This Heated Season We Didn't Want!

By Joel Wishengrad

October 15, 2007

© World Media Reports - WMR News 2007

Joel Wishengrad is a Senior Correspondent following both National Politics and US Foreign Policy. Over seven years he has developed audio podcasts in Washington, DC (3-8 minute interviews). Mr. Wishengrad began on the US Supreme Court steps in 2000 covering the intense debate following the November 7th Election. He interviewed many politicians, political operatives, pundits and various vocal demonstrators with 1,700 hours of listening.

Since, September 2001, he has raised numerous questions at US Department of State (State Department) press briefings and at DC area think-tanks: He was the first to ask about Darfur, Flushing the Koran down a toilet at Guantanamo, A.Q. Kahn, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Middle-East: Israel, Palestinian, Syrian, Iraq, Iranian and Dubai Ports World and Immigration questions. E-mail: wmrnews@gmail.com

Whether it is the Republicans, the Democrats or the Green Party insisting they are right or even Lyndon LaRouche with his economic and political gloom that he forecasts, this is one hell of a quagmire with Iraq and Afghanistan. 9/11 just didn't single out one political group or party. To say that either side was at fault or continues to be at fault is cutting at the fabric of our nation.

The Republicans can't find a candidate who is conservative enough, Christian enough or tough enough.  The Democrats are equally caught in a circle of blame! Who among them was the first to question the Iraq War? Senator Obama or Ex-Senator Gravel?

Recently, Newt Gingrich called all the Republican candidates pygmies and severely scolded all of them. Hillary and Obama are in a squabble with Bill Clinton coming to the rescue. This is fierce and perhaps ill-advised. David Horowitz in his book "The Shadow Party" describes the Democrats as more interested in getting elected one more time than protecting Americans. George Soros (Democrats) has financed and created progressive 527 PAC groups.  This replaced the union's clout in 2000.

The new 110th Congress has tried with its new majority to force The Bush Administration into a corner. The Democrats are necessarily afraid to impeach both Vice President Cheney and President Bush. We had months of the Libby trial with President Bush pardoning his political operative of jail time.

The Green Party with no where to go has injected itself into the fray by protesting 'The War' through Answer Coalition and Code Pink Women's antics, parades and rallies. The Code Pink Women were a class act at the Anti-War Protest. They drew disdain by FreeRepublic.com and Gathering of Eagles supporters lining the street at 7th - 10th along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW during the Answer Coalition March toward the US Capitol on September 15, 2007.

Green Party activist Cindy Sheehan, lost her son Casey in the Iraq War. Ms. Sheehan will run against Nancy Pelosi for her California US House seat.

On the Republican side, former US Senator Fred Thompson entered the race. He announced his campaign on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  He skipped the early Republican debates. Why do actor/celebrities make good candidates? What makes this such a heated race thus far is politics, religion, frustration and those wanting to create a Republican legacy but without the GW Bush baggage... Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Katrina, Minnesota bridges and Utah mining accidents.

The Democrats are still tied to the medical and labor issues which they tried to remedy the last decade. This 110th Congress has been called dismal. Hillary, Obama and Edwards are running on similar domestic agendas.

These last debates showcase the front runners. Whether it's Rudy with three wives and his grown children, Mitt Romney playing down Mormon ties, The Republicans are trying to hold their candidates to a specific platform. Does John McCain fit that platform (once a maverick, always a maverick)?

The Democrats attended a Chicago Daily Kos Conference (less Senator Biden). This liberal group has been branded by the Republicans as soft on their arch enemies. Republican candidates addressed the National Rifle Association Conference in Washington, DC. Only one Democratic hopeful spoke, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (Dem).  The Democrats addressed instead a AARP conference citing needed reforms in retirement, social security and healthcare as their agenda.

The reasoning in front loading the primaries to early January would allow both Republicans and Democrats to have their candidates and then concentrate on the Independents. Karl Rove now can devote his time to the Election Campaign!  There has been corruption, sleaze, gay issues, and other rogue events. Hsu, DeLay, Cunningham, Abramoff, Jefferson, Foley, Stevens and Craig just to mention a few.  Mr. Hsu was the latest to be placed under arrest for an estimated $850,000.00 campaign ponzi scheme aiding the Democrats.

To most voters, The War, Immigration, Domestic and Mortgage issues are on their minds. We will know the outcome with the two party leading candidates early next year, and certainly by February 6, 2008. We do know the campaign themes...  more Republican conservatism and more Democratic liberal progressiveness.

Will Grover Northquist (Republicans) have the clout or will George Soros (Democrat)? What will be the issues that influence the campaign? Will the voters watch or listen to the TV-Radio talk shows? Will they even care? Will the Red and Blue States still keep their conservative and liberal bases? Who will be the operatives, who will be the decision makers? Former presidential candidate Michael Dukaksis warns that he is not optimistic for the Democrats for 2008.

Will the negative news of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan keep everyone glued to the political races or the domestic economy with the housing slump?  Will immigration issues matter?

Have the television debates helped or hurt the candidates? The Republicans and Democrats have responded to their constituents: The Republicans act conservative... The Democrats act liberal (now called progressive). Just this week, Newt Gringrich responded in a rather terse and vocal way that he sees the Democrats as weak, liberal and very wrong to pick apart the Republican Agenda.  Remember, Newt Gringrich laid out a very conservative right-wing Contract for America... many call this the Contract on America! On September 29, 2007, Newt Gingrich declined to run in the 2008 presidential race. Does Newt fear a Hillary victory in 2008? What would be Newt's chances for 2012?

Meanwhile, what are the Democrats saying... get out of Iraq (our troops are in the middle of a civil war). There may be a Republican softening as well? Republican US Senator John Warner (VA) expressed his misgivings on Iraq on the Sunday TV talk show circuit.

Rudy, Romney and the rest of the Republican candidates are all calling for restraint.  Perhaps the "Surge" is working. Just in time for Congress to return after their summer recess. US General, David Petraeus (Iraq Commander) issued his report to the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees on September 10th. Just a day before the sixth anniversary of 9/11.

Answer Coalition.org protested the Iraq War in Washington, DC on September 15, 2007 drawing some 10,000 participants with strident left-wing speeches (The Green Party).

The instant flack over MoveOn.org's anti-war New York Times ad ...  and Rudy's similar reply expresses the polarization to be seen during the 2008 Presidential Campaign... over Iraq!  Newsweek questions whether Hillary is a decider too!? Hillary made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows. New criticism arises concerning media manipulation of CQ Magazine by the Clinton election committee.

September was a funny month here in Washington, DC. The lobby groups begin their intense efforts to influence and direct Congress. Activist groups too have brought two FEMA trailers from Katrina to Washington, DC. The trailers have proven to be hazardous for the hundreds families living in them. Katrina began with Michael Brown and may end with US Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) Congressional Committee on Government Oversight. There have already been three competing Climate Change Policy Forums.  One in NYC, with Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Two in Washington, DC at the US Department of State (State Department) with President Bush and the other at the DC's Convention Center, October 6-7, 2007 (Green Party). Pin the blame and offer solutions!

President GW Bush just vetoed an S-Chip Program on October 3, 2007. This outrages the unions and the left-wing and centered Democrats. Why is $30 Billion for healthcare for youngsters any different than $200 Billion for Iraq and Afghanistan? That is callous?

The Democrats now control the US House of Representatives with many hearings and investigations scheduled for this fall term. The Democrats hold a one vote margin in the US Senate. The mixture of domestic stress and foreign policy wars together creates an interesting dynamic... a shakeup for Wall Street, K Street and uncertainty on Main Street.

Each of the debates has drawn an audience with little fanfare. The Republican debate had Rudy call Fred an actor! The Democratic debate had a squabble over domestic programs, their form and how much to spend. The foreign policy questions and answers over Iraq, Russia, Middle-East and Pakistan, Burma and China remain in play.

Al Gore just won the Nobel Peace Prize for his Global Climate Change initiatives: movie, tv interviews and educational pursuits. Will he be drawn into the election fray and run again for President? Will the Republican right-wing say he just invented it, much like the Internet?

Keep your eyes and ears open... as you may not get the 2008 Presidential Campaign or Candidates you envisioned!

The Darfur Genocide Spurs DC Activism!

By Joel M. Wishengrad

© World Media Reports - WMRNews 2007

November 3, 2007:

For the last two years, Parade Magazine has ranked Sudan's President Omar al-Basir the world's worst dictator. The Darfur region of western Sudan is the size of France. A deliberate genocide with nearly 500,000 dead began over four years ago was begun under this Islamic rogue leader!  The Muslim north fought a war with the Christian south for 21 years. Osama bin-Laden ran his first terrorism training camps in the Sudan before relocating to northwestern Pakistan.

World Media Reports - WMRNews asked the first Darfur question directly to former Secretary of State, Colin Powell at The State Department nearly five years ago. I remarked that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was sending 3,000 troops to Darfur and that the Russians and Chinese were sending weapons and aircraft to Khartoum.

WMRNews had recently interviewed Harry Belafonte with respect to Liberia and ex-leader Charles Taylor. Charles Taylor fled to Nigeria, was placed under house arrest but still was able to conduct his criminal activities. Charles Taylor in 2006, was transferred to The Haque for trial on corruption and human rights abuses.  Mr. Belafone was distraught that President Bush was reluctant to send troops to Africa because of our military committments in Afghanistan and Iraq. We all remember Somalia where a US soldier was killed and dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. Our US Marines sat on ships along the Liberian coast and rarely came ashore. President Bush has tried to encourage greater involvement by the African Union for peacebuilding and court tribunals.

Various human rights groups and activist community members: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, The International Crisis Group, US Holocaust Museum, Africa Action and the Save Darfur Coalition were sounding the alarm. Locally in Washington, DC, activists: Joe Madison, Jermra Rone, Gayle Smith, John Prendergast, Jerry Fowler, Salhli Booker, Marie Clarke Brill, Emira Woods and David Rubinstein focused on turning up the heat in the US Congress and focusing on a reluctant Bush Administration. It took nearly two years for President Bush to declare that a "Darfur Genocide" was underway!

Meanwhile the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, introduced the armed Janjaweed terrorist militia and his Sudanese Air Force to conduct massive human rights abuses: killings, forced rape and village aerial bombing. In fact, The Russian supplied Sudanese planes and helicopters were painted white, similar in color to the United Nations air fleet, contrary to international law! Human Rights Watch has photographs of these planes being loaded with bombs. The United Nations, Advocacy NGO's, Celebrity Entertainers and The African Union have been powerless to end this conflict.

As this Darfur Conflict and Genocide developed, Africa Action and The Save Darfur Coalition and similar groups and individuals worked to enlist the world community through demonstrations and die-ins at The White House, US Capitol, State Department and at The United Nations. There have been numerous DC forum discussions: Brookings, John Hopkins (SAIS), George Washington University, US Holocaust Museum, The Institute for Policy Studies, The National Press Club and at outdoor demonstrations and rallies with Africa Action and Save Darfur Coalition. On April 30, 2006, a massive 450,000 rally on the National Mall finally sparked US Secretary of State, Colin Powell to declare that genocide had occurred. Joe Madison, "The Black Eagle", and radio talk show host spent weeks at the Sudanese Embassy protesting. His relentless campaign included members of Congress and celebrities George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Bono, Angelina Jolie and others in his effort to end the Darfur War. There continue to be rallies in NYC, London, Washington, DC and elsewhere. The American Society of International Law has taken notice.

President Bush relied on Andrew Natsios, his special envoy to the Sudan and former Director of USAID, to provide food and shelter to refugee camps and Robert Zolleck, former Deputy Secretary of State (now head of The World Bank) to negotiate with Omar al-Bashir's rogue government.  There have been numerous documentries and television news shows on BBC, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Charlie Rose Show, ABC Nightline, PBS Frontline, NPR Radio, Public Radio International, Radio One and Pacifica Radio highlighting the impasse to settle this conflict. All the activist groups had expected that the United States Department of State (State Department) would have solved this conflict much earlier through diplomacy. There has been a small force of 7,000 Africa Union troops with a mandate to patrol and observe on the ground in Darfur. There are plans for a combined Africa Union/UN force with 24,000 troops.

Under Secretary of State for Africa, Ms. Jendayi Frazer has had frosty dealings with President Omar al-Bashir. The Chinese have lucrative commerical contracts with Khartoum. They continue to undermine the situation with veto threats at the United Nations. Darfur rebel groups also have inflicted raids against the Sudanese Army and Chinese oil-field crews. Some rebel groups have refused to participate in peace conferences. One rebel leader, John Garang of Southern Sudan, a newly installed Sudanese Vice-President died a mysterious death in an air crash. Was this planned to rid President Bashir of his chief rival?

Almost 1.5 million people have fled to refugee camps in Chad and elsewhere. This continues to be a ongoing outrage.  Relief agencies are hamstrung and a a recent French plan to fly 103 orphans out of Chad had developed into a scandal concerning the French advocacy NGO group called Zoe's Ark. Reforms in The United Nations Human Rights Committee have many of the same rogue nations running the chicken coupe. The Chinese have been less than helpful in this region. Are the various commerical contracts in building the new Sudanese Presidential Palace and a new dam and reservoir in Nubia (perhaps wiping out a 7,000 year civilization) worth the trouble?  Why hasn't diplomacy settled this conflict? What can be done to strengthen the United Nations and Africa Union?  If you want to lend your support to end the Darfur Conflict, contact any of the forementioned NGO avocacy groups and US Government representatives.

After reading the Washington Post's front page story and expose (October 29,2007) that offered numerous criticisms directed at the Bush Administration. I asked two questions at The State Department's daily press briefing whether the criticisms were justified? I asked if the Chinese were at the heart of the problem? I pointed out that the rebels were also resisting diplomacy, by not coming to a scheduled African Union peace conference.

The US State Department long-term objective is to use diplomacy to settle the Darfur Conflict.  Have we dragged our feet too long and let President Omar al-Bashir and the rebels have their way? Is the United Nations strong enough to bring the necessary parties together for a lasting peace? Will the Russians and Chinese end end their support of al-Bashir's dictatory rule? Will economic sanctions against Khartoum succeed?

Andrew Natsios, just resigned as US Special Envoy to The Sudan as 2007 draws to an end. President Bush is expected to name his replacement soon.

Contact these advocacy groups: Save Darfur Coalition, Africa Action, Genocide Intervention Network, Enough, International Crisis Group, Search for Common Ground!!! - These are just a few of the NGO groups working to end the Darfur Genocide!!!

Joel Wishengrad and World Media Reports - WMR News began with coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election Stalemate from the US Supreme Court steps for 36 eventful days and nights. Since 9/11, Mr. Wishengrad has directed questions to US officials and press spokesman at US Department of State (State Department) daily press briefings. Additionally, Mr. Wishengrad has attended think-tank discussions, rallies, protests and conferences pertaining to Darfur.  His coverage has involved many advocacy NGO groups.  E-mail:  wmrnews@gmail.com or Telephone: (301) 814-8034.