Vision Circle

You, Sir, Have Gone Too Far

When Clinton was in office, I believed that the Republicans and conservatives who were crowing about the low moral of the war fighters, "because of Bill Clinton", was taking things too far. In the case of Clinton, it was another case of the "opposition" going too far.

Now, we have this statement by Rep. John Murtha:

Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record) told a civic group.

I thought in the past, and I think now, that the enemies of the U.S. read and view our news media. Statements like that quoted, does nothing but give strength to our enemies as well has hurt the moral of our war fighters.

Murtha should know better.

Iran oil bourse:a threat to the petrodollar?

Iran's decision to set up an oil and associated derivatives market next year has generated a great deal of interest. This is primarily because of Iran’s reported intention to invoice energy contracts in euros rather than dollars.

Remember Dr. Sonja Ebron's prescient and profoundly insightful 2.5 year old article On Why African Americans Should Oppose the War in the Black Commentator. This article is suitable for framing and gifting to republicans formerly known as black.

Disregard any specious Iranian WMD hype, cause just like with Wargate now unfolding in Phase II in the Senate, with blinders removed, the deja vous all over again is confounding.., don't these neocons have any other plays in their playbook?

The Price is Right

Good Morning Iran. You're the next contestant in the American geo-political game of gettin' dumasses in the heartland to hate the enemy of the month. The first salvo - you're a nation of drug addicts!! Said the cocaine dealer to the opium smoker.

Chavez challenges the oil kings

More plot thickening from the Sunday Binnis Post online...,

On July 14 in the western city of Maracaibo, Venezuelan government tax auditors and a prosecutor went to the offices of Chevron, the second-largest US oil company.

They seized boxes of records to build a case that San Ramon, California-based Chevron and 21 other energy companies owe Venezuela €2.4 billion in back taxes.

Chavez, who refers to US president George Bush as ‘Mr Danger', said on June 5 that the US was trying to install a global dictatorship. US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice described Chavez as a “negative force'‘ in the region.

just goes to show, you gotta let a ho be a ho...,

Contrasting Stories Of Iraq

The following two stories appeared in The Washington Post. Both were above the fold.

U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq Administration Is Shedding 'Unreality' That Dominated Invasion, Official Says

By Robin Wright and Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, August 14, 2005; Page A01

The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad.

The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.

Then, there was this one:

Iraqi Sunnis Battle To Defend Shiites Tribes Defy an Attempt by Zarqawi To Drive Residents From Western City

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, August 14, 2005; Page A01

BAGHDAD, Aug. 14 -- Rising up against insurgent leader Abu Musab Zarqawi, Iraqi Sunni Muslims in Ramadi fought with grenade launchers and automatic weapons Saturday to defend their Shiite neighbors against a bid to drive them from the western city, Sunni leaders and Shiite residents said. The fighting came as the U.S. military announced the deaths of six American soldiers.

Dozens of Sunni members of the Dulaimi tribe established cordons around Shiite homes, and Sunni men battled followers of Zarqawi, a Jordanian, for an hour Saturday morning. The clashes killed five of Zarqawi's guerrillas and two tribal fighters, residents and hospital workers said. Zarqawi loyalists pulled out of two contested neighborhoods in pickup trucks stripped of license plates, witnesses said.

The contrast is left up to the reader to think about. This one makes me laugh, sigh, and wonder what's going on in the administration.

Prince Bandar bin Abdul Aziz Resigns

Not much seems to be said about Prince Bandar resigning.

Veteran Saudi ambassador in U.S. resigns

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 20 (UPI) -- Saudi King Fahd accepted the resignation of Saudi ambassador in Washington Prince Bandar bin Abdul Aziz who served in the post for more than 20 years.

Related Headlines

Saudi U.S. ambassador said to resign (June 26, 2005) -- Prince Bandar bin Sultan has reportedly resigned as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. Senior U.S. and Saudi officials, as well as ... > full story

King Fahd not suffering dangerous illness (June 23, 2005) -- Saudi King Fahd, who has been hospitalized for four weeks, is not suffering from any dangerous illness, an official said Thursday. Deputy Defense ... > full story

Saudi king's health improves (June 18, 2005) -- King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz's health is improving and he should leave the hospital soon, a top Saudi official said Saturday. Foreign Minister ... > full story

Saudi king health reports conflict (May 29, 2005) -- The conflicting reports about the health of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has put some in the kingdom on edge, but there is no question of ... > full story

Saudi king stable in ICU (May 29, 2005) -- Saudi sources close to the ruling family said Sunday King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz' condition is improving although he remains in intensive care. A ... > full story

An official source at the foreign ministry said Wednesday Bandar expressed his wish to be relieved from his responsibilities earlier this month.

"After all these long years of devoted service as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, which exceeded 20 years, Prince Bandar solicited King Fahd to be released from his post for personal reasons," the source said.

He said the king appointed Prince Turki al-Faisal, the current ambassador to Britain, to replace Bandar.

The source did not say what prompted Bandar to resign.

It had been previously reported that there is tension between Prince Bandar and many of the House of Saud's leaders.

Given the massive amount of wealth Prince Bandar has accumulated because of his position, and the amount of power and access he had, it surprises me that he has resigned.

Given that he is strongly westernized, while the Saud family leaders seem to be embracing radical Islam, I don't think this bodes well at all.

Nothing More To Say

Read this transcript

PRIME MIN. HOWARD: Could I start by saying the prime minister and I were having a discussion when we heard about it. My first reaction was to get some more information. And I really don't want to add to what the prime minister has said. It's a matter for the police and a matter for the British authorities to talk in detail about what has happened here.

Can I just say very directly, Paul, on the issue of the policies of my government and indeed the policies of the British and American governments on Iraq, that the first point of reference is that once a country allows its foreign policy to be determined by terrorism, it's given the game away, to use the vernacular. And no Australian government that I lead will ever have policies determined by terrorism or terrorist threats, and no self-respecting government of any political stripe in Australia would allow that to happen.

Can I remind you that the murder of 88 Australians in Bali took place before the operation in Iraq.

And I remind you that the 11th of September occurred before the operation in Iraq.

Can I also remind you that the very first occasion that bin Laden specifically referred to Australia was in the context of Australia's involvement in liberating the people of East Timor. Are people by implication suggesting we shouldn't have done that?

When a group claimed responsibility on the website for the attacks on the 7th of July, they talked about British policy not just in Iraq, but in Afghanistan. Are people suggesting we shouldn't be in Afghanistan?

When Sergio de Mello was murdered in Iraq -- a brave man, a distinguished international diplomat, a person immensely respected for his work in the United Nations -- when al Qaeda gloated about that, they referred specifically to the role that de Mello had carried out in East Timor because he was the United Nations administrator in East Timor.

Now I don't know the mind of the terrorists. By definition, you can't put yourself in the mind of a successful suicide bomber. I can only look at objective facts, and the objective facts are as I've cited. The objective evidence is that Australia was a terrorist target long before the operation in Iraq. And indeed, all the evidence, as distinct from the suppositions, suggests to me that this is about hatred of a way of life, this is about the perverted use of principles of the great world religion that, at its root, preaches peace and cooperation. And I think we lose sight of the challenge we have if we allow ourselves to see these attacks in the context of particular circumstances rather than the abuse through a perverted ideology of people and their murder.

Haiti and The War on Terrorism

This is a quickie, hopefully I can sum it up nicely.

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), introduced H.R. 2592.

To designate Haiti under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to render nationals of Haiti eligible for temporary protected status under such section.

What does this have to do with the war on terrorism?

Well, for those who read the right papers, you may have read that Islam is spreading in the Caribbean. There is a fear that it is the extremist form that is spreading. With one of the London bombers seemingly coming from Jamaica, the spread of Islam, or at least the extremist form, should be watched in the Caribbean.

But that's still not providing the link, so let me get to it.

Drugs are run through the Caribbean and make their way to the U.S. The U.S. seemed to have helped the coup in Haiti. So, they got rid of someone who was not clean, but it was replaced by a group of people who are drug runners.

The drug runners are now working with terrorists to smuggle drugs and "human cargo" into the U.S. Haiti is a country of interest because of the poverty and because of the political situation in the country.

Yet, H.R. 2592 won't make it. It is because of race? I think so. But before you think it's the "racist Republicans", please remember that Clinton change the Haitian policy even though he had a chance to do so.

So, what does this have to do with the war on terrorism?

If the belief that poverty is one of the reasons why the extremist form of Islam is able to take hold, then isn't Haiti a prime candidate? It's in worse shape than Jamaica.

War On Terrorism

Something doesn't make sense:

Rice offers rare praise for Syria

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered rare praise for Syria Tuesday for battling militants trying to slip over its border into Iraq but said more such action was necessary.

Syrian forces captured two "terrorists" Monday in a dawn clash with extremists who included former bodyguards of Saddam Hussein, official media in Damascus had reported.

The gunbattle on Mount Qassioun overlooking the Syrian capital was the second such firefight with extremists in recent days and comes amid intense US pressure on Syria to stop militants slipping over its border into Iraq.

OK, then we have this:

Iran, Iraq to OK Military Pact, Including Troop Training Help
From Reuters

TEHRAN — Former foes Iran and Iraq said Thursday that they would sign a military cooperation agreement that would include Iranian help in training Iraq's armed forces, despite likely U.S. opposition.

The agreement marks a breakthrough in relations between the two countries, which fought a bitter 1980-88 war. And it comes in spite of repeated U.S. accusations that Shiite Muslim Iran has undermined security in Iraq since Saddam Hussein's fall in 2003.

...

Asked about possible U.S. opposition, Shamkhani said, "No one can prevent us from reaching an agreement."

OK, we have Rice praising Syria when people are saying Syria not only hosts the terrorists, but may be helping fund some of their efforts?

Then we have Iraq making a pact with Iran, who is said to be helping fund the terrorists who are using the Syrian border to come in and attack the people of Iraq?

Say WHAT!?!?!?

P6 gets a hat tip.

Live 8

Live 8 was an ego trip of musicians that will mean nothing.

Leaders of the G8 countries don't give a damn to what the musicians have to say.

Smartly, it wasn't a fund raising effort that would be wasted on corrupt leaders. The musicians get some free publicity, but what happens in the end?

Not a damn thing.