Once upon a time, we, the United States of America, fondly called “America” both at home and abroad, were enjoying the fruits of economic and political success as a result of eight years or so of Democratic leadership. We were enjoying rising home values, overseas markets were stable, the inflation rate was an astounding 2% or so, and the world at large admired, loved and trusted us. Life was good, by and large.
But a terrible tragedy occurred. The Republicans managed to steal the Presidential election, and the Supreme Court took the extra-legal step of declaring the outcome of the race (extra-legal, as elections are bound by state, not federal, laws) for the thieves. OK, so we had a bloodless coup, not a good thing, but the damage could be repaired. But, as the Fates would have it, America was struck by a second tragedy: fanatic Islamic terrorists under the tutelage of Osama bin Laden, hijacked several aircraft and drove them into the very heart of America, destroying the very symbol of American financial dominance, the World Trade Center buildings, and killing almost 3,000 people.
The world reacted with shock and with a tremendous outpouring of sympathy. They promised uncompromising support in an effort to root out the evil bastards who had perpetrated this crime. Unfortunately, an evil cabal had taken over the government, and this sympathy and offer of help was brushed aside to further an agenda of world domination, corporate profit and political revenge. What followed is a veritable shopping list of criminal activity, in the sense of being un-Constitutional, illegal according to international laws and treaties, and an outrage to common decency, civil liberty, personal and national safety, murderous and greedy.
Let’s take a look at some of the major criminals in this cabal. It breaks down this way:
George Walker Bush, 43rd President of the United States, scion of a corrupt Texas and New England family which was deep into the pockets of the former Nazis of WWII Holocaust fame and is presently in bed with the oil princes of Saudi Arabia, also criminal enterprises. Skipped out on his National Guard enlistment requirements, bullies foreign countries, lies to and shortchanges his own supporters. He sponsors bills and vetoes them, if he doesn’t under fund them to the point of uselessness. He has no center. Contrary to the Constitution, which only grants the power to declare war to Congress, he illegally commanded the military forces of the United States to invade a foreign, sovereign nation on the pretext that they might be a danger to us, even though the nation in question had absolutely no connection with the fanatics who had perpetrated the hijackings. He is a smirker.
Richard (Dick) Cheney, Vice President of the US, former CEO of Halliburton, Inc., major contractor to the US military, still on the payroll as Halliburton works on no-bid contracts in Iraq while overcharging the American taxpayer. Also has a foul mouth, almost a requirement for a wise guy. While not visibly a founding member of the New American Century project, he certainly embodies its ideals, those of American Triumphalism, i.e., global domination and political sado-masochism. He is not dead yet.
Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General. What can I say? Mouthpiece to the mob, he oversees a hand-picked team of legal technicians who think that international law is “quaint” and “obsolete;” he is skilled in legal hair-splitting and lying to members of Congress. Also possesses a selective memory. A slap in the face to all Hispanic Americans.
John Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence (PDF ), a Jack-in-the-box surprise appointment to the new post, is an old hand at not conveying intelligence, or at least, information, to the American people. His post ostensively involves giving the Prez a “daily brief.” How this is going to work is up for discussion, because Negroponte has a history of omerta and the condoning of violence against the people of the nations he has been ambassador to.
Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State or Official Liar of the 43rd Reich? Former National Security Advisor, meaning she got to read Top Secret documents with the real skinny on what-was-what, advising the President on matters of grave importance. Wanna-be wife of the Shrub, she has been accused of being anti-black (but so has everybody), but what has she done for black people lately, other than get them killed in a stupid, bloody war? As former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, she had access, but didn’t give credence, to intelligence advisories such as one entitled “Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside the United States.” Or the FAA’s 52 warnings of an air attack. Fifty-two!!! When questioned during the Congressional hearings on her Secretary of State appointment, she refused to list all the members of the “Coalition of the willing,” offering only to name some examples. She dissembled (lied on the record, lots of links about this, just pick one) about the information available to her prior to 9/11; she lied about information concerning the so-called weapons of mass destruction allegedly held by the Iraqis prior to our invasion. Simply stated, she’s a liar.
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, rabid anti-Communist, staunch supporter of the strategic missile defense plan, or “Star Wars.” His planning, or rather, lack of same, has led to multiple botch-ups in the Iraq war, including failure to protect Iraqi national treasures, underestimating the goodwill of the populace, inadequate ammo and armor, no clearly stated end-of-mission, no withdrawal plan, reliance on self-aggrandizing intelligence from indicted Iraqi embezzlers; the list goes on. As Secretary of Defense, he is in charge of Abu Gharib and the rest of the prisoner of war camps that we have set up world wide, and thus, directly responsible for the torture there. He is a founding member of the Project for the New American Century.
Here are some more members of the rancid crew:
Elliott Abrams, Richard L. Armitage, William J. Bennett, , John Bolton, Paula Dobriansky, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Kagan, Zalmay Khalilzad, William Kristol, Richard Perle, Peter W. Rodman, Donald Rumsfeld, William Schneider, Jr., Vin Weber, Paul Wolfowitz, R. James Woolsey, Robert B. Zoellick
We’ll get to some of the more interesting of these guys in Part Two of our story. For the moment, let’s take some time out and call, write, email, visit the offices of our representatives to Washington and yell at them, letting them know that this cannot abide, this shit has got to stop. Our personal fortunes and honor are on the line.
