the so-called private security contractors are mercenaries. They’re heavily armed. They carry out military missions, but they’re private employees who don’t answer to military discipline. On the other hand, they don’t seem to be accountable to Iraqi or U.S. law, either. And they behave accordingly. From Hired Gun Fetish – New York Times Krugman describes… Continue reading Hired Gun Fetish
Category: Uncategorized
one billion dollars
Less than a month before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein signaled that he was willing to go into exile as long as he could take with him $1 billion and information on weapons of mass destruction, according to a report of a Feb. 22, 2003, meeting between President Bush and his Spanish counterpart… Continue reading one billion dollars
Spain Opens the Books on Bush?
But it seems someone in the Spanish government has leaked to El Pais transcripts of conversations between President Bush and then Spanish Prime Minister Aznar just before the outbreak of the Iraq War. The gist seems to be that Bush was rather candid about the fact that the efforts to find a peaceful solution to… Continue reading Spain Opens the Books on Bush?
Fed Chief Calls for New Mortgage Rules
In testimony this morning to the House Financial Services Committee, Mr. Bernanke said a full review of consumer protection regulations was under way under existing regulatory authority. “The recent problems in subprime lending have underscored the need not only for better disclosure and new rules but also for more-uniform enforcement in the fragmented market structure… Continue reading Fed Chief Calls for New Mortgage Rules
Senate rejects habeas legislation.
In a 56-43 vote, the majority of the Senate today voted for legislation that would have restored habeas corpus rights to military detainees and given them “the right to protest their detention in federal court.” But the roll call fell four votes short of the 60 needed to cut off debate. From Think Progress »… Continue reading Senate rejects habeas legislation.
Webb Amendment Filibustered
You know that plan to make sure that the troops have as much time at home as they have in Iraq? Well… Senate Republicans have successfully filibustered the amendment to ease troop rotation schedules. Great job supporting the troops.
Paul Krugman’s Blog
I was born in 1953. Like the rest of my generation, I took the America I grew up in for granted – in fact, like many in my generation I railed against the very real injustices of our society, marched against the bombing of Cambodia, went door to door for liberal candidates. It’s only in… Continue reading Paul Krugman’s Blog
U.S. Weapons, Given to Iraqis, Move to Turkey
Weapons that were originally given to Iraqi security forces by the American military have been recovered over the past year by the authorities in Turkey after being used in violent crimes in that country, Pentagon officials said Wednesday. From U.S. Weapons, Given to Iraqis, Move to Turkey – New York Times Remember that story about… Continue reading U.S. Weapons, Given to Iraqis, Move to Turkey
Why Bush stands by his incompetents
The more radioactive his aides become, the more Bush embraces them. With Gonzales, the president was particularly alone in this stance. Conservatives who might otherwise defend Bush against Democrats were appalled by Gonzales’ incompetence and the utter waste of time and energy devoted to cleaning up his messy department. Why does Bush hang on until… Continue reading Why Bush stands by his incompetents
Republicans Plan to Penalize States on Primaries
The Republican National Committee plans to penalize at least four states holding early primaries, including New Hampshire and Florida, by refusing to seat at least half their delegates at the party’s national convention in 2008, a party official said Tuesday. From: Republicans Plan to Penalize States on Primaries – New York Times I like this.… Continue reading Republicans Plan to Penalize States on Primaries