Perfect storm brewing -- we're close to all hell breaking loose

[wiggs]

Putting aside cynical beliefs that this administration had concocted a political and corporate structure that made it invulnerable, reading the firestorm of information bouncing around the blogs give me the sense that this thing is gonna blow soon, and that previously disparate scandals are going to coalesce into one gigantic mystery novel of a hurricane.

We may see that Bolton, Brewster Jennings, Sibel Edmonds, DSM, Niger forgery, Plame outing, OSP, Chalabi, Pakistan nukes (remember the guy selling nukes that got off scott free?), energy task force, Enron, Halliburton, Bandar Bush, PNAC, House of Saud and House of Bush, Iraq mismanagement (Allawi a CIA operative),and (lets assume) 9/11 all FINALLY get exposed as connected and part of one big gigantic empirialistic corporatocracy wet dream that got out of control. I'll even throw in election 2004 because when trillions of dollars and global domination are at stake, a little election tampering is small potatoes and once it is seen that the administration is going down, all kinds of people will come forward with all kinds of info.

Rove will be but a bit of flotsam caught up in the swirling mess. Could be one of the biggest storms/stories in the history of our nation.

And that's what it will take to set things right...one or two guys going down will not do it, which is why they are trying to right now throw one or two guys under the bus.

[tk2kewl]

1. It sure feels like it, doesn't it?

The scariest part is that this crew is so immoral, the things they might do to try to stop their collapse are unimaginable.

[wli]

5. scared of nuclear 9/11 part 2

The part that scares me is the thought bounced around that they might try a nuclear 9/11 part 2 as a pretext for declaring martial law.

[wiggs]

13. I fear also that there are people who believe

that so much is at stake (trillions of dollars; ideology) that almost anything would justify achieving their goals.

[wiggs]

17. I'll add a few more to the list

Oil for food scandal. American oil companies doing 52% of the business with Iraq.

And the concentration of wealth and power into the hands of fewer people plays a big part in this, and this is where tax cuts, deficits, social security attacks, bankruptcy bills, outsourcing, and real wage erosion are also tied to the neocon wet dream of protecting "american" interests at home and abroad.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. belief - yes

BUt I suggest it is of a different kind.

Haven't the people of Bush (or at least of them) all previously stated that they believe in the Rapture? Several of the Bush 1 and Reagan holdovers have been quoted as wanting to be one of the 144,000. They really don't care about the future of the country or the american people. They care about getting to Jerusalem on time.

[wli]

28. Bush and Boykin in particular

[GeekMonkey]

40. yet another reason why religious people should not hold power

over non-religious people

[ChairmanAgnostic]

44. Mr. Geek, but how do you explain faith based initiatives?

the whole destruction of our social services systems and procedures drove me from being a conservative, quiet and quiescent political illiterate, to becoming totally enraged about what is happening to my country. every time I thought that we (as a country) would be shocked, I was surprised by the quiet.

By now, I am surprised, if and when, the media actually reacts to an administrative lie. There have been so many, I cannot even keep track. Not even with a Mac.

I don't mind a person who decides to believe in a religion. I hate it when someone demands that I follow their maze into insanity.

[liberalla]

63. Welcome! Love your post.

"the whole destruction of our social services systems and procedures drove me from being a conservative, quiet and quiescent political illiterate, to becoming totally enraged about what is happening to my country."

Yes, and there's more on the way! It just seems to be happening so slowly... but it is happening and the momentum is gaining.

"every time I thought that we (as a country) would be shocked, I was surprised by the quiet."

I know what you mean. It's like they have been conditioned that loyalty to (GOP) party is first and foremost. Even above national security (morals, ethics, etc). They just nod their heads. They're on 'automatic'. Everything is thrown over and sacrificed on the altar of the GOP.

Reminds me of Eve Ensler's "Letter to America".

Dear America,

"I need you to wake up. The house is on fire and you are still sleeping..."

Please Don't Go Back to Sleep

Great analogy.

link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/eve-ensler/please-dont-go-back-to-s_3865.html

[madeline_con]

80. "... follow their maze into insanity."

Worst of it is, they get all the cheese!

(Welcome!)

[KerryOn]

60. You mean "Hypocrite" should not hold power. n/t

[Vincardog]

53. The question is who has the launch codes?

Can we really afford a rapture right wing nut who believes that his job is to USE UP the Whole world: and trick GOD into returning to earth to give him a ride do heaven to have the power to kill 99.9% of the people on earth?

[wiggs]

55. The Dead Zone. nt

[sepia_steel]

14. my hubby is afraid that

a strike against Iran will be launched just in time to keep W in office past the normal 8-year period. It's happened before....

[Just Me]

19. That is my greatest concern, as well.

Will this incredibly criminal and ruthlessly corrupt administration intentionally ignite a world war to maintain their reigns on power?

It's a frightening thought. It's frightening that I actually believe this cabal is capable of doing it.

[wiggs]

25. So much at stake

I doubt we really know how much money is at stake. The Carlysle Group, PNAC'rs, and think tanks probably due. I think it is probably beyond our naive brains how many trillions of dollars are moving around up for grabs.

52 of the world's top 100 economies are corporations. They are the new countries.

[BamaBecky]

49. MAYBE that's why Fitzgerald has been soooooo not in the media

and keeping everything quiet to prevent any stupidity from occurring

We all need to be praying.....and praying hard about this....

and

yes I feel it too....I really do....in my bones

[maryallen]

67. Magical thinking is not really what we need .

Reality would be nice ...

[BamaBecky]

79. Who is using magic?

[BamaBecky]

82. More Magic

Check out this magic....click here

:hi:

[mwb970]

50. They will do anything - ANYTHING - to retain power.

These are the meanest, most dangerous, most un-American people we have ever had at the levers of power. Their deceit knows no bounds. There is no limit to their lies.

WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!

[Eloriel]

65. TYou are absolutely right. They've already exceeded all bounds

of civility, rationality, morality to acquire the power they currently have, which is immense. There is NOTHING that won't do. Nothing. Nothing too depraved or otherwise beyond the pale.

And why should there be? It's not as if the lot of them put together have anything approaching one normal human conscience.

[eleny]

52. But that may touch off a powder keg here at home, too

Killing innocent, young Iranians and dragging more troops into a war there might just get Mr and Mrs America onto the streets. I wouldn't be surprised if the administration is rethinking this. They wanted to attack iran in June according to Ritter. Something is stopping them and I think it's the current firestorm.

[Dan]

58. Disagree

There is no period in American History where any conflict has caused a continuation of a president's term.

The whole idea of the 2004 election - re-elect Bush was necessary because you shouldn't change a president during wartime...was also bullshit.

[TankLV]

76. You are not alone by any means.

Only it's now very hot here, so I'm wearing my cotton hat instead of tinfoil.

[marmar]

7. Very true...

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." - James Madison

[soup]

2. Excellent post, wiggs.

Recommending. Perfect storm, indeed.

The wheels are falling off and the drivers need to have their license revoked.

[wli]

3. exposing as much corruption as possible is best

[Nightjock]

4. And all of the walking zombies will wake up and scream

"The Emperor has no clothes!!"

[aquart]

6. You're leaving out the price of gas.

And the fact that it's dawning on some minds that the global corporatocracy will be Chinese.

[wiggs]

11. They're part of secret energy task force meetings

Oil companies were looking at Iraq from the beginning.

And don't forget the record obscene profit all American oil companies have reaped the last couple of years.

And let's not forget how American oil companies were involved in the oil for food corruption. We can add that program to the list of scandals in the perfect storm also.

[Carni]

70. Let us not forget who first gave the Chinese their nuke capability

It wasn't Clinton it was bush 1.

Then recall there is bush's Uncle who is very tight with the Chinese leaders.

This bush family must have been paid a buttload of cash to sell the US out.

[mopaul]

8. some folks just see things as they are

like wiggs. i sure hope you're right.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. I do hope so

On crooksandliars.com they had a video from the old Watergate days and saying everything now is like then where McClellan is. How long after that did everything come out?

[WinkyDink]

31. Watergate was in 1972

Nixon's resignation was in 1974.

But there were no Internets then, to speed the truth along.

[loudsue]

45. There was also a free press, real elections, & real democrats in office.

I'm afraid those who are hoping for a Watergate redux are going to have to wait until after the "rapture".

:kick::kick::kick:

[Minstrel Boy]

10. Reminds me of a Steve Earle line

from "Conspiracy Theory":

"Once you've added every little lie together,
You finally find the truth was always waiting there."

[wiggs]

18. Our normal checks and balances

...the media and opposition party have helped hide the truth from the beginning. Only when the storm is ready to blow are they forced to do their jobs.

[AngryOldDem]

12. I totally agree

I have had the feeling for quite some time that something much, much bigger is pulling all the strings here -- your phrase, "empirialistic corporatocracy" expresses it very well.

I would just say, though, that if this reaches the critical mass that you (and I) believe it will, this will be one of the biggest storms/stories in modern world history, let alone U.S. history, given how many tentacles to this beast are out there (that we know of).

ON EDIT: Nominated.

[shantipriya]

15. perfect storm

I hope so, BUT the Republican machine will never let it happen and they are in control of all branches of Gov't and media and sizable chunk of the population who are hawkish and morons!!!

[Amonester]

38. that "sizable chunk" represents about +/- 25% of the 100%

Never Forget

:grouphug:

[Zorbuddha]

47. Yeah, but they don't have tenure and the electorate is pissed.

Their next election looms, darkly.

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. From your lips to thousands of neocon groupie ears.

I am bone weary from all of the high hopes I've experienced over the years.

I'll raise you one. I think all of this is connected to the attempted coup against Roosevelt. I think fully 1/3 of American history has been dominated by the Bush/Neocon agenda.

[wiggs]

22. Read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man?

You are right.

What we are doing in Iraq is what we've been doing to other countries since the 50's, sometimes using other tools (covert operations, economic slavery...which is why Wolfowitz is in charge of the world bank by the way).

We are rattling our swords in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Iran for the same reasons.

Time to get the big picture out there and face our true selves. The image of ourselves as heroes and white knights saving the world will be a painful, unfortunate casualty, but a necessary one in setting things right. Then we can pursue world leadership, not world domination.

We can't survive this century as bullies...China and EU will have something to say about that. Time to get it right.

[GreenPartyVoter]

35. Well-said!

[Al-CIAda]

61. Audio- John Perkins, author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"[

Audio-
Guest: John Perkins, author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"
Fri., December 10, 2004
Deadline Live w/Jack Blood

mp3's-
pt1- Interview starts approx. half way through
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Blood/0412/20041210_Fri_JackBlood1.mp3
pt2-CIA sequence of Empire (economics, assasinations, torture, vote rigging, etc.) Naming names...vote rigging!
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Blood/0412/20041210_Fri_JackBlood2.mp3

Realplayer RAM-
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Blood/0412/20041210_Fri_JackBlood.ram

======
Democracy Now!
Tuesday, November 9th, 2004
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man: How the U.S. Uses Globalization to Cheat Poor Countries Out of Trillions
Listen to Segment || Download Show mp3      
Watch 128k stream       Watch 256k stream  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We speak with John Perkins, a former respected member of the international banking community. In his book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man he describes how as a highly paid professional, he helped the U.S. cheat poor countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars by lending them more money than they could possibly repay and then take over their economies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Perkins describes himself as a former economic hit man - a highly paid professional who cheated countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars.

20 years ago Perkins began writing a book with the working title, "Conscience of an Economic Hit Men."

Perkins writes, "The book was to be dedicated to the presidents of two countries, men who had been his clients whom I respected and thought of as kindred spirits - Jaime Roldós, president of Ecuador, and Omar Torrijos, president of Panama. Both had just died in fiery crashes. Their deaths were not accidental. They were assassinated because they opposed that fraternity of corporate, government, and banking heads whose goal is global empire. We Economic Hit Men failed to bring Roldós and Torrijos around, and the other type of hit men, the CIA-sanctioned jackals who were always right behind us, stepped in.

John Perkins goes on to write: "I was persuaded to stop writing that book. I started it four more times during the next twenty years. On each occasion, my decision to begin again was influenced by current world events: the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1980, the first Gulf War, Somalia, and the rise of Osama bin Laden. However, threats or bribes always convinced me to stop."


Excerpt:
AMY GOODMAN: John Perkins joins us now in our firehouse studio. Welcome to Democracy Now!

JOHN PERKINS: Thank you, Amy. It’s great to be here.

AMY GOODMAN: It’s good to have you with us. Okay, explain this term, “economic hit man,” e.h.m., as you call it.

JOHN PERKINS: Basically what we were trained to do and what our job is to do is to build up the American empire. To bring -- to create situations where as many resources as possible flow into this country, to our corporations, and our government, and in fact we’ve been very successful. We’ve built the largest empire in the history of the world. It's been done over the last 50 years since World War II with very little military might, actually. It's only in rare instances like Iraq where the military comes in as a last resort. This empire, unlike any other in the history of the world, has been built primarily through economic manipulation, through cheating, through fraud, through seducing people into our way of life, through the economic hit men. I was very much a part of that.

Con't-
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/09/1526251

[Carni]

72. After reading Kevin Phillips book I totally agree

These *things* have been in charge since WW1

[yodermon]

20. IT it is as huge as you say..

.. and IF military-media-industrial complex is as POWERFUL as you say,
then I predict that key individuals will be assassinated to prevent these items from coming to a head.

If they are ultra-powerful, then I will be ultra-cynical. :shrug:

I do not dispute your claim. I simply assert that we all underestimate the true power of those who truly hold the reigns.

[wiggs]

27. I don't disagree at all

As I say, I pretty much believe that where we are has taken decades and billions of dollars of planning (media control, elections) to get here. It is not going to go away quietly or easily.

I agree that most of us have no idea how much power, money, and influence is at stake here.

However, I am allowing myself a bit of hope that we are not past the point of return as a democracy...that we can process a huge issue as a nation and come to resolution. I have posted previously that it is not at all clear that we can do this.

If Rove and DSM melt away...we are done for a good while.

[Raksha]

39. They couldn't get away with that.

Assassinations at this point would be just too obvious. I'm sure they'd love to see Joe Wilson and Valerie (among others) meet with an unfortunate accident, but they wouldn't dare.

[kestrel91316]

68. What I am afraid of is ...............

the BFEE disrupting any trials/legal proceedings in this matter, or trying to eliminate Fitz. I am VERY NERVOUS about a "terrorist attack" that could kill the prosecution team and destroy all the products of their hard work/destroy their legal case.

[Imagevision]

71. JFK is a perfect example!

[lateo]

23. I hope you are right but...

Given everything that has happened in the last 5-6 years...I have no faith anymore.

[wiggs]

30. I share your cynicism

I used to be an optimist. Not anymore. It is sad that we don't believe our nation can have honest discourse and have our system of checks and balances work as it should. Our democracy depends on a fully informed public and a system of checks and balances. Neither of these has worked especially well the last 5 years.

I am reminded of Three Days of the Condor. At the end, even though all the cards are on the table, the story is left hanging because we're not sure the government doesn't control the media. That's where we are now.

[Stevepol]

43. Checks and balances can only work in a democracy.

When officials are not elected by the people but by the voting machine companies, you can't have checks and balances. The will of the people no longer matters. So every legitimate point in political discourse becomes meaningless.

As soon as the vote counting in elections is cleaned up, checks and balances will return, and our democracy will be restored.

It can't happen before then.

[wiggs]

56. Fair point

But you need all three: well informed public, fair elections, and an honest three branches of government.

[dalloway]

24. BINGO!

Super-duper, double-upside-down, backwards-with crossed-pinkies RECOMMENDED.

[meganmonkey]

26. Please please please be right!

:fingers crossed:

[WinkyDink]

29. Their ace in the hole

Code Red: Martial Law.

[wiggs]

32. I wonder what Sibel Edmonds is thinking of all this?

Rhodes was talking yesterday of Plame being involved with Brewster Jennings, tracking oil dollars, drugs, and money laundering in other countries.

THIS SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE INFORMATION SIBEL STUMBLED ON, for which she and others have been mysteriously gagged for years in the interest of international diplomacy

Let's hope she or others are watching and figuring out that they have something to add. Time for her and others to step forward and name names?

Don't forget Sibel's warning: THAT SENIOR OFFICIALS WOULD GO TO JAIL AS RESULT OF WHAT SHE KNOWS!

Our courageous sweetheart: we hate to put you in this position...but if you know about aspects of this Plame and DSM debate, it may be time to openly add your voice and stir things up. Go to those in congress who can help you or who can speak for you. Sorry, but we need you.

[kestrel91316]

69. Sibel needs to have a chat with FITZ.

[wiggs]

73. Interesting question

Posted elsewhere: Can Fitzgerald depose or interview her despite the Justice Department gag? Wouldn't that be an interesting turn of events?

Maybe she has already?

Larry Johnson on Ed Schultz today said that many of his CIA friends are very unhappy. Maybe lots of information has been going Fitzgerald's way?

[Peace Patriot]

33. And add this bit in: Brit WMD expert Dr. David Kelly's "suicide" on

July 17, 2003, three days after Novak outed Plame (7/14/03). A common figure in this near simultaneous disabling of WMD experts--during the summer when US troops were hunting for WMDs in Iraq--is Judith Miller. See

"More about Judith Miller" (Miller/Plame/David Kelly)
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/3/17138/30618

Miller was the recipient of one of Kelly's last emails--the one in which he was concerned about "many dark actors playing games." Miller had used Kelly as a major source in her book, "Germs." And she discloses neither of these facts--her close connections to Kelly--in the news article she wrote about his death on 7/21/03 (NYT).

Kelly was whistleblowing to the BBC about Brit "sexing up" the Iraq WMD intel docs, and, in the middle of that controversy, was found dead, near his home, apparently having slit one wrist and taken painkillers, and having bled to death all night, out in the open. (An extremely fishy story--for one thing, where was Brit intel surveillance when this was happening? --not the least of the highly suspicious circumstances of his death.)

Seems like honesty about WMDs was a real risky thing to be doing that summer.

[wiggs]

36. Weird and scary. nt

[JohnyCanuck]

34. From Justin Raimondo's colum today at antiwar.com:

I do not believe for a moment that this lengthy and increasingly controversial investigation is centered around alleged violations of a rarely invoked statute, incurring a penalty that hardly seems proportionate to the energy expended to get a conviction. It is extremely hard to prove that someone has violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act; there are all sorts of conditions and sub-clauses that provide a legal escape route for anyone so charged: that can't be what all this is about.

If, however, Fitzgerald can prove there was a conspiracy inside the government to collect and selectively reveal classified information in order to crush political opponents, and shape U.S. policy, then the charges could be much more serious. By all accounts, the Plame investigation is said to be widening, and I would venture to say that by this time it is wide enough to include charges of espionage. The mere existence of a highly placed cabal that was engaged in collecting and utilizing highly sensitive information – a kind of intelligence bank that existed outside of normal governmental channels – would be of great interest to the FBI's counterintelligence unit, and word is out that they've been plenty busy lately. Who made withdrawals from this Intelligence Bank, and did any of these account holders include foreign governments – such as Iran, which received an intelligence treasure trove from neocon poster boy Ahmed Chalabi, and Israel, which is already under suspicion because of the Franklin affair, and has close links to several of the suspects in the Plame-gate investigation?

And then there is the question of the Niger uranium forgeries themselves: who forged the documents that fooled a president? Wilson's exposure of the Niger uranium ploy angered whoever introduced those documents into the U.S. intelligence stream – it was Hannah and Libby, by all accounts, who fought to keep these allegations in the president's speech, in spite of opposition from the CIA and the State Department. The same crowd that pushed this phony intelligence must have known something about the murky origins of what turned out to be a crude forgery.

<snip>

The fast developing scandal seemingly centered around Rove and a few journalists has only begun to unfold. By the time it is over, we'll have the War Party – or, at the very least, a few high profile representatives – in the dock, and then the fun will really begin. So forget "Rove-gate" and get ready for "Cheney-gate." I'll gladly forgo the pleasure of seeing the president's chief political advisor frog-marched out of the White House for the prospect of seeing our vice president, along with his top staffers, led out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in handcuffs.

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=6677

[TankLV]

78. BTW - What the fuck is up w/the Dick? Where is he?

Nothing seen or hear of him for over a month or more now!

[Catherine Vincent]

37. It would be great if it was a Perfect Storm.

Tom Clancy is probably enjoying this.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

41. If you want to be even more inclusive, throw in the...

...Coup of December 2000, and the events of 911.

Now, ask yourself, "Who benefitted?"

[wiggs]

42. 52 of the world's top 100 economies benefitted

The world's largest corporations, especially energy, defense, and construction.

Hopefully, the scandals will catch up to those individuals responsible....but they've already gotten much of what they were after. Untold fortunes. Some in the administration may go down in flames, but they will always be heroes in the corporatocracy world.

[IrkedSerf]

62. not only "Who Benefitted" but Is anything he signed into law legal? n/t

[Zorbuddha]

46. A perfect way to put it.

And it couldn't happen at a more vulnerable time. With the entire world fed up up with us and a bloated anf flailing economy propped up by a onelegged housing bubble.

These interloping bastards have set us up for a cataclysmic fall. The bloodless coup is bearing bitter fruit.

[wiggs]

57. What you say about the world being fed up is interesting

...in terms of Plame and DSM.

In the case of DSM, some fed up Brits are helping this nightmare come to an end. Italians, Spaniards, Brits are jumping ship. Galloway is igniting honest talk in public.

I imagine there are plenty of governments and officials out there (ie Galloway) who dislike the administration even more than we. In their hands, perhaps, are some pieces of the truth and some evidence that we can look forward to seeing soon, if and when blood really hits the water.

How many enemies we've created over the years...how many countries we've exploited....how many would be happy to send this bunch of crooks and liars on their way.

[Vincardog]

48. That day is the day we begin to return to the Rule of Law

and may be the company of civilized nations some time in the future.
We are living in interesting times.

[natrat]

84. diebold just got the contract fo 95% of mississippi's precincts

[MissWaverly]

51. Could you add Coingate and the Supreme Bush Go-Go to the list

[LunaC]

54. It's like a sweater with a loose thread

Give it one good tug and it all starts to unravel.

Rove "The Muzzle" is too weakened to restrain the MSM any more and they're thinking "PAY BACK!" time. Yup, revisiting past scandals is going to create a new blood-in-the-water media feeding frenzy in short order. I can't wait!

[hootinholler]

59. Rove: But Cap'n I dunnooo how long I can hold her!

Hurricane of a mystery novel, nice phrase!

-Hoot

[liberalla]

64. Good riddance to rotten flotsam

This is a great thread!

Thanks, wiggs!

[spanone]

66. You can fool some of the people some of the time......

I can't fucking wait.

[Murdock]

74. Sorry, I don't Believe it..

I've watched this administration lie their asses off for years and NOTHING has stuck to them, they control all levels of government and the media. I have seen nothing to make me think that this will change.. Everything will be buried as it has been, the masses will be lulled back to sleep with stories of Aruba and Shark attacks and hurricanes.. nothing will touch Bushco.

[wiggs]

75. I don't think it unreasonable to have that view.

There are a dozen things that should have already killed this beast. I still personally can't believe that the napalm story has been buried.

It's like Alien.

[Zorbuddha]

83. The little engine that couldn't.

Bah. Nothing worthwhile is easy.

Daunting but doable, I say.

The villagers come out with pitchforks and torches when they've had enough.

[B Calm]

77. Should the traitor Karl Rove be sent to Guantanamo (Gitmo)??

[shance]

81. Which is why they want to permanently legislate the Patriot Act

Along with implementing electronic voting in every county of every state.

It appears to all go hand in hand.