The former head of the British army, General Sir Mike Jackson, has described US policy in Iraq as "intellectually bankrupt".
Well said!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Audit Report Rejected
Accountancy Age reveal that an audit report that concluded that Iraq met just three of 18 congressionally mandated benchmarks, has been rejected by the US government.
Seemingly the auditors "set the bar too high"!
President Shrub takes the view that if the facts don't fit the story, then clearly the facts are wrong not the story.
Seemingly the auditors "set the bar too high"!
President Shrub takes the view that if the facts don't fit the story, then clearly the facts are wrong not the story.
Tip Off Trial
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin has ruled that prosecutors can introduce evidence (in the form of a diary) in the trial of Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oil tycoon, that shows that Wyatt tipped off Iraq about the impending 2003 US invasion.
Judge Chin also allowed evidence that the defence claims unfairly suggested that payments made by Wyatt to Iraq's state oil marketing organisation were bribes passed on to Saddam Hussein.
Wyatt will stand trial on September 5, at a federal court in Manhattan, accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Iraq to win oil contracts and corrupting the oil-for-food program.
The judge agreed with prosecutors who said that the diary was needed to show Wyatt's close ties with Iraqi officials.
Quote:
"It shows Mr. Wyatt was trying extremely hard to get additional (oil) allocations," the judge said. "Why was the Iraq government treating Mr. Wyatt so well? Why did he get the first (oil) allocation? ... This is further evidence of that relationship."
Judge Chin also allowed evidence that the defence claims unfairly suggested that payments made by Wyatt to Iraq's state oil marketing organisation were bribes passed on to Saddam Hussein.
Wyatt will stand trial on September 5, at a federal court in Manhattan, accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Iraq to win oil contracts and corrupting the oil-for-food program.
The judge agreed with prosecutors who said that the diary was needed to show Wyatt's close ties with Iraqi officials.
Quote:
"It shows Mr. Wyatt was trying extremely hard to get additional (oil) allocations," the judge said. "Why was the Iraq government treating Mr. Wyatt so well? Why did he get the first (oil) allocation? ... This is further evidence of that relationship."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Israel Warned US Not To Invade Iraq
It seems that back in 2001 Israeli officials warned the Bush administration that an invasion of Iraq would destabilise the region, and wanted the US to focus its attention on the "main enemy" Iran.
That at least is the case according to the Asia Times.
The "good" news is that the Israelis now have their wish, President Shrub is now focusing on Iran; despite the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan are seriously out of control.
Mission accomplished!
That at least is the case according to the Asia Times.
The "good" news is that the Israelis now have their wish, President Shrub is now focusing on Iran; despite the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan are seriously out of control.
Mission accomplished!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Saddam's Daughter in Terror Link
A man arrested on Sunday is alleged to be the leader of an Iraqi terror cell which allegedly is being funded by Raghad Hussein, Saddam Hussein's eldest daughter.
US forces apprehended the man in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, he is now under interrogation about a series of attacks on coalition forces using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.
Interpol this month issued a worldwide warrant for Raghad Hussein. She is reportedly living in Jordan, under the protection of the royal family. The Iraqi government requested the warrant on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health.
US forces apprehended the man in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, he is now under interrogation about a series of attacks on coalition forces using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.
Interpol this month issued a worldwide warrant for Raghad Hussein. She is reportedly living in Jordan, under the protection of the royal family. The Iraqi government requested the warrant on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
De Baathification Cancelled
Several years too late, the powers that be in Iraq have finally woken up to the fact that one of the worst mistakes post "regime change" was the "De Baathification" of the country.
Iraq's top political leaders have announced an agreement to release thousands of prisoners, being held without charge (wasn't the invasion meant to do away with such practices?), and to reform a law that has kept thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's political party out of government jobs.
"De-Baathification" was one of the worst thought through (if "thought" was ever applied in this case) "initiatives" that the US imposed upon Iraq post invasion. It resulted in the total meltdown of the political, military, police and civil service infrastructure. The reason being that the Baathists, like it or not, were the ones who held the key positions and knew how to run the country.
It is unlikely that this last minute gesture will be enough to secure the political stability/future of Iraq. Last week a US national intelligence report predicted that "the Iraqi Government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months"; in other words it will collapse.
What will Shrub do then?
Iraq's top political leaders have announced an agreement to release thousands of prisoners, being held without charge (wasn't the invasion meant to do away with such practices?), and to reform a law that has kept thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's political party out of government jobs.
"De-Baathification" was one of the worst thought through (if "thought" was ever applied in this case) "initiatives" that the US imposed upon Iraq post invasion. It resulted in the total meltdown of the political, military, police and civil service infrastructure. The reason being that the Baathists, like it or not, were the ones who held the key positions and knew how to run the country.
It is unlikely that this last minute gesture will be enough to secure the political stability/future of Iraq. Last week a US national intelligence report predicted that "the Iraqi Government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months"; in other words it will collapse.
What will Shrub do then?
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