===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH MISLEADS ON OSAMA BIN LADEN
At last night's debate President Bush claimed that, contrary to Sen.
John Kerry's assertion, he never said he was "not that concerned" about
Osama Bin Laden. Bush chastised Kerry saying, "Gosh, I don't think I
ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. That's kind of one of
those exaggerations."[1] Bush was completely wrong.
At March 13, 2002 press conference, Bush said "So I don't know where he
[Osama Bin Laden] is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on
him...I truly am not that concerned about him."[2] Watch the video of
Bush's remarks: http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62685
Sources:
1. "Transcript of Debate Between Bush and Kerry, With Domestic Policy
the Topic," New York Times, 10/13/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62686.
2. "President Bush Holds Press Conference," The White House, 3/13/02,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62687.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion.>>
===========================================================
Friday, October 15, 2004
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Elizabeth Edwards said of Mrs. Cheney: "She's overreacted to this and treated it as if it's shameful to have this discussion. I think that's a very sad state of affairs. ... I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences. ... It makes me really sad that that's Lynne's response."
Source: By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press Writer
Source: By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press Writer
FW: Bush Misleads on Fiscal Responsibilities
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH MISLEADS ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In a speech Monday, President Bush advocated fiscal responsibility in government, saying, "we need to be wise about how we spend your money."[1] He is now poised, however, to sign into law a massive, $137-billion tax giveaway to corporate and special interests.[2]
The tax bill was originally created to fix a $50-billion export subsidy that had triggered retaliatory tariffs by our trading partners. Instead of simply repealing the subsidy, Congress replaced it with a $77-billion giveaway to corporations, many of which never qualified for the original subsidy.[3] It
also provides $43 billion in tax breaks for companies operating overseas,[4] including a giant break to top corporations like Hewlett-Packard and Eli Lilly that allows them "to bring hundreds of billions of dollars in untaxed foreign profits back into the United States at about one-seventh of the
normal tax rate."[5]
Lawmakers larded down the bill with pork for their favored special interests. The bill included million-dollar tax cuts for fishing tackle box manufacturers, Chinese ceiling fan importers, horse and dog track gamblers and Native Alaskan whaling captains.[6]
Sources:
1. "President and General Tommy Franks's Remarks at a Victory 2004 Rally in Morrison, Colorado," The White House, 10/11/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62395.
2. "Payback on K Street," Washington Post, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62396.
3. "Senate Passes Big Tax Breaks," Los Angeles Times, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62397.
4. "Congress Gives Away the Store," New York Times, 10/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62398.
5. "Senate passes $137 billion cut in business tax," Baltimore Sun, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62399.
6. "Congress OKs corporate tax bill, hurricane disaster aid," Daily Herald, 10/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62400.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion.»
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH MISLEADS ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In a speech Monday, President Bush advocated fiscal responsibility in government, saying, "we need to be wise about how we spend your money."[1] He is now poised, however, to sign into law a massive, $137-billion tax giveaway to corporate and special interests.[2]
The tax bill was originally created to fix a $50-billion export subsidy that had triggered retaliatory tariffs by our trading partners. Instead of simply repealing the subsidy, Congress replaced it with a $77-billion giveaway to corporations, many of which never qualified for the original subsidy.[3] It
also provides $43 billion in tax breaks for companies operating overseas,[4] including a giant break to top corporations like Hewlett-Packard and Eli Lilly that allows them "to bring hundreds of billions of dollars in untaxed foreign profits back into the United States at about one-seventh of the
normal tax rate."[5]
Lawmakers larded down the bill with pork for their favored special interests. The bill included million-dollar tax cuts for fishing tackle box manufacturers, Chinese ceiling fan importers, horse and dog track gamblers and Native Alaskan whaling captains.[6]
Sources:
1. "President and General Tommy Franks's Remarks at a Victory 2004 Rally in Morrison, Colorado," The White House, 10/11/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62395.
2. "Payback on K Street," Washington Post, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62396.
3. "Senate Passes Big Tax Breaks," Los Angeles Times, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62397.
4. "Congress Gives Away the Store," New York Times, 10/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62398.
5. "Senate passes $137 billion cut in business tax," Baltimore Sun, 10/12/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62399.
6. "Congress OKs corporate tax bill, hurricane disaster aid," Daily Herald, 10/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=62400.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion.»
Sunday, October 10, 2004
wired?
- I find this fascinating....not sure that I care as much as these people. Probably just a bunch of crap but make up your own mind. Make sure that you look at the comments for a "little" more balance.
- The NY Times and the BBC have picked up on the story.
Friday, October 08, 2004
Cheney Misleads on Small Business Taxes
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
CHENEY MISLEADS ON SMALL BUSINESS TAXES
During Tuesday's debate Vice President Cheney claimed that John Kerry's plan to roll back tax cuts for individuals making over $200,000 would negatively impact nearly a million small businesses. Cheney said that, "about 900,000 small businesses will be hit if you do, in fact, do what they want to do with the top bracket."[1] The figure Cheney cited is highly misleading.
Under Cheney's definition a small business is any taxpayer who reports some income - even just $1 - from a small business investment or partnership. By this logic, "every partner at a huge accounting firm or at the largest law firm would represent small businesses."[2] Also, by Cheney's definition, President Bush would have counted as a small business in 2001 because that year "he reported $84 of business income from his part ownership of a timber-growing enterprise."[3] The overwhelming majority of actual small businesses are in the lower tax brackets and would be unaffected by the Kerry proposal.[4]
Sources:
1. "Remarks of Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards in Vice Presidential Debate," The White House, 10/06/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61356.
2. "Misleading Assertions Cover Iraq War and Voting Records," Washington Post, 10/06/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61357.
3. "Are Bush and Cheney "Small Businesses?" Their Ad Counts Them As Such," FactCheck.org, 10/01/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61358.
4. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61358.
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
CHENEY MISLEADS ON SMALL BUSINESS TAXES
During Tuesday's debate Vice President Cheney claimed that John Kerry's plan to roll back tax cuts for individuals making over $200,000 would negatively impact nearly a million small businesses. Cheney said that, "about 900,000 small businesses will be hit if you do, in fact, do what they want to do with the top bracket."[1] The figure Cheney cited is highly misleading.
Under Cheney's definition a small business is any taxpayer who reports some income - even just $1 - from a small business investment or partnership. By this logic, "every partner at a huge accounting firm or at the largest law firm would represent small businesses."[2] Also, by Cheney's definition, President Bush would have counted as a small business in 2001 because that year "he reported $84 of business income from his part ownership of a timber-growing enterprise."[3] The overwhelming majority of actual small businesses are in the lower tax brackets and would be unaffected by the Kerry proposal.[4]
Sources:
1. "Remarks of Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards in Vice Presidential Debate," The White House, 10/06/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61356.
2. "Misleading Assertions Cover Iraq War and Voting Records," Washington Post, 10/06/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61357.
3. "Are Bush and Cheney "Small Businesses?" Their Ad Counts Them As Such," FactCheck.org, 10/01/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61358.
4. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=61358.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
FW: Cheney/Bush Mislead on Hussein/Zarqawi Connection
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
CHENEY AND BUSH MISLEAD ABOUT HUSSEIN/ZARQAWI CONNECTION
Vice President Cheney and President Bush have repeatedly claimed that
al-Qaeda had a working relationship with Saddam Hussein which justified
the invasion of Iraq. The key piece of evidence Cheney and President
Bush have used to support this claim was that Hussein harbored Abu Musab
al Zarqawi - a suspected associated of al-Qaeda. For example, on 6/21/04
Cheney said "Mr.
Zarqawi, who is in Baghdad today, is an al Qaeda associate who took
refuge in Baghdad, found sanctuary and safe harbor there before we ever
launched into Iraq."[1] President Bush said on 6/15/04 "Zarqawi's the
best evidence of a [Hussein] connection to al Qaeda affiliates and al
Qaeda."[2] One problem: there is no evidence to support these claims.
Knight Ridder reports "a new CIA assessment undercuts the White House
claim that Saddam Hussein maintained ties to al Qaeda, saying there is
no conclusive evidence that the regime harbored terrorist Abu Musab al
Zarqawi."[3] According to a senior U.S. intelligence official "The
evidence is that Saddam never gave Zarqawi anything."[4] Ironically, the
assessment was requested by Cheney.[5]
Sources:
1. "CNN Newsnight Aaron Brown," CNN, 06/21/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60800.
2. "Bush stands by al Qaeda, Saddam link," CNN, 6/15/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60801.
3. "Iraq-al Qaeda tie called unlikely," Miami Herald, 10/05/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60802.
4. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60802.
5. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60802.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion. >
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RHAPSODY Link-REM
RHAPSODY Link
Taking a break from the politics! I finally have a chance to listen to the new REM album....best in years so far....check out the rest of my music selections under my profile.
Taking a break from the politics! I finally have a chance to listen to the new REM album....best in years so far....check out the rest of my music selections under my profile.
Monday, October 04, 2004
FW: Rice Misleads Again on Iraq's Nuclear Program
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
RICE MISLEADS AGAIN ON IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
The New York Times revealed yesterday that top administration officials
grossly mislead the public about Iraq's supposed nuclear weapons
program.[1] The government's top nuclear scientists said that the
aluminum tubes Iraq had acquired were "too heavy, too narrow and too
long" for use in creating nuclear weapons.[2] They were perfectly
suited, however, for use in Iraq's existing legal rockets.[3] Meanwhile,
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice went on CNN before the
invasion of Iraq and said the tubes "are only really suited for nuclear
weapons programs."[4]
In October 2003, David Kay - the administration's handpicked weapons
inspector - concluded, "We have not uncovered evidence that Iraq
undertook significant post-1998 steps to actually build nuclear weapons
or produce fissile material."[5] Stunningly, appearing on talk shows
yesterday morning, Rice continued to insist that Iraq may have been
pursuing nuclear weapons and that the aluminum tubes may have been
involved in that process. On ABC's "This Week" Rice said, "As I
understand it, people are still debating this."[6] David Albright, the
president of the Institute for Science and International Security, said
Rice "is being disingenuous, and just departing from any effort to find
the truth."[7]
Sources:
1. "How the White House Embraced Disputed Arms Intelligence," New York
Times, 10/03/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
2. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
3. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
4. "Ritter Meets With Iraqi Leaders," CNN, 9/08/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60493.
5. "Statement by David Kay ," CIA, 10/02/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60494.
6. "Rice: Iraqi nuclear plans unclear," MSNBC, 10/03/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60495.
7. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60495 .
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion.
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
RICE MISLEADS AGAIN ON IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
The New York Times revealed yesterday that top administration officials
grossly mislead the public about Iraq's supposed nuclear weapons
program.[1] The government's top nuclear scientists said that the
aluminum tubes Iraq had acquired were "too heavy, too narrow and too
long" for use in creating nuclear weapons.[2] They were perfectly
suited, however, for use in Iraq's existing legal rockets.[3] Meanwhile,
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice went on CNN before the
invasion of Iraq and said the tubes "are only really suited for nuclear
weapons programs."[4]
In October 2003, David Kay - the administration's handpicked weapons
inspector - concluded, "We have not uncovered evidence that Iraq
undertook significant post-1998 steps to actually build nuclear weapons
or produce fissile material."[5] Stunningly, appearing on talk shows
yesterday morning, Rice continued to insist that Iraq may have been
pursuing nuclear weapons and that the aluminum tubes may have been
involved in that process. On ABC's "This Week" Rice said, "As I
understand it, people are still debating this."[6] David Albright, the
president of the Institute for Science and International Security, said
Rice "is being disingenuous, and just departing from any effort to find
the truth."[7]
Sources:
1. "How the White House Embraced Disputed Arms Intelligence," New York
Times, 10/03/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
2. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
3. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60492 .
4. "Ritter Meets With Iraqi Leaders," CNN, 9/08/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60493.
5. "Statement by David Kay ," CIA, 10/02/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60494.
6. "Rice: Iraqi nuclear plans unclear," MSNBC, 10/03/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60495.
7. Ibid., http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60495 .
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
FW: Bush Sends Mixed Signals on Terrorism
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH SENDS MIXED SIGNALS ON TERRORISM
At last night's debate, President Bush said that we could not hope to defeat terrorists if we have a leader who sends mixed signals. Bush said, "you cannot lead if you send mixed messages. Mixed messages send the wrong signals to our troops. Mixed messages send the wrong signals to our
allies."[1] But, throughout his presidency, Bush has sent mixed messages on fundamental terrorism-related issues.
For example, in September 2001 Bush said that he was determined to capture Osama bin Laden "dead or alive."[2] Six months later Bush said, "I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him... I truly am not that concerned about him."[3]
In April of this year, Bush said that we could win the war on terrorism.[4] Then, on August 30, he said "I don't think you can win [the war on terror]."[5] The next day, he said "Make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win [the war on terror]."[6]
Sources:
1. "Transcript: Does Bush see Kerry character flaws?," CNN.com, 10/01/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60179.
2. "Wanted: Dead or Alive," ABC News, 9/17/01,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60180.
3. "President Bush Holds Press Conference," The White House, 3/13/02,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60181.
4. "President Addresses the Nation in Prime Time Press Conference," The White House, 4/13/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60182.
5. "Bush: 'You cannot show weakness in this world'," Today Show, 8/30/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60183.
6. "Remarks by the President of the American Legion," The White House, 8/31/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=60184.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion. »
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Bush Misled Nation in Last Debates
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH MISLED NATION IN LAST DEBATES
As President Bush takes the stage tonight for the 2004 presidential debates,
America will be reminded of all the promises Bush made - and subsequently
broke - in his debate performances throughout 2000.
In a 2000 debate, Bush said that "by far the vast majority [of my tax cuts]
go to the bottom end of the economic ladder." According to the nonpartisan
Citizens for Tax Justice, when his tax cuts are fully implemented in 2010,
the top 5 percent of income earners will get more than half the tax cuts
while the bottom half of Americans will receive less than 8 percent of the
benefits.[1]
In a 2000 debate, Bush said he believed gay marriage is a state issue.[2]
Then in 2004, he proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage.[3]
In a 2000 debate, Bush promised not to overuse the military, saying "if we
don't stop extending our troops all around the world and nation building
missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road,
and I'm going to prevent that."[4] Now, because of Bush's actions in Iraq
and efforts to cut soldiers' pay,[5] the military is facing recruitment
gaps,[6] morale problems,[7] and troops who are stretched far too thin.[8]
Sources:
1. "Details on the Bush Tax Cuts so far," Citizens for Tax Justice, Fall
2003, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59934.
2. "Transcript of the South Carolina Republican Debate," CNN.com, 2/15/00,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59935.
3. "President Calls for Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage," The
White House, 2/24/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59936.
4. "The First Presidential Election Debate," AustralianPolitics.com,
10/03/00, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59937.
5. "Troops in Iraq face pay cut Pentagon says tough duty bonuses are
budget-buster," San Francisco Chronicle, 8/14/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59938.
6. "Numbers Challenge," ABCNews.com, 6/02/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59939.
7. "Troop morale in Iraq hits 'rock bottom'," Christian Science Monitor,
6/07/03, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59940.
8. "Is the Army stretched too thin?," NBC Nightly News, 3/09/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59941.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion. >
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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH MISLED NATION IN LAST DEBATES
As President Bush takes the stage tonight for the 2004 presidential debates,
America will be reminded of all the promises Bush made - and subsequently
broke - in his debate performances throughout 2000.
In a 2000 debate, Bush said that "by far the vast majority [of my tax cuts]
go to the bottom end of the economic ladder." According to the nonpartisan
Citizens for Tax Justice, when his tax cuts are fully implemented in 2010,
the top 5 percent of income earners will get more than half the tax cuts
while the bottom half of Americans will receive less than 8 percent of the
benefits.[1]
In a 2000 debate, Bush said he believed gay marriage is a state issue.[2]
Then in 2004, he proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage.[3]
In a 2000 debate, Bush promised not to overuse the military, saying "if we
don't stop extending our troops all around the world and nation building
missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road,
and I'm going to prevent that."[4] Now, because of Bush's actions in Iraq
and efforts to cut soldiers' pay,[5] the military is facing recruitment
gaps,[6] morale problems,[7] and troops who are stretched far too thin.[8]
Sources:
1. "Details on the Bush Tax Cuts so far," Citizens for Tax Justice, Fall
2003, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59934.
2. "Transcript of the South Carolina Republican Debate," CNN.com, 2/15/00,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59935.
3. "President Calls for Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage," The
White House, 2/24/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59936.
4. "The First Presidential Election Debate," AustralianPolitics.com,
10/03/00, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59937.
5. "Troops in Iraq face pay cut Pentagon says tough duty bonuses are
budget-buster," San Francisco Chronicle, 8/14/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59938.
6. "Numbers Challenge," ABCNews.com, 6/02/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59939.
7. "Troop morale in Iraq hits 'rock bottom'," Christian Science Monitor,
6/07/03, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59940.
8. "Is the Army stretched too thin?," NBC Nightly News, 3/09/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3460711&l=59941.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion. >
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Friday, September 24, 2004
Iraqi Prime Minister Parrots Bush Talking Points
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
IRAQI PRIME MINISTER PARROTS DISHONEST BUSH TALKING POINTS
Today, speaking before a joint session of Congress, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi parroted the Bush administration's talking points: "We are succeeding in Iraq."[1] The facts on the ground, however, suggest otherwise.
Over the last year the number of insurgents in Iraq has quadrupled.[2] Attacks on U.S. troops are up 100% since last winter.[3] Major Iraqi cities such as Fullujah have become havens for insurgents and are completely inaccessible to U.S. troops.[4] Security situations have stalled
reconstruction - Iraq still has less electricity than they did before the war.[5] Even some Bush administration officials have acknowledged that elections planned for January may have to be delayed.[6]
Sources:
1. "Allawi Says Elections Will Happen as Scheduled," Washington Post, 9/23/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57907.
2. "Mission Still Not Accomplished," Time Magazine, 9/20/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57908.
3. "Iraq: A Quantitative Assessment," Brookings Institution, 9/17/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57909.
4. "Green Zone is 'no longer totally secure'," Financial Times, 9/15/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57910.
5. "Iraq Power Grid Shows U.S. Flaws," Los Angeles Times, 9/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57911.
6. "Bush puts Iraqi leader forward," International Herald Tribune, 9/22/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57912.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
FW: Kerry's Fighting Back: Powerful Speech on Iraq
Dear MoveOn member,
The war in Iraq is President Bush's signature failure. To reduce the damage the war has caused him, Bush and his campaign operatives have spent the last six months attacking and distorting John Kerry's position on Iraq. But yesterday, in a powerful speech in New York, Kerry set the record straight.
John Kerry laid out a plan to end Bush's irrational, deceptive and unilateral policy in Iraq, and pursue a policy of international cooperation to end the worsening insurgency and rebuild Iraq -- and bring our troops home. And Kerry made it clear that we would not be in Iraq today if he were president.
The action today is simple: if you like what you hear from Kerry in the speech below, pass this email on to your friends, neighbors, co-workers -- anyone who wants to hear from you on this issue. It's critical that progressives like us spread the word that John Kerry is fighting back on Iraq.
We've excerpted a few of the highlights, below. You can read the whole thing at:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html
Here are the main points from Kerry's speech on Iraq yesterday:
- The war on Iraq was a mistake -- war was unnecessary because the inspections were working: "Today, President Bush tells us that he would do everything all over again, the same way. How can he possibly be serious? Is he really saying that if we knew there were no imminent threat, no weapons of mass destruction, no ties to Al Qaeda, the United States should have invaded Iraq? My answer is no -- because a commander in chief's first responsibility is to make a wise and responsible decision to keep America safe."
- Iraq distracted from the war on terror: "The president claims it is the centerpiece of his war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden and the terrorists. Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and, if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight."
- President Bush misled us about the reasons for the war before it occurred: "He failed to tell the truth about the rationale for going to war. And he failed to tell the truth about the burden this war would impose on our soldiers and our citizens. By one count, the president offered 23 different rationales for this war."
- President Bush is still misleading people about Iraq, painting an optimistic picture directly contradicted by his own intelligence officials: "In June, the president declared, 'The Iraqi people have their country back.' Just last week, he told us: 'This country is headed toward democracy. Freedom is on the march.' But the Administration's own official intelligence estimate, given to the president last July, tells a very different story. According to press reports, the intelligence estimate totally contradicts what the president is saying to the American people."
- Bush went to war for ideological reasons and consistently misjudged the situation on the ground: "This president was in denial. He hitched his wagon to the ideologues who surround him, filtering out those who disagreed, including leaders of his own party and the uniformed military. The result is a long litany of misjudgments with terrible consequences. The administration told us we'd be greeted as liberators. They were wrong. They told us not to worry about looting or the sorry state of Iraq's infrastructure. They were wrong. They told us we had enough troops to provide security and stability, defeat the insurgents, guard the borders and secure the arms depots. They were wrong. They told us we could rely on exiles like Ahmed Chalabi to build political legitimacy. They were wrong. They told us we would quickly restore an Iraqi civil service to run the country and a police force and army to secure it. They were wrong. In Iraq, this administration has consistently over-promised and under-performed. This policy has been plagued by a lack of planning, an absence of candor, arrogance and outright incompetence. And the president has held no one accountable, including himself."
- John Kerry has a four-point plan to fix our Iraq policy:
- "First, the president has to get the promised international support so our men and women in uniform don't have to go it alone. It is late; the president must respond by moving this week to gain and regain international support. The president should convene a summit meeting of the world's major powers and Iraq's neighbors, this week, in New York, where many leaders will attend the U.N. General Assembly. He should insist that they make good on that U.N. resolution. He should offer potential troop contributors specific, but critical roles, in training Iraqi security personnel and securing Iraq's borders. He should give other countries a stake in Iraq's future by encouraging them to help develop Iraq's oil resources and by letting them bid on contracts instead of locking them out of the reconstruction process."
- "Second, the president must get serious about training Iraqi security forces. The president should urgently expand the security forces training program inside and outside Iraq. He should strengthen the vetting of recruits, double classroom training time, and require follow-on field training. He should recruit thousands of qualified trainers from our allies, especially those who have no troops in Iraq. He should press our NATO allies to open training centers in their countries. And he should stop misleading the American people with phony, inflated numbers."
- "Third, the president must carry out a reconstruction plan that finally brings tangible benefits to the Iraqi people. One year ago, the administration asked for and received $18 billion to help the Iraqis and relieve the conditions that contribute to the insurgency. Today, less than a $1 billion of those funds have actually been spent. I said at the time that we had to rethink our policies and set standards of accountability. Now we're paying the price. Now, the president should look at the whole reconstruction package, draw up a list of high visibility, quick impact projects, and cut through the red tape. He should use more Iraqi contractors and workers, instead of big corporations like Halliburton. He should stop paying companies under investigation for fraud or corruption. And he should fire the civilians in the Pentagon responsible for mismanaging the reconstruction effort."
- "Fourth, the president must take immediate, urgent, essential steps to guarantee the promised elections can be held next year. If the president would move in this direction, if he would bring in more help from other countries to provide resources and forces, train the Iraqis to provide their own security, develop a reconstruction plan that brings real benefits to the Iraqi people, and take the steps necessary to hold credible elections next year -- we could begin to withdraw U.S. forces starting next summer and realistically aim to bring all our troops home within the next four years."
Most people will see a second or two of the speech, if they see it at all. But by forwarding this email to your friends and family, you can help make sure people get a full picture of Kerry's position on Iraq -- in his own words. And you can read the whole speech at:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html
Thanks for everything,
--Eli Pariser
Executive Director, MoveOn PAC
Tuesday, September 21st, 2004
PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
FW: U.S. to Bush: Level with us on Iraq
To hear President Bush tell it, Iraq is a bed of roses: "Our strategy is succeeding," he said last week. Yesterday at the U.N., he said Iraq is "on the path to democracy and freedom."
Yet the CIA told Bush recently that the scenarios we're really facing there range from a quagmire to a bloodbath. The CIA's July report outlines three possibilities for Iraq, ranging from "an Iraq whose stability would remain tenuous" to "civil war," according to the New York Times. [1]
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) is calling on Bush to level with us, by releasing the report, formally called a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), to the public. Graham, the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has read the NIE, and he thinks we all should see it too.
Join Senator Graham in demanding that President Bush to face the facts and tell us the truth about Iraq, by releasing the NIE, at:
http://www.moveon.org/tellthetruth/
It's not just Democrats who are questioning the President's grip on reality.
Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), a Republican, says: "The worst thing we can do is hold ourselves hostage to some grand illusion that we're winning. Right now, we are not winning. Things are getting worse." [2] "The fact is, we're in trouble. We're in deep trouble in Iraq." [3]
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also supports releasing the NIE [4] and says: "We made serious mistakes right after the initial successes by not having enough troops there on the ground, by allowing the looting, by not securing the borders." [3]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), says "he believes the situation in Iraq is going to get worse before it gets better, adding that he believes the administration has done a 'poor job of implementing and adjusting at times.'" and says "We do not need to paint a rosy scenario for the American people...." [3]
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) says it's "exasperating for anybody look at this from any vantage point." [1]
Those are Republicans talking. Here's what the generals and national security experts are saying, in a terrific recent piece in the UK's Guardian newspaper:
Retired general William Odom, former head of the National Security Agency, said: "Bush hasn't found the WMD. Al-Qaida, it's worse, he's lost on that front. That he's going to achieve a democracy there? That goal is lost, too. It's lost." He adds: "Right now, the course we're on, we're achieving Bin Laden's ends."
Retired general Joseph Hoare, the former marine commandant and head of US Central Command, [said]: "The idea that this is going to go the way these guys planned is ludicrous. There are no good options.... The priorities are just all wrong."
Jeffrey Record, professor of strategy at the Air War College, said: "I see no ray of light on the horizon at all. The worst case has become true..."
W. Andrew Terrill, professor at the Army War College's strategic studies institute -- and the top expert on Iraq there -- said: "I don't think that you can kill the insurgency"... "The idea there are x number of insurgents, and that when they're all dead we can get out is wrong. The insurgency has shown an ability to regenerate itself because there are people willing to fill the ranks of those who are killed"... "Most Iraqis consider us occupiers, not liberators."
General Odom [also] said: "This is far graver than Vietnam. There wasn't as much at stake strategically, though in both cases we mindlessly went ahead with the war that was not constructive for US aims. But now we're in a region far more volatile, and we're in much worse shape with our allies."... "I've never seen [tensions] so bad between the office of the secretary of defence and the military. There's a significant majority believing this is a disaster." [5]
Just as important are the opinions of those whose loved ones are serving in Iraq, like Martha Jo McCarthy, whose husband is on National Guard duty there. She says:
"Everyone supports the troops, and I know they're doing a phenomenal job over there, not only fighting but building schools and digging wells. But supporting the troops has to mean something more than putting yellow-ribbon magnets on your car and praying they come home safely."
"I read the casualty Web site every day and ask myself, 'Do I feel safer here?' No. I don't think we can win this war through arrogance. Arrogance is different from strength. Strength requires wisdom, and I think we need to change from arrogance to solid strength." [6]
Join Senator Graham now in calling on President Bush to face the facts and level with us, by releasing the CIA's report, at:
http://www.moveon.org/tellthetruth/
President Bush has got to tell us the truth about Iraq. No weapons of mass destruction. No Saddam-al Qaeda connection. The mission is not accomplished. The transition has not been peaceful and stable. Attacks on our troops are increasing, not decreasing. These failures lie solely with the president, and he owes us an honest explanation.
Thanks for signing our petition today, and for everything you do.
Sincerely,
--Carrie, Joan, Lee, Marika, Noah, Peter, and Wes
The MoveOn.org Team
September 22nd, 2004
Footnotes:
(See our website for links to these articles)
[1] New York Times: U.S. Intelligence Shows Pessimism on Iraq's Future
September 16th, 2004
[2] Washington Post editorial: Mr. Bush and Iraq
September 18th, 2004
[3] Washington Post: Three GOP Senators Urge Refocusing of Iraq Policy
September 19th, 2004
[4] 'FOX News Sunday', September 19th, 2004, transcript
[5] The Guardian (UK): Far graver than Vietnam (opinion piece by
Sidney Blumenthal, Washington Bureau Chief of Salon.com)
September 16th, 2004
[6] Washington Post: Quiet Calls for Change (column by David Broder)
September 16th, 2004
FW: Bush Attacks Kerry While Cozying Up To Dictators
===============================
THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< www.Misleader.org >
===============================
BUSH ATTACKS KERRY WHILE COZYING UP TO DICTATORS
President Bush earlier this week attacked his opponent, saying "It's hard to imagine a candidate running for President prefers the stability of a dictatorship to the hope and security of democracy."[1] Yet, it is President Bush who regularly declares his personal friendship and gratitude to some of the world's most oppressive dictators, often wining and dining them at his
ranch in Texas.
In June of 2004, Bush referred to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as "my friend,"[2] even though the Saudi Arabian government has been investigated for its financial ties to the 9/11 terrorists[3] and is listed by the U.S. State Department as one of the world's most oppressive regimes on the planet.[4]
In April, he referred to the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as "my friend" and welcomed him to the Crawford ranch by saying "I always look forward to visiting with him."[5] Bush gave this praise to a dictator, even though Human Rights Watch notes that government "torture in Egypt is widespread and systemic"[6] and the State Department says Mubarak has passed a Constitution in which the electorate is barred from being "presented with a choice among competing presidential candidates."[7]
In 2002, it was Bush who said "I want to welcome the President of China to our ranch, and to Texas."[8] Bush was inviting into his home a dictator who, according to the U.S. State Department, presides over a government that regularly engages in the "arbitrary or unlawful" murder of its own citizens, kidnappings of political dissidents, and repression of religious minorities.[9]
Sources:
1. "President's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in New York City," The White House, 9/20/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57525.
2. "President Bush Holds Press Conference Following the G8 Summit," The White House, 6/10/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57526.
3. "Saudi Government Provided Aid to 9/11 Hijackers, Sources Say," Truthout.org, 8/02/03, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57527.
4. "Saudi Arabia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003," U.S. Department of State, 2/25/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57528.
5. "President Bush, Egyptian President Mubarak Meet with Reporters," The White House, 4/12/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57529.
6. "Egypt: Human Rights Background," Human Rights Watch, 10/2001,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57530.
7. "Egypt: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003," U.S. Department of State, 2/25/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57531.
8. "President Bush, Chinese President Jiang Zemin Discuss Iraq, N. Korea," The White House, 10/25/02, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57532.
9. "China: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003," U.S. Department of State, 2/25/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3476437&l=57533.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration distortion. »
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