From Scout: Baghdad Burning has more on the Sunni Iraqi soldiers who revolted at their graduation ceremony and also the Iran question…. As for news of the new Iraqi army, it isn’t going as smoothly as Bush and his crew portray. Today we watched footage of Iraqi soldiers in Anbar graduating. The whole ceremony was quite ordinary up until nearly the end- their commander announced they would be deployed to various areas and suddenly it was chaos. The soldiers began stripping their fatigues and throwing them around, verbally attacking their seniors and yelling and shoving. They were promised, when they … Continue reading More on the Iraqi soldiers revolt

From Holden: …and you are likely to find a racist underneath. Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi acknowledges that Clyde Kennard suffered a grievous wrong at the hands of state officials more than 45 years ago. But he says he will not grant a posthumous pardon to Mr. Kennard, a black man who was falsely imprisoned after trying to desegregate a Mississippi college. Mr. Kennard moved home to Hattiesburg, Miss., after seven years in the Army in Germany and Korea and three years as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He wanted to finish his education at the local college. … Continue reading Scratch A Republican…

From Holden: Gee, who would have thought that putting a political operative with absolutely no diplomatic experience, no ability to speak Arabic, and no experience in the Middle East in charge of bolstering America’s image in the Muslim World would be a stupid idea. State Department efforts to reach more than 1.5 billion Muslims in 58 countries to counter anti-American criticism lack a strong central message and a strategic plan of communication, the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday. Last year, the department spent $597 million on public diplomacy under the direction of Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes, and spending is … Continue reading Miserable Failure’s Mommy

From Scout: Tena has the story below of Bush snubbing Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg which got me to wondering…. just how many people has this WATB snubbed anyway? Quite a few. I think Bar must have ascribed to some weird child rearing practices of give your kid the rod so he can spare no one in combination with the Grim Reaper method of socialization. The latter manifested now in W’s 2 ways of dealing with people….I’ll bomb you Dead or the “You’re Dead to Me” freeze out. Here are just some who have experienced the Bush Freeze Out either … Continue reading Snubs of a WATB

From Tena: STOCKHOLM, May 2 (Xinhua) — U.S. President George Bush has declined to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at the White House, said reports reaching here from Oslo on Tuesday. Bush’s staff would not arrange the meeting because of the Norwegian left-center coalition government’s criticism of the war in Iraq, and Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen’s support for a boycott of Israeli products, according to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). Jan Petersen, who was Norway’s foreign minister in the last center-right government, told NRK that he feared a phone conversation Stoltenberg had with Bush shortly after last fall’s election put a … Continue reading President PrissyPants HissyFits

Writing in USA Today: Today, the Web is an essentially way to get news, and, while journalism is pretty much the same, the term “journalist” is getting a bit cloudy. That’s why the question of whether bloggers are journalists keeps coming up. When anyone can publish, anyone can be a journalist. So the questions the courts need to answer is not, “Who is a journalist?” but rather, “Who is doing journalism?” That 12-year-old girl was doing it, even if she isn’t in high school yet — even if she wasn’t a journalist. The guy who cuts your hair might be … Continue reading Marry Me, Andrew Kantor

From Holden: Little Scottie split today’s gaggle with Fran “Deaf, Dumb and Blind” Townsend as the topic of the day was Bird Flu. Seldom is the question asked, is our Assministration learning? Q Fran, thank you. Can you tell us a little bit, walk us through the chain of command? As we saw with Hurricane Katrina, you can have a plan, but if it’s not implemented and there’s not coordination, it might not work. As I understand it, the Health and Human Services Secretary would be the point person. But what’s the chain of command, direct access to the President? … Continue reading Today on Holden’s Obsession with the Gaggle

From Holden: Is Friday. Another reason besides the Battle of Puebla to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Scott will travel with the President while new press secretary Tony Snow stays at the White House. Scott’s last briefing will be on Friday. Continue reading Little Scottie’s Last Day

From Holden: Froomkin on Vanity Fair on Cheney: At a roundtable lunch with reporters a couple of years ago, two who were present say, he cut his buffalo steak in bite-size pieces the moment it arrived, then proceeded to salt each side of each piece. Image found at Cheesegod.com. Continue reading Eat Up, Dick!

From Scout: Earlier Holden posted on Afghanistan’s inclusion in the Failed States Index. The NYT has an article today on the Taliban’s growing insurgency in Southern Afghanistan which included this paragraph…. The Bush administration is alarmed, according to a Western intelligence official close to the administration. He said that while senior members of the administration consider the situation in Iraq to be not as bad as portrayed in the press, in Afghanistan the situation is worse than it has been generally portrayed Fill in the Blank: If the Bush administration is alarmed then we should be_________________. Continue reading Let’s Play Fill in the Blank

From Scout: From WWL The Federal Emergency Management Agency office charged with helping New Orleans devise a blueprint to rebuild destroyed houses, schools and neighborhoods after Hurricane Katrina is being closed and nearly all its workers reassigned. Housing remains in very short supply, only a handful of public schools have reopened and many neighborhoods resemble ghost towns, but FEMA says it’s closing the long-term recovery office because local officials have failed to begin planning the recovery adequately. SNIP City officials are angered by the move, saying New Orleans is again being abandoned by the federal government. “We can’t plan on … Continue reading FEMA Pulling out

From Holden: Evangelicals losing faith in Chimpy. Approval for President George W. Bush among white evangelical Protestants, his most loyal supporters, has fallen to a new low, with nearly half agreeing in a new poll that they are “tired of all of the problems associated with the Bush administration”. [snip] Although a majority of evangelicals still back him, their approved has declined at the same rate as the rest of the public. According to Pew, 55 per cent of white evangelicals approve of Mr Bush, down from the start of his second term when he had 72 per cent approval … Continue reading Fundie Pony

From Holden: It seems that the insurance industry is holding up Northrup Grumman’s settlement, and it will cost you $500 million dollars. Mississippi’s senators beat back attempts Tuesday to strip an emergency hurricane relief bill of money for Northrop Grumman’s operations in Pascagoula and for a new Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport. Fiscal conservatives made an issue of the Mississippi projects, calling them wasteful congressional pork. But an attempt to strip $500 million for Northrop Grumman failed on a 51-48 vote. Continue reading Military Contractor to Receive Katrina Funds

From Holden:

Foreign Policy magazine’s Failed State Index includes Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq in the top ten.

In its second annual “failed states” index, Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace concluded that Sudan [#1] is the country under the most severe stress because of violent internal conflict.

[snip]

Each country was given a score based on data from numerous available sources. A “failing state” was described as one in which the government does not have effective control of its territory, is not perceived as legitimate by a significant portion of its population, does not provide domestic security or basic public services to its citizens and lacks a monopoly on the use of force.

[snip]

“For Iraq [#4], the index category that worsened most was human flight,” the report said. “The exodus of Iraq’s professional class has accelerated, leaving the country without the trained citizens it needs to staff important posts.”

Iraq’s instability was underscored in a State Department report last week that said fully 30% of all terrorist attacks worldwide last year occurred in Iraq.

In terms of available human resources, Afghanistan [#10] faces a somewhat different problem from Iraq, the report said. It pointed out that while educated Afghan exiles have been slow to return following the fall of the Taliban in 2001, overwhelmingly poor Afghan refugees have returned in large numbers from Iran and Pakistan.

“The result is a capital city busting at the seams but short of trained administrators, the report said.

Pakistan [#9] is another troubled country, the report said. Its inability to police the tribal areas near the Afghan border helped lead to one of the sharpest declines in overall score of any country on the index.

Click Read More for the entire Failed States Index.

Continue reading “Failed State Index: Iraq is #4, Afghanistan is #10”

From Holden: Becoming a pariah nation. Torture and inhumane treatment are “widespread” in U.S.-run prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba and elsewhere despite Washington’s denials, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. In a report for the United Nations’ Committee against Torture, the London-based human rights group also alleged abuses within the U.S. domestic law enforcement system, including use of excessive force by police and degrading conditions of isolation for inmates in high security prisons. “Evidence continues to emerge of widespread torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of detainees held in U.S. custody,” Amnesty said in its 47-page report. [snip] “The … Continue reading The Bush Legacy

From Scout: In this instance it’s what the sea taketh away and then giveth back…. Chicken bones that began washing ashore two weekends ago and again on Sunday appear to be the remnants of bagged chicken that Hurricane Katrina flung from shipping containers at the state port on Aug. 29. If authorities are correct, the bones showing up are from chicken the storm hurled into the Mississippi Sound. “They’re decomposed. There’s no flesh, just bones,” said Bobby Weaver, Sand Beach director. SNIP Chicken bones washed ashore at some areas around April 22, but more bones appeared over the weekend. Piles … Continue reading This is just weird

Pulling up to the trough of dumbassery and whining at the Journalism Crack Barn today, I realize the defensiveness of non-bloggers is really starting to get on my damn nerves: JournalismJobs.com: Are blogs diluting the role of journalists? Karen Breslau: Absolutely not. Who was the last blogger to get kidnapped — or worse — on their way to an interview in Iraq or Pakistan? Blogs aren’t diluting the role of journalists: they are diluting the size and attention of the more affluent spectrum of the audience. (And truth be told, that disproportiately affects journalists… since we are a gossip-driven bunch … Continue reading Aw, Could Not Get Your Ship Out

From Holden: MR. McCLELLAN: The President believes laws should be enforced, and he believes that the leaking of classified information that would be harmful to our nation’s security is a very serious matter. Continue reading Valerie Plame Worked On Iranian WMDs for the CIA

From Holden:

Goddammit I can’t wait until Little Scottie drags his sorry ass back to Texas. Good thing Helen Thomas isn’t going anywhere.

Go ahead, Helen.

Q What does the President think of the Justice Department contemplating the use of espionage laws against reporters who find out secrets in this administration, like wire-tapping and secret prisons? And also, a second question is, do you know of anything about the infiltration of gangs, gang-style soldiers in the army in Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: Gang-style soldiers in the army in Iraq?

Q The Chicago Sun-Times has a story saying that many gang members are now in the army.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I haven’t read the report that you’re referring to. I think we have talked about the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces. There’s been substantial progress made. And one of the areas they focused on was to make sure that you had a military that is committed to the country and not committed to any individual militia.

Q Committed to the country, but they have been members of gangs and they formed sort of gangs in the army, apparently.

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, so this is a different issue. I haven’t taken a look at that report.

[snip]

Q How about my first question?

MR. McCLELLAN: Your first question — I think you’re going to issues relating to the leaking of classified information. Is that what you’re asking about?

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: The leaking of classified information is a very serious matter, and the President has spoken about that repeatedly. It is of particular concern when information is being leaked that could harm our nation’s security.

Q By finding out we have secret prisons for torture?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there are laws on the book, and I will let our law enforcement officials talk about the enforcement actions that they are taking.

Q But my question is, does the President support the use of these espionage laws against reporters who find out what’s going on?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President believes laws should be enforced, and he believes that the leaking of classified information that would be harmful to our nation’s security is a very serious matter.

A rare follow-up to Helen’s line of questioning can be found by clicking Read More…

Continue reading “Today on Holden’s Obsession with the Gaggle”

From Scout: Just go read Rising Hegemon Continue reading Sportswriter Nails It

From Holden: That’s the judgement of history on Chimpy’s presidency. If his presidency ended now, Republican George W. Bush would go down in history as a failure, according to a majority of college history and political science professors surveyed nationwide. And, 67 percent of the 744 professors responding to the survey conducted by Siena College’s Research Institute said they doubted Bush “has a realistic chance of improving his rating” during his remaining time in office. [snip] “While time is needed to fairly and accurately gauge how well any president ranks with his predecessors, George W. Bush starts with a ranking … Continue reading Miserable Failure

From Holden: Go to the website and thank Mr. Colbert. thankyoustephencolbert.org. Continue reading Thank You, Stephen Colbert

From Scout: While this is Good and as an American I feel Grateful why do I also feel Embarrassed by it? The nation of Qatar plans to announce today roughly $60 million in grants to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, including $17.5 million to Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically black Catholic university in the United States. Other beneficiaries are Tulane University, Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, Habitat for Humanity, Louisiana State University and the March of Dimes. SNIP “Hurricane Katrina was so devastating that everyone in Qatar and the rest of the world felt a responsibility to … Continue reading Foreign Aid for New Orleans

From Holden: Apparently “overzealous” is military speak for flat-out war crimes. Military investigators are reviewing photographs indicating that Iraqi civilians, including women and children, may have been shot deliberately by U.S. Marines in Haditha last November, according to a military source familiar with the ongoing investigation. It is not clear how many photographs are being reviewed. But the source told CNN the photos are evidence that the Iraqis did not die in a roadside blast as the Marines had originally said. The pictures were apparently taken at the time of the incident by the military unit, although not necessarily by … Continue reading Iraq Stories I: War Crimes, Bitch

From Holden: American Mercenaries in Iraq continue to operate outside of the law. Five Iraqis were killed Tuesday in Baghdad, including an ambulance driver shot by U.S. private security contractors, a Baghdad emergency police official said. The ambulance driver was killed after a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy and the private security contractors opened fire in the Waziriya neighborhood in northern Baghdad. According to Reuters, another ambulance crew member said, “We were taking a case to hospital when a bomb went off close to a convoy of Americans that was passing. “They opened fire and shot him in the … Continue reading Iraq Stories II: Mercs Gone Wild

From Holden: Libby’s lawyers want every scrap of paper held by the New York Times, NBC News, and Time magazine whether they mention Plame or not. Lawyers for I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby urged a federal judge Monday to force several media organizations to turn over e-mails, drafts of news articles and reporters’ notes they say the former top White House aide needs to receive a fair trial in the CIA leak case. In a 45-page filing, Libby’s lawyers said reporters have “no right – under the Constitution or the common law – to deprive Mr. Libby of evidence that will … Continue reading The Whole Enchilada

From Holden: Tom DeLay is spending his legal defense fund money faster than he is taking it in. He raised $314,435 between January and March while awaiting trial on the Texas charges and spent $312,465, most of it on legal fees. In the previous three months, he raised $182,000 and spent $239,000. [snip] DeLay paid $280,000 to lawyers, with $125,000 going to the Dallas office of the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani and $110,000 to Dick DeGuerin, a Houston attorney. He spent about $18,000 on a Washington fundraiser. Let’s see, during October through December he raised $182,000 and spent $239,000, … Continue reading Sucking the Bugman Dry

From Holden: Wow, my all-time lows post of last Friday is already obsolete! Here is an updated list of the national opinion polls in which President Prissypants currenly sits at an all-time low apporval rating. USA Today/Gallup: 34% CBS News: 33% American Research Group (ARG): 34% NBC/Wall Street Journal: 36% CNN: 32% Fox News: 33% Gallup: 36% Note: the USA Today/Gallup Poll and the Gallup Poll are conducted independently. <Pony, bitches. Continue reading All-Time Low Update

From Holden: Somebody call a wahmbulance! “Colbert crossed the line,” said one top Bush aide, who rushed out of the hotel as soon as Colbert finished. Another said that the president was visibly angered by the sharp lines that kept coming. “I’ve been there before, and I can see that [Bush] is [angry],” said a former top aide. “He’s got that look that he’s ready to blow.” Continue reading President Prissypants