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That's America for you. The place where we accept and tolerate people of all races, nationalities, and religions. God, I love this country.
Yet another Bush crony opens mouth and inserts foot...
Eww........Is that an Iron Cross?
LinkBritsh MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America's stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush's senior women officials: "I hate all Iranians."
And she also accused Britain of "dismantling" the Anglo-US-led coalition in Iraq by pulling troops out of Basra too soon.
The all-party group of MPs say Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, made the comments this month.
The six MPs were taken aback by the hardline approach of the Pentagon and in particular Ms Cagan, one of Mr Bush's foreign policy advisers.
She made it clear that although the US had no plans to attack Iran, it did not rule out doing so if the Iranians ignored warnings not to develop a nuclear bomb.
It was her tone when they met her on September 11 that shocked them most.
The MPs say that at one point she said: "In any case, I hate all Iranians."
Although it was an aside, it was not out of keeping with her general demeanour.
"She seemed more keen on saying she didn't like Iranians than that the US had no plans to attack Iran," said one MP. "She did say there were no plans for an attack but the tone did not fit the words."
Another MP said: "I formed the impression that some in America are looking for an excuse to attack Iran. It was very alarming."
Tory Stuart Graham, who was on the ten-day trip, would not discuss Ms Cagan but said: "It was very sobering to hear from the horse's mouth how the US sees the situation."
Ms Cagan, whose job involves keeping the coalition in Iraq together, also criticised Britain for pulling out troops.
"She said if we leave the south of Iraq, the Iranians will take it over," said one MP.
Another said: "She is very forceful and some of my colleagues were intimidated by her muscular style."
The MPs also saw Henry Worcester, Deputy Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs, who said he favoured talks with Iran.
The Pentagon denied Ms Cagan said she "hated" Iranians.
"She doesn't speak that way," said an official.
But when The Mail on Sunday spoke to four of the six MPs, three confirmed privately that she made the remark and one declined to comment. The other two could not be contacted.
That's America for you. The place where we accept and tolerate people of all races, nationalities, and religions. God, I love this country.
The Ugly American
Like Katherine Harris, this one looks like a tranny.
I think Xenu has arrived. Either that, or Hollywood is actively recruiting the Bush administration for characters for the next installment of Ghost Busters.
Then why are us conservatives not tolerated?
Because you aren't really conservatives.
Quite apart from her unfortunate face, ugly is as ugly says, and saying "I hate all Iranians" is simply astonishing.
The shrubbies really know how to attract classy, serious, competent people.
Oh! The poor put-upon conservatives in America!
I suspect that conservatives are tolerated as well by liberals as liberals are tolerated by conservatives.
It's interesting to me that so many of the faces of conservatism today routinely contend that liberals want to destroy America and that those who lean to the left politically are necessarily aligned with our current mortal enemies. I guess that's toleration.
Liberals, meanwhile question divisive policies and are, IMO, less shrill in demonizing on a personal level, but are somehow deemed to be wholly intolerant.
holy rocky horror picture show!!!! would you look at the face? bless her heart.
Can't you just hear her ...
"Ve haff vays uff making you talk."
see m-ann coulter..
Although I don't deny conservatives are very good at divisive politics; liberals have their own brand; they just divide along different lines. "Pay their fair share" certainly wasn't coined by a conservative; but it sure smacks of a certain level of divisiveness - which is lapped up wholeheartedly by the crowds those lines are delivered to.
True. But when they target audience that line is delivered to composes something like 80% of the American population, the message holds water.
Do I agree with socialist-type wealth spreading? Certainly not.
But the divide between rich and poor is becoming more and more startling. Very few people are financially gaining from globalization/corporate health. While the middle/lower class toils check to check, with no health insurance and an ever increasing chunk of their money is "donated" to their local, state and federal government.
I sincerely hope there comes a breaking point. When the fat are too fat and the hungry are many.
It's working, apparently.
Top 1% of earners make 19% of the wages, but pay 36% of the taxes.
BTW: At the end of Clinton's term; the top 1% made a little over 20% of the wages.
My point, ultimately, was to refute Wild Cobra's baseless complaint that conservatives aren't tolerated in America.
I don't dispute that each side engages in varying degrees of divisive politics, though I do find the personal attacks undertaken by the loudest voices on the right to be less tolerable than the policy-driven attacks raised by the loudest voices on the left. "Pay their fair share" strikes me as far less of a personal attack than "Liberals support terrorists" or "Liberals want to see the destruction of America."
If you see that differently from me, though, I can certainly tolerate your view on that.
We need a new "Civil Political Forum"
Ah come on FWD. You mean that is the worst criticism liberals have against the conservatives?! What about the belief that conservatives went to war for control of the oil in Iraq? What about the fact that conservatives aren't willing to bring our troops home immediately? Aren't conservatives capitalisitc murderers according to liberals?
Don't confuse "conservatives" (who want LESS government, LESS spending) with neocons (who want more of both and want to track your every move).
"Blucher!"
I'd argue that each of the first two issues are policy-based criticisms and not personal attacks. Nevertheless, to the extent that you believe that liberals are personally attacking conservatives, my point remains: the lack of toleration goes both ways.
Again, my sole point here was to discount Wild Cobra's utterly stupid assertion that conservatives aren't tolerated in America.
I think we could probably split hairs all day long on the policy-based criticisms versus personal attacks. Regardless, I see what you are saying and agree that both are probably equally tolerated (or not tolerated) - as they are criticized. I don't think any one political group is more of a victim than the other, although the individuals in those groups may beg to differ.
See, this is where I lack sympathy for the top 1%. 1% of the total popualtion in this country earns 19% of total wages paid in this country. Im crying no river for them.It's working, apparently.
Top 1% of earners make 19% of the wages, but pay 36% of the taxes.
BTW: At the end of Clinton's term; the top 1% made a little over 20% of the wages.
Lets get some things straight. The 1% people are dependant upon the lower class. Not the other way around. The lower class buy their products, their oil, their software, etc. Without a consuming public, the 1% are common folk.
How many people do the top 1% employ? I dont know those numbers and certainly dont expect you to either. But if we went crazy and put a randomly HUGE number on it, and said 1 million people employed. Out of the 250+ million working Americans (another estimate that is probably sickeningly low), they employ 0.004% of all working class, yet reap 19% of all wages paid in the US.
Do I begrudge them their success? No, I dont believe I do. No one should be vilified for their achievement of goals (outside of politics).
But, do I feel their sting when taxed? Not in the slightest. They may outpay the common man by an absolute landslide, but theyre sailing some $45 million dollar yacht complaining how the government is unfair.
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