BartBlog

Think about this the next time you fill up your car’s gas tank. According to US Military sources 45% of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from Saudi Arabia. That’s right our so called ally whose oil we are addicted to has more of its citizens going to Iraq to kill American soldiers than any other country including two of Bush’s favorite targets, Iran and Syria. In addition, more than half of the foreign fighters currently detained by the US in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia.

Fighters from Saudi Arabia are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than those of any other country, according to a senior U.S. Officer. This is apparently the first time any U.S. official has given a breakdown on the role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq’s Sunni Arab insurgency. Nice. We got some great allies.

Why are we willing to put up with this kind of bullshit from our allies. Because we are junkies and the Saudis have us by our junkie balls. Without Saudi oil we are screwed. Under current economic conditions it would be impossible for the US to buy enough oil from other sources to make up the difference if we split from Saudi Arabia. With the Bush administration making little or no effort in other energy areas, it is unlikely that we will move away from our dependence on Saudi oil. So for the foreseeable future our producers of our needed oil will take our money while at the same time trying to kill us.

The Associated Press, July 15, 2007

READING, Pennsylvania (AP) — Consumer advocate Ralph Nader told the Green Party’s national convention that he is considering a 2008 presidential run and accused Democrats of trying to shut smaller parties out of the political process.

“No other country comes close to providing voters with such a small number of choices and making third party candidates hurdle an almost insuperable number of obstacles just to get on the ballot,” Nader, the Green Party’s 2000 presidential nominee, said Saturday.

Later, addressing a few hundred conventioneers who chanted “Run Ralph Run,” Nader exhorted Greens to focus on raising money to boost their competitiveness.

In 2000, Nader got 2.7% of the votes in the general election. Democrats say he siphoned votes from the party’s nominee, Al Gore, in Florida, New Hampshire and elsewhere, giving the election to Republican George W. Bush. In 2004, Nader was much less of a factor.

He ran as an independent in 2004 but was removed from the ballot in Pennsylvania and other large states after Democrats challenged his nominating petitions.

Read More Here

Ned Parker, L. A. Times July 15, 2007

BAGHDAD – Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing it of helping insurgents and militias here, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers.

About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia; 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures made available to The Times by the senior officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.

Fighters from Saudi Arabia are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than those of any other nationality, said the senior U.S. officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject’s sensitivity. It is apparently the first time a U.S. official has given such a breakdown on the role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq’s Sunni Arab insurgency.

He said 50% of all Saudi fighters in Iraq come here as suicide bombers. In the last six months, such bombings have killed or injured 4,000 Iraqis.

The situation has left the U.S. military in the awkward position of battling an enemy whose top source of foreign fighters is a key ally that at best has not been able to prevent its citizens from undertaking bloody attacks in Iraq, and at worst shares complicity in sending extremists to commit attacks against U.S. forces, Iraqi civilians and the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

The problem casts a spotlight on the tangled web of alliances and enmities that underlie the political relations between Muslim nations and the U.S.

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Maureen Dowd, The New York Times, July 15, 2007

There’s not much lately that we’d like to import from China.

Certainly not the yummy steamed buns stuffed with shredded cardboard soaked in a caustic agent used to make soap. Or the tasty toothpaste laced with an antifreeze ingredient. Or the scrumptious seafood with a chemical kick. Or those pet foods with kibbles and bits of poison.

But there is one thing made in China we could use: mea culpas of high officials.

Zheng Xiaoyu, a top regulator who helped create China’s Food and Drug Administration, accepted $850,000 in bribes from drug companies and became enmeshed in the mistakes that flooded the market with dangerous drugs. Before he was executed Tuesday, he wrote a short confession titled “How I Look on My Mistakes.”

“Thinking back on what has happened these years, I start to see the problems clearly,” he wrote in prison. “Why are the friends who gave me money all the bosses of pharmaceutical companies? Obviously because I was in charge of drug administration.

“I am confessing here that I loosened self-discipline, ignored the bottom line,” he said, adding that he had to confess his mistakes “as an act of saving my soul.”

We would skip the execution — although perhaps there should be ranch arrest for W., and Cheney could do community service passing out condoms at Gay Pride festivals.

But it is time for the lethally inept duo running the country to do some painstaking self-examination and confession. Just as the Communist Party helped the late Mr. Zheng compose his thoughts, I volunteer to ghost-write our leaders’ self-scrutiny:

“How I Look on My Mistakes,” by George W. Bush.

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Frank Rich, The New York Times, July 15, 2007

Michael Chertoff, President Bush’s fallback choice for secretary of Homeland Security after Bernard Kerik, is best remembered for his tragicomic performance during Hurricane Katrina. He gave his underling, the woeful Brownie, a run for the gold.

It was Mr. Chertoff who announced that the Superdome in New Orleans was “secure” even as the other half of the split screen offered graphic evidence otherwise. It was Mr. Chertoff who told NPR that he had “not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who do not have food and water,” even after his fellow citizens had been inundated with such reports all day long.

With Brownie as the designated fall guy, Mr. Chertoff kept his job. Since then he has attracted notice only when lavishing pork on terrorist targets like an Alabama petting zoo while reducing grants to New York City. Though Mr. Chertoff may be the man standing between us and Armageddon, he is seen as a leader of stature only when standing next to his cabinet mate Gonzo.

But even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Last week, as the Bush administration frantically tried to counter Republican defections from the war in Iraq, Mr. Chertoff alone departed from the administration’s script to talk about the enemy that actually did attack America on 9/11, Al Qaeda, rather than Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the jihad-come-lately gang Mr. Bush is fond of talking about instead. In this White House, the occasional official who strays off script is in all likelihood inadvertently coughing up the truth.

Mr. Chertoff was promptly hammered for it. His admission of “a gut feeling” that America might be vulnerable to a terrorist attack this summer was universally ridiculed as a gaffe. He then tried to retreat, but as he did so, his dire prognosis was confirmed by an intelligence leak. The draft of a new classified threat assessment found that Al Qaeda has regrouped and is stronger than at any time since 2001. Its operational base is the same ungoverned Pakistan wilderness where we’ve repeatedly failed to capture Osama bin Laden dead or alive for six years.

So give Mr. Chertoff credit for keeping his eye on the enemy while everyone else in the capital is debating never-to-be-realized benchmarks for an Iraqi government that exists in name only. Just as President Bush ignored that August 2001 brief “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.,” so Washington, some of its press corps included, is poised to shrug off the August 2007 update “Al Qaeda Better Positioned to Strike the West.” The capital has been sucker-punched by the administration’s latest P.R. offensive to prop up the fiasco in Iraq.

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Paul Krugman, The New York Times, July 13, 2007

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Ralph Nader mocked politicians of both parties as “Republicrats,” equally subservient to corporations and the wealthy. It was nonsense, of course: the modern G.O.P. is so devoted to the cause of making the rich richer that it makes even the most business-friendly Democrats look like F.D.R.

But right now, as I watch Senate Democrats waffle over what should be a clear issue of justice and sound tax policy — namely, whether managers of private equity funds and hedge funds should be subject to the same taxes as ordinary working Americans — I’m starting to feel that Mr. Nader wasn’t all wrong.

What’s at stake here is a proposal by House Democrats to tax “carried interest” as regular income. This would close a tax loophole that is complicated in detail, but basically lets fund managers take a large part of the fees they earn for handling other peoples’ money and redefine those fees, for tax purposes, as capital gains.

The effect of this redefinition is that income that should be considered by normal standards to be ordinary income taxed at a 35 percent rate is treated as capital gains, taxed at only 15 percent instead. So fund managers get to pay a low tax rate that is supposed to provide incentives to risk-taking investors, even though they aren’t investors and they aren’t taking risks.

For example, the typical hedge-fund manager has a 2-and-20 contract — that is, he gets a fee equal to 2 percent of the funds under management, plus 20 percent of whatever his fund earns. It’s not exactly straight salary, but none of this income comes from putting his own wealth at risk. Except for the fact that he might make a billion dollars a year, he resembles a waitress whose income depends on a mix of wages and tips, or a salesman who lives on a mix of salary and commissions, more than he resembles an entrepreneur who sinks his life savings into a new business.

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Paul Waldman, TomPaine.com, July 10, 2007

“Can you smell the English Leather on this guy, the Aqua Velva, the sort of mature man’s shaving cream, or whatever, you know, after he shaved? Do you smell that sort ofa little bit of cigar smoke? You know, whatever.”

It will not surprise you to learn that the one who spoke those words was Chris Matthews, nor that the mature man about whom he was speaking was the Republican flavor of the month, former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson. Matthews’ references to English Leather and Aqua Velva, male grooming products whose status (along with Old Spice) as totemic signifiers of American manhood faded some 30 years ago, could hardly be more apt.

Thompson’s rapid ascent up the polls, before his campaign has officially begun, has been judged a product of the weaknesses of the leading Republican candidates. It’s aided by an admiring press corps, never more enraptured than by a persona carefully crafted and maintained with skill, swooning that he is Reaganesque and looks like a president. Apart from Hillary Clinton, no candidate’s bid hinges so much on the impact of traditional ideas and assumptions about gender.

As Peggy Noonan, able chronicler of the GOP id, put it, Thompson’s campaign is aimed at the major pleasure zones of the Republican brain. Those pleasure zones are activated most surely by someone who challenges nothing they believe, and whose appeal could be easily transplanted back in time to the halcyon days for which they pine. The fact that those days never existed, except on television and in the movies, makes Thompson, the actor, the perfect man to embody their spirit.

If Romney sells himself as the M.B.A. president George W. Bush was supposed to be, efficient and capable, and Giuliani posits that only he can keep the murderous horde of terrorists at bay, the Fred Thompson brand is straight out of 1950s television. This persona, honed in role after role, is tough but fair, firm but caring, wise and strong, the kind of man whose dog brings him his slippers when he walks through the door at the end of the day.

Country singer Lorrie Morgan, one of Thompson’s ex-girlfriends, recently told the Financial Times ,

He’s majestic. He’s a soft, safe place to be and that could be Fred’s ticket. Women love a soft place to lay and a strong pair of hands to hold us.

She also noted that Thompson is “the kind of man little girls dream about marrying, who opens doors for you, lights your cigarettes, helps you on with your coat, buys wonderful gifts. It’s every woman’s fantasy.” And who is it that little girls dream of marrying? Their fathers, of course.

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William Rivers Pitt, Truthout, July 13, 2007

We are all wired into a survival trip now.

- Hunter S. Thompson

Who can forget the incredible scandal that erupted back in May of 2002? Around about the middle of that month, details began to emerge about the August 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Briefing that specifically warned Bush about Osama bin Laden’s determination to strike the United States.

Wait. Actually, everyone forgot, because two days later, the Bush administration unleashed a blizzard of dire warnings about impending terrorist attacks. FBI Director Robert Mueller intoned such attacks were “inevitable,” and the Department of Homeland Security announced the imminent, explosive destruction of all American railroads, along with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.

Who can forget the incredible scandal that erupted back in June of 2003? Over the course of two days, reports emerged about serious doubts held by the CIA regarding the credibility of the administration’s claim Iraq tried to buy uranium from Niger. On the heels of this, Congress unfurled its 9/11 report, which criticized all levels of the Bush administration for its performance before and during the attacks.

Wait. Actually, everyone forgot, because the Bush administration unleashed another blizzard of warnings about impending terrorist attacks. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security warned terrorists were, once again, preparing to attack the United States with suicide missions using commercial airliners as bombs.

Who can forget the incredible scandal that erupted back in December of 2003? 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Keane declared the attacks of 9/11 should have been prevented. The next day, a Federal appeals court ruled against the administration on the case of suspected terrorist Jose Padilla, stating Padilla could not be held indefinitely without being charged.

Wait. Actually, everyone forgot, because the Bush administration increased the terrorism threat level to Orange and claimed more suicide planes were about to come zooming out of the sky. Six international flights were diverted due to potential terrorist actions of some passengers who were later identified as an insurance salesman, an elderly Chinese woman and a five-year-old boy.

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Link

A federal judge has ruled that Clinton cannot use the power of his office to block prosecutors from questioning his senior aides, rejecting Clinton’s assertion of executive privilege in the Monica investigation, lawyers familiar with the decision said yesterday.

In a ruling issued under court seal Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson concluded that Ken Starr’s need to collect evidence in his obstruction of justice probe outweighs Clinton’s interest in preserving the confidentiality of White House discussions, the lawyers said.

But now, with the Bush-felon having killed 3600 soldiers, he gets to claim executive privilege? Why do the rules work against Democrats and FOR Republicans?

Link

House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Traitor), repeating his criticism of Clinton for his behavior in the Monica scandal, refused today to rule out the possibility of impeachment if the facts warrant such action.

Gephardt said if Clinton were to leave office, “we’ll get through this.”

F-ing Democrats – Always having to be “fair.” Republicans would die before they allowed one of their own to be impeached while the weenie Democrats volunteer to be screwed.

How did I get is such a suicidal party?

Link

Two top Republicans cast aside the Chimp’s pleas for patience on Iraq Friday and proposed legislation demanding a new strategy by mid-October to restrict the mission of U.S. troops.

“The idiot in the White House must adjust to the reality that sectarian factionalism is not likely to abate anytime soon and probably cannot be controlled from the top,” the Warner-Lugar proposal states.

Today was a very tiring day. We woke up and went for a drive in the big city, then we drove north to check out the big trees in the country. Then I got thirsty, so we stopped at this one place where they had a $200 shot of Chinaco on the menu.

You read that right – a $200 shot of tequila.  It was Chinaco Black Label.

I ain’t got that kind of money.

I was offered another  shot of fancy Chinaco for $120.

I ain’t got that kind of money, either.

They had shots of Chinaco Negro for $50, no thank you.

They had shots of  Chinaco Emperador that 30 of us shared in Vegas last year for $65, and they got a no thank you for that, too.

But they had maybe 200 kinds of tequila, so some tequila was going to be had.

I settled on a 1/2 shot of Chinaco 1996 (What?) for $8.50 and a 1/2 shot of that Sammy Hagar, Cabo Wabo Uno, which was kinda spectacular for $16.   Mrs Bart had her very favorite Corralejo Reposado margarita with 4 freshly squeezed limes and some mystery juice that added up to a damn fine tasty margarita. They had two big ice chests full of cut limes – they must’ve had 300 limes cut and that smell was truly wood-inducing.

I saw 40 bottles of tequila that I never saw before – that’s a really rare thing to happen.    This place was rated the 6th best bar in the world by Bartender Magazine. As far as       I’m concerned, it’s the best place on Earth - with a bullet. It would be even better if the bartender spoke English.  If I ask for Chinaco and he pours the $200 shot – we got trouble

Link

The eight-state tour shifts the spotlight to an issue that has been the focus of Edwards’ campaign since his first run for the White House four years ago. In recent weeks, publicity about his personal wealth — $400 haircuts, construction of a 28,000-square-foot house, hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary to speak about poverty and advise a hedge fund for the superrich — has opened him to charges of hypocrisy and threatened to undermine his message.

That’s bullshit and I’d offer his campaign this advice: Just remind voters that rich Democrats do what they can to help the poor, which rich Republican bastards say “I have mine, ‘F’ ‘em, they can get their own.”

Bush promised tax cuts, then gave the super-rich most of it. John Edwards wouldn’t do that because he’s a Democrat and we have hearts.

Link

U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since 9-11, The Whore Associated Press has learned.

(They’re lying – they got this rumor from Karl Rove.)

The conclusion suggests that the “evil-doers has been able to regroup despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other Monkey tactics aimed at crippling it.

If the Democrats had any brains – should I finish this sentence? – you’d think they could make some political hay out of Bush’s theivery helping the bad guys. But, I’m sure they’d think that wasn’t “polite” to list all the Bush failures.