"Power Beyond the Stars" says Iran is next

While Americans were distracted by the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration the rest of the world was paying closer attention, and the message was loud and clear: How will the U.S. mark the two year anniversary of Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq? Why by attacking its neighbor Iran, that's how.



Of course it's true, Bush never used the word "Iran" in his inaugural address. He just declared war on the rest of the world citing as his authority a power coming from "somewhere beyond the stars" and vowing to fight for those seeking freedom from the "rulers of outlaw regimes."



And Condi Rice, soon to be America's chief diplomat, only set the stage by saying, "It's really hard to find common ground with a government that thinks Israel should be extinguished," thus abandoning a diplomatic approach.



No, to really get the story you had to listen to The Angry Puppeteer himself, Dick Cheney. Just minutes before the inauguration hoopla began he warned right-wing talk radio listeners Iran has a "fairly robust new nuclear program," is a sponsor of terrorism against Americans, and ignores the rights of its citizens. (Gee, they've got WMD and they sponsor terrorism? On top of that they're nasty to their own people? No irony there.) Then he on to predict that a coalition of the U.S. and Israel Israel "might well decide to act first" militarily.



So there you have it, the "power beyond the stars" is Dick Cheney.



Scotsman News - War with Iran Not Ruled Out by Bush

Condi's Ghost of Christmas Past

"The biggest regret is that we didn't stop 9/11. And then in the wake of 9/11, instead of redoubling what is our traditional export of hope and optimism we exported our fear and our anger. And presented a very intense and angry face to the world. I regret that a lot," said Richard Armitage, outgoing Deputy Secretary of State.



That's likely to be the last little bit of candor from the State Department for a while if Condoleezza Rice's "see-no-evil, hear-no-evil" analysis of the Bush administration at her confirmation hearings this week is any indicator.



The Australian - Reflections of a straight shooter

Iraq? Don't blame Bush. It's your fault. It's all your fault.

It's official. You, as an American, are personally responsible for the mess in Iraq. The invasion, the occupation, the 100,000 dead civilians, the devastation, the hell that is daily life on the streets, the brutal political dictatorship ... it's all your fault.



According to George W. Bush he's not responsible, you are. And his proof is that you "re-elected" him last November.



"We had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 elections. The American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me."



Much as it pains Woodburydadd to admit it, George W. Bush is right, though not for the reasons he thinks.



The American people are responsible for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq and all of the atrocities and war crimes that have accompanied it. What is more, polls continue to show that upwards of fifty percent of Americans support the occupation, which has included the targeting of doctors, the bombing of hospitals, the wholesale destruction of entire cities, the sadism of "our troops" as they execute wounded prisoners, rape male and female detainees, and use Iraqis as human shields, to name a few of the war crimes inflicted in Iraqi civilians every single day.



So later today, when you see one of those magnetic "Support Our Troops" ribbons on the car ahead of you, remember what it means. And tonight, when today's carnage in Iraq ranks only a brief mention on the nightly news, remember that it is all being done in your name.



Washington Post - Bush Says Election Ratified Iraq Policy (washingtonpost.com)