Bad Deeds for 8-24-2007

Republican Lobbying Firm Working to Undermine Iraqi Prime Minister – A powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House has begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is “blasting e-mails all over town” criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm’s client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to al-Maliki.

Arming the World – A few weeks ago, the White House announced plans to sell $20 billion in weapons to the Saudi royal family.  But to maintain balance, the US will increase aid to Israel by 25%, meaning an additional $30 billion over the next decade to them.  In 1990, an oil-rich, very nice little country named Kuwait was invaded by the very not-nice Iraq.   At that time, we had to weaken Saddam Hussein, who had become very powerful after purchasing weapons from the US.  We had to give him the weapons, because he was at war with Iran, where the previous regime had been armed by the US with things like F-14 Tomcat jets. But once Saddam got real powerful, we had to worry that he would topple our friends in Saudi Arabia.   So, we put troops in Saudi Arabia, which made Osama bin Laden mad, who had also become very powerful after the US gave wepons to him to fight the Russians in Afghanistan.

Republican Administration To Allow Coal Mining Companies to Dump Debris in Valleys and Streams – From 1985 to 2001, 724 miles of streams were buried under mining waste, according to the environmental impact statement accompanying the new rule.  If current practices continue, another 724 river miles will be buried by 2018, the report says.

Fox News Wants the US to Attack Iran – The same images, sound effects, yelling and threatening that led the U.S. to invade Iraq is happening right now to sell a war with Iran.  Will the rest of the media fall in line like they did for Iraq?

• Diplomacy Won’t Work
• An Imminent Threat
• Iran Is Crazy

Tell the networks not to follow Fox News down the road to war.   Here’s an open letter to the networks asking them not to fall in line with Fox News.   Will you sign it? 

Indicted Donor Poses Quandary for GOP Lawmakers Who Accepted Funds – Seven vulnerable House Republicans face difficult decisions about whether to return contributions from a major Republican donor who was charged last week on 23 counts of bankruptcy fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and perjury.

Alaska Republican Congressman’s $10M Earmark is Focus of Inquiry – A Justice Department corruption task force is investigating whether Alaska Republican Congressman Don Young took campaign cash in return for securing $10 million for construction of proposed Florida highway ramp.

Regards,
Jim