Hersh: Congress Agreed to Bush Request to Fund Major Escalation in Secret Operations Against Iran

Veteran Investigative Journalist Seymour Hersh has published an article in the New Yorker Magazine that asserts that congressional leaders agreed to a request from President Bush last year to greatly increase funding, to 400 million dollars, for a major escalation of covert operations against Iran. This escalation of these covert and secret activities is meant to destabilize the religious leadership of Iran. Hersh wrote his article based upon information from “current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources.” The article notes that covert activities by the United States are not new in Iran–we have been conducting cross-border operations from Southern Iraq since last year.

The request for the $400 million was described in something called a “Presidential Finding”, signed by President Bush, and, under Federal Law, these Presidential Findings “must be issued when a covert intelligence operation gets under way and, at a minimum, must be made known to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and the Senate and to the ranking members of their respective intelligence committees”. The article by Hersh noted later that, “In other words, some members of the Democratic leadership—Congress has been under Democratic control since the 2006 elections—were willing, in secret, to go along with the Administration in expanding covert activities directed at Iran, while the Party’s presumptive candidate for President, Barack Obama, has said that he favors direct talks and diplomacy.” This is a glaring contradiction and hypocrisy that is certainly not unfamiliar to the politics of the United States.

I hope that we all can now clearly see that the Republican Party is a war-like party of imperialists and interventionists. And I hope that we can now also clearly see that the Democratic Party is a war-like party of imperialists and interventionists, through their aiding and abetting of policies that are as such. I hope that we can now clearly see that both political parties are about policing the world, and spending huge amounts of taxpayer dollars to do so. We are spending 400 million dollars alone on trying to destabilize one single country. That money could have gone to education. That money could have gone to healthcare. That money could have gone to infrastructure. But, out of all of the needy areas of our country, our political leaders, of both parties, decided to direct the money instead towards destabilizing another country. 400 million dollars! That could not be described as “spare change”. Obviously, though, there is no “change” that our leaders can spare. And the small, superficial change that they do provide is worthless.

But Iran is not the only country targeted by the United States. According to Dennis Kucinich’s 35 Articles of Impeachment against President Bush, “On September 30, 2001, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld established an official military objective of overturning the regime in Iran, as well as those in Iraq, Syria, and four other countries in the Middle East, according to a document quoted in then-Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith’s book, ‘War and Decision’.” The four other countries in the Middle East were, according to Wesley Clark, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Lebanon.

It is my opinion that the United States has been the interventionist policeman of the world for too long. And especially covert interventions, because that promotes “blowback”, defined as a term used in espionage to describe the unintended consequences of covert operations. Hatred in the Middle East towards the United States as a result of our covert operations targeting Middle-Easterners, and then Middle-Easterners demonstrating their hatred in a terrorist attack, is an example of blowback.

Is it honestly in our best interest to undertake operations such as this, especially when domestic issues are in such dire need of attention? And, ask yourself, do we even have the right to interfere in and destabilize another country, someone else’s country, as such? My personal opinion is that we have neither the right nor the obligation to try to destablize the governments of other countries and throw them into political chaos. Aside from the concerns of blowback and the misplacement of tax money, it is very important to do unto others as you would want done unto yourself.

The perfect Veep?

I’m going to give you some biographical information about an individual who I think would be a perfect VP choice for Barack Obama. Based on the information, see if you know right away who I’m talking about:

… Graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence and attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. Following his graduation and receiving an active duty commission, [he] attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he received a Masters in Public Policy.

[...]

… An Army Ranger and a paratrooper, served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantry Platoon leader in the 325th Infantry Regiment, a Company Commander, and a Battalion Staff Officer. He returned to West Point in 1978 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences.

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… Resigned from the army in 1979 as a captain and enrolled in Harvard Law School.

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… Elected as a state senator in 1984 and served three terms. In 1990, was elected to the United States House of Representatives. For the next six years, [he] became well known in his state for his positions on education and health care…

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U.S Senator since 1996… currently a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Committee. Americans for Democratic Action has often listed him as a “hero” as they indicate he has one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate.

[...]

Voted NO on authorizing use of military force against Iraq; voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage; rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record; rated 100% by the NAACP; rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record; rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record; voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility; the list goes on and on.

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Supreme Court fails on 2nd Ammendment

*Picture from ABCNEWS.COM

Many people support gun rights for defense and for hunting uses. But, handguns are not needed for any of those two purposes. Handguns can easily be concealed and used for a series of crimes. You do not need a pistol to hunt for deer or other wild animals. By the means of protecting yourself, you are still allowed to have rifles and shotguns, which cannot easily be concealed.
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Vulnerable Republicans: The Mitch McConnell Edition!

Nationwide backlash against the Republican Party cost them control of the Congress in 2006. This year, the same backlash could cost them 20-30 seats in the House, and as many as 6 or 7 in the Senate. Among the handful of Republican Senators worried about their jobs is none other than Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). From Rasmussen:

United States Senator Mitch McConnell has a seven-point advantage over Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Kentucky voters. It’s McConnell 48%, Lunsford 41%.

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Still, any incumbent who polls below the 50% level of support is considered potentially vulnerable and McConnell remains in that category.

Under Senator McConnell’s leadership, the Republican Party has engaged in almost-unprecedented obstructionism, using parliamentary tactics to consistently block promising pieces of legislation put forth by the Democratic majority. The only factor in play making McConnell a tough challenge is the generally-Conservative nature of his home state. However, while Kentucky may be Conservative, I can’t conceive of the people of Kentucky appreciating counterproductive politics and politicians any more than the people of any other state in the nation. That could make all the difference.

Supreme Court Gives a Hand to Criminals, Twice

We have a seriously messed up court here in America. Yesterday the Supreme Court voted to ban executing child rapists. Today the courts struck down Washington, DC’s murder prevention law, a handgun ban. So in one week’s time, our nation’s highest court has effectively protected the lives of child rapists, while threatening the lives of the 600,000 residents of DC, plus of countless other jurisdictions with tough anti-crime measures.

At stake was a question over a coma. The Second Amendment says:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Those who believe the constitution says you can bear arms, so long as you’re a member of the military cite the fact there’s a coma and not a period between “free state” and “the right.” I believe that the framers of the document meant for the right to bear arms to be in conjunction with military or law enforcement service. However, five justices felt that the coma was better read as a period. (Insert joke about justices needing better reading glasses).

Even though the ruling has granted the broad rights that radical groups like the NRA believe are present in the Second Amendment, it doesn’t rule out laws that cities dealing with high crime, and regular murders could use.

The District of Columbia should enact a law banning the purchase and importation of out of state weapons by it’s citizens. In conjunction, they should also require a license to be issued to sell firearms, and then not grant these licenses to any business. Nowhere in the constitution is a right to be able to purchase weapons found, which is the reason bans on automatic weapons are constitutional. Second, DC and other cities should enact vast gun free zones in high crime neighborhoods racked by near nightly murders.

I’m not anti-gun. I’ve been to shooting range several times, and enjoyed my time there. What I believe is that communities, like DC, and NYC should be given the power to reign in gun violence by enacting stronger laws. If someone lives in a  low crime suburban community, or a rural town where hunting is a common way to provide for your family, then let gun ownership be legal. But don’t take the right to safety away from urbanites that live in places racked with gun violence.

Flickr photo by Drab Makyo. Cross posted at my personal site.

McCain and His $300 Million Prize

McCain calls for $300 million prize for a better car battery. He believes this will further the technology advancements for better fuel and environmentally friendly cars.”The prize would amount to $1 for every man, woman and child in the U.S. a small price to pay for helping to break the back of our oil dependency,” McCain said during a town hall-style meeting at California’s Fresno State University.

But this seems contradictory to what McCain also believes, ‘Market Competition’. McCain cites numerous  studies that the competition of the American Market is enough for American companies to have competition and to further their own advancements. If that is true then why is a compensation/prize needed? Many car manufacturing companies are already researching and experimenting with technology. It seems that this plan is just a “headline” and not a solution

A series of picks for VP

In the past, the vice president has usually been ignored, and has not been given much to do. But this year is different. Since the assemblyman from Chicago got the Democratic nomination, I thought I would most definitely be screwed this election with nobody to support. Until I thought of Hillary as VP. She will be more then vice president, since Obama doesn’t really have much experience. Hillary Clinton was cheated out of the Democratic nomination by a flawed primary process of kindergarten games and not counting votes. She has earned at least to be second on the ticket.

Also, the Obama/Clinton ticket appears to be the only democratic ticket that will win. (Yes, sorry to inform Obama supporters, but if the election were held today, he would lose.). If Obama makes a mistake and does not pick Clinton as a VP, here are some other choices.

My top choice: Hillary Clinton

Joe Biden - Would bring foreign policy experience to the ticket.

Chris Dodd- Would win support of many teachers and education unions.

Ted Strickland- Would get independents and NRA supporters to vote for the ticket.

Ed Rendell- Would win support of steel and other labor unions.

Colin Powell- Would bring a lot of moderate republicans to vote for the ticket.

John Edwards- Could win votes of white working class voters.

The Bad Choices:

Kathleen Sebelius- Is not known around the country, and would probably lose her own state.

Bill Richardson- Not trusted, not tested.

Claire McCaskill- Please see Kathleen Sebelius.

Obama Aids Flood Relief

Call it pandering if you like, but at least it is pandering for a good cause. In an effort to help out with the recent floods in the Midwest, Obama filled sandbags yesterday in Quincy, IL and sent out an email to his supporters urging them to donate to the Red Cross. The homepage of his website also has an appeal to support the flood victims

Comparisons to President Bush and Hurricane Katrina are inevitable. While Bush was holiday, people’s homes were destroyed. Obama, on the other hand, took time off of his work to help people. The man isn’t even president, but he is already doing the work of one. Instead of focusing on his campaign and how great he is, Obama has decided to use his influence to help those in need.

To those who might say that Obama is just doing what a good presidential candidate would do, that may be, but neither of the other two major candidates have messages on their homepages about the disaster. And besides, even if he is just doing what a good candidate would, it should not take away from the fact that he is doing something good that helps other people.

Here is a link to the Red Cross if you wish to aid the victims of these recent floods.

The Conservatives Rosy View of the Economy

McCain’s most famous quote on economics probably appeared in the Wall Street Journal when he said “I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.” Apparently Wall Street knows a lot less too, at least if you believe this Reuters article declaring McCain as the “best choice” for the economy:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s tax policies have given him an edge as the better man for the economy, various Wall Street experts said at this week’s Reuters Investment Outlook Summit.

McCain plans to extend the Bush administration’s tax cuts, eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, and slash corporate taxes. Obama, who has derided the Arizona senator’s plans, has pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy and introduce a broad range of refundable tax credits.

The truth of the matter is Wall Street was better off during the Democratic presidency of Bill Clinton, then it has under the “pro-business” administration of George Bush. The simple reason why is because Bush’s economic plan doesn’t work - because consumers, the one’s powering the economy, aren’t very high up on Bush’s or McCain’s list.

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Why Hillary Clinton should be Obama’s VP

Throughout this entire campaign I have agreed with Barack Obama that America is in need of a desperate change. During the last eight years under the Bush administration, the only change our families have are the dimes and nickels left over from paying four dollars for a gallon of gas. But, I also believed that change cannot be accomplished without a leader who is ready, willing, and able to take on the task realizing that change. The American people have spoken, and the Democratic Party has decided that Barack Obama is that leader.

Surely, the argument can be made that Barack Obama has valuable experience to offer America. His eight years as a member of the Illinois State Senate, his ten years as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago, and his three and a half years as a United States Senator would be a welcome relief for America looking for a president who knows the legislative process, and the Constitution, and what it truly means.

I do not believe Obama’s experience is enough for him to have a successful presidential administration. With Hillary Clinton at his side, as his vice president, they will be an unbeatable force. It is essential to victory that we combine both coalitions that have already been established throughout the Democratic primary. And, only together will these two be able to effectively govern over a stronger America.
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Tim Russert Dies at age 58

The very sad news has just broken that Tim Russert, moderator of Meet the Press, has died at age 58. Russert has been a key figure in the coverage of the 2008 Election cycle, and will be deeply missed. Russert had just returned from Europe on a trip celebrating the college graduation of his son. The thoughts of everyone at Think Youth go out to Russert’s family.

Kucinich reads Bush Articles of Impeachment on the House floor

I flipped on my television at approximately ten-thirty Eastern time on Monday night, and I was pleasantly surprised to find Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) speaking on C-Span. Kucinich was talking about President Bush and his various crimes against the United States, and I soon became aware that the Representative was introducing Articles of Impeachment against President Bush (also known as House Resolution 1258).

Dennis Kucinich had begun his long trudge through the Articles two hours earlier, and he would continue his reading, to an almost empty House chamber, for nearly another three hours. There were 35 Articles in total, each one detailing a crime that Bush had committed that warranted impeachment. I congratulate Kucinich for having the courage and conviction to undertake this task.

A summary of each offense for each Article, as provided by the index of the Articles of Impeachment, reads as follows: Read more

Why Chris Dodd should be Obama’s VP

It is generally agreed that a presidential candidate’s running mate is meant to balance out the ticket. They are they to fill in some of the skills that the presidential candidate lacks, and to appeal to voters who might otherwise be turned of by the presidential candidate. The most persistently raised and worrying weakness of Obama’s is his lack of experience on the national stage. No doubt, this will has some effect on his support when November rolls around. Luckily, there are two people who are exactly what Obama needs. Senators Chris Didd and Joe Biden. And unlike some people, Dodd doesn’t even say vaguely racist things on camera, which is why he is Obama’s perfect running mate. Read more

The Isms are Still Alive

This primary saw so many records broken. We had a woman run the longest and most successful primary campaign ever. We had a man who would be the oldest president if he wins. We had an African American take the nomination. We had a Latino run, and be viewed as a somewhat serious threat, and seen as a serious contender for vice president. Then there was an Italian who had a front runner campaign for many months, and we can’t forget that a Mormon ran too.

The primary season was a wonderful example of the diversity of America and a reminder that who you are doesn’t have to define what you will be. But it also was a reminder that isms (chauvinism, racism, religionism, ageism…) are still a problem in America. From the media, to political campaigns, to individuals, this hatred has reared it’s ugly head. But the times when identity became a part of politics, equal opportunity discrimination resulted.

Probably most notable in terms of media sanctioned sexism was Chris Mathews, who has also made many comments indicating his support for Barack Obama, at one time saying Obama made a “thrill” go up his “leg.” He made offensive comments about Hillary saying “The reason she’s a U.S. Senator, the reason she’s a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front runner, is that her husband messed around. [...] She didn’t win it on the merits.” Then of course there is the frequent use of the word bitch to describe Hillary. We heard McCain chuckling and saying that “How do we beat the bitch?” was an excellent question. And then of course everyone refers to Hillary, as Hillary, highlighting her gender in a way that last names don’t.

Even though there was only one candidate with a groundbreaking religion running in the 2008 primaries, Mitt Romney, three religions still came under fire. There was a county chairman working for John McCain that blasted Romney’s religion according to the Boston Globe, “[He] questioned whether Mormons were Christians, discussed an article alleging that the Mormon Church helps fund Hamas, and likened the Mormons’ treatment of women to the Taliban’s.”

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