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* Iraq War and Prayer Sessions The smarmy Mr. Blair talked his way through soft-balls lobbed at him by members of the Chilcot Inquiry on January 29th. Watching him reminded me of reports that our former president, G.W. Bush and Tony Blair were users of Colgate toothpaste. Good for Colgate-Palmolive; probably boosted the sale. It was also reported that Blair -- described by some as Bush's poodle -- and Bush prayed together. Easy to imagine them doing so. Bush, a born-again Christian, who did his utmost to destroy the barrier between church and state during eight years as president, said he was told by god to go to war. From June 26, 2003, edition of The Haaretz: - Source: http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0630-04.htmAccording to Abbas, immediately thereafter Bush said: "God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East.And Blair, who converted to Catholicism after the end of of his term as prime minister of the United Kingdom, also talks in terms of divine guidance. Piety oozes out of him. "The Men Who Stare At Goats", the delightful, spoofy novel about the CIA by Jon Ronson contains the following about G.W. Bush and presidentialprayerteam.org (it exists)."Pray for the strong relationship between Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair. Pray that the President will continue to be guided by the Lord in his deliberation with the U.K."Last night, reading the book after Mr. Blair's appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry, I thought ah, that explains it!. Mr. Blair certainly joined wholeheartedly in Bush's war. It would appear that members of the Chilcot Committee responded too. This ought to silence those who question the power of prayers. Quite useful to have a god available to support military actions against nations that displease us, have natural resources that we need, or are in a strategic geographical location -- toss a coin. Jon Ronson's book has been made into a movie with George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, and Kevin Spacey in the leading roles. Should be fun to watch.

* Iraq War: Chilcot Inquiry Jolted by former Deputy Legal Adviser Must confess that until reading reports about today's proceedings the name of Elizabeth Wilmshurst was not known to most of us this side of the Atlantic.....even among those who closely followed the controversy about Tony Blair's role in committing Britain to the unjustified war against Iraq. While actions by ex-president G.W. Bush and his administration have been relegated to history, it is a different story in Britain. Despite efforts to bury the facts, the Labour Government was unable to stop demands for a public inquiry and a 5-member committee headed by Sir John Chilcot was announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on June 15, 2009. The Chilcot Inquiry has been ongoing since 24th November 2009. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to appear the Committee on Friday, January 29th. It is unlikely that Blair will face criminal charges. Alastair Campbell, who served as Blair's aide, breezed through "soft ball" questions during his testimony last week. Blair, an unctious, smooth-tongued orator, is not going to have any problem. But the proceedings were shook up today during evidence by Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Deputy Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2001-2003. From Guardian UK Jan 26, 2010 The Iraq inquiry burst into life yesterday, thanks to a quiet, thoughtful yet furious woman who ripped into the government like a genteel but very hungry lioness. Elizabeth Wilmshurst was the first witness to get a round of applause from the public. Her evidence was brief, less than an hour, but Jack Straw and Lord Goldsmith must have loathed every word. It was like being torn apart by a cross between Judi Dench as "M" and Princess Diana – softly spoken, but as hard and inflexible as a crowbar. * At the end she ­described how the ­attorney general (who in the mists of history had also thought the invasion illegal) was finally consulted only at the very last minute as the troops were ready to go in. "I thought the process that was followed was lamentable," she said, and the word seemed to echo round the room. This ­inquiry will now never seem the same. Perhaps, just perhaps, what she said will prod the members of the committee to shed their diffidence, take their fingers out and do the job for which they were selected. Comments Novlangue — 2010-01-30 We've known for ages that WMDs didn't exist. I don't know why we (the Brits)keep going over this! Salaam aleychem. musafir — 2010-01-30 Thank you. Yes, the non-existence of WMDs was established a long time ago. And yet Mr. Blair made it a part of his argument. The Chilcot Committee is a joke. Noted that you are a Haiku lover. I enjoy them, especially ones by Basho.

* The Green Hills of Stanford, California Last Monday (January 18th) the rain came down in buckets and the wind howled through the night. Tuesday,too, we got a soaking, and it is raining today. According to the weather man the rains will continue through the middle of next week with perhaps a break on Tuesday, the 26th. Driving back from the Silicon Valley yesterday afternoon I stopped at Arastradero Preserve to take some pictures. Walked up the hill east of the parking lot and watched the flow of traffic on both north and southbound lanes of Highway 280. Beyond the highway were the rolling hills where the Stanford Dish is located. The radio telescope commonly known as the Dish is the most prominent landmark in Stanford's 8,180 acres of open space. The Dish, 150 feet in diameter, scans the sky, gathering data on distant galaxies. -- Gaill Todd, SFGate.com Very popular with hikers and runners during all seasons despite the fact that they are confined to paved trails, ranging from 3.7 miles to 5 miles depending on the entrance. I enjoyed it more before restrictions were imposed and enforcement began. Previously one could hike and run on other trails, some of them longer and more arduous. But no doubt the authorities had good reasons for introducing the restrictions. The Stanford Dish © Musafir Green and lovely © Musafir Looking down on Junipero Serra Freeway (I-280) © Musafir Looking north from the trail east of the parking lot off Arastradero Road © Musafir Looking west from Arastradero Preserve © Musafir A heavy downpour caught me by surprise and I rushed down the trail to the parking lot. Then to home, dry clothes and a glass of red. Ancient Music Winter is icummen in, Lhude sing Goddamm. Raineth drop and staineth slop, And how the wind doth ramm! Sing: Goddamm. Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us, An ague hath my ham. Freezeth river, turneth liver, Damn you, sing: Goddamm. Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm, So 'gainst the winter's balm. Sing goddamm, damm, sing Goddamm. Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM. -- Ezra Pound (1885-1972)

* After two years of low rainfall, this season has reversed the pattern. It was a pleasure to hike in Foothill Park, Palo Alto, this afternoon. The trails were moist and the shrubs green. Even found some wild flowers! Unusual at this time of the year. Water was flowing through Buckeye Creek at places. More rains expected next week. From my window - Sunrise 7:04 AM January 15th ©Musafir From my window - Sunrise 7:38 AM January 15th ©Musafir First green leaves- A tree reawakening ©Musafir Early arrival of Indian Paintbrush ©Musafir Milk Maids ©Musafir Wild Clematis, Seed pods opening ©Musafir Makeshift footbridge over Buckeye Creek ©Musafir Picnic alongside Buckeye Creek ©Musafir Happy Forager A bumper year for wild mushrooms. They are to be found everywhere. Not all are edible but the confluence of rains, sunny days, and varying range of temperature must be right for their growth. The chanterelles rewarded foraging trips. Then there were oyster mushrooms. Barely a mile from home I found a patch of Slippery Jacks under pine trees. They are edible but not prized. A patch of chanterelles ©Musafir Slippery Jacks ©Musafir The Rain I hear leaves drinking rain; I hear rich leaves on top Giving the poor beneath Drop after drop; 'Tis a sweet noise to hear These green leaves drinking near. ---William Henry Davies

* Don't Hold Your Breath "Financial crisis panel seeks bankers' testimony" is the heading of a report by Binyamin Appelbaum in The Washington Post, Jan 8, 2010: The commission appointed by Congress to examine the causes of the financial crisis is to hear testimony Wednesday from the heads of four of the nation's largest banks, as the panel begins a year-long investigation that its chairman described as an effort to figure out "what the heck happened." Numerous reports in the media have given us a good idea of "what the heck happened". Major Wall Street financial organizations took part in questionable practices and made a lot of money until the mortgage finance bubble collapsed and caused repercussions that affected the entire U.S. economy. Those responsible were bailed out by our government which failed to include conditions to restrain them. No punishment was sought. Wall Street continues to be involved in exotic financial instruments and make profits. The commission's report, when released sometime before the end of the year, would most likely be a sterile document and serve no purpose. We hear occasional rumblings from the White House about reform. But a meaningful reform with teeth is not going to take place. Elected representatives on both sids of the aisles receive contributions from special interest groups. Lobbyists continue to wield power and influence legislations. The Republicans, of course, are out and out champions of unfettered free market economy, and the abuses that took place were, to some degree, due to the failure or unwillingness of watchdog agencies to perform what they were meant to. The Democrats are not blameless. Key positions in President Obama's team are occupied by people who were directly or indirectly part of Wall Street when the looting went on. Among them Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner who was head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Bloomberg.com: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was asked to testify in Congress about the New York Federal Reserve’s efforts to limit American International Group Inc.’s disclosures of bailout payments to banks. Paul Krugman in New York Times, Jan 7, 2010: Bubbles and the Banks And reform really should take on the financial industry’s compensation practices. If Congress can’t legislate away the financial rewards for excessive risk-taking, it can at least try to tax them. Let me conclude with a political note. The main reason for reform is to serve the nation. If we don’t get major financial reform now, we’re laying the foundations for the next crisis. But there are also political reasons to act. For there’s a populist rage building in this country, and President Obama’s kid-gloves treatment of the bankers has put Democrats on the wrong side of this rage. If Congressional Democrats don’t take a tough line with the banks in the months ahead, they will pay a big price in November. They will deserve what is coming to them. Unfortunately, at the end nothing will change. One group of venal legislators would be replaced by another.....probably even more venal.

 * San Francisco Peninsula * Wild Mushrooms The rains came and the threat of drought has disappeared. Driving north on Hwy 280 a few days back, the rolling hillside near Stanford looked a lush green. Come May they will turn into the color some call "California gold". But before that the daffodils will apear on both side of Hwy 280 to the delight of the motorists. We are fortunate to live here in the San Francisco Bay area....high cost of living and all. And the political climate is liberal, tolerant; quite different from the Central Valley about 100 miles south-east where there is no dearth of bigots. January 1st was cloudy but not too cold (50 degrees F, 14 C). Sugarloaf Mountain trails in San Mateo were muddy and slippery at some points but that did not deter hikers from trudging up the hill to look at the bay and the east bay across the San Mateo Bridge. Cluster of Oyster Mushrooms ©Musafir Beautiful, and delicious. I sautee them with chopped garlic and ginger; add firm tofu cut into dominoes, some Hoisin Sauce and Tamari (soya sauce). Good with steamed rice. Witch's Butter ©Musafir Said to be edible but insipid; I don't pick them. Amanita muscaria (Fly Amanita) ©Musafir Poisonous and hallucinogenic. A Virgin Air flight taking off from San Francisco Intl Airport ©Musafir San Mateo Bridge, looking east ©Musafir A patch of blue among the clouds ©Musafir Monday is back to school and work. A change in routine that some find hard to adjust to while others fall into the groove without missing a beat. * "Not even a hat-- and cold rain falling on me? Tut-tut, think of that! ---Basho (translated by Harold Henderson)

* A Year of Disillusionment "To dream of one government ending doesn't mean you'll want the one that comes in its place." ---Nathan Englander, The Ministry of Special Cases Almost a year ago, on December 30, 2008, I wrote: Peace, Elusive Peace In a few days a new year will begin. Our world is full of turmoil. Wars raging; death raining from the sky on innocent civilians who are pawns in power plays of major nations. Collapse of the scams concocted by Wall Street and blessed by government watch dogs have affected countries far beyond the shores of the United States. Not easy to be hopeful about the future. But hope for a peaceful world we must. Peace still remains elusive. Now we have another 'war president' in the White House. We could be in Afghanistan for a decade or more. Barring a few, our elected representatives of the Democratic Party have proven to be not much different than the Republicans warmongers. The all-powerful military industrial complex is not interested in killing the goose that has been laying golden eggs. They spend a part of their huge profits to buy influence. It works. President Obama, who once made us feel hopeful about the future, went through a sea change. Some people talk about Obama as a pragmatist. Yes, in politics pragmatism has a role. But in Obama's case it is more than that. It is almost as though the Obama who campaigned during 2008 was a completely different person. His move to the right began soon after he was nominated -- part of his goal to bring the uncommitted middle to the fold, we thought. But the wooing of the right never stopped. Today, he bends over backward to appease them but there are no signs that he is succeeding in his courtship. What is undeniable is his failure to follow through on issues. From peace in the Middle-East to reform of Wall Street, Obama talks the talk -- only talks. He has a golden tongue. Reminds me of ex prime minister Blair of United Kingdom who lied and committed his nation to Bush's war in Iraq. The bankers who had a major role in the economic meltdown were rewarded with bailout without restraints. They are still involved in questionable practices. Prayers and Politicians It was sickening to follow the debate over health-care reform. There were times when members of Congress behaved as if they had emerged from caves. Republican Senator Tom Coburn (OK) tops the list of boors. Dana Milbank in The Washington Post 12/21/09 "At 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon -- nine hours before the 1 a.m. vote that would effectively clinch the legislation's passage -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) went to the Senate floor to propose a prayer. "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight," he said. "That's what they ought to pray." "It was difficult to escape the conclusion that Coburn was referring to the 92-year-old, wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) who has been in and out of hospitals and lay at home ailing. It would not be easy for Byrd to get out of bed in the wee hours with deep snow on the ground and ice on the roads -- but without his vote, Democrats wouldn't have the 60 they needed." Prayer breakfasts are alive and well in Washington DC, the right venue for hypocrites. President Obama, a natural-born practitioner of expediency, took part in one in January shortly after he was inaugurated. Senator Coburn is certain to be among those who regularly attend prayer breakfasts. Senator Coburn and others like him are abominations. Now the same bunch is fighting to protect funding for "abstinence only" sex education programs. Does it make you think of Bristol Palin? Recently, during an interview when he was asked about his position on religion, British author Terry Pratchett said: 'I'd rather be a rising ape than a fallen angel' I'll drink to that. Let's hope that 2010 would be a better year. Stay well.

* December Here on the west coast, Winter Solstice began shortly before 10:00 AM. today, December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The rains came and threats of drought have receded. Snowpacks in the High Sierras are building up. Good news, not only for skiers; after two years of below-average precipitation water levels in the reservoirs were pitifully low. Some trees in the neighborhood still have leaves but after each storm they look a little more bare. It is a pleasure to walk through the woods. The dampness is so much in contrast to the warm weather. Water running in the local creeks; wild mushrooms abundant. Come, come thou bleak December wind, And blow the dry leaves from the tree! -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834, Fragment 3 Leaves under Gingko Tree, Sunnyvale, California ©Musafir Buckeye Creek, Foothill Park, Palo Alto California ©Musafir Roof top decoration - San Mateo, California ©Musafir On a rainy afternoon ©Musafir And enshrouded by fog ©Musafir A leafless tree at dusk ©Musafir

* Our Politicians - Abortion and Viagra The bill that President Obama wants is yet to take final shape. Currently, the roadblock is by Democratic Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska who "...............rejected a compromise on abortion funding aimed at winning his vote. Senate Democratic leaders, racing the clock to finish work on the bill before leaving for the holidays, struggled to line up the 60 votes they need to overcome Republican procedural hurdles." Senator Barbra Boxer (D, CA) received a lot of flak for saying that if men are not restricted from buying Viagra then there should be no restrictions on the choice of abortion for women. The Catholic Church, one of the strong backers of anti-abortion policy takes a different position on pedophilia. After years of shameful silence, the Vatican has now taken some action to punish a few members of the clergy. Faced with the damning Murphy Commission Report which confirmed sexual abuse of children in Ireland from 1975 to 2004, the pope had to act. But by and large, when it comes to pedophilia by priests the Catholic press still remains very low-key. One gets the feeling that it would be happy to let it be forgotten. Sodden thought -- if Sarah Palin becomes president would her witch doctor, Bishop Muthee, be at the inauguration. Even without Senator Nelson's demand for amendment, for majority of Americans it offers very little. There is nothing in the bill to contain costs for drugs and services. It is far from what Barack Obama talked about during the campaign of 2008 but that has become a hallmark of the Obama administration. Compromise, cut backroom deals, placate the conservatives. Perhaps the strategy would pay dividends. We shall find out next year after the Congressional elections.

* A Pious Liar The former British prime minister was interviewed by BBC's Fern Britton on December 12th, and is scheduled to appear in early 2010 before the Iraq War Inquiry Committee headed by Sir John Chilcot. The BBC reported on December 12, 2009: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing strong criticism after he said he would have gone to war in Iraq even if he had known there were not any weapons of mass destruction. The ex-director of public prosecutions has accused Tony Blair of "sycophancy" towards President Bush. Sir Ken MacDonald called the 2003 Iraq war a "foreign policy disgrace of epic proportions". He said the former prime minister had used "alarming subterfuge" to mislead the British people into the conflict. Tony Blair's comments raised a firestorm in British press, with condemnation by newspapers ranging from the very liberal Guardian to Telegraph, and the conservative Timesonline. But there is something "fake" about Sir MacDonald's indignation. Why did he remain silent when Blair was committing the United Kingdom to be an active partner in Bush's war? Thousands of people marched against the war on the streets in England and other countries; there were many items in the media questioning the justification for war. Was he asleep during that period! Another politician trying to save his reputation for posterity. Regardless of the outcry over his comments and the enormous costs of his egotistical decision -- a decision which many feel was primarily motivated by his desire to please G.W. Bush -- Tony Blair is not at risk of facing charges in court. The Chilcot Committee will do its thing. Perhaps conclude with some remarks about lack of justification for what Blair did. And that would be all. That is how the system works, no different than what goes on in our country, this side of the Atlantic. Here in America, too, barring a few exceptions politicians of both parties meekly supported the war cooked up by Bush and the neocons. Comments Anonymous — 2010-01-04 Greetings, My name is Barbara O’ Brien and my blogging at The Mahablog, Crooks and Liars, AlterNet, and elsewhere on the progressive political and health blogophere has earned me the notoriety of being a panelist at the Yearly Kos Convention and a featured guest blogger at the Take Back America Conference in Washington, DC. I’m contacting you because I found your site in a prominent political and health reform blog search and want to tell you about my newest blogging platform —the public concern of health care and its reform. Our shared concerns include health reform, public health, safe workplaces, and asbestos contamination. To increase awareness on these important issues, my goal is to get a resource link on your site or even allow me to provide a guest posting. Please contact me back, I hope to hear from you soon. Drop by our site in the meantime—www.maacenter.org/blog. Sincerely, Barbara O’ Brien barbaraobrien@maacenter.org