From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld ...
By Robin Wright | The Washington Post | Thursday 01 November 2007

In sometimes-brusque "snowflakes," he shared worldview, shaped policy.

In a series of internal musings and memos to his staff, then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld argued that Muslims avoid "physical labor" and wrote of the need to "keep elevating the threat," "link Iraq to Iran" and develop "bumper sticker statements" to rally public support for an increasingly unpopular war.

The memos, often referred to as "snowflakes," shed light on Rumsfeld's brusque management style and on his efforts to address key challenges during his tenure as Pentagon chief. Spanning from 2002 to shortly after his resignation following the 2006 congressional elections, a sampling of his trademark missives obtained yesterday reveals a defense secretary disdainful of media criticism and driven to reshape public opinion of the Iraq war.

Rumsfeld, whose sometimes abrasive approach often alienated other Cabinet members and White House staff members, produced 20 to 60 snowflakes a day and regularly poured out his thoughts in writing as the basis for developing policy, aides said. The memos are not classified but are marked "for official use only."

50% of the CA nationa Guard's equipment is in Iraq, not here in CA to protect and serve the residents of this great state!!

Photo by Bryan Patrick

As CA burns, where is the CA National Guard?
10.23.2007 - 11:00 am - Billl4

As Southern CA goes up in flames, where is the CA National Guard? According to CNN, there are only 1,500 CA National Guardsmen fighting these fires. Where are the rest of our National Guardsmen, and why are they not helping to fight these fires? Are they in Iraq? If so, how many are still in California?

To the best of my knowledge, there are about 20,000 CA Army National Guardsmen. When I called their office, I couldn't get a straight answer about how many CA Air National Guardsmen there are. I'm not sure why they won't tell me. They wanted to know who I was and why I wanted to know how many there were. What are they hiding?

We all know that our guardsmen are in Iraq protecting Halliburton and the Multi-national Oil Corporations. I think it's well past time to tell our Governor to Bring Our CA National Guard Home! Please call the governor's office and tell him that we want our Guard Home Now to protect our great state!

Call Governor Schwarzenegger today!! 916-445-2841 (Press 1 for English, then 5 for "Hot topic issues", then 0 to speak to someone)
http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email (Choose "Fire - Southern CA Fires" from the drop-down menu)

I believe it is due time that we revive Loni Hancock's, AJR 36, to bring our CA National Guard home!

UPDATE (10/24): As trunnion pointed out in the comments below, the CA Nat. Guard admitted that they were stretched to the limits.

State National Guard warns it's stretched to the limit May 2007
"A dearth of equipment such as trucks and radios -- caused in part by the war in Iraq -- has state military officials worried they would be slow in providing help in the event of a major fire, earthquake or terrorist attack."

Also, Barbara Boxer had this to say last month:
“The California National Guard has lost so much equipment as a result of the war in Iraq that, according to the Secretary of the Army, the Guard may lack the capability to respond to a large scale emergency such as a catastrophic earthquake or major flood. This is unacceptable. My amendment will help Congress get a more accurate picture of the Guard’s equipment shortages and needs so we can ensure we are fully prepared to respond to domestic emergencies. We must not wait for disaster to strike before we act.”

Blackwater: Not in Our Backyards
Schwarzenegger should never turn over the state’s security to mercenaries, even after an emergency.
by Patt Morrison | Published on Thursday, October 4, 2007 by the Los Angeles Times

If you turned on C-SPAN on Tuesday and thought for a moment that you’d punched in some all-action-movie channel by mistake, I can’t blame you.

What was coming out of the television? Talk of Christmas Eve gunplay in Baghdad. An Iraqi vice president’s security guard killed by a drunken off-duty private security contractor. The shooter was fired and quickly hustled out of Iraq. And live from the Beltway, a set-piece battle of wits between a glowering congressman and a resplendently barbered former Navy SEAL who started a business called Blackwater USA.

What? No Chuck Norris?

Blackwater founder Erik Prince at the hearing proudly defended his employees as “Americans working for America protecting Americans.” But a congressional staff report, drawn from Blackwater and State Department internal reports and e-mails, recounts derring-don’t stories of shootings and reckless road smashups. A brigadier general in Iraq, Karl Horst, has complained that security contractors “run loose in this country” and that the Army has “no authority” to rein them in.

Attend a Townhall Meeting or Vigil and Tell Congress to Take A Stand and End the War

We need to make sure our representatives head back to Washington with their constituents' demands for a speedy withdrawal at the forefront of their minds. That's why we're helping to organize "Take A Stand" townhall meetings and "Stand Up In September" vigils on August 28th --

National Take A Stand Day.
Time: Friday, August 24, 2007 - 7:30pm PST

Friday, Sept. 21, 10:30am - Noon
Event Festivities Will Include:
Student procession with Giant Peace Doves
Multicultural Entertainment
Proclamations / Resolutions
Rose Petal Ceremony
International Art Display by Youth
“Imagine a World” Ceremony

Guest Speakers:
State Assemblymember Dave Jones
Supervisor Jimmie Yee, County of Sacramento
Invited: Heather Fargo, Mayor of Sacramento

For More Information on Worldwide Events:
www.InternationalDayofPeace.org
Time: Friday, September 21, 2007 - 11:30am PST

Saturday, Aug 11, 11a - 1p, continuing seminar on foreign policy and nuclear weapons, Hart Center, 915 27th St., Sac. All welcome. Info: 916-482-4627.
Time: Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 12:00pm PST

Not only was Jimmy Carter right about Dubya being the worst president ever, but he is also the most dangerous. He has trounced upon our Constitution one more time. I'm not sure how many times I can say we are going down a slippery slope towards fascism, but this "Presidential Directive" should wake everyone up!!

To sum this up, Bush can declare dictatorial powers during a "Catastrophic Emergency" (meaning any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions).

As noted on this site (emphasis mine),

"When the president determines a catastrophic emergency has occurred, the president can take over all government functions and direct all private sector activities to ensure we will emerge from the emergency with an "enduring constitutional government."

Translated into layman's terms, when the president determines a national emergency has occurred, the president can declare to the office of the presidency powers usually assumed by dictators to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over.

Ironically, the directive sees no contradiction in the assumption of dictatorial powers by the president with the goal of maintaining constitutional continuity through an emergency.

Please contact your representative and ask them if they are aware of this and to comment on it.
Share this with everyone you know.
--Bill

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51
HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20

Subject: National Continuity Policy

Purpose

Terminator kill-bots to be run by system called 'Skynet'

By Lewis Page
Published Friday 11th May 2007 14:34 GMT

Following the announcement of the new Flying-HK-style "Reaper" death machines for the British forces, the prophetic nature of the Terminator movies has been further confirmed.

Not only will the UK MoD deploy airborne cyber-gunships remarkably similar to those in the films, the flying robot assassins will be controlled by an IT project named "Skynet".

This latest case of life imitating art (well, kind of art) was revealed this morning

Thanks for writing this RV! Word is that Blackwater is none-too-happy that RV wrote this. Aww, too bad for them.

Security state By Bites
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=315568

Jeremy Scahill is in the midst of a national book tour, which brings him to Sacramento next week, where he'll be appearing at the United Methodist Church at 21st and J streets on Thursday, May 3, at 7 p.m.

Earth-shaking news: Is California preparing to outsource its emergency services during times of disasters, such as earthquakes? That’s the question posed last July by the Virginian-Pilot, the newspaper out of Hampton Roads that’s done one of the few major investigations of Blackwater USA, the controversial North Carolina-based security corporation that provides more private mercenaries in Iraq than any other firm and is proposing to build a new facility outside San Diego. Virginian-Pilot reporters Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin’s story helped illuminate Blackwater’s efforts to penetrate the domestic security market in the wake of Hurricane Katrina:

RESOLUTION OPPOSING BLACKWATER WEST AND MERCENARY TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS, Blackwater USA, a North Carolina-based private security firm under contract to the Pentagon to supply armed personnel for duties in the Iraq War, proposes to build a large mercenary and paramilitary training compound called Blackwater West near Potrero, in San Diego County, on an 824-acre parcel that includes Cleveland National Forest acreage, borders a proposed wilderness area adjacent to the Hauser Wilderness, and is both an important watershed and an environmentally sensitive habitat for wildlife; said mercenary and paramilitary activities are inherently dangerous and pose serious risks--including severe fire danger--to surrounding communities and wilderness areas, will deplete groundwater, substantially increase traffic, increase noise from shooting ranges, driving track, and helicopter activities, among many other environmental concerns.

Stop the Blackwater Mercenaries from coming to California!!

Hopefully you've already heard Christine Craft talk about this on her show. If not, then let me tell you that Blackwater (Bush's private mercenary army - Fallujah, Iraq / New Orleans) is trying to open a private military training facility here in California (near San Diego). Apparently Gov. Arnold is fully supportive of this.

We must stop this NOW before it's too late!

Please read the emails below from a San Diego activist and the Sierra Club and send your calls / faxes / emails before this Friday @ 4pm.
Please tell this to everyone you know!!

Thanks for your help with this important issue,
Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Gracian

Your FAXes, calls, and emails needed before Friday 4PM:

Blackwater USA, the private military contractor that trains mercenaries and is under investigation by Representative Henry Waxman's Committee on Oversight and Government Reform plans to build an 824-acre training facility in Potrero, a small town in southeast San Diego County.

The Blackwater plan to set up base next to San Diego, in Potrero in Dianne Jacob's district is not just an environmental disaster. It is a threat to our constitutional liberties and to our freedom from a developing police state.

This is NOT paranoia.

This group has already been involved in the criminal treatment of Iraqi civilians and of our own fellow citizens in New Orleans.

We need your help to stop this project!
Some resources about Blackwater USA:

View short video at
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070402/scahill

San Diego Reader article, Feb. 22, 2007, on
"Blackwater West"
http://www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=1566

The public comment period regarding environmental impacts ends on Friday 4/27, 4PM. PLEASE plan your message from the Sierra Club information below. It need not be long or complicated. It just needs to be forceful and to the point.
Please FAX your letter to the County Department of Planning and Land Use,

Attn: Mr. Jarrett Ramaiya, Project Manager,
at 858-694-3373.

Thanks to Leslie Kean, former cohost of KPFA's Flashpoints with Dennis Bernstein, we have this fascinating story about how former Arizona Governor Symington witnessed a large triangular "craft of unknown origin" with lights in 1997.

www.prescottdailycourier.com

Symington confirms he saw UFO 10 years ago

By LESLIE KEAN

Ten years after the "Phoenix Lights" UFO incident, former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington, III, now says he saw an unidentified object that night, even though he originally did not say so publicly.

"It was enormous and inexplicable," he said in an exclusive interview from Phoenix. "Who knows where it came from? A lot of people saw it, and I saw it too."

WHAT? Bush lied about firing the leaker in the White House. I just can't believe it...

CIA LEAK HEARING STUNNER: WHITE HOUSE SECURITY DIRECTOR ADMITS 'NO INVESTIGATION INTO LEAK' BY HIS OFFICE
James Knodell, Under Intense Questioning, Can't Explain Why There Was Never an Investigation by White House
http://www.bradblog.com/

In the second panel in the House Oversight Committee hearings this morning, following the testimony of Valerie Plame-Wilson, the Director of the White House Security Office, James Knodell, has stunned the Congress members by disclosing that no investigation into the leaking of Plame-Wilson's covert identity as a CIA operative was ever conducted by his office!

The members are flabbergasted. The questioning is intense. My live-blogging notes are posted, and being updated live, below...

[I smell a rat.

We have two more years of these guys ... two ... more ... years; um, when do they start the impeachment hearings?

One blog and a couple articles on the latest war mongering by the war mongeringest war mongerers in the history of war mongering; I mean Hitler, Napoleon, and Attila the Hun are looking on from their "lair" (because all the really evil guys have a "lair") and saying, "Wow! These guys are really good, we could have used these guys". Read on and find out why this whole matter is a bunch of ... well, you know.

[Pay close attention]

I'm posting this whole blog because I seriously don't know what to leave out. Make sure to click on the header to be able to click on all the links. But first watch this portion of the Chimp in Chief at his the latest press conference. OMG he is delusional.]

Part 1: Breaking News: Americans Caught With Iranian Weapons In Iraq

United States officials in Baghdad were reported to be in possession of Iranian made weapons. In a brazen display of "intelligence", the Americans proudly showed off their Iranian-made weapons to reporters:

Music video starts 41 seconds in

.

It may seem to be the first picture, but in reality it's the second

Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis or in other words Problem, Reaction, Solution

Problem: "The war is criminal" We don't have enough troops to do the job

Reaction: Generals revolting

Solution: 99.7 Billion dollars and more troops

But that's been the plan all along

(click pic for audio)

War Is A Racket

WAR is a racket. It always has been.

It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.

In the World War [I] a mere handful garnered the profits of the conflict. At least 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were made in the United States during the World War. That many admitted their huge blood gains in their income tax returns.

Iraq Study Group ... blah, blah blah.

Don't count on anything changing anytime soon in Iraq. Not with The Decider™ in charge.

Mr. Bush spent 90 minutes with commission members in a closed session at the White House two weeks ago “essentially arguing why we should embrace what amounts to a ‘stay the course’ strategy,” said one commission official who was present.

"See we're gonna Stay the Course™, because I decide, I'm The Decider™"

But you have to understand everything's going according to plan. They know exactly what they want and how they're going to get it.

Blasting American Infrastructure Away
By Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown
Posted on November 29, 2006

CODE RED, AMERICANS! Screaming, flashing, neon-bright, God Almighty RED!!! Not just a single disaster, but multiple, biblical-level catastrophes are being plotted by a diabolical, heretofore unnamed network of terrorists who're out to destroy America with an unprecedented series of attacks.

Bush: Immigrants May Be Held Indefinitely

By Matt Apuzzo
The Associated Press

Monday 13 November 2006

Washington - Immigrants arrested in the United States may be held indefinitely on suspicion of terrorism and may not challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts, the Bush administration said Monday, opening a new legal front in the fight over the rights of detainees.

In court documents filed with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., the Justice Department said a new anti-terrorism law being used to hold detainees in Guantanamo Bay also applies to foreigners captured and held in the United States.