Beachblogger.net

The "long war" is the term for the generations-long U.S. geopolitical strategy for countering Islamist extremism around the world.

More than a military effort, Kimmitt said the "long war" aims "to defeat an ideology" as much as the leadership of al-Qaida and its related terrorist networks.

Doing that involves a mix of military and humanitarian approaches that could include the United Nations, he said. It requires building a network to counter terrorism networks, such as the mix of U.S. military and humanitarian assistance now in the Horn of Africa.

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BRIEFING
WITH BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR COALITION OPERATIONS;
AND DAN SENOR, SENIOR ADVISER, CPA

LOCATION: BAGHDAD, IRAQ

TIME: 10:46 A.M. EDT
DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2004

Additionally, there was a news report last night alleging additional abuse and torture at detention facilities in Iraq. Coalition forces soundly deny the allegations. This story was built upon anonymous sources.

And any suggestion that torture is used is false and offensive. The policy is clear throughout Iraq and is used by all forces. Coalition forces inside Iraq adhere to the Geneva Conventions in the conduct of detention and interrogation operations. The techniques used throughout the theater are approved at the theater level. And when there are violations, they are investigated and, as necessary, prosecuted.

Army jailed women to trap husbands, documents show

In one memo, a civilian Pentagon intelligence officer described what happened when he took part in a raid on an Iraqi suspect's house in Tarmiya, northwest of Baghdad, on May 9, 2004.

The raid involved Task Force (TF) 6-26, a secretive military unit formed to handle high-profile targets.

"During the pre-operation brief it was recommended by TF personnel that if the wife were present, she be detained and held in order to leverage the primary target's surrender," wrote the 14-year veteran officer.

He said he objected, but when they raided the house the team leader, a senior sergeant, seized her anyway.

Mark Kimmitt's brother Joseph Kimmitt (Jay) is a Washington, DC, lobbyist for Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Truck Corp, the No. 1 maker of concrete mixers, trash haulers and military trucks.

The Ugly American was published 40years ago. I can’t decide if the stories above represent an example of repeating history through ignorance or what.

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Embattled White House adviser Karl Rove vowed Friday to make the war on terrorism a central campaign issue in November and said Democratic senators looked "mean-spirited and small-minded" in questioning Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.

"Republicans have a post-9/11 view of the world. And Democrats have a pre-9/11 view of the world," Rove told Republican activists. "That doesn't make them unpatriotic, not at all. But it does make them wrong -- deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong."

What has really changed post 9/11? There were terror attacks before and after.

The CBR neo-cons have taken advantage of 9/11 to terrorize the American public further and to criminalize activities like photography and freedom of speech. To Reaganites the rapture is a viable exit strategy. To Rove name calling and smearing is his reason for existance. To Bush greed is reason enough.

LAST WEEK, at the annual meeting of the American Economic Assn., we presented a new estimate for the likely cost of the war in Iraq. We suggested that the final bill will be much higher than previously reckoned — between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, depending primarily on how much longer our troops stay. Putting that into perspective, the highest-grossing movie of all time, "Titanic," earned $1.8 billion worldwide — about half the cost the U.S. incurs in Iraq every week.

peace, may the beach be with you.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go camping and pitch their tent under the stars. During the night, Holes wakes his companion and says: “Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me what you deduce.”

Watson says: “I see millions of stars, and even if a few of those have planets, it’s quite likely there are some planets like Earth, and if there are a few planets like Earth out there, there might also be life.”

Holmes replies: “Watson, you idiot! Somebody stole our tent.”

"I've dealt with these programs and they're so deep and they're so black, they have no oversight," said Tice, who was fired from NSA last year. "I'm not wanting to out these programs. The problem is there's just very little adult supervision, if any. That's why the abuses have happened."

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2006 – The American people must remind themselves every day that the United States is at war, a top Army general said today.

Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, speaking at the American Enterprise Institute here, said that 21st century warfare is more about "will and perception, than taking territory or enemies killed."

So, just remember, we're at war but it's all in your mind.

On this day in 1961 John F. Kennedy was inaugurated. Kennedy started the Peace Corps.

It's the birthday of actor and comedian George Burns who once said, "The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made."

On this day in 1981 Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. Reagan started the neo-con War Corps and faked honesty poorly.

Today also marks the day three years hence when George W Bush's successor will be inaugurated unless he is impeached before then. See, there's always some good news.

I can't take pictures of Christmas decorations, or flag draped coffins, but the government can wire tap my phones without a warrant?

"Congress still hadn't improved its oversight of intelligence agencies; those agencies still weren't cooperating with each other or with law enforcement; airline cargo still wasn't being fully checked for explosives; and the government still hadn't figured out how to keep terrorists off airplanes without ensnaring harmless citizens."

What part don't you understand? the quag or the mire?

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found serenity
But you can't take the sky

link

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

he was an ugly man in a glossy package now the package is opened.
it's not about oil? it's about slime, grease and greed,
a new age of storms where the war corps' real values
are a scorched earth policy of fear anger hate and smear.
Who are you fighting? What will you have when the war is over?

I hope I look this good when I'm 85 years old.

are not enough.

NYCLU sues city over right to shoot video, pictures in public

Sen. Prescott Bush (R-Conn.)

Bush Fields Questions About Spy Program

Prisoner debate tarnishes US image

Under Bush, mine-safety enforcement eased

ok, we won't tell.

check out daily kos

I think the basis for impeachment is lying to congress and illeagl wire tapping.

then the tide comes in.

The messages written in the sand are short lived, washed away, with out a trace, by the tide and the waves.

The damage done by war and corruption will last for generations.

check out the photo blogs too.

These stories and letters seem counter to the usual Cheney-Bush-Rumsfield twisted 'family values'. I wonder where they come from.

Patronizing a prostitute is now a specific crime for servicemembers

CNFJ calls for ‘period of reflection’ after fatal beating
Curfew enacted to show sympathy for woman’s death

Letters to the Editor for Saturday, January 7, 2006

Letters to the Editor for Sunday, January 8, 2006

Support for Bush’s policy drops among US military

Support the troops:

My Lai massacre hero dies at 62

We are all saddened by the news that 12 miners died in the Sago Mine located in West Virginia.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan

WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR PRAYER FOR MINERS IN WEST VIRGINIA

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan opened today's Press Conference with the following words: "We are praying and hoping for the best the miners in West Virginia. They are in our thoughts and our prayers. The President has reached out to the governor and others involved in the rescue. We continue to keep the miners in our thoughts and our prayers.

Later, during a press gaggle, President Bush called for prayer for those trapped in the mine, and called for God's blessing on them with these words, " Earlier today, I spoke to Governor Manchin of West Virginia. I told him that Americans all across our country were praying for the miners who are trapped in the mine there in West Virginia. I told him that I appreciated the great outpouring of compassion from the West Virginia citizens toward those worried family members. I also assured him that the federal government will help the folks in West Virginia any way we can to bring those miners out of that mine, hopefully in good condition. And may God bless those who are trapped below the earth, and may God bless those who are concerned about those trapped below the earth."

I'm sorry too to hear this public outpouring of prayer. I become more of an atheist as our leaders become more Christian, or hypocritical depending on how you look at it.

There are no supernatural explanations for the things that happen every day. Prayer won’t rescue trapped miners, of bring back brain dead women. It’s unfortunate that Mr. Bush chose to test the power of prayer. He would be wiser to use intelligence and diligence to solve problems.

And Mr. Cheney I have one short response to your speech today: Remember August 6, 2001.

That time is now.

The Most Valuable Progressives of 2005

one is too many, 2172 aren't enough

What does intergity mean?

For President Bush, A Quiet Holiday Season
January 1, 2006
By LISA REIN, Washington Post

CRAWFORD, Tex. -- A year ago, President Bush faced television cameras to offer relief and condolences after the Indian Ocean tsunami. In August, the retreat to his ranch was haunted by a 26-day siege by antiwar demonstrators. Days later, Hurricane Katrina forced him to return to Washington in crisis-management mode as critics accused him of being slow to recognize the disaster.

But this New Year's Eve, the president was in quiet seclusion.

Bush Relaxes Ahead of a Predicted Tough 2006
FOX News
Monday, December 26, 2005

WASHINGTON — President Bush headed to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Monday after the first family spent Christmas at Camp David, Md. The president will remain at his Prairie Chapel Ranch until the new year.

Nation Holds Breath During Latest Bush Vacation

CRAWFORD, TX – A few miles from here President Bush is spending the post-Christmas holiday at his ranch. Exactly what he does there—“reading really really big historical books, clearing brush, and chasing rabbits,” according to the official press releases—doesn’t seem to matter. Highlights of past Bush vacations include Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks, which occurred during or just after month-long periods of downtime at Crawford.

At the ranch, brush-clearing dominates Bush agenda
By Lisa Rein / The Washington Post / Saturday, December 31, 2005

CRAWFORD, Texas — On most of the 365 days he's enjoyed at his secluded ranch here, President Bush's idea of paradise is to hop in his white Ford pickup truck in jeans and work boots, drive to a stand of cedar trees and whack them to the ground.

In December of 2003 I was in Portsmouth Virginia. From the Jordan Bridge, Elm Ave. across the middle reach, you could see into the shipyard where the Enterprise had a huge lighted sign on it’s bow: “SEASONS GREETINGS”. By the bridge, there is a public park, on the east side of the reach; I went there during the day and from the sidewalk took some pictures of the carrier and the bridges. A gentleman accosted me for taking the pictures; when this happens to you it is a real shock; someone is accusing you of being a terrorist. He demanded my identification while he was just in street clothes, no uniform or id showing. I gave him one of my business cards and walked away, he was angry that I still had the photos.

So are we wining the war on terror? Bridge keepers and the police are terrorized by innocent citizens taking pictures. They in turn attempt to terrorize the picture takers. Everyone wearing shoes is suspected of being a shoe bomber. Is the Bush regime so weak that it lives in fear of students?

Have you ever felt like you were breaking the law by taking a snapshot?

Here's to a great year in 2006!

Peace!

Be the change you want to see in others!