Steve’s Weblog

New pics up in the Gallery. We put up our Christmas tree tonight.

US: No ‘date certain’ for Iraq victory, withdrawal

5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President George W. Bush laid out his most detailed strategy yet for winning the Iraq war, but warned there would be violence there “for many years to come” and declined to set a date for a US pullout.

In remarks at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, he was to tout progress in training Iraqi security forces in the first of a series of speeches aiming to reassure the wary US public ahead of Iraq’s December 15 elections.

Bush’s national security council said in a newly released policy paper that it expected to cut the US military presence in 2006 but warned there was no “date certain” for a complete pullout or for victory.

“No war has ever been won on a timetable and neither will this one,” it said in the 35-page “National Strategy for Victory in Iraq,” which aimed to counter mounting criticism that the president lacked an exit strategy.

Yahoo News

Bush Unveils New Iraq Strategy in Document

By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 30, 2005; 9:39 AM

President Bush, facing increasing impatience with the war in Iraq, went on the offensive today, releasing a detailed strategy plan in an attempt to show the country the administration has a clear strategy for victory in Iraq.

The White House released a 35-page ” National Strategy for Victory in Iraq ” this morning, three hours before the president was billed to make a major speech on the war at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. It’s the first in a series of speeches Bush will deliver in the run-up to the Dec. 15 elections in Iraq outlining the American political, security and economic strategies there.

Washington Post

So, the white house has gone on a new offensive, a media offensive. Still, they haven’t really changed anything by releasing a paper, or making another round of speeches. Ho hum.

Bush gave a speech today, in his latest effort to distract from the quagmire in Iraq. Here’s the relevant quote:

Our nation has been strengthened by generations of immigrants who became Americans through patience and hard work and assimilation. In this new century, we must continue to welcome immigrants, and to set high standards for those who follow the laws to become a part of our country. Every new citizen of the United States has an obligation to learn our customs and values, including liberty and civic responsibility, equality under God and tolerance for others, and the English language. We will continue to pursue policies that encourage ownership, excellence in education, and give all our citizens a chance to realize the American Dream.

I don’t recall learning in Social Studies about equality under God, I thought it was equality under the law? The equality under God part was something I think they taught in religion class. (yes, I went to Catholic schools)

White House

Hastert Wants ‘Christmas,’ Tree Together

1 hour, 57 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – If it’s a spruce tree adorned with 10,000 lights and 5,000 ornaments displayed on the Capitol grounds in December, it’s a Christmas tree and that’s what it should be called, says House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Hastert, R-Ill., in a letter to the Architect of the Capitol, recommended that the annual Capitol Holiday Tree, as it has been called the past several years, be renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree.

“I strongly urge that we return to this tradition and join the White House, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and countless other public institutions and millions of American families in celebrating the holiday season with a Christmas tree,” Hastert wrote to Architect Alan Hantman.

Yahoo News

Happy Holidays Dennis!

It’s amazing that these so-called Christians, like O’Reilly, seem to think that the idea of keeping “Christ” in Christmas is about Santa Claus and corporate bottom lines.

Congressman Admits Taking Bribes, Resigns From House

Cunningham Pleads Guilty in House Sale Probe

Rep. Cunningham pleads guilty to tax violations
California Republican admits to taking $2.4 million in bribes

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) — Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators.

Cunningham, 63, entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.

Cunningham answered “yes, Your Honor” when asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted bribes from someone in exchange for his performance of official duties.

Later, at a news conference, he wiped away tears as he announced his resignation.

“I can’t undo what I have done but I can atone,” he said.

Cunningham, an eight-term Republican congressman, had already announced in July that he would not seek re-election next year.

CNN

House: Rep. Cunningham Enters Guilty Plea, Resigns

Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) pleaded guilty today to tax violations in relation to the sale of his home to a defense contractor whose boat he was living on rent free. Shortly after entering his plea, Cunningham announced that he is resigning his seat.

Washington Post

With all the controversy surrounding the Bush administration, it’s like several different soap opera stories going on at once. And just when you thought a story line had gone cold and been dropped, something happens to stir it up again. This weeks drama brings attention back to Karl Rove in the Plamegate scandal…

2nd Time Reporter to Testify in Leak Case

The Associated Press
Sunday, November 27, 2005; 11:05 PM

WASHINGTON — A second Time magazine reporter has agreed to cooperate in the CIA leak case and will testify about her discussions with Karl Rove‘s attorney, a sign that prosecutors are still exploring charges against the White House aide.

Viveca Novak, a reporter in Time’s Washington bureau, is cooperating with Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity in 2003, the magazine reported in its Dec. 5 issue.

Washington Post

Where’s the popcorn, hopefully it gets good now…

Going for dim sum this morning…

White House claims ‘strong consensus’ on Iraq pullout

1 hour, 52 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The White House has for the first time claimed ownership of an Iraq withdrawal plan, arguing that a troop pullout blueprint unveiled this past week by a Democratic senator was “remarkably similar” to its own.

It also signaled its acceptance of a recent US Senate amendment designed to pave the way for a phased US military withdrawal from the violence-torn country.

The statement by White House spokesman Scott McClellan came in response to a commentary published in The Washington Post by Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which he said US forces will begin leaving Iraq next year “in large numbers.”

According to Biden, the United States will move about 50,000 servicemen out of the country by the end of 2006, and “a significant number” of the remaining 100,000 the year after.

The blueprint also calls for leaving only an unspecified “small force” either in Iraq or across the border to strike at concentrations of insurgents, if necessary.

Less than two weeks ago, McClellan blasted Democratic Representative John Murtha, saying that by calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, the congressman was “endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore,” a stridently anti-war Hollywood filmmaker.

Yahoo News

Gimme a break.

This is an interesting twist to the whole gay marriage debate.

Marital Privilege Sought to Exclude Gay Partner as Witness
Man Fighting Charges He Helped Steal From School System Says Law Should Be Gender-Neutral

Associated Press
Saturday, November 26, 2005; Page A09

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 — A gay man charged with helping his lover loot a wealthy school district has asked a judge to rule that state law protecting spouses from having to testify against each other also applies to same-sex partners.

Stephen Signorelli, fighting charges that he stole at least $219,000 from the Roslyn, N.Y., school district, is seeking to bar testimony by his longtime companion, Frank Tassone, the district’s former superintendent.

Auditors say that in all, $11.2 million was taken from the Long Island district. It is considered among the largest thefts from a U.S. school system.

Tassone pleaded guilty this year to stealing $1 million between 1996 and 2002. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to testify against other defendants in the case, which meant he might have to take the stand in Signorelli’s trial.

Washington Post

Protest Reassembles in Crawford
Opponents of War in Iraq Plan to Remain Near Bush Ranch

By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 26, 2005; Page A05

CRAWFORD, Tex., Nov. 25 — Cindy Sheehan has returned to the dusty town of Crawford, where she was transformed from a grieving mother into a symbol of the movement against the Iraq war.

She arrived Thursday night to the cheers of supporters and on Friday presided over the unveiling of a permanent sandstone monument in memory of her son, Casey, a soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2004.

As in August, Sheehan’s visit here once again brought out counterdemonstrators. One group stood in the parking lot of the local coffee shop behind a sign reading “Score — Cindy 3, USA 403.” The sign was a reference to a recent House of Representatives vote in which only three lawmakers supported a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

“I think they’re wasting their time,” said John Calahan, a Vietnam War veteran from nearby Clifton. “There are only three who voted with them to run.”

Bush plans to continue to try to bolster support for the war, including in a speech Wednesday at Annapolis that will focus on efforts to improve Iraqi security forces.

Washington Post

How are these wonks going to lie and spin about the eventual troop withdrawal that the pentagon is planning, the one that Condaleeza Rice referred to last week? The one that George Bush will surely float in his speech on Wednesday. If it’s such a bad idea, worth trashing Cindy Sheehan, and John Murtha, what are they going to say about AWOL Bush the coward when he starts the troop reductions? (nothing bad, of course)

U.S. Starts Laying Groundwork for Significant Troop Pullout From Iraq
By Paul Richter and Tyler Marshall, Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON — Even as debate over the Iraq war continues to rage, signs are emerging of a convergence of opinion on how the Bush administration might begin to exit the conflict.

In a departure from previous statements, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this week that the training of Iraqi soldiers had advanced so far that the current number of U.S. troops in the country probably would not be needed much longer.

LA Times

And why would anyone claim the 403-3 vote as a victory when everyone knows the resolution was a Republican sham that was proposed in an attempt to smear anyone who voted for it anyway.

Lawmakers Under Scrutiny in Probe of Lobbyist

Ney and DeLay Among the Members of Congress Said to Be a Focus of Abramoff Investigation

By Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, November 26, 2005; Page A01

The Justice Department’s wide-ranging investigation of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff has entered a highly active phase as prosecutors are beginning to move on evidence pointing to possible corruption in Congress and executive branch agencies, lawyers involved in the case said.

Prosecutors have already told one lawmaker, Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), and his former chief of staff that they are preparing a possible bribery case against them, according to two sources knowledgeable about the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R), now facing separate campaign finance charges in his home state of Texas, is one of the members under scrutiny, the sources said. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and other members of Congress involved with Indian affairs, one of Abramoff’s key areas of interest, are also said to be among them.

Washington Post

Looks like it’s going to be a soap opera in Congress this season… When will the cliffhanger episode air where we get to find out who the crooks and liars are?