DRANT #246: ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU'VE GOTTEN US INTO

There was an election in Lebanon yesterday.
What do you care ?
I'll tellya.
Once again, the USA poured money and effort and support into a candidate. Uh oh.
Once again, the American support was the kiss of death. Amin Gemayel the former President of Lebanon (!) and father of the recently martyred Pierre Gemayel - running for his son's vacant seat in his home town, against a total unknown, was defeated for the position, basically, of
local dog - catcher. The election was complex, but one thing was clear: The US LOST.
George Bush and the Stars and Stripes have become the Typhoid Mary of global politics.
Right now Musharraf is practicing eight ways to say "Never HOID of da guy, I swear" in every known Pashtuni and Punjabi dialect.
Wait til 08. A Bushheimers epidemic will blaze through the Republicans like Mad Cow disease at a Burger King Convention.javascript:void(0)
That's IF they let the election happen ob curse. Which I can getya 8-5 at Caesar's Palace AGAINST.
So who cares ?
You care.
Now is the time for the pandemic of disgust to reach our shores, dontya think ?
Now is the time for us idiot Americans - like the 55 MILLION of US schmucks who voted for Bush in 04 for example-
Or the millions of US bamboozlnicks who voted for the Democrats in 06 expecting CHANGE--
to get what the whole world has known for years- annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd ---
Throw them ALL OUT -
Every single one who voted to:
1- Give Bush the money to kill more Iraqis
2- Spy on all of us with no warrants
Gettem ALL outta there. This includes you, Nancy Pelosi.

And here's how-
Run for something.
Or find someone to run for something.
Not as a Democrat, or a Republican or as an ANYTHING.
Run as a person, not a party.
Run to stand up for the people who believe like you do- that our Single Party System has failed us.
That the Democrats are not only not an opposition party, but COMPLICIT with Bush and the Republicans in the destruction of our constitution, prosecution of genocide, and destruction of our planet.
RUN.
Like Cindy Sheehan is running.

To give a voice to US, The unheard MAJORITY, who want the priorities of our Nation and our World to be reversed-- to abandon the Endless War, and turn our vast resources to saving our children and our planet if there is still time.
To give a voice to US, The unrepresented MAJORITY, who want the killing stopped, the troops withdrawn not just from Iraq and Afghanistan, but from 100s of American bases all over the world, and profound long term reparations made to ALL the victims, including our own decimated troops and their families.
To US, The MAJORITY, who want spying stopped, and our fundamental freedoms restored.
To US, who want an end to the economic rape of US, The MAJORITY, by a narrow cartel of weasels who have grabbed more of the pie than ever imagined.
To US, The Majority, who demand universal single payer high quality health care.
We are not being heard, there are very few people speaking for us, and we must take this on OURSELVES.
OR, you can do the same thing you have done before- go for the lesser of two evils, the best available, the only choice you have.
But just know, if you take the same path, you will get the same result.
No whining when it happens. No lying to your kids or grandkids when their lives are ruined by filthy water, unbreathable air, poisoned food, no health care, or they are killed or maimed or their brains destroyed fighting is another Endless War.
No bitching when your pension disappears, or they repossess your only nest egg, or your credit card falls behind and you start paying 20% through a very painful orifice.
No no pal.
You know what has been done to you- you know because you have LET it happen.
Here's your chance. Stand up.
Stand up like Cindy Sheehan, and DO something.
Or do nothing. They are counting on it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"An electorate disgusted with the policies of the Bush
regime put the Democrats in the majority in Congress
in November ‘06. We voted for change, however,
Congress, under the Speakership of Ms. Pelosi has done
nothing but protect the status quo of the corporate
elite and, in fact, since she has been the Speaker,
the situation in the Middle East has grown far worse,
with Congress’ help, and recently more of our
essential freedoms were given to BushCo by Congress..."

Me for Congress!
Cindy Sheehan

My statement to the press when I announced my
candidacy at the Presidio on August 9th

Two years ago this week, I started my first vigil in
Crawford, Tx, at what became Camp Casey I near
George’s vacation ranch. I never thought that my path
would lead me here today. Nothing before Casey was
killed in the illegal and immoral war in Iraq prepared
me for this new direction, but looking back on my life
since April 04. 2004, I believe this is the next
natural step to bringing the occupations of Iraq and
Afghanistan to a swifter conclusion and those
responsible accountable for the mess our world is in.

An electorate disgusted with the policies of the Bush
regime put the Democrats in the majority in Congress
in November ‘06. We voted for change, however,
Congress, under the Speakership of Ms. Pelosi has done
nothing but protect the status quo of the corporate
elite and, in fact, since she has been the Speaker,
the situation in the Middle East has grown far worse,
with Congress’ help, and recently more of our
essential freedoms were given to BushCo by Congress.
That is not what we elected them to do!

A great majority of citizens in California’s 8th
Congressional district want the Bush regime impeached
and want our troops home from the Middle East. I
believe Ms. Pelosi has lost touch with the people of
this district and America and it’s time for our reps
that aren’t doing their jobs by upholding their sworn
oaths to the Constitution to receive a wakeup call!

I agree that with over 45 million American uninsured,
we need universal health care. I agree that with many
of our young people joining the military to receive
college credit (which very few take full advantage
of), it’s time to make college affordable. I agree
that the people in the administrative branch are
corrupt, as are many members of Congress, and ethics
need to be reformed. None of these worthy goals can be
accomplished while we’re spending 12 million of our
tax dollars an hour in Iraq and while the foxes run
the henhouse. In this once great nation of ours, the
rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer
and the middle class is rapidly disappearing along
with the “American dream” of home ownership. The time
is now to bring our tax dollars home from the Middle
East to help the people of California’s 8th and to
make our communities safer and more prosperous.

Incredibly, even before the November elections, Ms
Pelosi took part of the Constitution off the table and
it’s time to put it back on! Mss. Pelosi colluded with
BushCo to take away our 4th Amendment protection
against unreasonable search and seizure. Congress
needs to make that body relevant again as a co-equal
branch of government that has a responsibility to put
checks and balances on the executive branch not be
conspirators in its crimes and murder.

The Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act need to
be repealed and Habeas Corpus needs to be restored.
These things can only happen with fearless leadership,
not fearful capitulation to a lying President.

I am running unaffiliated with any political party
because I believe the corporately controlled “two”
party system is responsible for keeping our country in
a state of cold and hot wars for decades and it’s time
to rein in the military industrial war complex that
President Eisenhower warned us of almost 50 years ago.

My candidacy and service will put people before
profits and people before political expediency. This
country is ripe for a change and it is going to start
right here and right now!

I dedicate my candidacy to the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan that have been tragically harmed by BushCo
with the complicity of Congress, Inc.

I dedicate my candidacy to my children and unborn
grandchildren. All the children of the world deserve
long lives lived in peace, prosperity and
environmental sustainability.

Last of all, I dedicate my candidacy to my hero, Casey
who always stood up for what he believed in, even if
it wasn't popular. He is my role model and I always
strive to make him proud.

Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
US support deadly for Gemayel
Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:42:22
Source: The Int'l Herald Tribune

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=19024&sectionid=351020203

Political analysts believe that Lebanon's former president Amin Gemayel's support by the US administration helped doom him.
Political spin masters in Lebanon have been trying in recent days to explain the results of a pivotal special election last Sunday, which saw a relative unknown from the opposition narrowly beat Gemayel, the International Herald Tribune wrote in a political commentary on Thursday.
There has been talk of the Christian vote and the Armenian vote, of history and betrayal. One explanation, however, that all agree on proved crucial in this race: Gemayel's support by the White House and the implied agendas behind such support, seem to have inflicted a narrow but heavy defeat on Gemayel.

Turki al- Rasheed, a Saudi reformer who watched Sunday's elections closely, said "The minute you are counted on or backed by the Americans, kiss it goodbye, you will never win."
The paradox of American policy in the Middle East - promoting democracy on the assumption it will bring countries closer to the West - is that almost everywhere there are free elections, the American-backed side tends to lose.
In part, regional analysts say, candidates are tainted by the baggage of American foreign policy - from support for Tel-Aviv to the violence in Iraq.

But more important, US support is often applied to one faction instead of institutions, causing further division rather than bringing about stability.
"Last Sunday we saw that even if you are a former president running for a seat in parliament, in a small area where everybody knows you, you can't make it with American support," Rasheed said.
Alain Aoun, a political adviser to the opposition Free Patriotic Movement led by his uncle, General Michel Aoun, said, "We call on the US to learn from this experience; they should not take part in any internal conflict or take sides, they should support all Lebanese."
"The Americans think that supporting democracy should create positive reactions," said Nicola Nassif, a columnist for the left-leaning Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar. "No one can be against democracy, sovereignty, independence and freedom. But not if it upsets the internal power balance, not if it empowers one party against the other, especially in a country where supporting one group can lead to violence and even civil wars."
The problem is not necessarily the support itself, Nassif said, but that it invariably skews conflicts, worsening rather than easing sectarian and ethnic tensions.
"When the US interferes in favor of one party, their interference leads to an explosion," Nassif said. "The US openly says it supports the Siniora government; but it should say we support the Lebanese government."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The New York Times
August 10, 2007
Memo From Dubai
U.S. Backs Free Elections, Only to See Allies Lose
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/world/middleeast/10arab.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

By HASSAN M. FATTAH

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Aug. 9 — Lebanon’s political spin masters have been trying in recent days to explain the results of last Sunday’s pivotal by-election, which saw a relatively unknown candidate from the opposition narrowly beat a former president, Amin Gemayel.

There has been talk of the Christian vote and the Armenian vote, of history and betrayal, as each side sought to claim victory. There is one explanation, however, that has become common wisdom in the region: Mr. Gemayel’s doom seems to have been sealed by his support from the Bush administration and the implied agendas behind its backing.

“It’s the kiss of death,” said Turki al-Rasheed, a Saudi reformer who watched last Sunday’s elections closely. “The minute you are counted on or backed by the Americans, kiss it goodbye, you will never win.”

The paradox of American policy in the Middle East — promoting democracy on the assumption it will bring countries closer to the West — is that almost everywhere there are free elections, the American-backed side tends to lose.

Lebanon’s voters in the Metn district, in other words, appeared to have joined the Palestinians, who voted for Hamas; the Iraqis, who voted for a government sympathetic to Iran; and the Egyptians, who have voted in growing numbers in recent elections for the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. “No politician can afford to identify with the West because poll after poll shows people don’t believe in the U.S. agenda,” said Mustafa Hamarneh, until recently the director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. Mr. Hamarneh is running for a seat in Jordan’s Parliament in November, but he says he has made a point of keeping his campaign focused locally, and on bread-and-butter issues. “If somebody goes after you as pro-American he can hurt you,” he said.

In part, regional analysts say, candidates are tainted by the baggage of American foreign policy — from its backing of Israel to the violence in Iraq. But more important, they say, American support is often applied to one faction instead of to institutions, causing further division rather than bringing stability.

“The Americans think that supporting democracy should create positive reactions,” said Nicola Nassif, a columnist with the left-leaning Lebanese daily Al Akhbar. “No one can be against democracy, sovereignty, independence and freedom. But not if it upsets the internal power balance, not if it empowers one party against the other, especially in a country where supporting one group can lead to violence and even civil wars.”

Arab liberals who have embraced America continue to see their influence fade in the region, as more conservative and Islamist forces continue to rise, Mr. Rasheed said. Voters invariably frown on strength coming from abroad, he said; the only legitimate sources of strength any Arab politician can turn to is based on either tribal power or religious ties.

“Last Sunday we saw that even if you are a former president running for a seat in Parliament, in a small area where everybody knows you, you can’t make it either with American support,” Mr. Rasheed said.

For much of the past year, Lebanon has been caught in a major confrontation between the American-backed March 14th movement, which helped force Syria out of Lebanon in 2005 and won a parliamentary majority that year, and the Iranian- and Syrian-backed opposition movement led by Hezbollah and Gen. Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement.

Sunday’s vote was widely seen as a bellwether for the country’s political leanings in that confrontation.

Lebanon’s Christians are generally more sympathetic to the United States than are other Arabs. But the tension between Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s American-backed faction against an Iranian-backed one was palpable in last Sunday’s election.

And despite an expected sympathy vote — Mr. Gemayel was running to fill the seat vacated by the assassination of his son Pierre — and the former president’s name recognition, Lebanese Christians in the mountainous Metn region, along with a smattering of Shiites and others who live there, voted for the more unlikely team: one allied to Hezbollah, seemingly sympathetic to Iran and Syria, and most of all, in opposition to America.

“Our problem with March 14th is not that they are aligned with the U.S., but it is their policies,” says Alain Aoun, a nephew of General Aoun, who says American support has magnified tensions while emboldening the ruling majority to resist compromises. “We call on the U.S. to learn from this experience; they should not take part in any internal conflict or take sides. They should support all Lebanese.”

The problem is not necessarily the support itself, Mr. Nassif said, but that it invariably skews conflicts, worsening rather than easing sectarian and ethnic tensions.

“When the U.S. interferes in favor of one party, their interference leads to an explosion,” he said. “The U.S. openly says it supports the Siniora government, but it should say we support the Lebanese government.”

There was, however, one American intervention that did work in Lebanon, Mr. Nassif notes.

“In 1958 when the U.S. interfered militarily in Lebanon, it said it was to help Lebanon regain stability,” he said, speaking of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s decision to deploy 14,000 men to shore up the government of President Camille Chamoun and open the way for his successor, Gen. Fuad Chehab. The intervention is credited with preventing the Syrian and Egyptian governments from destabilizing the country.

“Chehab was soon after elected, and no one protested their presence here; a few months later they withdrew,” Mr. Nassif said of the American forces. “In 1982, they interfered militarily again and it ended in a disaster. They supported Israel and Gemayel against the Palestinians, who were supported by Lebanese parties.”

Mr. Nassif added, “Since then, every time the Americans interfere, it ends in a war or in their expulsion.”

Nada Bakri contributed reporting from Beirut, Lebanon.