"Venezuela Doubles Discount Heating Oil Shipments to US
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced Thursday his government is doubling the amount of discounted heating oil it provides to poor Americans. The state-owned company, Citgo, will provide up to one hundred million gallons to low-income communities in eighteen states this winter. Chavez made the announcement at a Church ceremony in Harlem. He was introduced by actor and activist Danny Glover." During his remarks, Chavez also called President Bush an “alcoholic” and a “sick man.” His comments come one day after he referred to President Bush as “the devil” while addressing the UN General Assembly."
* Amy:
"Musharraf: US Threatened to Bomb Pakistan “Back to Stone Age”Does anyone have a read on this Stone Age thing? Who is the audience? Pak domestic? US domestic? Josh argues that perhaps they just think it's fun dumping on Armitage.
Pakistan’s president is claiming the White House threatened him in the days following the 9/11 attacks. On Thursday, General Perez Musharraf said he was relayed a message from then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage over the consequences of not cooperating with the Bush administration. Armitage reportedly said: “Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age.” The disclosure comes one day after President Bush said he would not hesitate to launch an invasion inside Pakistan if he received intelligence Osama bin Laden was hiding there."
15 comments:
I haven't read anyone else's opinion about it, and maybe I'll have second thoughts. I was surprised Pakistan would do anything helpful for the U.S., let alone allow us to conduct base operations there. Way back when, I assumed they were offered rewards and punishments, so this talk comes as no surprise. That threat would have particular meaning for Musharraf, living next door to Iraq, which the U.S. has maintained in a preindustrial state by bombing for decades. I wish someone would explain the tactical advantage of doing that to me, because I don't really get it. Maybe Musharraf is lying, but I doubt it. Armitage is a loathsome blob of a man who deserves far more veneration than he receives: you can find his photo in the dictionary next to the definition for "hideous." If Musharraf's claim is bogus, and Armitage is being falsely accused, my reaction would be "fuck him."
yeah - fuck armitage. i'm still curious as to how and why this anecdote is coming out. i wonder who signe doff on it
I just watched 9/11 Press For Truth, and was surprised/pleased/amazed at the emphasis they placed on the ISI's funding of operatives in the U.S. That hasn't been discussed in the news here, I was barely aware of it and mentally filed it under "possible culprits." Armitage strikes me as one of those people who knows everything about 9/11 but is too much of a measely coward to step forward and squeal. If he ever does, I'll take back all the bad stuff I said about him and secretly harbor affection.
right - General Mahmood (who sent atta the money) was in the US that week, meeting with armitage, powell, grossman etc. This is when armitage apparently made the 'Stone Age' comment.
what else did you think of the movie?
I felt sad? Heh, so many suspects, so little actual motive. These guys, this motive, those guys, that motive, and all of it more or less compelling. The way the Bush administration stifled and continues to thwart a meaningful investigation is a stomach turning, dry heave indictment. The movie reminds me how much I disliked all of them before they came into power in 2000, and how unbelievable they've been ever since. I'm impressed with how the people here have lost their way. I used to see genuine courage in everyday life, all the time. It seems long ago. The movie is interesting. The story is still a big who-done-it, though, and the real lowdown on who screwed up and did this dumb thing is the world's best kept secret. I wondered if I could keep it to myself if I knew (who did it and why). I don't think I could.
Well, I wish I could give a better review than that. I'm usually pretty good at movie reviews. It shouldn't be impossible to know what really happened with events like the bombing in Oklahoma City, or 9/11, or Kennedy's assassination. We should know a lot of things. But you just can't find out! It scrambled my head to see Bush lying again, he's a poor liar and lies all the time. It was beautifully made. I'd love to see it generate great interest.
I doubt it will, like the ladies said, people just don't seem to care. I noticed that as a driver. People are different now. They drive like they're on the couch in the living room. They have insurance and think they're safe. That doesn't mean much if you get killed. But, that'd be okay, too. Who can live like that? After I'd seen about 100 dead bodies on the pavement, life became ultimately precious to me, and just being alive mattered completely. By that measure, I'm the biggest success and rich beyond belief. Indifference to life is something I don't understand anymore. So, reviewing this picture throws me. The story makes no sense, none at all. People give up. Why? What can you possibly acquire that matters as much as life? Nothing, and acquisitions are things you find out you didn't really want. I thought about all that. And, whoever knows the true story is protecting death merchants who may well take their lives, the only thing they have which has value. They think speaking up is murder, but keeping quiet is suicide.
thnx.
The motive was to deflect attention from the fact that the Waziristan treaty was indeed agreed to with al Qaeda reps....the fact that the pact has been broken on a daily basis by militant attacks on the government, the press and "US spies"....the fact that Pakistan let as many as 2500 taliban and qaeda prisoners go including one of the daniel pearl killers.
It's bullshit...Pakistan backed the US immediately after 9/11...they were the first almost... And Armitage didn't meet General Mahmood alone...the pakistan ambassador was there and others...
it makes both of them look good...and the stupid press bit into it
but i doubt they would have reported the important stuff and asked the tough questions anyway
We needed to use Pakistan to bomb Afghanistan... Where the fuck would we have launched attacks on Pakistan from if that was true?
In this first comment I've posted I'd like to express my admiration & gratitude to Lukery for his work in spreading Sibel Edmonds story as she is one of the two or so credible people blocking the road to fascism with nothing more than knowledge and integrity--where are the other "Deep Throats" when we need them now more than ever? Second on the subject of the Musharaff comment about the US threat to Pakistan after 9-11--that is really old news. Juan Cole reported the "bombing back into the Stone Age" message as common knowledge in diplomatic circles back in late Sep of 2001. Check his website today for a repeat of his 2001 remarks.
snon - thanks for your kind words, thanks for commenting, and thanks for the Juancole tip - i havent been over to his place this week!
thnx ROn. FP'd
In These Times has this very good article dated yesterday (Friday, September 22), Why Pakistan Gets A Nuclear Pass which discusses the differences in U.S. policy regarding countries in the Middle East and southeast Asia. It makes the observation that "the Bush administration's pragmatic policy toward Pakistan suggests its foreign policy is less ideological than imperial." The Bush administration is two-faced? Imagine that.
thanks Uranus. great article
Always a pleasure. I was just trying to educate myself. Like school, it's a gruesome experience which reminds me I'm dumb.
Uranus: "it's a gruesome experience which reminds me I'm dumb"
You're dumb!!?? LOL! Not bloody likely! :-D
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