Well, it’s done. The House of Representatives has voted 263-171 in favour of the $700 billion dollar bailout plan. Now that it’s over I suppose there’s one of two things that Americans can do. 1) Read today’s headlines and then carry on with their lives, which many will do given that they have their own daily survival to worry about. 2) Remain vigilant and make an effort to hold their representatives accountable if those on Wall Street that were responsible for the crisis eventually profit from it, ...More »

Congress will vote tomorrow whether to back a Senate revision to the proposed $700 billion dollar economic bailout package. The President, as always, continues to play the fear card, claiming that it is an issue that goes beyond Wall Street and that the House Of Representatives has a responsibility to average Americans to support the deal and thus instill a sense of stability. Of course, the House’s rejection of the initial bailout plan was very much aligned with public sentiment, something that the White House ...More »

From the BBC… “The lower house of the US Congress has voted down a $700bn (£380bn) plan aimed at bailing out Wall Street. The rescue plan, a result of tense talks between the government and lawmakers, was rejected by 228 to 205 votes in the House of Representatives. About two-thirds of Republican lawmakers refused to back the rescue package, as well as 95 Democrats. Shares on Wall Street plunged within seconds of the announcement, after earlier falls on global markets. A White House spokesman said that President George W Bush ...More »

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio’s 9th District is absolutely on fire. Once again Kaptur takes to the floor of the House to deliver yet another outstanding address on the current financial crisis… More »

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio’s 9th District lays it out on the floor of the House in plain English… And, for kicks, a video that you probably don't want to see. Just a hunch, but I don't think God wants to see it either. More »

Under Secretary of Defense, Eric Edelman, said something interesting today during a congressional hearing on the Georgia-Russia conflict… "The Department of Defense is sending an assessment team to Tbilisi later this week to help us begin to consider carefully Georgia's legitimate needs and our response. After assessments of these needs, we will review how the United States will be able to support the reconstruction of Georgia's economy, infrastructure, and armed forces”. I’d like to ask Mr. Edelman, and his boss, what the view’s like with their heads ...More »

Remarks made recently by Dr. Dahlia Wasfi at the Iraq Forum (via YouTube)... More »

What can you expect from American politicians when you’re addressing them as an individual that was held captive at Guantanamo for almost five years of your life despite the fact that you did nothing wrong and were eventually released without charge? Very little. First, you can expect less than half a dozen of those that sit on the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to actually show up to hear you speak. Second, you can be assured that most of them won’t even be able ...More »

Of all those that served in the military in my family, the one common trait shared by all of them is that they did not like to talk about their experiences. My Grandfather and Great Uncles went to lengths to avoid the topic, and as an inquisitive youngster I was sometimes scolded for my curiosity. At the time, of course, I couldn’t understand why, but as a grown man it’s something that I do. Other members of my extended family have also served and seen ...More »

Andrew Cockburn comments on a new US covert initiative that is truly frightening in its scope… “Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret finding authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents, "unprecedented in its scope." Bush’s secret directive covers actions across a huge geographic area – from Lebanon to Afghanistan – but is also far more sweeping in the type of actions permitted under its guidelines – up to and including the assassination of targeted officials. ...More »