Bush's Shrinking Safety Zone

[tw]

Homeland security is not found in jackboot security forces patrolling ports and airports. Security starts with in our allies. America once had tremendous security because 70% of the world had positive views on America. The mental midget quickly drove American security down to 15%. Now that anti-American attitude is hardening. These examples from movies in countries that were some of America's closest friends - Egypt and Turkey - demonstrate how dangerous this world is becoming for an Americans.

From the Washington Post of 20 Mar 2006:

In Egyptian Movies, Curses! We're the Heavies
When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited this city last month, Egyptians had an unusual choice: watch her on TV as she expounded on issues of war and peace in the Middle East, or go to a neighborhood movie theater and see her portrayed by a look-alike actress belly-dancing and placed in "adult" situations.

The film in question is "The Night Baghdad Fell," which depicts Egyptian obsessions with war, sex and the United States. Wildly anti-American, it has done a brisk business for two months, a long screen life for Egyptian-made films. In "Night," Egyptians fret about an American invasion of Egypt and the potential destruction of their capital. Americans are bullies, rapists and mindless killers.

By the way, "The Night Baghdad Fell" is a comedy.

The film is only the latest bit of Egyptian pop culture to display deep unease about Americans. Beginning two years ago, Yanks emerged as bad guys on Cairo stages....

Egyptians are not the only ones depicting villainous Americans on screen. "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq" debuted in Turkey ...

He insists he is not reflexively anti-American. His next project, he says, is a movie both about the horrors of Iraq but also the good some American doctors did recently in separating conjoined Egyptian twins. "I want to investigate how a country can do so much good and bad at the same time," he says.

[tw]

Today we have another example of a complacent and irresponsible George Jr administration who demand loyalty at the expense of America. Testimony from the Moussaoui trial only confirms what has been posted in the Cellar so many times since 11 September:

Superior Says He Didn't See Agent's Report on Moussaoui
... Harry Samit, who was working in Minneapolis [FBI], had filed a long report asking for a complete investigation of Mr. Moussaoui, whom he described as a radical Islamic fundamentalist who hated the United States and was learning to fly jetliners.

Mr. Samit, ... testified, albeit reluctantly, that he had told investigators after the attacks that he believed that his superiors at the bureau in Washington were guilty of "criminal negligence" and had ignored his increasingly dire requests to obtain a search warrant in order to protect their careers.

He said that they had taken a gamble that Mr. Moussaoui was not going to have any valuable information and that they had lost a wager that proved to be a national tragedy.

Why would they gamble? Look at what the George Jr administration did to this nation's #1 anti-terrorist investigator John O'Neill. They drove him from the Bureau because a George Jr administration insisted terrorism was not a threat. Even worse is *how* they drove John O'Neill from government service. And that experience did not promote incompetence - ignore threats of terror - in all government agencies? Of course it did. Then more examples.

We have what Condoleezza Rice, et al did and proclaimed (from Against all Enemies):

Rice decided that the position of National Coordinator for Counterterrorism would also be downgraded. No longer would the coordinator be a member of the Principles Committee. No longer would the CSG [Counterterrorism Security Group] report to Principles, but instead to a committee of Deputy Secretaries. No longer would the National Coordinator be supported by two NSC Senior Directors ... Rice told me that the Principles Committee, which had been the first venue for terrorism policy discussions ... would not address the issue until it had been "framed" by the Deputies. ... it meant months of delay. The initial Deputies meeting to review terrorism policy could not be scheduled in February ... in March .... Finally in April ... The first meeting ... did not go well. ...

"Well I just don't understand why we are beginning by talking about this one man bin Laden," Wolfovitz responded.

"We are talking about a network of terrorist organizations called al Qaeda, ... and we are talking about that network because it and it alone poses and immediate and serious threat to the United States."

"Well, there are others that do as well, at least as much. Iraqi terrorism for example, " Wolfovitz replied.

" I am unaware of any Iraqi-sponsored terrorism directed at the United States, since 1993, and I think FBI and CIA concur in that judgment, right, John?" I pointed at CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin, who was obviously not eager to get into the middle of a debate between the White House and Pentagon but nonetheless replied, "Yes that is right Dick. We have no evidence of any active Iraqi terrorist threat against the US."

Finally Wolfovitz turned to me. "You give bin Laden too much credit. He could not do all these things like the 1993 attack on New York, not without a state sponsor. Just because the FBI and CIA have failed to find the linkages does not mean they don't exist." I could hardly believe it but Wolfovitz was actually spouting the totally discredited Laurie Mylroie theory that had been ... found to be totally untrue.

It is a well proven concept. 85% of all problems are directly traceable to top management. In this case, made worse because top management have a polticial agenda rather than a basic concept of science and reality. The George Jr administration let it be known in uncertain terms what was THEIR reality as exampled by science perversion by lawyers for the greater glory of a political party. You can damn well be sure that FBI administrators in Washington were told what did and did not constitute a threat. They had the famous example of what was happening to John O'Neill to remind them.

Administration with a dictatorship mentality - as also demonstrated here by Urbane Guerilla - stifled at least three and maybe four separate FBI investigations that could have uncovered 11 Sept before it started. And so again we have examples of decisions based in politics - and the thousand of Americans who died because of mental midgetry. No, this is not about levees that would not be breached - another example of mental midgretry. This is about why this nation's #1 anti-terrorism investigator even died in the WTC South Tower. He knew an attack was coming and had just taken the job of security chief - after having been forced out of government by the George Jr admininstration.

Those whose politics and religion replace logical thought somehow know better. Unfortunately good Americans are simply fodder for fringe politics - which is why so many died on 11 Sept - why so many die in Iraq - why it is so danagerous for Americans throughout the world - why even our closest allies (Dubai and Canadians) can no longer be trusted - why global warming somehow does not exist - why corporations (airlines, GM, big steel) are now given $billions with no strings attached to protect their bad management.

Remember what that FBI agent said under oath:

... he believed that his superiors at the bureau in Washington were guilty of "criminal negligence" and had ignored his increasingly dire requests to obtain a search warrant in order to protect their careers.

Not only do we have his testimony. We also have other examples and the reason why the George Jr administration is so hates America - for the greater glory of their political agenda. The George Jr administration made it quite clear that terrorism was not a threat - facts be damned. They would destroy careers, if necessary, (ie John O’Neill) to demand such loyalty. This agents testimony only again demonstrates why 11 September was avoidable by people driven by logic rather than by those driven by a political agenda such as "Project for a New American Century".

[tw]

From CBSMarketWatch.com on 23 Mar 2006:

U.S. pension guaranty chief resigns
The chief of the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. announced his resignation Thursday, as efforts continue in Congress to shore up the financially troubled government agency. ...

Belt's departure comes at a critical time for the agency, which is facing a massive financial shortfall thanks to bankrupt airlines and other companies shifting their pension liabilities to the government.

The PBGC reported a $22.8 billion deficit for 2005. Congress is working on legislation to shore up the agency's funds. The agency is funded through insurance premiums it collects from employers in return for the pension protection.

Who in his right mind would want the job? This is the S&L Crisis all over again. Massive government welfare to companies who for a decade and longer used Pension Funds to make their profits look high or to claim profits that really did not exist. This shortfall does not yet include GM's possible pension fund defaults. GM owes $billions to the pension fund because they intentionally (and legally) shorted that fund in the 1990s to make profits look higher. And guess who pays. You and your children.

Ahh, but Cheney told us that "Reagan proved deficiets don't matter". So screw you - is a part he forgot to mention.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Massive government welfare to companies who for a decade and longer used Pension Funds to make their profits look high or to claim profits that really did not exist.

This was billed as a program to be a safety net for the helpless workers that would be devastated by their employer going belly up.
You don't suppose the misconduct of major corporations was foreseen, or possibly prompted, by this legislation, do you?

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

This was billed as a program to be a safety net for the helpless workers that would be devastated by their employer going belly up.
You don't suppose the misconduct of major corporations was foreseen, or possibly prompted, by this legislation, do you?

Prompted more by the lack of any reasonable accounting standards. You think the S&L crisis would have given the government a heads up on watching the back door.

What's annoying is that with the new bankruptcy laws, the average citizen is held more accountable than the large corporations..

[tw]

The United States only has two viable options for Iraq. One is a massive troop deployment to end the problems now - 500,000 men. If those who support this president really had balls, then they would demand same. But they instead love 'status quo' as if god will correct all. A second alternative is - and some very interesting plans have been proposed to accomplish this - is to phase out American troops now. Done so with a gauntlet thrown down to Iraqi troops and elected government leaders. They must stop pretending and get real. Iraqis know how to pretend for your benefit. They need not risk life because Americans will do al the work; pay all the bills. Only when Iraqis are told that they will be fully incharge within one year will Iraqis suddenly get serious.

A 'window of oppurtunity' for the second option is closing quickly. Once lies are eliminated from the same liars who claim Global Warming does not exist, then most all Iraqis long said that life in Iraq was worse then under Saddam and they expected life to get better. An Iraqi Parliament meets only for 1/2 hour (becasue of American orders) to swear in and then disbans - does nothing. Iraqis are now saying in greater numbers that they don't expect life to get better anytime in the near future - up to a decade. Most Iraqis say life today is even worse than last year.

Iraq is becoming a junk yard ripe for Civil War. Oppurtunity to leave something good is closing quickly because a US president does not provide the troops with what they need - especially truth and elimination of torture. Today's news only indicates how quickly that oppurtunity is closing - how close Iraq may change from underground Civil War to overt Civil War.

From the Washington Post of 27 March 2006:

Iraqi Leaders Denounce Raid on Sadr Loyalists
During a visit to the site Monday, bullet holes were visible on the inner and outer walls of the Moustafa Mosque and its floor was stained with blood. On the floor of one room was a small crater, which witnesses said was made by a sound grenade. ...

The U.S. military denied that any mosque was "entered or damaged" in the attack and said U.S. Special Forces were present "in an advisory capacity only." ...

Does the expression (from previous big dic mentalities) "we had to burn the village to save it" sound familiar? Wake up folks. Eliminate administration lies. All that remains are an overt Civil War heard breathing loudly in the dark.

The statement said ... no Iraqi or U.S. soldiers were killed during the raid, but that one Iraqi soldier was wounded in the arm. Three wounded Iraqi insurgents received medical treatment on the scene, the statement said.

So how do they explain this?

The network aired footage throughout the night of bloody bodies lying on a concrete floor and men wrapping the corpses in blankets by the light of glow sticks and carrying them away.

Maliki [Iraq's transportation minister] blamed the incident on U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who has accused the Mahdi Army of carrying out a slew of recent killings in the wake of the bombing last month of a revered Shiite mosque in Samarra, north of Baghdad.

Yes even top Iraqi government people - American surogates - criticize Americans for this on Iraqi national TV. Do you understand how anti-American the entire country is becoming - why there are so many *Al Qaeda* (quoting another George Jr lie) supporters?

Those so enhanced by 'big dic' military solutions will never appreciate Vietnam Deja Vue. They will insist all those deaths did not happen - were staged. Or that they were clearly Al Qaeda. It is called denial of how things fail quickly - or why those with 'big dic' politics are THE most dangerous Americans to Americans.

TV carries those dead people pictures all night long as if the WTC had just collapsed in Baghdad. Do American still kiss the Rush Limbaugh ass - or do they appreciate how badly Iraq has long been falling apart? This is where an expression "never trust anyone over 30" came from - when the nation's number one liar back then was the US president.

George Jr administration says it was not a mosque - IOW George Jr lies again as even ABC News is showing us at this minute. Does not matter. It is a mosque now. Americans supervised the death of Iraqis in that mosque. Those are the facts on the street and broadcast by all electronic media - which is why Americans have little time to decide one or two solutions: 1) Give the Generals the troops they have always said they needed - up to 500,000. Or 2) announce the withdrawl that is complete in one year - so that Iraqi will either build a country or plan for an otherwise, evitable Civil War.

Those who refuse either plan are fools; are in denial. There is no other viable solution for Iraq other than a total American defeat only after uselessly bleeding American soldiers for ten years in country. Then leaving Iraq a sworn enemy of the US. The consequences of not doing one of those two options is that bad - AND inspires terrorists throughout the world to attack Americans.

Elsewhere in Iraq, army and medical officials in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, said 30 headless bodies were discovered at 6:30 p.m. in a deserted brush area in Tarfiya, a village outside Baqubah, 35 miles from the capital.

Isolated example because the actual number of Iraqi dead due to an underground Civil War is estimated to be in the hundreds daily - rarely reported. This does not include hundreds of kidnapping weekly that never get reported. Under Saddam, it was safer? Eliminate Rush Limbaugh propaganda, and the answer has long been an obvious *NO*.

In an unrelated case also in Diyala province, ... a security officer had been arrested about three days earlier and charged with heading a criminal gang whose members dressed as security officers to kidnap and kill people.

Well he was was a police major and that his brother is the chief of police in Diyala province. But then America has long known that those recruited to defend Iraq include large numbers insurgents. Death squads are trained by Americans. We have so little grasp of 'who is who' that America even trains insurgents.

We then lie and blame it all on the mythical Al Qaeda. No wonder these same anti-Americans also deny global warming. We only have two options in Iraq. Instead the mental midget president claims things are getting better. Vietnam Deja Vue - or outright scumbag liars. Same thing.

[tw]

Stock brokers are crying that interest rates are too high; will create recession. Fools. Recession in inevitable due to an administration that spends money on wars, tax cuts, a corporate welfare like the top man was an alcoholic. Too much money overseas. Unacceptable trade imbalances. But worst of all, a government so fiscally irresponsible as to not even put the Mission Accomplished war in the budget - because you might really see those costs.

Originally Posted by tw

Ahh, but Cheney told us that "Reagan proved deficiets don't matter".

Top 10 PBGC (government) rescues of corporations and their dates. Notice who is doing most of it - and larger *rescues* are coming:

1. United Airlines $6.6 bln 2005
2. Bethlehem Steel $3.7 bln 2003
3. US Airways $3.0 bln 2003, 2005
4. LTV Steel $2.0 bln 2002
5. National Steel $1.1 bln 2002
6. Pan American Air $841 mln 1991
7. Weirton Steel $689 mln 2004
8. TWA $668 mln 2001
9. Kaiser Aluminum $566 mln 2004
10. Eastern Airlines $553 mln 1991

But it has only started. A government that does believe deficits don't matter. Financial responsiblity is for the foolish? From CBSMarketWatch of 20 Jun 2006 are some interesting quotes:

U.S. pension peril grows with bankruptcies
Originally the PBGC aimed to protect workers' pensions from corporate meltdowns. Thirty-two years later, it has become a tool for executives trying to ease long-term burdens on companies working to get out of bankruptcy. ...

Created in 1974 by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the PBGC gets most of its money from premiums paid by companies supporting pension plans. But there are no accounting rules requiring those plans be fully funded. ...

"The PBGC was put together to handle normal risks," said Olivia Mitchell, a professor at The Wharton School and director of the Boettner Center for Pensions and Retirement Research at the University of Pennsylvania. "I don't think anybody really expected ... there would be entire swathes of American industry that would have the bottom fall out."

Which is precisely what happened to the steel and airlines industries. There are now fears a similar fate might befall the struggling U.S. auto industry, another huge employer. ...

"The bottom line here is we're talking about a taxpayer bailout," said David John, a Heritage Foundation researcher. "It's inevitable."

Remember this is the same president who wanted to change Social Security on some myth that SS has problems. In reality, the only problem with SS is that George Jr's administration takes money out of SS to pay for things like a Mission Accomplished War, and leaves no IOU.

Why then was he not concerned about a far more serious problem - PBGC? The solution was simple if performed years ago. Require PBGC corporations to fully fund their pension funds. But then GM would have to admit financal problems long before those problems became worse. Its easier when a public believes myths of WMDs; to also pretend a PBGC problem does not exist. Then when resulting recessionary forces strike, others will be blamed. Mental midget is not so dumb; is he? He knows who remains in denial - and it's not the president.