Ollie North And That Afghan Airstrike
By Steve Hynd Tuesday Sep 09, 2008 6:45pm
The story of an American airstrike on an Afghan village on the night of August 21 keeps getting stranger. At first, the US military said that militants had been killed in the attack, then Afghan officials alleged that only civilians had died - over 80, including at least 50 children. The US military investigated and stuck by its story and then mobile phone video of dozens of civilian casualties, ostensibly from the strike, turned up.
Now, the US has dispatched a general to Afghanistan to look anew at the events surrounding the airstrike and re-appraise the military investigation's conclusion.
But the story has taken a new turn - it appears the original investigation relied on the corroboration of an embedded journalist when it concluded that the airstrike had, after all, only hit militants. That journalist has now been revealed to have been former Iran/Contra conspirator and FOX correspondent Colonel Oliver North.
The US military said that its findings were corroborated by an independent journalist embedded with the US force. He was named as the Fox News correspondent Oliver North, who came to prominence in the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, when he was an army colonel.
Sources close to one of the investigations said that a video film was shot by Afghan officials the morning after the attack. It corroborates the doctor’s footage but has not been made public.
In a statement released on Saturday, the commander of Nato forces, General David McKiernan, appeared to back away from previous US accounts. He said: “Following the recent operation in Azizabad, Shindand district, we realise there is a large discrepancy between the number of civilian casualties reported by soldiers and local villagers. I remain responsible to continue to try and account for this disparity in numbers, but above all I want to express our heartfelt sorrow to all families that lost loved ones in this firefight.”
(Some of the mobile phone footage is at that Times link. It was shot by a doctor and the Times says "has been edited to remove the most graphic footage of dead children and adults". Even so, it's not for the faint of heart.)
As my colleague Anderson wrote at Newshoggers:
It is entirely unclear just what North did to "corroborate" US military claims of Taliban deaths, but his efforts to bolster the military stance appear about to go down in the same flames that killed 90 Afghan civilians.
While doubtful, perhaps the US military should rethink their reliance on the fantastical stories of a known bullshit artist and pathological liar, someone who by all rights ought to be in prison.
I wonder if we'll see North answer questions about what he said and why he said it on FOX? Somehow, I doubt it.
Keith Olbermann covered the airstrike massacre during his Bushed! segment, its disastrous diplomatic aftermath and North's involvement on Monday: "Realising that a) he's not a journalist b) he's not independent and c) his eye-witnessing includes seeing things that aren't really there, the US military has now reversed its stance..."
Login or Register to post comments.
If North was involved, the whole story is probably best investigated by looking at the heroin connection.
This stooge is the poster boy for keeping government criminals in prison for a very long time. He should have been imprisoned after Iran-Contra; instead he's out ploying his trade as a high profile gofer for the corporate/republican party.
Liddy, Colson et al have been loyal soldiers for the fascist cause.
Of course, you want to trust a man who told a Congressional investigation how happy he was to lie and deceive for his President (Reagan) when he thought it was right.
Now that's sourcing you can believe in!
Fuck Oliver North and Fox News.
And we all KNOW that THIS slimeball wanker only ever tells the truth.
What rock did he crawl out from under? This is one of the biggest problems with Bush, and with any in-coming McMummy/Palin administration. They''ve kept all the old-guard on board and on-call.
Why don't these people just die? We can't get or keep them in jail - even IF we actually prosecute them. Thank you Nancy Pelosi
*
Orangutan. @ 4:
Thank you, thank you . . . .
*
Had he and all the other criminals been imprisoned instead of held out as victims of a media gone mad, the example might have made people think twice before doing things like voter caging, election fraud, and fixing evidence and lying to get us into a highly profitable war
And what is going to happen to this scumbag North? Absolutely nothing.
bush got it partly right he is a dick! no brains.
huh... and to think that Oliver North is most famous for 1 thing: lying. amazing. just amazing.
Wow, so lemme get this straight (because I don't watch the teevee anymore): Our tax payer funded, supposedly freedom fighting, ethical, proud and nearly largest army in the world took a report of the results of their activity, from a civilian?
And not just ANY civilian, but a known pathological liar that brought public shame and embarrassment to the military and also escaped conviction only by pardon? That civilian?
No.
Palin is from the nutbag religious fringe, the army is relying on reports from Ollie North, the polar caps are melting, the oil crisis is looming big, major news organizations have become puppet propagandists, most people can't read beyond seventh grade level.
What else? I mean really, what next?
Oliver Fucking North??
The U.S. military has no credibility. From "smart bombs" to killing journalists, it is a rogue organization, with many good individuals, and a number of war criminals. But like cop and FBI television shows, the sheeple think the military can do no wrong because the TV show propaganda tell them so.
The Shadow Government.
I just posted this at the College repuglic thread - so you know there's no mistake - I'm saying it here now ~~
"corroboration of an embedded journalist" should read "corroboration of a traitor who sold missiles to Iran"
"As president, I would pursue a new strategy and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effort in Afghanistan. We need more troops, more helicopters, better intelligence-gathering and more non-military assistance to accomplish our mission there." -Sen. Obama, July 15, 2008
"...accomplish the mission there..."???
Exactly what is the mission there, Senator?
Is it anything like this one?
scarlet p. @ 10:
He's just as famous for being proud that he lied.
*
scarlet p. @ 10:
Gosh, I trust him!
...to lie.
Keith is right. Oliver North is not a not "...a journalist b) he’s not independent and c) his eye-witnessing includes seeing things that aren’t really there..." What he is in reality, is a convicted felon and a treasonous bastard; qualifying him to be an "analyst" on the non-news Fox Channel.
Unfortunately this is nothing new. During the Vietnam War an American officer declared that a village had to be destroyed in order to save it. The U.S. government will claim that this massacre of Afghan civilians was due to "faulty intelligence" after first claiming that 35 of those children who were killed were militants. This is why because of atrocities like this that the United States will never, despite Obama's proclamations, "win" in the so-called "good war" in Afghanistan. America will instead be a part of the graveyard that Afghanistan has become for the other countries that had tried to impose its will upon the Afghans. Obama's desire to not withdraw but to ADD more American soldiers to Afghanistan will have the effect of driving more Afghans to join the ranks of the Taliban. Yet there are so many in this country who cannot fathom why the United States, with leaders like Obama and McCain, is so hated by so many people around the world, apparently continuing to believe that the theory of American Exceptionalism should still be intact.
Ollie North is considered a journalist?!?!
Combine this with the lack of scrutiny on Palin & McCain,
the phony scandals with Obama (pigs & lipstick, lapel pins, greek columns, etc.)
Not to mention the crimes of the Bush Administration, the erosion of civil liberties,
a spineless Democratic congress, the global warming, and a press that won't do any
real investigation, I have come to the conclusion...
America is most likely doomed.
A murderer leaves prison and murders again, what a surprise.
Oliver North and Fuck Snooze. Criminals and Jerk Offs.
I believe it’s the complete absence of any vestige of humanity that I am most offended by with these slugs.
Repuglics — the party of angry, white, doughy, bigots, racists, perverts, pedophiles, murderers, war criminals, homophobes, misogynists, stupid women and liars.
*
This is the most accurate description of republicans I can think of.
Thank You, Trittydi !
I didn't know you can recycle shit and it would still be shit-----> Ollie North just proves it
Kate @ 11 Congratulations on the loss of your idiot-box. It's incredible how stupid the teevee appears after you've been away from it for about six months.
Ok folks, there are some very bright people on this site and you're kind enough to put up with me so you're both bright and tolerant.
That said, how do we get these gifts that keep falling in our laps presented in a way to get the attention of the sheeple. I'm not talking about the kool aid brigade, I'm talking about the people who just get most of their information from MSM and aren't aware of what's going on.
Don't tell me it can't be done IT HAS TO BE DONE. This one's for all the marbles. Obama won't save us but another 4 years of these freaks and we won't have anything left to work with for the foreseeable future.
Is it door to door? Is it talking to everyone you can on the bus, the work place? What is it? There has got to be a way to beat this juggernaut, quitting is not an option. What's it going to take?
We're donating to everything; Vote Vet, Democracy Now, Vets for Peace, Brave New Films, his campaign. Are we missing anything important? Are those all good places to send money?
"Ordinary People Accomplishing Extraordinary Things"
Oliver North is know liar, spinner of fables. a man willing to fall on his sword for the betterment of his fascist masters.
I said it before:
"Intentional or not, they killed babies. Any parent can understand the horror of this."
This is what our money is buying for us.
King of Kings @ 14:
"There exists a shadowy government with its own Air Force, its own Navy,its own fundraising mechanism, and the ability to pursue its own ideas of national interest, free from all checks and balances, and free from the law itself."
— Senator Daniel K. Inouye at the Iran Contra Hearings (1987)
Ollie North - the embodiment of an amoral, jingoistic, deluded, anti-democratic courtier. His skills would have best put to use during the fascist regime of Mussolini, the true architect of the corporatist/special interest subversion of democracy. He should have tried for treason and executed for his involvment in the Iran-Contra scandal.
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 28:
Bombard all the small town newspapers with letters to the editor. Each week, pick a subject. Get the truth out to the sheeple through sheer numbers. My little paper lets me write one a month. If I had 3 more like minds, we could have a letter in every week! After a while, the truth sinks in for some -- not all, but some.
That's it. Back to bed. Same shit every day. Republicans kill again and again, and the same slugs have their fingers on the trigger. Are they Zombies? I've been hearing about this guy's atrocities for over twenty years! Do they never die, or retire or stop? Semper Fi my ass! ENOUGH!!!!!!
Mick Piobr @ 27:
If you indeed have a television, it's halfway palatable if you turn off the sound and play a little Mozart, Michael Hedges or Glass while perusing the visuals.
every single one of these atrocities and cover ups are
causing more and more discord between America and it's allies.
this is putting America in harm's way and actually creating more
enemies and terrorists that more than likely want to retaliate
against the blantant disregard for other nations and their
citizens.
bush/cheney have shown time and again they have no regard
for the rights of soverign nations or respect for the lives of
their citizens as well as American citizens. in fact all their
criminal acts have made America less safe and a target of
retaliation. fuck bush and cheney and this entire gop administration.
Ollie North
Now where did I hear that name before!
Once a liar and a crook, always a liar and a crook
there are three basic types of republicans evil,greedy, and stupid!
now there are lost of sub types wrapped in those three. But they will all fit in the basic three catagories.
Neo-classical secular humanist @ 35:
Get away from the tv. It is a drug!
There are three basic types of republicans evil,greedy, and stupid!
Now there are lots of sub types wrapped in those three. But they will all fit in the basic three catagories.
Jo @ 33:
Fuck it. If I were you, I'd call it quits on the "American Dream" and haul your ass -- and your family, if you have one -- to some other country that, for the moment, is not in the crosshairs of any of the anti-humanistic, corporatist empires or empire-wannabees. The Scandanavian countries, New Zealand and Canada (if the citizenry there don't fall for the encumbent Prime Minister's Bush-Lite agenda). Best wishes.
Trittydi @ 15:
Thanks for posting this in both places... it just keeps getting worse and worse, doesn't it? I'm almost afraid to even venture a guess at the real devastation these fucktards have brought down on everyone... including the standing of the U.S. in the international community. We can't count on a single one of these operatives, journalistic or political.
Mick Piobr @ 27:
Good decision. We stopped watching - completely - about 15-16 years ago. It's been heaven. We didn't want corporate media owning our children's souls. Our kids have thanked us for this.
And they go through books like a repuglic goes through viagra and cocaine.
*
NCSH @ 35 Raymond Scott and David Torn!
Ollie North is an Epic political errand boy, and a traitor to America.
I think he finally stepped in it, and his credibility will start getting the attention it deserves.
Jo @ 39 Nahh; some drugs are okay :}
Hey, Times UK, don't insult the army this way: North was a Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps.
Trittydi @ 43:
trittydi, thank you you made my day. i just finished laughing my head off.
Forrestal Gump @ 1:
Yup. Lying Rethuglicanasswipes.
Ollie North is to truth in journalism what John McDepends is to break dancing.......
Fuck it. If I were you, I’d call it quits on the “American Dream” and haul your ass — and your family, if you have one — to some other country that, for the moment, is not in the crosshairs of any of the anti-humanistic, corporatist empires or empire-wannabees. The Scandanavian countries, New Zealand and Canada (if the citizenry there don’t fall for the encumbent Prime Minister’s Bush-Lite agenda). Best wishes.
If I were young again and knew what I know now I would leave. But I am and old man now and cannot. I won't run but I will stand toe to toe with these fascist bastards and punch till I cannot punch any more!
Haven't read the comments yet, but if no one has noted it -- Ollie was not an Army colonel, he was a Marine lieutenant colonel. Damn, Ollie, can't you stay out of trouble?
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 28:
Civil Informationing. Putting literature and fliers on community boards at laundry mats, grocery stores, libraries etc. Door to door of course is the best. Passing out dvd's with your favorite documentaries burnt on them. Fliers under windshield wipers at apartment complexes etc. Sidewalk chalk in heavily walked areas and schools. Letters to the editor. Bumper stickers etc. Passing out literature at rallies, parades, fairs etc. That's all I got. Here's some resources on where to buy such things and hopefully you are familiar with DVD burning or copying.
http://www.peaceproject.com
Ollie North rears his ugly, lying head again. It isn't it to be expected that on the Sly Fox News, a convicted lier like North is considered a "journalist"!(Notwithstanding his appellate victory, he still lied)
Rufus @ 52:
He should have been court marshaled and should be spending the rest of his life in a military prison.
"an independent journalist" ≠ "Fox News correspondent Oliver North"
james Ratliff @ 51:
For what it's worth, I applaud both your honesty and resolve. You sound like a true American.
Filthy Harry @ 56:
Actually its true also to say: "an independent journalist" ≠ "Fox News correspondent"
North is a first-class traitor, opportunist and all-around scumbag.
He should be in the brig.
Mick Piobr @ 2:
He SHOULD have been tried for treason, convicted, and executed.
Oh, Ollie, see what a mess you've gotten us into.
james Ratliff @ 51:
Oliver North a journalist?
hahahahahahahahahahaha
What planet is this? Bizarro world?!!!!
why would the military accept statements from a known liar? our military command must be really messed up.
If their were a God, North would have taken a shell himself!
Wouldn't surprise me if this worthless piece of spoiled carrion gave the coordinates to bomb...
Why isn't this piece of shit behind bars? (And no Ollie, having a stint with Faux shouldn't qualify as "gainful employment" with the parole board.
FUCK YOU.
Oliver North is a convicted felon. We should believe him, why?
o.t., but why is it even accepted that any Afghan deserves to be killed if he's a "militant"?
But, but, Ollie works for FOX!! Sean Clannity calls him "A fine American." It was on my teevee, therefore it must be true, right?
This country is so f*cked...
Obama has been saying that we need more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan for over a year and a half!
He has repeatedly pointed out that the Invasion of Iraq was an unnecessary that took vital American assets away from the real war on terror and chief enemy Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
McCain wants to stay in Iraq forever and that is an absolutely critical mistake that has over taxed our military while exposing us to much greater threats as we have seen now in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the dangerous moves by the Neocons have reawakened the cold war with Russia by doing provacative acts like putting missiles on Russia's border.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080910/wl_nm/afghan_usa_pakistan_dc
My feelings about these United States:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/10/131125/652/279/593651
Let's make sure that it doesn't happen!
53
Orangutan. Says: http://www.peaceproject.com
Thanks for the link.
Ollie North is no journalist, that's for sure. He's also not a former army colonel, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Marines. Not that it makes a material difference to this appalling story, but if we're going to pillory the pentagon for getting their facts wrong, we should do our best to get out facts right. Former marine lietenant colonel Ollie North is not someone whose record inspires confidence, since he has proved himself willing to lie for political ends.
keith was great tonight. Hope to see his commentary soon.
Do you believe a sick Ossama ben ladin is still alive? I do not and most of the world does not. Only Neocons are still believe that he exist to scare people to vote for them.
"what North did to “corroborate” US military claims of Taliban deaths"
Simple. He went in and personally bayoneted the wounded. Dead women and children tell no tales.
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot!?
Am I the only one who finds it SICKENING that you had to go to the CANADIAN CBC to find a news story about the civilian deaths, and a BRITISH news outlet for the story on North, because all of the dipshit U.S. news outlets are having a feeding frenzy about Sarah Palin's lipstick?
Dear old Ollie, a bit player in the larger war crimes being perpetrated by the U.S.
Why am I not surprised that that a bald faced liar like North is a Fox News correspondent?
Pericles @ 74:
You should be. The only chance for some type of objective reporting is a state/provincial funded news agency that, for a myriad of reasons, understands that they must rise about partisan, corporatist tendencies and strive, albeit with the understanding that the goal is unattainable, to restrain any editorializing, spinning, trivializing, aggrandizing, etc. the story. The BBC and the CBC come close but are under constant attack to assimilate one ideology -- left or right -- into their broadcasts. Their success goes up and down. However, both news agencies apire to the ideals of the 4th estate: object description/accounting of events. Toss that out and you have old-fashioned propaganda (the romanticization of facts to the benefit of some particular ideology) being peddled as "news". In the US, you have Tricky Dick Nixon to thank for the initial assault on public broadcasting as he tried to cut off their funding when the Hounds of Congress were getting closer to the truth.
Fox employees Ollie North but goes after Obama for his past associations. Fox doesn't seem very patriotic. Why do they hate America so? And for that matter how can anyone claim the label of patriot when they are so willing to ignore the national debt and pass it to their children and their children's children.
The communist Russian went into Afghanistan and was destroyed as a result because they did not remember why the Germany never attacked Switzerland in both WW1 and 2 because they knew you can not win a war in a mountainous area. It is a country that you can not control.
Why would anyone believe we could archive another result in Afghanistan?
Why do you think we can win that war unless we are paying all like we are doing in Iraq.
We are spending $300.00 an insurgent per months that equal $30 millions a month.
Forrestal Gump @ 1:
Iran/Contra was just as much about Sandinistas as it was about drug smuggling. You’re right. If North was there, it was not as a journalist. He still has the connections, and the skill to setup distribution channels as he did in the ‘80s out of S America.
That North was there at all sends bad signals for me. They’re at it again…
Now if they would have said it was corroborated by an independent "commentator" embedded with the troops it would have been more believable.
Still, you gotta wonder...What WAS Ollie doing there? Is he doing anything on-camera for Faux or is that simply his cover?
That's what you get when you pardon lying, drug running, murdering sociopath's. There is not a form of execution that is too heinous for that basterd. Oh and by the way a proud Marine. Eat the apple f%$k the corps.
ccksu91 @ 47:
Are you referring to the army of Jessica Lynch or the army of Abu Ghraib? As far as the UCMJ is concerned it doesn't matter what branch of service they served with. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, it doesn't matter which branch embarrassed itself more. Only thing that matters to everyone else is that these people represent what Americans are capable of. But you're right overall... the army does have enough to be ashamed of without having to add one bad Marine to the list.
Oh, and don't forget who fragged Tillman. Wasn't the USMC.
Taarak @ 81:
With all due respect they have always been at it. The war on drugs is the biggest bunch of BS. We are in it up to our asses and we play both sides against the middle. Drugs should be legal it's Ollie North that should be illegal.
North's face should be up in every post office in the country.
Support the troops? With lying sacks like him, it's tougher all the time.
The USMC needs to add Ollie to their propaganda. Now there's a real Marine. Every time I see one of their BS commercials I want to vomit.
Oliver North...."a) he’s not a journalist b) he’s not independent and c) he makes crap up"......and
D)He's a goddamned crook.
Screw this criminal.
The reason that village got attacked and all those civilians died, is revenge for an attack on NATO troops nearby.
Its the same ol game the Nazis played in WW2, some partisans do something, the nearest village or town suffers a ten fold reprisal.
The name of the game is sending a message to any other village that might think of harboring insurgents.
read this and see if it relates to the accidents in Iraq and Afgahnistan.
Great resource.
Ollie North...another American traitor.
Ollie North shouldn't be working with G. Gordon Liddy...the two of them should be professional colleagues in the same cell block.
twuzoo @ 91:
Always post links for source material...
Ollie the darling Military Expert of Fox News would lie I'm really shocked. Must I repeat a liar on Fox News, I'm shocked.
Why anyone would listen to this convicted felon is beyond me. Pardon or not he was involved in a treasonous conspiracy and deserved life imprisonment. I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire.
Why is the news media hiring criminals?
Hannity's Heroes!
Neo-classical secular humanist @ 78:
It just occurred to me that the PBS could seize this opportunity to reinvent itself in a time of political crisis. (The Shock Doctrine in reverse.) Instead of dying the slow, pitiful death of recycling BBC mini-series' on Masterpiece Theatre, and peddling junk, faux educational programs like Sesame Street, they could suddenly become the publicly-funded TRUE-NEWS channel. Just cut all of the other programing, and turn the whole budget over to the PBS news division, and let them expand their operation to a 24/7 news channel like CNN, except that it would discuss issues instead of ratings-grabbing gimmicks. The network would be run by a bunch of non-partisan bureaucrats who are mandated BY LAW to report facts and issues as truthfully and (more importantly) as completely as possible, since most political partisans don't lie, they just tell half truths.
Hey, if anybody out there reading works for PBS, you should take this advice to heart! Aren't you tired of showing reruns of The Bloodhound Gang? Start doing something that you won't have to be embarrassed about at your high school reunion! Stop having to fake a sprained ankle just so you can skip "career day" at your kid's school! Just think...you could be "JOURNALISTS!"
Please, don't give North any honors he doesn't deserve:
It isn't Colonel, it's Lieutenant Colonel, USMC Retired.
Second, it's more accurate to introduce him as "disgraced former Marine, Oliver North", because the Marine Corps dumped his ass just as soon as events allowed. He was not, as he and neocon propagandists like to portray, a hero martyr who fell on his own sword. He was a rogue, who disgraced the Marine Corps and disgraced his uniform.
If there is one thing the Marine officer corps despises more than any other failure of character among it's ranks, it is a liar. Trustworthiness is one of the bedrock qualities that is demanded of anyone who would aspire to be a leader of other Marines.
He was known to be a zealot whose personal version of "patriotism" served him as a pseudo-religion, and was thus easily manipulated into violating the code of conduct to which he should have conformed his every act. He demonstrated appalling judgment and thoughtlessness as he acted without the sanction of the Marine Corps. Had North not been requisitioned by Reagan's henchmen, where he willingly committed numerous criminal acts he knew to be illegal and unbecoming of an officer, he would have been busted to private and sent to Leavenworth for the rest of his life. Except for a few failed fellow zealot types, he is held in general contempt by the remainer of senior officers of that era.
Ferrofluid@90
This probably was from Wilhelm Keitel, who was commander of the OKW. Funny how some refuse to learn from history, isn't it? Or worse, that Neocons could care less whose tactics they adopt---just so long as they prevail.
ferrofluid (Obama + Biden = 2008) @ 90:
Pericles @98
Remember that PBS also shows Frontline and Bill Moyers Journal. They are not solely defined by Sesame Steeet and the Bloodhound gang---which is also valuable programming to kids. Philosophically, I think that the idea you suggest would be interesting but would probably piss off their corporate sponsors, who they are beholden to. We need th get some of the conservative schmucks off their national board to get the mute button off.
Ron from Ohio @ 94:
Karl Rove, Oliver North... I'm starting to think getting indicted by a Congressional Subcommittee investigating crimes committed by a Republican president is almost considered as a sort of audition for Faux Noise these days. When you show up for your interview, the first thing they ask is "So, did you bring the tape of your testimony before the Iran/Contra/Plame-Gate/Scooter-gate committee with you? Good, we'll just pop that in the machine and see how big Mr. Ailes' hard-on gets."
Oliver North is an absolute disgrace to this nation and more importantly a disgrace to humanity. He is part of a vicious cabal including Ronald Reagan who knowingly spoon-fed misinformation to the US public in order to carry out deals that armed the deadly Contra movement. They willfully funded, trained and promoted the rape, torture and murder of thousands and LIED to us about it... and NOBODY was ever put in prison for it except one lone protester... a sad and disgraceful act by this nations leaders that continues today.
bmw 528 @ 102:
Or better yet, just re-introduce The Fairness Doctrine, which wouldn't cost a penny. However, that would only return BALANCE to the news, but would not guarantee content. We may have to think of some new rules for granting FCC licenses that include a requirement for network news divisions to report "relevant" news, and not just balanced news. Obviously, "relevant" would be hard to define, but so was "fair," and the Fairness Doctrine left that in the hands of the courts.
Not that anyone would notice,but we are having an election
here in Canada that was called about a week ago and will be over before the US goes to to the polls,with paper ballots no less. Also the Green Party today got onto
the TV debates thanks to howl of citizen outrage over
their exclusion. We have lost 96 soldiers in Afghanistan.
We are by no means perfect,but on the whole this is
a pretty good place to live. IMHO
Are we talking about North, or Bush here? I'm lost....
You see them on FAUX News wearing their lapel pins shouting USA! USA! They've buffaloed nearly half of the electorate into believing people like Oliver North is a patriot. The same guy who locked himself in a room with Fawn Hall and directed a shredding operation that no one has seen the likes of since the George W. Bush/Cheney administration. In public, they wrap themselves in the American flag and behind closed doors wipe their ass all over the Stars and Stripes in the name of some strange patriotism they believe ranks higher than the values of truth and justice!?! Even after being outed as a national disgrace, they keep creeping back like a bad horror flick monster that will not die.
The best International news....comes from outside of the united States....
We have lost 96 soldiers in Afghanistan.
We are by no means perfect,but on the whole this is
a pretty good place to live. IMHO
I believe it is 97 today?....another Flag Drapped Coffin transported along the Highway of Heros....for all to see....even the media.
I first heard about this from the BBC and TV5 before picking it up on CBC.
It is sad when US media does not do news reporting on wars it's troops are currently engaged in (for better or for worse).
I kept on eye on CNN and MSNBC, their report on events around the World are extremely minimalistic
As a Canadian, I firmly believe that the Afghan mission is futile as long as the safe havens in the mountains border regions of Pakistan remains like a Pez Dispencer creating Taliban fighters over and over crossing the border into Afghanistan.
A petty thief who turned dishonor into a career, Oliver North continues to be a coward and traitor to the United States of America. From his help in dealing arms to Iran; to funneling money and weapons to the murderous and terrorist Contra death squads; to his aid in funneling CIA cocaine through Panama with the help of Noriega; to his traitorous acts of lying to Congress and shredding evidence in the basement of the White House so that he, Bush Sr. and Reagan would avoid jail time; and now to his traitorous acts as a Republican propagandist on Fox News – a more cowardly and treasonous bunch than I've ever seen clumped together, North has been nothing but dishonorable and done nothing but disservice to our country.
Nothing was more disgusting than to watch that sniveling, crybaby whiner wrap himself in his uniform and the flag and lie to Congress, crying all the way like a little schoolgirl. He even peed himself. He is despicably pathetic and should be living out his last days in solitary confinement in a Federal Penitentiary.
"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version." – The traitor North
http://thumbsnap.com/v/HIyGCgkm.jpg
Why didn't Ollie tell the Marines he was embedded with that he sold arms to our enemies? Because he was afraid of friendly fire.
http://www.drugwar.com/castillonorthmay1104.shtm
If North has a problem with my accurate description of his corrupt character and traitorous actions then I'll be glad to meet with this coward anytime, anywhere.
North has an ugly track record of lying to cover up atrocities. He testified on behalf of his buddy, Randy Herrod. Herrod is responsible for the Son Thang Massacre where children were shot at point-blank range.
For more:
http://daltonator.net/durandal/blog/?p=124
http://daltonator.net/durandal/blog/?p=126
Convicted of three felonies: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents (by his secretary, Fawn Hall, on his instructions). He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines, and 1,200 hours community service.
Just another republican liar who cannot be trusted.
Oliver North perfectly embodies everything that Fox News stands for and how they stand for it.
I am certainly not an Ollie fan nor do I think he is a journalist but people have a few facts wrong. He was Marine not Army and I don't believe he was pardoned. He was granted limited immunity in return for his congressional testimony and was careful to discuss anything and everything he could be prosecuted for hence no case was successfully brought against him. He continues to claim he was acquitted wich is not true. He remains a scumbag on the wrong side of the prison gate but such is life.
A quick reminder about who Ollie North is: "The Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3505348655137118430
especially 5:20 on.
What happens when you follow the money???
Central American:
Money==>Cocaine==Guns==>Terrorists ==> Ollie North==> LIES
Afghanistan:
Money==>Heroin==Guns==>Terrorists ==> Ollie North ==> FUKS NEWS
Why isn't that crook in prison? It seems that Faux News likes to hire treasonists for their commentators.
CORRECTION:
ciu @ 119:
They originally wanted to 'in bed' Jeff Gannon, but he wasn't available because he was a special guest at the RNC.
I thought they hated us for our freedoms...
Oh... I get it now
bmw 528 @ 102:
This Bloodhound Gang?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dChWjfAGVb4
Didn't Ollie hollow out a Bible and put a gun in it or something back in the '80s? Or am I having a flashback.
Ollie North lied....shocking.
ciu @ 121:
Forgot that part...
SELL YOUR TELEVISION!
We did when our kids were little. They grew up without it. We took them to Waldens every Friday night, gave them each some $, and let them buy whatever they wanted.
Today my son is a published author with 2 masters degrees and my daughter is in Law School. (both progressives by the way)
Life is so sweet without the Idiot Box that I cant stand to be around it.
(I do get a dvd once in a while and watch it on my computer)
MK Ultra @ 127:
Congrats on raising two good kids. No small feat.
A simple rhetorical question, but one which bears some thought....
In a "war" against what is essentially a philosophy or a religion (which are not winnable anyway), not an organized nation with a official type "army" that wears uniforms, (I am not talking about children here) HOW CAN ANYBODY TELL WHO IS A "CIVILIAN"??????
If this were real estate instead of "news", this would be called land flipping. It's illegal for two crooks to use each other to prop up the value of the land/story so they can sell it for an unrealistic price and profit from it.
But just as the Italian government had no intention of investigating or charging anyone in the Vatican or Mafia for their land flipping arrangement in the 1980s (see: Roberto Calvi, Paul Marcinkus), there will be no investigation of such unethical "news gathering" and military corruption.
Please stop using this pig's former rank as a Marine when referring to him. He is a disgrace to our country and has soiled my beloved Marine Corps.
He belongs in prison.
it's truly amazing when people rely on liars and hucksters like Ahmed Chalabi and Richard Perle and think they're going to get a good result. It ALWAYS comes back to bite them, and by the time they turn to point the finger of blame, the originals are well outside their reach.
Never can trust a Faux Noise NEOCON liar and traitor to our country to ever tell the truth or get any news correct.
Surprised no one mentioned the classic Foremen tune, "Ollie Ollie Off Scot Free" written by the amazing Roy Zimmerman. They even sang it to him once on his radio show. A classic. http://www.royzimmerman.com/lyrics/rest_ollie.html
North was a disgrace to the Marine Corps, not a disgrace to the Army.
Before I even read the threads, always remember North is Mr. North; he left the USMC in disgrace as an 0-5, or a LIEUTENANT Colonel. Stop promoting this POS. He got off of Iran-Contra on a technicality thanks to the ACLU. He is a lying sack of shit suitable only for fnc, not the real media.
Never tar all good serving officers at the rank of 0-6 by calling Mister North a "colonel."
Fucking Ollie North...HE'S involved!!! Christ, that prick should have been chipping rocks in Leavenworth for the last twenty years, over the Iran/Contra scandal HE along with the highest Reagan politicos and Ronnie himself was at the heart of... NOT spreading bullshit propaganda from a war zone under some phony guise as a 'independent' reporter.... He's a disgrace to this nation, the Marine Corps, and now the American press. Livin large for over 20 years on the rightwingnut lecture circuit, ruining the history channel with his face, and NOW??? Spinning bullshit from a warzone to cover up what essentially is a war crime.... Or maybe, since this sort of shit as a percentage of war casualties has been rising for the last hundred years or so, it's no longer any big deal to indiscriminately kill civilians.... Even though the Geneva convention, quaint though it might be, still specifies these acts as criminal... And we remain signitories to this convention... A convention which has served as one of a precious few safeguards against inhumane treatment of our own captured military personnel..... A convention we have willingly trashed in service to the republican brand of patriotism... which is many sick and twisted things, but NOT REAL patriotism...
So don't anyone kid themselves that this is war, civilians die, and we got no choice... BULLSHIT!! We've always had choices... We could have chosen not to do any of this... This 'might makes right' turning legal/diplomatic issues into an excuse to play war with real people and real lives over bullshit and waste billions of dollars in the process! The sick fact is, our current civilian leadership has been making bad bad choices for awhile now and our military leaders are basically scrambling around trying to keep up and maintain this whole republican created mess with spitwads and chewing gum because our military, now stretched dangously thin, is suppose to be working for we civilians not the other way around... But it's not really working anymore (another republican/Bush admin gift) because the generals bosses are corrupt, petty, greed mongering immoral criminals and creeps... Just like Ollie North...
So instead of intelligent civilian stewardship of this nation and wise thoughtful use of military assets and armed conflict as a absolute last resort, instead of doing the harder work of diplomacy, to defuse problematic international situations, our shitforbrains executive branch uses the military as a first choice, as a clumsy brutal club wielded expressly in service of lies, new and old.. And in so doing, frivolously wastes away that asset needlessly, pointlessly, without regard to what's to come after... And then assholes like Ollie North manages to slip inside the picture (and I wonder what CIA black op assisted in that embedding shit this time) and spread false stories in order to assist in the protection of the lie and the people behind the lie who should be on trial for war crimes.. War crimes just like what occured in that village... Initiated by war criminals just like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and yes... Ollie North... Mr. 'charge up that hill cause the prez-nit tol me too'...... fucking Asshole!!! JD
Fucking immoral asshole... Disgrace to the nation, the Marine Corp, and lest I forget it.. The UCMJ......JD
North is a liar.
P.S. Maybe we will get lucky and North will decide to take up farming by purchasing a little plot for himeslf over there.
Isn't he in hell yet?
fastfeat @ 127:
I thought LIES and FUKS News were the same thing :)
Login or Register to post comments.