The Chairman's responsibilities and Jurisdictions will include real oversight concerning failures of the Bush administration in providing security to our nation during times of war, illegal invasions, ongoing occupations, and natural disasters, as well as overseeing the bloated budget and operations of the largest branch of government ever to be created in the US governments' history through legislation authored under the Republican controlled Senate and House, and signed by the Republican pResident of the time.
Your main and immidiate responsibilities will include holding the needed hearings, directing sub-commitees and legislation needed to avoid repeating the previous disasters, corrupt practices, and failures that will be found with the propper direction and oversight of a NON-PARTISAN and ethical Senate leader.
(1)Minorities such as moderate Republicans having no ties to far-right-wing radical organizations like the Neoconservative movement, the American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Energy Corporations, or the Bush administrations most recent policy proposals that are doomed to failure, are encouraged to apply to Senator Harry Reid for any consideration concerning this soon to be available position.
(2)Note to applicants: Please mark the subject of the Email as "Homeland Security" and refer to this x-posted Blog diary in the opening paragragh of the application. You will be contacted shortly before I post an "I told you so!" diary covering the flawed positons, election statement lies, and propaganda of the far-right-wing radical Neoconservative Joe Lieberman.
(x-posted) Below are the Key Judgements of the NIE (at least the declasified version taken from the PDFthat was released) and it is obvious that it does not paint a pretty picture. Of note is that while it mentions the influence of Iran, they also make it clear that Iran's influence is the negligible when you look at the overall picture of chaos.
I am including the "Explanation of Estimative Language" at the bottom of this so that you can get a clearer picture of what they mean to say with their specific choice of wording. Also, all emphasis is NOT mine, and is included as originally in the report.
For those who cannot make it to DC, please consider joining Peace Action along with the weekly Stamford Peace protesters (which include some hard core Lamont campaigners) on Saturday. Details follow:
From: David Vita
To: dvita@igc.org
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:49 PM
Subject: WASHINGTON D.C. OR STAMFORD
In his State of the Union message President Bush talked about his new Iraq strategy, but his new plan is the same old failed plan. Now it's our turn to respond, and respond we must --in numbers because numbers matter.
JANUARY 27-- WASHINGTON D.C. OR STAMFORD
Peace Action is delighted to join with the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich in chartering a bus to Washington D.C. on Jan. 27, leaving at 6 am and returning at 10 pm. $40 each. If you would like to join the Iraq Protest please call or e-mail Donna White at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich. donnaw@fccog.org, Donna White 637.1791 ex 6. She will give you the details.
If you're not going to D.C. then join the peace vigil in Stamford on Saturday, Jan 27 between 11:30-12:30 in front of the Ferguson Library at the corner of Broad and Bedford streets. Bring signs if you can. This vigil is in its 66th consecutive week. For information call Frank Scanlan at 327 0517.
Bring friends and please, send this e-mail out to your lists. Thank you. David Vita
The weekend weather and activity report for those of you that may be going to Washington for the weekend. Via Afterdowiningstreet.org:
The Weather Channel is predicting 48 degrees for Saturday, and the National Weather Service is saying 50 degrees!! No rain, no winds ... the weather should be great for the Jan. 27th mobilization.
We'll be gathering on the National Mall for the pre-march rally from 11 am to 1 pm. Because there might be some precipitation in Washington, DC, before Saturday, there is a possibility that the Mall could be a little muddy. With that in mind, we suggest you wear boots, or at least bring an extra pair of socks.
It's terrific that the weather will be good, but we'll be raising a storm of protest on Saturday. In addition to the massive numbers of people coming from literally every corner of the country, here are some of the folks who will be speaking at the rally:
Mayor Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City
Moriah Arnold, 12-year-old sixth-grader from Harvard, MA
Carlos Arredondo, Gold Star Families for Peace
Medea Benjamin, founder of CodePink
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, United for Peace and Justice
Eve Ensler, playwright
Jane Fonda, actress, author
Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women
Danny Glover, actor/activist
Reverend Graylon Hagler, Plymouth Congregational Church, Washington, DC
Reverend Jesse Jackson, RainbowPUSH Coalition
Jonathon Hutto, active-duty member of the U.S. Navy
Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Tikkun Magazine
Kevin Martin, Executive Director, Peace Action
Tim Robbins, actor/activist
Susan Sarandon, actor/activist
Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehren Watada, first officer to refuse deployment to Iraq
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Ann Wright, retired Army Colonel, former State Dept. diplomat
What You Should Bring to Washington
Signs and banners -- and be sure to include your city or organization
Noise-makers -- let's be loud!
Copies of the petition to Congress signed by people who can't make the trip.
White roses to leave as part of a memorial we'll be creating.
Shoes, especially children's shoes, for the CodePink "Walk in Their Shoes" Installation
There are other activities throughout the weekend -- including our Congressional Lobby Day on Monday -- so if you can stay in town that would be wonderful!
See you on the streets of Washington as we send our message to Congress: It's time to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home!!
Joel: I'm proud to draw your attention to a moving and insightful web-exclusive piece on NOW Online and YouTube. In a complement to our report about soldiers returning to the front in Iraq, we interview three married couples at Georgia's Fort Stewart who share their unique fears and anxieties about not just going to Iraq, but returning for a second or third tour of duty. Some concerns are new, others stay the same. The stories are grippingly real.
Please pass along this email to friends and colleagues for a look past the rhetoric and political posturing, into the hearts of those sacrificing everything for country."
Tonight I'll say, "Have a great day," and "I love you" to my husband, who is 11 time zones away in Iraq. Then I'll hang up the phone. I'll fall asleep as I did last night, next to our baby daughter. We'll sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs - it's less lonely to sleep there for now."
I was in my bed trying to get some sleep… the moon was complete at that night… I heard a sounds of gun firing then a sound of a bomb… usually I ignore it cause here in Iraq we used to hear these kinds of sounds… anyway… after a little while… I heard sounds of the American's forces passing through my neighborhood… from those sounds I sensed that they were a lot… and I expected there is some breakthrough in our neighborhood… then the choppers came and things started to get worse… choppers were flying over us… all my family awakened… and we sat in one room praying from the God to keep us safe till the morning… we were hearing the sounds of the choppers when its flying over us with low height… and the big engage started… the choppers were firing with its machinegun on Salih Al-mutlak house and so the Humvees… the battle began around from 2:45 AM to 6:45 AM… all that time we were hearing sounds of explosions and gun firing… then the calm has came…
I woke up in the next day at 11:00 AM because I couldn't sleep all the night… I went out to see what had happened yesterday… I met my neighbor and we headed to the place of salih al mutlak… his house was completely destroyed. people were taking out the trash…
I drew a map explaining with all what happened… it begins firstly from Salih's Guards… those Guards were thinking that there is some militia were attacking them so they throw a grenade on the U.S. forces… actually the U.S. forces were only patrolling… that's the whole story… all of what happened was a misunderstanding from both side… but lets see what the Americans did to the neighborhood.
The links have the full story... Which is fucked up if it is true. I got the link from Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo...
(x-posted)
There are not many details in the report but Sen. Dodd has made the obvious first move in stopping the reckless Bush administration from ESCALATING the failed Bush war.
The presidential candidate introduced legislation Tuesday that put a limit on the number of troops in Iraq at about 132,000.
Dodd's bill also would require congressional approval any additional troops sent to Iraq. This is the kind of thing that needs a push and a shove from every Senators' constituants. Start dialing and Emailing! and ask them to support this.
[update] below the fold
Came across an interesting article in a new journal called "Democracy". A former Clinton Administration official argues the progressive case for joining the Marine Corps over the Peace Corps. Should stimulate some discussion.
Last night I attended a COW meeting, which is a coalition dedicated to trying to end the war in Iraq. One of our main goals is to organize a large CT rally to take place in March, with the further goal of growing some forums, teach ins, and other actions out of the enthusiasm generated by the rally. I'll be posting updates, and I hope that everyone here can mobilize on rally day and help out with further actions. In the nearer term, there will be march on Washington on Saturday, January 27th. There will be buses leaving from Connecticut on Friday night, January 26th, from West Hartford and New Haven. More info can be found from grnhpeacecouncil@sbcglobal.net or damdur@afsc.org.
Army Ups Referral Bonus to $2,000 to assist the War Machine to increase our troop strength and send your friends into harms way. To learn more about military bonuses, visit the Military.com Bonus Center.
The alternative, from Working for Change offers phone cards for veterans undergoing rehab in the VA hospitals around the country.
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