John Ashcroft (Lies, Hypocrisy, Supporting Terrorism, Fanaticism) 

FACT: Following the September 11 attacks, the FBI arrested and detained many suspects of Middle Eastern origin, and in some cases the suspects were denied lawyers and held for weeks before they were interrogated and cleared of suspicion. Planned Parenthood recently received 250 letters in a two week period which contained white powder and the following message: "You have been exposed to anthrax. We are going to kill all of you. Army of God, Virginia DARE Chapter." So far, the white powder in these letters is not anthrax. So far, the FBI hasn't taken action against the Army of God.

COMMENT: This raises the specter of John Ashcroft's confirmation hearing where he promised that he would not shirk his responsibilities when it came to protecting the legal rights (and indeed lives) of abortion clinic workers. Of course he would defend such accusations by stressing the critical need for the DoJ's resources to be focused on fighting the war on terrorism and raiding state-run clinics that care for the terminally ill. You know, the important stuff.

John Ashcroft (Aiding Terrorism, Coward, Failure) 05/2002

FACT: According to the UK Guardian, on September 10, Ashcroft submitted requests for budget increases in 68 programs, none of which were related to terrorism. A memorandum from the same time outlined his seven priorities, none of which was fighting terrorism. He even turned down an FBI request that hundreds more agents be assigned to counter-terrorism efforts. Interestingly, by mid summer Ashcroft had become concerned enough with the threat of terror attacks against himself that he had stopped using commercial airlines, and instead chartered a private jet to travel around the country. 

COMMENT: The message of the administration seems to be quell the masses with a fine mix of "Terrorist Alerts" and words of reassurance while covering your own ass at any expense.

Bush Administration (Terrorist, Oil, Saudi Arabia) 05/2002

FACT: Most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis, fortunately for them, they had the Taliban in Afghanistan to take the blame while they killed schoolgirls and homosexuals in their own country, and held telethons for suicide bombers. Of course, the administration accepts this behavior all in the name of our dependence on oil. Now, the embassy of Saudi Arabia has signed up some DC Lobbying and PR firms, including some with close ties to the GOP. The result: a bunch of commercials touting the Kingdom as our ally in the War on Terrorism. Nothing to see here folks.

Bush Administration (Supporting Terrorism, Oil, Hypocrisy)

FACT: It was announced that Saudi Arabia (our "allies") in the "War on Terror" are refusing to hand over 13 Al Qaeda suspects who have been accused of plotting to blow up a US plane at a military base near Riyadh. This is the exact reason that led the administration to bomb Afghanistan in the first place. 

COMMENT: "You're either with us or against us!" was Bush's mantra regarding the "War on Terrorism". Obviously, this does not apply to Saudi Arabia, which seems to be the one country that can defy the US without threat of retribution. Remember, however, that the Taliban, although offered a "Carpet of Gold" from the Bush administration in exchange for their oil and an oil pipeline, refused to cooperate and instead received the other Bush promise, " a carpet of bombs". Saudi Arabia seems happy to accept the carpet of gold. I don't blame them.

Bush Administration (Corporate Interests, Oil, Pro Terrorism, Personal Interest, Aristocracy) 

FACT: According to the Boston Herald, Saudi Arabia is, "perhaps the biggest incubator for anti-Western Islamic terrorists." The Bush administration seems skillfully able to overlook this minor detail, what with all the money flowing into their pockets and all. W may like to "root out the evil-doers" but certainly not if they're lining his pockets. Take for example former president George H.W. Bush, senior adviser with the Carlyle Group, an organization which has deep ties to the Saudi royal family. Or Dick Cheney, who as head of Halliburton, Inc. worked to secure several large contracts with Saudi companies. Or Condoleeza Rice, who was a member of the board of directors of Chevron, another company with numerous Saudi business connections. 

George H. W. Bush (Terrorist Connection, Conflict of Interest, Carlyle Group, 911) 

FACT: The New York Times reported back in March 2001 that ex-President Bush was touring Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Carlyle Group, using his political contacts to further his business interests. According to Judicial Watch, the bin Laden family has a substantial investment in the Carlyle Group, and have met with George Bush Sr. on several occasions. The Bin Laden family is currently under investigation following the September 11 attacks. The FBI subpoenaed their bank records to find out whether they're funding Osama or not. 

COMMENT: As of this point, George Bush Senior is still working for the company. 

George W. Bush (Incompetence, Terrorism, National Security) 

FACT: The seven Democrats and seven Republicans serving on the Hart-Rudman Commission, which had been put together in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to make sweeping strategic recommendations on how the United States could ensure its security in the 21st century, delivered their report to the Bush administration, with 50 unanimously approved recommendations. The commission recommended the formation of a Cabinet-level position to combat terrorism. The proposed National Homeland Security Agency director would have "responsibility for planning, coordinating, and integrating various U.S. government activities involved in homeland security," according to the commission's executive summary. Other recommendations: U.S. foreign policy should strive to shape an international system in which just grievances can be addressed without violence. Verifiable arms control and nonproliferation efforts must remain a top priority to help persuade states and terrorists to abjure weapons of mass destruction. The development of new transportation security procedures and practices was urged. Said Gary Hart, "We said Americans will likely die on American soil, possibly in large numbers - that's a quote (from the commission's Phase One Report)." The Bush administration does nothing. 

COMMENT: Bush did absolutely nothing until after the fact (911), and even then he blatantly acted contrary to some of these recommendations, including arms control and nonproliferation issues. Bush also opposed the Airport Security bill (Passed 100-0 in the Senate) that put airport security in the hands of the government instead of underpaid, undertrained and underscreened private "security" workers. It seems that the lives of Americans subordinate the heinous crime of expanding government.

George W Bush (Hypocrisy, Pro-terrorism) 

FACT: The Bush administration spent $3.5 million on anti-drug commercials during the Super Bowl. The commercials, which preached that American drug users are funding terrorists, were designed solely to further demonize drugs among non-drug users. "It's so important for Americans to know that the traffic in drugs finances the work of terror, sustaining terrorists, that terrorists use drug profits to fund their cells to commit acts of murder. If you quit drugs, you join the fight against terror in America," said Bush. 

COMMENT: More importantly, while we're on the subject of where terrorists get their money and weapons, let's note that it was Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush who supplied advanced weaponry to the Taliban while they were selling weapons to Iran (a member of the "axis of evil") in order to fund right-wing terrorists in Central America. Who's the terrorist here? Oh yeah, and let's not forget that oil is the true source of funds for terrorism. We buy oil from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia funds terrorists. Terrorists kill Americans. See how it works. So forget the whole drugs-funding-terror nonsense. Instead get rid of the SUV, or better yet, put a true president in the White house, one that has a vision of energy independence, one that will invest in alternative energy sources.

Grover Norquist (Support Terrorists) 

FACT: The FBI targeted the Safa Trust, a Saudi-backed charity, in an anti-terrorist raid. Embarrassingly, the Safa Trust is also known for its substantial financial support for the US-based Islamic Institute, which was created to build support for Republicans. The UK Guardian reports that the Institute "helped to arrange meetings between senior Bush officials and Islamic leaders" through the services of conservative activist Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. In fact, Norquist and the Institute are so entwined that they share an office.