"In 1959 we had to contend with Senator Stuart Symington's repeated charges of a 'missile gap' - the allegation of an alarming inferiority . . . (He had earlier made headlines with similar allegations of a 'bomber gap').

But within a month after my successor took office, word conveniently leaked out of the Pentagon that the 'missile gap' had been closed. . . several months later . . . intelligence estimates gave the [US] nearly a two to one lead . . The non-existent missile hap had been suddenly closed by unabashed partisan politics."

[Eisenhower, Waging Peace, 1965, pp 389-390].

Nothing new here, just move along . . . .

by rba on Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 05:10:02 PM EST

These folks will do anything for money, including mass murder. Anyone who stands in their way risks losing their life. Their opponents have an unusual incidence of suicide and plane crashes, and outright assassination.
This is a deeply ingrained, serious problem for America. Like an inoperable tumor, the fascists hold the highest places in government and the military.
The long-term effects of their strategies echo the discredited theories of eugenics and Machiavelli.
Impoverishing the great mass of Americans reduces our collective wealth. Firming the grasp of old technologies like big oil stifles innovation.
Protecting polluters poisons our people and our environment. Like cutting levee maintenance funds $6 million cost sixty billion after Katrina. Even there, the money went to KBR and Halliburton.
These men cultivate conflict, crisis, and catastrophe. They are set up to profit from destruction.
They are not Americans, they are international financiers.
While espousing security, they actually create risk. Look at the unusual number of profitable short-selling immediately  preceeding 9/11.

They knew in advance..
The forces of feudal wealth control our country. Why else would a sociopathic, war-avoiding, rich-boy dunce like W. be the best candidate the GOP could find? Like the judge said, we have no hereditary aristocracy here. Ostensibly.
But now we have the forces of a new King George to resist. And they are far more infiltrated into our government than in 1776.
Start by revoking the Patriot Act.
End with prosecution for war crimes and violation of the oath of office.
Our unprovoked attack on the innocent Iraqi people is an eternal blemish on our national character.
It constitutes mass murder.
It appears economic well-being will have to deteriorate much more before the Busch supporters  come to the aid of their country.
Of course Valerie Plame had to go. These vampires can't stand the light of truth.
Thanks for a well-researched, objective piece. It's all too rare these days.

by marty weiss on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 03:40:02 AM EST