Gary Secondino: War

New Blog and Tools

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:36:26 GMT

After more than 10 years of good Blogging use from Radio Userland 8 I've moved on to MarsEdit, NetNewsWire, and WordPress. Follow this link to my next blog, webstir.com/opmlblog/.

Halliburton, KBR, Others - Fraudulent War Profiteering

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:29:48 GMT

Army contracts overseer tells of being forced out of his job of 31 years for refusing to approve paying more than $1 billion in questionable charges to KBR. The Good Friday Massacre A lawsuit was brought on behalf of KBR drivers whose fuel convoy was ambushed on April 2004 in what's known as the Good Friday Massacre. Six drivers were killed. One is still missing and presumed dead. Fifteen were wounded. More on this at Law.com Department of Defense Oversight - The waste will make any sane American furious. The Web of Cover Ups Much more at American Chronicle Example:

"Constitution in Crisis," a book by Congressman John Conyers, details the Bush Administration's response when contract abuse is made public: "Bunnatine Greenhouse was the chief contracting officer at the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that has managed much of the reconstruction work in Iraq. In October 2004, Ms. Greenhouse came forward and revealed that top Pentagon officials showed improper favoritism to Halliburton when awarding military contracts to Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR). Greenhouse stated that when the Pentagon awarded Halliburton a five-year $7 billion contract, it pressured her to withdraw her objections, actions which she claimed were unprecedented in her experience. "On June 27, 2005, Ms. Greenhouse testified before Congress, detailing that the contract award process was compromised by improper influence by political appointees, participation by Halliburton officials in meetings where bidding requirements were discussed, and a lack of competition. She stated that the Halliburton contracts represented "the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career." Days before the hearing, the acting general counsel of the Army Corps of Engineers paid Ms. Greenhouse a visit and reportedly let it be known that it would not be in her best interest to appear voluntarily. "On August 27, 2005, the Army demoted Ms. Greenhouse, removing her from the elite Senior Executive Service and transferring her to a lesser job in the corps' civil works division . As Frank Rich of The New York Times described the situation, '[H]er crime was not obstructing justice but pursuing it by vehemently questioning irregularities in the awarding of some $7 billion worth of no-bid contracts in Iraq to the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown Root.' The demotion was in apparent retaliation for her speaking out against the abuses, even though she previously had stellar reviews and over 20 years of experience in military procurement."

If you want more click here and here and here. Remember Obama's statement about an "oil company windfall profits tax"? Sounds good to the average guy, right? What is the story behind that message to the oil companies? Get the story here.

Mia Farrow's Nephew Dies in Iraq -- Uncle Pens Angry Letter to Editor of Vermont Paper

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:36:47 GMT

By Greg Mitchell Published: June 01, 2008 10:40 AM ET NEW YORK Sgt. Jason Dene, the nephew of actress and activist Mia Farrow, died in Iraq last week and his uncle blames George W. Bush for the loss. Mia Farrow has written a sad tribute on her site but Dene's uncle, Patrick V. Farrow, took his anger to the Letters section of the Rutland (Vt.) Herald two days ago. Dene, in his mid-30s and married with children, is yet another in the growing list of "noncombat" fatalities in Iraq. In this case, medical complications appear to be at issue. Patrick Farrow, of Castleton, Vt., writes in his letter, "To date all the family has heard from the Army is that Jason variously died 'in his sleep' and 'in his bunk' and 'in his quarters'' and my favorite 'sleep apnea complicated by smoking cigarettes,' in other words, natural causes." Whatever the cause, Patrick Farrow feels he knows what really killed his nephew: "Because of the arrogant, corrupt lies of George W. Bush and his neo-con handlers my nephew is dead, and I am mad as hell...Jason Dene was not killed by enemy fire nor friendly fire but by Bush's brutal and cynical stop-loss program." "Because of Bush's abusive stop-loss policy, Jason had been sent into an unwanted third tour of duty. He was a father of three and could not afford to lose his pension. Some 'volunteer Army'. "During his three 15-month tours in Iraq, exposure to roadside bombs and other job-related injuries caused Jason to be hospitalized several times for concussion and internal bleeding and other injuries. Recently, Jason's condition was such that the Department of Defense flew him from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base for surgery. He was released from the hospital into the loving arms of the government who sent him directly back into Iraq. He was put on active duty while he was still on a liquid diet, unable to eat solid food because of a throat hemorrhage due to a botched surgery at a military hospital. "After his second tour Jason returned home with severe mental and physical issues. He was certainly in no condition to be pressed into a third tour. He wanted out of the army. But Jason was a victim of the liar's back-door draft... "Because of George Bush, the arrogant, the corrupt, the liar, the war criminal, my nephew is dead and my sister and the rest of my family are devastated." Mia Farrow had written: "I don't know what Jason died for....My sister is a nurse. For long years has lived in fear of the day when the two uniformed men came to her door to deliver the most terrible news a mother could hear. I hope I never see George W Bush. I could not shake his hand. He and his cabal have killed my beautiful nephew." via editorandpublisher.com

REMEMBER

Mon, 26 May 2008 15:46:56 GMT

To thank all our basic military personnel for placing themselves into the US armed Forces. I am grateful for all your effort and wish you God Speed with your return home.

Pennsylvania Stars by Paul Hipp

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:12:56 GMT

Pennsylvania votes today.

We The People

Thu, 03 May 2007 05:57:16 GMT

John Edwards new ad. A good one!

A Clear Reason To Impeach

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:30:37 GMT

Sen. Durbin Drops Bombshells on the Senate Floor I like being right and I like that other people agree. But it's disturbing that about 29% of Americans still have faith in Bush and the Neo-Con administration. I do know the full 29% aren't all on the Republican payroll. However, I can only guess why the others are faithfull and none of my guesses are complementary. The Bushies are liars, thieves, thugs, and murderers. Yes, murderers! What else would you call someone who lies to you and then puts you in harms way to serve their purpose and you get killed as a result? Think about it.

There is No Liberal Media

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:36:08 GMT

Someone had to say it straight. We, the American people have been getting fed lies and manipulation by the media. The media is at the least complaisant, or more likely supportive of the Bush administration's run up lies to the Iraq invasion and continued prosecution of the Iraq occupation. We Americans need the truth from media now. It will certainly not ever come from self-regulation. The government has to step up and produce laws to protect America from liar's and manipulator's (yeah, right, like that will ever happen). If not, then how will the American people ever understand their own Democracy? Suggestions? Tune in Wednesday April 25 on PBS to Bill Moyers Journal for the most powerful indictment of the news media for falling down in its duties in the run-up to the war in Iraq.

So, how's that Iraq security 'surge' going?

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:12:36 GMT

Here's a report Ten U.S. Soldiers dead as Iraqis prepare for massive anti-American rally Iraqis Protest to Mark Baghdad's Fall Insider: Missteps Soured Iraqis on U.S. Security Increase Made Baghdad "Deadlier Battleground" For US Troops I'd say it's equal to the rest of the Bush Neo-Con Republican administration achievements. Update: Reality based analysis by Prof. Juan Cole

Military Medical Care Scandal Grows

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:24:17 GMT

The George Bush administration is doing it's best to kill this story but this one has legs, long legs that go deep into the US government bureaucracy. This scandal goes from indifference to lies to fraud. It is systemic and must dug up and ripped out. The Washington Post has an article poorly named 'It Is Just Not Walter Reed' a better name in the same vein is 'It's not only Walter Reed'. I know it's a nitpick but headlines are there to get attention and poorly worded one's are likely to be missed. BUT, the article is loaded with real world first hand accounts from VA patients in the system that are plainly horrific. It's hard to read but this is your George Bush government in action.

Collapsing Iran

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:41:48 GMT

Global Guerrillas Networked tribes, infrastructure disruption, and the emerging bazaar of violence. An open notebook on the first epochal war of the 21st Century. By John Robb I've just re-read John's estimate on what the US will do to take down Iran. His scenario seems to be even more likely today than in April 2006 when he first published. Domestic US after effects will be severe oil shocks and a crippled ecomomy that will collapse. It will get real ugly quickly in the US. Think about it.

When Will Media Deeply Probe Corruption in Iraq Contracts?

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:19:58 GMT

Joe Galloway asks the question. My answer is most likely never. If the public can't be outraged over Bush sending $12 Billion american dollars in cash into Iraq with no controls, not even a reciept then I have no idea what will motivate them. Our country is being ruined by liars and thieves in the Bush administration and it seems that the general public is going along for the ride down.

My New Years Message

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:44:38 GMT

Tomorrow Never Knows: Lyrics, AMG, Wikipedia Whithin You Without You: Lyrics, AMG, Wikipedia

AP Credibility Sinking

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:13:46 GMT

You've probably not read much about it because only a handful of mainstream media outlets have covered it, but the Associated Press - for decades America's largest and most trusted wire news service - is at the center of a credibility crisis largely of its own making. You probably have heard of the AP story that started it - a horrifying dispatch from Iraq the day after Thanksgiving claiming that six Sunnis had been doused with kerosene as they left their mosque following Friday prayers and burned alive by Shiite-aligned militiamen. The story, which was quickly picked up by virtually every major news organization in the world, also claimed that "the Shiite-dominated police and Iraqi military" stood by doing nothing as the six people were gruesomely murdered. The story was sourced to "police Captain Jamil Hussein." The problem is there appears to be no such person as Captain Jamil Hussein, at least not who is employed by the Iraqi police. The U.S. military says Hussein doesn't exist and has demanded that AP issue a correction. The Iraqi government says no such person is on its police payroll. My question is, who stands to benefit from such a horrific and terrifying false news report? Just think about it and connect the dots. I have my idea. It's more of the same as before. What do you think?

John McCain Out of Step

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:59:11 GMT

In the time before W I thought John McCain was presidential material. During the 2000 electorial season I rooted for John McCain. Not so any longer. It appears that John McCain has sold out to the same special interests behind W. Otherwise how in the world can he call for more troops to go into Iraq. Wrong move at the wrong time John. Please think again and get back to before W.

Bush's Iraq War Costs $$$$$$

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:12:50 GMT

3 Billion Dollars of borrowed money for each month of the Iraq war. Bush and the Republicans are spending the United States into the poorhouse. No bid contracts, fraud, massive waste, and NO accountability. Bush's Republicans answer? Have the Pentagon spend 20 Million dollars to control and censor the news reporting out of Iraq. Do I have to say it? OK. So all the U.S. will see, hear, or read about Iraq will be government sanctioned propaganda (i.e. LIES). Robert Greenwald and BraveNew Films are presenting a film titled "Iraq for Sale". The film through personal interviews let's the real facts speak for themselves to conclude a powerful indictment. Do Not Miss This Film and wear your thinking hat.

1000 Days of War in Iraq

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 20:44:22 GMT

NEW YORK To mark what it called the "1000 Days" of the Iraq war, the London daily The Independent offered extensive coverage today, featuring a by-the-numbers approach. Here are some of their calculations: $204.4 billion: The cost to the U.S of the war so far. 2,339: Allied troops killed 15,955: US troops wounded in action 98: U.K troops killed 30,000 : Estimated Iraqi civilian deaths 0: Number of WMDs found 66: Journalists killed in Iraq. 63: Journalists killed during Vietnam war 8: per cent of Iraqi children suffering acute malnutrition 53,470: Iraqi insurgents killed 67: per cent Iraqis who feel less secure because of occupation $343: Average monthly salary for an Iraqi soldier. Average monthly salary for an American soldier in Iraq: $4,160.75 5: foreign civilians kidnapped per month 47: per cent Iraqis who never have enough electricity 20: casualties per month from unexploded mines 25-40: per cent Estimated unemployment rate, Nov 2005 251: Foreigners kidnapped 70: per cent of Iraqi's whose sewage system rarely works 183,000: British and American troops are still in action in Iraq. 13,000: from other nations 90: Daily attacks by insurgents in Nov '05. In Jun '03: 8 60-80: per cent Iraqis who are "strongly opposed" to presence of coalition troops * In an accompanying piece from Baghdad, the newspaper's Patrick Cockburn adds one more stat: A BBC poll yesterday showed that half of the Iraqis questioned say that Iraq needs a strong leader--while only 28 per cent cited democracy as a priority. "Iraqis are cynical about their political leaders," Cockburn writes. "The election results are likely to show that the great majority of Iraqis will vote along ethnic or religious lines as Shia, Sunni or Kurds. The country is turning from a unitary state into a confederation. "There is no sign yet of the thousand-day war ending. Every month up to a thousand fresh corpses arrive at the mortuary in Baghdad. A new Iraq is emerging but it is already drenched in blood." Lifted from Editor and Publisher

Iraq Intelligence And Facts Were Being Fixed Around The Policy

Tue, 03 May 2005 17:59:43 GMT

Kevin Drum has posted a story, The Times of London has gotten hold of the minutes of a private meeting between Tony Blair and his staff that was held on July 23, 2002 after talks with the Bush administration. By summer of 2002 Bush had already decided on war regardless of Saddam Hussein's actions; democracy promotion was not even mentioned in passing as a reason for the war; postwar reconstruction was an issue of no concern; and, as Andy Card tacitly admitted even at the time, the "marketing campaign" for the war was deliberately timed to coincide with midterm elections. True or False - read it and you be the judge.

Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:46:46 GMT

Shredding Law and Human Rights in the War on Terrorism.

Newsweek: Aboard Air CIA. The evidence backing up Masri's account of being "snatched" by American operatives is only the latest blow to the CIA in the ongoing detention-abuse scandal. Together with previously disclosed flight plans of a smaller Gulfstream V jet, the Boeing 737's travels are further evidence that a global "ghost" prison system, where terror suspects are secretly interrogated, is being operated by the CIA. Several of the Gulfstream flights allegedly correlate with other "renditions," the controversial practice of secretly spiriting suspects to other countries without due process. "The more evidence that comes out, the clearer it is that there's been a stunning failure of accountability," says lawyer John Sifton of Human Rights Watch.

This is not just a blow to the CIA. It's yet another blow to America's image in the world, and to our national honor. To ship suspects off to foreign countries, where they can be tortured or otherwise "interrogated" in ways that would be flagrantly illegal here, is to spit on our commitment to human rights. It turns us, by proxy, into what we profess to abhor. It shames us, or it should. [Dan Gillmor on Grassroots Journalism, Etc.] [To Talk of Many Things]

Retired Army colonel, 70, sent to Afghanistan

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 14:17:58 GMT

Dr. John Caulfield thought it had to be a mistake when the Army asked him to return to active duty. After all, he's 70 years old and had already retired - twice. He left the Army in 1980 and private practice two years ago. "My first reaction was disbelief," Caulfield said. "It never occurred to me that they would call a 70-year-old." In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to "backfill" somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan. But then the orders came for him to go to Afghanistan. Today, Caulfield, a colonel from Satellite Beach, Fla., is an example of how the continuing demands of keeping ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are forcing the military to go to extraordinary measures to keep its ranks filled. He's attending to patients - U.S. troops, Afghan soldiers and civilians - at the Army's 325th Field Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. He is one of about 100 over the age of 60 known to be serving. The Department of Defense couldn't provide exact figures. iSay - Can you feel the draft approaching?

Sat, 18 Sep 2004 17:46:56 GMT

U.S. Intelligence Shows Pessimism on Iraq's Future. A National Intelligence Estimate prepared for President Bush in late July spells out a dark assessment of prospects for Iraq. By By DOUGLAS JEHL. [The New York Times > Home Page]

Asset Systems Attack

Tue, 27 Apr 2004 13:16:37 GMT

This is an important news report: A series of explosions ripped through one of Iraq's main oil facilities yesterday in one of the most daring attacks by local insurgents or Islamic militants to date. Two coalition sailors were killed. The two sailors were killed when they tried to intercept a small boat sighted near the al-Baqra oil terminal, seven miles off the southern coast of Iraq. As their patrol vessel approached, the boat exploded, throwing the crew into the water. A second vessel was said to have exploded 'at a facility' almost immediately afterwards. There were also reports of a third blast. UPDATE: The terminal was shut for a day at a cost of 1 m barrels of production ~ $28 m at today's prices. It is my strong belief that terrorism is in the process of evolution from body-count intensive attacks to attacks on systems. A move to a systems focus would turn terrorist groups into true global guerrillas that could fight sustained (and potentially successful) wars against nation-states. This sophisticated attack may demonstrate that this thinking is evident to our enemies too.-via Global Guerrillas

Forces: U.S. & Coalition/Casualties

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:53:53 GMT

There have been 718 coalition deaths, 616 Americans, 59 Britons, five Bulgarians, one Dane, one Estonian, 17 Italians, two Poles, one Salvadoran, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and three Ukrainian, in the war as of April 5, 2004. There have been 3,457 U.S. troops wounded in the war, according to the Pentagon. This list is updated regularly.

Our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives continue to be killed and hurt in Iraq. Will someone, other than a politician, please provide a cogent explanation of the reasons why?

How We Got Here

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:34:38 GMT

At the request of Rep. Henry A. Waxman the Special Investigations Division compiled a database of statements about Iraq made by President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rumsfeld, Secretary Powell, and National Security Advisor Rice. All of the statements in the database were drawn from speeches, press conferences and briefings, interviews, written statements, and testimony by the five officials. The Iraq on the Record database identifies 237 specific misleading statements about the threat posed by Iraq made by these five officials in 125 public appearances in the time leading up to and after the commencement of hostilities in Iraq. THANK YOU, Rep. Waxman

U.S. & Coalition/Casualties

Sun, 28 Sep 2003 17:03:01 GMT

There have been 503 confirmed coalition deaths, 432 Americans, 53 British, 17 Italians and one Polish, in the war as of November 25, 2003. This list is updated regularly.

Our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives continue to be killed and hurt in Iraq. Will someone, other than a politician, please provide a cogent explanation of the reasons why? No answer is an answer too.