Rachel uncorked one last night, re Paul Wolfowitz and Michael O'Hanlon publishing their new "Plan Afghanistan" in Foreign Policy:
I realize this is not the most important thing in the world that guys like Paul Wolfowitz still writes articles about U.S. wars, but please, Jesus, can there be some accountability in American politics? Can there be a penalty for being wrong about the biggest things in the world to be wrong about? If you were an architect of the Iraq war, you don't ever get an opportunity to talk about what is a good idea when it comes to war ever again. Deal? Deal.
Dick Cheney, I don't want to hear from your anymore about wars. George W. Bush -- no. Donald Rumsfeld, not interested.
Condoleezza Rice, I'm sorry. I'm sure your new book is awesome. I would still like to interview you about it. But when it comes to being part of our collective conversation about war in this country, you had your chance -- blew it. No. Wrong. You are not going to be consulted on the next big idea since you got the last one so wrong.
Take up another hobby. Try to convince us to listen to your big ideas on some other subject. Take up macrame. Confess before the cleric of your choosing. Buy stock in little black combs and lick them and make a fortune.
But war advice, no. Seriously, "Foreign Policy" magazine, you went looking for a plan for Afghanistan and for that plan, you went looking to Paul Wolfowitz?
The answer is no, no, no. Ten years of hell, no. Not again.
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The best thing Wolfowitz could do is lick his comb in deep dark cave.
Actually, I was starting to eat when Rachel began running that loop. Glad there was baseball to escape to. Gross. But, then, I was once present when Morely Safer was getting ready to do a bit and one of the crew came by spit in his hand and slicked down Morely's cowlick. I was not trying to eat then, though
That was one big 'EEWWWW!!' And the assistant made it even worse by licking HIS fingers and going over that nasty head of hair....EEWWWWW! YUCCHHH!
The. Best. Maddow. Rant. Ever.
Ten years of Hell NO!
Those 8 years of Bush 43 were the oddest things I've ever experienced. Like a nightmare you couldn't wake up from. I had even started to think I was seeing parallels to early 1930s Germany. I want to etch them into my mind, so I don't forget what that was like, ever.
It was so otherworldly and bizarro (permanent Republican scorched-earth majority delusions? Really?), I started to take bets with colleagues (other 20-year veteran journalists) that the Bushies just wouldn't LEAVE at the end of the second term.
I thought the only way they'd leave office was with a military escort.
To this day, I still wonder how much of a hare's breath we came from that alternative universe.
OTOH, from the deepest pits of of that dark world, in 2005, I discovered this amazing morning drive news/talk radio host on Air America, and that became something of a beacon for my spirit as we started to find our way out of that mess.
hair's breadth. [whoops]
So, I'm guessing, Rachel, that you don't think it's a good idea? Ha!
Would be nice if someone wrote an article on PEACE ~ What it is ~ How to get it ~ How to keep it~ That I would read as long as a Repugnicant dint write it!
Accountability no longer exists. America has been stolen from its people. Thank you for speaking out against the War machine's propaganda.
Go, Rachel. We need these things said in our political discourse in this country. Bravo! You are the only one who truly has the guts to call it out. Keep it up.
Go, Rachel! We need these things said in our political discourse in this country. You seem to be the only one with enough guts to call it out. Bravo and keep it coming! We need you.
Preach on, Sister Rachel!
I was VERY impressed with your delivery of this peace, Rachel. Let 'em have it!!
Those aforementioned people and their wars made a lot of people a lot richer. Of course they will continue to be consulted. Without never-ending war, the U.S. has no economy. Exporting war and weapons of war is what makes the U.S. what it is.
From Rachel's mouth to journalists and news executives and editors and publishers' ears -- how refreshing would it be to only put people on the air who've gotten something demonstrably correct in their subject area. Thanks Rachel.
That would also largely exclude Alan Greenspan from talking about the economy. Nobody played a larger role in constructing the house of cards that led to the financial meltdown than did Greenspan.
Much as I adore Rachel and despise Wolfowitz & co., I disagree on one essential point. I don't think anything went wrong in Iran from the pov of the war's chief proponents. A lot of people got rich and continue to do so; the U.S. will be a continuing presence in yet another part of the oil-rich world; the Project for the New American Century achieved a chunk of its agenda. If you are Wolfowitz or Cheney, are you really unhappy with the way things turned out? As their pal Mr. Chalabi said to a British journalist when asked about the failure to find WMDs: "What matters is that the U.S. is in Baghdad." As is he. In many ways, it's a happily-ever-after for any number of conscienceless power mongers.
Now, see nothing went wrong in IRAN! IRAN. Same mistake misspelling big difference Iraq and Iran.
Rachel, you are brilliant and brave. Please please keep telling it like it is (and was), because what you say needs to be said loud and clear. I missed the comb in the mouth, thank Gaia, because I was in the kitchen and the TV was audible but not visible. . . I'm glad I'd finished my breakfast when I saw it on the blog. !
Don't hold back, Rachel. Tell us how you really feel. Go, go, and hell, go!!!
National debit 7T
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/inflation.gif
Iraq war will cost more than World War II
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/2011/1025/Iraq-war-will-cost-more-than-World-War-II
eventual tab for the United States could reach $4 trillion to $6 trillion, according to University of Columbia economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard University budget expert Linda Bilmes.
National debit 7T/ cost of Iraq war = ~1
Ahh that pesky, pesky math ;-). The Republican Party ever so eager to spend money on wars in order to "keep us safe" and keep the enemy "over there instead of here." But spend money to help the poor? We're broke! Spend the money to rebuild our nation? We're broke! Spend the money to get people jobs? We're broke! I get so tired of this cycle- they purposely dismantle government to make government inefficient, then complain that government isn't working right and use that complaint to justify further dismantlement which only leads to further governmental ineptitude. Yet notice how they never decrease spending to the DoD and the rest of our military industrial complex? And how they praise how wonderful a job these departments do? No cognitive dissonance, nahh not at all! And now our country has been bankrupted because of tax cuts and pointless wars and what do they want to do? End the wars? No. Repeal those tax cuts? No. They want to cut taxes further, continue more wars, and make the poorest among us pay for it. Le sighs. But this is all somewhat of a side note- thanks for sharing those links John ;-)
You know why they want to dismantle the government...! to privatize it and own it them selves...! However, I expect that from those people...! what bathers and angers me to the core is the affability of our society who voted them into office and... regardless of all the information that's come to light they are still following them. simply pathetic. how dare we call other countries 3rd world?
I also have some retained and pent-up resentment over those 8 years. I do not understand why those neoCon/neoFascist fellows haven't been arrested and sent to The Hague to stand trial for crimes against humanity! I could not possibly fanswat Paul Wolfowitz hard or long enough to punish that man for his crimes!
The paradox of this universe I live in is that if My poverty becomes so desperate as to make me want to rob a business to feed my family I know the consequences and if caught I go to jail. This man Paul Wolfowitz who by his actions and drive to get us to a in a war based on falsehoods and indirectly responsible for the cause of the death of thousands of America's military and Iraqi Civilians faces no consequence and is even rehabilitated to a point that a prestiges publication as Foreign Policy would even welcome such a parasite. There is no peace without Justice
Smart, witty and with more cojones than a man...! you are simply outstanding. keep giving them hell.
p.s. I would like you to address the inertia in which American society lives in. The lack of interest in getting involve and address the problems of our government and allowing the wrong people(voting the wrong people into office or nor voting at all) to make decisions that affect our country and economy not to mention our very own way of life. though we see the 99ers movement, there are still millions of people in a couch potato state of mind. I believe you have the smarts to challenge them and kick them in the ass... kindly speaking! So, how about waking them up?
Oh for chrissake! This thug Wolfowitz hogging limelite again!
One of the architects of that crime against America & humanity - Iraq invasion.
What has gone wrong with this once great nation of ours? Have we become the opium eaters of the 20th century ? Does nothing shakes us up ? Wars, thousands of American lives being lost, tens of thousands of innocent men, women & children dying, death & destruction. An unending cycle of madness.
Today the news is that we lost 18 troops in Afghanistan & Israel has started using drones to kill Palestinians.
Lets get on with more of blood shed & violence.
Surprised his aide didn't lick his hand and run it over his head like mom used to do. That was pure nasty, but what do you expect out of a BUSH toadie.
He was wrong and proud of it...It wasn't about making war...it was about investing in the war machine and dumbing it down...
Precisely. There was no wrong or right about it. Just dollar signs.
Thank you, Rachel. Since Bushco left office, the first thing I want to say when I see one of those you mentioned is, "It's time for you to shut the eff up!".
http://911docs.net/truth_and_lies.php For those who think Wolfowitless is a harmless has been, please read the truth. Cheney, Rumsfeld (you know, the one who LOST 2.3 trillion dollars), and Wolfman all helped Bush 43 to get his Pearl Harbor. Watch, listen and learn
Very, very well done. Unless people like you keep telling the truth about these slimy creatures, we can count on them climbing out from under their rocks acting like they belong to the human race. I live with the hope that someday, someone will charge them all for the crimes they have committed, starting with W and Cheney.
Thank you for this one Rachel. Bravo Zulu!
I agree and arent they technically intgernational terrorists? Indictment in the Hague?
Rachel haven't they all been indicted in the Hague? And aren't they technically terrorists? Or at least war criminals?
The war criminal Henry Kissinger for some reason is also treated with respect in some quarters. The New-York Historical Society is giving him an award at a fancy fundraising dinner on Monday, November 7 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Park Ave and 50th St . Join us in protesting from 5:30- 7:30 pm. East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (www.etan.org)
This list is incomplete without Bill Kristol who has never been right.
mike, you are absolutely right about kristol.
he was a huge supporter of sarah palin, and partially, if not mostly, responsible for her being mcCains VP pick.