Wow. I *heart* Keith Olbermann. And boy, is he on a roll at the moment!
A couple of weeks ago he used the words of another great broadcaster, Edward Murrow, to comment on Donald Rumsfeld's pathetic attempts to paint the majority of American as "unpatriotic". It was an amazing piece, full of sober passion and serious poetry.
Today I think he outdid himself, with a blistering piece on Bush's woeful response to 9/11, that there is still a gaping hole in the ground where the World Trade Center once stood, a gaping hole in the fabric of the nation, and, worse, that this represents "the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath reduced to lazy execution."
It's an absolutely brilliantly argued, beautifully presented cry of anguish for everything that America (and the world) has lost, and for all that Bush has squandered in the past five years.
And he uses the "I" word. (That's "I" for "impeachment", folks.)
Take a look...
Crooks and Liars have the full transcript up here: Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment on BushHistory teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government, by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.
They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused; as appeasers; as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."
They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken... a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated Al-Qaeda as much as we did.
The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do with 9/11', is "lying by implication."
The impolite phrase, is "impeachable offense."When those who dissent are told time and time again - as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus - that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...
When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"… look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:
Who has left this hole in the ground?
We have not forgotten, Mr. President.
You have.
May this country forgive you.
Wow.
And here's his piece on Rumsfeld, in case you missed it:
You can read the full transcript at Crooks and Liars here: Keith Olbermann Delivers One Hell Of a Commentary on RumsfeldFor it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence - indeed, the loyalty - of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land; worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants - our employees - with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve.
And about Mr. Rumsfeld’s other main assertion, that this country faces a "new type of fascism." As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that - though probably not in the way he thought he meant it. This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.
Keith Olbermann, I think I love you.
Interesting links:
Bloggermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann Delivers One Hell Of a Commentary on Rumsfeld
Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment on Bush
The Olbermann factor
The Worst Person in the World: And 202 Strong Contenders
Technorati tags: Keith Olbermann, Countdown, George Bush, 9/11, impeachment, Donald Rumsfeld, fascism.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Keith Olbermann talks impeachment
Monday, September 11, 2006
Response from TVNZ to my Path to 9/11 complaint
I heard back from TVNZ today about the (extremely detailed) complaint I made on Friday. My complaint was about what I feel was misleading promotion for The Path to 9/11. You can read it here - The controversy of The Path to 9/11.
Basically I asked them to change their promos so that they no longer claim the mini-series is "the shocking true story" when even ABC has admitted it isn't; to put a disclaimer before and after each of the two parts; and to reconsider even showing it at all.
Anyway, I was most excited to see a reply from TVNZ in my in-box this morning. Until I opened and read it, that is...To: webweaver
From: ViewerCorrespondence@tvnz.co.nz
Subject: RE: Complaint - A Programme - The Path to 9/11
Hi webweaver,
We did add a disclaimer.
Thanks for your email.
Kind regards
Lesley Rowe
Viewer Correspondent
Public Affairs
That's it??? After all my research and hours spent carefully crafting my complaint, all you've got is "ner ner ner-ner ner - we did add a disclaimer! So there!"
Well crappity crap. So I sent this reply back to them:To: ViewerCorrespondence@tvnz.co.nz
From: webweaver
Subject: RE:RE: Complaint - A Programme - The Path to 9/11
Hi Lesley,
Yes you did - I noticed. Thank you. So could I ask why you
continued to promote it as "the shocking truth", when it
quite clearly isn't.
Not good enough, I'm afraid. I'll be making a formal
complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - both
about the promotion and the mini-series itself. I don't
think I'll be the only one, either.
:)webweaver
Right back atcha Lesley!
I wonder if the extreme - uh - brevity of her reply was because she had another eleventy hundred Path to 9/11 complaints to deal with this morning? Hope so.
Technorati tags: Path to 9/11, formal complaint, New Zealand, ABC, TV One, TVNZ, Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Live blogging of New Zealand screening of The Path to 9/11
Well, the TV One screening of Path to 9/11 has screened, and I've attempted to do a live blog - particularly so that those of you in the US can get a handle on what you (may or may not) see tomorrow; so you have time to figure out the details of what's correct and what's been falsified or made up; and so that we can compare the NZ version with the US version, to see if anything's been changed by ABC/Disney by the time you guys get to see it.
Apologies in advance for any typos (and appalling mis-spellings of names of famous Americans!) - I've now tidied it all up so it makes more sense.
Screening on TV One begins with a BIG disclaimer:
Due to subject matter, viewer discretion is advised.
The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary.
For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.
Credits. Scenes of NY streets. Classical music.
On-screen text:
Based in part on the book “The Cell” by John Miller and Michael StoneOn-screen text:
The 9/11 Commission is an independent, bipartisan commission created by congress in late 2002.
"Our aim has not been to assign individual blame. Our aim has been to provide the fullest possible account of the events surrounding 9/11 and to identify lessons learned"
"In an event of this scale, touching so many issues and organizations, we are conscious of our limits"
- 9/11 Commission
Busy airport - Logan International, Boston. 7.13am, September 11, 2001. Passengers checking in to United flight. Muhammad Atta checking in. Warning on screen about him. Allowed through. Employee asks should he be searched? No, just hold their bags until they board. Checking bags packed by other terrorists. They go through OK.
John O'Neill, Director of Security, WTC (retired FBI agent), arrives for work and reminds security to check his sticker, "...even if he knows me. No-one gets in the building without a sticker!"
Dulles Airport Washington DC 7.15am. Salem al-Hazmi checks in. No photo id. Employee instructs baggage handler to “hold these bags off the plane until they have boarded”
Terrorists boarding aircraft, hand luggage being x-rayed and allowed through.
John O’Neill arrives at office.
Planes takes off, terrorists on different planes call each other on cellphones “we are about to take off - all is good" "it’s good here too" "God is great” terrorists look nervous. Told to turn off their cellphones by stewardess.
Flying view over water towards Manhattan and WTC...
8.5 yrs earlier - February 26, 1993.
NY city streets, WTC aerial view, yellow truck pulls into car park under WTC.
Ramzi Yousef (Palestinian engineer) is one of the people in the truck.
Parks in reserved spot, leaves keys in vehicle, one guys gets out and gets into another car and drives off. Security guards not paying attention.
Others prepare the bomb. Mahmoud "The Red" Abouhalima (Egyptian cab driver), Mohammad A. Salameh (Jordanian).
Bombs set in truck. Speaking Arabic (praying). Light fuses, get into other vehicles and leave fast.
Still security not paying attention. Bombers are trying to get out of car park – honking with impatience. Bomb’s about to blow - stuck in queue to get out. Finally get out, drive like mad, woman in office notices. Vehicles hurtle out of car park and onto busy NY street.
Fire starts in van, fills up with smoke and blows up huge explosions everywhere, people getting hurt, fireball.
News report.
Emad Salem (immigrant from Egypt, ex-colonel, Egyptian army) watches news report at home.
Nancy Floyd (FBI special agent, NY office) watches on her TV while packing.
Bombers arrive on the shoreline to the S of Manhatten to watch the WTC destruction from a distance.
NY Fire House 10 first on scene.
Breathing equipment, fire, smoke, water, darkness, torchlight.
Emad calls Nancy and tells her he told her it would happen. "You know who this is, don't you Nancy? I don't understand your FBI! These people - they don't listen!" She says: “They don’t believe people are smart enough to pull this off. You did the best you could. We both did the best we could!” He says “I’m afraid they will come and get me!”
Terrorists watch WTC from across water to S, not happy, buildings were supposed to fall into each other. Have to go! Now!
Fire team break through into car park.
Nancy to Emad: "Let’s see what happens and if anyone contacts you, page me."
News report: Suspected to have been a truck bomb, no idea of perpetrators, number of organisations claiming responsibility.
Ramzi Yousef sees report on news while at airport waiting to leave country. Calls crime hotline and claims responsibility on behalf of the 5th Batallion of the Liberation Army. Action was against Americans for govt’s politic, economic and military support of Israel.
Nancy arrives at work at FBI NY office - February 27 1993.
Meets Neil Herman (FBI supervising special agent) and Lou Napoli (NYPD detective - joint terrorism task force). Lou: "this isn't our guys is it? The guys your informant turned us on to? We were tailing them, remember?" "Will he come in?"
Nancy remembers only too well - "he was the best mole we ever had and he came to them - and they shut him down because he wanted $500/week" Napoli says it was an upstairs decision and that he didn't want to lose him either.
"You guys were wrong why won’t you admit it?" "Call him and see if he'll talk to us."
Bomb squad detective in cleanup of WTC finds part from bomb truck. Worried about avalanche caused by vibrations from subway train - can't move evidence, but the piece has an ID number which could allow them to identify it, trains being tested nearby which could destroy the evidence. Not allowed, but they remove it anyway.
Asked by boss if they removed evidence. Yes. Boss: "Nothing was to be removed! Could blow whole case." Crime wagon took it to the lab. Boss: "FBI case - not NYPD or Port Authority. Don’t think – just follow orders!"
VIN number belongs to Salameh's truck – he wants deposit back - reported stolen. FBI Neil Herman v excited. Lou: "So it was those guys?" "Yeah."
Salameh was friend of guy who shot Jewish defence league rabbi in attempted assasination 3 years ago. These guys were questioned but never charged.
FBI watching rental company surveillance. Salameh comes in about stolen van. Fill out form. Has no keys (left in van) $200 settlement. Wants $400. FBI getting nervous. Signs form. Cash handed over. Initiate the takedown. FBI moves in. Salameh arrested.
Under WTC – cleanup. On news: "Joint Terrorism Task force arrested Mohamad Salameh". Cleanuppers cheer.
John Miller (news correspondent) meets Neil Herman in a bar.
Neil: "John it’s BS - we were tailing those guys since the rabbi shooting we knew they were up to no good but we couldn't convince guys upstairs. Caught up with little guys, only luck, like Keystone Cops. Miracle that only 6 people killed. Any idea how bad it could have been? Sending John O'Neill to Washington. Chief of Counter-Terrorism. Plan to catch the big fish."
Lou Napoli and FBI team meet Emad.
Emad: "6 months ago I told you something might happen. But the FBI fired me 'cos I wanted to get paid."
FBI guy: "You wouldn't testify and investigations can't go on for ever. Individuals have the right to be protected from domestic spying."
Emad: "Don’t they have the right to be protected against terrorists? They want to bring down both buildings and kill as many people as possible! I read every day in the newspapers how the FBI are heroes, no-one knows the truth, huh?"
Nancy: "We want to reactivate you and put you back in."
Emad: "They are still out there - the members of the cell. Mosques been taken over by fundamentalists."
Nancy: "Are you willing to work with us again?
Napoli: "Got to be prepared to testify. We want the sheikh. But there's two guys we really want - the masterminds - Rashid the bomb-maker and 'The Red.'"
Emad: "Rashid - met him only once. Quiet, smart. "The Red" I know well. Not shown up for work. What will you pay?"
Napoli to Nancy in FBI office: "Clearance to restart relationship with Emad. $1.5mil. They sweated before they signed off on it."
Khalid Sheikh Muhammad (Ramzi Yousef's uncle) at club/party in Manilla, Philippines, 1993.
Talking about bomb with nephew, Ramzi Yousef (Rashid the bomb maker). "Once the American people realise that their government's policies put them in danger, they will change those policies"
Yousef tells him he is working on something incredible – bomb that can blow up a plane, cannot be detected - developed into mould like gelatine, can be placed inside anything. Detonator – casio watch.
Yousef: "A dozen planes in one day. We will kill thousands – needs money to do it properly with professionals."
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: "There's a wealthy Saudi - we fought together against the Russians in Afghanistan"
Yousef: “I’ll knock those towers down... someday!”
FBI HQ in NY:
Amad calls Nancy from outside mosque: "'The Red' is in Egypt – they arrested him - they haven’t told you - you must do something! He's been arrested for assassination of Egyptian president Sadat! They will torture and kill him!"
'Blind Sheikh" being hassled by media outside mosque re: connection to WTC bombing.
Helicopters with armed guards arriving in NY, handcuffed man being taken away.
Mahmoud ('The Red') being interviewed by FBI – FBI got him out of Egypt. FBI have him. He’s been tortured. Flashbacks of torture. They say they won’t hurt him. "We're not gonna torture you here. We don't do that. Did they hurt you? I hear the Egyptian Scret Police are pretty tough guys... Can you help us? Will you help us?" Trying to make connection with the Blind Sheikh who ordered murder of an associate by Red.
Want all his info about Blind Sheikh and Ramzi Yousef. He can talk to an attourney and get a better deal. They don't want him for the WTC bombing, they just want all his info.
Emad meets with FBI – he has taped conversation with Blind Sheikh where he talks about war with America. "We must kill American soldiers, attack military targets. Is it enough for an arrest?"
"We'll have to check with Janet Reno - see if she has any balls." She has to approve an arrest.
News report on Blind Sheikh’s arrest.
FBI Briefing. Herman: "Rashid the Iraqi – Ramzi Yousef pic – this is our guy, the mastermind behind the attack. Left NY for Pakistan - his home."
Frank Pellegrino: "Explanation of two agencies in Pakistan FIA (like FBI) and ISI (like CIA). They hate each other. Someone in FIA (as Pakistan is very anti-American) could have warned Yousef at the last minute. Missed arresting him by 2 hours. Committed to murder and mayhem. We must get him. Achilles heel is his brazenness. Placed bomb outside Prime Minister-to-be Benazir Butto’s home but mucked it up. Injured (damaged left eye and fingers). Prime suspect in bomb in a mosque in Iran. Why would a Muslim try to assassinate his PM or blow up mosque? Benazir Butto is a woman (first female head of state). He is a Sunni. Anti Shia (hence anti-Iranian). FBI’s most wanted man. We believe he's in the Philippines."
Bomber (Yousef) on Philippines airlines plane setting up bomb in toilets. He gets off at Narita. Passenger in his seat (where he's put the bomb) gets blown up after plane takes off again.
John O’Neill (now FBI Counterterrorism Division): “Yousef is practicing, he will learn from this and try again. I'm going to DC early - get things started.”
Yousef building bombs at home above the club in the Philippines. Accidentally starts a fire. Leaves laptop, files and address book in building, sends a mate (Murad) to get them, who gets arrested. Murad tries to run but gets caught “The two Satans must be destroyed!”
Police find laptop and open it. "Do we need a warrant" Well get one"
Richard Clarke (National Co-ordinator Counterterrorism - NCC) press conference. Afterwards meets with “Kirk” FBI field agent. Talks about finding laptop with info on "Day of Death" plot to hijack a dozen airliners in a single day. Kill 4,000 people. All US carriers - bound for LA, SF, Honolulu and NY. Also assassinate Clinton and the Pope. Small bomb with each hijkacker. Suicide mission. Man arrested in Manilla was a commercial airlines pilot. "When was this supposed to happen?" "Same day as Pope’s visit – Friday."
John O’Neill wants to meet a bunch of people. Richard Clarke from White House calls him about info on Yousef.
O'Neill meets up with Lou, Herman and others at FBI.
They discuss Ramzi Yousef – bomb factory exposed, cell broken, on way to Pakistan. "We need to pinpoint him and get him out of there fast. No lawyers getting in our way. We cover our bases."
Herman: "We could never look at that laptop if that happened here. All that evidence - inadmissable. It’s a new kind of war, and if preventions’ our duty…" O'Neill: "His rap sheet's a mile long. We won’t lose this guy."
Islamabad, Pakistan - US embassy - Feb 4, 1995.
Man approaches embassy gate to get in, but walks away when he sees security. Passes note to soldier at back gate – pic of Yousef wanted poster. Gets inside embassy. Very nervous. Wants no-one to know he’s there. Will be murdered if anyone knows him. Gives explanation of why Yousef has become a martyr. No work, people get angry. This is all they can do. Bill Miller and Scott Randall (Diplomatic Security Service) ask for verification that he knows Yousef. Informer says that Yousef lost his laptop in Manila. Has a new one now. Sometimes leaves it with this informer.
They discuss it with FBI back in US by video link. Believe the informer is for real. Has provided them with info about more attacks. He doesn't believe in killing innocents, which is why he's informing. US officials in Pakistan believe they have to move fast - before Yousef does. O’Neill says he must contact State Dept. Get permission from Butto.
US official: "That's very risky, John. Needs absolute security."
O'Neill: "She'll give it"
US official: "But he's a rock star here! He has friends high up in the government."
O'Neill: I'll take care of it. Get as many agencies as you can - whoever you can trust. Contact the embassy - tell them it's the real deal - 6 hours".
Meeting with Clarke at his home at night.
Clarke: "Tell O'Neill I'll back him all the way on this but when it comes to pulling the trigger - he needs approval. Up and down the line. He can't be a cowboy on this."
O'Neill is calling someone about the "Rendition Plan" (which will take place when they catch Yousef). "If our planes don't have clearance to land... I don't care! This top priority!"
Informer (Ishtiak) calls Miller. He has spoken to Yousef and has been invited to dinner. "What should I do?" "Have dinner with him." "I won’t know where until closer to the time." "Try to find out where he’s staying." "We won't arrest him in public - it's too dangerous. Don't worry" Informer very scared – doesn’t want to be led into a trap. Doesn’t want them to tail him.
Ishtiak arrives home to find Yousef and his uncle (Khalid Sheikh) waiting for him. They show him the bomb in a chessboard box. They are sending him on a flight this evening. Yousef will be on one too. Islamabad to Bankok to US. "You plant the bomb and leave the aircraft in Bangkok. Once over Pacific it will blow up." "But I have no passport!" "We have one for you." He’s very scared.
Ishtiak calls US officials, warning them what's going to happen.
Scott: "My wife’s on that flight!" Miller: "We can’t have Americans changing flights or they will figure it out. No-one's getting on that plane - but if we're gonna arrest them they have to think everything's normal."
Asks Pakistani Colonel how they can have let this happen.
Pakistani official: "Do you want to point fingers, make accusations or arrest this animal and protect your wife?"
Ishtiak calls again to say the plan’s changed again. "No bombs on any planes?" "Not as far as I know." "That's not not good enough!" "He will kill me and my family if he finds out!"
Miller: "What info do you have?"
Ishtiak: "He intends to leave for Peshawar tomorrow. He intends to cross to Afghanistan. He doesn't know. I'm meeting him tomorrow morning." Gives them Yousef's hotel address. Doesn't know if he's there now.
Miller: "We'll have to go back to the embassy and talk to John. Maybe we can get him tomorrow."
Talk to O'Neill by phone. Haven't confirmed Yousef is in the hotel because they don't want him tipped off. Want authorisation.
Pakistani Colonel: "Prime Minister has given me sole authority"
Miller to O'Neill: "Do we have authority?"
Herman to O'Neill: "John - we have got to get authority! We can't do this alone!"
O'Neill: "Justice, Langley and NSC will hang you up if you get this wrong."
O'Neill to Miller: "Place your men. I’ll get a decision."
Ishtiak walking through streets. DSS/Pakistani authorities in position.
Yousef: "We are going to Afghanistan to teach mujehaddin about bombing. You will meet 'The Tall One' who finances our efforts. He’s a great man. He has asked me to come and share my knowledge, we are in a new movement to change the world. Will take the 12 o’clock bus to Peshawar and then across the border, wake me up before noon."
Ishtiak goes to buy a newspaper. He gives signal to watching men. They place call to John O’Neill. "We can get him!" O'Neill puts him on hold - Director Freed is on the other line.
Freed: "I want Bill Gabin to arrest him"
O'Neill: "But he's not there!"
Freed: "He's on his way with 20 other agents and a rendition team."
O'Neill: "But he's on his way to Afghanistan! This might be our only opportunity!"
Freed: "Just keep an eye on him - he’s not going anywhere."
O'Neill: "He might if 20 FBI agents turn up at the airport!"
Freed: "This isn’t my decision. Secretary of State is coordinating with Benazir Butto. There are other agencies involved! I’ll call you back!"
They have to wait.
Back at FBI there’s a phone call - Director Freed gave go-ahead. Go! Now!
They catch Yousef asleep in bed and arrest him. Maps of NY, passports in his room. Weapons, bomb-making equipment.
Locals are not happy. Pakistani police move in to keep people calm.
Yousef’s uncle realises what has happened and slips away.
In car on way to airport Miller wants to know from Yousef who’s financing the operation. Is it Saddam? Revenge for the Gulf War? Who are you going to see in Afghanistan? Pakistani Colonel asks for 1 hour with him (to get all answers they want...). Miller refuses.
Ishtiak and family leaving in haste for US with US official. Says he doesn’t believe in jihad. All neighbours are watching. Nervous moments.
Back at the FBI... "Fingerprints are a match – it’s Yousef! We got him!" He's being brought to Manhatten.
Mohamed Salameh comes out of courtroom after being given sentence of 240 years along with other terrorist “Red” (240 years) and "Blind Sheikh" Omar Abdel-Rahman (life in prison).
Later in court Yousef says “I support terrorism as long as it is against US government and Israel. You are more than terrorists. You invented terrorism, you are using it every day, you are liars, hypocrites.”
Herman whispers to O'Neil: "Who's funding these terrorists? Who's paying for their defense?"
Judge makes comment about Islam and jihad. "You are not fit to uphold Islam. Your God is death." Judge wants to sentence him to death but instead he will do 240 years in isolation in jail.
He is flown by chopper to jail, past WTC. “If I'd had enough money and explosives, they wouldn’t be still standing.”
O’Neill and Clarke discuss following money trail – 'Tall One' - Saudi millionaire, paid for Yousef’s defence and supported Blind Sheikh. Name is Osama bin Laden - Clarke shows photo. OSB has declared fatwah/jihad against America. O'Neill: "We're at war!"
Afghanistan. Hill fort.
Western (ABC) film crew (including John Miller) walks nervously through crowds of men, one of whom spits at them. Crew searched by Afghanis who take their camera. Crew complains, guns are drawn. OK! OK!
Dr Ayman Al-Zawahiri (Liuetenant to OSB) and Muhammed Atef (Al-Qaeda military commander) greet camera crew. Crew want to speak with bin Laden.
Real footage of bin Laden (the interview).
June 10, 1998. CIA team watches the interview on the news back at HQ (Counterterrorism Center, CIA Langley, Virginia). CIA very angry that film crew got in without them knowing about it. Clarke and crew watch it at the White House and look very crestfallen. FBI team watches it at their HQ. Lots of footage of this interview is shown.
OSB: “We predict a black day for America!”
O'Neill wants extended complete version of footage from ABC, wants to meet with journalist John Miller. Gets info about meeting with Bin Laden from Miller “everyone went nuts when he turned up” (flashback of much shooting into the air and craziness amongst supporters). OSB blesses little boy.
O'Neill: "What was he like?"
John Miller: "Committed to his cause, whole new warrior, fought Russians, now want to fight us and believes he can win. We think Reagan won the Cold War. The Afghanis think they won the Cold War because they forced the Russians out and caused the 'Evil Empire' to crumble. Now they want us."
O’Neill realises gold dagger OSB sometimes wears is a signal of some kind to operatives watching – it's a message. Miller: "He did seem irritated that we weren't taking him seriously. Bin Laden was trying to provoke a response with his threats to hurt civilians"
Watching footage of Masoud, Northern Alliance commander of Mujehaddin.
Miller: "If it’s bin Laden you want. Masoud is your man, they hate each other. Are you thinking of hooking up?"
Caves in Afghanistan, Masoud’s stronghold, old military chopper arrives with Masoud in it, everyone cheers. FBI operatives already there. They meet Masoud. He’s happy to see them. They fly off together in his chopper.
Jury is watching bin Ladens’ whole speech. O'Neill paces outside. Mary Jo White (US Attorney S District of NY) gives O'Neill their decision: "Yes you have the legal basis to go after bin Laden. Indictment is in absentia. Are you bringing him in any time soon?" "I’m on it already!" They are nailing him for aiding and abetting Yosef, causing Black Hawk Down etc etc.
Masoud’s men fan out across Afghan countryside with FBI operatives. Arrive near Al-Qaeda camp and spy over camp. Masoud: "OBL is there. He raises money from mosques across the world, his money has been frozen for years."
They spot OBL. Masoud gives them his daily movements. FBI operative: “This is isolated, it’s perfect for us – it’s beautiful!”
CIA Langley, Virginia, June 1998. George Tenet (CIA director) gets briefing from "Kirk" (FBI operative) about the deal with OBL – details of how they will capture him.
"Patricia" (CIA Senior Analyst) asks for more info about mujehaddin and equipment.
Sandy Berger (National Security Advisor): "What are your intentions once you've siezed the target?"
Kirk: "We'll take him to Masoud’s cave, then Pakistan with the rendition team and then to NY."
George Tenet (CIA boss): I hope the indictment's solid - I don't want to get him all the way to NY and have some fancy lawyer get him off."
O'Neill: "Indictment is solid sir."
Paul Kessler (Chief of Operations, CIA): Is this covert or clandestine? Where’s the money coming from? I don't want to be the guy going in front of a special congresional coimmitte asking for money!"
Kirk: "Depends on if we succeed or not!"
Berger: "Do Masoud’s men know this is a snatch not an assassination?"
Kirk: "Absolutely"
Tenet: "It's not just killing OBL that worries me. What about the women and children in the compound? And do we trust Masoud?
Discuss pros and cons of Masoud. He grows heroin! He’s not a criminal, never been prosecuted for a crime. Deserves our backing and our support!
Want to discuss it privately. Kirk goes out of room.
Clarke to Kirk: "You go back and get them ready."
Kirk: "It's not a go?"
Clarke: "They are worried about political fallout and are not advocating assassination. Presidential directive that it would be OK if OBL were killed accidentally."
Kirk: "They flinch at the idea of wacking him? This is not about covering your own asses!"
O'Neill: "The fact is, terrorism is perceived by this administration as being a law and order problem. Period."
Kirk: "How do you win a law and orderly war?"
O'Neill: "You don't."
Cut immediately to real footage of Clinton press conference where he is saying “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
Clarke in car with O'Neill: "The President has assured me that this scandal won’t affect his decision-making."
O'Neill: "So it’s OK for us to kill BL as long as he didn’t give the order. Pathetic!"
Afghanistan, Masoud's stronghold. Chopper flies in.
Kirk tells operatives: "Janet Reno's signed off on it. We can kill him by accident, just not on purpose. He could get caught in the cross-fire."
Message comes in: Washington says it’s a go! They move out with Masoud.
CIA and FBI HQs with video linkup. All watching screens nervously. They are in audio contact with men on ground with Masoud in Afghanistan.
Afghani voice: "Afghanistan is standing by"
Patricia (CIA chick) to Berger on the video hookup: "Our people are in danger!"
Berger: "I understand that. But I don’t have that authority."
Patricia: "Excuse me sir but what authority do we have here?"
Random CIA dude: "Is the President leaving it up to us?"
Tenet: "The President has approved every plan presented for review."
Berger: "I can't call them until we're all on the same page"
Patricia: "The same page - is this some kind of code-speak, Sir?"
Afghani voice on audio hookup: "There are women and children near the target! They are moving towards the target! Do you want us to act now?"
Patricia: "Our people are in place!"
Tenet: "There are women and children nearby - how close are they? Can we clear them?"
Patricia to Clarke: "This is the nature of intelligence, sir, we rarely have the full information, We do the best that we can with the information"
Clarke: "But what do we know, Patricia?"
Patricia: "We know enough to try now. Now excuse me Sir, you are the National Security Adviser. Can’t you give the order?"
Berger to Tenet: Now look George, if you feel confident you can make a recommendation to the President yourself. "
Tenet: "So if it all goes bad it comes down on my head - like Janet Reno and Wako! The buck stops down the hall!"
Everyone looks down. Berger looks like he doesn't know what to say. Tenet laughs bitterly.
FBI ops and Masoud wait as the day dawns in Afghanistan.
Mahmoud: "Are there any men left in Washington or are they all cowards?"
John Miller watching video footage with Herman. Evil-eye is in Nairobi (reporter met him when interviewed OBL - Evil-Eye spat at him). There's a lot of intelligence chatter saying there's a plot by Al-Qaeda. OSB has a lot of cells. Can’t tell if it’s true. CIA checked walk-in informant's info (about plot to blow up Nairobi embassy) with Israeli Mussad and said to drop it.
Miller asks if they have any informants in Al-Qaeda. Herman says "I can't say" (meaning yes but I can't say).
Herman: "Embassy in Nairobi wants more money for security, State Dept considers it low budget priority."
Miller: "This guy is bad news – I guarantee it."
Kirk arrives at Nairobi embassy and is greeted by Ambassador.
Evil-eye approaches embassy with bomb in truck.
Evil-Eye: "Let me in! Let me in!"
Embassy security guard: "He has a gun! He has a gun! I need support!"
Evil-Eye throws a grenade into the compound. It explodes as those inside the embassy are discussing "unusual communications" they haven't been able to figure out.
Evil-Eye runs (away?) but other suicide bomber in the truck presses the button. Huge explosion. All embassy officials thrown across the room by the blast.
News report. Terrible death and destruction. 240 dead. Patricia marches angrily through CIA offices. Truck bomb also struck US embassy in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania.
Bill Clinton in TV address: "We will use all the means at disposal to bring those responsible to justice."
Patricia storms into FBI meeting: "You should have ordered those people we had on the ground in Afghanistan to get bin Laden because we had him!”
Very upset - crying: "Those deaths. We’re responsible because we didn’t act on the info we had and we could have had him!"
CIA dude: "You don’t know for sure it’s him!"
Patricia laughs hysterically and leaves in tears. All top CIA guys look suitably chastised...
Nairobi – woman informs FBI (CIA? I'm getting confused who is who now! I think one guy is Kirk who was supposed to get blown up at the embassy. He has cuts on his face.) where Evil-Eye is. They arrive with guns. He has a gun. Chase him round the shacks, corner him. He rushes them, they arrest him.
Nairobi men surround them with machetes but the FBI/CIA talk their way out of it.
Clarke and O'Neill talk on the phone.
Clarke: "It's bin Laden all the way - although the CISA's witholding judgement. They are sending a team from the Washington Field office. I wisd they were sending you."
O'Neill: "What's Clinton going to do?"
Clarke: "They're talking about it as we speak."
O'Neill: "He has to do something. He has to act."
Clarke: "He's preparing a series of options but I can't say anything right now."
White House Situation Room, National Security Council, August 1998.
Tenet: "We have a number of suggestions. We must determine who is the enemy. We know OBL is responsible. Taliban have allowed himin the country and are protecting him.
Madeleine Albright (Secretary of State): "Taking on the Taliban would be a major miltary undertaking. President isn’t prepared to go that far in response to attacks on two embassies."
Clarke: "This isn't a game. We're at war!"
Albright: "The Attorney General's indictment name is bin Laden, not the Taliban. We need to focus on him and his terror network. What targets do you have in mind?
Clarke: Al Shifa. Pharmaceutical plant in Sudan. OBL is part owner in order to develop chemical and nuclear weapons"
Tenet: "Egyptian intel shows precursary substances assoc w chemical weapons"
Another CIA chick: "Need better intelligence on cthis facility before we consider any options"
Berger: "And if there's a nerve gas attack on NYC or a dirty bomb fired at a military base overseas and we had the opportunity to act??"
Albright: Do we have a retiatory plan I can present to the President? I'm waiting..."
Everyone looks dumbstruck.
William Cohen (Secretary of Defense): "We all agree we don't want to send in the ground troops. That would be a huge overreaction on our part. We can't do airstrikes because of flyover restrictions. So our best bet here will be missiles. Tomahawk missiles."
Tenet: "We can use President Reagan's missile strike on Libya as precedent. That way no-one on Capitol Hill can cry "assassination".
Albright: "Where? What are your targets?"
Clarke: The Al Shifa plant and we've got new intelligence that there's been a celebratory meeting between OBL and his top advisers."
Tenet gives location of meeting: "bin Laden will be chairing the meeting. Isolated, only jihadists, no civilian population."
Albright: "When?"
Tenet: "August 20th."
Slomo of Tomahawks being launched.
Clinton: The US launched an attack this morning on one of the most active terrorist bases in the world. Located in Afghanistan and operated by groups affiliated with OSB. Chemical weapons-related facility."
News report says that pharmaceutical plant was producing medicines and that there was no connection to bin Laden. Local people riot in the streets.
Reporter on the ground (John Miller): "Clinton is under fire from Republicans and media pundits – accusations that attack it is to distract people from Lewinsky affair." US flag burns.
OBL’s lieutenant calls news reporter (Nicholas Lanier - ABC Middle East Correspondent) to say the attacks have failed and OBL is alive. "Tell Clinton if he wants to fight, to come to Afghanistan and fight like a warrior. The war has begun!!!"
Clinton on news in background: "America will continue to lead the world's fight. For peace, freedom and security."
Lanier calls someone to tell them the news.
Al-Zawahiri in military convoy on two-way radio: "Attack the Northern Alliance! Let us show the world what happens to those allied with our enemies! Annihilate them!!!!!!"
Attack on Masoud camp from Taliban. FBI guy finds out they didn’t get OBL and tells Masoud.
Masoud: "OBL received notice from Pakistan. You know assassination was destined for failure. Because Washington informed Pakistan. This is your doing!"
Masoud is v angry w FBI guy. Battle rages, Masoud’s men take heavy casualties. He doesn't want any more help from FBI.
White House Situation Room
Tenet: "The Pakistani govt was informed when exactly of the Pentagon attack?"
Madeleine Albright: "The President feared missiles crossing Pakistan airspace could be mistaken as an attack from India, igniting a nuclear exchange between two countries looking for anyexcuse to go to war. We had no other choice!"
Tenet: "I realise that. But when did we let them know?"
Albright doesn't answer.
Tenet: "Madam Secretary. The Pakistani Security Service, the ISI, has close ties with the Taliban."
Albright: "We tried to time the disclosure through General Rolston so that any warning would be too late."
Tenet: "These are cruise missiles launched from thousands of miles waway. They take hours to honme in on their targets."
Albright: "We had to inform the Pakistanis. There are regional factors involved here!"
Tenet: "And the end result is that we've enhanced bin Laden's stature in the Islamic world. He's thumbing his nose at us!"
Berger: "That's the risk we take with covert military actions - Kennedy learned it with the Bay of Pigs, Reagan with Iran-Contra..."
Tenet: "When I took over at Langley I warned the administration about using covert operations to solve failed foreign policy..."
Berger: "You need to just do your job"
Tenet: "I am trying to do so sir - if you'll let me!"
O'Neill at party, wants to talk about "bad intel, bad PR" but they won't let him.
Khalid Sheikh Muhammad (Ramzi Yousef's uncle) arrives at Al-Qaeda training camp. Al Matar, Afghanistan, March 1999.
Men training. Weapons, guns, computers, bomb-making.
He greets OBL’s lieutenant. Suggests a collaboration to hijack and blow up lots of planes. Not an attempt to get his nephew out of jail, although it was an idea he had once. "I call it 'The Planes Operation'.”
Later that night in camp. Flames flicker from torches. A projector lights up a big screen with a viseo image of Bill Clinton. They shoot his image through the head and call him Satan. Everyone waves their guns in the air. "Clinton is Satan! Clinton is Satan!"
Making plans for Planes Operation. Once in Pakistan they must go alone to different places. Al-Zawahiri tells Khalid Sheikh Muhammad not to tell Ressam about their secret discussions or his meeting with OBL. "Ressam has his own path to follow."
Khalid Sheikh Muhammad wants money and help from OBL.
Al-Zawahiri: "You may begin preparations but it will be a limited operation - 10 planes is too many. Too many people involved. Much can go wrong. Targets must be carefully determined. Beauty must be its maximum casualities. Suggest December 31 1999. The millennium."
Khalid: "This is too soon! I don't have pilots to do this operation."
"With God's help you will."
US/Canada border, Port Angeles, Washington, December 14, 1999.
Sweaty guy driving car. Lots of police and security at border. He gets stopped by border guard because he’s so uptight. They want him to open the trunk. They find bomb-making raw materials. They try to arrest him but he runs. They get him. He’s Algerian - Ahmed Rassan. He has a NY phone number (Miskini's) written on a scrap of paper. They inform the FBI.
John O’Neill is told they may be dealing with multiple cells. Gets background info on movements of some people they are watching incl Miskini.
FBI dude: "Have we got enough to arrest this guy?"
O'Neill: "Not yet, but we have enough to get into his apartment and sniff around. Who knows what we may find."
Brooklyn, New York, December 20 1999.
In his apartment they find bottles of chemicals, wires, maps of LA and Manhatten, lots of credit cards and a gun.
FBI dude: "We have enough to arrest this guy, why are we screwing around?"
O'Neill: "We’re 11 days from the millennium. I want the whole network."
Herman tells O'Neill they have over 40 possibles that Miskini's linked them to in the last week. All under surveillance. O'Neill tells team they will round themn up on the 30th, which means they can hold them until after millennium.
FBI ops go back to house and arrest Miskini. News reports of many arrests of suspected terrorists.
FBI going through mounds of evidence, most of it in Arabic and encrypted. It will be hard to break it. Trying to get code-crackers but they just aren’t out there, and they have less than 40 hours. Fears of attack during millennium. News report says there is evidence that “may trace back to OBL with links via bomb-making materials to Yousef.”
Interviewing Miskini. Wanting to know who is the lead dog? What’s the big flame that you guys talk about on the telephone sheets? He won’t reply except to say Happy New Year in Arabic and “boom”.
Giuliani won’t cancel NY celebrations in Times Square. Tons of security.
Build-up to millennium celebrations as O’Neill questions terrorist suspect. "Is your mother proud of you? IS GOD PROUD OF YOU???? (and lots more yelling!)
Times Square, NYC, 31 December 1999
Massive celebrations. Heaps of security searching everyone. O’Neill v worried that there will be an attack. Dramatic music! Terrorist saying prayer! Worried faces! Drummer drums! Fireworks go off!
Celebration dinner of FBI dudes (and John Miller) after midnight because nothing happened. O'Neill: “We dodged a bullet tonight, but nobody bats a thousand - remember that."
Miller: "When is this ever going to end?”
They stand and sing “Danny Boy.”
American Airlines flights are leaving their airports on the morning of September 11 2001. Terrorists look at each other. They get knives and duct tape out of their bags in the overhead lockers. They start walking towards the cockpit...
TO BE CONTINUED.
They showed this disclaimer at the end as well:
The preceding movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary.
For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogues, as well as time compression.
Phew! It's 7.20am and I've been rewriting this all night. I have to go to work in an hour or so. I'm not sure I can do this all again tonight - in fact I know I can't cos I'll be far too tired. I hope there's another Kiwi out there who might have a crack at it instead...
Technorati tags: Path to 9/11, controversy, American politics, 9/11, George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, TV One, New Zealand, live blogging.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Video of TV One promo for The Path to 9/11
Well, I sat in front of the TV for over an hour with my finger hovering over the "go" button, trying to catch the very misleading TV One promo for The Path to 9/11. I wanted to film it with my little video camera so y'all could see it. It finally occurred to me that I should tape TV One instead of doing all that finger-hovering. Duh!
Eventually got it on tape, filmed it, (well I don't have a DVD recorder so it was the fastest way I could think of!), transcribed it and uploaded it to YouTube. Don't know how long it'll stay up there before it gets pulled, so the transcript is below, and I'll replace the video with a series of stills if it does get taken down.
Enjoy! (or not...)
And if you're wondering what my problem is with the promo (and The Path to 9/11 itself), take a look at yesterday's blog post - The controversy of The Path to 9/11.Transcript
Fly-over shot approaching Manhatten and the WTC from the south.
On-screen text: YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED...
Middle-Eastern (male) voice: We predict a black day for America.
View of Middle-Eastern man (Bin Laden?) surrounded by cheering supporters. Followed by shot of CIA agent watching through binoculars, while standing behind traditionally-dressed Afghani man (Commander Massoud).
On-screen text: THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED.
American (male) voice: How many times is the Agency gonna fail this country?
TVOne voiceover: For the first time...
Black flag with Arabic writing on it flapping in the breeze (attached to a vehicle) as it drives towards an explosion. Zoom-in on WTC (intact). Shot of business people running along a glass-walled corridor (as seen from outside the building). Editor or newsman watching footage of Bin Laden.
TVOne voiceover: ...the shocking truth!
Closeup of Harvey Keitel character (FBI counterterrorism expert John O'Neill).
John O'Neill: They call him "the tall one".
Older American man (Cheney? Rove? Tenet?) passes John O'Neill a photo of Osama.
Older American man: His name is Osama Bin Laden.
Shot of White House.
TVOne voiceover: Then - and now...
Shot of CIA operatives watching on screen - something - that horrifies them.
American woman #1 (CIA?): Can't you give the order?
Sandy Berger I don't have that authority!
White noise on screen replaces image of Sandy Berger.
Shot of military helicopter against orange sky followed by news footage of Osama firing a rifle.
On-screen text: "Tension-filled and visually dazzling" - Dominion Post
TVOne voiceover: The television event you need to see...
Shot of Arabic man (being arrested?) followed by closeup of man in traditional Afghan dress.
Voiceover of Lead Afghan guerilla fighter, Masoud: Are there any men left in Washington?
Accompanied by shot of US soldier speaking into a two-way radio.
American woman #1 (CIA?): (distraught) We had him! We're responsible for that!
View of firefighters in the ruins of the World Trade Center.
On-screen text: WORLD PREMIERE
On-screen text: THE PATH TO 9/11
TVOne voiceover: Across two nights at the special time of 7.30 - The Path to 9/11. Sunday on One.
Technorati tags: Path to 9/11, controversy, American politics, Osama bin Laden, John O'Neill, Harvey Keitel, 9/11, TV One.
The controversy of The Path to 9/11
This is the text of a complaint I have made to TV One regarding the promotion and screening of The Path to 9/11:
I should like to complain most strenuously about your promotion of The Path to 9/11.
You are probably aware that there is immense controversy about the screening of this mini-series in the USA, including a 100,000-signature petition to have the programme pulled from the broadcasting schedule.
ABC, the show’s producers, said today that they are making changes to some scenes, in response to complaints from, among others, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, former President Bill Clinton, a number of Democrat senators, Jamie S. Gorelick (9/11 Commission member and former Deputy Attorney General), former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger.
The complainants state that some of the scenes are completely fabricated, particularly those which depict former Clinton officials including Albright, Berger and Richard Clarke as undermining efforts to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.
Bill Clinton has also refuted several fictionalized scenes that he claims insinuate he was too distracted by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal to care about bin Laden and that depict a top adviser pulling the plug on CIA operatives who were just moments away from bagging the terror master, in a letter from his lawyer to ABC boss Bob Iger obtained by The New York Post.
In a statement, ABC acknowledged today that the movie is a "dramatization" that contains "fictionalized scenes" and "composite" characters but also said it is based on the work of the 9/11 commission.
Jamie S. Gorelick, a member of the 9/11 Commission and a Deputy Attorney General under Clinton, wrote to Iger yesterday: "I do have a problem if you make claims that the program is based upon the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report when the actors, scenes and statements in the series are not found in - and, indeed, are contradicted by - our findings."
I am extremely concerned because in the TV One promotion for The Path to 9/11 you quite clearly state "You know WHAT happened. Now see HOW it happened." You go on to call this mini-series "the shocking truth" - and yet ABC themselves admit that this is a dramatisation containing fictionalised scenes. But nowhere in your TV promotion do you make this clear. You are promoting this mini-series as if it were completely factual, when clearly it is not.
On your website you also state "the mini-series takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the events that presaged that fateful day." Again, nowhere do you indicate that this is a fictionalised account, and that it is not a true and accurate representation of all the facts.
In addition, on your website you mention that the show is based on "a dramatisation of the events published in the national bestseller The 9/11 Commission Report" - and yet you do not mention that this report is in itself controversial, with its critics claiming that it left out many of the crucial facts associated with the events of September 11.
Over the past few months The Path to 9/11 has been sent out for reviews and comments from organizations and individuals - including a large number of right-wing bloggers - associated with the conservative political movement and the Republican Party.
One might therefore conclude that the producers of this mini-series were working with a political agenda in mind, especially when it was revealed that a number of the people actually portrayed in it, including former President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright, and National Security Advisor Sandy Berger were not sent copies, even when they requested them.
Now that they are having a chance to review the programme, just days before broadcast, Madeleine Albright has called parts of the movie "false and defamatory". Berger has stated that the film "flagrantly misrepresents my personal actions." Bill Clinton has asked that the mini-series be pulled if ABC does not make substantial changes.
The controversy surrounding this programme is basically that a) it isn't factually accurate, and b) it is partisan in nature. I believe that TV One has a responsibility make this clear in all its advertising.
As an indicator of the level of concern this programme has engendered in the US, today the children's publishing company Scholastic deleted from its website materials about The Path to 9/11, developed in partnership with ABC, that were being offered to 25,000 high school teachers. "We determined that the materials did not meet our high standards for dealing with controversial issues," Chairman Dick Robinson said.
Your Charter states that TVNZ shall:
"strive always to set and maintain the highest standards of programme quality and editorial integrity."
I believe you have not demonstrated editorial integrity in your promotion of this programme, and I also have my doubts about the quality of the programme itself.
I am aware that most Kiwis do not follow American politics as closely as I do, and will have no idea that The Path to 9/11 is a "dramatization" that contains "fictionalized scenes" and "composite" characters. As the State Broadcasting company of New Zealand I believe that you have a duty to make this clear to your viewers before screening takes place, or better still, don't show it at all.
Assuming that you do decide to go ahead with the programme, despite the controversy surrounding it, I would request that you screen an advisory notice to viewers at the beginning and end of each night's programme, indicating that this is a dramatisation containing fictionalised scenes and composite characters; and that you also alter your TV promotion, website and all other advertising to reflect this fact.
Thank you for your attention. I would appreciate a response before this programme screens on TV One.
Useful links
Technorati tags: Path to 9/11, controversy, American politics, Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Harry Reid, Jamie Gorelick, Sandy Berger, 9/11 Commission Report, Scholastic, ABC, Disney, TV One, TVNZ Charter.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Clay's Presidential appointment
My very wonderful Teevy Boyfriend, Clay Aiken, is to be appointed to be a Member of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Here's the press release. Wow! Way to go, Clay!
I guess anyone who hasn't been following Clay's career would be forgiven for wondering if this is just a meaningless "celebrity" appointment - and for having no idea of the considerable experience and dedication Clay will actually bring to this position.
Three years ago during American Idol, Clay said "I want to make a difference. It's not necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do". At the time Simon rubbished his comments and implied that he believed they were a cynical attempt by Clay to gain votes. How wrong he was.
Clay got his Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in December 2003. He'd been interested in special education for quite a while by that point. As a teenager he had been a YMCA children's camp director; and at 19 he was a substitute teacher for a classroom of students with autism at Brentwood Elementary School.
While studying at Charlotte he had a part-time job as an assistant to Mike Bubel, a boy with autism. Mike's mother, Diane, was the person who persuaded Clay to audition for American Idol. Clay postponed his final semester at Charlotte in order to compete on Idol, and the university allowed him to complete his degree by developing the concept of an imaginary charitable foundation as his final project. During the American Idol concert tour that summer, fans began donating money to Clay's foundation, even though it didn't yet exist.
In July 2003, just two months after the end of AI, Clay turned the imaginary into reality by co-founding The Bubel/Aiken Foundation with Diane Bubel. By the time the foundation was officially launched, it had already received over $50,000 in donations from fans.
When Clay was a director at the Y he'd been frustrated by the fact that kids with disabilities weren't able to take part in summer camps, because there were no facilities to accomodate them. The Bubel/Aiken Foundation was therefore set up to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in activities with their non-disabled peers.
The BAF runs summer camps which welcome children with and without disabilities in an integrated environment, and some camps are run in partnership with the YMCA. BAF also presents Able to Serve awards to support the volunteer efforts of children with physical and mental disabilities, and to encourage them to provide service to others.
The BAF was presented with a $500,000 grant from the US government to develop a curriculum for inclusion to be used in schools across the country. In addition State Farm has granted $1.5 million to The Bubel/Aiken Foundation to help develop a primary education curriculum focused on teaching social and life skills through service to children of all levels of ability.
Over the last three years Clay has taken part in many benefit events and concerts, including the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, the America's Promise Benefit, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The first one I can recall was the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, which took place a couple of days after the end of the AI Tour in September 2003. Jerry introduced him by saying "This for me was the winner from Day 1. This Man." The ClayNation raised over $30,000 for the Telethon.
Clay has also been a keynote speaker at the Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities and the Fearless Caregiver Conference. He was one of the celebrity readers for the Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series), which benefits the BAF and other charities, and served as spokesperson for the series. He was also a spokesperson for the 2004 Toys for Tots drive, and is an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
In 2004, he was appointed United States Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, with a mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education. Through his work with UNICEF, he participated in the NBC4 telethon, which raised over $10 million, and recorded public service announcements in support of South Asian tsunami relief. He later recorded a video, featuring the song Give a Little Bit, to be used as a public service announcement to raise money for tsunami victims.
In March 2005, UNICEF sent Clay to the tsunami-stricken area of Banda Aceh in Indonesia to raise awareness for the need to restore education quickly to the children who survived this disaster, in order to provide stability in a time of great loss. In April 2005, on behalf of UNICEF, he appeared before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations.
In May 2005, UNICEF sent him on another mission, to northern Uganda, to witness the plight of the children known as "night commuters," who flee the villages each night to sleep in streets and shelters in hopes of avoiding being kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army.
He also helped raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina and served as the spokesperson for the 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.
And today he was appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the President and the Secretary of The Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to programs and services for persons with intellectual disabilities. (This is probably the only time you will see me refer to "the President" in this blog - because I don't consider that GWB has earned the title (or the office) in any way. But that's another story for another post - as I should have realised when I first wrote this piece. But anyway...)
Pretty impressive eh? Congratulations, Clay - I know you'll do a great job.
Useful links
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Bubel/Aiken Foundation, UNICEF, American Idol, charity.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
A bunch of cool websites
Here are one or two websites I've recently discovered, that I think are pretty cool...
Enjoy!
Cats that look like Hitler - heh. Heh heh heh. Yup, this website is exactly what it sounds like - an ever-increasing collection of kitties who have at least a passing resemblance to Adolf. Does your cat (or, rather, kitler) have a tiny little toothbrush moustache going on? Better get down to Cats that look like Hitler and post a piccy!
There's more....
If the earth were a sandwich - remember how when you were a kid you'd imagine digging a giant hole which went right through the earth and ended up on the opposite side of the world? We used to say we'd end up in China. This site is powered by Google Maps and shows you exactly where you would end up if you dug that imaginary hole. I'd pop out in Spain, halfway between Valladolid and Salamanca. Who knew?
Identifont - wow - I cannot believe I've been a web designer for 10 years and only just discovered this site! Identifont allows you to identify pretty much any font by answering a series of multi-choice questions about the styling of the letters. You don't even have to have a whole alphabet - you can simply type in a phrase and the questions will be tailored to the letters you do have. Absolutely brilliant!
Internet Soul Portraits - can you identify these world-famous websites which have been stripped of all text and graphics? All that's left to help you is the layout and the background colours of each. Pretty cool. I spotted Google immediately, but some of the others were quite a challenge.
Pitchfork: Now That's What I Call New Pop! - and how did I ever miss this site? A music site with well-researched, well-written articles - including articles about the music I love and care about - and about which I can also express an intelligent opinion. In other words, in addition to the latest music news and reviews, there's plenty of stuff about music made before the mid-90s. Heh. I discovered this particular article when I was Googling for 80s bands the other day. It gave me inspiration about a few mp3s I need to add to my collection...
Technorati tags: cool websites, Cats that look like Hitler, If the earth were a sandwich, Identifont, Internet Soul Portraits, Pitchfork.
Crikey!
Awwww maaaan! I feel so sad about the freakishly accidental death of The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.
Steve died today in northern Queensland while filming a segment about stingrays. He got too close to a ray, which flexed its barb and pierced his heart. Reports say he he died pretty much immediately.
Wow how sad. Steve was such a larger-than-life guy, it seems so wrong that he won't be around any more. He was such a passionate environmentalist - he did such a lot to inspire people about the wonders of the wild world - even if he did it in a completely crazy and over-the-top way. But I think that's just the way he was. What you saw was what you got with Steve, from his croc-wrestling antics to his khaki shorts and tough boots - and of course, his instantly recognisable call of "Crikey!"
Rest in peace, Steve. Your friends say you died doing what you love best, which I guess is the best way to go. I can only imagine how heartbroken Terri and the kids must be.
Useful links
Technorati tags: Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Clues that your country may be turning into a fascist state
Following Bush and Rumsfeld's all-out assault on the patriotism of yer average American this week, naming all and sundry (ie anyone who disagrees with them) "fascists" - and since they brought the subject up... I thought I'd take another look at the old Warning signs of fascism lists which have been floating round the internet for the past few years. I linked to some of them in yesterday's blog post.
Here's one I found and borrowed from The Progressive Review. Thanks, guys! You can add to the list at their website.
NOTE: Some of these symptoms are found in non-fascist countries where they should be treated as serious warning signs. On the other hand, fascist states - unlike democratic nations - have many, if not all, of these symptoms:WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
And tomorrow (since they brought it up), maybe we'll examine Bush's grandpa's links with the Nazis, and take a look at Rumsfeld making nice with Saddam Hussein in the days when being friends with that particular dictator was A-OK. Because they did, after all, bring the subject up.
Useful Links
Technorati tags: George Bush, Nazis, fascism, warning signs of fascism, fascist, Donald Rumsfeld, hypocrisy, politics, America.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Bush's latest bullshit
On Thursday Bush made a speech at the very hawkish American Legion convention in ultra-conservative Utah (talk about making sure you're preaching to the converted!).
He lumped together Hezbollah, Iraq "insurgents", Al Qaeda, and, apparently, anyone who doesn't agree with him - and called them "successors to Fascists, to Nazis, to Communists and other totalitarians of the 20th century". He linked the "War on Terra" directly with the war on Iraq and claimed that “if we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities.”
Oh puh-leeze. Give me a break. The mid-terms are now two months away, and a record low of only 33 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the war, according to an AP-Ipsos poll. 57 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Bush is doing in the White House. In the latest polls he has only a 33 percent approval rating - another record low. And now he's comparing his "enemies" to the Nazis?
I'd like to remind Bush, Rummy and the spin doctors in the White House of the words of one leading Nazi, Hermann Goering, Hitler's Reichsmarschall. He made these comments in an interview during the Nuremberg trials (following the end of WWII in 1945-1946):"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
Oh. Sorry. My bad. I don't need to remind Bush et al of this particular Nazi technique. They've been using it for at least the past five years.
Seems to me that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The reprobates currently occupying the White House appear to me to be much closer to being Fascists - both in ideology and technique - than anyone else out there right now.
Useful Links
Technorati tags: George Bush, speech, Hezbollah, Iraq, War on Terror, Al Qaeda, Nazis, fascism, Hermann Goering, Donald Rumsfeld, hypocrisy, spin, politics.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Snakes on a Plane II: The Sequel
Brian went to see Snakes on a Plane the other night - which he's been dying to see - and we decided we should start thinking about the title of the sequel. Because it's bound to happen, sooner or later.
We decided to go one better than the assonance of the original title - we reckon the sequel needs to rhyme.
So without further ado, the Friday night Shifties present...
Snakes on a Plane II - The Sequel:
Got any others?
And in other news... rumour has it that when Dubya comes over to this side of the world next year for the APEC conference in Sydney - he's planning to bring a modest entourage of 1,200 staff.
So that's... 1,199 security guards to keep away the anti-Bush protestors, and 1 to feed him his speech through a concealed earpiece. Seems OK to me. Heh.
Maybe I'll take a trip across the ditch next year and join in the fun...
Interesting links
Technorati tags: Snakes on a Plane, sequel, APEC, George Bush.
