The State Department’s Spin on Friendship

Condoleezza Rice and the State Department have openly criticized former President Jimmy Carter’s upcoming talks in Syria with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. Carter contends that “if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process.” The State Department is opposed to the meeting because Washington considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization.

However, exactly two years ago, on April 12, 2006, Rice met with Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and referred to him as “a good friend.” Mbasogo had made Parade magazine’s “Annual List of the World’s 10 Worst Dictators” for four consecutive years. During his rule, torture was the normal means of investigation and there was no freedom of speech. There were no bookstores or newsstands and the sole radio station was owned by his son. However, the Bush administration considers him to be “a good friend.”

It sound to me, not unlike anyone else in the Bush administration, Condi is speaking out of both sides of her mouth. But then, Mbasogo had deposited over $700 million in accounts in the United States, thanks mostly to rich oil reserves. The current administration has always been able to provide justification for its actions, especially when the situation in any way involves oil – even if the results of their greed lead to the deaths of 4,000+ of America’s finest men and women and the maiming of countless others.

Kudos to Arizona!

In today’s edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, an article by Jacques Billeaud of the Associated Press explained how scores of illegals are fleeing the state of Arizona for other states or their Latin American homelands in response to a state law enacted on January 1, 2008.

The law suspends or revokes the business license of companies found to be in violation of the law and was intended to reduce the economic incentive for people to sneak across the border.  The law was approved last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano out of frustration with efforts of the federal government to curb illegal immigration.  This proves that biparitsan politics can work provided that politicians place the welfare of their state and/or country ahead of party.

I urge the United States Congress to introduce similar legislation immediately.  Arizona’s law is obviously having the effect that was intended….and it is significantly less expensive to enforce than the federal government’s idiotic plan of building a fence along the entire length of the U.S.-Mexican border, a plan that will require continual maintenance of the fence and daily patrols along its entire length.  But then again, that is where our federal government excels – spending tons of money on poorly planned, pork-barrel programs and wars aimed at nation-building.

Congratulations to Governor Napolitano and the Arizona legislature!

George W. Bush – 356 Days Left

“More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than – I say more Muslims – a lot of Muslims have died – I don’t know the exact count – at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there’s been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill.”

President Bush, making the complex issues sound so simple, January 29, 2004

George W. Bush – 368 Days Left

“The California crunch really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and then not enough power to power the power of generating plants.”

President Bush, January 14, 2001

George W. Bush – 370 Days Left

“Because he’s hiding.”

President Bush, explaining why 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden hadn’t been apprehended, January 16, 2005

George W. Bush – 377 Days Left

“One of the most meaningful things that’s happened to me since I’ve been the governor – the president – governor – president. Oops. Ex-governor. I went to Bethesda Naval Hospital to give a fellow a Purple Heart, and at the same moment I watched him – get a Purple Heart for action in Iraq – and at that same – right after I gave him the Purple Heart, he was sworn in as a citizen of the United States – a Mexican citizen, now a United States citizen.”

President Bush, tongue twisting, January 9, 2004

George W. Bush – 382 Days Left

“The person who runs FEMA is someone who must have the trust of the president.  Because the person who runs FEMA is the first voice, oftentimes, of someone whose life has been turned upside down hears from.”

President Bush, speaking highly of Federal Emergency Management Agency head Joseph Allbaugh, Michael Brown’s predecessor, years before Hurricane Katrina, January 4, 2001

George W. Bush – 385 Days Left

“As you can probably see, I have an injury myself – not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar.  I eventually won.  The cedar gave me a little scratch.  As a matter of fact, the colonel asked if I needed first aid when she first saw me.”

George Bush, chatting up fellow combat veterans at Brooke Army Medical Center, January 1, 2006