Bush announces escalation in 'war on kleptocracy'

[deminks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060810/pl_afp/uscorruptio...

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush announced an escalation of his government's fight against "kleptocracy" -- high level corruption by senior officials which he said is robbing the people of many poor nations of their future.

"For too long, the culture of corruption has undercut development and good governance and bred criminality and mistrust around the world," Bush said in a statement launching a "national strategy" for fighting corruption.

"High-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption," he said.

The new initiative centers on the creation of an inter-agency team involving the State Department, Department of Justice and the US Treasury to track and prosecute high level corruption and recover ill-gotten gains, said Josette Sheeran Shiner, an under-secretary of state for economic and business affairs.

Shiner said the aim was to pool together all the resources in the US government "to make sure we're applying a full tool box in the fight against high level corruption."

(end snip) I am speechless at the moment. The irony is stunning, really.

[Kutjara]

1. Hang on, he's taking about the gov'ts of OTHER countries?

Oh my God, the gall of the man is breathtaking.

[rodeodance]

6. speechless is hardly the word

[TankLV]

11. Yes, yes it is, isn't it!

Speechless.

Breathtaking.

Incredible.

Simply Astounding.

And still nobody looks at the ELEPHANT in the middle of the room...

[Lisa]

32. but of course! It's only bad when someone else does it!

That's how he's always viewed the world, yes?

[leftchick]

44. it is projection, he does it all of the time

my favorite is when he talks of "terroist regimes that torture". Also " tyrannical leaders". Ironic isn't it?

[MrModerate]

2. Right, and the difference between . . .

Shifting wealth to the wealthy through targeted tax cuts versus through Swiss bank accounts is?

[JuniperLea]

3. So, when does he turn himself in? n/t

[warrens]

4. They nabbed Cheney at JFK, I hear

[wakeme2008]

5. IMHO he is taking aim at Castro...

Mmmmm..

[rodeodance]

7. more big government from the Repugs

[sam sarrha]

8. his handlers are ambitious letting him try a big 4 syllable word.. he doesn't

even now what it means probably, he is just reading it off the prompter..

[54anickel]

9. Projecting again I see. n/t

[MurrayDelph]

10. Just like his "War on Terrorism"

has actually created more terrorism?

[Reckon]

12. It's probably designed to go after people that don't support

the Republican TheoCons.

[elehhhhna]

13. He's the Poster Boy for Kleptos With out Borders. Oh Fuckall.

[drm604]

14. Pot... meet Kettle...

Lately I feel like I'm living in some weird alternate universe or something. Bizarro Earth, where the criminals enforce the laws and prosecute others for committing crimes smaller than they themselves commit.

[burythehatchet]

15. DAMN I love The Onion...its the best

[truthisfreedom]

17. bah! hahaha. nice one.

investigating corruption begins at home. at the highest office in the nation.

[Poll_Blind]

16. This is The Big Lie at work- this is really what it looks like. n/t

PB

[TygrBright]

18. The irony is simply staggering. n/t

[patricia92243]

19. That would be funny if it weren't so sickening. By the way, I saw a three

second clip (literally) of him talking today, and he really looked more dopey than usual. Has he been sick or something?

[Synnical]

20. "Culture of Corruption"

Now where, have I heard that before?

Bush lifts Dem talking point GOP once objected to

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[McKinneyIsAHero]

21. BREAKING: The Irony just suffocated San Francisco

Officials are also reporting that President Bush plans to speak about international law and the need to maintain it.

[Uncle Joe]

22. This just in "Typhoid Mary to give speech on cleanliness" to be followed

by "Cheney's speech on gun safety"

[lpbk2713]

23. So slap the cuffs on Krazy Katie Harris

and then listen to her sing like a canary about the Y2K selection.

[wryter2000]

24. Oh my fucking God

Breathtaking. Unfuckingbelievable. I just stepped through the looking glass. I only hope Franken can do something with this. Also, Stewart and Colbert. I think my head is going to explode.

[Vidar]

25. Ken Lay cleared of all charges by means of "death".

[3waygeek]

26. In other words, * and his cronies

have taken everything that isn't nailed down here, so they're branching out to the rest of the world.

[Wiley50]

27. Physician Heal Thyself

Anybody got a mirror

Oh wait

He'd have no reflection

my bad

[alarimer]

28. He should start with his own administration

and the Republican party. Jack Abramoff? Ken Lay? Aren't they part of the kleptocracy? What about appointing cronies to public office in charge of public lands or the environment?

[kineneb]

29. projection, projection, projection. n/t

[Shakespeare]

30. Wow. I think I just OD'd on irony. n/t

[leQ]

31. isnt there a word for this? oh yeah, hypocrisy. (n/t)

[Vincardog]

33. aWoL has run out of enemies he now wants war with himself

high level corruption by senior officials is what we have had since they stole the presidency in 2000

[Akim]

34. Can Bush Pronounce "Kleptocracy?"

Can Bush pronounce "kleptocracy?" It's not one of those words in picture books.

[Contrary1]

35. We all know that he is an expert on this subject...

"Promoting transparent, accountable governance is a critical component of our freedom agenda."

[daleo]

36. Bush lecturing other countries on kleptocracy

Is like Jack the Ripper warning others not to run with scissors.

[yurbud]

37. this ranks with Bush's "can't have elections under occupation" quote

he was talking about Lebanon occupied by Syria, not Iraq occupied by us.

The guy is either unaware of irony or just taunting everyone with IQs over room temperature.

[Amonester]

40. I think it's both, because the sick-jock knows damn well...

...nobody will ever have the gall to hold him accountable, and that he will always get away scott-free (like he always did 'til today).

Sometimes it's called "utter arrogance."

[OneBlueSky]

38. in another post somewhere or other, a DUer discussed the Rovian . . .

strategy of taking your own greatest weakness and attributing it to your opponent . . .

"High-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption," he said. . .

the purpose of these statements was to deflect observation and investigation "of high-level corruption by senior government officials," in his own administration . . . himself included . . .

[knight_of_the_star]

39. For the record I never voted for that man!

That is always my first response when people ask me why we have such a lunatic in the White House.

[Moderator]

41. k

[TechBear_Seattle]

42. President's Statement on Kleptocracy

Hold on to your irony meters; they're in for a very bumpy ride.

A White House press dated August 10, 2006:

For too long, the culture of corruption has undercut development and good governance and bred criminality and mistrust around the world. High-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption. It threatens our national interest and violates our values. It impedes our efforts to promote freedom and democracy, end poverty, and combat international crime and terrorism. Kleptocracy is an obstacle to democratic progress, undermines faith in government institutions, and steals prosperity from the people. Promoting transparent, accountable governance is a critical component of our freedom agenda.

At this year's G-8 meeting in St Petersburg, my colleagues joined me in calling for strengthened international efforts to deny kleptocrats access to our financial systems and safe haven in our countries; stronger efforts to combat fraud, corruption, and misuse of public resources; and increased capacity internationally to prevent opportunities for high-level public corruption. Today, I am announcing a new element in my Administration's plan to fight kleptocracy, The National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts against Kleptocracy, which sets forth a framework to deter, prevent, and address high-level, public corruption. It identifies critical tools to detect and prosecute corrupt officials around the world, so that the promise of economic assistance and growth reaches the people.

Our objective is to defeat high-level public corruption in all its forms and to deny corrupt officials access to the international financial system as a means of defrauding their people and hiding their ill-gotten gains. Given the nature of our open, accessible international financial system, our success in fighting kleptocracy will depend upon the participation and accountability of our partner nations, the international financial community, and regional and multilateral development institutions. Together, we can confront kleptocracy and help create the conditions necessary for people everywhere to enjoy the full benefits of honest, just, and accountable governance.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/2006081...

[mrsadm]

43. I don't get it???

you mean like Haliburton?

[Tracer]

45. I'm totally gobsmacked!!

For one nanosecond, I thought he was talking about the U.S.!

His chuztpah is beyond belief.

[leesa]

46. Ooooh, he learned a new word... Must be that word a day book by the

toilet. I hope 'projection' is next.

[drduffy]

47. Oh, George will commit Seppuku?

One can only wish.

[redqueen]

48. On the same day that this Blackwater article was published...

Mercenary Jackpot

oh, the irony!

[cyberpj]

50. But no one in media ever calls him on this shit. So on it goes.......nt

[redqueen]

55. Not the corporate-owned media, hell no.

Still, is it too much to expect at least some Americans to catch on? I mean !

This is not exactly news. War profiteering is as old as the hills, and past congresses and administrations even passed laws against it.

Can't get this group of clowns to even begin to address it!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. FUCK!! hes going to invade India!!

[cyberpj]

51. the State Department, Department of Justice and the US Treasury

Yeah... right....

They'll do a lot, I'm sure.

[ckramer]

52. We need some big mirrors!

[ramapo]

53. He said this with a straight face?

Or was he smirking??

[Tight_rope]

54. Wait...I'm not sure I believe this...Must see him say this speech

for myself. There are just too many "BIG WORD'S" in this speech for Bush to be using without fucking them up.

[Javaman]

56. I think he* just repeats the words and mimics breathing...

the man* is a sock puppet.

The irony and hypocrisy is blinding.

[Amonester]

57. Look what **'s got in his own barnyard!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Not only that: I heard trillions R a missin'?
Where did they go? In the BFEE's coffers?
Oh! The irony... Kepto-what??

[sendero]

58. This is on PAGE ONE of the Rovian playbook..

... always accuse others of what you are guilty of yourself.

[anotherdrew]

59. he meant to say OF not on. n/t