A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Norman Solomon

This month began with 140,000 American troops in Iraq -- 13,000 more than in late July.

Almost 30 months have passed since Time magazine's mid-April 2004 cover story, "No Easy Options," reported that "foreign policy luminaries from both parties say a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would cripple American credibility, doom reform in the Arab world and turn Iraq into a playground for terrorists and the armies of neighboring states like Iran and Syria."

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

Democratic leaders announced the release of a new report today, "The Neo Con: The Bush Defense Record by the Numbers." The study is touted as "an analysis of the data behind the Bush approach to national security" and demonstrates statistically how the Administration has bungled foreign policy, ultimately making the nation and the world less safe. (click here to read the report - pdf)

"As you know, you go to war with the army you have. They're not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time." -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

In the past five years, much has been learned about the terrible events that unfolded on September 11, 2001. But even last year's long-anticipated National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the "9/11 Commission") failed to provide a theory that explains them adequately.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

Subject: Who are the Real Appeasers?

Hi BuzzFlash,

Who are the REAL APPEASERS?

Remind people how Ronald Reagan supplied the WMD to Saddam, which he used to kill the Kurds in the north. 

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

The Bush Administration released an updated version of its National Strategy for Combating Terrorism today. Predictably, it followed the pattern of praising Bush for doing a good job while still trying to scare us into thinking the only way to avoid imminent death is to cede him more power.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

Subject: War opposition grows

Five years after Pearl Harbor,the US was victorious in WWII. Five years after 9-11, the US still has no coherent response.

Polls show opposition to Iraq war at all-time high (Christian Science Monitor)

"Bush's newest effort to rebuild eroding support for the war in Iraq features a distinct shift in approach: he and his top aides are beginning to lay out the grim consequences of failure." As if that's going to change the outcome! It's just a little late for truth telling. Why would anyone want to send their child to fight in a preemptive unnecessary war? We now know it was "unnecessary," and we know it was the choice of madmen laying the groundwork for world domination. To continue this folly would only support the lies and continue to undermine our freedom and democracy. George Bush is a loser -- always has been, always will be -- and the sooner IMPEACHMENT proceedings begin, the better off we'll be!

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Michael Winship

Everyone always says it was a picture-perfect day, and true, the sun was shining and the sky was bright and blue, but the morning felt humid to me.