Iraq misadventure crippling democracy development in greater Middle East

Earlier this week, I wrote, "Hard to imagine that an administration could single-handedly ruin the Freedom brand for the Middle East and the developing world, but I think this one has done it." I wrote it almost as an aside to the post's focus on the collapse of civil society in Iraq, but the idea is brought into stark relief by a revealing article in today's Washington Post.

The piece definitely doesn't bury the lede, beginning bluntly with awful news for anyone who supports democracy:

Horror at the bloodshed accompanying the U.S. effort to bring democracy to Iraq has accomplished what human rights activists, analysts and others say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had been unable to do by himself: silence public demands for democratic reforms here.

This debacle isn't just ruining Iraq, it's serving as an object lesson for use by autocracies and tyrants throughout the region. Reformers now have no credibility -- to ruin the legitimacy of any democratic reform efforts, all the old guard has to do is say, "So you want it to be like our neighbor, Iraq?" And even people who would otherwise favor liberal reform are having second thoughts.

"If democracy brings such chaos in the region, and especially the destruction of society, as it did in Iraq and in Lebanon, it's absolutely normal, and I think it's absolutely a wise position from the people to be afraid to imagine how it would be in Syria," Amiralay said. "I think that people at the end said, 'Well, it is better to keep this government. We know them, and we don't want to go to this civil war, and to live this apocalyptic image of change, with civil war and sectarianism and blood.'"

I'm a big fan of democracy (note the difference between "democracy" and "holding elections"), and I'm in favor of democracy promotion (note the difference between "promotion" and "forcible implementation"). When leaders are accountable to their people, it's harder for those leaders to blame all of their nations' ills on outside influences (e.g., the infidel West), and additionally, I think self-determination is an inherent good, one that is a foundation of our nation.

Contrary to such a goal, the Bush administration is ruining that ideal for an entire region in a war that not only harms our foreign policy but also makes us less safe, proving once again that the rhetoric of freedom and democracy doesn't match the policies that are now solidifying autocracies.

- AJ in DC , AmericaBlog

"I don't care if I vote for Happy the Clown, just so it's not who's there now."

Associated Press:

Middle-class voters who deserted the Democratic Party a dozen years ago are now giving the party its best chance to reclaim the House since the GOP swept Democrats from power in 1994.

Motivated by anger at President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, 56 percent of likely voters said they would vote on Nov. 7 to send a Democrat to the House and 37 percent said they would vote Republican.

Voters in the latest Associated Press-AOL News poll rated Iraq and the economy as their top issues.

"I don't care if I vote for Happy the Clown, just so it's not who's there now," said Mary Nyilas, 51, an independent voter from Cologne, N.J., who said she would do everything she could to "vote against the powers that put us in this situation" in Iraq.

LSB: How many of us are voting "for" something rather than "against" something?

Playing Catch-up

LSB: I’ve neglected this blog for the past couple of days, so I’m attempting to draft some Cliff Notes to highlights the stories that caught my attention.

Stay the Course – Not! Will news organizations that obligingly aired the RNC ad free of charge treat the Democrats' ad the same way? That's an easy one - No!

Cheney confirms that detainees were subjected to water-boarding. Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al-Qaida suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called "water-boarding," which creates a sensation of drowning. "It's a no-brainer for me," Cheney said at one point in an interview.

Hannity to Cheney: Should We Even Debate the Patriot Act and NSA Wiretapping? Sean Hannity asks Vice President Cheney if he's "as surprised as he is that the country is so divided" and, given the all-consuming nature of the terrorist threat, if we should "even be debating the Patriot Act and NSA wiretapping". Video Democrats, liberals and even some Republicans don't oppose the Patriot Act because we're "soft on terrorism;" it is the egregiously curbed civil liberties, idiot.

Bush Among Friends The president met with "Kuds" and seven other conservative columnists on Wednesday, and declared, among other things, that we had to invade Iraq because they attacked us. "Don't write me down as trying to always put lipstick on the pig," he instructed.

Wesley Clark and Billy O O’Reilly got very angry at Wesley last night because he thinks he's the expert on everything. Billy O might be the Culture Warrior, but he forgot that Clark was the NATO Supreme Commander at one time and knows a thing or two as well. Clark told Billy that George Soros is a good man which almost made O'Reilly's head explode. Video

Confession that formed base of Iraq war was acquired under torture: journalist An Al-Qaeda terror suspect captured by the United States, who gave evidence of links between Iraq and the terror network, confessed after being tortured, a journalist told the BBC. FYI, “W”, like you’ve been told many times before, torture doesn’t work!

US naval war games off the Iranian coastline: A provocation which could lead to War? The exercise, set for Oct. 31, is the 25th to be organized under the U.S.-led 66-member Proliferation Security Initiative and the first to be based in the Gulf near Bahrain, across from Iran, the officials said.

U.S. generals call for Democratic takeover Disgusted with the leadership of the Iraq war, two retired generals say the GOP must go. Plus: More than 100 current military personnel join a campaign to get the U.S. out of Iraq -- now.

Vote for Corker, he's whiter Bob Corker, the Republican candidate for US Senate from Tennessee, is now running ads about his African-American opponent Harold Ford and playing jungle drums in the background every time Ford's name is mentioned. You can listen to the ad here.

How would Jesus vote? Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford Jr. goes after the GOP's faithful base in the state with the most white evangelicals in the nation. Polls show his campaign is resonating in the pews.

Rove Protégé Behind Racy Tennessee Ad A protégé of White House political guru Karl Rove produced the controversial Republican National Committee ad targeting Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Harold Ford Jr., that some have called racist.

State of the unions Religious conservatives seize on New Jersey's ruling for same-sex couples -- but it won't save Republicans at the polls.

G.O.P. Moves Fast to Reignite Issue of Gay Marriage Republicans across the country have seized onto the threat of gay marriage in a desperate attempt to hold onto Congress. Now that the “security” issue no longer offers the boost it once did, the GOP is counting on homophobia to drive voter turnout.

The GOP Florida governor candidate is not gay, really. I mean it.GOP frontrunner in FL Governor’s race declares, “I have never had sex with a man.” Jason Wetherington, a 21-year-old GOP staffer, and Bruce Carlton Jordan, a convicted thief who recently worked for Kathryn Harris in her long-shot Senate bid, beg to differ. Crist Denies Trysts.

Killing gay men is OK, says British imam The leading imam in the English city of Manchester confirms that he thinks the execution of sexually active gay men is justified.

Mark Foley scandal grows - Former House Clerk says GOP Rep. Kolbe was a problem as well, apparently this was known for years So now we have a potential cover-up of two GOP members of Congress who were "overly-friendly" with Pages.

Sen. Clinton: She Feels Gay Pain Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton indicated that she would not oppose efforts by Eliot Spitzer, the odds-on favorite to become the new governor, to enact a same-sex marriage law in New York. She’s had "many long conversations" with "friends" and others says her advocacy on LGBT issues "has certainly evolved."

In Nevada, Gibbons Maintains Edge Huh? Drunk, Gibbons assaults his “date” (a woman who is not his wife); the battered woman alleges Gibbons tried to bride her to keep quiet; Gibbons hides an illegal immigrant nanny in his basement; and his wife commits perjury about the alleged illegal immigrant in the basement… and he’s still up six points in this contest?

Limbaugh physically mocked Parkinson's patients What the media didn't show, but Keith Olbermann did, was that Rush Limbaugh didn't just make fun of people who suffer from Parkinson's, he even threw in a little physical comedy to show how funny people are who have Parkinson's. Check out the video.

Michael J Fox makes a fool out of Limbaugh Will Rush apologize to MJ Fox after he told Katie Couric that he was on his medication while filming an ad promoting embryonic stem cell research? Video Limbaugh will never apologize or honestly regret what he's done because it's part of a long term strategy to once again attack the messenger.

Lauer: "Didn't Rush Limbaugh just say what a lot of people were privately thinking?" NBC's Today, co-host Matt Lauer suggested that when nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh "said [that] perhaps [actor] Michael J. Fox was exaggerating or faking these effects of Parkinson's disease" in a recent campaign ad. [LSB: That never crossed my mind, Matt. What did cross my mind was, that like Limbaugh, you're an asshole - and a lot of people are not so privately thinking that!]

Speaker Hastert Lies About Leader Pelosi Embattled House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), in a transparent attempt to scare the wingnuts, released a statement fabricating a complete lie that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) plan is to leave our borders open, grant blanket amnesty and provide Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.

Mean Jean’s Denny Hastert letter Jean Schmidt is very proud of showing us how little she knows. In a letter to Speaker Hastert, Schmidt blasted Democratic candidate Victoria Wulsin for allegedly breaking a U.S. House rule that prohibits using the broadcast of House floor proceedings in campaign ads. Schmidt apparently doesn't quite grasp the concept that Coach Hastert has no control of Victoria Wuslin because — she's not part of the House – yet! [Here's the Wuslin ad.]

Ohio GOP Smears Al Franken In Press Release With Doctored Photo, Fabricated Quote The Ohio Republican Party sent out a news release attacking Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) for enlisting the support of comedian Al Franken. The problem: the quote used in the news release is taken from a fictional exchange that the Ohio Republican Party represented it as fact. Likewise, the accompanying photo was doctored as well

Michael Steele's subway attack backfires Maryland's Republican Senate candidate, Michael Steele, had a press conference yesterday to attack his opponent, Ben Cardin, for not knowing the exact route of a proposed now subway line. Steele's attack, however, was misplaced: Steele held his media event at a Metro station that was part of an old proposal – four miles from the actual site of the new line.

IRS Gets Political The commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service has delayed the collection of back taxes from Hurricane Katrina victims until after the election in order to avoid political fallout. Four former IRS commissioners called the move “improper and indefensible.”

Go, Barney, Go!

Double-click on the pic above to view the video.

Support Our Troops!

Active duty troops press Congress to end U.S. presence in Iraq

In an extraordinary move, 65 active duty members of the military are asking members of Congress to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and bring American soldiers home. These individuals have each sent what is called an "Appeal for Redress", a communication that is legally protected from any reprisal by the Military Whistle-Blower Protection Act (DoD directive 7050.6), asking that Congress act to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq.

While military (and intelligence) professionals have special restrictions on speech and expression while serving, under military law, members of the armed forces are free to make this kind of protected communication to members of Congress without fear of sanction from command authorities.

It's obviously important for national defense personnel to have different standards than the average citizen, but this seems to me an appropriate and provocative action, indicating the widespread dissatisfaction regarding the scope and direction of our presence in Iraq within the military. U.S. forces are far smarter and better informed than many of our nation's civilian leaders give them credit for, and they know when they're being lied to just like anybody else -- more so, perhaps, because they've seen the failures and the incompetence up close and personal.

There are, of course, many soldiers who support the war. There is no shortage of opinions within the armed forces, but for such a large number to take such a strong, public step speaks volumes. It also may reinforce polling done last February indicating that 72% of American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next year (i.e., a year from eight months ago).

Iraq is a disaster, our presence isn't making it better, and more and more people know it. This election is turning out to be an emperor-has-no-clothes moment for the Bush administration's Middle East policies, and deservedly so.

AJ in DC, AmericaBlog

Freedom on the march – except for the troops fighting for that freedom

Guess what websites are being blocked by the Pentagon to make sure U.S. troops in Iraq don’t get any big ideas? One hint: Free Republic is coming through loud and clear!

A Marine writes Wonkette:

I am currently stationed in Al Taqaddam, Iraq with the Marines…you’ve done a short piece about this before, but this is getting ridiculous.

It seems that every non-conservative politics website has been blocked by our firewall guys…including your site. The reason it is blocked is because it is a “personal page.” Which means they don’t have a reason to block it … but they want to block it, so they do. This was done recently, just in time for mid-term elections. As I said, it was not only your website, I have gone through lists of liberal sites and most of them are blocked. I’ve also taken the time to go to some conservative sites….none of which are blocked.

I don’t have the words to describe how I feel. They have sent me to this desert three times…each time saying that we are defending freedom…which is BS and everyone knows it. And on top of that they have taken away many of the freedoms that we are supposedly fighting for….

I don’t think there is much anyone can do about this, but I just wanted you to know that this was still going on.

Administration Sends Troops Info on Foley Replacement, Doesn’t Mention Other Candidates

Last week, U.S. troops received messages from the State Department and the Pentagon explaining how to vote in the congressional race in ex-Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-FL) former district.
The emails provided detailed instructions explaining how to vote for Foley’s replacement, Joe Negron, but failed to even mention the two other candidates in the race:

On September 29th, Mark Foley resigned from the United State House of Representatives. He also withdrew as the Republican Candidate for the House of Representatives in Florida’s 16th District.

Pursuant to Florida Law, the Florida Republican Party nominated Joe Negron as the Republican Candidate in the 16th District replacing Foley. Pursuant to Section 100.111(4) of Florida Statute, Foley’s name will remain on the ballot for both absentee and regular ballots. Any votes cast for Foley will count towards the total of the substitute candidate.

Voters from Florida’s 16th Congressional District should be aware that any votes cast for Mark Foley will be counted toward the total of Joe Negron. Additionally, voters who wish to cast a vote for Joe Negron should cast their vote for Mark Foley.

Read the full text of one of the State Department emails HERE.

There is no mention in this email of the other candidates in the race, Democrat Tim Mahoney and independent Emmie Ross. As a result, Mahoney had to issue a separate message to soldiers yesterday explaining that troops could also vote for him or Ross. Mahoney’s letter also included instructions on how soldiers could vote for Joe Negron.

Another Stem Cell Ad

When Dems Fight Back!

(Double-click the pic to view the video.)

News Flash: terrorist killed - in April

CNN tows the line, again.

Sure the world is better without someone like him, but why the big announcement and hype now? The air strike happened months ago in April and suddenly out of nowhere, it makes a splash. Give me a break.

If only Tom Ridge was around to call more alerts, on queue, during the election season.

These people are so pathetic and I can't wait until they get thrown out on their asses. I have had it with the fear card being over-played and so-called accomplishments being over-hyped.

Yes, I have had enough.

Chris in Paris, AmericaBlog

LSB: When it comes to 'fair and balanced,' CNN is usually the bride's maid to Fox's bride.

Gibbon’s (R-NV) Illegal Nanny

Today we find out that the very anti-immigration Jim Gibbons (R-NV), the candidate for Nevada governor, – the guy who was accused last week of attacking a young woman in a parking lot – had an illegal alien working for him for years and even hid her in the basement.

The local news coverage (double-click the pic for the video news coverage) makes clear that Gibbons' wife Dawn signed federal legal documents in 1988, under the penalty of perjury, stating that everyone knew the woman, Patricia, was undocumented and that she'd worked for the family since 1987, cooking, cleaning and babysitting, and even had an employment contract for $800/month. The employee, Patricia, says she was paid every two weeks, and worked ten hours days, 50 hours a week.

At the end of the broadcast we learn that the TV news team had just received a statement from Dawn Gibbons claiming that she tried to help Patricia for a time, but only with occasional odd jobs, and not as a full time employee. The news broadcaster said that this statement contradicts what Dawn Gibbons said under oath in the federal documents. If true, that's called perjury - from the woman who plans on being Nevada's next First Lady.

John in DC, AmericaBlog

Senate candidate Bob Corker (R-TN) says Republican National Committee is refusing to remove racist TV ad from Tennessee

Well that's interesting. Bob Corker, who is a Republican running for Senator from Tennessee, says that the Republican National Committee - that would be the Republican party in Washington, DC - is refusing to stop running a racist TV ad that they're broadcasting in Tennessee. When pressed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer as to whether he has called anyone at the RNC or the White House to demand that the ad be taken down, Corker couldn't answer the question.

Bottom line, he's not trying very hard to get the racist ad off of TV. (Or, it's as he says - the Republican Party leadership is refusing to stop running a racist ad because it believes racism wins white votes, and I suppose on that account they're immoral but correct.) How hard is it to get the head of the Republican party to stop running a racist ad in your state that you, the Republican Senate candidate, feel is hurting your race? It's not difficult at all.

Corker is lying.

Josh Marshall has the racist ad, an analysis of it, and he exposes how the RNC is now lying about it simply has no power to pull down its own ad.

So much for that Republican outreach to the black community. I guess, in the end, the Republicans figured that you can get a lot more white voters with racism than you can black voters with civil rights. Disgusting.

Here is how Josh describes the ad:

The ad, in case you aren't familiar with it, is a cartoonish spot which might be
subtitled, 'Harold Ford is an uppity negro who does the wild thing with white
women.'

John in DC, AmericaBlog

LSB: When Corker ran against Frist in the 1994 GOP primary, Corker was called "pond scum" by Frist campaign manager Tom Perdue for airing an ad that suggested Frist had dodged the draft.

Cheers and Jeers: Wednesday

The first 100 hours of a Democrat-controlled House promise to be an orgy of excess for the loony smear merchants on the left and their radical San Francisco hippy liberal agenda. Fair warning, America: this is why you should be mortified at the thought of a "Speaker" Nancy Pelosi:

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients. Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds – "I hope with a veto-proof majority."

But here's what Nancy Pelosi won't tell you: these actions only apply to gays, feminists and George Soros. On November 7th, vote Republican. You won't get anything from us in return, but at least... neither will they.

[This message paid for by Republicans Hanging By A Thread – Rick Santorum, Treasurer]

JEERS to compassionate conservatives. Lovely bunch of knuckledraggers: Rush Limbaugh calls Parkinson's sufferer Michael J. Fox a big faker who's off his meds. Wyoming congresswoman Barbara Cubin threatens to slap the daylights out of MS sufferer and Libertarian candidate Thomas Rankin who's confined to a wheelchair. And let's not forget Peter Roskam, the GOP candidate in Illinois who told his opponent, Tammy Duckworth, she wanted to "cut and run," knowing full well she lost both legs in Iraq. And here's something to watch for at their '08 national convention: instead of balloons they'll be dropping old ladies from the rafters.

CHEERS to Barney Frank. The Massachusetts Congressman reduced a smirking, guffawing Steve Moore to a seething, squirming blob of Republican goo on Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night. Firedoglake has a must-watch example here. If that was a preview of how Frank will handle a committee chairmanship if we take back the House November 7th, the noble opposition has good reason to be scared out of their polyester knickers.

CHEERS to Keith Olbermann. His "Special Comments" are always a treat to watch because they have such a perfect rhythm. He starts by teasing his target (usually President Bush) with snarky derision. But then, slowly, his words become daggers so sharp that by the time he says "Good night and good luck," even the dog is ducking behind the sofa. I'm glad he's on our side.

Bill in Portland Maine

Rising tide of global warming threatens Pacific island states

While rich nations tinker with policies that may shave their carbon dioxide emissions, low-lying South Pacific nations such as Kiribati are sinking beneath the waves.

Kiribati, an archipelago of 33 coral atolls barely 6ft above sea level, is vanishing as global warming sees the oceans rise. Yesterday, its president, Anote Tong, warned Australia and New Zealand - the two developed countries in the region - to prepare for a mass exodus within the next decade.

Speaking at the annual South Pacific Forum in Fiji, Mr Tong said that rising sea levels would create countless environmental refugees. "If we are talking about our island states submerging in 10 years' time, we simply have to find somewhere else to go," he said.

Environmentalists have warned that global warming, caused by a build-up of greenhouse gases, will cause thermal expansion and a meltdown of glaciers. That could lead to seas rising by up to 23ft, and would be devastating for countries such as Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and China. But the tiny nations of the Pacific, where some of the world's lowest-lying islands are situated, would be the first to be swamped. Those considered particularly vulnerable, as well as Kiribati, are Vanuatu; the Marshall Islands; Tuvalu and parts of Papua New Guinea.

More

P.S. There is already a major shortage of dock space for mega-yachts, so please plan your day accordingly.

The Press Frets About Pelosi

For the last eight years the wildly partisan Hastert Congress should have been a godsend for reporters eager for muckraking and detailing and all kinds of institutional abuses of power. Instead, reporters snoozed. Only now are they being roused in time to fret about whether Democrats, and Pelosi, will play fair.

Read the full Media Matters column here.