Yesterday on CBS's Face the Nation, Murtha said "The only people who want us in Iraq are Iran, al Qaeda, and China"

That comment might sound like "people who don't like us want us to hurt ourselves" or "people we want to hurt are happy we are distracted".... But there is much more to that comment.

Let me introduce you to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

When you visit the site, take a moment to really look at the splash page before you click on the "english" button.  Take a look at the map of the world in the background.  Now compare that to their logo.  Notice how much landmass is covered in their logo?  I make the point because Americans generally learn geography based on who we are bombing.  This time it would be wise to learn it up front...  

Behind the recent Declarations of war and accusations that the US ambassador to South Korea is the 'worst ambassador in history', lies a foreboding past rife with distrust, threats, and provocation.

Not surprisingly, this isn't the first time Pyongyang has accused the US of implicit declarations of war. But to understand the motivation for such extreme actions, the full saga must unfold before us.

Enter Kim Jong Il and George W. Bush... diplomacy departs... chaos ensues.

"...The danger of war is snowballing, owing to the extreme US moves to isolate and stifle the [North Korean Government], and threats of pre-emptive strikes"

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon
To the UN General Assembly
Monday September 27, 2004

Over past years, as the Bush administration has focused America's resources on the Iraq strawman, a shadow has been growing in the east. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (aka: North Korea) has been fueling it's potential response to what Kim Jong Il feels is an increasing threat to the survival of their Republic. It's now believed that Pyongyang possesses at least two nuclear weapons and the capability to deliver them to targets ranging from South Korea and Japan to the western coast of the continental US.

The time is long past for this issue to take center stage. So let's do our part by establishing the record between the Bush administration and North Korea.

Where do we stand right now?

This is "Part II". Be sure to read "Part I" first and please consolidate any comments in Part I as well. Thanks.

We continue with Step 64...

Step 64) - 09/03/2003

Bush's credibility was further eroded when it was revealed that he signed an Iraq war plan on August 29, 2002 showing clear premeditation and proving that 9/11 had zero influence on the administration's plans to invade a sovereign nation that in no way threatened the safety of the United States.

Prior to the invasion of Iraq, Bush insisted that war could be avoided if only Saddam would disarm. But according to a secret report from the Pentagon, on Aug. 29, 2002:

Mr. Bush "approves Iraq goals, objectives and strategy... That was eight months before the first bomb was dropped and six months before he asked the U.N. Security Council for a war mandate that he never received."

Three months earlier (late May), the Pentagon began a series of war exercises called "Prominent Hammer" to judge whether the force could win in Iraq and still maintain a deterrent in other theaters, such as South Korea. (now we know that we cannot as thousands of troops are slated to be extracted from the peninsula)

Much more over the bump...

Yesterday Harold Pinter (the 2005 Nobel Prize winner for Literature) gave an incredibly eloquent speech. He wove the history of American foreign policy since WWII into a comprehensive and frightening tapestry. Already the MSM is calling it an 'anti-American' lecture. It is really the opposite. It is a compelling indictment of U. S. actions versus U. S. words. I believe that deep down most of us want to live up to the ideals this country was founded upon. His description of our actions versus our words will hopefully help us rip away the smoke and mirrors and start to become the country we thought we already were.