STRONG MEDICINE

George Galloway handed the hats to a senate inquiry commitee yesterday regarding the food for oil dealio and our involvement in Iraq in general. The following are excerpts from that commitee that I stole from subversity, who got it somewhere else. It's powerful stuff, and I saw it live, and I was riveted by his words.

George Galloway, a maverick kicked out of the British Labour Party for his fervent opposition to the Iraq war and for personal attacks on Prime Minister Tony Blair, used the opportunity to criticize the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Before the hearing started, Galloway dismissed the panel as a "neo-con ... pro-war, Republican lynch mob."

Galloway bluntly confronted the Republican chairman of the committee, Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, and challenged the attorney to back up claims the British MP profited handsomely from the now defunct program. Some of his harshest remarks concerned Coleman's support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that ousted President

"Now I know that standards have slipped over the last few years in Washington, but for a lawyer, you are remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice," Galloway said.
Galloway accused Coleman of sullying his reputation and falsely asserting that he gave money to Saddam. "You call that justice?" he asked, adding later: "This is utterly preposterous."
"Senator, in everything I said about Iraq, I turned out to be right and you turned out to be wrong, and 100,000 people have paid with their lives -- 1,600 of them American soldiers sent to their deaths on a pack of lies," he said.
The British MP told reporters later he felt Coleman had failed in his cross-examination. "He's not much of a lyncher," he said.

Speaking the Truth To Power

"I told the world that Iraq, contrary to your claims did not have weapons of mass destruction."

"I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to al-Qaeda."

"I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to the atrocity on 9/11 2001."

"I told the world, contrary to your claims, that the Iraqi people would resist a British and American invasion of their country and that the fall of Baghdad would not be the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning."

"Senator, in everything I said about Iraq, I turned out to be right and you turned out to be wrong and 100,000 people paid with their lives; 1600 of them American soldiers sent to their deaths on a pack of lies; 15,000 of them wounded, many of them disabled forever on a pack of lies."

British MP George Galloway
Senate Testimony
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

That's some serious shit...I was as impressed by what he said and how he said it...he sounded like Sean Connory. I emailed our friend BW who lives in the UK and inquired about Mr. Galloway. In addition to confirming the power of a scots accent and agreeing with the overall notion that he kicked our senate commitee square in the nuts, BW revealed some sketchy stuff that would suggest he's not what he appears to be. Another UK blogger that lives in Galloways district has some disconcerting things to say about him, go check it out.
On the face of it, Galloway is speaking the truth, a truth that I agree with and a truth that we as americans needed to hear. And we heard it on CNN live yesterday and in endless replays on the other networks as well. Air America radio was all over it today. It got more coverage than I thought it would since it was decidedly calling bullshit on bushco in a more pointed and public way than I've heard...ever.
To come out swinging this hard you have to be beyond reproach. I just hope that when it all washes out he is that and can't be discredited by bushco.
Otherwise, it means dick.
BUT...if he is legit, this could be the first serious ( mule fucking republicans notwithstanding ) blow to the bullshit.
My fingers are crossed for Mr. Galloway.
And the world.