Juan Cole gives an overview of [http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/11/10/chalabi/index.html|Chalabi's checkered career] and assesses his (bleak) prospects for the December 15 elections. And blogger Kris Lofgren chronicles the "[http://kris.typepad.com/blog/2005/11/chalabi_in_dc.html|circus-like appearance by Ahmed Chalabi] at the [[American Enterprise Institute]], including an unintentionally hilarious remark by pundit-provocateur Christopher Hitchens, who has become one of Chalabi's [http://www.slate.com/id/2101345|last and most steadfast defenders].
At Talking Points Memo, Matthew Yglesias does a nice job of [http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/11/9/165711/209|fact-checking Chalabi's speech] to the [[American Enterprise Institute]], where Chalabi claimed that page 108 of a Senate Intelligence Committee report exonerated him of supply the United States with false intelligence. Yglesias actually took a look at page 108. Here are some excerpts: "The October 2002 [National Intelligence Estimate] relied on reporting from two INC sources, both of whom were later deemed to be fabricators. ... Despite the fabrication notice, reporting from the INC source regarding Iraqi mobile BW facilities started to be used again several months later in finished intelligence--eventually ending up in the October 2002 NIE and in Secretary Powell's February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council."
Not that wrong. The King found his legitimacy in a tailor suited god. Dubya just traded the high heels and wigs for oversized cow boy boots and stetsons.
Commoners also pay in order to get a meeting with the little big man (see "Lobbyist Sought $9 Million to Set Bush Meeting" in yesterday's NYT).
The difference with today's France ? At least, this side of the Atlantic, when everything is going wrong, there is a true debate. 2005 may be an annus horribilis for us, we enjoyed a real discussion about Europe and social implosion.
And when one of our generals tries to cover up a criminal act by the French Army in Ivory Coast, he is both suspended by the Army and sued by the justice. The man who prones torture is not likely to become the head of justice (does DOJ stand for Denial Of Justice ?).
Anyway, I guess today's French Revolution is the actual one : the poor are getting poorer, the masses are getting poor and the wealthy have already left the country.
To make it even worse, France's next ruler is supported by the country's top media conglomerates : Nicolas Sarkozy has the favors of Martin Bouygues (Bouygues-TF1), Arnaud Lagardère (Lagardère-Hachette) and Serge Dassault (Dassault-Socpresse-Le Figaro). Not to mention King Dubya himself and his followers (including Dick Perle and the so-called church of scientology).
Some call you the elites...
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Stephane MOT -
http://www.blogules.com
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Check out Art Levine's article "[http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10595|Bad Reception]" on The American Prospect website. Levine takes a closer look at the incompetance and cronyism associated with the US-funded station.
"Microsoft's chief marketing officer, Steve Ballmer, was elevated so that he reports directly to the CEO"
Steve Ballmer is the CEO
The difference with today's France ? At least, this side of the Atlantic, when everything is going wrong, there is a true debate. 2005 may be an annus horribilis for us, we enjoyed a real discussion about Europe and social implosion.
And when one of our generals tries to cover up a criminal act by the French Army in Ivory Coast, he is both suspended by the Army and sued by the justice. The man who prones torture is not likely to become the head of justice (does DOJ stand for Denial Of Justice ?).
Anyway, I guess today's French Revolution is the actual one : the poor are getting poorer, the masses are getting poor and the wealthy have already left the country.
To make it even worse, France's next ruler is supported by the country's top media conglomerates : Nicolas Sarkozy has the favors of Martin Bouygues (Bouygues-TF1), Arnaud Lagardère (Lagardère-Hachette) and Serge Dassault (Dassault-Socpresse-Le Figaro). Not to mention King Dubya himself and his followers (including Dick Perle and the so-called church of scientology).
Some call you the elites...
______________________________________________________________________________________ Stephane MOT - http://www.blogules.com ______________________________________________________________________________________
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