Monday, May 21, 2007

Rep. Moran Compares Bush To Lenin

Lenin is known as one of the most influential leaders the 20th century had under its belt and now George Bush can get an honorable mention next to the communist icon. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) compared the two in regards to how both utilized the tool of propaganda to conform the masses. The Virginian Representative voiced his frustrations today about the troubles he faces dealing with the Administration over Guantanamo Bay.

From RawStory:

"This administration, I've never seen an organization that learned the lessons of Lenin as clearly as these guys," said Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) in a Thursday interview. "These guys must tack up Lenin's philosophy on their bedstand every night. Particularly when Lenin suggested if you say something often enough, with enough conviction, everybody will believe it."

Moran was referring to the tactics being used by the Bush administration to fight moves in Congress to close Guantanamo Bay. The Congressman, who has served his Virginia district since 1991, sits on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, which decides the Pentagon's annual budgets. Moran has been tasked by the subcommittee's chairman, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), with devising a plan to shutter Guantanamo Bay.

The congressman spoke to RAW STORY in the Rayburn Room off the floor of the House of Representatives. He had just successfully advanced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill that would require Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to report on how every detainee at Guantanamo Bay could be transferred away from the controversial base. Passing on a close 220-208 vote, the amendment could be an early indicator of the difficulties that may be faced in the broader effort to close the base for good.


Moran is also pissed off at Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The comment about doubling Guantanamo may have been meant to get applause from the sycophantic audience, but it does not work in reality. Sixty thousand prisoners are now housed in Iraqi and American detention centers in the chaotic country over there, and there is no way they would all fit in Guantanamo.

After going after Bush again for not closing the facility, he wrapped up the interview by saying that all of these prisoners could be tried in American courts. Unfortunately they are kept locked up for years without trial in Cuba and Iraq with no end in sight. Moran pointed out the Moussaoui case where he was given a trial and it allowed the rule of law to succeed. The process showed that America does have great ideals that would show us in a better light, if only they were followed by the President and his band of crooks.