2008 Woodie Awards
Despite Obama's message of 'change,' his actions on the campaign trail prove otherwise
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Opinions
Instead of media pundits blowing a bunch of hot air about Barack Obama's former pastor, or simply calling him "the change candidate", there should be a real discussion and examination of who he has picked as his foreign policy advisers.
These choices will have far more of an impact on our country than which church Obama attended or where he stands on the various partisan wedge issues.
Among the 13 advisers selected, there are some alarming choices, especially when you consider Obama's antiwar rhetoric on the stump.
The first adviser I will mention is former Indiana Congressman and Democrat, Tim Roemer. He was a member of the 9/11 Commission and a representative of the war-profiteering weapons makers Boeing and Lockheed & Martin, which also happens to be the world's largest defense contractors.
While in office, Roemer voted for the Iraq War and said this: "The threat from Saddam is grave and growing and it's something we're going to have to address in the not-too-distant future."
That statement mirrors the rhetoric of Bush and Cheney exactly.
Why would a President Obama, who spoke out against the war in 2003, be interested in someone like Roemer's advice?
It gets better.
Also on board is Washington insider and notorious cover-up artist Lee Hamilton. It's interesting to note that Hamilton, a Democrat, has been called upon several times to bail Republicans out of huge scandals.
Hamilton was Co-Chair of The 9/11 Commission and the White House actually preferred dealing with him over fellow Co-Chair and Republican, Thomas Kean.
According to NY Times reporter Phil Shenon, the White House's "best support on the Commission came from an unexpected corner, from Lee Hamilton."
Maybe this is because Hamilton is old pals with Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and David Addington.
During the 1980s, when Reagan and Bush Sr. were in power, Hamilton was the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and chaired an inquiry into the Iran-Contra scandal.
Also on the committee was Congressman Dick Cheney. Hamilton certainly dropped the ball on this investigation.
He was well aware of a press report indicating that the Reagan Administration was illegally funneling weapons and money to the anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua, yet when the White House denied it, Hamilton simply took their word for it.
Hamilton would later admit that when he looks into allegations, he dislikes "going for the jugular."
Indeed, Senator Tom Daschle opposed Hamilton's co-chairing of the 9/11 Commission, stating that Hamilton doesn't have "a taste for partisan fights," and seems to "always assume the best about people, Republicans included."
Hamilton would also tell Frontline that he didn't indict Reagan or Bush because he didn't think it would be "good for the country." He gave this same answer to 9/11 family member Bob McIlvaine, who lost his son on 9/11, when McIlvaine had requested declassification of some vital 9/11 evidence.
Hamilton remained good friends with Dick Cheney and, as Vice-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, was tasked with looking into Cheney's actions, before, during and after 9/11.
Another cover up which Hamilton took part in was the 1980 "October Surprise" incident.
In 1992, there was a task force, chaired by Hamilton, to look into allegations of a plot to delay the release of U.S. hostages in Iran until after the 1980 presidential election, thus depriving President Carter of any credit for their upcoming release.
The key figures involved were former CIA Directors, George H.W. Bush and William J. Casey.
There were allegations that the two had met secretly in Europe to broker a deal with the Iranians. Both of their alibis were dubious at best and Casey's even changed several times, but Hamilton still accepted it.
Journalist Robert Parry who has extensively researched the case had this to say about the task force and its kid's-glove treatment: "The Bush Administration flatly refused to give any more information to the House task force unless it agreed never to interview Mr. Bush's alibi witness, and never to release that person's name. Amazingly, the task force accepted those terms."
Hamilton also refused to extend the 1992 investigation when yet more incriminating evidence was made available, according to the task force's chief counsel, Larry Barcella.
It's also known that Hamilton was aware of classified documents from a Russian national security report detailing what Russian Intelligence knew of the October Surprise.
Apparently, Russian Intelligence uncovered documents showing that William Casey had indeed traveled to Europe in 1980 to meet with the Iranians to delay the hostage release.
With full knowledge of this information, and other intelligence reports on the matter from other countries, Lee Hamilton publicly exonerated President George H.W. Bush.
Lee Hamilton's judgment and loyalty to this country are questionable to say the least.
These have been just a few of Obama's adviser choices, which also include former Clinton Administration officials.
I encourage everyone to look into this issue. Don't just take my word.
His recently minted running mate, Delaware Senator and longtime beltway insider Joe Biden has a few questions about our conduction of foreign policy he needs to answer as well.
Two days after 9/11, Biden met with the head of Pakistani Intelligence General Mahmood Ahmed in D.C.
Pakistani Intelligence also known as the ISI (Interservices Intelligence) is a powerful and shady organization often called "a state within a state" and has had a close and strange relationship with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups for years. There is ample evidence to indicate that Ahmed ordered a wire transfer of $100,000 to Mohamed Atta (the lead 9/11 hijacker) through Omar Saeed Sheikh.
Several questions arise from this. Some taken from the Family Steering Committee on 9/11: What was Mahmood Ahmed's relationship with Al Qaeda? Where did the money come from? Did officials in Pakistan know in advance about the terrorist attack?
On September 11th , Mahmood Ahmed also had a breakfast meeting in Washington, D.C., with House and Senate Intelligence Committee chairmen, Rep. Porter Goss and Senator Bob Graham. What were they discussing?
With the FBI aware of the wire transfer and Indian Intelligence claiming to have proof Ahmed was involved, why was he not at least questioned and why was he allowed to return to Pakistan?
Biden claimed he told Ahmed to stop supporting terrorism and to join in America's effort, and in another interview he claimed that information on the matter was "classified."
Interesting to say the least.
If Obama is the next President, do you think he will support investigations of any kind into this criminal Administration?
Maybe he'll say he won't because he doesn't think it will be "good for the country," and that America should move on, and heal.
That's not something I'm supporting.
That is why I am voting former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney for President, who unlike Obama, actually has experience standing up to the oil mafia and doing the right thing while serving in Congress.
Obama seems to have sold out rather quickly, and his whole "change" rhetoric is rather hollow. I don't buy it and neither should you.
Michael Jackman is a senior majoring in journalism. He may be contacted at opinions@ksc.mailcruiser.com.
These choices will have far more of an impact on our country than which church Obama attended or where he stands on the various partisan wedge issues.
Among the 13 advisers selected, there are some alarming choices, especially when you consider Obama's antiwar rhetoric on the stump.
The first adviser I will mention is former Indiana Congressman and Democrat, Tim Roemer. He was a member of the 9/11 Commission and a representative of the war-profiteering weapons makers Boeing and Lockheed & Martin, which also happens to be the world's largest defense contractors.
While in office, Roemer voted for the Iraq War and said this: "The threat from Saddam is grave and growing and it's something we're going to have to address in the not-too-distant future."
That statement mirrors the rhetoric of Bush and Cheney exactly.
Why would a President Obama, who spoke out against the war in 2003, be interested in someone like Roemer's advice?
It gets better.
Also on board is Washington insider and notorious cover-up artist Lee Hamilton. It's interesting to note that Hamilton, a Democrat, has been called upon several times to bail Republicans out of huge scandals.
Hamilton was Co-Chair of The 9/11 Commission and the White House actually preferred dealing with him over fellow Co-Chair and Republican, Thomas Kean.
According to NY Times reporter Phil Shenon, the White House's "best support on the Commission came from an unexpected corner, from Lee Hamilton."
Maybe this is because Hamilton is old pals with Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and David Addington.
During the 1980s, when Reagan and Bush Sr. were in power, Hamilton was the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and chaired an inquiry into the Iran-Contra scandal.
Also on the committee was Congressman Dick Cheney. Hamilton certainly dropped the ball on this investigation.
He was well aware of a press report indicating that the Reagan Administration was illegally funneling weapons and money to the anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua, yet when the White House denied it, Hamilton simply took their word for it.
Hamilton would later admit that when he looks into allegations, he dislikes "going for the jugular."
Indeed, Senator Tom Daschle opposed Hamilton's co-chairing of the 9/11 Commission, stating that Hamilton doesn't have "a taste for partisan fights," and seems to "always assume the best about people, Republicans included."
Hamilton would also tell Frontline that he didn't indict Reagan or Bush because he didn't think it would be "good for the country." He gave this same answer to 9/11 family member Bob McIlvaine, who lost his son on 9/11, when McIlvaine had requested declassification of some vital 9/11 evidence.
Hamilton remained good friends with Dick Cheney and, as Vice-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, was tasked with looking into Cheney's actions, before, during and after 9/11.
Another cover up which Hamilton took part in was the 1980 "October Surprise" incident.
In 1992, there was a task force, chaired by Hamilton, to look into allegations of a plot to delay the release of U.S. hostages in Iran until after the 1980 presidential election, thus depriving President Carter of any credit for their upcoming release.
The key figures involved were former CIA Directors, George H.W. Bush and William J. Casey.
There were allegations that the two had met secretly in Europe to broker a deal with the Iranians. Both of their alibis were dubious at best and Casey's even changed several times, but Hamilton still accepted it.
Journalist Robert Parry who has extensively researched the case had this to say about the task force and its kid's-glove treatment: "The Bush Administration flatly refused to give any more information to the House task force unless it agreed never to interview Mr. Bush's alibi witness, and never to release that person's name. Amazingly, the task force accepted those terms."
Hamilton also refused to extend the 1992 investigation when yet more incriminating evidence was made available, according to the task force's chief counsel, Larry Barcella.
It's also known that Hamilton was aware of classified documents from a Russian national security report detailing what Russian Intelligence knew of the October Surprise.
Apparently, Russian Intelligence uncovered documents showing that William Casey had indeed traveled to Europe in 1980 to meet with the Iranians to delay the hostage release.
With full knowledge of this information, and other intelligence reports on the matter from other countries, Lee Hamilton publicly exonerated President George H.W. Bush.
Lee Hamilton's judgment and loyalty to this country are questionable to say the least.
These have been just a few of Obama's adviser choices, which also include former Clinton Administration officials.
I encourage everyone to look into this issue. Don't just take my word.
His recently minted running mate, Delaware Senator and longtime beltway insider Joe Biden has a few questions about our conduction of foreign policy he needs to answer as well.
Two days after 9/11, Biden met with the head of Pakistani Intelligence General Mahmood Ahmed in D.C.
Pakistani Intelligence also known as the ISI (Interservices Intelligence) is a powerful and shady organization often called "a state within a state" and has had a close and strange relationship with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups for years. There is ample evidence to indicate that Ahmed ordered a wire transfer of $100,000 to Mohamed Atta (the lead 9/11 hijacker) through Omar Saeed Sheikh.
Several questions arise from this. Some taken from the Family Steering Committee on 9/11: What was Mahmood Ahmed's relationship with Al Qaeda? Where did the money come from? Did officials in Pakistan know in advance about the terrorist attack?
On September 11th , Mahmood Ahmed also had a breakfast meeting in Washington, D.C., with House and Senate Intelligence Committee chairmen, Rep. Porter Goss and Senator Bob Graham. What were they discussing?
With the FBI aware of the wire transfer and Indian Intelligence claiming to have proof Ahmed was involved, why was he not at least questioned and why was he allowed to return to Pakistan?
Biden claimed he told Ahmed to stop supporting terrorism and to join in America's effort, and in another interview he claimed that information on the matter was "classified."
Interesting to say the least.
If Obama is the next President, do you think he will support investigations of any kind into this criminal Administration?
Maybe he'll say he won't because he doesn't think it will be "good for the country," and that America should move on, and heal.
That's not something I'm supporting.
That is why I am voting former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney for President, who unlike Obama, actually has experience standing up to the oil mafia and doing the right thing while serving in Congress.
Obama seems to have sold out rather quickly, and his whole "change" rhetoric is rather hollow. I don't buy it and neither should you.
Michael Jackman is a senior majoring in journalism. He may be contacted at opinions@ksc.mailcruiser.com.
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