JACKIE NEWBERRY HAS BEEN WATCHING CSPAN, WRITES ABOUT IRAQ

It will be on C-span this evening. (It will also be available to watch on the C-Span site probably by this pm.) Senator Byrd sent his own investigators who supported these findings.

On top of the economic revelations of the last week…. The most shocking testimony I have ever heard about the war….Today 3 Iraqi men testified, one who was Chief Investigator of the Iraqi Public Integrity Commission (likened to the CIA here) to look into corruption, one whose identity was shielded during testimony - he served as a senior adviser to the US govt in Iraq, and Professor Abbas Mehdi, the former chief of the Iraqi National Investment Commission who lives in the US now. He says that only 5% of the American money sent for projects are used for the Iraqi people, at least half goes for kickbacks, the rest goes for security. For example, the $50,000,000 spent on the electrical intrastructure in Iraq…considering most Iraqis get power for an hour a day, the money’s disappeared. In one instance some of the money went to Jordanian banks, from there to Germany and some to Pennsylvania and another state. I expect the texts of their statements will be available on C-span’s web site. I would like to see the entire testimony be available to Americans. I phoned Senator Dorgan’s office and asked that they post the statements and testimony on his website.

The reason that it was so shocking is that they did not dance around or beat the bush or wait for questions, unlike the Bushies who come to Capitol Hill and who refuse to testify, lie or resist to what amounts like pulling teeth when questions are posed. They said so much in less than an hour that was so unfrillied up and direct and honest…unlike anything I have ever heard or seen. How this government has aided and abetted corruption at the highest levels, pure stupidity and incompetence. Money for fraudulent projects that were never real…and the money was disappeared…repainting of broken 25-year-old obsolete equipment…which they all said resulted in American military deaths…I wish this was run on the evening news, 60 Minutes and all cable news shows undigested.

American money meant to be used to train and support Iraqi army, has been diverted to foreign banks. Corruption of Malaki, of the US govt, and US funded contractors…US weapons intended for the Iraqi army sold on the streets in the markets, Director of the Oil ministry a supporter of Al Quaeda…funds from oil was given to AQ to perpetrate terror on our young men and women…Maliki shut down investigations as did high level American officials…told the Iraqi investigator not to investigate or worry because it was American money. Good God!

The head of the Iraqi Dept of Defense smuggled $600,000,000 out of the country to Jordan. Corrupt banks hid the American taxpayers’ funds. Many of the corrupt evil doers have escaped to other countries with these riches. One in particular has been id’d by Interpol as a wanted and dangerous man. He is living in the US a free man.

Since days of Paul Bremer the Iraqis have been told that they are not allowed to investigate any wrong doing of Americans. They testified that unless corruption is rooted out there will be no stability in Iraq. Dr. Mehdi’s advice to the US govt: Recognize and admit the mistakes that were made. There were problems from the beginning with the writing of the Iraqi constitution, the US choice of Iraqi officials. The only effective thing Mehdi could recommend was to remove all the Iraqi officials and start from scratch. (Hey, we could use some of that here.) However, he did not believe that the US was ready to do that. Iraqi people are dying. They have no medication, no food, no electricity…every day life is far worse than it was under Saddam. They have lost hope. Mehdi said the US should do something dramatic or leave them alone, but he did not think the US was up to doing what really needed to be done.

There was a failure to properly administer American funds. He said that he thought the US government knows where money is…millions and billions of dollars are in banks in Jordan, Lebanon, Dubai. Many Iraqis have been murdered for trying to investigate corruption.

The man who testified behind the curtain talked about “the Whale”, the prison described below. Iraqis did not want it built there because it was too close to the Iranian border. The Americans ignored the Iraqis’ advice and insisted on building it. The US govt tried to transfer the prison to Iraq, but they would not accept it. It is incomplete and has been abandoned.

Mark Perkel writes A Letter to the Editor

America is now a place where the poor pay welfare to the rich. What a country! The working class bailing out the investor class and the investor class pays a far lower tax rate (capital gains) than working class people who pay payroll taxes. So when the rich were making money they got to keep it but when they start losing money the working class people have to give 700 billion in welfare to the stock market. The investors want the government to stay out of it when it come to regulation, but when the housing pyramid falls apart it falls on the taxpayer to bail them out.

If we are going to be stuck paying their bill shouldn’t we at least repeal the capital gains tax cuts and the tax cuts for the rich to pay off this new debt? 700 billion dollars is a lot of debt. That’s 2800 more bridges to nowhere on top of a 40,000 bridges to nowhere national debt. I think that the people who can’t remember how many houses they own should pay off this debt rather than putting it on those of us who don’t own a home.

NADINE HACK WRITES

This is the video about Obama everyone is raving about. There is a slightly long pause after the end of the song, so just wait before turning it off and another part will come on. Be sure to watch it to the end; circulate it to your friends and colleagues so we all stay positive. http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/ < ----------- click

WE MUST KEEP OURSELVES INSPIRED AND WORKING HARD EACH OF THE 42 DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE WILL ELECT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!

FROM A DEAR SUPPORTER LETTER BY SARAH PALIN

John McCain and I have been called “mavericks” and “reformers” because we’re guided by shared values and principles and we’re not afraid to stand up to the status quo in their defense. And that’s why we want you to send us, and other reformers like us, to Washington.

LETTER FROM JOURNALIST BREE WALKER

Bravo. Beautifully said. I understand much better now. Lots to worry about. You called it long ago, saw this coming before anyone else I know. The angst you must feel over this all coming to fruition, well, you have, we ALL have, my sympathies. Interesting times, indeed. Hang tough, friend.
In Truth, Bree

Zogby Poll: Voters Not Sold on Government Bailout: Voters are split on the $1 trillion question, but most have little confidence Congress can fix financial crisis.

SOUTH AFRICA: African National Congress (ANC) party has named its deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe as the country’s caretaker president, succeeding the outgoing head of state Thabo Mbeki after his forced resignation from office…11 Ministers have resigned including Finance Minister Trevor Manuel shaking the economy…Questions raised about whether deal in Zinbabwe can stick….

DAN RATHER SUIT REJECTED

Court Dismisses Rather’s Fraud, Interference Complaints

Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather can still proceed with $70 million breach-of-contract suit vs. CBS.

EVENT IN NY FOR DANNY CASSIDY THIS THURSDAY

Danny, writer, teacher, guru in the fight for a progressive Irish culture and former Dissector college roommate is fighting a serious illness. His community is rallying—Please join us at the Irish Arts Center in New York This Thursday. You will be inspired.

Irish American Writers and Artists An Evening in Tribute to Danny Cassidy

On September 25th, an all-star cast of Irish-American writers and musicians will come together for a special tribute to Danny Cassidy, Irish-American musician, teacher, labor activist and author of the groundbreaking book How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads.

An Evening in Tribute to Danny Cassidy

Thursday, September 25th
7:00 pm

Tickets
Supporter $100.00 | Friend $250.00
Patron $500.00

Checks payable to Irish American Writers & Artists. Seating is limited.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Sydney Snyder at 212.757.3318 ext 204.

Formerly head of the Irish Studies program at the New College of California, Danny Cassidy worked as a professional musician, screen writer and labor activist. For several years, he was the opening act for fellow Irish American–the late comedian George Carlin. Cassidy’s How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads, a breakthrough examination of the influence of the Irish language on American culture and speech, has been hailed in Ireland and America as a revolutionary work of scholarship.

Danny is currently fighting a serious illness and all proceeds of the evening will go to help defray his formidable medical expenses.

Please join with Danny’s many friends throughout the country in showing support and appreciation for the pioneering work he’s continuing to do in uncovering and documenting the influence of the Irish language on American speech and culture.

Program participants include Dan Barry, Ashley Davis, Maureen Dezell, T.J. English, Terry Golway, Pete Hamill, Geraldine Hughes, Larry Kirwan, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Mick Moloney, Peter Quinn, Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra and other special guests to be announced. Emceed by Malachy McCourt.

OUR CRISIS CONTINUES

Whew…I have to stop somewhere. Just need to remind you that Mediachannel has a financial crisis too that comes to a head on October 15th. SADLY, THAT MAY BE IT! Also I am looking for volunteers here in NYC to work with me. Write dissector@mediachannel.org