If we measure the cost of war in human lives, 2150 Americans have died in Iraq (http://icasualties.org/oif/ ). As a nation, we could never adequately compensate those families who have lost loved ones. We'll never know what impact those service members would have had in their families or communities. To those families we say--We send our sympathies, love, and respect to you on your loss.
What will be the financial cost of this war? We may never know exactly what money was spent and where it went. According to the AP, the Pentagon is getting ready to ask for an additional $100 BILLION for Iraq and Afghanistan. I think it is time for our elected officials to get a detailed cost estimate for that money. When you go get your car fixed, you know the cost of labor and parts. We should demand an itemized list. Besides, why should Iraq get new roads, public buildings, and schools when our own New Orleans is being allowed to die? If we refuse to fund the war, our young people will come home, and Iraq will have to stand on its own.
*News from here and there:Raw Story has news about our favorite Special Proscutor Patrick Fitzgerald. Here is part of the article:
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will present additional evidence to a grand jury Wednesday morning in the CIA leak case that could result in an indictment being handed up against White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, sources close to the investigation told RAW STORY.
Although the grand jury’s term expires in 18 months, Fitzgerald is expected to wrap up the case as it relates to Rove before the end of the year, the sources said.
Fitzgerald intends to present the grand jury with the sworn testimony from Rove’s attorney Robert Luskin, and Time magazine reporter Viveca Novak. The sources close to the case said Fitzgerald is still intent on seeking an indictment against Rove on at least one count of making false statements to FBI and Justice Department investigators when he was first interviewed in early October 2003 about his role in the leak.**Another nominee has opened his mouth and inserted his foot. According to the Washington Post:
President Bush's nominee for chief Pentagon spokesman appeared in jeopardy yesterday, with a senior Democrat leaving open the possibility of blocking the appointment.
J. Dorrance Smith, the nominee, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in a closed session about an opinion article in which he accused U.S. television networks of helping terrorists through the networks' partnerships with al-Jazeera.
The article has sparked concern among committee members and has prompted Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) to pledge to defeat Smith's nomination to be assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.
Where the heck does this administration find these big-mouthed hard-line idiots? Is there a special file or club?
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 - Texas prosecutors in the criminal case against Representative Tom DeLay revealed in subpoenas made public Tuesday that they were investigating ties between Mr. DeLay and a lobbyist who is at the center of a bribery scandal that prompted another House Republican to resign from Congress last month.
The subpoenas sought documents from the lobbyist, Brent Wilkes, a California businessman whose lawyers have confirmed that he is one of four unnamed co-conspirators listed in the criminal charges against former Representative Randy Cunningham, the California Republican who pleaded guilty to taking at least $2.4 million in bribes.
Mr. Wilkes was close to several Republican members of Congress, including Mr. Cunningham and Mr. DeLay, Republican of Texas, who traveled as Mr. Wilkes's guest in a private jet he partly owned. There is no accusation in the subpoenas of any other tie between Mr. DeLay and Mr. Cunningham, who is facing a long prison sentence.
In the subpoenas, which were issued Monday, the Texas prosecutors sought banking and administrative records from Mr. Wilkes and several of his companies about a $15,000 contribution made by the company to a Texas-based political action committee affiliated with Mr. DeLay...
Everyday there are more developments in these scandals. How many more people are involved? I have just answered my own question! Raw Story has found some information on Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter and his ties with the defense industry.
