For a long time now, I have been following the KBR corruption storyline: the dirty water, the electrocutions, the rape cover ups and the tax dodging.

KBR was turned loose on our troops because the Bush administration's blind adherence to right-wing dogma — "government bad, private industry good" — drove it to outsource the management of the war to dozens of private contractors. And, no surprise, the abuses don't end with KBR

crossposted from unbossed

This is about privatization. About five years ago, IT privatization was all the rage in the federal government. For reasons that have always escaped me, pro-privatization groups argued - successfully (and this is the part I find unbelievable) - that contracting out an agency's IT work is a no-brainer and would lead only to good.

Dumped on the United Nations, that is!

Cross posted from Booman Tribune

I'm not really inclined to write a diary entry this morning, but some recent articles on a blog on UN affairs that I frequent deserve some attention outside it's usual readership.

Two recent scandals involving high-level UN managers nominated and pushed by the Bush administration.

Follow below to see how these senior officials' 'leadership' is tarnishing the UN and it's reputation.

McClatchy: Former air-force general Joseph Ralston, appointed a year ago to help end the activities of Kurd terrorists, blasted George Bush over American promises to Turkey about ending PKK activities in Iraq:

The officer who commands U.S. forces in northern Iraq, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Nixon, last week said he planned to do "absolutely nothing" to curb PKK activities.

Ralston, a vice chairman of the Washington-based Cohen Group, a consulting firm, said the statement was "directly opposite" promises Bush has made to Turkey.

'Directly opposite' promises Bush has made to Turkey...  

Don Rumsfeld was charged with war-crimes today. Bushco's connection to Mid-East terrorism and pork may be the next story to blow.
Wapo

Retired Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, a former NATO commander Bush appointed last year as his special envoy to work on the issue, left the job recently because of what several sources described as his frustration at the administration's failure to devote serious attention to the problem. Ralston, vice chairman of an international consulting firm led by former defense secretary William S. Cohen, did not return several calls for comment.

There's far more at stake...

I have to admit that I don't always get it on my own.  Thinking about Hillary's shift from backing Health Care to backing mandatory Health Insurance that benefits the for profit insurance companies and her getting to the top of the recipient list of weapons makers money, I didn't see the connection. I din't have the pieces of the puzzle.

Then, just now, I read Naomi Klien's article and she provided the key that explains why Hillary Clinton is rolling in dough-re-me.

The business press and me: a case of unrequited love
Finance journalists have attacked my book, but I remain devoted to their papers. After all, they supplied the facts I used
Naomi Klein
Thursday October 25, 2007
The Guardian

TPM puts Kurd threats to repel Turkish intrusions by force way up high. Vladimir Putin warned the US not to attack Iran just days ago.

Iran today appointed a key ally of Iranian President Ahmadinejad as Iran's new nuclear negotiator just days before a crucial meeting with the EU.

An Iranian spokesman, "Gholam Hossein Elham, said a deputy foreign minister, Saeed Jalili, would replace Mr Larijani in time for a meeting on Tuesday with the European Union's foreign policy head Javier Solana."

Mr. Jalili, unlike his predecessor Ali Larijani, is a hard-liner. His appointment by the man who really holds control of Iran's nuclear project, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggests an end to compromise....

Kurd Leader Massoud Barzani upped the stakes for the US significantly today when he promised to repel any Turkish military incursions into Northern Iraq, according to a report front-paged at the BBC. Of course, the story doesn't appear anywhere in the US media.

Teetering towards catastrophe. Today's announcement comes hard on the heels of Turkey's decision to authorize an invasion of Northern Iraq. Turkey already has troops massed on the borders, but claims an invasion is 'not imminent'.

Relieved?

Joseph Ralston: the former Nato Supreme Commander and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was supposed to prevent a Turkish invasion of Iraq. As I noted in my preceding diaries on Ralston, here and here, Bush appointed Ralston one year ago to prevent the building crisis threating to engulf the region.

Neo-cons are freaking because they know that Bush support for PKK terror is actually making it harder for the US to attack Syria and Iran...

The MSM is clueless. How clueless? Fox and the Wapo ran identical stories, neither noting that Ralston ran away from his responsibilities months ago...

Turkey is ready to invade and not over any US resolution .

If you don't know who Joseph Ralston is, George Bush is likely very, very happy. Because Joseph Ralston is the former NATO Supreme Commander George Bush appointed to keep the lid America's exploding crisis with Turkey.  

Except when the shit hit the fan this week, Joe Ralston was nowhere to be found. Reports filtered out that Ralston quit suddenly on October 5th.

I was stunned to discover that Ralston actually quit in frustration months ago. Bush didn't tell anyone and didn't replace Ralston. Bush just pretended Ralston was working to end PKK attacks against Turkey all along. In part, no doubt, to avoid questions about Ralston's other job.

Details below...

We know Turkey is seriously pissed-off about the recent vote to condemn Armenian genocide. Turkey is far more pissed-off though by the complete failure of US and Kurdish authorities to end PKK attacks in Turkey and the far greater threat an independent, oil-rich Kurdish state presents to the region.

Pat Lang a top DIA officer warned that US supply lines to Iraq are extremely vulnerable last year. The BBC confirms today that US re-supply routes may well be threatened as a result of the vote:

The warnings from Turkey could not be clearer...for example, denying the US military the ability to ship crucial supplies through Turkish bases for operations in Iraq.

And that's the good news. But with Bush and his torture-loving cronies, simple ineptitude is never the whole story.

The secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) talks in Montebello, Quebec on August 20 are already getting animosity from organizing protesters.  US president George W. Bush, Mexican president Felipe Calderón, and Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper are meeting to unify regulatory bodies and security in North America.  In fact, two protesters have already been arrested.

I am the admin for the progressive community blog in Utah.  One of the other contributors (Aramis) posted this excellent diary about some of the pressures the Coast Guard is under.  I thought you might enjoy his perspective on this Memorial Day.

I know Memorial Day is traditionally a day to remember the fallen solders and sailors, but I think we also need to remember those who are still serving us today.

I separated from the U.S. Coast Guard last summer after ten years of service, so you can imagine it holds a special place in my heart.  The men and women of the smallest armed service perform a wide variety of missions everyday under some of the toughest conditions imaginable.  With only 38,000 people, less than the NY police department, they struggle on to do their duty.  These missions are performed using a worn-out and antiquated fleet, some ships dating back to WWII.  Their aircraft are not much better off, some dangerously over extended on hours just to get the job done.  Of the 40 largest navys in the world, our U.S. Coast Guard is the 38th oldest.  Combine this with personnel shortages and shrinking budgets, and it becomes a nightmare scenario for our national security.

More on the flip....

All this week we are asking, begging that you call Henry Waxman's office (202-225-3976) and demand hearings into the case of FBI translator Sibel Edmonds.

Campaign headquarters are at Let Sibel Edmonds Speak.

In today's post, I'll demonstrate that the focus on the current US Attorney scandal is incomplete.

Long before the White House started putting on pressure on the attorneys, the Pentagon (and the State Department) was dictating whether (or not) the FBI could investigate crimes, up to and including treason, by officials at the Pentagon (and State).

In a terrific new interview, Sibel Edmonds talks about how it hapens, who is involved, and why we need Waxman to hold hearings into her case.

The AP reports the threat of a full scale civil war in Iraq is driving a Persian Gulf arms build-up of unprecedented proportions. Tomorrow, arms manufacturers from around the world will exhibit their wares at IDEX2007 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  

For those that have not heard about DeepWater PDFCRS Report for Congress gives a great overview of the program and costs/reasoning's.  
But this all started with a whistle blower breaking new ground on youtube.

He has an update from September 16, 2006 Where he says that the Secure Military Internet is vulnerable from up to the "end of the dock."  This compromises the backbone of our security system and any foreign govt can park a boat in the area and hack into our military internet.

He got some good press
from ABC on Aug. 29.  

"YouTube was my last best shot — I never wanted to do this publicly," he explained.

I guess since The Department of Defense decided to cut back their initial order.....

The USAF originally initially intended to purchase almost 700 F-22 fighters, but that was cut to 442, then 381, and recently cut again to just over 180. These cuts have had obvious effects on the cost per aircraft.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...

...they have  to sell 'em somewhere. But, who's got the cash to lay out $200 million per copy?

Bill Gates maybe, but I don't think he's interested.

more down below

I find it horrifying that this is the best article I have found on the Military Industrial Complex and it is in playboy...7 long pages.  It is a must read here is the link. PDF

There have been a couple of great documentarys on the subject.  Why We Fight And Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers Must Watch Viewing.

Update: There was Smedly Butler, who wrote War is a Racket in 1935. An absolute must read.  He stoped a Coup a true american Hero... Protecting us from the Racket...Way before Ike's MIC speech.