Bill Moyers Journal: Preview: Al Qaeda, Earmarks

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Preview: Al Qaeda, Earmarks

This Week on Bill Moyers Journal:

As the Bush administration promotes the idea that Al Qaeda is the enemy in Iraq, the Journal analyzes the facts on the ground to explore who the U.S. is really fighting. Also on the program, a report on the hidden spending provisions used by Congress known as earmarks—“pipelines of cash” added to legislation without any debate, public hearing or oversight—which are often used as payback for political contributions. As Congress works to put reforms in place, is it business as usual?

Check Your Local Listings here and we'll see you on the blog after the show.

Tag(s): Iraq , Islam , Muslim , Preview , war
Posted by Bill Moyers Journal on July 25, 2007 8:37 PM | Permalink

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Comments

Yet another example of the ever-changing story we get from the Bush administration. We've been told for years now that the Al Qaeda forces make up 7 - 12% of the insurgents fighting against our troops... now, they are the main thrust. And yet we still haven't asked Saudi Arabia to be accountable for their people... you know, those guys who flew planes into our buildings in NY?

Posted by: Juniper Lea | July 27, 2007 8:06 PM

Can a separate thread be opened about the earmarks segment? This is a much more controversial and complicated issue than the Bush administration's patent exaggeration of the AQI threat. I am really looking forward to the discussion with Rep. Flake about earmarks. I think I need to take a civics class, because I am ambivalent about the purpose of auxiliary appropriations like earmarks. How else are projects on the municipal level supposed to get federal funding? (And I don't ask that rhetorically--I am genuinely curious to know!) Would the alternative be to introduce a separate appropriations bill for, for example, an at-risk youth program in Philadelphia? That seems more ethical, but time-consuming. Congress introduces enough bills already. Is the issue earmarks in general, or the wasteful programs which earmarks help fund? If there were some way for earmarks to be used for only noble ends (I know I am speaking theoretically here), would that solve the issue? Thanks!

Posted by: jordon | July 27, 2007 2:24 PM

The only way these 'Jihadists' are destroying our freedoms is by providing a pretext for the federal government to strip them from us.

Posted by: Paulitzky | July 26, 2007 3:08 PM

Dear Mr. Moyers, As a recent College graduate and someone who is desperately confused as to how and why previous generations have left such a mess for my generation to inherit, I say from the bottom of my heart thank you for your show, Mr. Moyers. Your show gives some sort of "fathomablitiy" or semblance of logic to the chaotic atmosphere that is inherent in every aspect of our society. It is hard to believe, hard to realize why the choices we have for political leaders are even offered as choices. The powers that be have already picked a President and have already made the deals to ensure that the media back them in their decision. I was thinking this morning about what it means to be pessimistic or optimistic and I came to the conclusion that an optimist looks towards the future and sees hope whereas a pessimist looks towards the future and sees the reality of the present transposed further ahead in time. The debate has reached the point where unless there is a change, the course that our present reality affords us will lead us to catastrophe greater than even the Iraqi's of present time are experiencing...

Posted by: Kieran | July 26, 2007 2:59 PM

Root Issue: Our government in our name, since the second world war, went around the world paving the way for global multi-national corporations to plunder the planet. Thus our standard of living is based on this violence, exceptable levels of exploitation. Problem: relatives of those we tortured or kill (Iran Vietnam, Chile list is endless )in name of freeom, remember these past and present violations. Problem: the "outsider" "losers" are so angry that they are now carrying atomic bombs. Violence welcomes more violence, da, when will we ever learn? Go to boggscenter.org for ideas of how get beyond back ward ideas. America love it enough to change it! Peace Larry Sparks

Posted by: Larry Sparks | July 26, 2007 12:35 PM

How is it that the left trashes the intelligence community for bad intel pre-Iraq War, and also quotes in glowing terms their every word as 100% verifiable truth now concerning Iraq. Can't walk on both sides of the street at the same time gang!

Posted by: anon | July 26, 2007 11:50 AM

After reading the article below this post, I am even more amazed at the parsing of Al Qaeda this, Al Qaeda that...obviously lawyers fight wars this way but Al Qaeda does not. Again: Who cares what they call themselves? They are on a suicidal Jihad AGAINST ALL THINGS WESTERN and they are being destroyed. This "debate" is getting absurd...Al Qaeda says they are in Iraq...Al Qaeda is in almost every country in the world from The Philippines to Spain, from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Canada and the U.S....how can Iraq, the focal point of their opportunity to attack "the Great Satan", be the only country in the world where they are not or where they never were til we arrived? There are Syrian, Iranaian, and even Saudi insurgents but Al Qaeda is there, as well. What difference does it make any way, they believe they are Jihadists wherever they hail from and they are avowed to destroy the west and our freedom. So as I see it we are decimating them, whoever they are and whatever they call themselves. Works for me and works for your freedom, too!

Posted by: uga6 | July 26, 2007 11:45 AM

FROM ALTERNET: George Bush's Al Qaeda Lies Exposed By , National Security Network Posted on July 25, 2007, Printed on July 26, 2007 http://www.alternet.org/story/57889/ President Bush makes fallacious connections between Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Al Qaeda who attacked the US on 9/11. "Some say that Iraq is not a part of the broader war on terror. They claim that the organization called al Qaeda in Iraq is an Iraqi phenomenon -- that it's independent of Osama bin Laden and it's not interested in attacking America. That would be news to Osama bin Laden. I presented intelligence that clearly establishes this connection. The facts are that al Qaeda terrorists killed Americans on 9/11, they're fighting us in Iraq and across the world, and they're plotting to kill Americans here at home again." [CNN, 7/24/07 ] The nation's 16 intelligence agencies agree that Al Qaeda has regenerated its ability to strike at the United States through its bases on the Afghan-Pakistan Border. "We assess the group has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including: a safe haven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), operational lieutenants, and its top leadership." [National Intelligence Estimate, 7/07...

Posted by: Al Buono | July 26, 2007 10:34 AM

Bush and Cheney are using Al Qaeda in a purely political sense to once more lie and deceive and manipulate the American people by claiming those who are responsible for 9/11 are those we are fighting in Iraq. Al Qaeda in Iraq is a very very minor part of the so-called insurgency, (read Juan Cole) coming to the aid of the Iraqi people against then invaders who now occupy and are decimating their country as they once decimated Viet Nam and Laos and Cambodia and countless other countries. Besides, everyone has accepted the Bush-Cheney claim that it was Al Qaeda which attacked on 9/11 but I have seen not one iota of evidence to prove it; and a lot of evidence to suggest it was someone else; even US. The US has become the Evil Empire and we had better see ourselves as others now see us.

Posted by: Al Buono | July 26, 2007 8:33 AM

This "debate" is getting absurd...Al Qaeda says they are in Iraq...Al Qaeda is in almost every country in the world from The Philippines to Spain, from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Canada and the U.S....how can Iraq, the focal point of their opportunity to attack "the Great Satan", be the only country in the world where they are not or where they never were til we arrived? There are Syrian, Iranaian, and even Saudi insurgents but Al Qaeda is there, as well. What difference does it make any way, they believe they are Jihadists wherever they hail from and they are avowed to destroy the west and our freedom. So as I see it we are decimating them, whoever they are and whatever they call themselves. Works for ma and works for your freedom, too!

Posted by: uga6 | July 26, 2007 1:34 AM