Will The Senate Roll Over On Negroponte's Nomination?

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
Weekend Edition
February 19 / 20, 2005

John Negroponte, Dirty Warrior
The Return of the Contra Gangsters
By JENNIFER ROESCH

In the next few weeks we are likely to hear a chorus of praise for Negroponte from the mainstream media and politicians. In recent years his reputation has been rehabilitated and today he is hailed as a seasoned diplomat and skilled negotiator.

This is a man who should have seen his career go down in flames when the Iran-Contra scandal broke out in the mid-1980s. Not only have human rights groups extensively documented his role in the "dirty wars" of Central America; the CIA has even compiled reports that could serve as the basis for a war crimes indictment. But Negroponte has never lacked for work and has been appointed to diplomatic posts under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Most recently, when he was nominated for the position of ambassador to Iraq, both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee carried out Bush's request to expedite hearings and rushed Negroponte's approval through. At his Senate hearing on May 6, senators fell over themselves praising Negroponte as the best man for the job and confirmed him in a 95-3 vote. Joseph Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's senior Democrat, told him: "It takes moral, political and physical courage for you to undertake this. We owe you a debt of gratitude."

In the post-9/11 era, Negroponte has managed to re-package and sell himself as an effective diplomat and power broker. He is just one of the many hawks who have seen their careers revived in this period. In this process, the neo-cons have been aided and abetted by a Democratic Party that has rolled over on every nomination and provided cover during every major political crisis that the Bush administration has faced. It is clear that Bush feels he faces no repercussions by nominating the likes of Negroponte. It is up to our side to organize a movement strong enough to make him pay a price for his arrogance. We must fight so that the voices of the disappeared in Honduras and the tortured in Iraq--and all the others who have been silenced--come back to haunt these men who would rule the world.

http://www.counterpunch.org/roesch02192005.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. ABSOLUTELY....

;(

[jpgray]

2. Depends on your definition of "roll over"

Establishment Dems like Biden see no conflict there, but I hope a good portion will question him harshly and vote "no" on confirmation. We'll see what the climate looks like--his support when taking over for Bremer was very deppressing.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Why is anyone even asking this question?

It's a foregone conclusion.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

4. Doctor "EVIL" is as good as in-he's just what a good FASCIST nation needs

Diabolical Secret Service is "cool" --(they think)
it's cool as long as they don't take you away
or ASSassinate your family members.


The Final Solution--
we are very near--

[depakid]

5. What haven't they rolled over on?

and no doubt, there will be the usually chorus from the apologists on DU about "choosing their battles."

[lostnfound]

6. Please EVERYBODY, write to the Democratic leadership

and to your own representatives.

I went to congress.org which has lists of leaders in both houses, with easy links by which you can email them.

We must make this an issue.

[NV Whino]

7. And the answers are:

Some dems will roll over.
Some dems will fight.
He will be confirmed no matter how many dems fight.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.