Theodore's World

Zombie Time is promoting Saturday, November 22, 2008 as “Victory in Iraq Day!”
Zombie Time
We won. The Iraq War is over.
I declare November 22, 2008 to be “Victory in Iraq Day.” (Hereafter known as “VI Day.”)
By every measure, The United States and coalition forces have conclusively defeated all enemies in Iraq, pacified the country, deposed the previous regime, successfully helped to establish a new functioning democratic government, and suppressed any lingering insurgencies. The war has come to an end. And we won.
What more indication do you need? An announcement from the outgoing Bush administration? It’s not gonna happen. An announcement from the incoming Obama administration? That’s really not gonna happen. A declaration of victory by the media? Please. Don’t make me laugh. A concession of surrender by what few remaining insurgents remain in hiding? Forget about it.
The moment has come to acknowledge the obvious. To overtly declare a fact that has already been true for quite some time now.
And since there will never be a ticker-tape parade down Fifth Avenue in New York for our troops, it’s up to us, the people, to arrange a virtual ticker-tape parade. An online victory celebration.
Saturday, November 22, 2008 is the day of that celebration: Victory in Iraq Day.
Some Quotes:

“THE WAR IS OVER AND WE WON:” Michael Yon just phoned from Baghdad, and reports that things are much better than he had expected, and he had expected things to be good. “There’s nothing going on. I’m with the 10th Mountain Division, and about half of the guys I’m with haven’t fired their weapons on this tour and they’ve been here eight months. And the place we’re at, South Baghdad, used to be one of the worst places in Iraq. And now there’s nothing going on. I’ve been walking my feet off and haven’t seen anything.”

On the political front in Iraq, victory has broken out as well. On Sunday, November 16, Iraq’s cabinet approved a security agreement with the U.S. which top analysts and pundits are saying is the closest we’ll ever get to a bureaucratic declaration of victory and of the war’s end. Hugh Hewitt, for example, says:

“The Battle For Iraq Has Been Won. Will The President-elect Preserve The Victory?
Yesterday’s vote by the Iraqi cabinet to approve a status of forces agreement confirms what most reasonable people had concluded this summer –that the battle for Iraq is over and the country is stable and secure even though its enemies remain in small enclaves within the country and across the border in Iran. It has taken five years and come at a high cost in American lives lost and in thousands of wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
It is, however, a crucial victory in the war against Islamist extremism and for stability in the Middle East. “

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Who gets to decide when it’s over?
Indeed, everywhere you look, someone has highlighted yet another detail which, cumulatively, demonstrate that “peace has broken out all over” Iraq.
Each person has their own criteria as to when the war was won: Some say we won the war long ago when we defeated the Iraqi Army in three weeks. Some say we won when the Iraqi government tried and executed Saddam Hussein. Some say we won when Iraqis voted democratically to elect their own leaders. Some say we won when we established control over the entirety of the country last year, eliminating the last remaining insurgent strongholds. Some say we won six months ago when the last remaining organized resistance evaporated.
On the other hand, there are those who are saying (in response to this essay) that we have not reached that magical benchmark. The Iraqi parliament may have passed the security agreement solidifying Iraq’s post-war stability, but some people say we should wait until the U.S. Senate approves it before we declare victory. Others say that the war won’t be won until casualty levels literally drop to zero. Other say we haven’t won until all troops are gone from the country. Others wait in vain for an official announcement.
There is no consensus. And there never will be. Still, the cut-off point between “war” and “not war” has to be drawn somewhere, and if we don’t draw the line ourselves, I guarantee it will NEVER be drawn. Because the Left and the media want to make sure that even ten years from now, when perhaps one US soldier is killed per year in an otherwise completely stable Iraq, that still won’t qualify as “victory.” Because their overarching goal is to to make sure that the war goes down in history as a defeat, no matter what.
My opinion is: This is as good a time to declare victory as we’re ever going to get. All signs point to “Yes.” If you don’t agree, that’s perfectly fine, you can ignore this essay. But if you think this is long overdue, then climb on board.

If we won, why are there troops still in Iraq?
Does our victory mean that I advocate the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq? No. Wars may be won but postwar occupations generally don’t end crisply and cleanly like that. Troops often stay around to rebuild or to maintain the peace for years, even decades. Hell, the United States still has several military bases and many troops “occupying” Japan and Germany who have been there continuously since the end of World War II in 1945. We have two major Air Bases in Korea leftover from the Korean War. The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba is a remnant of the Spanish-American War and has been there for over a century; the U.S. military also “occupied” the Philippines at Subic Bay for nearly a hundred years as a result of the Spanish-American War. More recently we continue to have a presence in Bosnia at Tuzla Air Base as a consequence of our role in the Bosnian War of the 1990s. What all this means is that it is standard practice in the aftermath of nearly every overseas war in which the U.S. participates for us to keep some troops there on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

If the Iraq War is over, why do we still occasionally hear reports of violence or casualties?
A common misperception of warfare is that when a war is “won,” all fighting immediately stops, and that all members of the losing side passively lay down their arms and surrender. While that does happen on occasion, much more frequently the fighting continues as a low-level guerrilla war or insurgency for years afterwards by the diminishing die-hard loyalists of the losing side. Even wars with crushing conclusive victories and official declarations of surrender saw continued fighting long after those wars were officially “over.” After World War II, which was won as conclusively as any war was ever won, some Germans refused to acknowledge defeat and continued to operate as guerrilla assassins and saboteurs.

But where’s the official announcement?
The only reason that the war has not been declared “over” is that the media, which was generally opposed to the war and opposed to any of President Bush’s policies, doesn’t want to give him and his supporters the satisfaction of having been right. The media wants U.S. troops to return home, but only on condition that they do so with their tails between their legs in defeat — not as victorious liberators, which would invalidate five years of subtle and not-so-subtle anti-war propaganda on the part of the left-leaning media.
The Bush administration for its part has not declared victory for two probable reasons: first, because they fear that by so doing they would only increase the call by the media and liberal Democrats to “bring the troops home now”; and also by so doing they might invite some last-ditch spectacular terror attack by the few remaining jihadists in order to embarrass the administration. And the incoming Obama administration will certainly never announce victory, since Obama spent over a year campaigning for the Democratic primary as the anti-war candidate. So both sides refuse to say the war is over. Even though it is, in fact, over.
It is up to the American people to declare victory. Which is exactly what we are doing right now.
There never will be an “official” announcement from the government or the media, so you can stop waiting for it.
This is the official announcement.

Join the VI Day movement!
Zombie Time website has all the information and logos as well.
Do you agree with the concept behind VI Day? Then post a VI Day entry on your blog.
Once you’ve posted it, email Zombie Time the link! And I will post a link back to your blog here on this page.
Make sure to make at least two different postings: Make one now to announce your support of VI Day and to spread the word ahead of time; and make another one on November 22 itself, to celebrate!

Wild Thing’s comment……
I love this and I agree, it is time. Our troops are awesome and the changes in Iraq have been so obvious to all of us that have been paying attention., to all of you that come to this blog and are Team Theodore.
We have watched how they have rebuilt so many things in Iraq, how schools that never existed are open and running smoothly, how water is running in places it never was available before to citizens that had to travel many miles to even get a their water. The list goes on and on the things our military has accompolished in Iraq.
The media of course would get a full body rash if they had to tell about our troops in a positive way. And in the end they will get no credit for having any support for the support of our troops, NEVER EVER!
God bless our warriors and a big thank you to each person that has served and continues to serve.
Here is a little story I want to share with you, something our troops have made possiible for the Iraqi people.
It is from CAMP VICTORY, Iraq
They walked in the fields of Iraq, talked to its farmers and people, learned their stories, their struggles, their hope.
Team Borlaug, the agricultural assessment team from Texas A&M University, visited the farmlands of southern Iraq for six months; now, members can look back at their accomplishments.
Blaze Currie, of Wellman, Texas, the team’s youth program development expert, talked about a farmer in Karbala province who had a plot of land behind his house set aside for farming.

“He said he couldn’t plant it this year, but he would next year,” Currie said of the farmer. “And our simple question that we asked a lot of times was, ‘Why didn’t you plant it last year?’ His answer was, ‘Well, I had to flood it first to get rid of all the mines.’ … That, to me, symbolizes the concept of agriculture in this nation to develop economic stability.”

Currie and the other members of Team Borlaug could talk for hours about these experiences. The team had up to 14 members, and their mission for the past six months was to work with coalition forces and Iraqi farmers.
Agriculture makes up nearly 75 percent of Iraq’s economy.
Of course, Iraq isn’t just 7,000 miles from Team Borlaug’s home in Texas , war-torn and hot 132 degrees. It’s also a military battle space but less then every before. The team adjusted to new lingo and worked with Soldiers who had trained for war but have been a large source to the people of Iraq in their agricultural and economic struggles.
A wonderful soldier, he is an artillery sergeant who made tea for local sheikhs invited on base as guests.

“He was a big, buffed up dude that I mean, was just pretty rugged … and this big old dude that was stocky and looked like he could manhandle about anybody … [was] leaning over making chai. And I said, ‘Why are you making chai?’ And he had the funniest look and he said, ‘Well, why wouldn’t I? They make chai for us, don’t they? … This is as commonplace as putting ammo in my clip. I gotta’ make chai whenever they come.’

“I’ll never forget that,” Currie said. “That was the epitome of something I didn’t expect a Soldier to be doing – a great service to be doing in Iraq – but they were doing it.”

Team Borlaug gives credit for their success to Soldiers like this one, and to those who escorted them throughout Iraq while they conducted their assessment. When talking about what they learned, they will share their memories; but when talking about their accomplishments, they will point back to civil affair teams, PRTs and coalition forces dedicated to improving this country. Above all, they point to the Iraqi people.

“I learned the people of Iraq want the same thing for themselves and their families that we want for ours. They want peace. They want freedom. They want hope,” Briers said.

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….Thank you Les for telling me about this.

‘Screaming Eagles’ relinquish control of IZ’s largest FOB

Story by Sgt. Bill Addison
Photos by Maj. Jon Powers
JASG-C Public Affairs
The Joint Area Support Group- Central (JASG-C), took ownership of the International Zone’s (IZ) largest Forward Operating Base (FOB) from the Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, under the watch of Maj. Michael Bobinis Oct. 27.
The transfer of authority marked an important step in streamlining overall ownership of the IZ under the JASG-C, which is made up of New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Bobinis recognized the daunting task ahead.

“We found out our five guys are replacing about 40 guys, so now we have a challenge ahead of us,” said Bobinis, a native of Bethlehem, Pa. With that challenge ahead of them, Bobinis and his team remain confident in their mission. The key, according to him, is teamwork. “We call it Team Prosperity. We want people to be proud to be part
of Prosperity,” said Bobinis.

Part of his team is 1st. Sgt. Edward Santiago, noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the mayor’s cell. Santiago’s typical answer to the everyday challenges: “Too easy.” Does the mailroom need a Conex?

“Your tent is flooding and you need gravel? “Too easy.” Does a vendor need a tree branch cut down? “Too easy.”
As a matter of fact, that turned into a big event. “There was a tree branch that people kept banging their head on,
we went and cut it down for them. That gave us instant credibility with the people, and it’s spreading around the FOB. All it took was cutting down a tree branch.” Santiago, a New Jersey

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Approximately 20 Iraqi children and their parents from outside Baghdad’s International Zone (IZ) enjoyed a day of
games and activities at the IZ’s Forward Operating Base Freedom Oct. 24, courtesy of the Joint Area Support Group- Central (JASG-C). Activities ranged from horseshoes with Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, to egg
tossing with Spc. Hyacinthe Luna, to swimming with Air Force 1st Lt. Jaimie Howard

IA Soldiers from 4th Bn., 31st IA Bde., 8th IA Div. salute for the Iraqi and U.S. National Anthems during the graduation ceremony of the Lionclaw Academy on FOB Kalsu Nov. 15.

FOB KALSU– Thirty-one Iraqi Army Soldiers graduated from the last class of the Vanguard Brigade’s route clearance course at Forward Operating Base Kalsu Nov. 15. The Lionclaw Route Clearance Academy, which began its first class July 20, taught four iterations of the course to Soldiers in the 31st Brigade, 8th IA Division.

“Today we stand here and celebrate the fourth graduation, and we’re celebrating for two reasons,” said Brig. Gen. Abdul Amir, 31st Bde. commander. “The first reason is because of you, the heroes who have graduated as a road clearance platoon, and the second reason is because now we have finished training four road clearance platoons. Now, we have one road clearance platoon in each battalion … so now we have more military fighting ability.”

Sgt. Thomas Dwyer from Forked River, N.J. of the Command Security Detachment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division stops to pass out soccer playing cards to Iraqi children while conducting a patrol in a local market in the city of Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 22, 2008. They are conducting the patrol to show a strong presence in the local community.

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Wild Thing’s comment……..
More news that the left hates to see and the media turns a blind eye to.
God bless our troops. What a great idea about the games for the children to play. The photos show how much they loved it.

The National Museum of American History was recently put through a two-year, $85 million renovation. After the ceremony five people were sworn in as new citizens of the United States.

President George W. Bush smiles as he arrives to make remarks during the reopening ceremony for the National Museum of American History in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008.

President Bush:

“Thank you. Laura and I are thrilled to be here. We are honored you would invite us to reopen one of the country’s great civic institutions — the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. This building is home to many of our national treasures. It is a reminder of our country’s proud heritage. And today we’re witnessing the beginning of an exciting new era in its history. And I would urge all our citizens who come to Washington, D.C.: Come to this fantastic place of learning.”

“There have been hours in our nation’s history when that promise of freedom looked uncertain. One of them took place 145 years ago today, when President Abraham Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to dedicate a cemetery at one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battlefields. By that day, the war had raged for more than two and a half years, and claimed hundreds of thousands of casualties. Many were convinced that a peace that preserved slavery would be better than a war that was pitting brother against brother. President Lincoln understood that liberty is a gift given by the Almighty — and that peace must not be purchased with injustice. “

President Bush:

“The items on display here are as diverse as our nation. Visitors can see George Washington’s military uniform, one of Thomas Edison’s early lightbulbs, the desk on which Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence — even Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, which he modestly predicted would become the most famous thing in this building. “(Laughter from audience.)

President George W. Bush is silhouetted against an American flag exhibit Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, during his visit with Mrs. Laura Bush to the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Eric Draper

President Bush:
“Another item on display here is one of our nation’s proudest symbols of patriotism. The icon’s fame dates to the war of 1812. In that conflict, the British Navy bombarded Baltimore’s Fort McHenry with rockets and mortar fire. And as the battle raged, a young American was detained on a ship in Baltimore Harbor, unable to join the fight. The next morning, he was anxious to see whether his country had resisted the invasion. He discovered the answer when he saw the stars and stripes of the United States waving defiantly above Fort McHenry. ”

“That young American, of course, was Francis Scott Key. He referred to the moment he saw the flag as an “hour of deliverance and joyful triumph.” He recorded those emotions in a poem called “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Today, nearly two centuries after they were composed, his words are written on the heart of every American — and written into our law as our country’s national anthem. And the flag that inspired them is preserved here, thanks to the generosity of some fine citizens, to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made to ensure our freedom. “

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush join five new American citizens in pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag following their citizenship ceremony at the reopened National Museum of American History in Washington November 19, 2008. [Note that everyone is facing the flag except for the fellow in the brown suit–he seems more interested in the President, lol

“Throughout our history, these ideals have called out to those beyond our shores. They have beckoned those who love liberty from every nation. They have made countless generations of men and women across the world long for the pride that comes with calling yourself an American citizen. Today, I’m delighted to congratulate five of you who will be taking your oath of citizenship in just a few moments. Though you are originally from France, Germany, Guyana, Lebanon, and Peru, today you’re becoming members of the American family. We welcome you with open arms. I will be proud to call you fellow citizen.”

“The Museum of American History is a wonderful place to begin your journey as an American. These halls reflect both the duties and privileges of citizenship. They remind us that America’s highest ideals have always required brave defenders. They remind us that our liberty is a precious gift from God.
Thank you for having Laura and me here. May God continue to bless the United States of America. ” (Applause.)

Wild Thing’s comment…….
Everything has added significance now that we know there are only a few weeks left before Number 44 takes office.

Full Page Ad hits Washington Times Weekly
This ad ran on page 5 of the November 17th, 2008 edition of the Washington Times National Weekly
To read it better the FULL PAGE AD CLICK HERE …it is pdf file and well worth seeing!!!!
Berg issues three challenges in ad on page 5:
1) Was Barack Obama born in Kenya?
2) Is he really a citizen of Indonesia?
3) Does the Constitution still matter?

Wild Thing’s comment……..
I tired to put it together in Photo shop. It is a huge ad so I was able to do it in 4 pieces. The print is still small in some areas, but the PDF file of the ad, the link above makes it easier to read.
This is not going to go away and if Obama cared one portion for the rule of law, for our Constitution and our great country he would do what needs to be done.
Of course we already found out Obama mocks our Constitution, and would love to get rid of it by the things he said in 2001.

How Obama Got Elected… Interviews With Obama Voters
source:
On Election day twelve Obama voters were interviewed extensively right after they voted to learn how the news media impacted their knowledge of what occurred during the campaign. These voters were chosen for their apparent intelligence/verbal abilities and willingness to express their opinions to a large audience.

Also at Pat Dollard’s site and read this: “I Am A Student Of History”

Wild Thing’s comment………..
The majority chose evil in this last election and ignorance is no excuse ! There were plenty of ways a person could get information and be informed.
Sorry but …..AMERICA DESERVES BETTER THEN CITIZENS LIKE THIS!

* Yankeemom blog
* Pat Dollard

It’s National Ammo Day!
“A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
Second Amendment

Facts:
* Number of firearms in America: 228,000,000360
* Number of firearm owning households: At least 50,600,000361
* Projected firearm owning households in America: 60-85 million
* Number of guns used in crimes: 450,000362
* Percentage of guns used in crimes: 0.09%
Over 50 million law-abiding, gun owning households committed NO crime today… but collectively, we stop 2.5 million crimes per year… 6,849 a day!
Fact: Every day, 550 rapes, 1,100 murders, and 5,200 other violent crimes are prevented just by showing a gun. In less than 0.9% of the time is the gun ever actually fired.
Keep up the good work and keep your ammo supply stocked!

This was the show where she made the fist bump question and got in trouble for it. SHEESH nothing was wrong with what E.E. Hill said.

And then this………………
Fox News’ E.D. Hill Apologizes for “Terrorist Fist Jab”

E.D. Hill To Leave Fox News Channel
Exclusive:
TVNewser has learned veteran Fox News Channel anchor E.D. Hill will not be renewed when her current contract expires. Hill, who has been with Fox News for more than 10 years, will continue with the network for the next few months until her current deal expires.
SVP of Programming Bill Shine tells TVNewser that he “chose not to renew E.D.’s latest contract” but noted that “Hill has been a valued contributor to the success of FNC over the years, and we wish her all the best.”
Hill has been without a regular Fox News program since June 16, when America’s Pulse was replaced by two hours of Live Desk. Ten days earlier Hill used the term terrorist fist jab when promoting an upcoming body language segment that was going to look into the primary night fist bump shared by Barack and Michelle Obama.
For most of her nearly 11 years at FNC Hill anchored Fox & Friends. In 2006 she moved to a late morning program then to the afternoons where, in the months leading up to the election, she’d been filling in on America’s Election HQ.

Wild Thing’s comment………
OK so the very obvious question is, of all the tremendous amount of attacks on Gov. Sarah Palin will those at CNN and MSNBC and yes even a few at FOX be told to leave as well???? I mean fair is fari right? And besides E.D.Hill did NOT attack Barack Hussein Obama and his wife.
The left has called Bush a Nazi, Hitler, threatened his lilfe at the democrat websites and blogs and forums. Even the leftie protesters have had big signs and t-shirts calling Bush names. Lies about our troops and telling them to kill their Officers and yet how many of any of those people have been punished.
Almost every person on CNN and MSNBC have lied about Sarah Palin, promoted the lies about her, about her baby, her sex life, her work, her intellligence, her home, where Russia is located, her hunting, her pro life stance, her children, her daughter that is pregnant, her son in the service …………… non stop attacks 24/7 from the very day Palin was announced to be the VP candidate.
This really ticks me off this double standard!!
And SHAME ON FOX for being weak, kissing up to the pressure from the left and NOT taking a stand for their reporters!

Somali pirates try to hijack British ship after demanding £10m ransom for captured Saudi supertanker

Somali pirates who captured a Saudi supertanker have narrowly failed in hijacking a British tanker.
The British tanker Trafalgar was suddenly surrounded in the Gulf of Aden by at least eight speedboats.
It was rescued when the German frigate Karlsruhe on patrol 12 miles away sent a helicopter to scare off the pirates who fled at high speed.
The latest audacious attack by Somali pirates comes as they are expected to a record ransom of more than $10million for the release of the Saudi oil supertanker hijacked off the Kenyan coast.

Where the supertanker was taken by pirates and the port they are heading towards

Negotiations over the Sirius Star, packed with two million barrels of crude oil worth $100million (£67m) – enough to supply the whole of France for a day – were said still not to have opened formally.
But officials involved in the release of previous ships claimed that ‘electronic monitoring’ showed the Somali pirates ‘were talking’ of at least $10million (£6.7m).
The biggest ship ever hijacked and her crew of 25, including two Britons – a senior officer and the chief engineer – has been anchored off the Somali coast near a pirate stronghold. All the crew are safe, the ship’s operator Vela International said.
Meanwhile the Indian navy has said that one of its warships in the Gulf of Aden has destroyed a ship belonging to pirates operating in the area.
The INS Tabar opened fire on a pirate ‘mother ship’ after it came under attack, according to the Government.
Two more vessels, a Hong Kong cargo ship and a fishing boat, were seized in the Gulf of Aden.
The Delight, a Hong Kong-flagged ship, loaded with wheat bound for Iran, was captured off the Yemen coast, the latest raid in the Horn of Africa’s perilous waters.
In Bahrain, a U.S. Navy spokeswoman said the Hong Kong-registered ship belonged to Iran’s state shipping lines.
The other vessel, a fishing boat registered in Kiribati, was carrying a crew of 12, the International Maritime Bureau said. Its owners lost contact with the IMB this morning.
Pirates in the area have now attacked more than 90 vessels this year and successfully made more than £60 million from ransom demands.
The Sirius Star joins at least 14 other ships which Somali pirates are currently holding to ransom, along with more than 260 crew members.
The captive ships range from the Ukrainian Faina, laden with guns, ammunition and 32 battle tanks, to bulk carriers, tankers, ocean-going tugs and gleaming luxury yachts.
Although the lives of crew are at risk when the ships are stormed, or when commandos attempt armed rescues, the main objective of the pirates is to extort large amounts of cash from the ship owners, who are insured against this eventuality.
Article continues HERE.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
I didn’t know the pirates had attacked 80 vessels this year. These pirates are terrorists and I wish they could just fire on them, forget taking prisoners and never pay them money.

Barack Hussein Obama to Pick Eric Holder As AG
New York Post
WASHINGTON
President-elect Barack Obama’s aides have privately asked senators whether Washington attorney Eric Holder would be confirmed as the next attorney general, according to a person involved in the talks.
The talks suggest that Obama is deeply interested in Holder, who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Clinton.
In the past week, Obama aides have asked Senate Republicans whether they would support Holder. In particular, the aides questioned whether Holder’s confirmation would be delayed because of his involvement in the 2001 pardon of fugitive Marc Rich by President Bill Clinton
Newsweek, quoting unidentified legal sources close to the presidential transition team, reported Tuesday that Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted. Newsweek said Holder still has to undergo a formal “vetting” review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final.
One person involved in the talks told The Associated Press that the Obama team has received some assurances that, while the Rich pardon would certainly come up during hearings, the nomination likely wouldn’t be held up over that. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversations.

On the last day of Clinton’s term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had been spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was “neutral, leaning towards favorable” on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.
A former U.S. attorney, Holder is among Washington’s most prominent defense attorneys. He would be the first black attorney general in U.S. history.

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The Washington Times

Eric Holder, as deputy attorney general under President Clinton, Mr. Holder reviewed the last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich.

Charged with 51 counts of fraud, tax evasion and illegally trading with Iran, Mr. Rich fled to Switzerland in 1983 but won a pardon from Mr. Clinton in 2001. The decision prompted a congressional investigation because Mr. Rich’s wife was a major Democratic donor and prosecutors said they were never consulted.

Indicted by then-U.S. Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Rich failed to return to the U.S. following the indictment and was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list for several years. Mr. Holder had given a “neutral, leaning towards favorable” opinion of the pardon that led directly to the pardoning of Mr. Rich on Mr. Clinton’s last day in office.

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When Will Obama Stop Ignoring The Controversial Record Of His Senior Adviser?
PDF file and research Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
pdf file of owhat is below
Obama’s Senior Adviser And VP Vetter, Eric Holder, Served As Deputy Attorney General When The Clinton Administration Pardoned Two Members Of The Weather Underground:

— The Clinton Administration Commuted The Sentence Of Two Members Of The Weather Underground While Holder Was Deputy Attorney General. “While most of the attention at the time was focused on the Rich pardon, and the contributions Rich’s ex-wife Denise made to the Clinton library and campaigns, there was also extensive criticism of the commuted sentences of two convicted members of the domestic terror group, the Weather Underground, Susan Rosenberg and Linda Sue Evans.” (Avni Patel and Brian Ross, “Obama’s VP Screener Missed Problems With Controversial Clinton Pardons,” abcnews.go.com, 6/20/08)

— Obama: “By Senator Clinton’s own vetting standards, I don’t think she’d make it since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground, which I think is a slightly more significant act than me serving on a board with someone for actions that he did 40 years ago.” (Avni Patel and Brian Ross, “Obama’s VP Screener Missed Problems With Controversial Clinton Pardons,” abcnews.go.com, 6/20/08)

Holder Has Been Involved In Numerous Controversial Actions, Including The Commutation Of The Sentences Of Two Members Of The Weather Underground And The Seizure Of Elian Gonzalez:

Then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder Was Involved In The Seizure Of Elian Gonzalez And His Return To Cuba. “At issue … legal advisor Eric Holder, a member of Obama’s vice-presidential search committee who was deputy attorney general when the 6-year-old boy was seized by federal agents and returned to Cuba.” (Beth Reinhard, “Elian Saga Might Hound Obama Visit,” The Miami Herald, 6/19/08)

— Holder Defended The Right Of The Federal Government To Seize Gonzalez By Force. “The Justice Department yesterday warned the Miami relatives of Elian Gonzalez that force could be used ‘if it becomes necessary’ to return the boy to his father. ‘We have that power,’ said Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder. ‘The father and son need to be together. It is not only a matter of federal law and immigration law, it is simply the right thing to do.’ Holder said U.S. marshals would be prepared to seize the boy only as a last resort, and he described a series of escalated steps over the next few days to keep pressure on Elian’s Miami relatives to make a peaceful transfer of custody.” (Richard Sisk, “Gov’t Says Force An Option Reunite Father, Son,” [New York] Daily News, 4/7/00)

— Holder Also Defended The Use Of Guns In The Raid. “Mr. Holder said his agents were heavily armed when they entered the house because they had ‘intelligence that the possibility existed there were guns in the house. We had to make sure our people were protected and they were in a position to protect people within the house. I don’t know if there were any guns in the house. I don’t know if they found any guns. We had to deal, however, with the intelligence we had that we got from local sources and make sure everybody was adequately protected.’ Apparently no guns were found.” (Jerry Seper and Clarence Williams, “Holder Defends Sudden Raid For Elian,” The Washington Times, 4/24/00)

Holder Played A Major Role In The Decision To Grant Clemency To 16 Former Members Of The Puerto Rican Terrorist Group The Armed Forces Of National Liberation (FALN).

“Holder, a Barbadian immigrant’s son who grew up in Queens and received his law degree from Columbia, has played major roles in the probe of Democratic funny-money in the 1996 elections, the Sexgate scandal and the recommendation to President Clinton on whether to free FALN terrorists from jail. A list of FALN documents withheld from Congress shows that many memos on the FALN clemency decision went directly to Holder, while Reno’s role was minimal.” (Brian Blomquist, “Ailing Reno Yielding Reins Of Justice,” New York
Post, 12/15/99)

— Although The FBI Opposed Clemency, Holder Supported Clemency For The FALN Members.
“Although The New York Times reported that the FBI, Bureau of Prisons and U.S. state attorneys opposed clemency, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, the Justice Department official most involved with this issue,
reportedly supported clemency. ‘Eric Holder told me he was recommending that,’ a high-ranking official said. Ruff also supported clemency, sources said. Holder declined to comment.” (Edward Lewine, “How Bill Chose Clemency,” [New York] Daily News, 9/5/99)

Holder Played A “Key Role” In The Pardoning Of Marc Rich.

“Now Obama needs to turn his attention to another member of that committee – Eric Holder, a former No. 2 in the Clinton Justice Department who played a key role in processing the infamous last-minute pardon of the notorious tax-cheat fugitive Marc Rich.” (Editorial, “Obama’s Bus,” New York Post, 6/12/08)

— Holder Reviewed The Pardon Of “Fugitive Financier” Rich. “The criticism Thursday centered on Obama adviser Eric H. Holder Jr., who is scrutinizing candidates to be the Democratic presumptive presidential nominee’s running mate. As deputy attorney general under President Clinton, Mr. Holder reviewedt the last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich.” (Jim McElhatton, “GOP Hits Another Obama Adviser,” The Washington Times, 6/13/08)

— Holder “Waved Through” Rich’s Pardon In The Final Days Of The Clinton Administration. “As Bill Clinton’s deputy attorney general, he was the gatekeeper for presidential pardons. Most famously, he waved through the pardon for fugitive financier Marc Rich in the waning days of the Clinton White House.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Next On The GOP List: Eric Holder,” The Washington Post’s “The Trail” Blog, blog.washingtonpost.com, 6/12/08)

— “In 2002, A Congressional Committee Reported That Holder Was A ‘Willing Participant In The Plan To Keep The Justice Department From Knowing About And Opposing’ The Rich Pardon.” (Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, Op-Ed, “Obama’s VP Search Mistake,” New York Post, 6/5/08)

— “Neither Clinton Nor Holder Ever Consulted With The Pardon Attorney.” (Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, Op-Ed, “Obama’s VP Search Mistake,” New York Post, 6/5/08)

In 2002, Eric Holder Lobbied On Behalf Of Global Crossing After The Company Had Accumulated Nearly $12 Million In Debt.

“Smelling blood in the water, Republicans now plan to pounce on another member of Obama’s veep- selection committee, former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, for his lobbying on behalf of telecom giant Global Crossing. Holder lobbied for the company, which underwent one of the largest bankruptcies in American history after racking up nearly $12 million in debt, as it emerged from bankruptcy in 2002, Senate lobbying disclosure documents reveal.” (Charles Hurt and Geoff Earle, “O’s Veep Hunter Quits,” New York Post, 6/12/08)

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Obama’s ” change” in picking people in his administration is a re-hiring of Clintonistas people. haha OH my gosh!!!!!
But..but…but….what about Janet Reno.

Retired General Cautions Obama on Iraq Tactics
newsmax
By: Dave Eberhart
U.S. leaders have reversed the Iraq situation from being a “bloody disaster” into one of increasing stability, and President-elect Barack Obama must take care not to squander those gains, says retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey.
McCaffrey also excoriates what he describes as the “misjudgments and denial” of Department of Defense leaders during the first years of the war, which he said burned through $750 billion and resulted in death or injury to 36,000 U.S. troops.

“The genius of the leadership team of Ambassador Ryan Crocker, General Dave Petraeus, and Secretary of Defense Bob Gates has turned around the situation [in Iraq] from a bloody disaster under the leadership of Secretary [Donald] Rumsfeld to a growing situation of security,” McCaffrey wrote in the far-ranging “after action” report he filed recently with the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy.

Newsmax obtained a copy of the report, in which the adjunct professor at the academy expressed hope that the Obama administration will be cautious in evaluating military options during the next six months.

“The available U.S. Army and Marine combat forces are insufficient to support continued robust presence in Iraq while also rapidly reinforcing our presence in the Hindu Kush [Afghanistan] with mountain infantry capable units,” wrote McCaffrey, who is an adjunct professor at the academy and a military analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

“The likely strategic outcome will be a more rapid forced drawdown than desirable in Iraq in order to enhance combat power for Afghanistan,” he wrote. “It will be a tricky balance — but in my judgment, we will pull this off successfully. Iraq will stabilize with the rapidly increasing power of the Iraqi Security Forces, while we reinforce the inadequate NATO combat power in Afghanistan.”

Developments during the weekend may have provided the Obama administration with breathing room, if they succeed in preventing the U.S. from being forced out of of Iraq after the U.N. resolution authorizing its presence expires at the end of this year.
On Sunday, Iraq’s Cabinet approved a security pact with the United States that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three years after the U.N. mandate expires. The agreement is subject to the approval of Iraq’s 275-member Parliament, but no vote has been scheduled, according to an Associated Press report.
The agreement would provide for U.S. forces to leave Iraq by the end of 2011 and give Iraq the right to try U.S. soldiers and defense contractors accused of serious crimes committed off-duty and off-base. It also would prohibit the U.S. from using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq’s neighbors, such as Syria and Iran.
If the agreement failed to move through the Parliament, McCaffrey said it would be “a shameful outcome, which would return our U.S. military units to their base areas and begin a unilateral withdrawal and the cessation of formal U.S. support for the Iraqi government.”
McCaffrey, who based his after report on fact-finding trips to the Middle East, wrote that he believes the U.S. “is now clearly in the end game in Iraq to successfully achieve what should be our principle objectives.” Among those objectives, he listed:
Withdrawing the majority of U.S. ground combat forces in Iraq in the next 36 months.
Leaving behind a functioning government and security forces.
Fostering the end of civil war among various factions.
Helping create an Iraqi nation at peace with its neighbors.
It would be devastating if the new administration rushed a withdrawal, he wrote, noting his concerns about Iraq’s lack of preparedness.

Wild Thing’s comment……
I sure hope Obama listens to all the Generals, and especially General Dave Petraeus, and military about the war. He has his mind made up and has only shown that he will follow his own agenda so we will have to wait and see what he does. But if he does anything that makes it even more dangerous for our troops I hope and pray he gets it back at him10 fold.
General McCaffrey more than paid his dues, leaving his his lower arm was essentially amputated by a .50 bullet. It was reattached, but he never regained its use in SEA, and was a key factor in the rout of Saddam’s “vaunted” Republican Guard armored forces commanding the 24th ID (Mechanized) in the Kuwait and Iraq desert in February 1991. He led his people farther and faster than any unit in US history. His is a voice of influence.