Well, the State department deadline for volunteers to go to Iraq has been extended.
My guess is that they discovered how many folks would just quit if they were forced to go there.
Category: Foreign Relations
Rice is an Incompetent Manager
Just as Rumsfeld wrecked our military, Condoleeza Rice is wrecking the State Department. This is not surprising.
She has always succeeded by virtue of the ability to talk a good game, and by holding Neocon views, not through competence. Her tenure as Stanford Provost was similarly disasterous.
Putin Appears to be Making Arrangements for His Installation as a Dictator
It appears that following electionsRussia will attempt to institute constitutional reforms to create a position for Vladimir Putin of “National Leader, which sounds a lot like “president for life”.
I think that to a very large degree, the anti-Democratic forces in Russia are currently in the ascendancy because of Western actions following the fall of the USSR.
We defined democracy as allowing Russian property to be stolen by politically connected people largely for the benefit of Western bankers, actively cheered on Yeltsin when he shelled the Russian Duma, and allowed Boris Yeltsin’s re-election campaign to be neither free nor fair as a result (he controlled all public mass media, and the private mass media was controlled through the Oligarchs, whom he installed).
It’s no wonder that the Russian people, and the Russian political class, see Democracy as nothing more than the window dressing for an attempt to prostitute their people.
Breaking News, John Negroponte is a Moron
Here is a guy who takes our money, and as opposed to going after terrorists in the north, has spent it on gold plating his military machine to go after India in the south, but according to John Negroponte, he is indispensable.
The Pakistani military has spent the past 60 imagining the glory of der tag*, and Musharraf is very much a part of this dysfunctional and anti-Democratic culture.
Of course, the current alternative, Benazir Bhutto, is remarkably corrupt, even by the standards of Pakistani politics (Yes, I know, “corrupt even by the standards of Pakistani politics”, is hard to wrap one’s head around).
*The German Imperial Navy, in the days before World War I, constantly longed for der tag, the day, when they would confront the British Navy.
Russian Votes to Leave CFE
It’s not much of a surprise that the lower house of the Duma has voted to leave the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.
No surprise. What is a surprise, at least to me, is that the Duma voted 418 to 0 to do so.
While the Duma is weak, and largely populated by Putin lapdogs, the unanimity shows something: That the Russians believe, accurately in my opinion, that the missile defense installations are directed at them.
I agree. Bush and His Evil Minions™ wanted to show Russia who was boss, out of the same sort of dick swinging that got us into Iraq.
Bad move.
Economic Meltdown News.
With everything seeming to come apart at once, one wonders if the other economic world powers have decided that the United States is simply too dangerous to allow it to continue it’s role as the worlds sole remaining superpower.
Given that the US spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined, it would be logical to attack where this country is weakest.
In the short run, the fact that the US has rulers who appear to be insane would argue for this, and in the long run, it’s probably to their advantage too.
The dollar vs the Euro, $1.4571:1.0000€.
Oil Hits $97/bbl. Violence in Afghanistan, and a bombing of a Yemeni oil pipeline kicked everything up, as Emeril says, “another notch”.
Oil Hits $97 on Bombs, Demand Forecast: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance
Indymac, one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the US, reported losses that were 5 times their earlier predictions. The third-quarter net loss for Pasadena, California-based IndyMac totaled $202.7 million, or $2.77 per share. IndyMac had on September 7 forecast a loss of nil to 50 cents per share.
And it appears that the financial upset is roiling the 10 year Treasury note market too.
Rice to Face Subpoena in AIPAC Case
The most interesting thing about this case is that it would be directly applicable to any member of the press who publishes something liked to them.
It’s a pity that a bunch of stupid rightwing pukes like AIPAC are at the center of this.
Rice Facing a Revolt in State Department Over Postings to Iraq
First, they build an embassy compound that is larger than eny possible need. So they have to fill up all the offices with someone, but who the hell wants to be involved in this massive clusterf&%$?
So now, they what amounts to a draft forcing people to go to Baghdad.
This sounds just like what Rumsfeld did to the military.
Heck of a job there, Condi.
Senator Hagel Begs Bush for Negociations With Iran
Steve Clemons had Hagel’s letter leaked to him. He denies that the source was Hagel. He also notes that Admiral William J. Fallon, Commander, U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the guy who thinks that Petraeus is a worthless Eddie Haskell suckup, has, “allegedly communicated with the Senator that serious articulations of American interests and consideration of the options Hagel recommends are much needed in this current political and policy environment.”
Translation: Someone call off the insane folks in DC.
Not that I think that batsh$# insane Cheney, and the petulant brat will listen, though it is significant that this is getting leaked, and passed around the military.
Rat Leaves Ship
Karen Hughes is leaving the State Deptepartment.
Thinking of her, and the Hague court, I am reminded that in the Nuremburg trials, the publisher of Der Stürmer, Julius Streicher, was executed, and there is also the precedents regarding RTLM in Rwanda, and it’s principals, Ferdinand Nahimana, and Jean Bosco Barayagwiza.
This chain of thought applies to Karl Rove too.
Condi to Blackwater: Let’s Just Be Friends
It appears that the State Department will not be renewing their contract with Blackwater.
This would be good for everyone involved, except, of course for Blackwater, but they are a bunch of trigger happy mercenaries, screw them.
United Nations Panel Says Contractors “Akin to Merceneries:
The United States Government strenuously objects to this characterization, but if the shoe fits….
Seriously, these folks are performing explicitly military tasks, and as such, they are mercenaries.
It’s nice that other folks are recognizing this.
Pot. Kettle Black
It appears that Condoleeza Rice told Russian officials that she is concerned with weapons sales by the Russia to a number of countries.In an interview with ABC News, Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice expressed concern about Russia’s increasing military assertiveness.
This from the woman representing the biggest arms dealer in history, not to mentionthe most gonzo* administration in US history.
*I mean this in a bad way, no association with Hunter S. Thompson is intended.
Russia Threatens to Ditch INF Treaty
As a result of a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Russia and the US, Russia is threatening to leave the INF missile treaty.
Not a big surprise, you locate a missile defense site that is clearly targeted against Russia, and they don’t trust us. Go figure.
The original treaty only happened because we had missiles in Europe that could hit their homeland. This time, if the Russians do breakout from the treaty, there will be no US Pershings of Tomohawks. Public opinion in Europe will not allow it.
Putin knows the score, and as Lowermanhattanite says at the group news blog, never confuse a poseur (Bush, Cheney, Rice) with the real gangsta (Putin, former KGB, Clinton called him the “Coldest SOB I’ve ever Met”).
Baker is Right: IP is Protectionism
Dean Baker makes the excellent point that economists who rail against any restriction on trade are nowhere to be found when the trade barrier supports movie and record executives or pharma.
We need to recognize the fact that IP is a restriction on free trade, and to understand that IP protections need to be balanced against the virtues of free trade. Conversely, this also means that the virtues of free trade need to be balanced against negative societal impact more generally.
ECB Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged
Clearly, this means that the European Central Bank does not intend to match the US Federal Reserve Rate cuts. The Bank of England also left rates unchanged.
Honestly, the comments made when this was done were not informative, but my guess is that the ECB sees supporting the dollar right now, absent better US fiscal policy and a reduced trade deficit, as a losing game.
“I hate all Iranians”, Says the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defense Secretary Robert Gates
This is scary.
I hate all Iranians, US aide tells MPs
By SIMON WALTERSBritsh MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America’s stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush’s senior women officials: “I hate all Iranians.”
And she also accused Britain of “dismantling” the Anglo-US-led coalition in Iraq by pulling troops out of Basra too soon.
The all-party group of MPs say Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, made the comments this month.
…..
The MPs say that at one point she said: “In any case, I hate all Iranians.”
Although it was an aside, it was not out of keeping with her general demeanour.
“She seemed more keen on saying she didn’t like Iranians than that the US had no plans to attack Iran,” said one MP. “She did say there were no plans for an attack but the tone did not fit the words.”
Another MP said: “I formed the impression that some in America are looking for an excuse to attack Iran. It was very alarming.”
…
The Pentagon denied Ms Cagan said she “hated” Iranians.
“She doesn’t speak that way,” said an official.
But when The Mail on Sunday spoke to four of the six MPs, three confirmed privately that she made the remark and one declined to comment. The other two could not be contacted.
She’s scary too:
Yikes!!!!
And no, this is not a photoshop job.
This is Where Our Sabre Rattling With Regard to Iran Leads Us
Iran’s parliament votes to label CIA, U.S. Army ‘terrorist’ groups.
Considering the fact that the US Senate has done the same with units of the Iranian military, this is unsurprising.
Of course, this means that Iran does not feel bound by the requirements of POW status, and they could set up their own little Gitmo for our troops, which is, of course, the implicit threat here.
The worst kept secret in the Middle East is that US special forces, and possibly CIA operatives are operating in Iran, and by our actions, we have given the Iranians license to abuse them.
The Fruits of Bush Foreign Policy, Iran in Our Back Yard
Iran strengthens South America ties: “On the heels of a U.N. General Assembly appearance in which he said Iran will ignore demands by ‘arrogant powers’ to curb its nuclear program, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was headed to Bolivia on Thursday to establish first-time diplomatic relations with the Andean nation.”
Yes, our world is so much safer because the Avignon President is on the job.
State Department Obstructs Congressional Investigation
The State Department has instructed Blackwater not to cooperate with congressional investigators.
Absent a claim (which would be bogus) of executive privilege, this is a felony.
The State Department official, Kiazan Moneypenny, wrote Blackwater VP Fred Roitz to “advise” him of Blackwater’s obligations under the terms of State’s contract. Among them: “all documents and records (including photographs) generated during the performance of work under this contract shall be for the sole use of and become the exclusive property of the U.S. government.” These obligations, according to the contract, exist in perpetuity — not just until the contract expires. As a result, Moneypenny told Roitz to make “no disclosure of documents or information generated under [the contract] unless such disclosure has been authorized in writing by the Contract Officer.”
Miss Moneypenny (gotta love that name) mentions that she has communicated this previously.
Sounds like the notoriously closed-mouthed mercenaries are too talkative for the State Department.