Iâm sure the author of this meant it snarkily. But I think itâs not. Instead, itâs funny because itâs true. I plan to use many of these should I ever visit Europe again.
Itâs better in the States.
Câest mieux aux Etats-Unis.
Es mejor en los Estados Unidos.
In den Staaten ist es besser.
If you go to the USA, youâll find that a dime is a lot of money.
Si vous allez aux Etats-Unis, vous trouverez que dix cents câest beaucoup de fric.
Si usted va a los Estados Unidos, se dará cuenta de que diez centavos son mucho dinero.
Wenn du in die USA fÀhrst, wirst du rausfinden, dass zehn cent viel Geld sind.
Yessir, you folks certainly have made a mess of this country.
Oui Monsieur, grâce à vous, câest vraiment le bordel dans ce pays.
SÃ, señor,ustedes ciertamente han cagado a este paÃs.
Ja, mein Herr, ihr habt wirklich eine MÃŒllhalde aus diesem Land gemacht.
More at the link.
Posted by: growler ||
04/20/2004 11:04:54 AM ||
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if go in philipines alway greet ladies by saying pek pek mobaho. that always get them smiling.
#2
Drop the weapon and put your hands up.
Laissez tomber l'arme et mettez vos mains vers le haut.
Caiga la arma y ponga sus manos para arriba.
Lassen Sie die Waffe fallen und setzen Sie Ihre Hände oben.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/20/2004 11:11 Comments ||
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Could I have some clean water?
Veuillez m'apporter de l'eau vraiment propre.
¿PodrÃa darme un poco de su agua realmente potable?
Könnte ich etwas sauberes Wasser haben?
#5
Do you want to MAKE MONEY FAST?
Voulez-vous GAGNER BEAUCOUP D'ARGENT TRÃS VITE ?
¿Quiere usted HACER DINERO RAPIDAMENTE?
Willst Du SCHNELL GELD MACHEN?
I think I've received all these in spam, dammit
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 11:19 Comments ||
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#6
Fixing another lot of translations.
"Drop your weapon and put your hands up"
(French) "Laissez tomber votre arme et levez les mains"
(Spanish) "Deje su arma y levante las manos"
(Zapatero's Spanish): Por favor no dispare y podr&´ joder a mi hija. Please don't shoot and you will fuck my daughter.
(Real Spanish) Bang, bang, bang
Could I have some clean water?
¿Puedo tener agua limpia?
#9
The suggested phrases for "I admire you above all for your purity of spirit and your appreciation of the arts." are also winners.
But what's gâterie, JFM? Babelfish was silent on this question.
I was going to ask for assistance on the Spanish as well, but it suddenly dawned on me what "chupa" meant. Babelfish translates this phrase as, "If you want to absorb the whistle to me, I am not going to protest." Well, why would you?
"Gaterie" (you usually "une petite gaterie", "a small thing who spoils you") is something who is very liked by the receiver but quite exceptional. However I haven't heard it used for gifts in years, I think its main use would be for situations like a frustrated president married to a beautiful but prudish blonde and asking an intern for something the blonde ever refused. No relation to actual facts of course. :-)
#20
See, there, guys. Bill Clinton has a use after all---he created a situation by which JFM could explain gâterie in a very delicate manner. Thanks, JFM!
I still think "absorb the whistle" is a lot funnier.
EFL
Cutting back on drinking could be helped by slapping on an âalcohol patchâ, say US researchers who are planning trials of a drug to combat alcohol cravings. The skin patch was originally developed to help people quit smoking. But one of the drugs it contains, mecamylamine, appears to curb the desire for alcohol as well as that for tobacco.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
04/20/2004 7:25:04 AM ||
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Damm, saw the title and was hoping for a patch that would slowly release alcohol into the bloodstream. People keep saying I should cut down on my drinking and a patch would cut out the middleman.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/20/2004 8:26 Comments ||
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Steve, my thoughts exactly. Think of how much easier drinking would be if you didn't have to lift that beer bottle. We'd be like Dudly Moore all the time, er... when he was alive, that is.
EFL - this is the first Saudi blogger Iâve seen. He is a liberal of sorts- he hates the Religious Police
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Every now and again... I see something that makes me feel slightly optimistic. It shows that the good guys, for the moment at least, are in the ascendency over the bad guys. In this case, itâs a very slight example of the Arab News and the arabic-language Eqtisadiah actually reporting some minor corruption.
he then reports that the son of the traffic director was arrested for driving without a license
Posted by: mhw ||
04/20/2004 11:21:42 AM ||
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Prolly the only blogger who makes $400,000 a year.
EFL- from Miami times.
Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, at the end of a three-day visit to Venezuela on Saturday, blasted President Hugo Chávez for aiding Colombian guerrillas, blocking a recall referendum sought by the opposition and ignoring a flourishing black market for passports and other official documents that could fall into the hands of terrorists. ââWe may reach the point where the U.S. has to treat this government as a hostile and unfriendly government to the U.S. and the U.S. interests,ââ said Nelson, a Democratic member of the Senates Foreign Relations Committee.
Certain segments of the public — like most of us here — already regard Hugo's regime as hostile. Any time Congress is ready to hop on board, we'll be right behind them...
Asked later to describe that intelligence, Nelson said: ``Obviously, I cant share the sources, but I can share the conclusion. We have plenty of evidence of participation by representatives of the Venezuelan government when the FARC is given safe haven to come across the border and communication with the FARC both inside Venezuela and in Colombia.ââ Venezuelan officials denied those allegations...
#2
Superhose: Fantastic article! Wow! That's shocking stuff! I follow the situation in Colombia very closely (my wife is Colombian and I used to live there, etc.) and I'm shocked by some of the content of this article. Bill Nelson has been a major blocker in military aid to Colombia's armed forces to fight the FARC and I would've thought he'd be happy to hear the FARC is getting help from Venezuela. I'm amazed that he also publicly disclosed that intel info! I'm also amazed that he snubbed that Perez guy. And Kerry really said that on his website?! Wow! Good news for Colombia's future.
#3
KB, Columbia is a wonderful place. I stopped in Cartgena once in 92 or 93. I am excited about the rumors that Columbia may challenge Chavez in the OAS. It gets old being the only country that that challenges Chavez and his ilk. Additionally, the bad guys seem to derive street cred from getting our attention. It must upset Chavez that Bush says nothing about Chavez.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 18:57 Comments ||
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Dozens of Chinese babies are said to have died from malnutrition in the past year after being fed fake or inferior-quality baby milk powders. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said makers of the products would be severely punished, the China Daily paper said. State officials have been sent to the city of Fuyang, in Anhui province, to investigate further. Correspondents say the case highlights the widespread problem of counterfeit foodstuffs and medicines in China. (cont.) Strange how all that state sanctioned intellectual property theft and product counterfeiting can come back to bite you on the ass big time. I feel sorry for the parents and wonder if any of them will ever know enough to blame their corrupt politburo for condoning institutionalized fraud.
Posted by: Zenster ||
04/20/2004 10:18:07 AM ||
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not to worry so much i grew up eatin the tasty fry wall chips b4 i got english degree
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 17:57 Comments ||
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I need to go into so more detail here. I'm obliged to add how the blame for this lays squarely with the Chinese politburo.
This is exactly what comes of widespread institutionalized product counterfeiting and intellectual property theft being condoned by the state. How vile it is to see vultures coming home to roost due to this sort of entrenched thievery. I can only wonder if those dead infants' parents will ever realize who is really responsible in all of this. China has destroyed tens of thousands of lives around the world by stealing jobs and ideas through state sanctioned intellectual property theft. Countless people have ended up homeless and on the streets because of how China floods global markets with counterfeit products that put honest workers out of a job.
I am absolutely sick and f&#king tired of China making its so-called Great Leap Forward whilst treading upon the backs of innocent people, Chinese or otherwise. These murdered babies are but a minusculefraction of the dead infants resulting from DECADES of compulsory government abortion and similarly encouraged female infanticide. This blood on the Chinese government's hands cannot not be washed off so easily. Lady MacBeth will sooner rinse hers clean before they ever shall.
OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) - Thousands of people from around the world, many carrying Israeli flags, marched at the former Auschwitz death camp Monday to honor the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The annual March of the Living set off from the camp gate, with its notorious inscription, "Arbeit Macht Frei." Nearly 8,000 marchers, according to organizers, walked quietly past the camp's barbed preserved wire fences, barracks and watchtowers.
Never forget. Never again. How many times did the world forget?
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/20/2004 12:24:18 AM ||
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In several weeks of reading and watching Richard Boucherâs daily battle against a pack of hyenas the press correspondents, I have begun to be amazed by a man who can go out each day and quietly resist being tripped up on the difference between a "central" and a "vital" role for the UN in Iraq. I am amazed at the sheer number of times that he can calmly clarify as Iraq is a country of Iraqis, they must have "the central" role in Iraq. Boucher is either very into Yoga or heavily medicated. Unless Fred cans these posts, I will try to post the best excerpts from his briefing under this heading. Here is a sample:
QUESTION: Is it correct that you are not deeply troubled about the death, about the killing of Mr. -- Dr. Rantisi? And if youâre not, why were you deeply troubled by Sheikh Yassinâs killing? Is it a question of how much influence you think these people have? I mean, presumably, if the Israelis made good on the threats, dubious threats that were out there to kill Arafat, you would come out and condemn it since he seems to be the only person -- the only Palestinian leader that youâre firmly opposed to Israel targeting. Why different language for Rantisi than Yassin?
MR. BOUCHER: Iâm not quite sure what the difference between deeply troubled and gravely concerned is. Iâll have to check with my experts on that one. I wouldnât draw too fine a --
QUESTION: Well, deeply troubled referred specifically to the killing of Sheikh Yassin and deep -- and youâre troubled --
MR. BOUCHER: Gravely concerned about the consequences --
QUESTION: I mean gravely concerned refers to --
MR. BOUCHER: -- about regional peace and stability. Iâm not going to try to draw any large distinction between the two. In this case, we point a little more towards the effects, and I think last time, if youâll remember, the briefings we did here we talked specifically about the consequences. And thatâs virtually the same thing.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 4:09:49 PM ||
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Boucher was there a long time. Lots of experience. In Bush I, during Iraq I, he had not so much gray hair.
Of course, being with the State Department, he cant say, "No stupid, vital and central are different things. Look it up in Meriam Webster."
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/20/2004 16:37 Comments ||
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#3
Plus Rummy can deliver that kind of a line with the Dual Striking Viper technique.
Boucher's real nemesis is Joel Mowbray, who actually does his homework on the State Dept's disgraceful toadying to the House of Sod. The other reporters can bleat all day about the UN, while Mowbray moves in for the kill.
The documents also included declassified reports that explain Kerryâs wounds that led to his Purple Heart awards. They show Kerry had shrapnel wounds in his left thigh after his boat came under intense fire on Feb. 20, 1969, and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks and contusions on his right forearm when a mine detonated close to his boat on March 13, 1969. #3 is shrapnel in the behind? how appropriate!
The campaign could not locate a similar report for Kerryâs original Purple Heart. As evidence that Kerry was wounded, Meehan showed The Associated Press a "Sick Call Treatment Record" from Kerryâs personal files that included a medicâs written note dated Dec. 9, 1968. "Shrapnel in left arm above elbow. Shrapnel removed and appl bacitracin dressing. Ret to Duty." Is this where he showed up with a scratch on his arm AND holding a piece of shrapnel IN HIS HAND????
Documentation for the second two injuries show that Kerry was deemed to be in good condition and returned to active duty after treatment. But a third Purple Heart meant Kerry could be reassigned out of Vietnam, and a document dated March 17, 1969, said Kerry requested duty as a personal aid in Boston, New York or the Washington, D.C., area. This is technically legit, but you wonder about the guys who were in Vietnam, and had worse problems. This seems awful odd. Three ultra minor wounds, though it must have been frightening at the time. Owing to the fact we lost 50000+ can he look himself in the mirror seriously. He was an OFFICER! They are supposed to be examples...
#6
I am totally ignorant to what constitutes a "Purple Heart" wound.
Are these wounds legit for a "Purple Heart"?
Does getting a sliver from bamboo when your in the jungle constitute for getting a "Purple Heart"?
Can ya help this civilian out?
#7
A sliver from a bamboo does not count.It must be wounds inflicted by the enemy.My scar on my knee from running into barb wire is a good example.Nothing to do with combat, just my own mistake.Technically speaking,Kerry qualified.But that was like taking a free coke from a broken machine.
#8
Heh! I'll believe that he will release his records once they are ALL released. Until then, his words are meaningless.
"appl bacitracin dressing", sounds like he got a bandaid with some antibiotic goop on it. Supports the other report of what his commander said about the incident.
#2
pressure's on JF'nK to keep those to the far left on the Dem ticket. How will he handle it? heh heh
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 18:37 Comments ||
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Thanks, Ralph "let's set ourselves up like Spain" Nader. The world needs more courageous leaders like Zapatero, doesn't it? Jesus Christ! What would prevent terrorist scumbags from blackmailing the American people to vote for Nader or else face another attack? That's a scary thought. It didn't go down quite like that in Spain, but why not try it this time? It will be much easier to scare us than carry out an attack.
#4
Somehow I think a terrorist attack just before the elections would have the exact opposite effect than what the terrorists intended. The US is not Europe.
Posted by: Rafael ||
04/20/2004 19:12 Comments ||
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Kerry's got a real problem on his hands, doesn't he? I mean, aside from being a cold, obnoxious, haughty, boring, weasel-wording, treasonous horse's ass who answers all questions with an amalgam of vague platitudes, gross inanities and evasive gafbabble; forget that stuff for a moment.
What the hell is he going to do when Rotten Ralph starts luring the foamers, droolers and moonbarkers away en masse? Try to get them back, and lose the middle? Or keep what he can of the middle, and ditch the loonies? Try to have it both ways, and end up with nobody?
Dear God, thank you for releasing me, at last, from my Democratude...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/20/2004 19:16 Comments ||
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#6
Dave D (Dilatush? from Daily Pundit?) - you've released yourself by questioning the koolaid!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 19:24 Comments ||
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#7
In separate comments, Ralph Nader reminded listeners that the Corvair remains dangerously unsafe.
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/20/2004 19:31 Comments ||
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#8
Seems to me he is betting that any terrorist actions in the US would cause people to flock to his 'appeasement' platform.
I hearby swear and attest that the following story is real. You just can't make this stuff up.
In an effort to capture the elusive youth vote, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will get into the ring tomorrow with two World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) competitors, superstar Chris Nowinski and the brawny womenâs champion, who goes by one name â Victoria.
Put your money on Hillary, she fights dirty.
Joined by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Pelosi and Clinton are hosting the first âNext Generation Democratic Summitâ for some 250 young leaders on Capitol Hill. Democrats hope to gain coveted airtime on one of two TV shows â âSmackdownâ or âRawâ â that are popular with the 18- to 29-year-old male demographic. Those shows have a combined audience of about 19 million, said WWE spokesman Gary Davis.
Going for the coveted wrestling vote. Hey, don't laugh, if they believe wrestling is "real", they'll believe anything.
The summit is part of the WWEâs nonpartisan âSmackdown Your Voteâ program, which has also sponsored events with Republicans such as Rep. Bob Ney (Ohio). The lawmakers and young leaders will discuss higher education, the economy and national security, according to Pelosi spokeswoman Jen Crider. âItâs important that we reach out to this group because their participation is crucial to the Democratic ideas we believe in,â said Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), the youngest Democrat in the House. âBut in the short run, their participation can turn the election in 2004.â Both parties recognize the importance of the âSmackdown demographic,â according to Ney, who has already held two WWE voter-drive events this year. âOur young people are our future, and itâs so important that we reach out to them and they become engaged early on in the democratic process.â
Yeah, I can just imagine the appeal John French Kerry is going to have to this crowd.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/20/2004 1:55:00 PM ||
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"The lawmakers, wrestlers and youth leaders will be joined by MTV Newsâs Gideon Yago."
I'm glad my parents are not alive to see what's become of their Democratic Party. As for me, it looks like I escaped just in the nick of time...
Jeebus.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/20/2004 14:42 Comments ||
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#2
heh heh - word is Hillary will be announced as "The Emasculator"!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 14:42 Comments ||
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#3
âItâs important that we reach out to this group because their participation is crucial to the Democratic ideas we believe in,â
That is the quote of the century.
I'd watch but I'm afraid that Hillary might don a leotard.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 15:16 Comments ||
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#7
WWE spokesman Gary Davis said he didn't expect the Democrats to agree to fight the wrestlers but they said they trusted his instincts and would go through with it. Mr Davis thought that was odd since the whole idea was a joke and the politicians could really get hurt, but that wasn't as odd as the way they kept calling him Grey instead of Gary.
#8
now i know the dem party has sunk to the bottom of the barrel.
Dave D. i am with you - my grandfather was a lifetime dem always quoting jfk ( the real one not the fake ) and i know he would be rolling in his grave.
Posted by: Dan ||
04/20/2004 17:16 Comments ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 17:31 Comments ||
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#11
not exactly the same as Clinton touting sax on the late night show.
While it might pick them up a few votes, you have to wonder if they ever stopped to think how many it might lose them.
I bet they don't go through with it. Get some publicity and then just pretend it was all supposed to be a joke.
Posted by: B ||
04/20/2004 17:31 Comments ||
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#12
Good one Frank....think I'm gonna hurl.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
04/20/2004 17:36 Comments ||
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#13
That's a truly disgusting thought, Mucky. :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/20/2004 17:39 Comments ||
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#14
So Janet Reno gets to oil up Hillary Clinton in a Leotard? Please tell me a wrestler will lose control and body-slam Hillary through the mat.
Posted by: Charles ||
04/20/2004 17:47 Comments ||
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#15
Mucky & Frank: thank you two SOOOOOOO much for that image. Now let's see if I can manage to eat dinner...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/20/2004 18:17 Comments ||
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#16
Please tell me a wrestler will lose control and body-slam Hillary through the mat.
now that would be funny - but the wrestler would probably die mysteriously very shortly afterwards - seems to happen with associates/people who cross clintons....
Posted by: Dan ||
04/20/2004 18:18 Comments ||
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#17
Please tell me a wrestler will lose control and body-slam Hillary through the mat.
now that would be funny - but the wrestler would probably die mysteriously very shortly afterwards - seems to happen with associates/people who cross clintons....
Posted by: Dan ||
04/20/2004 18:19 Comments ||
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#18
The best part of this is that "The Rock" is a well known Republican. Was at the 2000 convention and will probably be at 2004.
EFL, here's the money quotes from "Larry King Live' last night:
"'I don't say there's a secret deal or any collaboration on this,' Woodward told CNN's 'Larry King Live' Monday. 'What I say in the book is that the Saudis . . . hoped to keep oil prices low during the period before the election, because of its impact on the economy. That's what I say.' "The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who appeared on the program with Woodward, said his characterization of Saudi policy was 'accurate.'"
"KING: Let me get in one more thing, Prince Bandar.
bin Sultan: Yes, sir.
"KING: The story that Mr. Woodward has about the promise to lower the oil prices by the election. Your government has denied has.
"WOODWARD: That's not my story. What I say in the book is that the Saudis, and maybe you looked at this section of the book, Ambassador, that the Saudis hoped to keep oil prices low during the period for -- before the election, because of its impact on the economy. That's what I say."
bin Sultan: I think the way that Bob said it now is accurate. We hoped that the oil prices will stay low, because that's good for America's economy, but more important, it's good for our economy and the international economy, and this is not -- nothing unusual. President Clinton asked us to keep the prices down in the year 2000. In fact, I can go back to 1979, President Carter asked us to keep the prices down to avoid the malaise. So yes, it's in our interests and in America's interests to keep the prices down.
Any comments, Sen. Kerry?
Posted by: Steve ||
04/20/2004 1:43:56 PM ||
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(channeling John Kerry)...
How DARE you question ME! Besides I said "if it was true". I always give myself an out.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/20/2004 14:22 Comments ||
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Woodward's book won't have any effect except on the koolaid drinkers. When you have the entire book based on unnamed sources, the principals publicly rebuking and denying the passages quoting them, and the author backpedalling the PR pre-publicity claims in the second day on the shelves...you've got Clarke, the sequel
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 14:34 Comments ||
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#4
Hey Woodward! Now that the Ambassador-Prince has called you on one of the aledged supa-dupa-secret-talks with W in the Monica ante-room with an advisor, you are whistling a new tune.
Neat.
Better hope no one channels Nixon in a seance with you present. You might not like it.
EFL
President Bush gets plenty of guff for his inability to pronounce such simple words as "nuclearâ (note to aides: itâs not "nook-yoo-lurâ), but at least he can properly state his wifeâs name. If only John Kerry could make the same claim. During Kerryâs campaign appearance yesterday in infamous Pea Brain County, ground zero for Al Goreâs failed coup attempt in 2000, one condo commando asked the candidate where the missus was. He used the normal American pronunciation ("Ter-EE-suhâ), and so did Kerry in replying that she was up in Daytona Beach, though he warned that weâd be seeing more of her. Problem is, as ace columnist Michelle Malkin noted in the March issue of NewsMax Magazine, the Massachusetts Democratâs highfalutin foreign-born wife calls herself "Teh-RAY-zah.â The Eurotrash pronunciation is no doubt part of the ketchup queenâs inability to identify with all things American, even her hubby. Heh heh. Election years rule.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
04/20/2004 10:32:36 AM ||
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the botox probably temporarily froze his vocal chords - haven't you listened to his speeches lately?
The greatest satisfaction for me (prior to Bush's re-election) is that Democrats have to listen to this droning mook's speeches...it'll kill Dem enthusiasm for generations
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 10:42 Comments ||
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#2
Teh-reh-zah is how it is pronounced in portuguese
second "eh" is pronouced a little bit more open than first.
Of course in speedy colloquial language eating syllabes is natural and almost could end like this: T-reh-zah
People are suggesting Kerry narrarate bedtime stories for kids. They say, "What a way to get a kid to go to sleep fast". However others raise a concern. They say that listening to Kerry may aggrivate an already existing case of ADD. Only time will tell.
#9
Hee hee.
Sometimes an ordinary name can be made pompous by simple ignorance.
Some years ago, I had a student here in Texas whose first name was Geoff. He, and his parents, pronounced it "Joff" and he corrected my pronunciation the first time I called him "Jeff."
In my native England, "Geoff" is usually pronounced "Jeff". (It is my younger brother's name, btw, but he uses the American spelling).
Reminds me as well of a character named Moire in a novel I read long ago (can't remember the title).
In any case, Moire is a traditional Irish name and is usually pronounced "Moy-ruh" just as the spelling suggests.
The Moire in the novel (whatever it was) pronounced it "Mwah-ray" because her parents had given it to her assuming that it was French.
The day after John F. Kerry said he would make all of his military records available for inspection at his campaign headquarters, a spokesman said the senator would not release any new documents, leaving undisclosed many of Kerryâs evaluations by his Navy commanding officers, some medical records, and possibly other material. Or his wifes taxes...why the coverup, JFK?
Kerry, in an interview Sunday on NBCâs "Meet The Press," was asked whether he would follow President Bushâs example and release all of his military records. "I have," Kerry said. "Iâve shown them -- theyâre available for you to come and look at." He added that "people can come and see them at headquarters." "Uh,....unless if you really do come, then theyâre not availanle...it was a metaphor, ok?"
But when a reporter showed up yesterday morning to review the documents, the campaign staff declined, saying all requests must go through the press spokesman, Michael Meehan. Late yesterday, Meehan said the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper. "He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe," Meehan said in a telephone interview. In a follow-up e-mail, Meehan said it was those particular records to which Kerry was referring on "Meet the Press." yeah, thatâs the ticket
Kerry has not released the formal evaluations from superior officers, although his campaign has given a letter from a commanding officer that recommended him for service aboard Navy patrol boats and also reports for the Silver and Bronze stars that laud Kerryâs actions in combat. By comparison, retired Army General Wesley K. Clark released hundreds of pages of his records during the Democratic primary campaign, including all evaluations of him by his superiors. Bush earlier this year released 300 pages of documents after media outlets raised new questions about the extent of his National Guard service. Those records, which Bush promised during a Feb. 8 appearance on "Meet the Press" to make available, included many military evaluations and medical records.
White House communications director Dan Bartlett, in a telephone interview, contrasted Bushâs action with that of Kerryâs. "The president made a pledge before the American people, and he made his complete file available to the media and the public," Bartlett said. "They were able to review all of his medical records, and we fully released the remainder of his military files, including evaluations and performance sheets as well as days served. The president lived up to his commitment he made to the public, and we should expect the same from his opponent." The question about Kerryâs military records came up when Tim Russert, the moderator of "Meet The Press," asked the Massachusetts senator about a story in the Globe last week that quoted Kerryâs former commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Grant Hibbard, as saying that he raised questions about Kerryâs first Purple Heart. Hibbard said that he had heard from others in the office that there were questions about whether Kerry and his crew took enemy fire, and Hibbard observed that Kerryâs wound was minor, resembling a fingernail scrape. Purple Heart regulations say nothing about the severity of the wound. The campaign earlier this year showed the Globe a record verifying that Kerry was treated for the wound and that shrapnel was removed. That document was cited in last weekâs story, which was based on the forthcoming book, "John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography," written by a team of Globe reporters.
Meehan said yesterday that the campaign would show that document to what he called "legitimate" news organizations. He said other records previously shared with the Globe -- including documents describing Kerryâs actions when he was awarded the Silver and Bronze stars -- would be shared with other reporters. Asked whether Kerry would release his evaluations, as Clark did during the primaries, Meehan responded: "We donât have Wesley Clarkâs evaluations." Asked directly whether Kerry would release all of his own evaluations, Meehan repeated that the campaign would release only the records already made available. Meehan similarly said no new records would be released when asked if the campaign would make public other medical records besides the one related to the first Purple Heart. Paybackâs a bitch, ainât it? Bwahahahaha!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 9:55:50 AM ||
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I wonder how many people who thought Bush was hiding something -- even AFTER all the records were released -- see nothing wrong with Kerry keeping his records closed?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/20/2004 10:14 Comments ||
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Mustn't show the Botox injections in public. It might be considered somewhat... unmanly. I'm not saying... I'm just saying...
#3
Well the reason is obvious. John Kerry is a phony plain and simple.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/20/2004 10:36 Comments ||
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Kerry has a big problem here. Many fair minded people do not believe that it is right to question Kerry about his purple hearts. In fact, many here on rantburg would agree.
The problem is that the Dem's insisted that Bush should release his pay records proving that he had nothing to hide...and thus he released them.
While the argument can be made that we shouldn't question his purple hearts - the argument can't be made that Kerry shouldn't just release his records proving he has nothing to hide. His refusal to provide the records (short of his you-know-what getting blown off) says more than his critics ever have to. No one's asking to see ALL of his medical records, just the reports re: his purple hearts.
Better yet, it's a debate stopper. Even Kerry's most loyal followers have a problem arguing against the fact that if he was indeed worthy of the purple hearts, then releasing the records would put the matter to rest.
Posted by: B ||
04/20/2004 10:47 Comments ||
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Bottom line - is anyone surprised???
The Predident probably suffered more discomfort with the dental work in Alabama, than Lurchy did with the schrapnel scratch for Purple Heart #1.
Why don't you want us to see those records, Senator????
#6
GOP jumps on it (from Drudge):
Coming Ed Gillespie speech to be delivered in Ohio today:
"John Kerry's pattern of caveats, qualifications, disclaimers, policy reversals and vacillation are not the qualities voters are looking for in times of change that demand steady leadership.
"The Boston Globe reports today that when a reporter went to Kerry's headquarters yesterday to follow up on the pledge Kerry had made on Meet the Press Sunday that he would make all his military records available, 'the campaign staff declined' and said 'the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper.' The campaign is withholding formal evaluations from superior officers and other documents they have yet to release.
"Guess it depends on what your definition of the word 'all' is.
"When President Bush committed to release all his military records on the same program, he kept his word. John Kerry should do the same. Voters aren't stupid, and he shouldn't treat us as if we are."
ON HIS WIFE'S TAX RETURNS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'. ON HIS HEALTH RECORDS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'. ON HIS COMPREHENSIVE MILITARY RECORDS INCLUDING NAVAL RESERVE RECORDS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'...
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 11:10 Comments ||
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So the chickens come home to roost! Pun intended.
#10
this is what i like about Bush - when he say's something he means it and carries it through...from what I have seen/heard about kerry I cannot say the same.
Posted by: Dan ||
04/20/2004 17:27 Comments ||
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#11
This is really great. Rove just has to have someone on the inside. There's no other explanation.
Posted by: Matt ||
04/20/2004 17:54 Comments ||
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#12
AP via DRUDGE-MAN
Oops. Another flip.
But I don't need a PHOTO of this : shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 15:31 Comments ||
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Here is a good section:
SECRETARY POWELL: My obligation to the President, to the American people and to my colleagues on the National Security Council is to make sure that we all consider all the options. And what's being reported, and the reference you just made, is I made sure the President understood, and he did understand, that it was going to be a difficult mission in the aftermath of the war. And we have had a tough couple of weeks, as the President has said, but Saddam Hussein is gone and that regime is gone. We have the money we need to reconstruct the country. We have millions of Iraqis who want their country reconstructed and placed on a democratic foundation. And we've got some people who are fighting against that and we have to defeat those enemies of peace and freedom.
MR. GEDDA: Woodward said you were despondent, or semi-despondent, after the meeting with the President on January 13th.
SECRETARY POWELL: Semi-despondent? I don't know what semi-despondent means. I'm not sure that I was either semi-despondent or despondent.
The President and I had a good conversation. I left and went about my business. My job was to continue to pursue the diplomatic track.
MR. GEDDA: Did you talk to Woodward?
SECRETARY POWELL: We all talked to Woodward. It was part of our instructions from the White House, just as we did with his first book. It was an opportunity to help him write a history, a contemporary history, of this period. It was no secret that all of us were encouraged to talk to Mr. Woodward. In my case, it was just a couple phone calls.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 15:38 Comments ||
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EFL- looks like the Timothy McVeigh file loss was the impetus for FBI Information Systems finally getting some attention prior to 9/11. Although the problem was identified in the early 90âs, Congress slowed down the funding because the FBI kept having significant cost overruns in various IT prpjects so there was hesitancy to give the FBI a blank check for an integrated system.
Testimony of Bob E. Dies, Assistant Director, Information Resources Division, FBI
Before the Senate Judiciary Committee
July 18, 2001
"Information Technology and the FBI"
Current Situation
The FBIâs job is investigating. Technology and computers are supposed to be tools the FBI uses to accomplish its job. The Bureauâs future ability to deter and prevent crimes requires the use of modern information technology.
For a variety of reasons, the FBI information technology has had no meaningful improvements in over six years. Some parts of our system are much older:
More than 13,000 of our desktops are four to eight years old. They cannot run todayâs basic software. This means that many Agents accessing basic FBI data cannot use basic "ease of use" features that your teenagers have enjoy for years, such as using a mouse to move around the screen. The productivity loss and frustration that result are enormous.
The majority of our smaller offices are connected to our internal network at speeds equivalent to a 56KB modem -- a speed less than many individual Internet users have at their homes.
Agents are unable to electronically store much of investigative information into our primary investigative databases, including photographs, graphical and tabular data.
Fundamentally, at the dawn of the 21st century, the FBI is asking its Agents and support personnel to do their jobs without the tools other companies use or that you may use at home on your system.
Overview
Let me provide you a quick overview of what I will be testifying to this morning:
1. The FBI knew that its Information Technology (IT) needed repair.
2. This past year we have initiated some changes in programs and management to begin correcting the basic IT problems and to position the FBI for the future. Our effort has as its foundation a program we have named Trilogy.
3.The Congress has supported us in this Trilogy effort, both with funding and with the active, thoughtful attention by this committee as well as others, for which, as someone new to government service, I am personally grateful.
4. We are on schedule and within costs to implement the Trilogy program improvements you authorized.
5. In light of recent events, we need to improve the FBI security operations and other areas, such as document management.
6. For security, we have created a single point of accountability, reporting to the Deputy Director and recruited a career security executive, Ken Senser, to run it. He has identified specific security enhancement initiatives needed to improve our security. He will speak more fully about security after my statement.
7. While we have taken steps to begin repairing our IT systems, these systems are in need of further modernization beyond that of Trilogy. And so again, we are in need of your good counsel and your support.
Things moved too little too late.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 2:42:55 AM ||
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Cost constraints.
They should just go to Linux now. One of the strengths of Linux is that it runs well on older lower capacity machines like the ones the FBI likely has. Another advantage is that most of the intelligence areas run a ton of stuff on Unix, and are using Linux now as well, giving them great interoperability. A third advantage is that NSA makes a Secure version of linux.
And the big one is that cost-wise, its cheap enough to get each and every desktop they have up an running on this without busting the budget -- and they will not be forced to relicense everything every 2 years at a cost of millions to Microsoft and millions in manpower costs to do the upgrades.
#2
OS, Plus, and this is a big plus, Linux is open source - everything in it is visible and thus can be verified, checked, and audited for secuity. You dont know what is in Microsoft products. Also it is not the hacking target of every script-kiddie out there.
#3
I ran into one of my college buddies a year before 9/11. He was in the FBI. I wanted to stay in touch and asked him for his email. His answer: I don't have any. I assumed that he meant a home account, so I asked him for his work email. I almost fell over when he told me that the FBI didn't have email.
EFL - I havenât been through the how transcript, but it was released on Friday by the DOD.
(Interview with Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. Also participating was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Lawrence Di Rita and the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Lt. Gen. John Craddock)
Rumsfeld: Iâve told you before that my memory tends to go toward concepts, principles and approaches as opposed to details, so if there are factual differences at anything I say, alert us and weâll check them. And theyâve got a timeline that Tom Franks had.
Q: Ah thatâs great.
Rumsfeld: No. And---yes, weâll make it available to the President or people youâre going to interview so theyâll know what. And youâve seen Franks, Renuart, Luck, Myers, Pace and Giambastiani.
Q: Your predecessor, yes sir.
Rumsfeld: Let me just open with a couple of comments.
I do not remember much about Iraq being discussed at all with the President or me or the NSC prior to when the President asked me to â asked me what I thought of the Iraq contingency plan. That I believe was November 21st of â01.
Q: Thatâs great to pin that date down. That makes sense.
Rumsfeld: It feels right to me because I believe I talked to Tom Franks on the -- he thinks on the 27th.
Di Rita: Yes sir, thatâs right, when you went down to Tampa, you had a press conference that day and I think you spent an hour with General Franks.
Rumsfeld: And I would not have waited long from the President asking me to do it when he asked me what I thought of the war plan -- the contingency plan -- and I told him that I didnât think it was current, that I didnât think it represented Tom Franksâ thinking. That I knew it didnât represent mine and that it was basically Desert Storm II Plus and that I thought we could â that I was in the process of reviewing all of the contingency plans in the department and had been since earlier in â01. And he asked if I could do it on a basis that wasnât, you know, terribly noticeable, and I said sure, because Iâm doing all of them. I was uncomfortable with many of them sufficiently enough that after I reviewed two, I stopped everything and had a whole Saturday blocked out.
Q: Either August 1st or August 8th.
Rumsfeld: To go through all the assumptions in all of the key plans. Did I mention this?
Q: This is â
Rumsfeld: And I wanted to hear if the ones I saw had assumptions that I knew were stale, then I better see them all, and I did.
Q: And this â you told this to the President on this November 21st when he took you aside after an NSC meeting?
Rumsfeld: What he did was at the end of an NSC meeting he said, I need to see you. We walked out and went in a little cubby hole office right off the NSC Situation Room, closed the door and he said, how do you feel about the plan â the war plan for Iraq? I said what I said. And I then answered him with what I had done and where we were, and I said that there isnât a combatant commander who doesnât know how I feel and that Iâm getting them refreshed.
Q: So you could do this under the radar so to speak.
Rumsfeld: Yeah. Which I was doing with the others.
Q: Did he say anything else in terms of urgency?
Rumsfeld: No. There wasnât any urgency, and the only thing he asked me was not to talk about it with other people, and I said, well it would be helpful for me to be able to know who I can talk to when he had brought other people into his thinking. And I said itâs particularly important that I talk to George Tenet on things like this. And he said, fine, and at a later date he did tell me that I could talk to Tenet.
Q: But not at that point?
Rumsfeld: No, because he had not talked to Tenet. He had not talked to anybody that I know of -- he left me with that impression.
The discussions on Iraq preceding that, and subsequent to that, had been basically on Operation Northern Watch and Southern Watch and I think I mentioned to you that we had a plan for a downed aircraft called Desert Badger. And that I was uncomfortable with the fact that our planes were being shot at and we werenât able to do much about it under the constraints that existed.
I was also uncomfortable with Desert Badger, and I thought the President ought to have additional options, so I told him that I was going to see if we could pre-package some additional options, and we ended up pre-packaging a Desert Badger Plus and a Desert Badger Plus Plus. So that he knew about it, and that in the event a plane went down, I could call him and recommend one of those three.
Q: This had all been done before 9/11 even or before --?
Rumsfeld: Desert Badger existed prior to 9/11.
Q: And the Plus Plus?
Rumsfeld: And the Plus Plus we fashioned afterwards. It would have been. Now what do you have?
Q: Well Iâve gone through this in lots of detail with people and Iâm looking for the story of him and you -- the President and you -- dealing on this, and clearly General Franks brought up a number of iterations of this December 4th, December 12th -- I think itâs in the list -- and then there was the briefing in Crawford that he gave the President on December 28th. You were at your place and you were on video that day I understand?
Rumsfeld: I donât think so.
Di Rita: We do have a video of you on SVTC [Secure Video Teleconference] that day from your place.
Rumsfeld [to staff]: Oh, do you? Okay. [to Woodward] There was a time that I suggested that Tom go down alone.
Q: That was it.
Rumsfeld: And I wanted him to spend some time with the President because I felt it was important that the President develop a confidence level that I had in Tom. And I thought it would be an easier thing to do if I werenât there. So I purposely stayed away from one of the meetings in Crawford and I asked Tom to go physically rather than by SVTC. I said I thought it would be a good idea. ....
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 12:27:01 AM ||
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At the very end it became apparent to me that Rumsfeld knew the Woodward was up to no good and was plying with Bob like he was a cat toy. Here is some of the tail end of their Q&A:
Q: Is the president a friend? Do you consider him a friend? I mean itâs one of the Greeks who always said there are three kinds of friends, the ones you have good time, enjoy things with; the other were useful, business, professional; and then the other one is one kind of a complete friendship and you get one or two of those in your life.
Rumsfeld: I donât think of it quite that way. I didnât know him as well at all when I came here. I briefed him a number of times during his presidential campaign but weâre you know, Iâm closer to his fatherâs generation than his.
He is a person that when you get home at night and Joyce says â well or Joyce is with him, we go to a movie with them at the White House and have dinner or something or a function and weâll come home and the two of us will look at each other and say isnât that just a delight to be working with a person who is that way, who is that straight forward, that open, that comfortable with himself, that rooted -- that has that confidence, courage I guess the words youâve used. And we smile to each other and say isnât that â
Donald also lets Bob know that Joyce and he saw Blackhawk Down and Chicago with the first couple at teh White House.
If there isn't already a Rummy Fan Club, then there ought to be one.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 1:19 Comments ||
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Damn. Woodward's gotta hate it when people release the raw material he ignores when he writes his books.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/20/2004 8:23 Comments ||
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RC - you mean someone actually reads his books?
Why?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/20/2004 19:04 Comments ||
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for Dem talking points....c'mon Barb - that was a softball
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 19:18 Comments ||
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...did, in fact, deliver some limited relief to Iraqis. It also evolved into not only the biggest but the most extravagant, hypocritical, and blatantly perverse relief program ever administered by the UN. But Oil-for-Food is not simply a saga of one UN program gone wrong. It is also the tale of a systematic failure on the part of what is grandly called the international community.
I've always thought that the nebulous term iternational community could be accurately replaced by Tranzi-trash or some such.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 15:07 Comments ||
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Well, I've always favored "danged furriners", but ok...
Iran has postponed until May 8 plans to start shifting all its international flights and most domestic ones, to and from Tehran, to Imam Khomeini International Airport, the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran announced yesterday. The organization ascribed the delay to "unexpected problems involving fuel prices and supply". ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/20/2004 12:25:33 AM ||
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"unexpected problems involving fuel prices and supply".
Ummmm, doesn't Iran have a lot of oil? Wonder if they are having problems with their refineries? Be a shame if they had a bunch of accidental fires, refineries are dangerous places, you know. Fires can just start, for no reason. Happens all the time.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/20/2004 9:04 Comments ||
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unexpected problems involving fuel prices and supply
The mullahs not getting a large enough cut?
Posted by: ed ||
04/20/2004 9:04 Comments ||
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Mebbe they could chat with Prince Bandar...he can drop the price of oil before their next election...
The 51-year old man suspected of ramming his car three times into the Kennewick Vietnam Veterans Memorial remains in jail while prosecutors decide whether to file charges. WTF? If he had vandalized a Rachel Corrie memorial, the story would lead on all media. There would be candle-light vigils all over the world, idiotarian riots in Berkeley, Ivy League teach-ins, and pious editorials decrying the "hate crime".
Darvin E. Grigg was arrested Saturday on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief. Grigg had an initial appearance Monday in Benton County District Court, where Court Commissioner Craig Stilwell denied bail. Prosecutors have 72 hours to decide whether to file charges. Grigg is accused of driving his white Oldsmobile Cutlass into the memorial at the base of the cable bridge in Kennewick during the night of March 30-31. The monumentâs granite marker was damaged beyond repair. It had been etched with names of the 61 Mid-Columbians killed in the Vietnam War. Also damaged was the 18-year-old memorialâs flagpole and fencing.
Residents who live near Griggâs 1909 S. Beech St. home reportedly tipped police when they grew suspicious about a tarp-covered car in front of his house. Nearby residents had little to say Monday about the man who lived in a neighborhood where the American flag is common and where several neighbors who drove past Griggâs cinderblock duplex wore distinctive ballcaps noting their branch of military service. Little of Griggâs history was known Monday, as if the "No Trespassing" signs taped to the front windows of his home extended to the front door of his life. He is not a registered voter. He is not listed as a property owner in Benton County. In 1997, drunken driving charges against him were reduced to negligent driving, which he pleaded guilty to and served one day in jail and paid a fine. He also has been ordered to pay money to a creditor. His phone is no longer in service.
Steve Prince, who works with several hundred Mid-Columbia veterans in coordinating veteran services and who is state vice president of the Vietnam Veterans of America and treasurer of the local chapter, said he did not know Grigg. Prince said veterans see the vandalism as an attack on them and the 58,000 men and women killed or listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War. Those veterans also want to know why it happened. "Iâm like everyone else," Prince said. "I want to know why he did it, if he did."
Vietnam veteran Bobby Dale said, "Iâm overjoyed they have someone in custody. If this is, indeed, the individual responsible, I hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent." Veterans and other supporters are about $500 shy of purchasing a new granite marker for the memorial. It is expected to cost $3,595, of which $3,077 has been donated, Dale said. He said Thompson Monument Works of Walla Walla is providing the stone and will engrave the names for free. A meeting is planned for 6 tonight at American Legion in Pasco to discuss the memorialâs restoration. Prince said that planning includes restoring the damaged flagpole, being done by Franklin County PUD, and adding benches and improved electrical connections. Dale said heâs planning a memorial service at the site, although the new marker and other work may be a few months away from completion. "The point is that weâre all there," he said. "It comes from your heart, and not from some stone."
#1
The amount of disrespect this shows for the military record of John F. Kerry is very disturbing. The fact that the news media would choose to draw attention to this story only strengthens the belief that the media is controlled by the right-wingers.
/LLL
Posted by: Chris W. ||
04/20/2004 15:37 Comments ||
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Little of Griggâs history was known Monday, as if the "No Trespassing" signs taped to the front windows of his home extended to the front door of his life.
#3
Chris, you must be deluded on media coverage. It is far more liberal than conservative, but that is besides the point. I for one do not think Hanoi John served honorably because of his 1971 activities. In my mind and a lot other Viet Vets he dishonored his flag, country and uniform. I also don't think it is too much to ask of him for his complete medical and military records. If he is the hero that is portrayed by his supporters then he should fear nothing. Let's see those records Hanoi John!
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
04/20/2004 19:33 Comments ||
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#4
When I saw the headline I thought it was about Teddy Kennedy.
Posted by: Tibor ||
04/20/2004 19:34 Comments ||
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A huge party to mark the Swaziland kingâs 36th birthday has been criticised as a big waste of money. On Monday, 10,000 guests gathered in the national football stadium for the event hosted by Africaâs last absolute monarch, King Mswati III.
I've actually got a soft spot for King Mswati, ever since he ordered that Swazi women not wear pants. But that's probably just my particular perversion...
Critics say the country, ravaged by Aids and unemployment, could ill afford the estimated $600,000 cost of the do. Opposition leader Mario Masuku, told the BBC he thought the government should have been more sensitive. "The king could have had a private party of his own. The money comes from the tax payer," said the president of the banned Pudemo party. The day was a public holiday and the event was shown live on national television for those unable to attend the party. "Everybody has the right to utilise his own hard-earned resources for his enjoyment," he told the Network Africa programme. "However, the people of Swaziland can hardly afford a birthday party that costs so much," he said. In recent months, King Mswati III has been heavily criticised for requesting large sums of public money to pay for new palaces and a personal jet. Palaces, you say? Sounds like another budding Saddam to me.
I think it's more like Soddy Arabia would be, if they weren't Islamic. And mostly desert. And no oil. And the women didn't wear any pants...
Posted by: Zenster ||
04/20/2004 11:22:37 AM ||
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This is that guy that has like fifty wives. He gets a new one every year, or something like that. Europeans have adopted his "dethroning" as a new "cause celeb."
In an unusual move for the organization, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) Never heard of âem will release what it promises will be a bombshell article related to the Iraq conflict at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday. It will be made available free of charge for publication on all AAN-member Web sites, as well as for print, and more than 60 members papers have expressed interest in using it, according to Executive Director Richard Karpel. The 3,000-word story, embargoed until Tuesday but obtained by E&P today, is based on a "closely held" memo purportedly written by a U.S. government official detailed to the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). It was provided to writer Jason Vest by "a Western intelligence official." The memo offers a candid assessment of Iraqâs bleak future -- as a country trapped in corruption and dysfunction -- and portrays a CPA cut off from the Iraqi people after a "yearâs worth of serious errors."
The article is titled, "Fables of Reconstruction," with a subhed, "A Coalition memo reveals that even true believers see the seeds of civil war in the occupation of Iraq." Karpel commented, "We have no question that the memo is authentic." Vest is an experienced investigative reporter who is currently senior correspondent for The American Prospect. He has worked on staff at U.S. News and & World Report and The Washington Post, nope, no bias there
written for The Atlantic Monthly, and was named as an "Unsung Hero of Washington Journalism" by American Journalism Review in 2002. Canât wait to see it, Iâm sure someone will post it here. Another hatchet job, anyone getting tired of these yet?.
Signs of the author's continuing support for the U.S. invasion and occupation are all over the memo, which was written to a superior in Baghdad and circulated among other CPA officials. He praises Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmed Chalabi, and laments a lack of unqualified US support for Chalabi, a long-time favorite of Washington hawks. (It bears noting that Chalabi was tried and convicted in absentia by the Jordanian government for bank embezzlement, in 1989, and has come under fire more recently for peddling dubious pre-war intelligence to the US.) The author also asserts that "what we have accomplished in Iraq is worth it." And his predictions sometimes hew to an improbably sunny view. Violence is likely, he says, for only "two or three days after arresting" radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr, an event that would "make other populist leaders think twice" about bucking the CPA. Written only weeks ago, these predictions seem quite unwarranted, since simply trying to arrest al Sadr has resulted in more than two weeks of bloody conflict--with no end in sight--and seems to have engendered more cooperation between anti-Coalition forces than before.
Yet the memo is gloomy in most other respects, portraying a country mired in dysfunction and corruption, overseen by a CPA that "handle(s) an issue like six-year-olds play soccer: Someone kicks the ball and one hundred people chase after it hoping to be noticed, without a care as to what happens on the field." But it is particularly pointed on the subject of cronyism and corruption within the Governing Council, the provisional Iraqi government subordinate to the CPA whose responsibilities include re-staffing Iraq's government departments. "In retrospect," the memo asserts, "both for political and organizational reasons, the decision to allow the Governing Council to pick 25 ministers did the greatest damage. Not only did we endorse nepotism, with men choosing their sons and brothers-in-law; but we also failed to use our prerogative to shape a system that would work . . . our failure to promote accountability has hurt us."
There's more in the same tone, nothing that hasn't been said before.
Posted by: JerseyMike ||
04/20/2004 7:35:51 AM ||
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It's new and improvedTide Newsweeklies.
Didn't like our product? Try it again - maybe you'll like it this time. If not, no matter, we make millions on suckers just like you!
Posted by: B ||
04/20/2004 15:29 Comments ||
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The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN)represents those free papers you see downtown in beatup honor boxes. They're uniformly hard left.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 17:03 Comments ||
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#4
I read the Village Voice story, and there wasn't much to it: bits and pieces taken from this memo, woven together into a story by a huge pile of interpretive garbage supplied by the story's author.
The memo itself? Nowhere to be seen. Which leads me to wonder just how much of a hack-job had to be done on it to supply the bits and pieces which decorate the author's tale of imminent disaster.
In an exercise like OIF, I would expect a LOT of internal memoranda being passed around, containing frank, no-holds-barred criticism of tactics, strategy, methods, objectives, and results. In an operation like this you want to be your own harshest--and best informed--critic; and our military, especially, is very big on self-criticism as a tool for continuous improvement.
Looks like some asshole thought it would be a neat idea to help out the political opposition by sharing some of this stuff. In my opinion, he ought to be shot.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/20/2004 17:45 Comments ||
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#5
I planted this story so run it then ignore it. I wasn't here. I just remembered that I am the wind. OUT.
Posted by: Col Flagg ||
04/20/2004 20:24 Comments ||
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EFL
Arabs in the Middle East fear hate the United States more than ever following the liberation invasion of Iraq and Israelâs justified assassination of two Hamas scumbags leaders, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in comments published Tuesday. Bwawawawa. Then his ass fell off. No more catching for Hosni.
Mubarak, who visited the United States last week, told surrender cheese monkey French newspaper Le Monde that Washingtonâs actions had caused fear and trembling despair, frustration and a sense of injustice in the Arab world. "Today there is hatred of the Americans like never before in the region," he said in an interview given during a stay in France, where he met his pitcher President Jacques Chirac Monday. Bwawawawa. My harps strings, they are aâbreakin.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
04/20/2004 11:21:04 AM ||
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#1
So I guess this means you'll be sending back the big check, right, Hosni?
Hello... hello...
#7
The feeling is mutual, Hosni. We used to think of you, at the odd moment when we thought of you at all, as an bizarre little society. Weird, but mostly harmless. Kinda like those guys that put wooden disks in their lips. Now we f*cking hate you. Well done, morons.
Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar ||
04/20/2004 12:50 Comments ||
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#8
"Today there is hatred of the Americans like never before in the region,"
Yeah, yeah ... so where does this rate on the scale of "backside kicking" to "opening the gates of hell?"
#9
Why is this? There are some Americans that would like nothing better than to exterminate one ethnic group or the other and they DO NOT have the support of any part of the Government. If they tried to gain power through elections, they would be soundly rejected. A matter of fact the President, after 19 ARABS flew jets into buildings, went on TV and told the nation to restrain the urge to exact revenge from the Arabs living among us.
Now they are ?angry? over our taking care of those responsible for the attacks and of those that would have perpetuated more? I think the ENTIRE Arab population needs to think about some professional counseling. This whole âThey are out to get us!â is straight out of the Psych 101 book on depression. Can we start an Oil-for-Prozac program for the Middle East?
The Israelis are NOT carpet bombing Gaza (although that might improve the situation) they are targeting the leader of an organization that has declared WAR on their civilian population. The ONLY reason that Arafart is living in the Gaza is due to the US and Israel. And the ONLY reason that Saddam isnât presiding over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is because of the US.
Finally the only reason that more Arabs are dying from childhood diseases is due to the LARGE US contributions into UNICEF. And the Arabs have given us ?????? in return! FUCK EM!
#10
I have no problem with Ragheads hating the US. They've hated the US for more than fifty years, ferchrissakes! They can hate the US all they want... As long as they FEAR us, as well!
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
04/20/2004 13:51 Comments ||
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#11
What a coincidence! I hate Arabs more than ever!!
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/20/2004 13:53 Comments ||
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#12
Fine, fine, think whatever you wish. I could care less. Seethe and whine all you want. Let it all hang out, baby, until it feels sooo good.
ACT on what you feel, express your hatred by killing or injuring Americans, take out your anger on American citizens anywhere in the world, and we'll come down on you like a ton of bricks. We'll make you wish your GRANDFATHER had never been born. Your choice.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/20/2004 14:17 Comments ||
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#14
Arabs in the Middle East fear hate the United States more than eve
A sure sign we're on the right path. Oh, and BTW Muby....Bite Me!
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
04/20/2004 14:33 Comments ||
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#15
Hosmie comes to U.S. to get his golden parachute, goes to france to get his golden shower
Posted by: an delusian dog ||
04/20/2004 15:20 Comments ||
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#16
It would be more meaningful if their could try to translate their hatred into a measurable characteristic so that we had something to shoot for. Americans are a goal driven people, if they produced an Arab Hate Meter, for instance, we would be challenged to peg the meter and also could work on keeping the meter pegged continuously for extended periods of time.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 15:28 Comments ||
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#17
Mojo #6: It's a lot more than $2 billion each year that we give Egypt. The only country we give more military aid to is Israel, Colombia is #3. Well, now it's actually #1 Iraq #2 Israel #3 Egypt #4 Colombia
Judging the volume of the America haters in the middle east is less important than the number of the America haters. Just because the America haters show themselves and scream in the streets does not mean there are more of them than before, just that they are easier to target.
#20
use a rain gauge for spittle? Could also be adapted for KCNA editorials
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 17:42 Comments ||
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#21
SH - How about one of those Noise Meters at (pick a big city stadium) that measures crowd noise? But then I guess you'd have to get all of the haters in one place to do the measurement, which isn't a bad idea. It'd go from very loud to not a peep once the MOAB smoke has cleared.
'Course, then we could measure based upon the size of ordnance used to silence the haters.
Highest rating = Nuke
then MOAB
then 15,000 lb DaisyCutter
...
#22
I worked quite a bit on applications for eddy current technologies a ways back. With a large enough coil it might be possible to detect hatred disturbing a magnetic field. I'm sure the coil installation would generate some local attention.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 19:17 Comments ||
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#24
If Arabs really hate us, will we now see a total absence of them at ports of entry and customs counters at the main international airports? I don't think so.
#25
Zen, as always - I'm pleased that you're pleased :-) - meant no harm on the strikeouts comment - just (hopefully) constructive criticism
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/20/2004 21:33 Comments ||
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#26
Nice one, Cyber Sarge.
A lot of Arabs are emotionally labile idiots incapable of critical thought. They are insecure, irresponsible, pathetic losers. America is now the "big daddy" in their psychology and they have to rebel because they've never worked through their actual family issues. They're just a bunch of sickos and should get what they deserve like OP said. It would give the rest of the more reasonable ones a chance to "get a life."
Tom Brokawâs sign-off date as anchor of NBCâs top-rated "Nightly News" has been set: itâs Wednesday, Dec. 1. His successor, Brian Williams, will take over as sole anchor the next day, the network announced Monday. Brokaw, 64, announced two years ago that he will end his "Nightly News" run shortly after the 2004 presidential election, giving way to longtime heir apparent Williams. Brokaw began as "Nightly News" anchor on April 5, 1982 teamed with Roger Mudd. He took over as sole anchor on Sept. 2, 1983. I think I speak for most anti-idiotarians when I say, "Donât let the door hit you in the ass, Tom."
Posted by: Chris W. ||
04/20/2004 10:49:12 AM ||
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don't let the screen door hit ya, grandpa.
Posted by: B ||
04/20/2004 10:52 Comments ||
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President Robert Mugabe marked the country's 24th anniversary of independence from Britain, saying the impoverished country's economy was improving and vowing to continue the seizure of white-owned farmland. Appearing near death thin and sounding hoarse, the 80-year-old Mugabe delivered a 40-minute speech saying he was now in the "wipe out phase" "mop up phase" of his land reform policy that has seen the often violent seizure of about 5,000 white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks. Mugabe accused white-owned export-oriented companies of "continuing to show contempt for his land policy and said "such land owners must have their resistance broken once and for all." Last week, a white-owned coffee processing plant and European vegetable exporter in the eastern district were raided by police and the army.
Bob had to get his, y'know.
"As expected, this far-reaching policy has not endeared us to those countries of the West led by Britain and the United States, which are unfortunately linked to us by the cruel history of colonial occupation and other forms of imperial plunder," Mugabe said.
Who in the end supported your country's freedom.
He blamed the country's current economic turmoil on sanctions by Western powers. He also blamed his good friends and cronies corrupt officials for stealing the country's gold and foreign currency. Mugabe attacked the almost 3 million Zimbabweans who fled the country to work abroad calling them "people who have run away to wash the bodies of elderly people in England. Yet we are giving farms to people here - what are you running away from?"
Um, you.
He said inflation was beginning to fall and the country was on the verge of an economic boom resulting from land reform. Annual inflation is estimated at 602 percent, one of the highest rates. The country also faces acute shortages of food, medicine, hard currency, gasoline and other essential goods. Unemployment is estimated at over 70 percent.
"There's light at the end of the tunnel!"
Insert "Oncoming train" joke here.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/20/2004 12:26:22 AM ||
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"Yet we are giving farms to people here - what are you running away from?"
New York is where I'd rather stay, becuase I get allergic smelling hay...
[/Hungarian accent]
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 4:31 Comments ||
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At least six people were killed during a spate of violence between looters and traders after a fire gutted Somalia's largest market. Property worth millions of dollars was destroyed during the fire that swept through Bakara market in Mogadishu.
Dan's joshing us -- there isn't anything worth millions of dollars in Somalia.
A BBC correspondent says some of those killed were traders who were shot by armed groups trying to loot goods from the remaining stalls. There are conflicting reports about the cause of the fire. The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the looting was committed by gangs and armed militias who mobbed the market as soon as the fire broke out. The fire mostly affected the area devoted to clothes stalls but no-one was injured as the market was closed at the time.
"Jeepers! The whole Goodwill stall went up in flames!"
Few efforts were made to put out the fire as there is a lack of fire extinguishers in the city.
Was there a lack of water?
Perhaps they were concerned that some of the imported clothing could explode?
Stall owner Abdi Kariin Fodare said the fire spread quickly due to the large number of tightly packed corrugated iron kiosks which it contains. Mr Fodare criticised the Transitional National Government (TNG) for neglecting its security role under such circumstances. Two years ago, a similar fire destroyed businesses and goods in the market. The TNG says it warned traders then to change the layout of their stalls to avoid a repeat disaster.
"We told them, 'don't put the clothes hangers above the charcoal braziers. But do they listen? No-o-o-o-o-o-o!"
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
04/20/2004 12:28:51 AM ||
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The goes the Mogadishu Index. I hope no one was over-exposed with respect to patched flannel shirt futures.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/20/2004 4:36 Comments ||
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#2
Dan's joshing us -- there isn't anything worth millions of dollars in Somalia.
The day's shipment of qat burnt.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
04/20/2004 8:18 Comments ||
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As Iraq rebuilds after 35 years of oppression and cruelty under Saddam Hussein, seven men and their families will finally begin to repair the pieces of their lives destroyed by Saddamâs injustice. The men, punished in 1996 for allegedly dealing in foreign currency and sentenced to lose their healthy right hands, passed through Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, April 5 on their way to Houston, Texas. Theyâre scheduled to receive prosthetic hands at the Houston Medical Center.
âBesides having our hands amputated, we were scarred on our foreheads, between our eyebrows,â said Alaâa Abdul Hussien Hassan, one of the men, noting an âXâ tattoo between his eyes.
A video of the surgery, made by the Makhabarat, Saddamâs secret police, revealed the horror that these men and their families suffered through. Donald North, video producer and former television correspondent, discovered the videotape and the mensâ stories while he worked as the senior advisor for the Iraqi Media Network in Baghdad. âI was amazed and shocked by the tape,â said Mr. North. âIt clearly showed doctors working with surgical instruments cutting through and severing these healthy hands. The victims were under anesthetics, and while they were still under, they had these black crosses tattooed to their foreheads.â
After watching the videotape last spring, Mr. North not only convinced the Iraqis to tell their story, but also coordinated a trip to get the men to America and receive new hands. The article continues.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/20/2004 12:21:45 AM ||
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Are we a nice country, or what! It's such a boost to hear some good news.
You know, they were going to give John F'himself Kerry a prosthetic brain, but discovered that his head had grown so enormously large that it would be dangerous to give him a regular brain. The rattling of such would be noisy and obtrusive, so his surgery has been postponed while we wait for better technology. (He's going to keep his tiny one for now--aides assured him that it's enough to be a Democrat leader.) During the discussions, one medical attendant looking into the Kerry case suggested that Kerry should be given the prosthetic brain and that jello be used to fill in the "gaps" in Kerry's big head--but it was quickly mentioned that it had been tried already on Hillary Clinton and it didn't work. They had to remove her prosthetic brain entirely. They left the jello in, though. Seems to work well for her.
#2
Don's an old colleague of mine and he worked very hard to make this very good thing happen. Lots of folks have contributed, from the US armed forces for transport, Continental Airlines, the doctors and staff, and others who paid for the prosthetics.
Perhaps sadly typical, however, is that this story is getting precious little play in Iraq or the Arab world. No TV stations are interested in the documentary -- including the network we've set up in Iraq! This is a compelling tale touching on the moral core of this war (Iraqi suffering and US help) -- ya think it would be good to have Iraqis and neighboring Arabs seeing this story?
A great anecdote from the Houston visit. Don said they took the men to a mosque for services last Friday, and an imam there treated these thankful and hopeful victims of barbaric repression, ecstatic at the help they're now getting from America, to a lecture critical of the US for invading Iraq. The mind boggles, then boggles again. It's a world gone stupid.
#4
It's not just sad that it's not getting play, it's digusting. The members of the press apparently have been given their jobs based soley on their ability to stick to the media's party line. What a buncha sub-human losers!! No wonder they are rated lower than car salesmen on the respect scale. I think the only thing that rated lower than media was politicians.
Every now and then I watch the 700 club news channel, to see some news that varies from the identical feed offered by all big networks. Christian groups have been doing things like this for YEARS. Fascinating, good things, re: someone who has organized a program for free surgery, orphanages, food programs, relief from famine, etc. I remember one about Israeli surgeons who performed, for free, plastic surgery on deformed Palestinian children. It was a great show, fascinating, interesting and with an abundance of good will to go around. But TRUST ME, you will NEVER, EVER, see even a HINT of their good work on the major networks or newspapers. Apparently the editors/producers would turn into stone if they even looked at these stories.
#5
I read a recent article about US doctors doing plastic surgery on those Iraqis who had their ears cut off by Sammy's boyz. The boyz also taped those incidents, IIRC. (What is it about fascists/nazis and their record-keeping?)
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
04/20/2004 00:16 ||
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Infrasound: Very low-frequency sound that can travel long distances and easily penetrate most buildings and vehicles. Long-wavelength sound creates biophysical effects: nausea, loss of bowels, disorientation, vomiting, internal-organ damage, or death may occur. By 1972 an infrasound generator had been built in France. When activated it made the people in range sick for hours.
This is my FAVORITE - And guess what? It was built by the Froggys!
I actually heard of this before. We (USA) have this too I think. Makes it awful hard for a platoon to do doubletime when you have an irresistable urge to poop.
#3
Naah, Old Spook - This was what you thought was Metallica. But, they are easy to confuse.
Curdler Unit: A device that is plugged into a sound system to produce a shrill, shrieking, blatting noise. It is used to irritate and disperse rioters and has a decibel range just below that of the danger level to the human ear. It is used in night operations to produce a "voodoo" effect and breaks up chanting, singing, and clapping.
#5
Why haven't they used this on Saddam to get him to talk more?
Prophet: The projection of the image of an ancient god deceased sons over an enemy capital whose public communications have who has been seized and used against it him in a massive psychological operation.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
