Legendary Swindler Pressed into Service
The Obama administration, hoping to find investors to buy $1 trillion worth of so-called “toxic” assets from U.S. financial institutions, has turned to confessed swindler Bernie Madoff to mastermind the sales campaign.
While White House officials acknowledged that joining forces with the jail-bound scam artist was likely to raise some eyebrows, privately they are hoping that when it comes to selling bad assets to investors, the “Madoff magic” will carry the day.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said on CNN last night. “If anyone can convince investors to buy a worthless piece of paper, it’s Bernie Madoff.”
Under the unusual arrangement, Mr. Madoff will be temporarily sprung from his prison cell and permitted to have meetings with prospective investors to sell them on American financial institutions’ $1 trillion worth of bad assets, accompanied by a phalanx of armed guards.
“The guards wanted to bring dogs along to chase Madoff if he tries to make a run for it, but we felt that would undercut his credibility with investors,” Mr. Emanuel said.
The chief of staff added that having Mr. Madoff spearhead the sale of toxic assets would free up Mr. Obama for more pressing matters, “like appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
In other economic news, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he would raise much-needed capital for the U.S. Treasury by accepting billboard advertising on his forehead.
SOURCE
On the sixth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, Rachel Maddow provided a reminder of the false statements and policy missteps that brought us — and keep us — over there. “Happy birthday, worst foreign policy mistake in a generation,” she said. “Six years on, we’re still there.”
by Layla Anwar, An Arab Woman Blues
March 20, 2009
Exactly six years ago, in a dark delivery room, obstetricians and midwives gathered around a tattered mattress covered with torn sheets while rats and roaches scurried past, on the edges of its forgotten walls…
Exactly six years ago, her screams of agony were heard, the midwives rushed with no anesthesia, no gloves and no syringes, rushed to watch in anticipation the birth of this new infant…
It was designed, genetically modified, cloned and conceived overseas — implanted in vitro through a brutal gang rape, implanted in her womb on a dark night, 6 years ago.
Its conception took over 13 years ago, and its delivery was not without violent labor contractions and pangs…not without gut wrenching pains…
No electricity that night, just the brisk light of projected missiles falling like shooting stars. The obstetricians and midwives rubbed their hands with glee and told her — watch the fireworks greeting your newborn. A firework of phosphorus green and red bombs…
The delivery was slower than predicted…they brought in 1000’s of forceps to pull it out, by force. Deliver it, deliver it — they shouted…
The Israeli armed forces chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, met yesterday with top US officials in Washington, including General James Jones, the national security adviser, and Dennis Ross, the State Department’s special adviser on “the Gulf and Southwest Asia,” and he warned that Israel is preparing for a military strike on Iran. According to Haaretz, the Israeli daily….
An Iraqi journalist hailed as a hero in the Arab world for throwing his shoes at former US President George W Bush has been jailed for three years.
Muntadar al-Zaidi had told the court his actions were “natural, just like any Iraqi” against a leader whose forces had occupied his country.
Shoe hurling is a grave insult in Arab culture, but Mr Bush – on a farewell trip to Iraq – shrugged off the attack.
Defence lawyers described the sentence as “harsh” and said they would appeal.
The head of Zaidi’s team Dhiaa al-Saadi said the sentence was “not in harmony with the law” because his client had not meant to cause injury, but rather to express contempt for Mr Bush.
There has been no statement about the verdict from the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, which correspondents say suffered acute embarrassment over the incident.
‘Response to occupation’
The BBC’s Mike Sergeant who was at Thursday’s court hearing says relatives and supporters of the defendant came to court expecting him to be released.
Asked by presiding judge Abdul-Amir al-Rubaie if he was innocent or guilty, Zaidi replied: “I am innocent. What I did was a natural response to the occupation.”
After the final arguments by the defence lawyers, everyone was told to leave the room. The judges deliberated for a further 15 minutes, and an increasingly frustrated crowd gathered outside.
When news of the sentence filtered through, some relatives began to cry and scream insults at the judges.
They shouted “It’s an American court”, “He’s a hero”, “Down with President Bush” and “God is great”.
By Charles Freeman
March 11, 2009 “WSJ” — -To all who supported me or gave me words of encouragement during the controversy of the past two weeks, you have my gratitude and respect.
You will by now have seen the statement by Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair reporting that I have withdrawn my previous acceptance of his invitation to chair the National Intelligence Council.
I have concluded that the barrage of libelous distortions of my record would not cease upon my entry into office. The effort to smear me and to destroy my credibility would instead continue. I do not believe the National Intelligence Council could function effectively while its chair was under constant attack by unscrupulous people with a passionate attachment to the views of a political faction in a foreign country. I agreed to chair the NIC to strengthen it and protect it against politicization, not to introduce it to efforts by a special interest group to assert control over it through a protracted political campaign.
By Daniel Luban and Jim Lobe*
WASHINGTON, Mar 10 (IPS) – Amb. Chas Freeman withdrew from consideration for a top intelligence post in the Obama administration on Tuesday, following a vitriolic battle that pitted Republican lawmakers and pro-Israel hardliners opposed to his appointment against liberals and members of the intelligence and diplomatic communities who had come to his defence.
* Founder of The Arab American Literature
* First Lebanese Arab to:
– Introduce free verse to modern Arabic poetry
– Write and publish a novel in English Writer And Author of:
*
– 29 volumes in English
– 26 volumes in Arabic
Biography
Born in Freike, Lebanon, on November 24, 1876, Ameen Rihani was one of six children and the oldest son of a Lebanese Maronite raw silk manufacturer, then a flourishing local industry. His father had commercial ambitions which beckoned him to America. In the summer of 1888, Ferris Rihani, the father, sent his brother and eldest son, Ameen, to the United States and followed a year later….
A few quotations :
My wish is to live without disliking anyone,
To love without being jealous of anyone,
To rise without being elevated over anyone, and
To advance without stepping on anyone or becoming envious of those above me(translated from Arabic)
THE RIHANI ESSAYS
(Ar Rihaniyat)
I am the East,
I am the corner stone
Of the first temple of God
And the first throne of Humanity…
I am the East,
I possess philosophies and creeds
So who would exchange them with me for technology
(translated from Arabic)
HYMNS OF THE VALLEYS
(Hutaf-ul Awdiya)
Like the seasons of the year, like history, truth always repeats itself…THE PATH OF VISION
….And especially to my friends, the writers, I invite you to travel with me to a land that is magical despite its poverty, to a people that is generous despite its conflicts and disagreements, and to a nation that is free and dignified despite its limitations.
(translated from Arabic)
Introduction to KINGS OF ARABIA
(Muluk-ul ‘Arab) Source
band annie's Weblog 