It's No Accident

Glad to see you back with some regular posting, I only wish I could get myself to follow suit.

Like the return to the old school look, with improvements for sure.

Although I cannot be there in person, sign me up for the Dreyfusard camp.

Well said, JL, and as to Irey, obvisouly, J'accuse.

Vive Jean Jaures!

- Gabe

Murtha is an interesting guy. He's all the bad stuff John points out and then some, but his role with regard to shifting Congress, however belatedly toward--I won't say opposition to, but at least crankiness about, the occupation has been critical.

The key thing to understand is that Murtha is speaking for a significant section of the US military's officer corps. These are the men (overwhelmingly) who have been burnt by Bushco (TM) and are trying to salvage the US Armed Forces.

[Anent this, a useful read is Peter Galbraith's article in the current New York Review of Each Other's Books: "Convinced of his own brilliance, Rumsfeld freely substituted his often hastily formed opinions for the considered judgments of his military professionals. He placed in the most senior positions compliant yes-men, like Myers, and punished those who questioned his casually formed judgments. He enjoyed belittling his subordinates...Steve Cambone, Rumsfeld's closest aide, 'jested that Rumsfeld thought the Army's problems could be solved by lining up fifty of its generals in the Pentagon and gunning them down.'

"It was not an atmosphere that encouraged dissent. But to their everlasting discredit, America's most senior generals did not stand up to Rumsfeld as he and his ideologues went forward with a plan they knew would not work—at least not until after they had retired and the consequences of Rumsfeld's careless approach were blindingly obvious. Greg Newbold, who later joined the revolt of the generals, told Gordon and Trainor of his reaction to Rumsfeld's 125,000-troop figure:

My only regret is that at the time I did not say 'Mr. Secretary, if you try to put a number on a mission like this you may cause enormous mistakes.... Give the military what you would like to see them do, and then let them come up with it. I was the junior guy in the room, but I regret not saying it.'

"Men who had put their lives on the line in combat were mostly unwilling to put their careers on the line to speak out against a plan based on numbers pulled out of the air by a cranky sixty-nine-year-old."]

I am personally not at all distressed by the havoc Rummy and crew have wrought on the ability of US imperialism to project power around the globe. On the other hand, pretty much anything that slows the death and destruction ravaging the people of the Middle East now is good, and Murtha and those he is fronting for are an important bulwark against a neocon double-or-nothing attack on Iran.

I also get kinda tired of the blinkered left orthos who proclaim Murtha is really pro-war because he calls for US troops to be withdrawn and "redeployed over the horizon." Do your homework! In the month after his original call for complete withdrawal from Iraq within 6 months, he was asked about this feature and suggested most could be "redeployed" to Okinawa. Now, do I think there should be US troops in Okinawa? Of course not, but that's a mighty long horizon from which to maintain a military hegemony able to keep a puppet government in power in Iraq.

The spotlight he focused (to underline the six month-iversary of his proposal) on Haditha got much more media play for stories of war crimes which continue to unfold.

Murtha's no anti-capitalist, but anyone who doesn't see him as a vital part of a broad united front to defeat the US occupation of Iraq is blinded by dogma.

Why the hell do you think they're trying to swiftboat him?

Lao Hong Han has it exactly right: the ferocity of the dirty tricks against Murtha shows just how much of a threat he is to the other side. I read something somewhere about what it means to be attacked by the enemy . . .

THE ANATOMY OF BOOTMURTH.COM's and DIANA IREY's Crash & Burn

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/134103794?r=134103794#134103794

(Click all the links, or you'll get/be lost.)

Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too

Things are JUST NOT GOING WELL for the folks at the "Diana Irey for Congress" camp.

Diana Irey Press Release UPDATE!

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/ 911101894
(read first 4 posts, the rest if you fancy to)

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/ 631100794

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/ 134103794
(click all links found in post, or you will get/be lost)

Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too

"Swift Boat Veterans for Themselves" ignored a couple issues CRITICAL to our troops at war during the run-up to the 2004 election.

First, they sat silent knowing full well that Bush NEVER USED the number of troops he incessantly claims his generals asked for. Turkey would not allow the 40,000 troops of the 4th to pass through and participate in Bush's invasion of Iraq.

Bush waged war KNOWING our troops were 40,000 short.

Second, these same Lookatme! Showboaters sat silent when this very same troop shortage resulted in America's greatest tragedy of the war in Iraq.

EVERYONE who's ever gone through basic training knows that when you find your enemies weapons, you keep them secure.

Hundreds of tons of high explosives that our troops had captured at Al Qaqaa were abandoned specifically due to troops shortages, CREATED by Bush's incompetence in war.

These explosive stolen from Al Qaqaa are the weapons that have been used to blow our troops into too many parts to count each and every day of this war.

When some pasty butt wimp, like Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com, decides to pass his "gimme' some money" collection plate to support his concept of patriotism for a circus tent performance at The Cambria County War Memorial on October 1st of this year ...

Some would say there's nothing more patriotic than putting a moron who's never given a hoot about our troops at war (or he would have spoke up about those 40k troops left behind and Al Qaqaa IN 2004) in his proper place ...he's a coward.

To make matters even MORE entertaining, Larry Bailey actually thinks having John O'Neill, the original Lookatme! Show Boater, as his surprise guest speaker is a feather in his cap.

You may not like the stand John Murtha has been making, but for anyone who supports our troops at war, there's no way to respond to these idiot Swiftboaters' Reunion in Murtha's home town of Johnstown, Pa, than a chorus of Bronx raspberries.

I hope this clarifies.

Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
---------------------------------------------
Things are JUST NOT GOING WELL for the folks at the "Diana Irey for Congress" camp.

Diana Irey Press Release UPDATE!

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/911101894
(read first 4 posts, the rest if you fancy to)

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/631100794

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo...611/m/134103794
(click all links found in post, or you will get/be lost)

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/197109694

Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com's private email address can be found at the top of this letter. Take a moment to drop him a note to ask if he's going to cut&run from my challenge.
For some samples of Diana Irey's Cut&Runs, go here:
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/524108205?r=587104305#587104305
----------------------------------------

Subject: RE: Iraqi Governemt Kicks Dubya's "Stay the Course" TO THE CURB!
Date: 9/14/2006 10:16:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: JournalismIsFlat
To: bootmurtha@cox.net
CC: diana@irey.com, bill@irey.com, kphiel@hotmail.com, jason@irey.com, Rusty@irey.com, lbailey@bootmurtha.com, publicist@bootmurtha.com, webmaster@bootmurtha.com, comment@bootmurtha.com, JournalismIsFlat, osc@bootmurtha.com, opditch@gmail.com

It's "Show Time", wimp.

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/628102694?r=262105205#262105205

Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too

I've TRIED to shake some sense into Diana Irey and Bill Pascoe (her "handler") and Free Republic Freepers and their hero OP Ditch of vets4irey.com infamy for months. MAYBE these bootmurtha.com blokes have an once of common sense ... maybe not.

Write bootmurtha.com at bootmurtha@cox.net and ask Larry Bailey to give me 5 uninterrupted minutes onstage in Johnstown, PA on Oct. 1st. Johnstown is "put up, or shut-up" country.

I've called Larry Bailey a wimp and a coward more times than I can count.

Write him NOW and ask him if he's a man, or a mouse.

I've already sent him this email already.

Subject: dummerthanadustbunny
Date: 9/17/2006 12:05:20 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: JournalismIsFlat
To: bootmurtha@cox.net
CC: diana@irey.com, kphiel@hotmail.com, jason@irey.com, Rusty@irey.com, lbailey@bootmurtha.com, publicist@bootmurtha.com, webmaster@bootmurtha.com, comment@bootmurtha.com, JournalismIsFlat, osc@bootmurtha.com, opditch@gmail.com

wanna' have a word with this goofy lil' Freeper's concept of psychological warfare, Larry?

http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/106104505?r=357108505#357108505

That dog don't hunt.

C'mon wimp, you're not scared of havin' me onstage on October 1st, are ya?

Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too

LARRY BAILEY (BOOTMURTHA.COM) OCTOBER 1ST RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cliff Hancuff
September 29, 2006 Journalismisflat@aol.com



"American troops could be home now, except for critical mistakes by our current Commander in Chief," charges Cliff Hancuff, Director of The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too.

"Media and right-wing bloggers are ignoring this fact. For weeks I have been challenging political activists and journalists to act with a minimum of ethical standards," continued Hancuff.

"I became involved when the Sun-Sentinel in Florida reported that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said the U.S. poses the top threat to world peace. I watched in dismay as the media and bloggers worldwide reported on this misquote."

"My involvement continued when I discovered Diana Irey, John Murtha's political opponent, had attacked Murtha using a fictional quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln."

"Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com is continuing his three year blind support of our current Commander in Chief's incompetence in war. President Bush declared war in Iraq without the 4th Infantry, our most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world," added Hancuff.

This mistake lead to the atrocity of Al Qaqaa. Iraqi insurgents stole hundreds of tons of high explosives to be used as weaponry.

"These are the explosives being used by Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda to perpetuate the war in Iraq."

"I am distressed that the same issues ignored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 are being ignored again in 2006," said Hancuff adding, "Americans, American soldiers and their families deserve better."

"Without these critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief, our American troops would be home with their loved ones, with honor, right now."

On October 1, 2006 Hancuff be at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena located in Johnstown Pennsylvania for Larry Bailey's Swiftboating of John Murtha rally. It is there Hancuff will continue his wait for Mr. Bailey to recall the values of honor and integrity taught him by our US Navy.

There is a youtube.com video online at:

YouTube - Rovian Architecture Unplugged

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jcyHokFyE


The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too

-30-

As most who attended the rally know, I was there. After the dust had cleared created by some moonbat among the bootmurtha crowd who called in a fake police report that a fight had broken out, Larry Bailey came out to speak with me.

I complimented him from the bottom of my heart for the contributions he has made to our country's national security while he was serving active duty in the US Navy.

He made it clear my request to speak would not happen. He then proceeded to suggest he has no memory of the email he wrote me on 8/20/2006 2:59:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time stating that our current Commander in Chief made stupid mistakes in Iraq.

Larry then proceeded to illustrate stupid mistakes made in passed wars. After he mentioned 3 or 4 examples I interjected that there is a difference between those wars and this one.

In the past it took weeks, months, sometimes years for mistakes to be discovered and reported. Today is the information age where mistakes are reported within hours of their occurrence. I reminded him this war was still going on. I also reminded him of the glaring mistakes he had acknowledged President Bush had made in Iraq, and our respective use of the Internet to support our respective views and that is where our conversation ended.

I waited outside the Arena with a Johnstown police officer who had stayed behind after the bootmurtha hysterics caused 3 squad cars and a sergeant to arrive with sirens blaring. I was debating Steeler football with him when a motorcycle officer stopped by, who had been inside. When I asked how many were inside he said, "not many at all" When I asked "500?", he responded, "na ... well maybe 500, at most."

At the end of the event when Larry Bailey came out for a photo op next to the bootmurtha.com sign on the sidewalk outside the War Memorial Arena. I handed Larry the speech I had waited to deliver. He put it in his outside left coat pocket.

This is my speech Larry Bailey has in his coat pocket ... the words he was not man enough to let me say:

"Please join me in Prayer.

Heavily father we pray today for you to continue to protect the men and women of the armed forces of the United States and other countries who are in harms way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries throughout the world. We thank them and their families for their sacrifices.

We pray for the souls of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in all wars. We pray for strength and courage for the POWs and MIAs and those held hostage.

We pray for protection and safety of relief workers helping those in need.

We pray for the protection of children and innocent civilians. Lord we especially pray for our nation and our leaders."


.
Below you will find the press release that went out on October 29th of this year.
.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
.
LARRY BAILEY (BOOTMURTHA.COM) OCTOBER 1ST RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cliff Hancuff
September 29, 2006 (202) 247-1418
Journalismisflat@aol.com

"American troops could be home now, except for critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief," charges Cliff Hancuff, Director of The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too.

"Media and right-wing bloggers are ignoring this fact. For weeks I have been challenging political activists and journalists to act with a minimum of ethical standards," continued Hancuff.

"I became involved when the Sun-Sentinel in Florida reported that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said the U.S. poses the top threat to world peace. I watched in dismay as the media and bloggers worldwide reported on this misquote."

"My involvement continued when I discovered Diana Irey, John Murtha's political opponent, had attacked Murtha using a fictional quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln."

"Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com is continuing his three year blind support of our current Commander in Chief's incompetence in war. President Bush declared war in Iraq without the 4th Infantry, our most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world," added Hancuff.

This mistake lead to the atrocity of Al Qaqaa. Iraqi insurgents stole hundreds of tons of high explosives to be used as weaponry.

"These are the explosives being used by Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda to perpetuate the war in Iraq."

"I am distressed that the same issues ignored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 are being ignored again in 2006," said Hancuff adding, "Americans, American soldiers, and their families deserve better."

"Without these critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief, our American troops would be home with their loved ones, with honor, right now."

On October 1, 2006 Hancuff be at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena located in Johnstown Pennsylvania for Larry Bailey's Swiftboating of John Murtha rally. It is there Hancuff will continue his wait for Mr. Bailey to recall the values of honor and integrity taught him by our US Navy.

There is a youtube.com video online at:

YouTube - Rovian Architecture Unplugged

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jcyHokFyE


The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
(202) 247-1418

-30-