Too Depressing.

This is just too depressing. It’s really amazing - and doubly depressing - that this kind of thing isn’t even surprising anymore. Can anybody plausibly say, “No, it’s just not credible that the US would do that”?

[Crooked Timber]

Well, at least we won't torture them, right?  comment []6:36:28 PM    

DUBYAH=SONNY CORLEONE. DUBYAH=SONNY CORLEONE: This is...to say the least...interesting.

Apparently, Saddam Hussein actually PLANNED for a post-combat phase insurgency in Iraq.

In other words, much like Sonny was baited into chasing after Carlo after he found Connie beat up at her apartment, Dubyah chased after Saddam.

And, just like Sonny, he wound up riddled with bullets in an ambush.

[Counterspin Central]

Read the whole article.Best explanation for what has happened.  comment []6:24:03 PM    

Bush admits combat missions in Iraq are geared towards influencing US election

At some point, someone, somewhere has to raise a stink about this. Bush has ordered our troops in Iraq to delay any major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq, apparently even if they're militarily necessary, until after the US elections in November.



My favorite quote is the following:

"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity.



"Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said.

I.e., we're going to wait until after the elections because then no one will care what we do.



If you're a service member in Iraq, or know a service member in Iraq, share this article with other of our troops. They need to know that their lives are being used as political fodder by this president.

- John in DC [AMERICAblog]

I saw this the other day. So, political concerns will drive out military strategy. Can't do anything before Nov. 2. What message does this send to our troops and to our enemies?  comment []12:08:26 AM    

New Kerry ad KICKS BUSH'S ASS Well that was quick. I was bitching in the previous post about no one using Bush's "I don't think we can win it" comment in an ad. Well, Kerry just launched one today, and it rocks. View the ad here. - John in DC [AMERICAblog]

Very nice ad. And it is in Quicktime.  comment []12:05:35 AM    

Who are we anymore? From AP:

At least 11 al-Qaida suspects have "disappeared" in U.S. custody, and some may have been tortured, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Monday.

The prisoners are probably being held outside the United States without access to the Red Cross or any oversight of their treatment, the human rights group said. In some cases, the United States will not even acknowledge the prisoners are in custody.

The report said the prisoners include the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, as well as Abu Zubaydah, who is believed to be a close aide to Osama bin Laden.

In refusing to disclose the prisoners' whereabouts or acknowledge the detentions, Human Rights Watch said, the U.S. government has violated international law, international treaties and the Geneva Convention. The group called on the government to bring all the prisoners "under the protection of the law."

- John in DC [AMERICAblog]

Great. Have we become some sort of South American country, where the rule of law only applies to some and where you can be disappeared at the convenience of the rulers? The ends justify the means is a poor argument even in the best of hands. In the hands of this Administration, which has shown a strong tendency to lie and distort the facts, it is a policy that can only lead to ruin.  comment []12:01:10 AM