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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Mr. Whist who wrote (260215)5/31/2002 11:44:13 PM
From: greenspirit  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 769670
 
I am not talking about what the article said. I'm talking about the comments you believe we had in relation to that article. You said we "Bashed" Chelsea Clinton. Show *me* where I bashed her?

Can you comprehend the difference flapjack? Or, is this your best attempt at trying to weasel out of how utterly and foolishly wrong you are.



To: Mr. Whist who wrote (260215)5/31/2002 11:46:59 PM
From: greenspirit  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 769670
 
Show me what I "editted" flapjack? I cut and pasted your exact post. Are you now embarrassed by the words you wrote?

I certainly would be.



To: Mr. Whist who wrote (260215)6/1/2002 12:00:04 AM
From: greenspirit  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 769670
 
Let me make this easy for you flapjack. Below is *every* post after the Chelsea Clinton article. In order, all the way to your post in bold font.

To:Michael D. Cummings who wrote (259897)
From: jlallen Friday, May 31, 2002 9:47 AM
View Replies (4) | Respond to of 260218

If you had her parents, you'd probably have a drinking problem too....
I feel sorry for her. I think the public and the media should just leave her alone.....

JLA

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To:Michael D. Cummings who wrote (259860)
From: TigerPaw Friday, May 31, 2002 9:48 AM
View Replies (2) | Respond to of 260218

It was such a disaster to have a President in anguish for a month over which stem cell was better than another stem cell while the Attorney General was indulging in his passion for porn, all while letting the terrorists plan and train and strike. If those small minded jokers had any regard for the welfare of the country instead of their little constituencies we would not have suffered the tragedies of the past year.
TP



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To:TigerPaw who wrote (259899)
From: jlallen Friday, May 31, 2002 9:49 AM
Respond to of 260218

Yet another steaming pile of crap from the King of the Crap Peddlers.....
You hit a new low scumbag.

JLA

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To:jlallen who wrote (259898)
From: Michael D. Cummings Friday, May 31, 2002 9:52 AM
View Replies (2) | Respond to of 260218

I agree, but I thought the liberal mainstream news hypocrisy was worth pointing out.

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To:TigerPaw who wrote (259899)
From: Michael D. Cummings Friday, May 31, 2002 9:52 AM
View Replies (2) | Respond to of 260218

Tearful FBI Agent Apologizes To Sept. 11 Families and Victims
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
May 30, 2002
conservativenews.org\Nation\...
Editor's note: Corrects length of investigation to four years rather than ten.

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - In a memorandum written 91 days before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, an FBI agent warned that Americans would die as a result of the bureau's failure to adequately pursue investigations of terrorists living in the country.

FBI Special Agent Robert Wright, Jr., who wrote the memo, led a four-year investigation into terrorist money laundering in the United States.

Wright began crying as he concluded his remarks at a Washington press conference Thursday.

"To the families and victims of September 11th - on behalf of [FBI Special Agents] John Vincent, Barry Carmody, and myself - we're sorry," Wright said before walking out of the room. Vincent and Carmody have also expressed a desire to expose information regarding alleged FBI missteps prior to Sept. 11.

Wright's June 9, 2001 "Mission Statement" memo warned that, "Knowing what I know, I can confidently say that until the investigative responsibilities for terrorism are transferred from the FBI, I will not feel safe.

"The FBI has proven for the past decade it cannot identify and prevent acts of terrorism against the United States and its citizens at home and abroad," he continued. "Even worse, there is virtually no effort on the part of the FBI's International Terrorism Unit to neutralize known and suspected international terrorists living in the United States."

The summary of Wright's attempts to expose the alleged failures of the FBI's anti-terrorism efforts ended with a solemn conclusion.

"Unfortunately, more terrorist attacks against American interests - coupled with the loss of American lives - will have to occur before those in power give this matter the urgent attention it deserves," he wrote.

Wright had written a manuscript, entitled "Fatal Betrayals of the Intelligence Mission," for presentation to Congress.

"The manuscript outlines, in very specific detail, what I believe allowed September 11th to happen," he explained.

Wright spearheaded the investigation code-named "Vulgar Betrayal," which led to the 1998 seizure of $1.4 million of U.S. funds "destined for terrorist activities."

The investigation determined that U.S.-based Hamas terrorists were using not-for-profit organizations "to recruit and train terrorists and fund terrorist activities in the United States and abroad, including the extortion, kidnapping, and murder of Israeli citizens."

The criminal investigations were initiated over the objections of FBI intelligence officers, who Wright charges did not want their probes of terrorist suspects interrupted or ended by the suspects' arrests for criminal activities.

"Vulgar Betrayal" was the first operation that culminated with the use of civil forfeiture laws to seize the U.S. assets of terrorist groups. The confiscated funds were directly linked to Saudi Arabian businessman Yassin Kadi, also known as Yassin al-Qadi, who has since been identified as one of the "chief money launderers" for Osama bin Laden.

Investigators believe he provided as much as $3 billion to the al Qaeda terrorist network before Wright's investigation closed his operations.

Wright says that FBI management "intentionally and repeatedly thwarted and obstructed" his attempts to expand the investigation to arrest other terrorists and seize their assets.

On August 4, 1999, the FBI removed Wright from the "Vulgar Betrayal" operation, which was terminated shortly thereafter. All but the final three pages of his manuscript were completed in the following months. Those pages were added after Sept. 11.

"As a direct result of the incompetence and, at times, intentional obstruction of justice by FBI management to prevent me from bringing the terrorists to justice, Americans have unknowingly been exposed to potential terrorist attacks for years," he charged.

Nine factors entered into the FBI failures alleged in Wright's manuscript, including:

- Incompetent managers who are not held accountable for mistakes;
- Lack of independent oversight of the bureau;
- Bias on the part of the FBI's internal affairs unit, the Office of Professional Responsibility;
- Antiquated computer technology; and
- Overlapping investigative jurisdictions of other federal law enforcement agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

In a May 29 letter to Wright's attorneys, John Collingwood, assistant director of the FBI's office of public and congressional affairs, forbid Wright to disclose the contents of the manuscript - in writing or orally - to anyone not approved by the bureau.

"Pursuant to [Wright's] employment agreement and FBI procedures, he is still not authorized to publicly disseminate information we have previously advised is prohibited from disclosure at this time," Collingwood wrote.

The letter also contained what Wright and his attorneys considered a threat, meant to intimidate them.

"We feel obliged to inform you [that] breach of an employee's employment obligations may be grounds for disciplinary action, a civil suit, or both," Collingwood warned. "In some instances, unauthorized disclosure may also constitute cause for revocation of a security clearance or be a criminal offense."

Those warnings seem to directly contradict the statements of FBI Director Robert Mueller Wednesday while announcing a "wartime reorganization" of his agency.

"It is critically important that I hear criticisms of the organization including criticisms of me in order to improve the organization, to improve the FBI," he said. "Because our focus is on preventing terrorist attacks, more so than in the past, we must be open to new ideas, to criticism from within and from without, and to admitting and learning from our mistakes."

Collingwood claimed in his letter that the opposition to Wright's public comments was not "solely" because Wright's comments might be "critical or disparaging of the FBI, the government, or its employees."

But Larry Klayman, chairman and general counsel of Judicial Watch, says Collingwood's "threats" prove that Mueller's words are meaningless.

"This new policy of the FBI was not sincere," Klayman said, "because at 5 p.m. [after Mueller's press conference] we got [Collingwood's] letter."

Judicial Watch, along with former House Judiciary Committee Special Counsel David Shippers, is representing Wright in a lawsuit against the FBI and five "unknown officials" for violation of his First Amendment free speech rights.

Wright has also filed complaints with the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and wants his manuscript and testimony subpoenaed by Congress.

"I truly believe I would be derelict in my duty as an American if I did not do my best to bring the FBI's dereliction of duty to the attention of others," he said. "I have made it my mission ... to legally expose the problems of the FBI to the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, and the American people."



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To:Raymond Duray who wrote (259875)
From: MSI Friday, May 31, 2002 9:54 AM
View Replies (1) | Respond to of 260218

A crafty one ...
The question the keeps coming to my mind is "what do you really believe, I mean besides selling highly-polished excuses?"

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To:Michael D. Cummings who wrote (259902)
From: TigerPaw Friday, May 31, 2002 10:00 AM
View Replies (4) | Respond to of 260218

Bush Knew,
In spite of his lies to the contrary there was sufficient information for the FBI to take action on Sept 10, and not just Ashcroft leaving the public to die on common carriers while he took only private jets.

newsday.com.

Unfortunately the information was not used to save lives, but to further the fortunes of the Carlyle military industrial complex.
During a hearing in San Diego last week, Breen said that Elgindy's attempt to liquidate the trust accounts of his children on Sept. 10 might "perhaps" mean he had "pre-knowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks, and, rather than report it, he was attempting to profit from that information."

reuters.com.

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To:jlallen who wrote (259898)
From: PROLIFE Friday, May 31, 2002 10:10 AM
Respond to of 260218

I agree.
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To:enigma who wrote (259881)
From: MSI Friday, May 31, 2002 10:14 AM
View Replies (1) | Respond to of 260218

The internet provides the access and seeds mainstream media. That's what's neat about Fitt's project as it snowballs. The only way the coercion and deception can increase is if the internet is censured, legal controls on ISPs, websites or search engines.
Little websites with damning information can be trashed occasionally, but digital technology and increasing bandwidth is such that they'll pop up again as they're found again.

To control that, you need control of the search engines, like google.

Finally, the chat rooms like this one can be influenced by paid posters running constant cliched commentary, but that's of limited effect as long as thinking people still exist.
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To:Michael D. Cummings who wrote (259901)
From: flapjack Friday, May 31, 2002 10:18 AM
View Replies (1) | Respond to of 260218

Update on the Florida governor's race
Jeb Bush is terrified to run against this guy named McBride.

Here's why:

McBride is a Vietnam Veteran who VOLUNTEERED to serve in the Marines and
graduated #1 from the Army Ranger School and earned the Bronze Star.

McBride is a product of Public Schools in FLORIDA ... his two children attend Public Schools.
McBride worked his way through college and law school (you know that good 'ol pull yourself
by the bootstraps stuff that Republicans love.' He gave back a football scholarship in college
when he became injured because, "it was the right thing to do."

McBride ran a successful business. His former business colleagues are not being investigated
by the DOJ. He litigated a certain number of civil rights cases every year pro-bono and
installed a living wage to all that worked at his law firm.

I'm pretty sure that his wife, Alex, has never tried to smuggle $14,000 worth of goods into the country.
And his kids are in Little League, not rehab.

bartcop.com
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To:enigma who wrote (259882)
From: MSI Friday, May 31, 2002 10:21 AM
View Replies (1) | Respond to of 260218

No, it no doubt goes back 20 years, at least. A growing percentage.
Not only does it reduce military and economic strength, it also increases the "moral hazard", where defense contractors, consultants, writers, politicians, foreign lobbyists and other thieves feel they have a green light to steal from the Treasury.

It establishes a lax "who cares?" attitude for other departments and reduces public confidence in their government.

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To:jlallen who wrote (259898)
From: flapjack Friday, May 31, 2002 10:24 AM
View Replies (2) | Respond to of 260218

JLA: Since you and Cummings are into Chelsea bashing today, how 'bout an update on the three Bush girls who (unlike Chelsea) actually have been convicted of something. I believe one of 'em even committed a felony.
How they all doing on their community service projects? Any updates yet?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but with at least a couple of them, the next time's a third strike and they'll be spending some time in the penitentiary, won't they?



To: Mr. Whist who wrote (260215)6/1/2002 1:00:35 AM
From: Raymond Duray  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 769670
 
flapjack,

Be careful, cunning Cummings has been able to get you to take your eye off the ball. Not smart. You're getting snookered.

Here's something that's much more important to the future of the world (evangelicals are betting on 2010, tops) than discussions of an elite child in a discovery period.

ARMY SAYS F*** PEACE!, THE KOUGHBOY DIKTATOR SAYS "YEAH, BABY!"

story.news.yahoo.com

Peace? F*** Peace. It costs too much........

Army Closing Peacekeeping Office
Fri May 31, 5:40 PM ET
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army has decided to close its Peacekeeping Institute, the only arm of the military devoted entirely to developing principles of how to conduct peacekeeping missions, officials said Friday.


The unannounced decision came after months of deliberation. It is part of a move to cut staff positions at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., where the institute is based.

Col. Tom Begines, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon (news - web sites), said he was unaware of any decision. Other Army officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was made this week.

The Peacekeeping Institute is to be closed by September 2003. Some of its functions probably will be absorbed by the Center for Army Lessons Learned at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., officials said.

The institute was created in July 1993 to guide the Army's thinking on the conduct of peacekeeping missions, to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of specific missions and to promote Army exchanges with international organizations involved in peace operations.

Three months after its creation, a peacekeeping effort in Somalia that had evolved into a manhunt turned suddenly bloody on the streets of Mogadishu. Two Army Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, 18 U.S. soldiers were killed and the Clinton administration quickly ended the mission.

William Nash, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said he was disappointed by the Army's decision but not sure of its long-term effect. Nash, a retired Army major general, was commander of NATO (news - web sites)-led peacekeeping forces in Bosnia during the first year after the civil war ended in 1995.

"It's too soon to tell if it's good or bad," he said in an interview.

The Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping, a nonpartisan group that includes nongovernmental organizations, academics and others interested in peacekeeping issues, said in a statement that military commanders have come to rely on the Peacekeeping Institute.

"Since its establishment PKI has maintained an outstanding reputation among our allies, the United Nations (news - web sites) secretariat and within the U.S. government," the group said. "Eliminating this function will be a setback in U.S. foreign policy. It will send a clear message that the U.S. has disengaged from peace operations."

Kenneth Bacon, president of Refugees International and a former assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, said the Army stands to lose an important resource at a time when peacekeeping is of growing importance.

"They're dismantling an office that has brought real expertise and perspective" to peacekeeping, he said.

Closing the Peacekeeping Institute does not mean the Army will stop doing peacekeeping missions.

___

On the Net: Peacekeeping Institute: carlisle-www.army.mil



To: Mr. Whist who wrote (260215)6/1/2002 10:31:28 PM
From: RON BL  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 769670
 
The reason that the press reported on Noelle, Jenna and Babs is that the girls were arrested by police.

Flap do you realize that you can legally drink at any age in most of Europe ? The points being made about the Bush girls were that they were drunks etc. Sounds to me that they seem to be about the same. Chelsea just happens to be in a place where you don't get arrested.