Cheney implies Dems would be Incompetent, cowardly re leading the USA. ....Pot-Calling-Kettle-Black moment there, Mr. Vice-President?
Did our vice-president, Dick Cheney, just give us a "TEXTBOOK" example of 'projection,' the psychological habit of "projecting" one's own sins, flaws, failures, and shortcomings (possibly self-loathing) upon others? (hmm.. generically, when we "despise" others, does that mean we FEAR the impact those 'despicable' people could have on our lives?) The "common wisdom" terms for "projection" would be "there he goes again, the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK."
In this case, we have a Vice-President who did NOTHING when the nation's Counter-Terror 'Czar', Richard Clarke, BEGGED the vice president to hold a "PRINCIPLES MEETING" with the president, vice president, defense department, national security advisor, cia, fbi, and other agencies at the heart of America's "national defense establishment." Both Cheney and (then) National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice PERSONALLY heard Mr. Clarke's plea for a principle's meeting to discuss the THREAT of Al Qaida... after all, Al Qaida had SUCCESSFULLY attacked the US warship USS Cole in a Yemen harbor in October of 2000 (while Bush, Cheney, and Rice were all out on the campaign trail for the Republican presidential campaign), and before that Al Qiada had SUCCESSFULLY BOMBED TWO US embassies in Africa.
Then we have the vice president's involvement as OSSAMA bin LADEN narrowly ESCAPED the American military forces noose at Tora Bora. Where was the vice president as Ossama ESCAPED? We have since that time heard and read that the United States had already started shipping military units OUT of Afghanistan, to prepare for the Iraq war that Mr. Bush now claims was not inevitable - Downing St. memos, and reports that Mr. Bush interrupted a meeting of senior Republican senators at the White House to pump his fist and shout "Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out!" notwithstanding.
Then there is the question of, "WHERE WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT as a Category FIVE Hurricane swirled in the Gulf of Mexico, giving the region a FIVE DAY WARNING before it picked up speed and made a bee-line towards New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. When Mr. Cheney finally did arrive in the devastated area, several days after the storm (and his entourage closed off roads, making locals who had limited gas drive in large circles), a local homeowner was shaken down by M-16 toting military personel, after that homeowner threw Mr. Cheney's infamous words ("Go fuck yourself", said to Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor) back at him on Cheney's "inspection tour" of destroyed homes and neighborhoods.
Then there is the question of "Where was Vice President Cheney" as non-commissioned officers and privates were subjected to KANGAROO COURTS (by the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld) for "Abuse", when Mr. Cheney and President Bush declare that they have a RIGHT to TORTURE captured prisoners. IF guards, privates and NCOs, were FOLLOWING ORDERS to "ABUSE" captured Iraqi prisoners, in order to 'soften them up' for Military Intel torture sessions, WHY didn't the Vice President use his considerable influence to STAND UP for those privates and non-coms?
I hope the names "Sabrina Samson" and "Lyndiee England", both privates who VOLUNTEERED for the US Army, will follow Mr. Cheney everywhere, as it was HIS policies (along with his compatriot, Donald Rumsfeld, over at the Department of Defense) which put those women in the situation where they got JAIL TERMS, and felony convictions, and international scorn and loss of good name, FOR FOLLOWING ORDERS that Mr. Cheney pretends not to know about.... while simultaneously defending!
Mr. Cheney, we heard that shortly after the "capture" of Baghdad by US forces, that looting broke out all over Iraq, and that US troops made NO EFFORT to stamp out the looting. We have even been informed that the huge Al Qaaqa ammunition complex of the Iraq army was looted over a period of two or three weeks- tons and tons and tons of explosives and munitions carted off, while US servicemen did KP duty less than 10 miles away. Indeed, the International Weapons inspection community (IAEC) was practically BEGGING the Defense Department to secure the bunkers, some of which were under seal for containing the high-grade explosives used in nuclear weapons production and research. NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION was the ALLEGED reason that the United States attacked and invaded Iraq in the first place! But even with international inspection agencies BEGGING the Department of Defense to SECURE those bunkers, they were left unguarded, and were looted.
Mr. Cheney, for the Democrats to do a WORSE job of protecting America than you and President Bush, they would have to LEAVE THE PORTS UNGUARDED, OUTSOURCE inspections and security measures, and hand over our latest nuclear technology to potential rivals!
Oh wait... You've got ALL THREE OF THOSE ANGLES already accomplished! ??
Mr. Vice President, are you sure you are not a "Manchurian Candidate" mole, programmed by our "enemies" to MAKE AMERICA WEAK AND VULNERABLE????
__________________________________________
********************************************
#1. Of all the hundreds of articles available on the Cheney-Bush SELL OUR MAJOR PORT operations to Dubai Ports World, a whoolly owned subsidiary of the Dubai-UAE Arab Gulf oil sheiks, we choose this one from hard-core Righty Republican Cal Thomas because, well, Cal Thomas is a hard-core radical-right Repuglican.
<< Any port in terrorist storm
Cal Thomas | Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Posted February 21, 2006
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-thomas21_106feb21,0,2383510.story
On Sunday, the Australian government issued the following alert to its citizens: "We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners are possible terrorist targets."
The United States has approved a business deal that would turn over the operation of six major American ports to a company that is owned by the UAE, the very country Australians are to be wary of visiting. The obvious question is: If it is dangerous for an Australian to travel to the UAE because of terrorism, isn't it even more dangerous for a company owned by UAE to own the rights to American ports where terror might be directly, or indirectly, imported? >>
#1 1/2. Oh heck, we couldn't resist including this citation, "OPEN PORT, LOOSE NUKES" from the Boston Globe, Boston.com News. OK, we realize: by posting this alarming and threatenning headline, we are sounding... well, alarmist and threatenning. We plead, "in Defense of the Nation's Security." BUT.. isn't that Mr. Cheney's CLAIM TO FAME, er, leadership???
Open ports, loose nukes
February 28, 2006
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/02/28/open_ports_loose_nukes/
THE REAL threat to the security of US ports comes not from Arab ownership of the terminals' managing company but from the failure of the United States to better monitor what comes through our harbors, big and small. Each day, about 25,000 cargo containers enter the country. The Coast Guard has estimated it would cost about $7 billion to equip US ports with the scanners and other equipment needed to meet high standards of surveillance. But since 9/11, the United States has spent about $1.6 billion.....
_______________________
#2. Which brings us to this delightful little story, the Cheney-Bush administration wants to OUTSTOURCE what few port and cargo inspections there are to a.. CHINA owned Hong-Kong conglomerate?
WHOA NELLY! Does Vice President Dick KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS BOSS's decision (that would be George W. Bush, right?) to give a NO BID CONTRACT to a CHINA FIRM to provide NUCLEAR RADIATION SCREENING for US BOUND CARGO?? Mr. Cheney... are you (or your boss, Mr. Bush) SAYING THAT CHINA can provide US security BETTER THAN WE AMERICANS can???
Ports Security Issue Revived by Decision To Outsource Container Searches to Chinese Firm
By TED BRIDIS - Associated Press
March 24, 2006
http://www.nysun.com/article/29769
WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo passing through the Bahamas to America and elsewhere.
The administration acknowledges the no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa represents the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a sophisticated American radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present....
(cont'd at http://www.nysun.com/article/29769 )
*****************************
second citation: FUBAR! "fubar" is the military acronym for "f****d up beyond all recognition."
FUBAR
Bush gives no-bid contract for port security to Hong Kong company
By TED BRIDIS and JOHN SOLOMON
Mar 24, 2006, 07:20
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_8333.shtml
One of Americans' favorite beach destinations, the Bahamas, is getting a new U.S. arrival -- sophisticated equipment to detect radioactive materials in shipping cargo. But U.S. customs agents won't be on site to supervise the machine's use as a nuclear safeguard for the American shoreline that is just 65 miles away from Freeport. Under an unusual arrangement, a Hong Kong company will help operate the detector.
The Bush administration says it is finalizing a no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. It acknowledged the deal is the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present.
The administration is negotiating a second no-bid contract for a Philippine company to install radiation detectors in its home country, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. At dozens of other overseas ports, foreign governments are primarily responsible for scanning cargo.
While President Bush recently reassured Congress that foreigners would not manage security at U.S. ports, the Hutchison deal in the Bahamas illustrates how the administration is relying on foreign companies at overseas ports to safeguard cargo headed to the United States.
Hutchison Whampoa is the world's largest ports operator and among the industry's most-respected companies. It was an early adopter of U.S. anti-terror measures. But its billionaire chairman, Li Ka-Shing, also has substantial business ties to China's government that have raised U.S. concerns over the years.
"Li Ka-Shing is pretty close to a lot of senior leaders of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party," said Larry M. Wortzel, head of a U.S. government commission that studies China security and economic issues. But Wortzel said Hutchison operates independently from Beijing, and he described Li as "a very legitimate international businessman."
"One can conceive legitimate security concerns and would hope either the Homeland Security Department or the intelligence services of the United States work very hard to satisfy those concerns," Wortzel said.
Three years ago, the Bush administration effectively blocked a Hutchison subsidiary from buying part of a bankrupt U.S. telecommunications company, Global Crossing Ltd., on national security grounds.
________________________
Which brings us to #3. Mr. Bush signing an agreement with nuclear-warheads power India, GIVING India the latest US nuclear processing technology (including the ability to process weapons grade plutonium) for a $5 billion contract with GE (General Electric) corp.; while allowing India to contine to NOT sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty, AND allowing India to run 8 of its "military reactors" in secret... i.e., to process as much bomb-making material as 8 facilities can crank out!
Oh, and the "whipped cream" on top of the ice-cream-sundae of this particular deal, is that Mr. Cheney and his boss, Mr. Bush, will also allow India to purchase some $8 billion in our latest warbirds from Lockheed-Martin and Boeing corp. In the case of a latest generation jet fighter-bomber armed with a nuclear weapon stationed "on alert" in an aircraft hanger, India could truly have sub-30 minute delivery potential, or about the equivalent time it would take to arm and launch a rocket.
With Bush's help, GE courts Indian PM, nuke sector
In-Depth Coverage
By Adam Entous
Reuters July 23, 2005
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050723-ge-india-nuke.htm
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just over an hour after the White House's surprise pledge to help India develop its civilian nuclear power sector, the head of General Electric, the American company that could benefit most from the policy change, sat down for a celebratory dinner.
The host was President George W. Bush; a few feet away was India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his top aides. GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt, a contributor to Bush's presidential campaigns, had a coveted seat at the president's table.
Bush's announcement on nuclear trade with India -- followed by a formal dinner in the State dining room -- was not just a victory for Singh. For GE, the only U.S.-owned company still in the nuclear business, it marked a possible turning point in a years-long push to re-enter the Indian nuclear power market, which it was forced to leave in 1974 when India conducted its first nuclear test.
"In the short term, it's really business as usual. ... But if things unfold the way it looks they may, then clearly it is a significant opportunity for us," said Peter Wells, general manager of marketing for GE Energy's nuclear business.
While the policy change may benefit GE and other companies in the long term, critics contend Bush's move closer to accepting the world's largest democracy as a nuclear weapons state could weaken decades-old prohibitions against atomic arms.
"This administration's rogue, shoot-from-the-hip move to launch nuclear cooperation with India puts the interests of industry ahead of our national security," said Democratic Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, an arms control advocate.
GE was not mentioned in the joint statement issued by Bush and Singh, but Bush specifically pledged "expeditious consideration of fuel supplies for safeguarded nuclear reactors at Tarapur."
(cont'd at http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050723-ge-india-nu )
_____________________________________
****************************************
Cheney: If Democrats can lead, then I can sing
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=1765601
Reuters
ORLANDO, Florida - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday rejected charges by Democrats that the Bush administration was mishandling Iraq and said: "If they are competent to fight this war, then I ought to be singing on American Idol."
During a campaign stop in Orlando, Cheney predicted that national security would dominate congressional elections in November and sought to rally Republicans amid dwindling popular support for President George W. Bush.
In Washington, Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda called the criticism of his party an attempt to divert attention from the situation in Iraq, which is torn by violence three years after the U.S.-led invasion.
Referring to a notoriously acerbic judge on the American Idol television talent contest, Miranda said, "Simon Cowell is more loved than this administration and its failed Iraq policy. Cheney wouldn't last long on American Idol."
Speaking to a Republican crowd at a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Ric Keller of Orlando, Cheney dismissed accusations that the administration was "dangerously incompetent" and defended the war in Iraq and Bush's anti-terrorism tactics.
He spoke in favor of Bush's controversial executive order allowing the National Security Agency to conduct wiretaps within the United States without warrants.
"Some Democrats in Congress have decided the president is the enemy and the terrorist surveillance program is grounds for censuring the president," Cheney said, adding, "The American people have already made their decision. They agree with the president."
A hunting accident in February, in which Cheney shot and injured a fellow quail hunter and Republican donor in Texas, also provided some stand-up comedy at the Orlando event.
While introducing the vice president, Keller said Cheney had responded to Keller's recent votes against the administration on three issues by telling him: "Don't be too hasty. Let's go hunting. We'll talk about it."
Cheney himself said that when he returned to the White House from the hunting trip, Bush told him, "Dick, I'm 38 percent in the polls and you shot the only trial lawyer who supports me."
Cheney said the man he shot, 78-year-old Harry Whittington, is in good condition.
Copyright 2006 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
In this case, we have a Vice-President who did NOTHING when the nation's Counter-Terror 'Czar', Richard Clarke, BEGGED the vice president to hold a "PRINCIPLES MEETING" with the president, vice president, defense department, national security advisor, cia, fbi, and other agencies at the heart of America's "national defense establishment." Both Cheney and (then) National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice PERSONALLY heard Mr. Clarke's plea for a principle's meeting to discuss the THREAT of Al Qaida... after all, Al Qaida had SUCCESSFULLY attacked the US warship USS Cole in a Yemen harbor in October of 2000 (while Bush, Cheney, and Rice were all out on the campaign trail for the Republican presidential campaign), and before that Al Qiada had SUCCESSFULLY BOMBED TWO US embassies in Africa.
Then we have the vice president's involvement as OSSAMA bin LADEN narrowly ESCAPED the American military forces noose at Tora Bora. Where was the vice president as Ossama ESCAPED? We have since that time heard and read that the United States had already started shipping military units OUT of Afghanistan, to prepare for the Iraq war that Mr. Bush now claims was not inevitable - Downing St. memos, and reports that Mr. Bush interrupted a meeting of senior Republican senators at the White House to pump his fist and shout "Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out!" notwithstanding.
Then there is the question of, "WHERE WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT as a Category FIVE Hurricane swirled in the Gulf of Mexico, giving the region a FIVE DAY WARNING before it picked up speed and made a bee-line towards New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. When Mr. Cheney finally did arrive in the devastated area, several days after the storm (and his entourage closed off roads, making locals who had limited gas drive in large circles), a local homeowner was shaken down by M-16 toting military personel, after that homeowner threw Mr. Cheney's infamous words ("Go fuck yourself", said to Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor) back at him on Cheney's "inspection tour" of destroyed homes and neighborhoods.
Then there is the question of "Where was Vice President Cheney" as non-commissioned officers and privates were subjected to KANGAROO COURTS (by the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld) for "Abuse", when Mr. Cheney and President Bush declare that they have a RIGHT to TORTURE captured prisoners. IF guards, privates and NCOs, were FOLLOWING ORDERS to "ABUSE" captured Iraqi prisoners, in order to 'soften them up' for Military Intel torture sessions, WHY didn't the Vice President use his considerable influence to STAND UP for those privates and non-coms?
I hope the names "Sabrina Samson" and "Lyndiee England", both privates who VOLUNTEERED for the US Army, will follow Mr. Cheney everywhere, as it was HIS policies (along with his compatriot, Donald Rumsfeld, over at the Department of Defense) which put those women in the situation where they got JAIL TERMS, and felony convictions, and international scorn and loss of good name, FOR FOLLOWING ORDERS that Mr. Cheney pretends not to know about.... while simultaneously defending!
Mr. Cheney, we heard that shortly after the "capture" of Baghdad by US forces, that looting broke out all over Iraq, and that US troops made NO EFFORT to stamp out the looting. We have even been informed that the huge Al Qaaqa ammunition complex of the Iraq army was looted over a period of two or three weeks- tons and tons and tons of explosives and munitions carted off, while US servicemen did KP duty less than 10 miles away. Indeed, the International Weapons inspection community (IAEC) was practically BEGGING the Defense Department to secure the bunkers, some of which were under seal for containing the high-grade explosives used in nuclear weapons production and research. NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION was the ALLEGED reason that the United States attacked and invaded Iraq in the first place! But even with international inspection agencies BEGGING the Department of Defense to SECURE those bunkers, they were left unguarded, and were looted.
Mr. Cheney, for the Democrats to do a WORSE job of protecting America than you and President Bush, they would have to LEAVE THE PORTS UNGUARDED, OUTSOURCE inspections and security measures, and hand over our latest nuclear technology to potential rivals!
Oh wait... You've got ALL THREE OF THOSE ANGLES already accomplished! ??
Mr. Vice President, are you sure you are not a "Manchurian Candidate" mole, programmed by our "enemies" to MAKE AMERICA WEAK AND VULNERABLE????
__________________________________________
********************************************
#1. Of all the hundreds of articles available on the Cheney-Bush SELL OUR MAJOR PORT operations to Dubai Ports World, a whoolly owned subsidiary of the Dubai-UAE Arab Gulf oil sheiks, we choose this one from hard-core Righty Republican Cal Thomas because, well, Cal Thomas is a hard-core radical-right Repuglican.
<< Any port in terrorist storm
Cal Thomas | Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Posted February 21, 2006
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-thomas21_106feb21,0,2383510.story
On Sunday, the Australian government issued the following alert to its citizens: "We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners are possible terrorist targets."
The United States has approved a business deal that would turn over the operation of six major American ports to a company that is owned by the UAE, the very country Australians are to be wary of visiting. The obvious question is: If it is dangerous for an Australian to travel to the UAE because of terrorism, isn't it even more dangerous for a company owned by UAE to own the rights to American ports where terror might be directly, or indirectly, imported? >>
#1 1/2. Oh heck, we couldn't resist including this citation, "OPEN PORT, LOOSE NUKES" from the Boston Globe, Boston.com News. OK, we realize: by posting this alarming and threatenning headline, we are sounding... well, alarmist and threatenning. We plead, "in Defense of the Nation's Security." BUT.. isn't that Mr. Cheney's CLAIM TO FAME, er, leadership???
Open ports, loose nukes
February 28, 2006
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/02/28/open_ports_loose_nukes/
THE REAL threat to the security of US ports comes not from Arab ownership of the terminals' managing company but from the failure of the United States to better monitor what comes through our harbors, big and small. Each day, about 25,000 cargo containers enter the country. The Coast Guard has estimated it would cost about $7 billion to equip US ports with the scanners and other equipment needed to meet high standards of surveillance. But since 9/11, the United States has spent about $1.6 billion.....
_______________________
#2. Which brings us to this delightful little story, the Cheney-Bush administration wants to OUTSTOURCE what few port and cargo inspections there are to a.. CHINA owned Hong-Kong conglomerate?
WHOA NELLY! Does Vice President Dick KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS BOSS's decision (that would be George W. Bush, right?) to give a NO BID CONTRACT to a CHINA FIRM to provide NUCLEAR RADIATION SCREENING for US BOUND CARGO?? Mr. Cheney... are you (or your boss, Mr. Bush) SAYING THAT CHINA can provide US security BETTER THAN WE AMERICANS can???
Ports Security Issue Revived by Decision To Outsource Container Searches to Chinese Firm
By TED BRIDIS - Associated Press
March 24, 2006
http://www.nysun.com/article/29769
WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo passing through the Bahamas to America and elsewhere.
The administration acknowledges the no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa represents the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a sophisticated American radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present....
(cont'd at http://www.nysun.com/article/29769 )
*****************************
second citation: FUBAR! "fubar" is the military acronym for "f****d up beyond all recognition."
FUBAR
Bush gives no-bid contract for port security to Hong Kong company
By TED BRIDIS and JOHN SOLOMON
Mar 24, 2006, 07:20
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_8333.shtml
One of Americans' favorite beach destinations, the Bahamas, is getting a new U.S. arrival -- sophisticated equipment to detect radioactive materials in shipping cargo. But U.S. customs agents won't be on site to supervise the machine's use as a nuclear safeguard for the American shoreline that is just 65 miles away from Freeport. Under an unusual arrangement, a Hong Kong company will help operate the detector.
The Bush administration says it is finalizing a no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. It acknowledged the deal is the first time a foreign company will be involved in running a radiation detector at an overseas port without American customs agents present.
The administration is negotiating a second no-bid contract for a Philippine company to install radiation detectors in its home country, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. At dozens of other overseas ports, foreign governments are primarily responsible for scanning cargo.
While President Bush recently reassured Congress that foreigners would not manage security at U.S. ports, the Hutchison deal in the Bahamas illustrates how the administration is relying on foreign companies at overseas ports to safeguard cargo headed to the United States.
Hutchison Whampoa is the world's largest ports operator and among the industry's most-respected companies. It was an early adopter of U.S. anti-terror measures. But its billionaire chairman, Li Ka-Shing, also has substantial business ties to China's government that have raised U.S. concerns over the years.
"Li Ka-Shing is pretty close to a lot of senior leaders of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party," said Larry M. Wortzel, head of a U.S. government commission that studies China security and economic issues. But Wortzel said Hutchison operates independently from Beijing, and he described Li as "a very legitimate international businessman."
"One can conceive legitimate security concerns and would hope either the Homeland Security Department or the intelligence services of the United States work very hard to satisfy those concerns," Wortzel said.
Three years ago, the Bush administration effectively blocked a Hutchison subsidiary from buying part of a bankrupt U.S. telecommunications company, Global Crossing Ltd., on national security grounds.
________________________
Which brings us to #3. Mr. Bush signing an agreement with nuclear-warheads power India, GIVING India the latest US nuclear processing technology (including the ability to process weapons grade plutonium) for a $5 billion contract with GE (General Electric) corp.; while allowing India to contine to NOT sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty, AND allowing India to run 8 of its "military reactors" in secret... i.e., to process as much bomb-making material as 8 facilities can crank out!
Oh, and the "whipped cream" on top of the ice-cream-sundae of this particular deal, is that Mr. Cheney and his boss, Mr. Bush, will also allow India to purchase some $8 billion in our latest warbirds from Lockheed-Martin and Boeing corp. In the case of a latest generation jet fighter-bomber armed with a nuclear weapon stationed "on alert" in an aircraft hanger, India could truly have sub-30 minute delivery potential, or about the equivalent time it would take to arm and launch a rocket.
With Bush's help, GE courts Indian PM, nuke sector
In-Depth Coverage
By Adam Entous
Reuters July 23, 2005
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050723-ge-india-nuke.htm
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just over an hour after the White House's surprise pledge to help India develop its civilian nuclear power sector, the head of General Electric, the American company that could benefit most from the policy change, sat down for a celebratory dinner.
The host was President George W. Bush; a few feet away was India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his top aides. GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt, a contributor to Bush's presidential campaigns, had a coveted seat at the president's table.
Bush's announcement on nuclear trade with India -- followed by a formal dinner in the State dining room -- was not just a victory for Singh. For GE, the only U.S.-owned company still in the nuclear business, it marked a possible turning point in a years-long push to re-enter the Indian nuclear power market, which it was forced to leave in 1974 when India conducted its first nuclear test.
"In the short term, it's really business as usual. ... But if things unfold the way it looks they may, then clearly it is a significant opportunity for us," said Peter Wells, general manager of marketing for GE Energy's nuclear business.
While the policy change may benefit GE and other companies in the long term, critics contend Bush's move closer to accepting the world's largest democracy as a nuclear weapons state could weaken decades-old prohibitions against atomic arms.
"This administration's rogue, shoot-from-the-hip move to launch nuclear cooperation with India puts the interests of industry ahead of our national security," said Democratic Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, an arms control advocate.
GE was not mentioned in the joint statement issued by Bush and Singh, but Bush specifically pledged "expeditious consideration of fuel supplies for safeguarded nuclear reactors at Tarapur."
(cont'd at http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050723-ge-india-nu )
_____________________________________
****************************************
Cheney: If Democrats can lead, then I can sing
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=1765601
Reuters
ORLANDO, Florida - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday rejected charges by Democrats that the Bush administration was mishandling Iraq and said: "If they are competent to fight this war, then I ought to be singing on American Idol."
During a campaign stop in Orlando, Cheney predicted that national security would dominate congressional elections in November and sought to rally Republicans amid dwindling popular support for President George W. Bush.
In Washington, Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda called the criticism of his party an attempt to divert attention from the situation in Iraq, which is torn by violence three years after the U.S.-led invasion.
Referring to a notoriously acerbic judge on the American Idol television talent contest, Miranda said, "Simon Cowell is more loved than this administration and its failed Iraq policy. Cheney wouldn't last long on American Idol."
Speaking to a Republican crowd at a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Ric Keller of Orlando, Cheney dismissed accusations that the administration was "dangerously incompetent" and defended the war in Iraq and Bush's anti-terrorism tactics.
He spoke in favor of Bush's controversial executive order allowing the National Security Agency to conduct wiretaps within the United States without warrants.
"Some Democrats in Congress have decided the president is the enemy and the terrorist surveillance program is grounds for censuring the president," Cheney said, adding, "The American people have already made their decision. They agree with the president."
A hunting accident in February, in which Cheney shot and injured a fellow quail hunter and Republican donor in Texas, also provided some stand-up comedy at the Orlando event.
While introducing the vice president, Keller said Cheney had responded to Keller's recent votes against the administration on three issues by telling him: "Don't be too hasty. Let's go hunting. We'll talk about it."
Cheney himself said that when he returned to the White House from the hunting trip, Bush told him, "Dick, I'm 38 percent in the polls and you shot the only trial lawyer who supports me."
Cheney said the man he shot, 78-year-old Harry Whittington, is in good condition.
Copyright 2006 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
posted by verifi at 7:16 PM
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