This AP story “State Department under Hill scrutiny” by Lolita Baldor shows how lack of political ethics spreads everywhere including inspector generals.

WASHINGTON - A congressional committee has launched an investigation into the State Department's inspector general, alleging that he blocked fraud investigations, including potential security lapses at the newly built U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Also under scrutiny is whether Blackwater USA, the private security firm banned this week from working in Iraq for the alleged killing of eight Iraqi civilians, was "illegally smuggling weapons into Iraq," according to a letter to IG Howard J. Krongard that was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The investigation involves allegations that "your strong affinity with State Department leadership and your partisan political ties have led you to halt investigations, censor reports, and refuse to cooperate with law enforcement agencies," Krongard was told.

Based on allegations made by a number of current and former senior investigators who worked for Krongard, the letter from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee also questioned whether he adequately investigated illegal labor trafficking allegations involving the Kuwaiti company that was building the Baghdad embassy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/state_department_fraud_probe

Would someone please tell someone because I swore off ever talking to that someone, that his headline sure says it all about him.

You're right. My resistance lowered when he put his foot in his mouth and became such an irresistible target. I promise to discipline myself better next time even if he gives me another so tempting a target- if it is even possible for him to top that one.

Thanks to a wonderful library and staff you kept us all grounded way up north where real people live. As a youth in North Dakota, my library was my salvation. It was my link to the outside world. Radio was wonderful but there was no talk radio and learning through kids’ or adults’ dramas was not too illuminating.

My library was a mental safe haven from parents, mean kids and ignorant adults. Almost anyone who entered those hallowed halls was someone who appreciated learning and sought a similar escape to mine. I could wonder the aisles and jump into all kinds of things that sparked my interest. While I greatly appreciated, and still do, the grounded roots of farmers like my grandmother and their straightforward, honest approach to life, like my grandmother, I yearned for wider horizons.

No one taught me to love new adventures and the grace and power that comes from exploring in the mind. I discovered it for myself and that gave it a precious power that guides me through life.

All the thugs and trolls that we address every day in this thread can never understand the joy of mind exploration. They are grounded in mind games of blame, shame, put downs, revenge and how can knowledge gain me an edge. That’s why they would be at a loss to listen to your mind in your great postings. You totally baffle closed minds and warm open ones.

Thanks and welcome home.

I just saw on c-span that the Repug thugs, in the House I think, want a bill passed that condemns the MoveOn ad. They are going to grab at any life preservers of their sinking ship especially if they can use the blood of our troops that they refuse to admit they started flowing and worse refuse to do anything to stop flowing.

The real question, what will the Dems do? How much courage will they show to answering one more dirty “Do you beat your wife?,” question?

Although all Dem presidential candidates voted no, of those who were present, MSNBC said 75 senators voted yes for the sense of the senate condemnation attached to the defense bill. A lot of Dem cowards who don't trust the American people to recognize the hypocrisy involved in this bill should be ashamed of themselves.

This condemn MoveOn sense of the senate amendment opens the door for Dem sponsored amendments on all past Repug Thugs reprehensible distortions starting with the Swift Boaters. The Dems should offer one amendment after another making clear how hypocrisy and changing stances to fit your ends does not serve the nation or the troops. They can use GG’s past filings as a research tool.

Get busy staffers! Get some guts Dem senators. Show some sense in the Senate.