Who Was Right About the "Global Test"- Jefferson or Hitler? (Oct. 04)

[ProSense]

Since philosophy and Iraq are the topics of the day, this article seem appropriate:

Published on Monday, October 4, 2004 by CommonDreams.org

Who Was Right About the "Global Test"- Jefferson or Hitler?

by Thom Hartmann

"I can thank God at this moment that He has so wonderfully blessed us in our hard struggle for what is our right..."
Adolf Hitler, Speech in Berlin, October 6, 1939


Snip...

In giving the President the authority to use force against Iraq - the fateful authorization that Kerry voted for - Congress laid out with absolute clarity the test Bush would have to pass before he could wage war against Iraq.

"In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force," the congressional resolution states, "the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon there after as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that:

"(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and

"(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

Bush claimed to have passed the test, submitting over his signature, on March 18, 2003, a letter to Congress in which he wrote,

"Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

"(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

"(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

Both were clear lies, and he knew it at the time. Bush betrayed our trust, and the trust of the international community.


more...

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1004-34.htm

The rest of the article, before and after the snip, is pretty interesting.

[ProSense]

1. Freedom from Reality

Freedom from Reality

By Robert Parry
January 26, 2005

One of the most troubling crises confronting the world today is that the U.S. Executive Branch – controlling the most fearsome arsenal in history – has largely detached itself from reality and faces no counterforce in Washington capable of bringing it back down to earth.

In that sense, George W. Bush’s second Inaugural Address on Jan. 20 stood out as a defining moment. Bush wrapped a grim record of presidential abuses – an unprovoked invasion, extraordinary secrecy, tolerance of torture and indefinite imprisonments without trial – in the noble cloak of “freedom” and “liberty,” words he uttered 27 and 15 times respectively, as if words can amend truth.

Bush’s speech also ignored the fact that he and his supporters have consistently harassed and denigrated dissidents at home, often by tarring them as disloyal or crazy. Remember, for instance, the vicious attacks http://www.consortiumnews.com/2002/100802a.html from the Right against former Vice President Al Gore in fall 2002 when he questioned the justification for rushing to war with Iraq.

This hostility toward dissent has continued to the present as some conservative pundits, such as the Washington Times’ Tony Blankley, are suggesting that journalist Seymour Hersh be investigated for espionage for writing an article in the New Yorker about the Bush administration’s secret military operations in Iran and elsewhere.

more...

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2005/012605.html

[bananas]

2. Learn from history?

Some of us haven't even learned from a two years ago.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2029009&mesg_id=2029231

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. history indeed

Why do you think the spin-tyrant has things in common with Hitler? Hitler capitalized on the burning of the Reichstag and His Royal Chimpness capitalized on the destruction of much larger buildings. See? There's a BIG difference.