Secret Killing Program Key to Iraq Success

What century and what country to I belong to?

That’s what crossed my mind when I read Bob Woodward’s remark, “It is a wonderful example of American ingenuity solving a problem in war, as we often have.” Woodward was discussing his most recent book, The War Within: Secret White House History 2006-2008 (2008). According to CNN, Woodward suggested the secret killing program was comparable to the World War II era Manhattan Project.

“It is a wonderful example of American ingenuity solving a problem in war…”

- Bob Woodward, Journalist

Supposedly, this secret killing program is meant to target al Qaeda and other insurgent leaders. Is this supposed to be comforting? And what do we typically learn about Bush’s secret programs.

I’ve been searching for speculative answers as to what might be entailed in this secret program. A few answers have been offered. One details the use of targeted GPS bombings, another, the random mass killing by new rules of engaged sniper fire.

There’s a complete diary tread that can be followed on the speculation over at the DailyKOS.

Whatever the case may be, a secret killing program is not an example of “American ingenuity.”

The Slow Exit: McCain’s Iraq Plan, Suicide and Coming Home

The slow exit of soldiers from Iraq, not as heroes draped in flag covered coffins shielded from the cameras of journalists, but as veterans of a war that has left them alone in a battle against demons only war can conjure, is the silent casualty of our mishandled policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barack Obama has consistently made treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) a central part in his plan for leaving Iraq and treating our troops with the respect they deserve post-war.

Also read: 22,000 Calls Received by Special Suicide Hot Line, Over 1,200 Suicides

In Black and White Day 2 - Seeds of War

Day 2 and I didn’t get to spend as much time as I’d have liked with this drawing. but something started to emerge toward the end. Although drawing in Photoshop, I tried to emulate a scratchboard technique. For those not familiar with what scratchboard is, it’s basically a clay board, covered in black ink. You then use a sharp object and you scrap away to reveal an image. It’s a challenging technique to do it well, of course with Photoshop, there is considerably less challenge.

Shout from the Couch: Podcast: Episode 1

Well, here’s my second podcast. I decided to give my podcast a title. Shout from the Couch was an idea I had a while back for a politically-themed graphic novel, but now I’m thinking an audio podcast is more appropriate. Basically it’s me, hashing and remixing my dialogue with the media. I do this all the time when I watch TV (and now YouTube) and I’m sure you all do as well. So here it is.

As for cartooning, I’m also going to get back to drawing political cartoons, but I’ve been having a lot of fun with this (and it’s also giving me practice for my eventual goal of producing animations). Plus isn’t that the whole point of blogging? To have fun, and to of course contribute in some way to the enormous amount of user generated content that flows out into the pixel-ether.

Here’s a run down of this episode.

• Obama Takes a Vacation and CNN Captures “Exclusive” video
• George HW Bush and George Bush Speeches Overlay-ed to commemorate the 4000 US soldiers killed in Iraq
• Hillary and the Sniper Gaff Part II (She’d leave Obama’s Church, but Stays with Bill???)
• Top 10 Reasons to Not Be a McCain Republican

And I want to give some thanks to soundsnap.com for the great selection of free MP3 sounds available for download.

There you have it. Thanks for listening.

Note: This podcast is part of a slow evolution of Irish Spacemonk as a character. The reason I point this out, is because Irish Spacemonk is a space monkey lost in orbit. He floats around with his cadre of mice and watches the earth spin. He’s based loosely on the real character of Gordo, who on his last mission was lost at sea. Irish Spacemonk was launched on a similar mission, however on his return, his capsule was picked up by a British cargo shop, and eventually the chimp to be known as IrishSpacemonk was delivered to an Irish monastery for an undisclosed about of money…yeah I know a stretch but I had to get him to Ireland somehow.

By the way, it looks like 2008 might be the summer of Space Monkey’s as there’s a new animated film coming out. Pretty exciting.

Bush Lays Out the Foundation for Peace, One Body at a Time

Yesterday, Bush stated in an address, that the 4,000 deaths in Iraq have laid the foundation for peace.

The Blood Tag: 4,000 US dead. Nearly 30,000 US wounded.

The Treasure Tag: $500,000,000,000 USD and counting.

The Collateral Tag: 82,000 Iraqis and counting

That’s all I’m going to say.

Bush and Cheney Bury Nations Blood and Treasure

A lot has happened this week, including (insert surprise here) George Bush’s continued strategy to remain in Iraq until the end of his term, with a coordinated withdrawal of the “so called surge” troops right before the 2008 election.

When hasn’t this administration used terrorism and the Iraq War for political positioning?

Today’s cartoon was inspired by Martin Lewis on The Huffington Post (September 12, 2007).

Note: On the cartoon style this week - sorry, not as refined as my other ‘toons. I keep trying to get a drawing out everyday, but I continue to be slammed by other work.  Hope you enjoy either way.

The Purge Is Working Condi! Exclaims George Bush

“You mean, surge, Mr. President.”

“Ah, yeah, right, surge. Did I say purge?”

“It’s no big deal really.”

“Purge surge. Surge purge. That’s kinda gotta funny ring to it.”

“Just as long as you keep it straight when we get off the plane in Sydney.”

Ah yes. Why not start with a fictitious exchange between George W Bush and Condoleezza Rice?

For the next few months both sides of the isle are going to be parroting the Pres. “The surge is working. The surge is working.” Each one a bitty bit afraid of standing up for what’s really going on.

Well, I’d say, the purge is proving more effective than the surge. In the last month 1800 Iraqis were killed. In the month prior, over 1800 again. This doesn’t even consider the number of Iraqis displaced, estimated at close to 4 million. And how many Iraqi’s have we welcomed in our outstretched arms of patina. Yes, less than 200…

So of course, the surge-purge is working.

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