the up-coming Iraq progress report, and I suspect Bush and Rove are, as well.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports, "On Tuesday, several White House officials acknowledged with unusual candor that with just 17 months remaining in Mr. Bush's final term, there is little time for new ideas. Nor is there much time to realize the long list of unaccomplished presidential proposals."

Yes, Karl is kalling it Kwitz, and as the ‘Turd Blossom’ special waddles into the sunset, it’s hard to imagine a Bush White-House without him.
Lord knows, I’m trying.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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An Age of Steel and Steam

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Editors Note:
This article was originally prepared for Helium.com.
Enjoy.

It was an age of steel and steam. It was a time of great power and wealth. Soon the world would be forever changed by this new mechanical marvel, the steam locomotive, the driving force behind the industrial revolution.

For centuries, man had understood the potential of steam as an energy source, but it took until 1803 before Samuel Homfray was able to successfully harness that energy with his invention of the steam engine. The first successful railway followed soon after, when on March 25th, 1807, England began passenger service between Swansea and Mumbles.

Across the pond, America was developing it’s own railway, and by 1869, eighteen hundred miles of track connected Omaha, Nebraska with Sacramento, California. The resulting improvement of trade routes was felt throughout the world. Within a decade, the industrial revolution was on a roll.



By 1893, the U.S. had completed five transcontinental trunk lines and no less than 260,000 miles of track. Monopolies flourished. A brilliant engineer named Theodore Judah successfully persuaded Washington to pony up ten to twenty square miles of land and at least $48,000 for every mile of track completed. The track was laid by armies of imported Chinese ’coolies’, laborers who toiled relentlessly while rail barons were popping champagne corks and charging glasses in celebration.

Enter, Andrew Carnegie, philosopher and opportunist, and in later years, philanthropist. At age 18, Carnegie caught the eye of Pennsylvania rail baron Tom Scott, becoming his personal secretary and telegraph operator. Carnegie however, had great plans for the future. The unbreakable grip of the iron industry was about to give way to steel.

By the turn of the century, William McKinley was president, and in 1903, New York State enacted legislation prohibiting the operation of steam locomotives south of the Harlem river, thus ushering in the era electrified tracks. The first use of internal combustion engines began in 1913, and was quickly superseded by the invention of the diesel locomotive, which proved more effective. The times, they were a changing.

During the great depression, the railroad became symbolic of the American struggle. Today we look back on these amazing machines as products of a bygone era. The mighty iron horse has been put to pasture. Or has it?

The steam engine may be a thing of the past, but today, light rail tracks and monorails are springing up in greater numbers. Perhaps these are not the romantic machines made famous by daring engineers like Casey Jones, but they provide safer, if not more efficient service. Meanwhile, thousands of miles of railway still grace the countryside, as modern locomotives pull seemingly endless processions of freight cars, hauling lumber, cattle, and virtually everything in between.

Away in the distance, a lonesome whistle blows. Tonight, perhaps further in the distance than in recent memory. The age of steel and steam has passed, but the dreams of those who dared make it happen, remain. An era, vanishes in a puff of smoke. A new era begins.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Hang 'Em High

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Echo

Wake up America!

It is time to take your lumps. You voted for the corrupt son of a bitch, and he sold you down the river. Now it’s time to pull your cowardly heads out of your big fat ignorant asses and hold George W. Bush accountable.

Of course, I know you won’t do it, because you are indeed, cowards. You clearly understand your support equates to murder by proxy. Pride trumps pragmatism, I suppose. Shamefully, that pride has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent people. You are not among them, of course. Nor are you among the innocent.

I certainly don't expect honesty from you. Admitting it was all a lie only illuminates your complicity. The Bush administration could not have committed these crimes without your participation. His crimes are your crimes.

Yes America, you have blood on your hands. That is not ketchup from your 'freedom fries'. Blame it on me, blame it on Saddam, whatever. By all means, though, deflect the blame. That’s what cowards do.

Now George Bush is asking the United Nations for help stabilizing Iraq. Since when did George and his cronies need help from the United Nations? What happened to the coalition of the remaining? Why would the US need help from an organization Bush has openly and repeatedly disparaged?

Unless of course, the war is lost. Unless of course, Bush is desperate.

So hang ‘em high, cowboys. I know shit when I smell it, and it’s coming from your direction. You can run, but you can’t hide. Denial changes nothing.

It’s high noon in Washington, and the body politic lies rotting in the street, gunned down by men in black hats. Our economy is trashed. The US constitution… trashed. The environment… trashed. Our civil rights…trashed. Infrastructure… ditto. You're just another notch.

Yep, you bought it, it’s yours. You broke it, you fix it! You paid the piper, you picked the tune, so dance clown, dance. Stupid is as stupid does.

Do your grandchildren a big favor. Grab that handgun you love so much out from under your pillow, place the business end against the roof of your mouth, and tell me again why you’re above contrition. I dare you.

Oh, and then pull the trigger, and get the hell out of my country!

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Hats Off To Barry

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Congratulations to Barry and his unparalleled career. Let there be no doubt, we will not see another like Barry during our lifetimes. He is truly deserving of the accolades he is finally receiving after so many impressive years. There should no longer be questions as to whether Barry deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Yes, Barry Manilow is one of a kind. Congratulations, Barry… we’re all very proud of you.

BTC

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Too Late to Save a Drowned Witch

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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NEWS FLASH!
SHIP ARRIVES TOO LATE TO SAVE A DROWNED WITCH.

Gather ‘round, my fellow pontificators. We need to have ourselves a little ‘group think’. All this talk about surges and build-up, and pulling out. So much posturing tends to wear a man down. My thoughts are swimming in a quagmire of confusion.

I am referring of course, to the so called ‘troop surge’ designed to re-enforce the coalition of the remaining. The answer is as vague as the question. Is it too late to admit America invaded Iraq on false premise? Is it too late for Americans to jettison arrogance and ignorance in favor of common sense and compassion?

I'll not mince words when lives are in peril. Only an absolute fool would continue to defend or support the transgressions of the Bush administration. George W. Bush is a war criminal. He should be held accountable for his crimes, just as Saddam Hussein was held accountable for his. Those who insist on prolonging this pathetic delusion of self righteousness are adrift in denial. It is neither noble, nor patriotic to guard the door whilst the fox raids the henhouse.

Is it too late to do the right thing? Is it too early to admit the US has created a far worse situation in the Middle East with no foreseeable way out? Is it too early to demonstrate contrition, or is that word even a part of the vocabulary?

One nation, under God'? In light of US transgressions abroad, is it even appropriate for Americans to banter about such hollow propaganda? There are in fact, more questions than answers, as it is always easier to perpetuate a problem than it is to solve one.

So let me see if I actually understand the question. Is it too early to bring home the living while they are still alive? Or is it already too late for those troops thrust unjustly into an un-winnable conflict?

As I write, news is breaking of a possible car bomb explosion within the Green Zone in central Baghdad. Of course, there's nothing new' about such attacks. People continue to die every day in Iraq, and yes, some are Americans. Unfortunately, the situation will become much worse before it can be expected to get any better. That is simply the nature of warfare. Yes, US troop fatalities dropped during the month of July, but civilian fatalities rose sharply.

So then, is total withdrawal of allied forces the only logical way out? Perhaps. Then again, perhaps we should be asking those who have already lost their lives. They are the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice as a result of the ultimate lie. How many more witches must we drown before we drag ourselves from the dark ages?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Bill Richardson - Top Tier Diplomat

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson is no stranger to big league politics. He is a second tier candidate with a first tier reputation. Indeed, Richardson easily boasts the most impressive resume of any of the leading candidates, republicans and democrats alike.

Bill Richardson, current governor of New Mexico, has gone “toe to toe” with some of the worlds toughest characters , including former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. He has long been respected as a strong diplomat and often served as hostage negotiator during times of crisis. Bill Richardson is unusual, as he is guided by sound judgment, and pragmatism, rather than the ‘shoot from the hip’, kill ‘em all attitude so prevalent within the Bush administration.

America deserves honesty and transparency, neither of which has been demonstrated with any veracity by Bush and his cronies. Richardson brings diversity and a keen understanding to his presidential bid. If Governor Richardson should win the nomination and become this nations’ next president, rest assured, this shameful period of US unilateral paranoia will come to an end.

Bill Richardson represents an opportunity for America to elect a responsible voice of authority. He has remained firm in his disdain for further US occupation of Iraq. He has not flip-flopped, nor does he change his reasoning with each passing season. Richardson knows the US can only succeed in the Middle East through diplomacy. He knows the only way to stabilize Iraq is to withdraw all US troops from the region.

Bill Richardson deserves to be taken seriously, as a US presidential hopeful and as a future world leader. Indeed, if US presidents were elected based on their diplomatic qualifications, Bill Richardson would win by a landslide.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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All Bush is Saying is Give War a Chance

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Is it too much to ask?
Come on America, the surge hasn’t even had a fighting chance. Let’s support our troops regardless of their sheer number. Why are there still Americans unwilling to listen to the commander in chief when he warns of impending peril? Certainly they don’t take him on his record, as he can’t be blamed for every lie that originates from his office. Other people lie too, you know. Maybe some-one in the White House “outed” Valerie Plame, but gee, why lay the blame at Bush’s doorstep?

It’s just so tragic and irresponsible to question the motives of the commander and chief when he sends our children off to die on foreign soil. He knows what he is doing, and he would love to explain it to us, but alas, such revelations would violate national security, which in turn would only encourage terrorists who hate freedom and the American way.

After all, wouldn’t it be wiser to fight them over “there” so we don’t have to fight them over “here”? Isn’t it obvious to everyone by now that Fargo North Dakota will not be safe until Al Qaeda have been driven from Haifa street?
Oh the perilisms…the sheer perfunctory of it all.

Go fish!

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Al Qaeda 2.0

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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I struggled with what to title this article. I wanted something snappy, of course. Something that would conjure up images of just how tragically absurd this whole so called "war against terror" has become.

May I remind you, the US military entered Iraq to confiscate weapons of mass destruction which did not exist. Then the focus became the capture of the ever so evil Saddam Hussein, followed by the spread of democracy throughout the middle East, followed by the eradication of Al Qaeda, who in fact, were not even in Iraq prior to the invasion. Oh, and that smoking mushroom cloud you were promised? That turned out to be a bunch of cons spinning their wheels. A bunch of neo-cons, to be specific.

So now we hear Al Qaeda has regrouped and is stronger than ever. So much for the most recent excuse for the invasion, the one where we are fighting them there so we won’t have to fight them here. What a pathetic joke, my friends. Someone should do the math, as it has become abundantly clear it would be considerably cheaper in treasure and sacrifice if we let them cover the costs of their own logistical nightmares. Why are we fighting these guys on their home turf?

Obviously, we wouldn’t want the US military to trash our towns they way they have trashed those in Iraq. Reconstruction, my ass! Show me one new Starbucks anywhere in Iraq. It’s not happening folks. It’s all smoke, and more smoke.

I tossed around a handful of titles for this article. You know, stuff like, Son of Al, The Return of Al, Bride of Al Zilla, etc. (Salmon Rushdie, take notes). All sounded appropriately satirical, but it’s hard to say, really. Article titles can be so slippery at times. For now, let’s just stick with the facts…
We are in a mess we can’t get out of, and that ain't Santa comin' to town! And if that ain't bad enough, when they do finally arrive on US shores, there will be no-one home to stop them. Our military is caught up in a quagmire in the middle East.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Libby Skirts Justice

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Scooter Libby should be in prison this morning. Only an absolute fool would defend or support the transgressions of the current administration. Those who continue to do so are as bad as Hitler himself!. It is neither noble nor patriotic to guard the door while the fox raids the hen-house.

For those of you with the audacity to write about the news without first learning the facts, Scooter Libby was never charged with outing Valerie Plame. He was charged with obstructing justice, lying to the FBI and lying to a grand jury, all of which he was found guilty. Outing a covert CIA agent and obstructing justice are different crimes, in this case committed by different people. Unfortunately, many people have very little respect or understanding of law.

Libby was found guilty and sentenced to prison by a fair and honest jury of his peers. The courts decision was then subverted by the most corrupt administration in the history of this formerly great country. Libby belongs in prison. He is a criminal. Denial, a staple of the republican pathos, changes nothing.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Obama Loses It

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Not that anyone cares, but Barack Obama has lost it.
He has lost my respect, that is, and along with it went my support. In truth, I have not decided who I’ll be voting for in the Democratic primary, but I know it won’t Obama. He, along with Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and John Edwards have already been eliminated from consideration.

So what has Senator Obama done to betray my confidence? I don’t care for politicians who dick the dog, and I can think of no better words to describe what he has done. You see, he has publicly stated that he does not support the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. Now, I am willing to listen to reason, but his explanation was wholly dog-shit! He says, and I quote,

"There's a way to bring an end to those practices, you know: vote the bums out, that's how our system is designed."

It doesn’t require much brains to figure out what is disingenuous about that remark. Neither Bush nor Cheney are up for re-election, so you can’t very well throw them out at the polls, now can you. His statement has no veracity.
It is the kind of comment one can expect from a coward, not from a world leader. The system is in fact designed to allow us to “throw the bums out”. It’s called impeachment.

So I have concluded as much, and will not support the little coward another minute. Obama can go to hell for all I care. I’m throwing my support behind Bill Richardson, until he says something equally stupid, which I doubt.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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The Dewey Decimal Classification

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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I have reached the point where I can no longer manage my massive book collection without relying on the Dewey Decimal Classification system. I realize this may sound impressive, (I’m impressed) but in reality it is presenting a slew of problems. For instance, it is becoming harder and harder to find the book I’m looking for. I am having nightmares about stacks of angry books rising up against me. Then again, perhaps I’m not but I suppose you get the point.


B. Thomas Cooper

Just out of curiosity (yours, not mine) other than the public library, when was the last time you recall having even thought about the Dewey Decimal System? Now that I am a fully up-armored, home schooled librarian I guess I think about it more than I’d like to admit. So then I suppose you think it ain’t that hard to organize a few hundred books. My response…
Yuk.

Did you know some of the Dewey Decimal Classification notation is in Arabic? What in the world! I’m not promising I’m ever going to get any of this done, mind you. I’ve got a great deal of research I need to complete, providing of course, I am able to find the books. I’ll keep you updated. If you need me, I’ll be in over in 132.00. (DDC)

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Meet Richard Cheney, All Bull, No Horns

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Meet Richard Cheney.
When it comes to dishonesty, Mr. Cheney wrote the book.

All truth be told, it’s more of an instructional manual really, aptly titled ‘The Art of Untruth, a Practitioners Guide to Deception’. The book contains a plethora of technique and advice, all gleaned from Mr. Cheney’s illustrious experience as the world’s pre-imminent teller of lies.

Chapter headings include ’When Honesty is Not the Best Policy’ ’Fear Mongering for Fast Results’, ‘Inaccuracies and Misdirection’, ‘Lies for Fun and Profit’ and includes a finely researched collection of some of Mr. Cheney’s more sensational quotes. Here’s just a sample of what goes on in the mind of this disingenuous buffoon, a man some refer to as the most powerful war profiteer in modern history.


"In Iraq, a ruthless dictator cultivated weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. He gave support to terrorists, and had an established relationship with al Qaeda" - Nov. 7, 2003

"We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons." - March 16, 2003

"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." - March 16, 2003

“The plan was criticized by some retired military officers embedded in TV studios. But with every advance by our coalition forces, the wisdom of that plan becomes more apparent.”

"I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." - on the Iraq insurgency, June 20, 2005

“The Iraqi forces are conducting the Mother of all Retreats“.

"Go f*ck yourself." - to Sen. Patrick Leahy, during an angry exchange on the Senate floor about war profiteering by Halliburton, June 25, 2004

“I’m the Vice President, and they’re not” - January 2007

There are many more disturbing quotes attributed to our heartless vice president. After all, Dick Cheney has been telling whoppers since long before I was born. Mr. Cheney doesn’t just bend the truth, he revels in his lies. He has in fact, elevated his dishonesty into an art form…The art of untruth.

Now before you go order a copy of the book from Amazon, I should probably come clean, something Mr. Cheney has never done. You see, other than the quotes, I made the whole thing up. There is no book. It was all one big lie.

Mr. Cheney would be proud of me.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Colin Powell, Please Stand Up!

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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There was a time, not too long ago mind you, when I held Colin Powell in the highest regard. Powell had repeatedly gone the extra mile. He was a soldier’s soldier and a man among mice. Time after time, he stood strong in the face of adversity. He was pragmatic and measured when others were not.

Oh, Colin Powell, we knew him well.

As the story goes, Mr. Powell sold his soul to the devil for dimes on the dollar. Pocket change. A man of such great integrity, and in the blinding of a moment, it was all gone. There he was, standing before the entire world, uttering despicable lies. It might have been different had he not known, but he knew. He knew the truth, and still he told the lies.

That was then, this is now. Powell has since gone out of his way to put some distance between himself and the Bush administration. Always outspoken, he remains so, but this time he has something to prove. I for one don’t doubt his sincerity for a moment. If I had snarkled the snake as bad as Powell did, I too would be seeking redemption.

So then, I ask,
Will Colin Powell please stand up?

We hear ya loud and clear there, good buddy, but yer preaching to the choir. Those within earshot already know. People will listen to you, providing of course you tell it straight. You can start by urging underprivileged Americans to please stop feeding their offspring to the war pigs. Our children are priceless. Iraqi children are priceless. This war is not, nor has it ever been, of a noble cause.

Drip, drip, drip.

The sound of blood spilling endlessly. You hear it too, don’t you, Mr. Powell.
I sat in front of my television and listened helplessly, knowing your words were lies. I felt terrible because I couldn’t stop you. There you were, and for a moment, you were as demonstrous as the lies you told. That’s the part of you I no longer trust.

A man is only as good as his word, Mr. Powell. The time is nigh for you to get out there and represent. It’s something you must do. You may not earn an Oscar for your efforts like Al Gore, or a Nobel Peace prize like Jimmy Carter, but you’ve got something far more important riding on this. For you Mr. Powell, this is about the redemption of your very soul.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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