News from Around the World

At least this president is consistent. Iraq War and the subsequent occupation has been grossly mismanaged with deadly results; no changes in the management, i.e. Rumsfeld remains at the helm and previous occupation czar Paul Bremer is awarded the Medal of Freedom. Intelligence leading up to the war proves to be unfounded (thus making the justifications for the war no longer supported); then-CIA Director Tenet is also awarded the Medal of Freedom, then-National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice is promoted to Secretary of State, and chief war architect Paul Wolfowitz is promoted to the World Bank. Alberto Gonzales helped justify torture of "enemy combatants" in violation of federal and international laws, yet he was promoted to Attorney General, the nation's top law enforcement officer. John Bolton is promoted to UN Ambassador, despite the fact that he doesn't work well with others and tries to get rid of people who disagree with him even when the intelligence supports that opposing position.