General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)spanone
(135,844 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)Funny how quickly it happened after Nixon was sent packing. The unelected Gerald Ford must never be forgiven for that appointment.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)"I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln."
deafskeptic
(463 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)deafskeptic
(463 posts)I'm even worse with G.W.Bush. Not kidding.
malaise
(269,054 posts)view image info
deafskeptic
(463 posts)I was hoping someone would tag his name. No such luck.
deafskeptic
(463 posts)deafskeptic
(463 posts)I was thinking did I miss something? Who else was in the CIA?
malaise
(269,054 posts)I knew that Bush was the only CIA head who became President.
Response to deafskeptic (Reply #6)
Post removed
drmeow
(5,020 posts)Photos should be captioned with the name of the person. Not everyone recognizes faces and why should I have to right click and look at image info to figure out who someone is. I usually just shrug and ignore posts with unidentified photos - there are plenty of other posts on DU to read - but that doesn't stop it from being a pet peeve.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)since there's only ever been one president who was a former head of the CIA.
drmeow
(5,020 posts)And most photos posted without identification make the assumption that something is known by everyone when it often is not.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)No wonder our country is in such bad shape when people don't know even recent political history.
Sorry, I mean no offense to you personally, but your post really saddens me.
drmeow
(5,020 posts)Regardless of the insult (cause it never occurred to you that someone might not be sure if GHWB was the ONLY CIA head to become President - because apparently you've memorized every past job of every President of the US). What shocked you - your FALSE assumption that I didn't know that GHWB had been the head of the CIA or the fact that I wasn't sure if he had been the ONLY head of the CIA? What level of ignorance did you just assume I had?
Think about it this way - maybe I knew that GHWB had been the former head of the CIA but I'm really bad at facial recognition. I'm always learning new things at DU so when I see the post and don't know who the picture is I think, "Wait, was there another President who was the former head of the CIA?"
SOME of us are open to and comfortable with learning new things at DU and are comfortable with and open to having our existing knowledge challenged at DU so when someone posts something we're not sure about, we DON'T automatically assume our knowledge is complete.
Quite frankly, I find your attitude is one of the things which is wrong with DU these day - the "well, everyone knows (some fact that I know and think is so important that everyone should know it)" combined with the assumption that someone else NOT knowing that particular fact or even just part of that particular fact makes someone else a problem in this country. How F**KING hard is it to just include a name with a picture? How F**KING hard is it not to make assumptions about the age, history, education, memory and knowledge of all members of the DU community and just provide full information in your posts?
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I've handled this exchange badly, and it's definitely all on me.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)I wasn't feeling like you owed one, no dog in this hunt, but it's always nice to see someone make the effort to make things right, happens too rarely around here and frankly everywhere on the internet.
Re photo captions, a useful tool is Google image search. On Windows machines, or at least the way mine is setup, a right-click brings up a "search Google with this image" option, instantly telling me who it's a photo of in most cases. Of course captions are also helpful.
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)I admire you for taking responsibility for a mistake. It underscores your credibility as a poster.
drmeow
(5,020 posts)And I overreacted
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)And I don't think you overreacted, I was being neither helpful or kind.
Peace.
malaise
(269,054 posts)The fact is if you are not sure about a photo - right click it and view image info - in most instances you will find it.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)So I won't fault the poster for his reaction, I could have done much better in this exchange.
But thank you for your support.
Hippo_Tron
(25,453 posts)One does not need to be a political/history junkie to participate as an informed citizen. They do need to understand the issues and which politicians stand where on them.
Knowing that George HW Bush served as RNC chair, then CIA director, Vice President, then finally got a job he couldn't get appointed to (to paraphrase Ann Richards), is interesting knowledge. But it's just not relevant or useful to most people.
CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)George HWs' appearance in national politics has EVERYTHING to do with the state of your country. It was only after he appointed himself as Reagan's running mate did your media wake up to his background. At the time, some asked in a media scrum following Bush's meeting with Reagan, "Is the fix in....???"
As it turned out, it was. See how easy it was to eliminate Carter...
.
7wo7rees
(5,128 posts)Yes it is disturbing. Speaks to everything that is going wrong.
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)especially when it comes to understanding the political state of our country..It really takes an effort to go beyond what local and national dumbed down news coverage does to our general understanding.. And I might add.. It takes years to gather the kind of info needed for one who is trying to circumvent the political mine fields in order to find the facts which lead to the truths...
Listen I knew so little about politics until Fox News went after Clinton ..I had to back track to see where all this right wing bull shit started to get personal..And of course it was Reagan. It took me about a year to get in the right spot..
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Thank you, spanone.
malaise
(269,054 posts)before the 1980 election - to hurt Carter?
smiley
(1,432 posts)in Dallas in 1963.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)He's as evil as Dick Cheney, maybe worse.
southerncrone
(5,506 posts)SomeGuyInEagan
(1,515 posts)... where he was that day.
But that's not curious. Not at all.
YoungDemCA
(5,714 posts)nt
smiley
(1,432 posts)I'd think I'd remember where I was the moment the president was shot.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)and even I remember where I was on that day!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)That just means to me he was central to the operation. I am thoroughly convinced. But then I always think the very worst imaginable of the Bushes.
deafskeptic
(463 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,564 posts)(paraphrasing) If you are a paranoid conspiracy theorist, take the biggest plot you can think of......and the government is way worse than that.
former9thward
(32,025 posts)http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/us/politics/in-houston-bush-41-greets-obama-who-later-assails-gop.html?_r=0
spanone
(135,844 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Last edited Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)
1. He's incredibly naive and totally ignorant of the history and machinations of the Shadow Government and the CIA, and has no clue about the reach of the BFEE and how far its tentacles have infiltrated every aspect of the National Security State.
2. He knows, but is powerless to do anything but acquiesce and put the best face on it that he can.
3. He knows, and is okay with it.
If someone else can come up with other alternative explanations I'd be happy to add them to my list.
demigoddess
(6,641 posts)never say anything nasty about a former POTUS
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)sanatanadharma
(3,707 posts)A corollary to point number two, possibly explaining "powerless to do anything".
My belief is that H.W.Bush was the only president since (including) Johnson, who didn't get the 'Welcome Mr President, let us tell you the truth about Kennedy' briefing.
Such a briefing would explain that the kids too are at risk if the prez doesn't play ball with the Shadow Government and the CIA.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)And I would say that this defintely falls under my explanation #2. "Play ball with us, or else."
valerief
(53,235 posts)and go along with it, else they wouldn't accept the nomination. Therefore, the only choices are 1 and 3.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)#1 would mean he's dangerously unqualified and inept in terms of dealing with the reality of who actually holds the power to manipulate events and policy.
#3 would mean that he is totally compromised and has sold his soul.
valerief
(53,235 posts)you must understand it, and I think all the players do. Otherwise you're not offered a seat at the table.
Now, it's possible that someone could be let in as appearing to be #3 with hopes to make changes to the game from within. That means a #3 becomes a #1 and fails because the game is rigged. Rigged in this country, at least.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)"make changes to the game from within".
On the other hand, there's the whole expanding surveillance thing and the shiny new Middle East war.
So, is he a gormless fool? Or a cynical phony who fooled us?
valerief
(53,235 posts)I don't think anything else is allowed.
And if you veer from the game, you get a bullet in the head like JFK.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)What an ugly revelation.
I don't think they need a bullet. They® have a million ways to kill you that would barely arouse suspicion outside of intelligence ranks.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)"It's a club and you ain't in it."
former9thward
(32,025 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)That doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed. I don't know why people faint over the fact that discussing the CIA and why they shouldn't be involved in Executive and Legislative branches of Government is taboo.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)And there are few where I can say with absolute certainty that I am right.
On this one, I am right. Bush is a nasty piece of work. Worse than his idiot kid who was just ignorant and easy to manipulate. Awarding this man's behavior was a huge mistake. Epic even. Iran Contra alone was enough to relegate this guy to the dustbin of history.
cstanleytech
(26,295 posts)war upon the american people at the behest of their corporate bosses.
FlatStanley
(327 posts)I'm not aware of anything he did as President that was uniquely sinister and only possible from having CIA credentials.
Sorry.
mountain grammy
(26,624 posts)For 8 years I was sure that fucker Reagan would die and we'd get CIA Bush. Then he was elected!
tblue37
(65,407 posts)in that pic he looks just like W, doesn't he?
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)That's what Poppy told the FBI. He also reported a threat to JFK, only AFTER the news of the assassination.
Poppy Bush warned FBI -- AFTER -- JFK assassinated.
In the hour of the death of President John F. Kennedy, Texas oilman George Herbert Walker Bush named a suspect to the FBI in a "confidential" phone call. He then added he was heading for Dallas. Skeptics need not take my word for it, that's what Poppy told the FBI:
Here's a transcript of the text:
TO: SAC, HOUSTON DATE: 11-22-63
FROM: SA GRAHAM W. KITCHEL
SUBJECT: UNKNOWN SUBJECT;
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT
JOHN F. KENNEDY
At 1:45 p.m. Mr. GEORGE H. W. BUSH, President of the Zapata Off-Shore Drilling Company, Houston, Texas, residence 5525 Briar, Houston, telephonically furnished the following information to writer by long distance telephone call from Tyler, Texas.
BUSH stated that he wanted to be kept confidential but wanted to furnish hearsay that he recalled hearing in recent weeks, the day and source unknown. He stated that one JAMES PARROTT has been talking of killing the President when he comes to Houston.
BUSH stated that PARROTT is possibly a student at the University of Houston and is active in political matters in this area. He stated that he felt Mrs. FAWLEY, telephone number SU 2-5239, or ARLINE SMITH, telephone number JA 9-9194 of the Harris County Republican Party Headquarters would be able to furnish additional information regarding the identity of PARROTT.
BUSH stated that he was proceeding to Dallas, Texas, would remain in the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel and return to his residence on 11-23-63. His office telephone number is CA 2-0395.
# # #
Gee. Why was Poppy Bush in Dallas when JFK was assassinated?
Could it be, he was on official business? I suspect he was on Secret Government business. After all, his eldest son bragged during his Texas Air National Guard and Harvard grad school days that his daddy was CIA.
Here's an FBI document from the same week of the assassination in which FBI Director J Edgar Hoover briefed one "Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency." Some strange coincidence there, wot?
Here's a transcript of the above:
Date: November 29, 1963
To: Director
Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Department of State
From: John Edgar Hoover, Director
Subject: ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
NOVEMBER 22, 1963
Our Miami, Florida, Office on November 23, 1963, advised that the Office of Coordinator of Cuban Affairs in Miami advised that the Department of State feels some misguided anti-Castro group might capitalize on the present situation and undertake an unauthorized raid against Cuba, believing that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy might herald a change in U. S. policy, which is not true.
Our sources and informants familiar with Cuban matters in the Miami area advise that the general feeling in the anti-Castro Cuban community is one of stunned disbelief and, even among those who did not entirely agree with the President's policy concerning Cuba, the feeling is that the President's death represents a great loss not only to the U. S. but to all of Latin America. These sources know of no plans for unauthorized action against Cuba.
An informant who has furnished reliable information in the past and who is close to a small pro-Castro group in Miami has advised that these individuals are afraid that the assassination of the President may result in strong repressive measures being taken against them and, although pro-Castro in their feelings, regret the assassination.
The substance of the foregoing information was orally furnished to Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency and Captain William Edwards of the Defense Intelligence Agency on November 23, 1963, by Mr. W. T. Forsyth of this Bureau.
# # #
I do remember that GHWB was head of the CIA when the Church Committee was looking into the CIA assassination programs. He made things all friendly-like and turned what had been a serious hunt for truth under previous DCI Colby into another dog-and-pony show that was big on show and light on facts.
Regarding Dallas: Now I don't know if Poppy was a trigger man, was only there to watch what happened or what just happened to be there. I do know Poppy Bush has never explained these memos. He's never even admitted where he was the day JFK was killed.
Seeing how he would go on to become President, as would his dim son, I believe it's vitally important that we learn the Truth.
Why? The United States and the world haven't been the same since November 22, 1963. And not a single major player in the nation's mass media have stepped up and demanded a real investigation. So, it's up to us, We the People.
What's more, Poppy Bush sheltered mass-murdering jet-bombing terrorists like Luis Posada Carriles.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)... educate them!
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Because you know Jeb would just go back to where his brother left off and start it all over again.
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)The Carlyle Group Has Made $2 Billion Off Of Booz Allen
http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2013/06/10/the-carlyle-group-has-made-2-billion-off-of-booz-allen/
In 2008, the Carlyle Group made a large $910 million investment to buy a majority stake in Booz Allens government consulting business. The deal saw Booz Allens big government advisory unit, which produced most of the firms revenue, split off from its corporate consulting group, on the eve of the financial crisis.
But Washington-based Carlyle, which has a long and successful history doing deals involving government contractors, has really made the Booz Allen deal work. It has been an amazing transaction for Carlyle. The private equity firm has made $2 billion in realized and unrealized profits on the Booz Allen Hamilton deal so far. Its $910 million investment is now worth $3 billion.
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
Legalequilibrium78
(103 posts)Last edited Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:48 PM - Edit history (1)
Always try to blemish someone's character, reputations, and integrity just because they happen to be of different political ideology and party? How the fuck are we any different from the people on the other side? The circumstantial evidence you have posted here does not provide nor proof of motives nor does it show concrete solid evidence that Pres.Bush Sr. had a hand in the killing of Pres.John F. Kennedy.
I for one don't think that serving, working for the military and or intelligence part of the gov't. should disqualify anyone from seeking political office. Believe it or not, there are liberals that were and are part of the military and intelligence agency, yes that includes the much maligned, hated C.I.A.
nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)and "WE" is in quotes because there haven't been any votes on these despicable actions
The United States has been involved in and assisted in the overthrow of foreign governments (more recently termed "regime change" without the overt use of U.S. military force. Often, such operations are tasked to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Regime change has been attempted through direct involvement of U.S. operatives, the funding and training of insurgency groups within these countries, anti-regime propaganda campaigns, coups d'état, and other activities usually conducted as operations by the CIA. The United States has also accomplished regime change by direct military action, such as following the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and the U.S.-led military invasion of Iraq in 2003...
1 Prior to Cold War
1.1 Russia
2 During the Cold War
2.1 Communist states 194489
2.2 Syria 1949
2.3 Iran 1953
2.4 Guatemala 1954
2.5 Tibet 195570s
2.6 Indonesia 1958
2.7 Cuba 1959
2.8 Democratic Republic of the Congo 196065
2.9 Iraq 196063
2.10 Dominican Republic 1961
2.11 South Vietnam 1963
2.12 Brazil 1964
2.13 Ghana 1966
2.14 Chile 197073
2.15 Argentina 1976
2.16 Afghanistan 197989
2.17 Turkey 1980
2.18 Poland 198081
2.19 Nicaragua 198190
2.19.1 Destablization through CIA assets
2.19.2 Arming the Contras
2.20 Cambodia 198095
2.21 Angola 1980s
3 Since the end of the Cold War
3.1 Iraq 199296
3.2 Afghanistan 2001
3.3 Venezuela 2002
3.4 Iraq 200203
3.5 Haiti 2004
3.6 Gaza Strip 2006present
3.7 Somalia 200607
3.8 Iran 2005present
3.9 Libya 2011
3.10 Syria 2012present
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_United_States_foreign_regime_change_actions
Do you think those actions are "spreading democracy"?
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Some of us have spent years pouring over the record of dirty deeds committed by our government and GHW Bush's hand in many of them.
Personally, I'm agnostic on the JFK assassination - but there are plenty of documented connections between Bush I and the whole Bay of Pigs thing.
And, leaving that aside, there's lots more "hidden" history of the Shadow Government and Bush I's place in it.
This isn't about partisanship, it's about the toxic stranglehood that the National Security State has on our "democracy".
spanone
(135,844 posts)Legalequilibrium78
(103 posts)Last edited Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:59 PM - Edit history (1)
You simply focus on the "New World Order" stuff as if somehow it means something more nebulous and nefarious than what Pres.Bush was meaning to say. You like to delve into conspiratorial non-sense and innuendos. I thought us "Liberals" are that much superior intellectually.
spanone
(135,844 posts)Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Did you vote for him?
This is Democratic Underground. Bush was a Republican. He helped rig the 1980 election and kept hostages from being released early. His spawn was the worst President of modern times. We're supposed to kiss his ass? Maybe you should leave.
Legalequilibrium78
(103 posts)On Pres.Bush - it does not mean I voted for the man, nor have I voted and supported any Republicans in the past - but what's interesting is your quick call for me to leave this place (not a liberal trait am afraid) This country is a constitutional republic and the sad facts are that Pres.Bush Sr. and Pres.W. Bush were elected by our fellow Americans. I suspect some of which were our fellow Democrats.
We have, no we must have a healthy respect with the processes of our country. From time to time there will be choices that will be reprehensible and will contradict our own set of values and principles, that we as Liberals can't, won't and should not accept. That does not mean we should treat our fellow Americans - that have different views and of different political ideologies, as enemy - I am accepting of the facts that not everything we want in politics and more importantly in life we can or will have.
The other side is pretty much busy doing the same damn thing some of us are doing on this forum. So I wonder how are we supposed to elevate the political discourse on this country, to move this country forward, to have a meaningful path of economic opportunity to all Americans; regardless of political-socio economic class.
I am not that cynical to think and as a proud Liberal, that we can't advance our cause without emulating the tactics and vile - nonsense the other side employs. We're better than that, than this.
P.S. don't you ever try to tell me to leave posting on this site. I have been a lurker of this site since 2003 and have just recently decided to become a member, so that I maybe able to learn amongst you - my peers and fellow Liberals - I only hope that any future disagreements we'll have and there will be, you will have learned to restrain yourself from telling people to leave, if they happen to disagree with your opinions.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Otherwise, get over it and stop with the tut-tutting and tsk tsking.
This place is a safe haven from the M$M, who kisses the ass every single day of people like GHWB. If someone wants to take a shot at him on this board, they have every right to, without the "Now, now I respect him" bullshit.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)I see no reason to defend people like the Bush dynasty. They have a history and it has not been good for this country.
I can see where Bush Sr compared to his son might now seem to be somewhat less of a threat, but to think that requires not knowing too much about him and HIS father. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Bush Sr was Reagan's Cheney imo. The puppet master.
In many ways Bush Sr is WORSE than his son, who was at least more obvious about his goals for this country.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)You won't learn much if you reject new-to-you information out of hand just because it challenges your comfort zone.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Sounds like a great story.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I'll always give the benefit of the doubt, until such benefit becomes clearly unsupportable.
And if space aliens are signing up to post on DU - how cool would that be?!?
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)you're real.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Few today remember a most heinous terrorist act: The assassinations of former Chilean ambassador Orlando Letelier and American Ronnie Karpen Moffit.
Ms. Moffit was an American citizen murdered by agents of a foreign government on U.S. soil. Her only crime was being with Orlando Letelier, whose crime was to speak out against the military coup that toppled the democratically elected Chilean government he served. Because he refused to turn over the Chilean secret police and their American contacts, these assassinations were allowed, if not sanctioned, by George Bush, then director of central intelligence and head of the CIA.
As with all things having to do with the BFEE, the world get worse. So, a reminder:
October will mark the 30th anniversary of another most heinous terrorist act: The bombing of a Cuban civilian airliner that killed 73 passengers and crew. The pilots reported the blast caused their aircraft to catch fire and they were burning up as they attempted an emergency landing. The plane crashed into the Caribbean, a few miles west of Barbados. All aboard perished, including a close friend of the Great DUer malaise.
Cubana Airlines DC-8 like the one bombed by BFEE members Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch. Both turds have been protected by Poppy and Baby Doc Bush and the CIA, which strangely has been loyal to them rather than to various presidencies before and in-between.
Heres an excellent essay based on the facts:
The Charmed Life of a Mass Murderer
Posada Carriles and Bush's Anti-Terror Hoax
By SAUL LANDAU
Counterpunch June 9, 2005
President George W. Bush has emphasized that if one of the myriad of U.S. police agencies even suspect someone of planning, abetting or carrying out a terrorist act, he will, at a minimum, get tossed into a dark hole. Indeed, Bush has thrown the Magna Carta into the garbage heap when it comes to Muslims suspected of pernicious thoughts toward the United States.
But if suspected terrorists turn their rage toward the detested Fidel Castro, these rules don't apply.
Indeed, those who try to bomb Cuban targets, or those related to Cuba, receive special treatment. This double-standard casts a shadow over the president's commitment to fight terrorism.
For example, TV footage showed Homeland Security cops arresting Posada in mid May. But the arresting officers didn't even handcuff the Western Hemisphere's most notorious terrorist. (Remember how Bush's pal Ken "Kenny Boy" Lay ENRON's CEO got handcuffed?) Justice Department spokespeople said they plan to charge the foremost terrorist in the western hemisphere with "illegal entry into the United States."
The FBI has reams of files on Posada, affectionately called "Bambi" by his terrorist friends. Former FBI Special Agent Carter Cornick told New York Times reporter Tim Weiner that Posada was "up to his eyeballs" in the October 1976 destruction of a Cuban commercial airliner over Barbados. All 73 passengers and crew members died. Recently published FBI and CIA documents not only confirm Cornick's statement, but also reveal that U.S. agencies had knowledge of the plot and did not inform Cuban authorities or try to stop the bombing.
SNIP
One wonders: Did Posada announce his illegal presence in the United States with the idea that U.S. government complicity in aiding and abetting his past acts of terrorism would protect him? U.S. authorities didn't inform Cuba or try to stop the 1976 air-bombing plot, and in 1971, as Veciana stated, the CIA made the gun that Posada's agents placed inside the camera to assassinate Castro. And Ollie North has knowledge of Posada's covert activities for U.S. intelligence as well.
CONTINUED
http://www.counterpunch.org/landau06092005.html
[font color="red"]What ties these two events together is the involvement of George Herbert Walker Bush, as then-CIA director, in their cover-up as crimes and in the protection of their perpetrators, as in the person of one Luis Posada Carriles, Orlando Bosch and their colleagues-in-terror.[/font color]
Think about it: A murder-forgiving CIA director Bush went on to become President of the United States. Today, Bushs son, George, acts as president. The younger Bush has used his office from Day One to protect and cover-up the crimes of his father.
Thats what Hugo Chavez was talking about when he smelled the sulfur and called Bush The Devil.
America needs to wake up and smell the sulfur, too. Heres some background on the above:
LUIS POSADA CARRILES
THE DECLASSIFIED RECORD
CIA and FBI Documents Detail Career in International Terrorism; Connection to U.S.
National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 153
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB153 /
Dont forget to check out Orlando Bosch, while youre at it. GOOGLE with Jeb Bush for some interesting connections to the present day.
Democracy Nows Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez interviewed National Security Archives Peter Kornbluh and Leteliers son, Francisco:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/21/153...
Another important point to remember, is Kissinger's close association with Operation CONDOR, the assassination program run out of "The Cone" to silence democrats, liberals, union leaders, progressives, socialists, communists or anyone who stood for justice and equality.
Chile security chief was CIA informer
BBC Tuesday, 19 September, 2000, 23:24 GMT 00:24 UK
Recently declassified documents in the United States show that the former head of the secret police in Chile, Manuel Contreras, was a paid informant for the US intelligence agency, the CIA.
The report, comprising CIA documents requested by the US Congress, show that contact with Contreras began in 1974 - a year after the military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power.
Contreras oversaw the much-feared security service DINA
The report adds that the contact was maintained until 1977 - a year after Contreras plotted the killing of the then Chilean Foreign Minister and foe of General Pinochet, Orlando Letelier, in Washington.
A BBC correspondent in Washington, Nick Bryant, says the documents reinforce the view that the US turned a blind eye towards political repression in Chile during the Pinochet era and that the CIA was complicit in many human rights abuses.
Pinochet's confidant
As head of the security service, DINA, Contreras became the one of the most feared men in Chile, second only to General Pinochet.
The general's iron rule was underpinned by the tactics of brutal repression that saw thousands die and thousands more flee into exile. Others disappeared or were tortured.
CONTINUED
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/932897.stm
Of course, there are even more sulferous friends than these
Bush s Longstanding Criminal Mexican Amigos
The disturbing ties of some of George W. Bush's Latino advisors
More on Bush-Amigos links in PBS Frontline interview with Gary Jacobs
By Julie Reynolds
Research assistance by Victor Almazán and Ana Leonor Rojo
LOS AMIGOS DE BUSH
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. (Tell me who you side with and I will tell you who you are.) George W. Bush for President web site
Those who say that George W. Bush has scant knowledge of foreign affairs don't understand his family's relationship with Mexico.
If one event could be said to make that relationship visible, it had to be the state dinner given eleven years ago by President Bush for Mexico's president, Carlos Salinas. It was an elegant yet boisterous gala, where the biggest movers and shakers in Texas and Mexico congregated and celebrated. This group was to become W's Mexican legacy, a gift of ties and connections passed on from the father to his son.
SNIP
The Mexican president had spent a long day with President Bush signing trade pacts, the precursors of NAFTA. Salinas brought his so-called Dream Team: his commerce secretary, finance minister, and his personal Machiavelli, Jose Córdoba. It would later be astounding to see, as the decade unfolded, how many of that administration's proud men and women fell shamefully from grace - some exiled, some imprisoned and some assassinated.
No one knew it then, but many at that banquet would survive to one day help young W beat a path back to the White House. There were loyal "Bushfellas" who were old friends of the family: Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher Sr., General Colin Powell, and George Bush Senior's ever-present friend, Secretary of State James Baker. Gary Jacobs, whose Texas bank was about to be bought by the son of Mexico's billionaire-politico Carlos Hank González, was also a guest. Tony Garza, then a young judge, is now a Bush cabinet contender. Today, all are advisors or contributors to W's campaign.
Hidden among the glitterati were two relative unknowns. They were, however, familiar to the group at hand. They were the loyal "Amigos de Bush" from San Antonio: criminal defense lawyer Roy Barrera Jr. and car dealer Ernesto Ancira Jr. In contrast to the Salinas group, the ties of Barrera and Ancira to drug cartels would remain unnoticed for another decade. Their ties to George W. would grow stronger.
CONTINUED
GOOGLE cache:
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:Th5_dq9beuYJ:www.el...
May also be at:
http://www.newsmakingnews.com/contents10,2,00.htm
Henry Kissinger and Agusto Pinochet
I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves. -- Henry A. Kissinger
Remember: If the guy W wanted to appoint head of the 9-11 Commission feels that way about democracy in Chile, whats there to make us think he and those for whom he toils believe differently about democracy in the United States of America?
PS: Thanks for reading and giving a damn, DUer.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)While they performed assassinations, torture, sabotage of democracies, just plain murder, and other all-American acts of protecting us from...something.
Spirochete
(5,264 posts)YoungDemCA
(5,714 posts)..should never be allowed in GD.
I don't always get what I want, either. Such is life!
Octafish
(55,745 posts)...not that he knows everything, but he does know what the meaning of the word "Integrity" is:
The Bush Family: A Continuing Criminal Enterprise?
Gary W. Potter, PhD.
Professor, Criminal Justice
Eastern Kentucky University
The S&Ls, the Mob and the Bushs
During the 1980's hundred of Savings and Loan Banks failed. Those bank failures cost U.S. taxpayers over $500 billion to cover federally insured losses, and much more to investigate the bank failures (Pizzo, Fricker, and Muolo, 1989; Brewton, 1992; Johnston, 1990). More than 75% of the Savings and Loan insolvencies where directly linked to serious and often criminal misconduct by senior financial insiders (Pizzo, Fricker and Muolo, 1989: 305). In fact, less than 10 percent of bank failures are related to economic conditions, the rest are caused by mismanagement or criminal conduct (Pizzo, Fricker and Muolo, 1989: 305).
A good example of the Savings and Loan failures can be found in the activities of Mario Renda, a Savings and Loan insider who often worked in close collaboration with organized crime (Pizzo, Fricker and Muolo, 1989: 123-126;302). Renda served as a middle man in arranging about $5 billion a year in deposits into 130 Savings and Loans, all of which failed (Kwitny, 1992: 27). Many of these deposits were made contingent on an agreement that the Savings and Loan involved would lend money to borrowers recommended by Renda, many of whom were organized crime figures or people entirely unknown to the banking institution involved (Kwitny, 1992: 27).
SNIP...
Prescott Bush: The Yakuzas Frontman
Finally, and perhaps most seriously, the Bush family pioneered the practice which has now become commonplace of collaboration between corporate and organized criminals. Prescott Bush, uncle of the current President and brother of the former President, played a key role in helping the Japanese Yakuza extend their financial and real estate holdings to the United States. In 1989, Prescott Bush made arrangements for a front company for Japanese organized crime groups to buy into two U.S. corporations and to make a sizeable real investment in the U.S. (Helm, 1991a: 1; Isikoff, 1992: A1). West Tsusho, a Japanese corporation, was identified by Japanese police officials as a front company for one of that countrys largest organized crime syndicates. Prescott Bush was paid a fee of $500,000 for his help in negotiating West Tsushos purchase of controlling interest in Assets Management, a U.S. corporation (Helm, 1991a: 1; Isikoff, 1992: A1). Bush also assisted the Japanese mob in investing in Quantam Access, a U.S. software company, which was ultimately taken over by the Japanese (Helm, 1991b: 10; Isikoff, 1992: A1). Both companies ultimately went into bankruptcy (Isikoff, 1992: A1; Moses, 1992).
George Bush Sr.: Shutting Down the Organize Crime Strike Forces
Despite assessments from senior law enforcement officers and experts on organized crime that efforts to control organized crime would be crippled, in December 1989, the administration of George Bush, Sr. abolished all 14 regional organized crime strike forces (McAlister, 1989: A 21; Struck out, 1990). The organized crime strike had been created as independent entities so they would not be subject to political influences or bureaucratic wrangling within federal law enforcement. In the two decades of their operation the strike forces had secured convictions of major organized crime figures in several U.S. cities (Struck out, 1990). It is at the very least curious to note that the federal strike force in Miami had been responsible for indicting Miguel Recarey, the man for whom Jeb Bush had intervened with regulators. Organized crime strike forces had similarly indicted Mario Renda, the organized crime liaison to the S& Ls, as well as several other key figures in the Savings and Loan Fiasco (Pizzo, Fricker, and Mulolo, 1989: 112, 120-123, 303, 337).
CONTINUED...
http://critcrim.org/critpapers/potter.htm
That's the way a professor of criminal justice puts it.
Me, to get a better handle on War Inc's first family, I call them the "BFEE" for short.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)moondust
(19,993 posts)become co-president.
Cheney's Halliburton Made $39.5 Billion on Iraq War
Aerows
(39,961 posts)But I'll just shut up again.