This is such an explosive headline, I couldn’t resist using it, even though this post is about much more than military escalation. This is the title of part one of Brave New Foundation’s new full-length documentary (think Uncovered: The War on Iraq and Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers), which they began releasing online for free today. Their documentary campaign, Rethink Afghanistan, tackles issues like the costs of war and troop buildup–the subject of part one–featuring experts like Andrew Bacevich, Stephen Kinzer, Anand Gopal, and Dr. Ramaza Bashardost, Afghanistan’s Independent candidate in their upcoming Presidential Election. It’s worth checking out to hear what those experts have to say alone, and the fact that it’s free is always an incentive!
But what I want to talk about is the ultimate goal of the Rethink Afghanistan campaign, which is to push for congressional oversight hearings. As I wrote last week, oversight has been a cornerstone of government accountability throughout our country’s history, particularly in wartime. And some of the best oversight has not only been bipartisan, but it’s come when the President’s own party is debating his policies. Take the joint committee investigations during the Civil War, Senator Truman’s Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program during WWII, and the Fulbright hearings during Vietnam. The same oversight needs to be applied today, especially after we saw this system of checks and balances shattered during the Bush administration and Iraq war.
I realize this war is an incredibly hairy issue. It has folks on the left divided, particularly in the progressive blogosphere, and it’s important to be able to debate the issues surrounding this war. After all, that’s the kind of plurality of opinion Obama has called for and respects and is willing to listen to–how refreshing! What is not debatable, at least in my mind, is the need for congressional oversight.
Whether you’re for this war or against it, whether you think military escalation will cost too much and accomplish too little or you see it as part of our moral obligation to the region, it’s hard for anyone to argue against the fact that oversight would benefit everyone. It would ensure the executive branch isn’t overstepping its bounds; it would help curb wasteful military spending; and it would make sure military agencies are running efficiently. Above all, as Andrew Bacevich told me last week, it would educate the public about the Obama administration’s policies so we can continue to have this debate.
No, you are confused, a quick look in your personnal site profile and we can see that you have been using my name to make comments. Everyone is watching “The Truth”. If I choose to tell Jim Gilliam you are history. Of course I wont, but you need to be carefull, someone might report it.
Waaah! Waaah! Little boy is going to run crying to daddy! Do me a favor punk! I am calling you out, go tell the webmaster or whoever you want — let's see if I am still here or not. I am calling your bluff boy. Now, we all know you are not much of a man – so let's see this time.
Come on punk, coward. I dare you. I'm still here!
Does your daughter still live with you? Or has child protective services taken her away since you bragged about taking her to a demonstration where she threw shoes at the American Embassy? What kind of man are you?
Still waiting. You see, you are just a coward. Your political beliefs gave you away a long time ago. LOL
COMMUNIST DICTATOR HUGO CHAVEZ SENDS ARMY TO TAKE OVER PRIVATE RICE COMPANIES:
(AP) News Americas
Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president, has ordered the army to take control of the country's rice processing plants.
“I have ordered the immediate intervention in all those sectors of agro-industry, intervention by the revolutionary government,” Chavez said during a speech. The army has been ordered to intervene in all rice factories in the Latin American nation.
Elias Jaua, the agriculture minister, said that Empresas Polar, Venezuela's largest food producer will be affected. Jaua said that occupation of factories will be the first move beginning with Primor rice, owned by Empresas Polar.
Guillermo Bolinaga, Polar's legal director, on Friday said that the accusations were “illegal and arbitrary”.
I told you, I have no intention, its not my style. Just saying though, impersonating other site users by using their names to post is risky. You cant come back under a different suedonim like you did last time you were thrown off. DISQUS blocks the e-mail address.
In the meantime, if you want to look mental then be my guest. You are obviously really really upset.
John, is your Chavez story like what happened with the domestic energy companies that were exployting the poor? I bet it is… will look into it. Forgive me for not trusting what you have put up, we know how you like to crop and edit stories to fit “The Truth?”
Smile. As I thought, you are a coward and a punk. You are also a liar, I have never been prevented from posting any comments on this blog. I defy you to prove that as a matter of fact I will bet you you can't.
But now, let's return to the topic of the day. Does your daughter still live with you? Or has child protective services taken her away since you bragged about taking her to a demonstration where she threw shoes at the American Embassy?
Surprise surprise, here is what “The Truth” has left out:
—————————-
Companies had threatened to paralyze production, Chavez said that any rice processing plants that did so would be expropriated.
“This government is here to protect the people, not the bourgeoisie or the rich,”
——————————————
How dare Hugo Chavez provide basic foods needed for survival to the poor.
Looks like you have changed your name here? You used to be Craig Sipple, now you are Craig-Sipple1. How dishonest and deceitful you are! But then again, you tell lies in every post you write so I am sure no one is surprised. LOL
What you have in Venezuela is a communist dictator and killer who steals private companies from their rightful owners. Chavez believes he can tell companies what price they can sell their goods at. These are owners who have put millions and millions of dollars into building companies, they employ thousands of people, yet can't price their products as they so choose. This is what communists do.
Chavez is a communist dictator. He had better be careful to keep his malfeasance within his borders. Really careful.
I wonder if the communist from Scotland would approve of his government telling him how much he can charge customers for an oil change?
Hmmm? Would you think that was ok?
you are really really upset, aren't you. You can play whatever games you want but anyone choosing to click onto your profile can see that you have been desceptively posting under my name– it is scared onto the front of your page forever. lol… I must have really gotten to you yesterday.
From the BBC:
Here is what happens when Communist like Chavez order private companies to set prices.
“Many rice, wheat, meat and dairy producers complain that the price regulations leave them without a profit and that many are facing bankruptcy”.
“The country's inflation levels are the highest in Latin America and, as a result, there are often shortages of items such as rice and coffee, leading to hoarding and sale on the black market”.
Smile – No, I think you are the one that is upset punk. I am laughing at you. I do want to know though, Does your daughter still live with you? Or has child protective services taken her away since you bragged about taking her to a demonstration where she threw shoes at the American Embassy?
Are you trying to cover up your deceipt by this charade about me? LOL You are the one that changed your name here? You used to be Craig Sipple, now you are Craig-Sipple1. How dishonest and deceitful you are! But then again, you tell lies in every post you write so I am sure no one is surprised. LOL
Chavez is protecting the poor from corporations blackmailing them with withholding food. Though I understand that government protecting the masses from the rich is a novel idea in America. Not so much in Europe.
Good on him. By the way, they wont have to worry about bankruptsy now. Forgive me for being more concerned about people going hungary.
Anyone who cares (and I bet there aint many) can just click on your profile… its as simple as that. I dont know what you were thinking John, I really dont…. how will you ever live this down?
Society comes first John. I contribute to society by the taxes that I pay, I infact feed and clothe my emplyees kids and pay for their holidays. If I had to take a hit to help my society – I would take it… I am proud socialist that trades in goods and services, there is no contradiction there.
How pathetic and sad that you are so delusional that you seek to mask your insanity in nonsense. First you pretend to be different people, multiple personalities and then when you are exposed you scramble. You don't know who you are – you use different names and each has a different personality. How disturbed you are.
Did you know John, that in Britain certain foodstuffs have their prices artificially kept low by elected government. Bread around 80p a loaf, eggs around £1.80 a dozen, milk £1 you know, all the essentials needed for survival. So what Hugo is doing is to us no big deal. People shouldn't have the essentials of life held from them at ransom. e.g the Bolivia water thingy.
Sipple, whichever one you are, Craig Sipple, or Craig-Sipple1 or Kanuk or one of your other many names. Haven't you been humiliated enough? I mean really. You have been caught in so many lies, I believe nothing you say, you are not who you say you are, I don't believe you have a job or a family or that you are even a man. You are probably a child living in Australia or South Africa, who knows. You are an embarrassment – go tell mommy what you did and try to grow up and have a productive life.
lol
Nazi sympathizer – supporter of communist dictators and terrorists, a racist, a sexist. Thank god you are not an American. Or are you?
“Nazi sympathizer – supporter of communist dictators ” … Another oxymoron.
Truth dude, are you a moron? Seriously?
Coyote – where are you from boy? How does it feel to go through life as a coward, hiding from the truth in anonymity on the internet. Does your mother know you are this way? She must be ashamed.
Are you happy the US got attatcked on 9-11? Do you have the guts to answer honestly?
good show, good message. hope to watch all episodes. downside is slow from youtube. any chance you could post episodes on bittorrent stie? p2p download can be very fast.
In reply to “Afghanistan” on this thread: Even if the government of Afghanistan back in '01 was responsible for harbouring Bin Laden (not that it's been proven he was behind the “911″ attacks, his “confession” tape was exposed as a fake long ago”) it does not follow that attacking an entire nation and murdering many thousands of civilians is justified. Check out your history on foreign occupation of Afghanistan and you might come to a more reasonable conclusion as to why this country has been targetted by the West so many times over the centuries, or better still: watch this documentary before you comment. You clearly haven't, or have just blatantly ignored what's being stated in it. Your comments are fringing on trolling. Do it elsewhere.
…furthermore, “Afghanistan”, speaking out against a war of aggression does not automatically make someone a “Nazi sympathiser”, nor a supporter of “communist dictators” (as if being a communist is somehow a crime in the first place; the word “communist” has somehow been placed in the same category as “paedophile” or “murderer”) A TRUE patriot – as opposed to the unthinking, war-hungry, brainless sheep that you appear to be – would have the balls to speak out against their government if (armed with both a sense of morality AND THE FACTS) they felt that their government was in the wrong. That's all I have to say, before I'M accused of trolling!
In reply to “Afghanistan” on this thread: Even if the government of Afghanistan back in '01 was responsible for harbouring Bin Laden (not that it's been proven he was behind the “911″ attacks, his “confession” tape was exposed as a fake long ago”) it does not follow that attacking an entire nation and murdering many thousands of civilians is justified. Check out your history on foreign occupation of Afghanistan and you might come to a more reasonable conclusion as to why this country has been targetted by the West so many times over the centuries, or better still: watch this documentary before you comment. You clearly haven't, or have just blatantly ignored what's being stated in it. Your comments are fringing on trolling. Do it elsewhere.
…furthermore, “Afghanistan”, speaking out against a war of aggression does not automatically make someone a “Nazi sympathiser”, nor a supporter of “communist dictators” (as if being a communist is somehow a crime in the first place; the word “communist” has somehow been placed in the same category as “paedophile” or “murderer”) A TRUE patriot – as opposed to the unthinking, war-hungry, brainless sheep that you appear to be – would have the balls to speak out against their government if (armed with both a sense of morality AND THE FACTS) they felt that their government was in the wrong. That's all I have to say, before I'M accused of trolling!