3 posts tagged “iraq”
turning against your own is not something to be take lightly ...
I.LEWIS "SCOOTER" LIBBY
someone punished for the errors of others
clipped from www.cnn.comLibby was convicted of:
obstruction of justice when he intentionally deceived a grand jury investigating the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame;
making a false statement by intentionally lying to FBI agents about a conversation with NBC newsman Tim Russert;
perjury when he lied in court about his conversation with Russert;
a second count of perjury when he lied in court about conversations with other reporters.
Prosecutors contended Libby disclosed Plame's covert profession to reporters as part of a plan to discredit her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador who alleged in a July 2003 New York Times editorial that the Bush administration twisted some intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war.
"We're not saying that we didn't think Mr. Libby was guilty of the things we found him guilty of. It seemed like he was the fall guy," Collins said.
Libby was accused of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to FBI agents and the grand jury about how he learned about Valerie Plame's identity and whom he told. Plame is the CIA employee whose husband, Amb. Joe Wilson, was sent to Niger by the agency to investigate claims that Iraq had tried to buy yellowcake uranium.
Wilson became a vocal critic of the Bush administration for using bad intelligence to justify the attack on Iraq. Libby and others, including President Bush aide Karl Rove, were implicated for trying to out Plame in retaliation for Wilson's criticism. Libby was the only person charged.
The "prosecution of a senior White House official illustrates that we are a nation of laws and that no man is above the law. ... The entire Wilson team is pleased by today's verdict and believes that justice has been served in this case," reads a statement from the Joe and Valerie Plame Wilson.
The two added that they will continue with a civil suit against members of the administration. They note that the civil suit is different from the criminal one because it "hinges on whether or not the defendants violated the constitutional rights of Valerie and Joe Wilson by making those disclosures in a concerted effort to retaliate against Joe Wilson for revealing the falsity of the president's rationale for the Iraq war."
"It's about time someone in the Bush administration has been held accountable for the campaign to manipulate intelligence and discredit war critics," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Lewis Libby has been convicted of perjury, but his trial revealed deeper truths about Vice President Cheney's role in this sordid affair. Now President Bush must pledge not to pardon Libby for his criminal conduct."
"Today the American legal system did something the Bush administration hasn't, by holding Scooter Libby accountable for his illegal actions. Many unanswered questions remain about the other key Bush advisors who participated in the administration's efforts to mislead the American people and smear its critics who have yet to be held accountable," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
Even though it is quite obvious that Oprah enjoys all that comes from her success, how could anyone disagree with the fact that she has done incredible philanthropical things that are pretty much unparalleled? Same with Bill Gates- he lives in an extraordinary home, but through his Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has donated literally 10s of billions of dollars to charities. Brinigng attention to issues while simultaneously living a comfortable lifestyle is not hypocritical. You don't have to live in poverty to acknowledge that it is a problem.
Also, how dare anyone say that someone who does not support the war does not support the troops? They are completely different things. Supporting the troops is a given, I don't think anyone would disagree. It is not the troops who are estabilishing political ideologies- they are doing their job. It is embarassing for Bush enthusiasts to draft such a ridiculous argument, and to try to establish sides, when really, on the issue of the troops, there are no sides. Supporting them is human nature, humanity.
"Dear Mr. President"
(feat. Indigo Girls)
Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why
Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We're not dumb and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell
What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
Let me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh
How do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You'd never take a walk with me
Would you
