C. GATSBY'S Weblog: "you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free. John 8:32

Fox news, the network where O’Reilly made the exaggerated, grandiose claim that the FBI informed him that he was on al Qaeda’s hit list, which the FBI vehemently denies, confronted Clinton on his lethargic attitude toward Bin Laden.

Let’s look at the facts. As President, Clinton did sign an executive order placing bin Laden on the Treasury Department's list of terrorists, clearing the way for officials to seize any of bin Laden's financial assets in the America.

Clinton on 8/20/98 ordered a missile strike on Afghanistan and Sudan (in retaliation for two bombings at US embassies in Africa). This attack was criticized by republican pundits in Congress and on the airways. Then Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) said he worried the attack was "made because it was necessary to save the president's (Clinton’s) job and distract attention away" from Sexgate. Republican Sen. Specter joined Coats in his questioning of Clinton’s motives.

Numerous conservatives raised doubts about the attacks, claiming the attacks were timed to distract public awareness from the grand jury's questioning of Lewinsky and comparing it to a movie at the time, Wag The Dog.

For the record, Clinton regularly discussed the Al Qaeda problem and repeatedly pressed the U.S. military for decisions against bin Laden. Conversely, G.W. Bush paid little interest to bin Laden before 9/11, as documented by the 9/11 Commission.

On Jan. 26, 2001—six days after Bush’s inauguration—an FBI report conclusively tied the USS Cole bombing in Yemen to Al Qaeda. Then later, CIA Director Tenet told Bush that bin Laden's global terror network was "the most immediate and serious threat" to U.S. national security. Bush, however, did nothing.

Clinton’s missile attack delayed al Qaeda’s acts, while Bush’s inaction prior to 9/11 left the door wide open to bin Laden.

Christian Gatsby

Does Bush ever tell the truth? Bush stated that his war in Iraq has reduced terrorists/al Qaeda recruitments. Bush stated that the Taliban and al Qaeda were eradicated in Afghanistan and that she was his poster child for democracy in the region. Bush stated that we were winning in Iraq and that troop reductions would begin this fall.

Contrary to Bush’s rosy assessment of Iraq and Afghanistan, here are the stark facts. The Taliban and al Qaeda now control most of the countryside of Afghanistan, poppy production is at an all time high (NATO's supreme commander, Gen. Jones, stated recently that Afghanistan is "unfortunately well on its way" to becoming a "narco-state"), al Qaeda/terrorists are controlling some Iraqi provinces, Iraq is in on the verge of civil war, over 150,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, and CENTCOM commander Gen. Abizaid stated that the 140,000 U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq until at least mid 2007.

A National Intelligence Estimate, with all 16 spy services in agreement, concluded the Iraq war has aided a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has increased since September 11.

Bush, who made the same fallacy of so many naïve leaders, opted for a two front war before securing the first front, Afghanistan. Also, Bush tried to do it on the cheap, which in the long run is costing America more casualties and billion of dollars.

Retired Gen. Batiste (ground commander in Iraq).summed it up best: "I believe that Secretary Rumsfeld (and Bush)..did not tell the American people the truth for fear of losing support for the war in Iraq," He added that if Bush had concentrated on Afghanistan, it would have "not fueled Islamic fundamentalism across the globe, and not created more enemies than there were insurgents."

Christian Gatsby

Recently at the U.N., Bush blew an enormous opportunity to speak privately with the Iranian President. Bush, stubborn as ever, refuses to engage in diplomatic dialogue with Iran until she disavows her nuclear program.

Bush needs to take a lesson from Republican President Nixon who was not afraid to open up channels to Mao Zedung of China after years of ridiculing him. Nixon discovered that it was better to establish a dialogue with your enemies then to isolate them.

Bush, a man of limited foreign affairs abilities, has made numerous miscalculations in the world arena. His Iraqi war is unraveling. Iraq is quickly imploding into civil war. The Iraqi province of Anbar has fallen to al Qaeda. Recently, CENTCOM commander Gen. Abizaid stated that the 140,000 U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq until at least mid 2007. The Taliban is reemerging in Afghanistan, and poppy (opium) production is at an all time high. American casualties in both countries are on the increase.

Bush has made numerous threats to countries, forcing them to modernize their militaries (e.g. N. Korea, Iran, Venezuela). Plus, Iran has not forgotten that former Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. supported Hussein in his 1980s war with Iran, including the American navy sinking half of Iran’s navy.

Bush, weakened by his misadventure in Iraq, has let the Europeans lead the talks with Iran. However, little progress has been made. Iran wants Bush to open the dialogue for he threatened confrontation with her, which is why Iranian hard-liners have the leverage in that isolated country.

Bush needs to put his ego and stubbornness aside and open a diplomatic channel with Iran like Nixon did with China before it is too late. The world cannot afford another miscalculation by Bush that may lead to another war.

Christian Gatsby

Finally, the Senate stands up to the autocrat Bush. Challenging Bush, a Senate committee passed a terrorism tribunal bill protecting foreign suspects’ rights and rejecting Bush’s proposed use of torture.

This is the second defeat for Bush on torture. A few months ago, the Supreme Court ruled his present court system established to prosecute terrorism suspects was illegal and violated the Geneva Conventions.

Even former Joints Chiefs of Staff and former Bush appointee Powell and retired Gen. Vessey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Reagan, weighed in negatively on Bush‘s proposed use of torture, condemning it and urging Senators to oppose Bush‘s support for torture. Powell stated, “The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine (the Geneva Convention) would add to those doubts.”

Bush is a hypocrite. He parades America’s democracy and rules of morality and conduct to the world, then he tries to scrap the Geneva Convention and allow torture.

Remember Bush is the same man that stated we do not torture and there are no secret prisons. Later both were proven to be more Bush lies.

Bush who is trying to portray an image of being tough on terrorists, is letting his ego erode America’s morality. Bush defended “tough interrogations” that the United States' highest court, international tribunals and commissions and even U.S. military law have condemned as torture.

Under Bush’s tenure, America’s moral image has deteriorated rapidly, with over three fourths of the world distrustful of us. Bush squandered the worldwide sympathy and support after 9/11 by attacking Iraq on fabricated intelligence and denying terror suspects the rule of law.

Christian Gatsby

Bush, in his 9/11 anniversary speech, condemned opposition to his war in Iraq and equated patriotism with supporting his policies.

First, let’s remember what got us into the quagmire in Iraq. Bush distorted prewar intelligence, claiming that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, ties to al Qaeda, a direct hand in 9/11, and finally tried to kill his father. Bush did mention true fully that Hussein gassed the Kurds and started two wars.

As investigations have shown, al Qaeda never existed in Iraq until after Bush’s invasion. Also, no weapons of mass destruction were discovered in Iraq. Yes, Hussein used biological/chemical weapons in the 1980s and did start a war with Iran, but with America’s blessing.

Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. encouraged and supported, financially and militarily, in violation of our neutrality, Hussein’s Iran war. (The U.S. navy aided Hussein, destroying half of Iran’s navy during this war.)

In 1983, Iran detailed Iraqi chemical weapons usage and presented a resolution asking the U.N. to condemn Iraq. The U.S. delegate to the U.N. was commanded to lobby delegations in order to obtain a "no decision" on the resolution, or the U.S. was to abstain on the issue.

The U.S had intelligence confirming Iraq's "almost daily" use of chemical weapons including against “Kurdish insurgents,” according to a 1983 memo.

Finally, the CIA refuted Hussein’s complicity with Bush, Sr.‘s attempted assassination in Kuwait. Former U.S. ambassador Gnehm stated, “I had no evidence of any direct order” by Saddam. A classified CIA report stated that Kuwait exaggerated Hussein’s involvement in the plot, noting that Kuwait "cooked the books."

Citizens need to examine the facts before blindly supporting a deceitful president. Thomas Jefferson said it best, "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive.”

Christian Gatsby

Cheney, on the past Meet the Press, stated that he would still attack Iraq knowing that she had no weapons of mass destruction and no ties to 9/11. Cheney stated, “Saddam Hussein was providing payments, bonuses to the families of suicide bombers. He had a history of starting two wars, he had produced and used weapons of mass destruction. It was one of the worst regimes in modern times. We moved aggressively against Saddam Hussein.”

Cheney fails to mention that Republican Presidents, Reagan and Bush Sr., encouraged and then financially and militarily supported, in violation of our supposed neutrality, Hussein’s first war with Iran. The U.S. navy even aided Hussein by destroying half of Iran’s navy during this war.

Cheney then mentioned Iraq’s use of weapons of mass destruction. In 1983, Iran detailed Iraqi use of chemical weapons. Iran presented a resolution asking the U.N. to condemn Iraq's chemical weapons use. The U.S. delegate to the U.N. was commanded to lobby friendly delegations in order to obtain a "no decision" on the resolution, or the U.S. was to abstain on the issue.

The U.S had intelligence substantiating Iraq's "almost daily" use of chemical weapons including against “Kurdish insurgents,” according to a November 1833 memo. Reagan and Bush, Sr turned a blind eye to their usage.

Also, Cheney did not mention that one of Bush, Sr. first polices was to grant favorite trading status to Iraq.

Yes, Hussein did provide payments to the families of suicide bombers, but the largest financial provider for suicide bombers is Saudi Arabia, home for a majority of the 9/11 hijackers and bin Laden.

Cheney needs to check his facts. He, just like his boss Bush, loves to misled the American public on issues and rewrite historical facts.

Christian Gatsby

When will Bush, Cheney, and his White House stop spinning and lying about Bush’s war in Iraq?

On Aug. 21, 2006, Bush alleged at a news conference that Saddam "had relations with Zarqawi." However, a 2005 CIA report concluded Saddam's government "did not have a relationship, harbor or even turn a blind eye toward Zarqawi and his associates." Hussein actually considered Zarqawi an enemy and not a friend. This was detailed in a new Senate report released a few days ago. As have been illustrated by numerous investigation by the CIA, FBI, and Congress, no weapons of mass destruction ever existed in Iraq and there were no ties to al Qaeda or 9/11.

The facts are plan and simple: Bush distorted and manipulated intelligence to place fear in Americans to support his illegal invasion of Iraq (e.g. uranium form Africa, weapons-of mass destruction), continues to falsely claim Hussein had ties to al qaeda and 9/11, Bush failed to plan for post war chaos and insurgency in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of over 2600 Americans and nearly 125,000 innocent Iraqis and costing over $300 billion, Bush portrays all is well in Iraq while his military Officers paint a gloomy picture in Iraq of instability and chaos.

America is seeing the first warning signs---sectarian violence and increasing American war crimes-- of a U.S. military occupation in Iraq trapped in a war with no clear mission, fruitless civilian leadership (Bush and Rumsfeld) and no exit.

Christian Gatsby

Does the spinning ever stop from the White House about Bush’s Iraqi war ? Now, Rice compares Iraq and the U.S. Civil War opponents.

Rice stated both had their detractors but both were warranted. (However, according to polls, the U.S. civil war was never opposed by a majority of Americans unlike Bush’s war, whereby nearly 60 per cent now oppose it.) Comparing the two is like placing a round peg in a square hole.

Remember Rice first supported Hussein’s Iraq, economically and militarily, during the Reagan/Bush Sr. administrations.

After the first Gulf war, Rice condemned Iraq. Rice claimed Iraq possessed no weapons of mass destruction. In July, 2001, then National Security Director Rice exclaimed, “We are able to keep arms from him (Hussein). His military forces have not been rebuilt.”

Then less than a year later, Rice flip flopped and stated on September 8th, 2002, "We know that he (Hussein) has the infrastructure, nuclear scientists to make a nuclear weapon… And we know that …he (Hussein) was far, far closer to a crude nuclear device than anybody thought -- maybe six months …. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."

Beyond even the speed of the U.S. Manhattan Project in which we dedicated vast resources, highly skilled scientists, and years of work to develop a crude nuclear bomb in the final days of WWII, Rice claimed that Hussein would develop such a bomb in under a year.

As all Americans now know, Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, and Bush and Rice misled the American public, exaggerating his weapons programs, fabricating intelligence reports (uranium from Africa), and falsely associating Hussein with al Qaeda.

America is seeing the first warning signs---sectarian violence and increasing American war crimes-- of a U.S. military occupation in Iraq trapped in a war with no clear mission, fruitless civilian leadership (Bush and Rumsfeld) and no exit.

By Christian Gatsby