Deep Something

War Powers

August 27, 2008 B. John 233 Views 0 Comments Baker-Christopher commission, Christian Science Monitor, David Skaggs, James Madison, Mickey Edwards, War Powers Act

I am certain I have previously discussed the idea that the President of the United States does NOT have the power to take the United States to war. That authority was reserved expressly for the Congress by the founders of this country. The Constitution is quite clear on this point, but that authority has been usurped by several Presidents in their over-reach. I usually find it best to defer to the founders in these matters, and when checking we find that James Madison once observed, “In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department… [T]he temptation would be too great for any one man.”

Congress Crime Politics Presidency Society War

The Anthrax Questions

August 3, 2008 B. John 353 Views 0 Comments 9/11, Anthrax, Bruce Ivins, Dick Cheney, False Flag, Gleen Greenwald, Iraq, Pat Leahy, PATRIOT Act, Salon, Tom Daschle, War

Glenn Greenwald has an excellent article up at Salon.com discussing the unresolved issues around the 2001 anthrax incident. As everyone knows Bruce Ivins committed suicide earlier this week as a Grand Jury prepared to indict him in connection with the anthrax incident. Ivins had been a top anthrax researcher at a U.S. Government research facility for 18 years. So seven years after the incident, and after having to pay a settlement to one falsely accused researcher, we’re to believe the government had an airtight case against Ivins witnessed by his apparent suicide.

Congress Crime Politics Presidency Society War

The Tears Continue for Our Once Great Nation

July 2, 2008 B. John 260 Views 0 Comments Bush, cheney, Chinese, Guantanamo Bay, Interrogations, torture

The New York Times is reporting that military trainers who came to Guantanamo Bay in December 2002 based an interrogation class on a chart showing various “coercive” techniques for use on prisoners. What the trainers did not reveal, and may not have known, was that their chart had been copied an Air Force study of Chinese Communist techniques used during the Korean War to obtain false confessions from American prisoners. Whoohoo, we’re on a roll now.

Culture Entertainment Humor Movies Politics War

Charlie Wilson's War

January 6, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 379 Views 0 Comments Afghanistan, Charlie Wilson-039s War, Julie Roberts, Mike Nichols, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks

A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson’s covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

Corruption Politics Presidency War

CIA Interrogation Tape-False Flag Alert!

December 11, 2007 B. John 309 Views 1 Comment ABC News, CIA, Enhanced Interrogation, False Flag, torture, Waterboarding

I sincerely hope that no one is falling for this “false flag” (I believe it’s called in intelligence parlance) of the CIA Agent suddenly coming forward to condemn waterboarding as torture, but then saying it saved thousand of lives when used to interrogate Abu Zubaydah. It is just too convenient that this “former” agent, John Kiriakou, suddenly gets permission to come forward and openly discuss this operation on the national news circuit. Does anyone still fall for this shit from this Administration? Kiriakou says he thinks there should be a national debate about torture. BULLSHIT. There should be no discussion about torture. What has become of the values of this Republic and we as a people when we have to have a debate about torture?

Culture Movies Politics War

Lions for Lambs

November 18, 2007 B. John 255 Views 0 Comments Drama, Meryl Streep, Political Thriller, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise

Lions for Lambs begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student (Andrew Garfield) who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (Meryl Streep) that may affect Arian and Ernest’s fates.

Congress Politics War

Blood of American Soldiers A Small Price to Pay. Huh?

September 14, 2007 B. John 199 Views 0 Comments John Boehner, republicans

In this video of Wolf Blitzer’s Situation Room, John Boehner, Republican Leader of the U.S House of Representatives says that the $2-3 Billion per week, and the blood of American soldiers is a small price to pay in Iraq.

Congress Constitution Corruption Crime Politics Presidency Society War

September 11–Six Years Later

September 11, 2007May 6, 2018 B. John 289 Views 1 Comment 9-11, bigotry, Bush, cheney, conservatives, Democrats, Iraq, Middle East, neo-cons, Prejudice, president, republicans, September 11

The attacks of 9/11 were used to justify the invasion of Iraq, and ever since, Bu$h has been using the mantra to strike fear into the hearts of Americans and ensure continued support of his war. He and Dick have incessantly linked the words “al-Qaida” and “Iraq.” In a recent speech about Iraq, Bush mentioned al-Qaida 95 times. No matter that the insurgents in Iraq are not the same group that attacked the U.S.

Congress Constitution Corruption Crime Politics Presidency Society War

More Constitutional Erosion

July 29, 2007 B. John 277 Views 1 Comment FISA, george bush, president, Surveillance, Terrorism, Terrorists

In his weekly radio address Bu$h demanded that Congress update the laws governing electronic surveillance. Now why would George give a damn about whether the law is up-to-date or not. It’s not like the Cheney/Bush Administration is following any of the laws anyway.

Constitution Courts Politics Presidency War

And Away Goes the Fifth Amendment

July 19, 2007September 29, 2018 B. John 302 Views 1 Comment Fifth Amendment, Guardian, Secretary of The Treasury, Terrorism, Terrorists, Treasury Department

President Bush unveiled an executive order that allows the administration to block bank accounts and any other financial assets that might be found in this country belonging to people, companies or groups that the United States deems are working to threaten stability in Iraq.

Politics War

Chertoff's Gastric Distress

July 13, 2007 B. John 261 Views 1 Comment Chertoff, Homeland Security, Iraq, war on terror

We’re pumping billions into the new Homeland Insecurity Department, yet it appears we’re relying on DHS Secretary Micheal Chertoff’s gastric rumblings for our intellingence. Suddenly he’s appearing on the news circuit saying he has a gut feeling, we’re going to be attacked again.