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A collection of insightful ruminations, reflections, and rants on the events of the day (with the exception of the weekend). We'll collect a week's worth here and then archive them. Come visit each weekday to see what's pushing Barbara's buttons.

May 14, 2004

"IT'S JUST NOT THE AMERICAN WAY," say George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, numerous Repuglican Congressional members, and all the right wing ditto heads, about the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. I would like to remind them of Election 2000, the appointment of a president who was not elected by the popular vote, tax cuts for the very wealthy, environmental destruction, no funding for education, blurring the lines between church and state, an administration that ignored terrorist warnings regarding a massive horrific attack, The Patriot Act, detaining Americans without due process, pre-emptive war based on lies, "Shock and Awe," sending our troops into war improperly equipped, and the death and destruction of innocent men, women and children. I have to think, NO it's not the American way, but it's most certainly George Bush's way and it is disgusting.

* * *

So, today Rumsfeld ordered the release of Inhofe's "murderers with American blood on their hands"! It shows us all how asinine Inhofe and his statements really are! Sadly, this benevolent action of Rumsfeld did nothing for Nick Berg. It seems that those in this administration will only do the right thing when their political asses are in danger.

* * *

Excuse me, but wasn't that a whole vat of Kool-aid Rumsfeld and Myers were serving up for our troops in Iraq? Amid all the praise and back slapping, General Myers answered one young soldier's question regarding equipment with, "Yes, we're working on that, we don't have the number of Humvees needed here in Iraq, but we've ordered up some of those really souped up versions for you guys." Tell that to all those young men and women who've died because they didn't have the proper equipment to fight a war. My God, how long is America going to remain silent and how many must die in this ill conceived, poorly planned, unnecessary war? How long are dumb and dumber going to be entrusted with the lives of our sons and daughters?

* * *

May 13, 2004

Did anyone really think the Repuglicans were going to allow the release of any further pictures revealing prisoner torture? It's become that old fashioned political gamesmanship: who will be responsible for showing the American public exactly what we've been paying for, and neither the Pentagon, the Repuglican Congress, nor the White House wants to be accountable for this atrocity. So, in the end, we will hear all the rhetoric while these guys do everything possible to squelch this particular story of horror. To Senator Mitch McConnell: Due to the questionable integrity and the downright lies we've been fed by your party, we can't take your word for anything. You and yours are no longer credible in these United States!

* * *

General Taguba attempted to "do the right thing" in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse report he compiled for the Pentagon. In watching his testimony before the Congressional Committee, one has to wonder, especially after tidbits of information from the report had been "too far reaching" on the tube, if in the end he caved into pressure by telling the world that just a few soldiers and their commanders were responsible? Also, one has to wonder, do you really believe someone would actually write down an order to torture prisoners? Common sense tells us these guys are not going to incriminate themselves by leaving a paper trail!

* * *

The worst part of the Abu Ghraib scandal is knowing that the Bush administration promoted "whatever necessary," which resulted in the abuse of prisoners by gullible guards and their commanders. It is disgusting that this administration is willing to sacrifice those guards and their commanders in order to weasel out of responsibility. This administration is not only guilty of prisoner abuse, but now they are abusing the very soldiers who were ordered to carry out the twisted, perverted sexual interrogation procedures. Whatever sick minds came up with these practices are the ones who should be locked up.

* * *

May 12, 2004

In a nation where one's patriotism is questioned every time one disagrees with the administration's policies, why would anyone think that "I was following orders" is a false defense?  Granted, the abuse and torture by some soldiers on the Iraqi prisoners is incomprehensible in a sane world, but just remember what's happened to some very credible people in America because they simply dared to tell the truth.  Look at what's happened regarding this scandal: the fact that pictures were leaked seems to be more important to this administration that what the pictures actually reveal.  In other words, the Bush administration is more upset over getting caught than they are about prisoner torture!  It's a very sad day for us when the American people have to be told,  "The Bush administration is in full damage control."  We, the American people, really will be responsible for his actions, if indeed he is elected to office come November.

* * *

What twisted minds could possibly come up with the methods of torture used on the Iraqi prisoners?  That blue dress is far more innocuous than anything we've been subjected too under this Repuglican regime.  Sodomizing, broomsticks and chemical lights, stripped naked, attack dogs, pyramids of naked men butt to butt, rape and murder, pictures and videos -- my God, stop and think how insane and depraved the minds had to be to conjure up this kind of abuse on humanity.  Stop and think who is the commander in chief, and then realize the buck stops on George's desk.  Don't tell me he didn't know what was going on, don't tell me he didn't sanction "whatever's necessary"! 

* * *

Senator Inhofe was obviously ill prepared for today's hearings regarding the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib. He stated, "I'm probably not the only one up at this table that is more outraged by the outrage than we are by the treatment ... These prisoners, you know they're not there for traffic violations. If they're in cellblock 1-A or 1-B, these prisoners, they're murderers, they're terrorists, they're insurgents. Many of them probably have American blood on their hands and here we're so concerned about the treatment of those individuals."  Unfortunately for Inhofe, American military intelligence officers and the Red Cross have reported that 70 to 90% of the "detainees" were placed in prison by mistake.  What about the ones who "probably" don't have American blood on their hands who had to undergo the torturous treatment? Even so, I thought we were about promoting Democracy. I seem to remember somewhere, before Bush was president, the phrase "innocent until proven guilty," which alone would condemn any abuse, and certainly does not allow for torture.

* * *

May 11, 2004

I am sick knowing that warnings were ignored that might have prevented the horrific attacks on 9/11. I am sick that we've not captured Osama bin Laden, the man responsible for those attacks. I am sick with the knowledge that lies led Americans to support an invasion of Iraq. I am sick when I think of "shock and awe" and the innocent people, including children, who died as a result. I am sick that no WMD's have been discovered. I am sick that George Bush arrogantly paraded around on the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier proclaiming "Mission Accomplished." I am sick knowing that more than 700 American soldiers have died in that unnecessary war. I am sick to see the torture and abuse perpetrated on Iraqi prisoners. I am disgusted knowing that all this is the result of George Bush's unelected appointment to the presidency, the day Democracy was lost in America.

* * *

I would like to be a fly on the wall when George has his next conversation with God and attempts to explain the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners. How will George explain beatings, stripping men and women of their dignity, as well as their clothes, sodomizing men with sticks and chemical lights, electrocution, and setting attack dogs loose on children? God knows who is telling the truth and just who is lying. "Wasn't my fault" isn't a good excuse. Besides, I don't think God accepts excuses as readily as the Repuglican Party!

* * *

In a world where those who would disagree with the current administration's policies are delegated to protest zones, it seems plausible that some grunts in the U.S. military might say to the world, "I was following orders." Now, for a moment, stop and think about that. "I was following orders." The question then becomes, "Who's orders, and why were they issued?" Accountability goes up the chain of command and responsibility stops at the top. The "I didn't know" excuse is not acceptable. Bush is not capable of doing the job. Now, more than ever, America needs someone in office who can! Impeach the thief.

* * *

May 10, 2004

I just wonder if, during the recent hearings, the truth would have been more forthcoming from Donald Rumsfeld and General Myers if they had been stripped naked, hooded and leashed, while Congressional aides stood by with attack dogs? Do you suppose they then would have been inclined to tell Americans about the abuse taking place in Abu Ghraib? Bush's war on terror has only succeeded in turning us into terrorists!

* * *

There are some in America who have begun to express the opinion that Iraqis should be grateful for what America has done for them. Now that's a novel idea -- we expect the people we bombed to be grateful! My God, where is the sanity, where is the intelligence in this kind of thinking? What are they thinking? Under the circumstances, when death and destruction have besieged you, when your children are dead, when torture and abuse is standard, when safety and security is illusive and your future uncertain, how could anyone entertain thoughts of gratitude?

* * *

It is my opinion that George Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, rather than an act of retribution against Saddam Hussein for attempting to assassinate Poppy, as has been opined, was an adolescent, deep seated need to prove to Poppy that he could accomplish that which Poppy couldn't! He has been trying to prove he's a better man than Poppy all his life! George saw Iraq as the perfect opportunity. Little does he know, he can never be the man that Poppy has been, even though some of his methods (i.e. mean spirited, covering up the facts, intimidation, and downright ignorance) are the same!

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