Quickies

Hypothetical: Let's say you're a Republican Congressman from New York. You've attended a wake in the district next door. It's depressed you, so you go to a bar and throw down a couple. Maybe more than a couple. The bar's about to close up for the night, you're drunk, shouldn't be driving, so what do you do? Why not go across the street to the frat house and have a good old college bull session talking policy with the boys at the party? Better yet? Let them take pictures.

The Iraq War costs more than the Vietnam War and it accomplished that in less than half the time. Of course, look at all we've done for the Iraqis. Got to admit, we're getting better at this. About the time our Empire falls, we'll have it down pat. Remember Rummy saying that the war would cost about $50 billion? Remember the administration firing people who said it would be 4 times that much? Hey, even those folks were low-balling it. Just for grins, this clip from the article:

The Bush administration is desperate to announce a reduction in the 130,000-strong US force before November's mid-term elections, where public disillusion with the war threatens disaster for the Republicans.

OK, back to Congressman, scandals, and hookers. Clip:

Two of Wilkes' former business associates say they were present on several occasions when Shirlington Limousine & Transportation Service of northern Virginia brought prostitutes to the suite. They say they did not see lawmakers in the suites on those occasions, though both had heard rumors of congressmen bringing women to the rooms.

In law schools, I hear, they call that sort of thing - where you transport someone across state lines for sexual acts - "trafficking". That's a notch above plain old vanilla "prostitution". Hey, it gets even better. From the same article:

Last year, Shirlington won a $21 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security.

Whaaaaaaa? Those are some mighty high quality hookers. We'll get back to this issue in a moment. First, let's read on in the same article:

Several of Wilkes' former employees and business associates say he used the hospitality suites over the past 15 years to curry favor with lawmakers as well as officials with the CIA, where both Wilkes and Wade sought contracts...

People who were present at the games said one of the regular players was Kyle Dustin “Dusty” Foggo, who has been Wilkes' best friend since the two attended junior high school in Chula Vista in the late 1960s. In October, Foggo was named the CIA's executive director – the agency's third-highest position...

One of Wilkes' companies, Archer Logistics, won a contract to provide bottled water, first-aid kits and other supplies to CIA agents in Afghanistan and Iraq. The company had no previous experience with such work, having been founded a few months before the contract was granted.

Critics familiar with the contract, valued at $2 million to $3 million, say the CIA overpaid for the work. The contract was approved by the CIA office in Frankfurt, Germany, where Foggo oversaw acquisitions. Foggo did not personally sign the contract, however, said unnamed CIA officials who spoke with Newsweek.

Who believes this was on the up and up? Seriously. OK, back to that contract that the limo service was awarded by the Fatherland Security Department. Harper's reports this:

It gets even more interesting: the man who has been identified as the CEO of Shirlington has a 62-page rap sheet (I recently obtained a copy) that runs from at least 1979 through 1989 and lists charges of petit larceny, robbery, receiving stolen goods, assault, and more.

As to the festivities themselves, I hear that party nights began early with poker games and degenerated into what the source described as a "frat party" scene—real bacchanals. Apparently photographs were taken, and investigators are anxiously procuring copies. My heart beats faster in fevered anticipation.

So, you can have a 62-page rap sheet and still land a $21+ million contract with Fatherland Security? Of course, it's all on the up and up. And what is it with Republicans, frat houses, and photographs? Didn't think I'd tie it all in, did ya?

Great. Remember those disc drives being sold at Afghan bazaars? They've been on sale there for up to 4 years and some contain names of informants. Guess what? Taliban members are killing alleged informants? Of course, no direct ties can be proven, but it looks suspicious, doesn't it?

Finally, something not political - the first online review I've read of AllPeers, complete with snaps. Lucky devil...I'm awaiting my beta invite with increased antici.....pation.