Via ThinkProgress comes this irritating story about a recent Congressional hearing on the political manipulation of climate change science. Tennessee Democratic representative Jim Cooper told the following story, about a dinner party he attended:
REP. JIM COOPER (D-TN): Second, let me mention a dinner party I attended about two months ago here in Washington. The honoree was John Negroponte. He was then the director of national intelligence. He was there to receive an environmental award.It was very interesting because in anticipation of his remarks, word slipped through the crowd he was not allowed to utter the words “global warming,” at least not in the same sentence. Apparently, he was allowed to say the word “global” in a separate sentence, and “warming” in a separate sentence, but not together. So it became a little parlor game during his remarks, to see how closely he would fit the words “global” and “warming” and not incur the wrath of the White House.
I thought this was a sad statement of the current condition of our scientific community when a very eminent statesman like John Negroponte would be so hamstrung by the administration that he would not be allowed to utter the two words in conjunction. I thought that was an indignity to Mr. Negroponte and a sad comment on the level of the Bush administration to so hamstring its talented and capable appointees.
Charming. I wonder if Negroponte was allowed to say “evolution.”
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No ... unless he used government issued semaphores.
I know it's quite believable (considering this administration), but isn't this really just hearsay about hearsay at this point?
"The enemies we face almost certainly feel that their attitudes are global. Warming these individuals to a different world view will prove difficult."
Done and done.
During Negroponte's tenure, US military aid to Honduras grew from $4 million to $77.4 million; the US launched a covert war against Nicaragua and mined its harbors, and the US trained Honduran military to support the Contras.
What possible environmental award could he be given? That is insane and even worse than the main story. The man is a facist murderer and is directly involved in the worst types of abuses.
"John Negroponte worked closely with General Alvarez, Chief of the Armed Forces in Honduras, to enable the training of Honduran soldiers in psychological warfare, sabotage, and many types of human rights violations, including torture and kidnapping. Honduran and Salvadoran military were sent to the School of the Americas to receive training in counter-insurgency directed against people of their own country."
along with Elliot Abrams, "the Iran/contra player who was an assistant secretary of state during the Reagan years and a shaper of that Administration's controversial--and deadly--policies on Latin America and human rights. His designated spot in the new regime: NSC's senior director for democracy, human rights and international operations"
heh heh human rights ha!
"And in 1993 after a UN truth commission, which examined 22,000 atrocities that occurred during the twelve-year civil war in El Salvador, attributed 85 percent of the abuses to the Reagan-assisted right-wing military and its death-squad allies, Abrams declared, "The Administration's record on El Salvador is one of fabulous achievement."
He and Johnny worked hand in hand with Oliver North.
Somehow I knew that Negroponte's history as a consulate to Honduras training the Contras would come up and hijack the thread....
Pough:
Turn in your yes-person credentials. We don't need your kind around here.
Tyler, er well yes, sorry about that, but...
What is the thread about anyway? People not saying things?
or the evil that is the administration and its minions.
No!
What is the thread about anyway? People not saying things?
I think it's more focused on the Bush administrations particularly draconian attempts to squelch science they don't like. But as far as Negroponte's role as a consulate in the Reagan admin. goes, I was only pointing out the predictability of the topic coming up. It's like mentioning Olly North.
err well yes er I did that too I'm afraid...