Longtime CIA analyst Ray McGovern writes ("Waking Up to the Human Costs: The Inequities and Inequalities of War," Feb. 1, 2008) that:
"Finally, the truth is seeping out. Contrary to how President George W. Bush has tried to justify the Iraq war in the past, he has now clumsily -- if inadvertently -- admitted that the invasion and occupation of Iraq was aimed primarily at seizing predominant influence over its oil by establishing permanent (the administration favors 'enduring') military bases.
"He made this transparently clear by adding a signing statement to the defense appropriation bill, indicating that he would not be bound by the law's prohibition against expending funds:
"’(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq," or
"(2) To exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq.'
"….Moreover, it has become abundantly clear that the 'surge' of 30,000 troops into Iraq was aimed-pure and simple-at staving off definitive defeat until Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are safely out of office. Some, but not all, of those 30,000 troops are slated for withdrawal, but those who still expect more sizable withdrawals have not been reading the tea leaves. It is altogether likely there will still be 150,000 U.S. troops, and even more than that number of contractors, in Iraq a year from now.
"In the administration's view, the oil-and-bases prize is well worth the indignity of refereeing a civil war and additional troop casualties." Ray McGovern's analyses have never been published in the Inky.
Jennifer Van Bergen points out that "Bush's signing statements are unlawful and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has ruled against line item vetoes. Bush's signing statements are just line item vetoes in disguise." And Theodore Lowi notes that "Congress by its silence and acquiescence to signing statements has, in effect, legislated their approval. This puts President Bush above accountability through congressional advocation." And the Inky, by not making a fuss over these outrages, has also helped along this lame duck's sabotaging of the U.S. Constitution and rule of law.
New List of Bush Lies
I've pointed out before how the Clinton lie about Lewinsky got great attention and indignation from the Inky editors. But the stream of Bush administration lies about consequential matters hasn't upset them very much. Now once again we have another piece of evidence on Bush lying that would be a fine peg for news or editorial comment, but the editors have other things on their minds. The Center for Public Integrity has just published a list of "935 False Statements by Top Administration Officials to Justify Iraq War". As John Cory writes in his "By the Numbers":
"Nine hundred thirty-five false statements (lies) moved this nation into a war that has resulted in 3,391 [U.S.] deaths so far.... There have been 30,000 troops wounded in action; 39,000 have been diagnosed with PTSD; 84,000 vets suffer a mental health disorder; 229,000 veterans have sought VA care, and 1.4 million troops (active duty and reserves) have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan so far. Estimates run between $350 billion to $700 billion needed for lifetime care and benefits for veterans."
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