August 3, 2007
Photographer states :: Now that north pole (click here) is in to the month of august. We are starting to get some awesome sunsets and sunrises. This was the sunset on 8/3/2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The Russians are so wise. They have every reason to be proud. They can now claim the Arctic Ocean for Russia. So there, Georgie ! Ha, ha, ha !
The Russian Arctic expedition leader, Artur Chilingarov, a renowned polar scientist, holds a photo of the Russian flag on the ocean floor upon his arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007. Two small Russian submarines completed a risky voyage to the floor of the Arctic Ocean in support of Kremlin efforts to claim the energy wealth beneath the region and rebuild Russia's status as a great power. (AP Photo/ Alexander Zemlianichenko)
This was the best surprise an ardent environmentalist could have been given. Vladimir is so very, very smart. See, Russia is a ratified signator to the Kyoto Protocol Treaty (click here). The Arctic Ocean is now defendable by Russia for any oil pouchers.
Thank you, Vladimir. Thank you, Russia. Thank you very much. Save Earth. We'll prevail.
CLICK ABOVE TITLE FOR VIDEO. Russian version of "You Tube"
The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:
The Russian Pole Sitters
The Russian Arctic expedition leader, Artur Chilingarov, center, a renowned polar scientist, shake hands with crew mates of Mir-1 minisub
Gustavus, Alaska
Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m
Temperature :: 52 °F / 11 °C
Conditions :: Overcast
Humidity :: 82%
Dew Point :: 46 °F / 8 °C
Wind :: Calm
Pressure :: 29.99 in / 1016 hPa (Steady)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Few 1500 ft / 457 m
Overcast 2600 ft / 792 m
(Above Ground Level)
Aviation
Flight Rule :: MVFR (PAGS)
Wind Speed :: 0 mph / 0 km/h / 0.0 m/s
Wind Dir :: N/A
Ceiling :: 2600 ft / 792 m
The hideousness of it all, to secure a legacy for Bush/Cheney and prevent them from nuking the world.The USA media plays 'The Surge's sweet success.'
CBS choose to waterdown the reality of the American death toll and secure Bush/Cheney place in history by showing GIs smiling and mingling among Iraqis that are queued for a medical clinic in the Amariyah neighborhood of west Baghdad. (click here). The only pictures brought forward by CBS of wounded or dead are those of Iraqi civilians.
26 U.S. Troops Killed In 1 Week In Iraq
Military Announces 4 More Deaths Around Baghdad
(CBS/AP) The U.S. military tells CBSNews.com that 26 American service members have been killed in action in Iraq in the past week alone, including three soldiers who were killed by a single roadside bomb attack reported Tuesday. Most recently reported were the three Task Force Marne soldiers killed Saturday when a roadside bomb struck their convoy south of Baghdad, according to a brief statement that provided no more details. One Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier was killed and another wounded Monday when their vehicle was targeted by an armor-piercing explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, in a western section of the capital, the military said separately. Lt. Col. Rudy Burwell, a military spokesman based at Camp Victory in Baghdad, told CBSNews.com that a total of six troops were killed in action Monday....
This and the link above belongs to a Russian site and does more justice and honor to the USA military than it's counter part that seeks to pander to a failed and exploitive USA president.
Four more U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq, the military said on Tuesday, raising the U.S. death toll for the first six days of the month to 21 as thousands of troops battle militants in intense summer heat.
Off the battlefield, Iraq's crumbling national unity government was in crisis after five secularist ministers said they would boycott cabinet meetings until Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki addressed demands they first gave him in February.
The move means that 17 ministers, nearly half the cabinet, have now quit or are boycotting government meetings. The main Sunni Arab bloc pulled out last week and ministers loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr withdrew in April.
While Maliki went ahead with a trip to Turkey and Iran, the secular Iraqi List of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi held a news conference in Baghdad to explain why they were boycotting the meetings, in which the embattled prime minister now only has a narrow working majority.
"In February, the List delivered a written list of proposals to the government. Since that time we have not received a reply," leading Iraqi List lawmaker Iyad Jamal-Adin said....
Off the battlefield, Iraq's crumbling national unity government was in crisis after five secularist ministers said they would boycott cabinet meetings until Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki addressed demands they first gave him in February.
The move means that 17 ministers, nearly half the cabinet, have now quit or are boycotting government meetings. The main Sunni Arab bloc pulled out last week and ministers loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr withdrew in April.
While Maliki went ahead with a trip to Turkey and Iran, the secular Iraqi List of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi held a news conference in Baghdad to explain why they were boycotting the meetings, in which the embattled prime minister now only has a narrow working majority.
"In February, the List delivered a written list of proposals to the government. Since that time we have not received a reply," leading Iraqi List lawmaker Iyad Jamal-Adin said....
The circumstances with Turkey and Northern Iraq are heating up. Maliki is trying to make peace treaties with Turkey to limit the extremists in Northern Iraq while giving Turkey permission to pursue PKK into the sovereign area now occupied by Kurds. In other words, Maliki, a member of the 'figure head' government in Baghdad has openly stated Turkey has a right to start a war in the Northern Kurdish Province of Iraq. Now. Who are the good guys and whom are the bad guys. I suppose PKK has those initials tatooed on their foreheads, right? Kurds are Sunni Arabs. Maliki has declared open season on Kurds for the sake of oppressing a war with Turkey. The conflict is now inevitable. As soon as Kurds start to die, the Northern Province will take up arms against the Turks and a more global war will begin.
Maliki has no right to enter into any treaty with Turkey or otherwise without a vote of the Iraqi legislature. Considering everyone whom is anyone is abandoning the Iraqi Unity Government legislature in droves, there is no one to pass such a measure. The Kurds of the Unity Government in Baghdad will never consent to such measures and rightfully so. This is just more 'juke PR' demanded of Maliki from Bush/Cheney. There are no reasons for any country to consider treaties or trade agreements serious as there is no consistent Unity Government to ratify them. Maliki is a figure head and nothing else. There is no central authority in Iraq. Iraq is splintering into regional provinces.
Turkey is already ratcheting up the rhetoric, either half of all USA arms are missing or they aren't. Which is it? Because Turkey is about to declare war on Northern Iraq's Kurds for the sake of defeating terrorists. By the way, Is Turkey counting on further genocide of Iraqis with the assistance of the USA? And in the face of all this, Bush/Cheney aren't impeached yet?
The US government cannot account for large amounts of weapons and armour given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of the US congress, said.
At least 110,000 AK-47 rifles, 80,000 pistols, 135,000 items of body armour and 115,000 helmets are missing.
According to the GAO, the Pentagon has agreed with the findings and begun a review to ensure full accountability for the programme that aims to train and equip Iraqi forces.
"Our review of the 2007 property books found continuing problems with missing and incomplete records," the report said.
Approximately 54 per cent of the total weapons distributed to the Iraqi forces are said to be unaccounted for.
'Flexibility'
The report comes ahead of a review of US military operations that may pave the way for a reassessment of the US role in Iraq.
A senior Pentagon official has told The Washington Post newspaper that some weapons were probably being used against US troops.
He said that an Iraqi brigade, created in Fallujah, had disintegrated in 2004 and had begun fighting American soldiers.
Since 2003, the US has spent about .2bn to develop Iraqi security forces.
The US defence department has recently asked for another bn to continue the train-and-equip programme.
According to the GAO, the government had funded the programme for Iraqi security forces outside traditional security assistance programmes, providing the Pentagon with a degree of flexibility in managing the effort.
The report has further stated that "since the funding did not go through traditional security assistance programmes, the DoD [Department of Defence] accountability requirements normally applicable to these programmes did not apply".
Source: AgenciesKavkaz Center
At least 110,000 AK-47 rifles, 80,000 pistols, 135,000 items of body armour and 115,000 helmets are missing.
According to the GAO, the Pentagon has agreed with the findings and begun a review to ensure full accountability for the programme that aims to train and equip Iraqi forces.
"Our review of the 2007 property books found continuing problems with missing and incomplete records," the report said.
Approximately 54 per cent of the total weapons distributed to the Iraqi forces are said to be unaccounted for.
'Flexibility'
The report comes ahead of a review of US military operations that may pave the way for a reassessment of the US role in Iraq.
A senior Pentagon official has told The Washington Post newspaper that some weapons were probably being used against US troops.
He said that an Iraqi brigade, created in Fallujah, had disintegrated in 2004 and had begun fighting American soldiers.
Since 2003, the US has spent about .2bn to develop Iraqi security forces.
The US defence department has recently asked for another bn to continue the train-and-equip programme.
According to the GAO, the government had funded the programme for Iraqi security forces outside traditional security assistance programmes, providing the Pentagon with a degree of flexibility in managing the effort.
The report has further stated that "since the funding did not go through traditional security assistance programmes, the DoD [Department of Defence] accountability requirements normally applicable to these programmes did not apply".
Source: AgenciesKavkaz Center
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Click here for 12 hour loop - there are a few items to note on this loop
August 7, 2007
1830z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satelitte of North and West Hemisphere
There is an anti-cyclonic air mass over the central USA. It is maintained in the region where flooding has been sustained for months now. It is due to the increasing heat under the carbon dioxide where there can be 'heat transfer' where humidity is available. This anti-cyclonic vortex will not provide relief to the upper states and Canada experiencing fires. The troposphere there is far to hot to provide heat transfer because the 'water vapor' can't form long enough to produce clouds. Water vapor, clouds are about heat transfer.
There is also a low pressure system at the Lesser Antilles (click here) which, in my opinion will eventually spawn minimally a tropical storm.
There is also a tropical depression, near shore, west of North America at Guatemala and San Salvador.
Lake Belton 40 feet above normal.
August 5, 2007
Lake Belton, Texas
The emergency of persistant flooding spawns 'The Flood Czar.' (click on title above.) My guess is that her first directive is to supply whatever FEMA monies people are entitled to as their homes are swallowed up by persistent flooding, while linking with real estate brokers above any known flood plain in Texas history. That is what I would expect. If this is just a gesture to hold everyone's hand then they are just postponing much needed redirection in the face of sea level rise and saturation flooding of land.
Linda Doran of Sioux City has been deployed to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to help with disaster relief following recent flooding in Texas.
Doran recently was promoted to manager in disaster relief and will be working as a manager in Texas with individual families affected by the flooding.Doran has been a Red Cross volunteer with the Siouxland Chapter of the American Red Cross since 2001 and since that time has been deployed on numerous disasters, including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, she traveled to Kansas and South Dakota to assist residents who have been affected by disasters in those states.
August 5, 2007
Lake Belton, Texas
Photographer states :: This is the lake that is not too far down the street from my house. June and July were very wet months around here and this is the effect of it. Across the road is a very popular summer beach but not this year. The beach is completely under water.
August 5, 2007
Temple, Texas
Photographer states :: This was the end of the road for us. What was weird is that we stood on the road and listened to waves hit land like it was nothing. Kind of erie!
Lake Belton, Texas Homepage (click here)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District welcomes you to Belton Lake, located in Belton, Texas. Our mission: Provide flood damage reduction, supply water and offer recreational opportunities to the Belton area, and to offer some of the best fishing, camping and boating in Texas.
Bell officials seek disaster status Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 (click here)
Today's News:
By Don BoldingKilleen Daily HeraldBell County Emergency Management Coordinator Dennis Baker told county commissioners Monday morning that he is waiting to hear from the Federal Emergency Management Administration about whether recent flooding can be considered a single disaster event.Such a consideration could qualify Bell County for a presidential disaster declaration, a status already granted to Coryell and Lampasas counties.A full damage report is not possible until the waters of Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir recede enough for damage to submerged roadways and structures to be assessed.The Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water bit by bit, managing all lakes and streams, and that means water in different locations may go up before it goes down. Since Friday, Stillhouse Hollow has risen 1.7 feet, while Lake Belton has dropped two feet. Both are more than 30 feet above their normal capacity....
Wildfires
NOAA Fire Alert (click here)
.DISCUSSION... (click here)
A WEATHER SYSTEM ALOFT OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT. THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF IT BUT DRYCONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND IT. INCREASING WESTERLY FLOW ALOFTCOMBINED WITH DAYTIME HEATING WILL RESULT IN GUSTY WEST WINDSTODAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO BE RELATIVELY DRY TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. THESE TWO FACTORS WILL RESULT IN RED FLAG CONDITIONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE WEATHER SITUATION ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH ONGOING FIRES. MTZ112-080015-
EASTERN GLACIER/TOOLE/CENTRAL AND EASTERN PONDERA/LIBERTYCOUNTIES-
515 AM MDT TUE AUG 7 2007
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDTWEDNESDAY FOR GUSTY WEST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...
August 5, 2007
Seeley Lake, Michigan
Photographer states :: Sunday I attended a wedding near Seeley Lake, Mt. Which is having a major forest fire. On that day it grew from 10,000 acres to 16,000 acres. They were evacuating the town.
...HELENA, Mont. - A state of emergency was declared in Montana on Sunday because of several large wildfires, including one that has crept to within a mile of several homes and destroyed at least one.
Higher humidity and clouds were helping firefighters contain that nearly 28-square-mile blaze, which began Friday and rapidly grew, leading to evacuation orders for residents of about 200 homes.
In addition to the destroyed home, another one was damaged, as well as a commercial building and seven other structures, said Pat Cross, a fire information officer. But no injuries were reported, and the fire grew little on Sunday.
"The fire didn't do much today in terms of moving," Cross said. "We had a very good day."...
Higher humidity and clouds were helping firefighters contain that nearly 28-square-mile blaze, which began Friday and rapidly grew, leading to evacuation orders for residents of about 200 homes.
In addition to the destroyed home, another one was damaged, as well as a commercial building and seven other structures, said Pat Cross, a fire information officer. But no injuries were reported, and the fire grew little on Sunday.
"The fire didn't do much today in terms of moving," Cross said. "We had a very good day."...
Back in the day, when the USA was fighting 'the good fight' in Afghanistan, post September 11th...
The face of Afghanistan is one of hope and peace. The Afghan people are not aggressors. They are very capable of good alliances with benevolent and loyal intentions with all that care to embrace their reality and culture. It's time to place leadership in the Executive Branch that can lead in cooperation without the threat of death to citizens.
...President Hamid Karzai called on the USA and Iran to meet and begin diplomatic relations to 'iron out' the differences that would surely prove to be a difficulty for a new burgeoning democracy in Aghanistan. The President of Afghanistan had received the blessing of the former and now late King (click here) whom saw a great deal of hope for his people under President Karzai's leadership. He was right to do so. It has been nearly six years since the initial attacks on the USA and President Karzai has survived any speculation to his demise after a short time (click here).
....But when the two men greeted reporters here on Monday, Mr. Bush pointedly disagreed, saying, “I would be very cautious about whether the Iranian influence in Afghanistan is a positive force.”
Iran has sent workers to Afghanistan to provide aid to villages, but American officials contend that Tehran is also funneling weapons into the country. Mr. Bush has long viewed Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, and is deeply suspicious of its nuclear ambitions, a view he reiterated Monday even as he said he was “willing to listen” to Mr. Karzai’s position....
Bush is "W"rong on all counts regarding his Neocon directives on this issue. As a matter of fact Bush needs to apologize to the naitons of the Middle East for escalating instability and international tension in the region.
When the USA first launched an attack against the Taliban whom was harboring al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Iran was a very, very different country. It was far more peaceful than now. As a point of reference and reality to the tensions between Iran and the USA; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the sixth Iranian President on August 6, 2005. That's all the time that has gone by since the elections that changed the face of Iran from 'fearful' of the war in Iraq to a nation with the potential to build nuclear weapons. That's all the time, only two years later and about two and a half years after Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq illegally.
If I were to walk in an Iranian's shoes would I expect my country to protect me, a Shi'ite from all that could happen to me, those I loved and the only Shia nation on Earth? I would expect that of my country if there was a war being waged illegally, immorally, ruthlessly even, bordering on genocide and certainly engaged for economic reasons of exploitation of oil resources BELONGING to the citizens of a country that shared so much border with mine. Absolutely, I feel the Iranians are justified in their worry. They have USA intelligence peeking into their borders all the time and a president now occupying the Executive Branch of a militarily powerful country threatening to invade their country now that Iraq's oil is guaranteed through contracts with a 'figure head government' in Baghdad.
That 'fearful' country of Iran didn't exist on September 12, 2001. Not at all, as a matter of fact, the Iranian ally; Russia; was first on the scene in Afghanistan with medical hospitals to treat the wounded of Americans attacking their invaders. Russia was a friend. An ally. Now look at the mess that exists. My, my how things have changed.
But, as for Iran, President Hamid Karzai is more than correct. He needs to have peaceful relations with all the countries bordering with and near Afghanistan. Absolutely and without a doubt in my mind. I consider President Karzai an honorable man. I do not believe he is looking to exploit Afghanistan for power and some nuclear future, unlike that of Pakistan, India and Iran. I have never heard President Karzai look toward that option in the region, but, only seeking support for the reformation of Afghanistan and a return to the 'old world' lust. Very nice.
I hope the Afghanistan people find it important enough to encourage their President to proceed with relations with Iran. If it is important enough for him to 'bring up the subject' than it is important enough for him to proceed independantly. President Karzai should be reassured the people of the USA are seeking a far better and more benevolent President that can bring stability and peace to the region without the threat of excalating war and hardship. I am more than confident that he will receive 'help' in his pursuit of relations with any country in the region of Afghanistan.
See, the difficulty in being President Karzai is that he is sincere. He wants his people lifted from poverty. He wants a democracy free of adverse economics that include Poppy production. Afghanistan is not receiving tax income from Poppy farmers, merchants and global exports. I am sure he'd rather see wine country in place of all that which still lingers as do the warlords, Bush/Cheney never stayed long enough to put out of business. It is those poppy fields that still fund the Taliban and al Qaeda.
I am sure, Bush dangled any and all fiscal support of Afghanistan over the head of President Karzai for all the cooperation a Neocon president demands. The good President of Afghanistan should look toward the years to come when the USA will be a true partner and not one that 'strong arms' it's allies.
Until then.
Monday, August 06, 2007
This is a picture of Iraqis. You might want to ask yourself: If over one third of Iraq is in a humanitarian crisis, are they actually toting guns ?
I have a lot of suspicions of what is actually transpiring in Iraq and it has absolutely nothing to do with terrorists.
The American People need a government WILLING to do the business of the nation. The Republicans are NOT 'willing' to do the business of the nation.
4 U.S. soldiers die (click here)
Baghdad -- The U.S. military announced the deaths of four U.S. soldiers: two in fighting Sunday in Baghdad and two Saturday -- one in western Baghdad and one near the capital. The latest deaths bring to at least 3,668 U.S. military personnel -- including 93 with Indiana ties -- who have died in Iraq since the war started in 2003.
Gates discusses stability
Washington -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged Sunday during a round of news talk show appearances that political stability in Iraq won't likely happen before the Bush administration makes its critical September assessment on whether its war strategy is working.
-- Star news services
Realize when there are 'improvements' in statistics there is a reason and not necessarily due to USA military strategy successes. The 'reporting' of deaths in Iraq is grossly insufficient to rely on any numbers to be correct. My guess is there are at least one million dead civilians, innocent people in Iraq by now. The attacked in the article below aren't even reportable UNLESS there are at least 20 dead. It's outrageous to realize how many die one by one as well. They aren't counted. Then realize the deaths occuring due to destroyed Iraqi infrastruture.
Iraqi Deaths in Major Blasts Rose in July (click title of entry for link)
During July, 378 people were killed in mass-casualty bombings, defined as attacks that kill more than 20 people. That figure, nearly three times the number of casualties in similar attacks in June, breaks a three-month downward trend, a troubling development for security forces just six weeks before President Bush is scheduled to receive a progress report on conditions in Iraq.
Divers continue the search for bodies among the debris of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. (AP / Brandi Jade Thomas)
The infrastructure:
THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. New Orleans' DESTRUCTION due to Katrina should not have happened. People cannot lose sight of that when they go to the polling booths whether local, state or federal. Local officials and state officials need 'to make' the priorities of the people known as well as the people themselves making their priorities known. The truly sad aspect of this reality is that people are completely innocent in the failure of their government. They trust people they elect to carry out the business of their homes beyond what they understand within their daily lives. And. It's the innocent that suffer. The unwitting. The unknowledgeable. The average citizen is supposed to be protected by government, not allowed to be victims. The victims of any of these tragedies are completely innocent in their ability to stop their own demise at the hand of negligent government.
The people in office now, need to be eliminated from making these same mistakes at the next elections. Just that simple. All these tragedies are unforgiveable. This is what government is supposed to protect citizens from on a daily basis.
The projects that were in place but not acted on, resulting in deaths of Americans and catatrophic damage to the nation, were 'set aside' for corrupt Republican 'pork.' All these issues and those such as major spending that would bring a new energy infrastruture, a new transportation infrastructure are deferred. This administration has been the Executive Branch to this nation of people since January of 2001. Stop to realize the damage the USA has suffered and continues to suffer at the hands of incompetents that are NOT WILLING to conduct the nation's business. In order to do the nation's business, elected officials have to BE WILLING to listen to scientists and engineers. If they aren't then they aren't worth having in office no matter how much of 'a nice person' they are. That nice person will kill you or those you love.
It's UNACCEPTABLE in the year 2007 the Republicans are STILL reactionaires, learning from THEIR MISTAKES. It's outrageous to realize the level of forgiveness Bush actually expects from the citizens of this country. Where does that come from? He should be ashamed when these preventable tragedies happen, but, instead he 'glows' in the aftermath as if a savior to the victims. It's disgusting the politiking that occurs over dead American bodies.
Spying on Americans:
Nothing has changed here. Not. A. Thing. Bush has been spying illegally on Americans since September 12, 2001 and STILL TODAY, the Republicans 'defer' responsibility to new comprehensive law that protects the rights of Americans while spying on those that intend to hurt us.
Why?
Why have they deferred their responsibilities? There is a reason. So why then?
Bush Signs Law to Widen Legal Reach for Wiretapping (click on)
...The new law, which is intended as a stopgap and expires in six months, also represents a power shift in terms of the oversight and regulation of government surveillance....
Release Date: February 5, 2007
President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represents $46.4 billion in funding, which is an increase of 8 percent over the FY 2007 level – excluding funds provided in emergency supplemental funding. The request targets five areas that are essential to preserving freedom and privacy, meeting future challenges, and fulfilling our mission of securing America.
According to the OMB as of August 6, 2007, the DOD has 10 times the amount of monies of DHS; as 'the base budget' for the military. That doesn't include the 'chronic emergency spending bills' that have become a staple to Bush cronies inorder to conduct war:
The President’s Budget: (click here)
Advances our ongoing efforts in the Global War on Terror;
Provides $401.7 billion for the Department's base budget, an annual increase of seven percent, for a total increase in defense spending of 35 percent since 2001;
Makes measurable strides in transforming the Department to meet new threats; and
Continues improvements in the quality of life for our military personnel and their families.
And then there is the Department of Transportation budget. A tad bit more than DHS:
...According to a press release, the Administration (click here) is requesting $67 billion for fiscal year 2008 to finance transportation...
REALIZE, the war in Iraq is illegal. It has NOTHING to do with the security of our nation and never has. The Iraq war has made the USA 'LESS SAFE' since it was embarked upon. Yet. The DOD has huge budgets that achieve absolutely NOTHING for the USA while causing a genocide within the borders of a sovereign nation that has lost AT LEAST 1 million to death, 2 million to refugee status AND a full ONE THIRD of the nation of Iraq, 8 million to poverty and near stravation and thirst. That is at least 11 million people victimized to refugee status and/or death or near death. All because Bush and Cheney wanted oil from Iraq. There is no other reason, the ONLY preparedness the USA military exhibited post invasion was securing the oil fields while Halliburton and Bechtel waited in Kuwait to take over the Iraqi oil operations.
When it comes to national security and the USA military budget, it is ALL wasted money.
When the USA invaded Iraq in March 2003 there was a 25 million populous (click here) (not billions, not even close to billions - Iraq is about the size of Texas) in that country. There is now less than 22 million and 'in that' 8 million on the verge of collapse due to a humanitarian crisis. All this, in less than five years. And the infrastructure of the USA is in ruins. The USA needs a huge shift in focus of it's priorities. It's not coming from the Republicans, I guarantee you that.
Baghdad -- The U.S. military announced the deaths of four U.S. soldiers: two in fighting Sunday in Baghdad and two Saturday -- one in western Baghdad and one near the capital. The latest deaths bring to at least 3,668 U.S. military personnel -- including 93 with Indiana ties -- who have died in Iraq since the war started in 2003.
Gates discusses stability
Washington -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged Sunday during a round of news talk show appearances that political stability in Iraq won't likely happen before the Bush administration makes its critical September assessment on whether its war strategy is working.
-- Star news services
Realize when there are 'improvements' in statistics there is a reason and not necessarily due to USA military strategy successes. The 'reporting' of deaths in Iraq is grossly insufficient to rely on any numbers to be correct. My guess is there are at least one million dead civilians, innocent people in Iraq by now. The attacked in the article below aren't even reportable UNLESS there are at least 20 dead. It's outrageous to realize how many die one by one as well. They aren't counted. Then realize the deaths occuring due to destroyed Iraqi infrastruture.
Iraqi Deaths in Major Blasts Rose in July (click title of entry for link)
During July, 378 people were killed in mass-casualty bombings, defined as attacks that kill more than 20 people. That figure, nearly three times the number of casualties in similar attacks in June, breaks a three-month downward trend, a troubling development for security forces just six weeks before President Bush is scheduled to receive a progress report on conditions in Iraq.
Divers continue the search for bodies among the debris of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. (AP / Brandi Jade Thomas)
The infrastructure:
THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. New Orleans' DESTRUCTION due to Katrina should not have happened. People cannot lose sight of that when they go to the polling booths whether local, state or federal. Local officials and state officials need 'to make' the priorities of the people known as well as the people themselves making their priorities known. The truly sad aspect of this reality is that people are completely innocent in the failure of their government. They trust people they elect to carry out the business of their homes beyond what they understand within their daily lives. And. It's the innocent that suffer. The unwitting. The unknowledgeable. The average citizen is supposed to be protected by government, not allowed to be victims. The victims of any of these tragedies are completely innocent in their ability to stop their own demise at the hand of negligent government.
The people in office now, need to be eliminated from making these same mistakes at the next elections. Just that simple. All these tragedies are unforgiveable. This is what government is supposed to protect citizens from on a daily basis.
The projects that were in place but not acted on, resulting in deaths of Americans and catatrophic damage to the nation, were 'set aside' for corrupt Republican 'pork.' All these issues and those such as major spending that would bring a new energy infrastruture, a new transportation infrastructure are deferred. This administration has been the Executive Branch to this nation of people since January of 2001. Stop to realize the damage the USA has suffered and continues to suffer at the hands of incompetents that are NOT WILLING to conduct the nation's business. In order to do the nation's business, elected officials have to BE WILLING to listen to scientists and engineers. If they aren't then they aren't worth having in office no matter how much of 'a nice person' they are. That nice person will kill you or those you love.
It's UNACCEPTABLE in the year 2007 the Republicans are STILL reactionaires, learning from THEIR MISTAKES. It's outrageous to realize the level of forgiveness Bush actually expects from the citizens of this country. Where does that come from? He should be ashamed when these preventable tragedies happen, but, instead he 'glows' in the aftermath as if a savior to the victims. It's disgusting the politiking that occurs over dead American bodies.
Maybe it's because 'the dead' can't speak and those still alive can't find the words. It's easy to get the upper hand over the dead and the surviving victims.
Families of missing bridge victims tour site (click here)
Updated Sun. Aug. 5 2007 3:48 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Families of eight people believed to be missing after the collapse of a major Minneapolis bridge got a first-hand look at the difficulties searchers are facing in trying to recover their loved ones' bodies.After the visit to the Interstate 35W site, "they had a better depth of understanding of ... the challenges that the rescuers are facing now that they've seen it first hand," Melanie Tschida, a Red Cross spokeswoman,...
Spying on Americans:
Nothing has changed here. Not. A. Thing. Bush has been spying illegally on Americans since September 12, 2001 and STILL TODAY, the Republicans 'defer' responsibility to new comprehensive law that protects the rights of Americans while spying on those that intend to hurt us.
Why?
Why have they deferred their responsibilities? There is a reason. So why then?
Bush Signs Law to Widen Legal Reach for Wiretapping (click on)
...The new law, which is intended as a stopgap and expires in six months, also represents a power shift in terms of the oversight and regulation of government surveillance....
What about the 'same exact' reasons why everything that is adverse to Americans happen? In other words, what if they are just incompetent and are scratching their heads trying to legislate good programs. What if they have an idea of the 'infrastruture' that has to occur to allow privacy for Americans while looking for those that want to hurt us; yet it isn't in place? What gives? Perhaps the monies required, including the hiring of enough trained/educated people to the federal government to carry out necessary surveillance WITHIN the applications of 'Privacy of Americans' are deferred for the sake of war funding. Does anyone stop to realize the 'ratio' of monies spent on war over domestic national security? Just look at the budget of DOD vs. Homeland Security and realize where the Republicans WASTE efforts for effective national security
Fact Sheet: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Announces Eight Percent Increase in Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request (click here)Release Date: February 5, 2007
President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represents $46.4 billion in funding, which is an increase of 8 percent over the FY 2007 level – excluding funds provided in emergency supplemental funding. The request targets five areas that are essential to preserving freedom and privacy, meeting future challenges, and fulfilling our mission of securing America.
According to the OMB as of August 6, 2007, the DOD has 10 times the amount of monies of DHS; as 'the base budget' for the military. That doesn't include the 'chronic emergency spending bills' that have become a staple to Bush cronies inorder to conduct war:
The President’s Budget: (click here)
Advances our ongoing efforts in the Global War on Terror;
Provides $401.7 billion for the Department's base budget, an annual increase of seven percent, for a total increase in defense spending of 35 percent since 2001;
Makes measurable strides in transforming the Department to meet new threats; and
Continues improvements in the quality of life for our military personnel and their families.
And then there is the Department of Transportation budget. A tad bit more than DHS:
...According to a press release, the Administration (click here) is requesting $67 billion for fiscal year 2008 to finance transportation...
REALIZE, the war in Iraq is illegal. It has NOTHING to do with the security of our nation and never has. The Iraq war has made the USA 'LESS SAFE' since it was embarked upon. Yet. The DOD has huge budgets that achieve absolutely NOTHING for the USA while causing a genocide within the borders of a sovereign nation that has lost AT LEAST 1 million to death, 2 million to refugee status AND a full ONE THIRD of the nation of Iraq, 8 million to poverty and near stravation and thirst. That is at least 11 million people victimized to refugee status and/or death or near death. All because Bush and Cheney wanted oil from Iraq. There is no other reason, the ONLY preparedness the USA military exhibited post invasion was securing the oil fields while Halliburton and Bechtel waited in Kuwait to take over the Iraqi oil operations.
When it comes to national security and the USA military budget, it is ALL wasted money.
When the USA invaded Iraq in March 2003 there was a 25 million populous (click here) (not billions, not even close to billions - Iraq is about the size of Texas) in that country. There is now less than 22 million and 'in that' 8 million on the verge of collapse due to a humanitarian crisis. All this, in less than five years. And the infrastructure of the USA is in ruins. The USA needs a huge shift in focus of it's priorities. It's not coming from the Republicans, I guarantee you that.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
I think anyone with a brain 'gets it.'
There is a lot to consider and steer away from when considering a vote for a Republican.
For as 'unrealistic' as this might seem, kindly remember these are 'the goals' of the Republicans and in a recent interview on Larry King Live, Dick Cheney stated he would be happy to serve under the next Republican elected president.
Hello, America.
Have a good day.
For as 'unrealistic' as this might seem, kindly remember these are 'the goals' of the Republicans and in a recent interview on Larry King Live, Dick Cheney stated he would be happy to serve under the next Republican elected president.
Hello, America.
Have a good day.
In a surprise move to save his reputation, John Roberts resigns from the Supreme Court...
Associated Press/Joel Page Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, left, rides out to his vacation home in Port Clyde, Maine, shortly after leaving the hospital Tuesday.
... to become Giuliani's Attorney General. The decision was made when Roberts realized the secrecy of his seizure disorder would result in analogies to Richard Nixon's Dilantin dependency (click here) .
...According to the book, Mr Nixon consulted a psychotherapist, Dr Jack Dreyfus, in 1970 after becoming depressed over the hostile public reaction to the bombing of Cambodia.
Nixon aide John Taylor Dr Dreyfus, an enthusiastic user and promoter of the drug Dilantin, told The New York Times that he gave Mr Nixon a bottle of 1,000 capsules of the drug "when his mood wasn't too good", and later gave him a further 1,000....
Nixon aide John Taylor Dr Dreyfus, an enthusiastic user and promoter of the drug Dilantin, told The New York Times that he gave Mr Nixon a bottle of 1,000 capsules of the drug "when his mood wasn't too good", and later gave him a further 1,000....
David J. Lesar, the man who brought the American Public "No Bid Contrats"
He could become Secretary of the Treasury, if Rudy doesn't find another 'Wall Street Exec' like Paulson.
Mr. Lesar would seek to find a seamless methodology between China and Halliburton for the USA Treasury to bolster all the aspects where Halliburton accounting failed before. Did they have Anderson as an accounting company? No?
New Homeland Security Secretary. Bernard Kerik. He'd 'stun gun' the nation to secure the borders.
Mr. Kerik enjoyed mistresses in every borough of New York City while serving with Mayor Guiliani. I don't know if he knew Judy that well before Rudy did. Hm? Well, I mean they had to meet somehow.
George Walker Bush could move into Health and Human Services
Would he love this or what? He could 'run game' for this pharmaceutical cronies with a new focus on American Healthcare on the minds of the American public, while he dismantled the Social Security Administration.
Dick Cheney would be finishing off 'his life' as a return to The Secretary of Defense Role
After all, to leave Iraq is death to the Republican Party. The Republican Party is literally a 'dying' party. The mistake of the Bush White House was to link 'the party' to the past rather than bringing in young and fresh members to the Republican Party. All the 'experienced' members of 'the party' may very well die during the next eight years of Presidential rule, except for Judy, of course. Think about it.
Neil Bush, currently the CEO of Ignite
He might be a real potential for Education Secretary. Rule the world, profit from the domination. Hey, how can a Bush survive otherwise.
Former Bush Cabinet members are attempting to 'shore up' a re-establishment of federal paychecks
In Transportation - Sam Skinner
Other old world Republican hopefuls are Jack Kemp, Nicholas F. Brady, and "...Conspicuously absent from the Giuliani campaign list are the state's leading Republicans, Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato and State Comptroller Edward V. Regan. Neither has been asked, Giuliani aides said, because of doubts about their voter appeal. Both have been criticized for their fund-raising tactics...."
Are these guys still alive?
Sentor Lindsay Graham, the man that brought American the attack against against 'habeous corpus.'
He may very well be the next Vice President in order to carry the south, especially if John Edwards finds a Presidential nomination for the Democrats.
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