Wednesday, March 19, 2008

News at Five

December 7, 1946, the fifth anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor:
A bedraggled President Harry S. Truman addresses a frustrated, angry American public; attempting to mollify the citizens, Truman points out that the number of Japanese attacks on Hawaii have dropped in recent months and that at some point in the next one hundred years Hawaii will become a safe, hospitable vacation destination.
As he delivers this speech, a Japanese torpedo bomber sinks a small American tourist vessel, killing seven; including a movie star and a millionaire and his wife.

Three days later, amid a roar of public outrage, Truman resigns in disgrace.



Obviously, I made that up. But one needn't make stuff up if one wants to experience the falsification of history- one needs only listen to BushCo as it describes our "victory" in Iraq.
Once again, the mission is accomplished, whatever it was.

He said recent troop reinforcements had brought about "a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror".The speech comes amid criticism in the US of the war, with some opponents pointing to its high cost. In his speech, Mr Bush dismissed what he called "exaggerated estimates".

He said: "The costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq."

I am not sure what he means by that last statement. Since most of our enemies in Iraq are Iraqis, Bush seems to be arguing that our multi-trillion dollar expenditure is justifiable because it's costing the Iraqis a bundle too. Think about that.


Bush points to our progress:

Mr Bush argued that fighting Islamic militants in Iraq helped to prevent attacks on targets in the US.

"The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities," he said.

Meanwhile, as Bush was speaking of "terrorists who murder the innocent in the street":

..near the northern city of Kirkuk, US troops shot dead three Iraqi policemen by mistake, an incident officials described as "a tragic accident, which was sincerely regretted".


Oops. Sorry about that.

On Monday, Dick Cheney went to Iraq to discuss the progress we are making towards "freedom and security" , but his visit was overshadowed by a series of bombings and mortar attacks that left at least 78 Iraqis dead.

The UN reports that the number of Iraqis applying for asylum doubled from 2006 to 2007:

Iraqis were the largest group among asylum seekers to the world's industrialised countries for the second year running, according to a UN report.

More than 45,000 Iraqis applied for asylum in 2007, up from 22,900 in 2006, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said. But they make up only 1% of some 4.5 million Iraqis uprooted by war.


Math Time:

4.5 million Iraqis displaced by the war = 4.5 million Iraqis who have lost their homes due to the actions of the United States= 4.5 million Iraqis with a legitimate grudge against the USA.

When those 4.5 million refugees speak to their children of America, what sort of tone do you think that they will use?

What will they say?

"God Bless America?"

9 comments:

billy pilgrim said...

and the fucking price of oil has skyrocketed so that lovely royal saudi family won't have to apply for food stamps.

Anonymous said...

I could be wrong, but I suspect we won't be remembered fondly.

yellowdoggranny said...

and did you see the interview that cheney had..? someone said 80something percent of americans think the war in iraq was wrong...and what does the asshole say????????
"SO?"...judas priest..

schlep said...

That's an absolutely amazing photo.

Enemy of the Republic said...

Bush's assdom never continues to amaze me. When you are in the shit, brazen it out--thus spake George. For what it's worth, Bush told Mccain to show care in his choice of running mate, so there may be a glimmer of self realization.


Sorry I haven't been by--not back to blogging yet, but I am slowly making the rounds of my best buds--read you!

Romeo Morningwood said...

It would have been a lot more appropriate if the shadow government attacked the country that the 911 terrorists came from
Saudi Arabia! Bush Buddies.

and Dana Carvey puts on the Bush 41voice and says
"Wouldn't be prudent ..
read my lips..
not gonna happen"

Sling said...

Just this very morn,I was bombarded by a young Republican co-worker about how Dem's only want to throw money at problems.This guy has Rush Limbaugh intravenously fed into his erars on a daily basis.
'You mean,like going to war?,I asked.
'Hey!..War is good for the economy!'..
..'Well,I guess I can understand that'.
But isn't it a real bummer for the people that get killed?'
'You bleeding heart Liberals always make that same argument!'..
..You know,..you're 25 years old,..why don't you sign up for a tour in Iraq?'..
End of conversation.

Allan said...

BP- Some musician stole yer name.

CW- Our statues will be defaced, most likely.

JS- Our votes don't count, why should our opinions?

EN- Hiya! Glad to see you.
That was not advice Bush gave McCain, it was a warning- "pick one of US"...McCain won't survive his first term, neo-cons take over again...we are fucked.

Sling- War is NOT good for the economy, it's a tool for the upward and outward re-distribution of wealth and a time-honored method of keeping the poor in check...even Eisenhower knew that. Ike, you might point out, had considerably more knowledge than Rush has.

whimsical brainpan said...

I saw a news interview with Cheney last night. When it was pointed out to him that the majority of Americans no longer support the war his reply was, "So."