Blog @ MoreWhat.com

If the previous post does not show you that Senator Harry Reid is a contradction then understand he said they would not cut and run in Iraq or raise taxes. Right at the moment the tax thing is secondary. He said they would not cut and run. Senator Reid would you kindly explain the report below if you are not planning on cut and run?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

US Senate Democrats Draft Plan to Revise Military’s Iraq Mission
By VOA News
23 February 2007

Democratic Party leaders in the U.S. Senate are working on legislation that would effectively revoke the 2002 resolution authorizing military action against Iraq.

Senate Democratic aides say the proposal, which is not expected to be adopted, would limit the U.S. military’s mission to training Iraqi troops and police forces, securing the country’s borders and combating terrorist forces. Regular combat forces would be withdrawn by next year.

The proposal, drafted by Senator Carl Levin, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Joseph Biden, who chairs the Foreign Relations panel is set to be presented to other Democratic senators next week.

If accepted, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would likely attach the proposal to an anti-terrorism bill. If passed by the Senate, which is not likely, the revised authorization would also have to be passed by the House and would be subject to a veto by President Bush.

Democrats and the independents aligned with them hold a slim 51 to 49 majority in the Senate, but hold a more comfortable majority in the House of Representatives.

The 2002 resolution gave President Bush authorization to take military action against Iraq, because of its alleged arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. In a speech last week, Biden said the original resolution is now irrelevant because the WMD program did not exist, and former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is “no longer there.”

The bill is the latest effort by Senate Democrats to challenge President Bush on his Iraq policy. A vote on a non-binding resolution criticizing Mr. Bush’s plan to deploy an additional 21,000 troops to Iraq failed in the Senate, but was passed in the House last week.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives are considering a proposal by lawmaker Jack Murtha that would link funding of the U.S. military mission in Iraq to strict conditions on troop readiness and training standards.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, The Right Nation, Leaning Straight Up, Maggie’s Notebook, and basil’s blog, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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Palestinians say US to shun new coalition

USA Today
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The United States has informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it will shun a future Hamas-Fatah coalition government because it will not explicitly recognize Israel, Abbas aides said Thursday.

“…Will not explicitly recognize Israel…”, so what’s new?
C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

In Exchange for Records, Fewer Immigration Raids

Over the past seven months, Bush administration officials have quietly toured the country, trying to persuade businesses that rely heavily on immigrant labor to join a little-known program that would spare them from embarrassing federal raids if they voluntarily handed over their workers’ documents so the government can scan them for fraudulent information….

The existence of the report above should be sufficient evidence that President Bush’s quiet tour is in the past tense. Raids are not the important part of the issue. The issue is the important part of the issue. It is called immigration. And every last politician can’t stop counting the money long enough to discharge their responsibility and correct border control and other national security problems including immigration.

If business wants to avoid raids by doing what they should in the first place, that is fine. Straighten out your obligation to protect this country and also stop violating laws. You forget that along with the need to have a profit in a busienss you have other obligations, not the least of which is to the country in which your business is located.

Stop the insanity and correct national security, including, but not limited to, defense, border control and immigration.

Staford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Escalating Our Military Involvement in Iraq Sends Precisely the Wrong Message Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Richard Durbin released the following statement tonight on President Bush’s address to the nation on the war in Iraq. 01/10/2007

There seems to be more conflict among people in this country as to an Iraq strategy than there is in Iraq. How’s that for helping out the other side? One of the drawbacks to freedom of speech is that people use it even when it is not in their best interest.

President Bush’s Administration is reminiscent of Lincoln and his difficulties with General McClellan in the Civil War. I will skip some obvious comparisons for the Demoratic party’s sentiments but can ask if anyone else was reminded of 1968.

It is unlikely that war plans have ever been completed without modification. Somewhere I heard someone say that after the first round is fired the battle plans go out the window. What politicians won’t give to us they expect from everyone else based on the words in the critiques. They claim they have the answer in their proposal. Leaving Iraq will solve the problem. They also claim the President’s current plan sends the wrong message. They think we’re doomed to fail. Have they ever considered their own actions may become a self-fulfilling prophecy? I have heard them say support the troops. Have they considered the positive effect of also supporting the mission? Slowly the Democrats opposition will convince me of the Dems suspected belief that utopia can be delivered if we all just talk and give each other a big hug. Let’s see ya try that with a terrorist who has repeatedly announced the fundamentalist mantra of killing all infidels. In case you’re not aware, that applies to anyone who doesn’t believe what they believe. And the way two distinct Muslim groups are killing each other in Iraq, that probably means everyone else.

Give the Bush Administration a chance to make something turn right about this wrongly initiated war. You might stop to think that some of us hold Congress partially to blame for failing to uncover the flaws as opposed to covering your political butts. And if the holier than thou minority of those voting against the war feel above reproach, forget about it. You were among the entire Congress, both houses, who failed to unearth the hoax. There is no “fool me once” loophole in matters of this importance. You all have a responsibility to see this thing through to a positive conclusion to right the wrongs and honor the sacrafice of others, Iraqis as well as Americans.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

There will not be a commentary here covering the entire State of the Union speech in one pass. This annual event is more significant than the importance most citizens place on it. But what is clear is that the media, some politicians and members of the public have made the Iraq War the primary issue. So that will be the topic of this post in brief.

Below is an interesting excerpt from a site that offered some stats on America at war. It is rather well written and more importantly, to the point. The point being the surprising lack of resolve in military matters that this country has been accused of and is quite simply guilty. Below is the excerpt.

The United States of America has a somewhat unique relationship with war. While America is considered to be the most militarily powerful country in the world today, Americans as a whole have never experienced war in the way that many other countries of the world have. There is a huge disparity between the American experience of war and the global experience. This may have an impact on American attitudes towards war

Which brings us to the subject of casualties. Follow the link above for the numbers if you like. The main point raised in opposition to the war is not on policy but casualties. Let’s just call it 3000 in three years. Of course, one death is unacceptable to most, but in war it is inevitable. Any way you slice it, the answer is the same. In terms of war, this nation’s casualties are extremely light. Granted, it is a different kind of war, but the numbers are still light.

I fear the opposition by elected officials is purely political. For those related to active duty service personnel, their opposition is understandable. But to increase the likelihood of bigger problems down the road with no guaranteed upside in leaving Iraq, the opposition makes no sense. It certainly makes no sense to leave without first trying one more (maybe the only) coherent proposal to date. That would include the initial decision.

MoreWhat.com urges those reading this and anyone they can tell, to contact your elected representatives to back the President’s Iraq strategy that was repeated tonight in the State of the Union address.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
( photos or other distractions were intentionally omitted from this post)

Another glance at a list of most popular news stories indicates the story of the two “abducted” boys has moved into first place since yesterday. In second place is a strange combo-looking thing featuring Hollywood divorces, Trump and Rosie and assorted other useless information. Third place has electronics standards and the BS electronics show hording space it doesn’t deserve. As a post of ours pointed out, the technology related industries in this country as well as others doles out tech advances in minuscule portions to maximize the profit ripoff of consumers. We have little sympathy for their perceived difficulties and absolutely no respect for their methods. Actually Beckham was in third place but who cares about soccer?

There are no other stories in the list worth mentioning with the possible exception of one on Secretary of State, Rice. The headline reads” Rice Encounters Skepticism in Mideast”. That is offered only for its comedic value. Maybe if the U.S. would put Israel in its place, show some compassion for the ordinary citizens of Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East and warn every nation in the region to make an effort at peace, we might have something. Show them you’re serious by completing what you started in Afghanistan and Iraq, quickly. Straighten out some of the messes you’ve gotten us into and start acting like world leaders and maybe some one will take you seriously. If you get that far you can tell Iran and North Korea or any one else spoiling for a fight to straighten up or their situation will change abruptly. Do what you need to provide a little lasting peace and prosperity in the region and then take a break and bring the troops home. It can be done so quit wasting time and get at it. Tell the morons back in the states to stop debating foreign policy and military strategy in the news and get to work also. This country could use some leadership. Let’s start with what we have and stop playing politics. For once, finish the job and stop looking like the idiots you probably are.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Blair makes one last push in Middle East with….

Guardian Unlimited, UK - 1 hour ago
Tony Blair yesterday proposed a controversial plan to bolster Mahmoud Abbas in his escalating battle against Hamas by funnelling millions of pounds in aid …

That’s the ticket, Tony. Go get those people some good old-fashioned money. That will win at least something for a while or longer.

…left-wing parties to present initiative to end Fatah …

People’s Daily Online, China - 1 hour ago
Palestinian leftist parties were preparing a national initiative to end the political crisis and unrest following the clashes between supporters of the …

The DFLP and PFLP would be wise to use intelligent methods to find solutions. For all the militants in the Middle East it would make sense if they realized how little benefit they get from the actions that don’t make sense. Blowing things up and shooting people or any of the many tragedies that take place, haven’t produced success even briefly.

Only an end to sanctions can halt …. crisis

Guardian Unlimited, UK - 1 hour ago
As Hamas and Fatah supporters took to the streets to protest at or support Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to call for early presidential elections, congratulatory …

No jobs, no money, no paycheck should be something everyone can understand as a problem. For many who have nothing to do with the idealogical or political strife, just getting paid would be an improvement. We sometimes forget that conflicts half way around the world also involve ordinary people just trying to survive.

Blair backs Abbas plan amid Gaza violence

Independent, UK - 1 hour ago
By Donald Macintyre in Ramallah. Tony Blair launched an effort yesterday to secure international backing for the Palestinian President’s …

Imagine that, Israel has owed Palestine $65MM per month and that is part of Blairs’ idea for making things right.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

This is the third post and these items are from the 18th

US tentatively endorses Abbas call for new.. elections

International Herald Tribune, France - 2 hours ago
AP. WASHINGTON: The United States tentatively endorsed on Monday a call for early elections by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, a …

What a pickle to be in. The US would like Hamas to go away. So would the Israelis. Just from the standpoint of keeping your job, Abbas would probably like them to go away so he can make nice to deeper pockets. Probably help to get the sanctions removed and if someone working in Palestine ( like that happens much) can get paid some of the violence would subside. But that is not a subtle or tactful way to get rid of a recently elected groups of people. Maybe Al Gore and John Kerry should have tried that.

US endorses Abbas’ call for early elections

Jerusalem Post, Israel - 2 hours ago
By AP. The United States tentatively endorsed on Monday a call for early elections by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas …

After you test the water with the whimpy tentative endorsement, it is time to really approve of the tactic. It is getting so bad now that world political types don’t even try to appear subtle, honest or diplomatic. Maybe everyone is trying the cowboy George approach. They don’t realize the only reason GeeDubya uses that approach is his vocabulary is not a good fit for dip;omacy. Actually, Bush asking Congress for something is enough to make anything tentative, especially with a newly elected Democratic majority. Bush doesn’t realize they’ll do almost anything to avoid a fight.

US Backs Early Palestinian Elections

ABC News - 59 minutes ago
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen speaks during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the West Bank …

ABC doesn’t like the word tentative. That must be it because it reads a lot like the other news fodder. But removing the word tentative makes it sound better and we can follow with…….

……this
Oh ya, if we can get Tony Blair to go along with this it’s a done deal. No more waiting on the sidelines. Maybe Tony really started this and the US waited to see how they like Tony’s approach, not so much the cowboy, or cowgirl if Conde Rice is representing America.

Arab FMs may hold emergency meeting on …. crisis

People’s Daily Online, China - 1 hour ago
Arab foreign ministers may hold an emergency meeting to seek an end to the conflicting situation in the Palestinian territories, Egypt’s official MENA news …

Now you know it’s serious. If the Arab FM’s hold a meeting and it’s not about oil, there is real fear of things changing in a way that threatens the sheiks. Heads may roll and not in the symbolic sense. The laundry expense will increase this week. (a little update: they called it off after talking to Abbas…..hmmmm)

Gunfights shatter ceasefire…. Blair urges world to back …

Scotsman, United Kingdom - 1 hour ago
GUNBATTLES and kidnappings shook Gaza yesterday despite a ceasefire declaration by Hamas and Fatah, while Tony Blair called on the international community to …

Can’t have the US pay for everything…… or can they. More in the next post. All items from the 18th.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Abbas insists he will hold elections

The Age, Australia - 3 hours ago
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is vowing to press on with early elections as a truce between his security forces and the Hamas government appears close to …

Early reports characterize Abbas’ stance as firm, then insists, then below he may be softening. When surrounded by all kinds of nutcases and having a slippery grip on the situation, it’s easy to understand how one might do that.

‘Warmer’ Abbas in push for early poll

Irish Examiner, Ireland - 1 hour ago
By Karen Laub Ramallah, West Bank. PALESTINIAN president Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said he was pushing ahead with early elections — despite …

A one hour ago indication with yesterday in the article text. Confusing, no? The article’s date stamp on that site shows December 19. These summaries were obtained on the 18th. Ya, we know, who cares? Someone might. For a minute we thought the Irish were coming late to the party. That’s why we made that crack about Northern Ireland in the last post.

Palestinian PM Haniyeh to deliver key speech on …

International Herald Tribune, France - 4 hours ago
AP. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh will deliver a major speech on Tuesday to respond to President …

As mentioned before, if Hamas sees this as a move by US and Israel to undermine their position that would explain why Abbas did not seek a national consensus for the elections. As if the situation has ever been promising for a peaceful future, most nations seem to be pushing their own agendas and making matters worse.

Choose peace

Jerusalem Post, Israel - 4 hours ago
When the bullets are flying and the guns are flailing, polls are notoriously unreliable. The surveys that indicate a tight race …

That’s a quaint headline from an Israeli paper. The last paragraph explains the headline. It’s not a call for peace. It says the international community had previously not pushed the Palestinians to choose peace and that was a mistake. That is not the first place to look for mistakes in this neverending conflict. Thanks Israel, nice point, NOT.

Roundup: Palestinian violence concerns Israel

People’s Daily Online, China - 1 hour ago
After internal violence between warring Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas exploded across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank last weekend, Israel is gravely …

The People’s Daily writes Israel is concerned this will be a further deteoration and cost them greatly. Maybe Israel and Palestine should work a little harder to reach agreements. Or maybe it is just easier and a better bet you can get what you really want with the US pouring money in the place while you hold out for a better deal.

Olmert, Blair stress backing for Abbas

Daily Star - Lebanon, Lebanon - 4 hours ago
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he plans to set up a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas “very soon,” and release seized Palestinian funds for “humanitarian …

This item just proves the conspiracy theory that the US and Israel have a plot going on here. And since everyone knows that Tony Blair and George Bush are such good friends, it must be true.

Abbas gets Israeli and UK backing
BBC News, UK - 4 hours ago
UK and Israeli leaders have reiterated their support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his row with the governing Islamist party Hamas. …

One source in Lebanon and one in the UK saying the same thing. More confirmation for the conspiracy theorists or just media types filling space.
Again, more on the topic in the next post.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A Counterproductive US Advice to Palestinians

Asian Tribune, Thailand - 4 hours ago
By Nicola Nasser. Regardless of good will or bad faith, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to go without national consensus …

The take on current Middle East politics from one Asian news account contends the Abbas early election plan simply conforms to a US-Israeli plan to push Hamas aside in Palestinian affairs. Wouldn’t Vegas call that long shot odds unless someone fixes the election. That’s what happens when you let people carry on about Bush stealing the election from Gore and Kerry. Right away, every time the US is near an election, people think it’s fixed. But, by their own account, they are not an organization but some kind of force for change in Asia. Whatever. Then how did they show up in a news search. That’s right, blogs are in the searches now too. Haven’t seen Blog @ MoreWhat.com there yet.

Abbas’ election call escalates tension with Hamas

Bangkok Post, Thailand - 4 hours ago
By DEAN YATES. Jerusalem _ President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for early elections may have scuppered any chance of compromise with the …

See, another Asian report and now they’re blaming increased tension on the call for an early election. They probably think the US and Israel will fix the election. As long as the Middle East has had conflict, they may be running out of excuses to continue fighting. So blame the US and Israel since everyone knows the Us will back Israel right or wrong.

Officials working to shore up tottering Gaza truce (Roundup)

Monsters and Critics.com, UK - 3 hours ago
Palestinian security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas take up position around their camps in Gaza City 18 December 2006. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER. …

This might more accurately read, some of the militants and other armed individuals could be trying to keep things from getting outta hand. A huge guess might be this is an empty gesture to minimize attaching blame to one group or another. This region has been flogging itself for so long they fight at the drop of a hat. When any attempt at peace appears to have a chance some moron straps on a bomb and explodes in a crowd. Maybe this dysfunctional behavior becomes the norm if allowed to continue long enough. Is this worse than Northern Ireland?

West may be too late to save weakened Abbas

International Herald Tribune, France - 3 hours ago
By Steven Erlanger. JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain dropped by Ramallah on Monday to show his support for the Palestinian …

It just wouldn’t be right without France chiming in. Next headline.

Abbas stands firm on vote plan amid shaky ceasefire

Gulf News, United Arab Emirates - 4 hours ago
Ramallah, West Bank: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said he would press on with early elections as a truce between his security forces and the …

Sanctions, unemployment, poverty and political basketball may have given Abbas few options. The election strategy may be a little too transparent.

This is kind of a chronology, as best we can, given the order of news reports. Will pick up here, with a bit more on the election part of the story and to the other reports.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Walker’s World: EU-U.S. agree on Mideast

By MARTIN WALKER
UPI Editor Emeritus

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) — The striking feature of the UPI-Zogby poll on American attitudes toward the Israel- Palestine dispute is the similarity with views in Europe. This suggests that the transatlantic political support now exists for a concerted push for a new effort to reach a settlement, which is exactly what Britain’s Tony Blair and the Iraq Study Group have been urging on President George W. Bush this month.

This is an interesting article but the bottom line is most conflicts in the world continue for outrageous lengths of time. Does anyone really want to solve these problems? Conflict involving Israel have existed since 1948. Certainly they have existed since the 1967 war. Much hope was placed on efforts during the Carter Administration. It looked good until the assasination of Anwar Sadat. Again, does anyone really want to resolve these problems? Sixty years and counting and nothing has been settled. Everyone can share in the blame.

Iran has experienced many problems. Any anger remaining from the US support of the Shah of Iran is understandable. Additional anger over lopsided support of Israel by the US is equally understandable. However, the current leaders in Iran calling for the destruction of Israel is not real helpful either.

Other nations in the region and US involvement produce problems based on objectives that are basically selfish and have nothing to do with solving world problems and only add to the difficulties. Therefore an article claiming the EU and US agree on the Middle East is hardly useful.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Bush, Mexico’s Calderon to work on immigration
Reuters -
… W. Bush and Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon
pledged on Thursday to work together for a comprehensive
solution to curb illegal immigration from Mexico …

If it was not a plot by both Houses of Congress to introduce
HR4437 knowing it would never get through the Senate, then
the fine new Senate of the 110th Congress should be able to
finish strong reform starting in January 2007. Similar to the
fact that Immigration Reform of 1986 was never enforced, in
their grand wisdom, politicians have improved on their deceit
by creating a better strategy. Work together just long enough
to satisfy mutual goals and fool the public in believing you really
give a damn. Like Democrats conceding Presidential 2004
elections by nominating John Kerry when John Edwards wsa a
much more viable candidate. Kerry was a sacrificial lamb and
the only one who did not know it was Kerry. He still doesn’t.

We hope all you smiling Democrats are enjoying your victories.
We hope all you Republicans are understanding your arrogance
that led to this. And we hope you both as well as all of America
is prepared for a continuation of porous borders, unrestricted
immigration and a complete breakdown of national security.

If you haven’t noticed, the resignation of Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld and previously mentioned items absolutely elated the
Muslim world. Al-Jazeera and the rest have been celebrating
since November 7th, 2006. Thank you one and all. NOT!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Below is an example of just one more initiative simply created to
further the goals of one of the players on the international scene.
Day after day representatives of each country, regime, group,
organization or whatever make a statement in opposition to or in
favor of some grand plan or idea they claim is an effort to solve a
problem in the world. While this plays out and any one interested
weighs in on the idea’s relative merits or lack of same, people keep
dying or have their lives ruined or merely continue to suffer the
consequences of everyone else’s selfishness. No one is really trying
to find the right solution. They are simply working on a solution
that works for them. As long as that remains the strategy, no amount
of PR is going to change anything.

The major countries of the world have the tools necessary to solve
most of the world’s problems if they so desire. The problem is that
runs contrary to what they, the leaders of these countries, want. No
leaders have the courage to confront the other powers in their own
countries. The power behind the money in every country is not in
favor of what most of us would like; a peaceful world where every
person can pursue their dreams. Makes for a nice story but does not
work for the big money guys. It’s a bizarre global version of the old
joke, he who dies with the most toys wins.

This rant provided by C. Harris, with assistance from Stanford Matthews.

EXCLUSIVE- US starts plan to help Hamas opponents
Reuters AlertNet - Oct 13, 2006
By Adam Entous. JERUSALEM, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The United States
has quietly started a campaign projected to cost up to $42 million to
bolster Hamas’s political opponents ahead of possible early Palestinian
elections, say officials linked to the programme.