Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 94

11 Years Ago, Bush on WMD in Iraq: 'We'll Find Them'

UPDATE  Condi Rice today canceled her upcoming commencement speech at Rutgers U. after protests and sit-ins targeted her role in planning and selling the Iraq invasion. 

Earlier:   Three NYT items from this weekend in 2003, from new e-book edition of my So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq. 

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- With his administration under growing international pressure to find evidence that Saddam Hussein possessed banned weapons, President Bush told reporters today that ''we'll find them,'' but cautioned that it would take some time because, he said, Mr. Hussein spent so many years hiding his stockpiles.
Mr. Bush's comments came after his senior aides, in interviews in recent days, had begun to back away from their prewar claims that Mr. Hussein had an arsenal that was loaded and ready to fire.

They now contend that he developed what they call a ''just in time'' production strategy for his weapons, hiding chemical precursors that could be quickly loaded into empty artillery shells or short-range missiles.
*

Letter to the Editor

Some unanswered questions remain: Where are the weapons of mass destruction? What evidence makes Iraq ''an ally of Al Qaeda''? Where is Saddam Hussein? Where is Osama bin Laden? Who is next?

Martin Deppe
Chicago

*

WASHINGTON, May 3-- The structure of the American administration of postwar Iraq remained unresolved today, as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld issued a strong endorsement of Jay Garner, the retired lieutenant general whose job seemed about to be eclipsed by a former State Department official, L. Paul Bremer.

There was no announcement from the White House today about a plan to install Mr. Bremer, a former counterterrorism director for the State Department during the Reagan administration, as the country's day-to-day overseer. Some administration officials said issues involving the extent of Mr. Bremer's planned authority were still being debated.

Asked at a news conference in London today to explain Mr. Bremer's planned role, Mr. Rumsfeld said, ''I could, but I won't.''

When 8 Men Were Out

Rare footage of 1919 World Series found--watch the "Black Sox" throw it (especially Eddie Cicotte).  Cool atmospheric stuff.

Obama Finds Botched Execution 'Troubling'

Ya think? It's nice that President Obama has spoken out about the botched execution in Oklahoma this week and ordered a Justice Dept. probe.  But note that he still has not renounced capital punishment, although note his conflicts and confusion.  He says there are some cases that cry out for the death penalty, such as mass murder or the killing of children.  But very, very few executions in the U.S. have been for these crimes.  Logically he should clearly come out for the end of the death penalty except in very few cases.  But he has not had the courage to do that.  Perhaps that will change.   Meanwhile, he carries out executions abroad with his drone program (which sometimes includes mass murder and/or the deaths of...child children).

Updated: Execution De-Botchery at the OK Corral

NYT's new account includes news that the inmate had been tasered earlier in the day.  Also: catheter placed in his groin when they had trouble finding a vein to kill him.  Also, becomes more clear that execution was halted when he was still alive--but he died ten minutes later from a heart attack.

Earlier:

Minute-by-minute account by Tulsa World reporter, one of 12 media witnesses of the outrage in Oklahoma.  More on controversy here. My book on this subject.

6:28 p.m. Fifty milligrams of midazolam have been injected into each of Lockett’s arms to start the process, an attempt to sedate him before the second and third drugs are administered to stop the breathing and the heart.  Lockett has spent the past several minutes blinking and occasionally pursing his lips.
6:29 p.m. Lockett’s eyes are closed and his mouth is open slightly.
6:31 p.m. The doctor checks Lockett’s pupils and places his hand on the inmate’s chest, shaking him slightly. “Mr. Lockett is not unconscious,” Trammell states.6:33 p.m. The doctor checks Lockett a second time after a full minute without movement. “Mr. Lockett is unconscious,” Trammell states. It seems like it took longer than expected for this to occur. In past executions I have attended, there has been no notice that the inmate was unconscious, just a pronouncement of death after about eight minutes without much reaction from the inmate.6:36 p.m. Lockett kicks his right leg and his head rolls to the side. He mumbles something we can’t understand.6:37 p.m. The inmate’s body starts writhing and bucking and it looks like he’s trying to get up. Both arms are strapped down and several straps secure his body to the gurney. He utters another unintelligible statement. Defense Attorney Dean Sanderford is quietly crying in the observation area.6:38 p.m. Lockett is grimacing, grunting and lifting his head and shoulders entirely up from the gurney. He begins rolling his head from side to side. He again mumbles something we can’t understand, except for the word “man.” He lifts his head and shoulders off the gurney several times, as if he’s trying to sit up. He appears to be in pain.6:39 p.m. The physician walks around to Lockett’s right arm, lifts up the sheet and says something to Trammell. “We’re going to lower the blinds temporarily,” she says. The blinds are lowered and we can’t see what is happening. Reporters exchange shocked glances. Nothing like this has happened at an execution any of us has witnessed since 1990, when the state resumed executions using lethal injection.6:40 p.m. A black landline phone rings in the viewing chamber and Patton leaves to take the call, stretching the phone cord out into the hall and closing the door behind him. Though the clock on the wall in the execution chamber is no longer visible, it seems like several minutes pass before Thompson is summoned out to the hallway.Approximately 6:50 p.m. Patton comes back to the viewing room and says the execution has been “stopped. We’ve had a vein failure in which the chemicals did not make it into the offender. … Under my authority, we are issuing a stay for the second execution.”  The announcement is stunning and leaves us wondering what has happened to Lockett.Patton leaves for about 10 more minutes and reporters at the end of our row begin interviewing Sanderford and defense attorney David Autry, both clearly upset by the turn of events. “They will save him so they can kill him another day,” Autry says.We are told to leave the viewing chamber and are escorted back to a waiting white prison van. We have to tear the notes out of the spiral notebook and leave it plus the pen behind.  Another van is on the way so I stay behind with reporters from the Associated Press, The Oklahoman, OETA and The Guardian to compare notes. After every execution, it’s important that reporters compare last words and other observations to make sure they have the most accurate version of events possible. 7:06 p.m. Lockett is pronounced dead in the execution chamber from a heart attack. The news of his death is provided to reporters by Patton during a brief statement at the media center on the prison grounds.  He explains to reporters that prison officials do not know how much of the second and third drugs entered Lockett’s body.“His line failed,” Patton says. When asked what that means, Patton adds: “His vein exploded.”

Bush's Bike Ride

The former president chose today--the 11th anniversary of his Mission Accomplished photo op--to hold a bike ride for 16 badly-wounded (physically or mentally) veterans  on his Crawford ranch where he once spent seemingly half his presidency (when he wasn't starting wars).   I don't know what's worse--Bush's cluelessness and lack of remorse or CNN reporting this story without a single word about Bush choosing to start a war based on lies.  He was the true volunteer.  They didn't sign up for that.  Here's an apt comment at one of my other posts today on the media gushing over Bush's landing 11 years ago from someone IDed only as "Mike."

Just reading the story over at CNN about Bush's bike ride at his Crawford ranch with 16 wounded veterans from the George Bush wars. And as I read the story I saw this quote by Bush. "This is a festival, and it is a moment for others to see people who have been severely wounded say 'I'm overcoming the consequence of my decision to volunteer".

I'm overcoming the consequence of my decision to volunteer?? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Somehow, that strikes me as one of the most clueless, heartless and ignorant statements this man has ever uttered. He simply cannot envision that these people have suffered and died because of him. In his mind, what happened to them was simply the result of THEIR decision to volunteer. Not the fact that he sent them in there knowing it was all based on a lie. This has to be one of the most narcissistic and unaware human beings on the face of the planet. He simply has a way of creating revulsion and disgust every time he opens his mouth.

Execution De-Botchery

Minute-by-minute account by Tulsa World reporter, one of 12 media witnesses of the outrage in Oklahoma.  More on controversy here. My book on this subject.

6:28 p.m. Fifty milligrams of midazolam have been injected into each of Lockett’s arms to start the process, an attempt to sedate him before the second and third drugs are administered to stop the breathing and the heart.  Lockett has spent the past several minutes blinking and occasionally pursing his lips.
6:29 p.m. Lockett’s eyes are closed and his mouth is open slightly.
6:31 p.m. The doctor checks Lockett’s pupils and places his hand on the inmate’s chest, shaking him slightly. “Mr. Lockett is not unconscious,” Trammell states.6:33 p.m. The doctor checks Lockett a second time after a full minute without movement. “Mr. Lockett is unconscious,” Trammell states. It seems like it took longer than expected for this to occur. In past executions I have attended, there has been no notice that the inmate was unconscious, just a pronouncement of death after about eight minutes without much reaction from the inmate.6:36 p.m. Lockett kicks his right leg and his head rolls to the side. He mumbles something we can’t understand.6:37 p.m. The inmate’s body starts writhing and bucking and it looks like he’s trying to get up. Both arms are strapped down and several straps secure his body to the gurney. He utters another unintelligible statement. Defense Attorney Dean Sanderford is quietly crying in the observation area.6:38 p.m. Lockett is grimacing, grunting and lifting his head and shoulders entirely up from the gurney. He begins rolling his head from side to side. He again mumbles something we can’t understand, except for the word “man.” He lifts his head and shoulders off the gurney several times, as if he’s trying to sit up. He appears to be in pain.6:39 p.m. The physician walks around to Lockett’s right arm, lifts up the sheet and says something to Trammell. “We’re going to lower the blinds temporarily,” she says. The blinds are lowered and we can’t see what is happening. Reporters exchange shocked glances. Nothing like this has happened at an execution any of us has witnessed since 1990, when the state resumed executions using lethal injection.6:40 p.m. A black landline phone rings in the viewing chamber and Patton leaves to take the call, stretching the phone cord out into the hall and closing the door behind him. Though the clock on the wall in the execution chamber is no longer visible, it seems like several minutes pass before Thompson is summoned out to the hallway.Approximately 6:50 p.m. Patton comes back to the viewing room and says the execution has been “stopped. We’ve had a vein failure in which the chemicals did not make it into the offender. … Under my authority, we are issuing a stay for the second execution.”  The announcement is stunning and leaves us wondering what has happened to Lockett.Patton leaves for about 10 more minutes and reporters at the end of our row begin interviewing Sanderford and defense attorney David Autry, both clearly upset by the turn of events. “They will save him so they can kill him another day,” Autry says.We are told to leave the viewing chamber and are escorted back to a waiting white prison van. We have to tear the notes out of the spiral notebook and leave it plus the pen behind.  Another van is on the way so I stay behind with reporters from the Associated Press, The Oklahoman, OETA and The Guardian to compare notes. After every execution, it’s important that reporters compare last words and other observations to make sure they have the most accurate version of events possible. 7:06 p.m. Lockett is pronounced dead in the execution chamber from a heart attack. The news of his death is provided to reporters by Patton during a brief statement at the media center on the prison grounds.  He explains to reporters that prison officials do not know how much of the second and third drugs entered Lockett’s body.“His line failed,” Patton says. When asked what that means, Patton adds: “His vein exploded.”

A Sterling Segment

Colbert celebrates justice for Donald "Darth Vader With His Helmet Off" Sterling--and advises that he start an all-white league.


The Colbert Report
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Jail Explosion in Florida

Massive explosion, apparently caused by gas leak, kills at least two and injures over 100 prisoners and guards at jail in northwest Florida late last night.   See story and video here.   Dozens of prisoners transported to hospitals and other jail facilities--under guard.

The cause of the explosion had not yet been determined Thursday morning. Castro said the jail had suffered some flooding during the preceding two days' storms but added that

It was not known whether the flooding had contributed to the blast.
"It took heavy flooding today," Castro said, "but we're not sure if that affected what happened here tonight."

Eleven Years Ago: 'Our Chief Was Landing on the Deck'

Today marks the 11th anniversary of Mission Accomplished Day.  Sadly, it comes amid more sectarian violence in Iraq--and further attempts at Bush revisionism upon the opening of his "art" show at his Library.

In my favorite antiwar song of this war, “Shock and Awe,” Neil Young moaned: “Back in the days of Mission Accomplished/ our chief was landing on the deck/ The sun was setting/ behind a golden photo op.” But as Neil added elsewhere in the tune: “History is a cruel judge of overconfidence.”  More here on clueless Bush taking bike ride today with wounded vets.

Nowhere can we see this more clearly than in the media coverage of the event. (Much more in my new e-book.)

On May 1, 2003, Richard Perle advised, in a USA Today op-ed, “Relax, Celebrate Victory.” The same day, President Bush, dressed in a flight suit, landed on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared an end to major military operations in Iraq—with the now-infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner arrayed behind him.

Chris Matthews on MSNBC called Bush a “hero” and boomed, “He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics.” He added: “Women like a guy who’s president. Check it out. The women like this war. I think we like having a hero as our president. It’s simple.”

PBS’ Gwen Ifill said Bush was “part Tom Cruise, part Ronald Reagan.” On NBC, Brian Williams gushed, “The pictures were beautiful. It was quite something to see the first-ever American president on a—on a carrier landing.”

Bob Schieffer on CBS said: “As far as I’m concerned, that was one of the great pictures of all time.” His guest, Joe Klein, responded: “Well, that was probably the coolest presidential image since Bill Pullman played the jet fighter pilot in the movie Independence Day. That was the first thing that came to mind for me.”

Everyone agreed the Democrats and antiwar critics were now on the run. The New York Times observed, “The Bush administration is planning to withdraw most United States combat forces from Iraq over the next several months and wants to shrink the American military presence to less than two divisions by the fall, senior allied officials said today.”

Maureen Dowd in her column declared: “Out bounded the cocky, rule-breaking, daredevil flyboy, a man navigating the Highway to the Danger Zone, out along the edges where he was born to be, the further on the edge, the hotter the intensity.

“He flashed that famous all-American grin as he swaggered around the deck of the aircraft carrier in his olive flight suit, ejection harness between his legs, helmet tucked under his arm, awestruck crew crowding around. Maverick was back, cooler and hotter than ever, throttling to the max with joystick politics. Compared to Karl Rove’s 'revvin’ up your engine' myth-making cinematic style, Jerry Bruckheimer’s movies look like Lizzie McGuire.

“This time Maverick didn’t just nail a few bogeys and do a 4G inverted dive with a MiG-28 at a range of two meters. This time the Top Gun wasted a couple of nasty regimes, and promised this was just the beginning.”

When Bush’s jet landed on the aircraft carrier, American casualties stood at 139 killed and 542 wounded. That was over 4300 American,  and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi, fatalities ago. 

Greg Mitchell's So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq (with a preface by Bruce Springsteen) has now been published in an e-book edition.

You're Not Doing Fine, Oklahoma: Botched Execution

UPDATE #3  NYT closes story on Euorpeans outraged by U.S. executions with this:  "A Twitter message by someone who pretends to be God somehow caught the European mood. From @TheTweetOfGod: 'How could Oklahoma botch an execution? If there’s one thing I would expect Americans to know how to do by now, it’s kill somebody.'”

UPDATE #2:  Petition drive calls on pharmacists to stop making drugs for lethal injections or otherwise participating in executions. 

UPDATE #1:  Former corrections officials call for independent probe.  "What appears to have been a horrific death last night certainly does not seem to have been legal or humane."

Earlier: You hate to see this happen but perhaps this one last night will help end the death penalty in the USA.  See email appeal (below) I just got from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.    President Obama, of course, backs capital punishment but White House today said the latest fell short of being "humane"--as if any state murder is humane. I've written two books on this, including  this recent ebook, Dead Reckoning.

Dear supporter,

Yesterday we informed you of two executions taking place last night in Oklahoma.  Today I write you in disbelief. Clayton Lockett died after the State of Oklahoma botched his execution. He called out “man,” and writhed and twitched in wrenching agony 20 minutes after the procedure began.
It was too late. Unfortunately when Mr. Lockett cried out, nobody heard his heartfelt plea, and he passed away in this botched execution. Will you join me in making a contribution today to help us prevent such cruelty from ever happening again?
Timing is of the essence, as the scheduled execution of Charles Warner was delayed only 2 weeks.
While the Governor and Department of Corrections investigates the botched execution, we need to put pressure on the legislature that the death penalty has flaws, is barbaric, and has no place in our country. Make a financial contribution today, as we don’t have much time. Mr. Warner’s life is at stake. Please answer his pleas for help now, before it’s too late.
We cannot be silent!
The government of Oklahoma has hidden what drugs they use. They have threatened to impeach 5 state Supreme Court justices who wanted to delay last night’s scheduled double execution. Your support today will help NCADP and our affiliate in Oklahoma defeat a bill that would impeach the 5 justices who have exposed the flaws in administering lethal injection.