Iraq is nothing less than a tremendously risky, costly project that has been poorly managed.  No, I'm not trying to trivialize war or death (thus, the "risky" part).  What I am saying is that a war, battle, conflict, occupation must be planned and planned well.  If we use the Project Management Institute as a guide here is how managing Iraq has failed over the years (see Project Mgmt Institute):

1. No business case.  What justified the war and occupation?  The war was chosen and entered under false pretenses.  No project should be started without valid reasons.  The business case for a country would seem to be some collection of security, economic, and political gain beneficial to the USA.  Then weigh that against the cost, both in money but especially in lives spent.  I wonder, is there even a business case anymore?
2. Scope not defined.  In other words, "What work needs to be done?"  Has this ever been adequately answered by the Bush administration?  How do you approach Iraq?  What do you do if you stay and occupy? (let's not get into the fact that the bushites including Rumsfeld always stated that it would be a 'quick' war in 2003).  What are the individual activities that must be finished in order to approach success?
3. Product not defined.  Since we're talking about it, what is success?  In other words, "What is the expected Product?"  Initially, success was sold as removing WMDs from Iraq and removing the user (Saddam).  Ok.  Well, that proved to be a crock of shit and was never very well defined in the first place.  What are the goals?  What defines a finished "product?" (In this case, the success or end of the occupation).  Is it that Saddam is out of power?  Done.  Elections held?  Done.  Stabilization?  Ok, what defines a "stable" Iraq?  How can you start an occupation without even knowing what you want?
4. Budget not estimated.  No thought was given to how much such an endeavor would cost.  Money is continually pumped into the occupation while scope and product continue to be nebulous.  It is safe to say that the Iraq effort is many, many times over-budget.  This of course assumes that the bushites had a budget to begin with.
5. Communication lacking.  If 90% of a project manager's job is communication and if we define Donald Rumsfeld, Bush or others as Project Managers, then we have identified another project management failure.  The project team (generals and other planners) do not trust their leaders, are not listened to.  The PMs do not communicate what is happening truthfully to stakeholders (in the case of war, the largest group of stakeholders would be the US public).
6. Risks Not Identified or Planned.  Every project has risks.  The risks in war, especially occupation are enormous and deadly.  The eventuality or possibility of a civil war should have been identified and mitigating actions planned. 
7. Procurement not handled well or honestly.  Iraq is the greatest example of government-sponsored war-profiteering this country has seen in a long time.  No-bid contracts.  Vendors with clear attachments to government officials simply granted multi-million dollar contracts.  A bid, statement of work and analysis of possible vendors would seem to be even more critical in such a risky undertaking as war.
8. No Schedule.  You don't have to make them public.  But every project needs dates.  Dates for completion, for milestones such as an election.  However, there is no end in sight.  Contradicting themselves in 2003, bushite politicians now say the Iraq conflict will take years, perhaps decades. ????  What happened.  No schedule and no plan happened.  Perhaps they want it to last forever.
9. Social Responsibility thrown out the window.  The so-called war on terror has discarded US law, rewritten laws to be retroactive and protect war criminals (the Military Commissions Act), discarded international law (Geneva Convention), tortured innocents who were never accused of a crime in order to garner false evidence and held people indefinitely, suspending habeas corpus and never allowing individuals to understand why they are being held.

Again,  everything happening in Iraq demonstrates a lack of project management principles.  And, if a PM should be held accountable in the business world for the above shortcomings, should not the US government be held accountable for its lack of planning that has caused thousands of deaths, US and Iraqi?

Technorati Tags: iraq, iraq war, project management, pmi, current affairs, current events, news and politics, bush, stay the course, project risk, torture, extraordinary rendition, enemy combatant, president bush, civil war, redeployment,saddam hussein, weapons of mass destruction, wmds, war on terror, terrorism, guantanemo bay

Quick note to check the progressive links on the blog site.  I missed banned-book week, but the ala site is well-worth checking at any time.  If you haven't gathered by now, I despise censorship, banning books in library and everything involved.  Check it out.

Intellectual Freedom - American Library Association

Technorati Tags: intellectual freedom, censorship, banned books, banned books week, american library association, current events, current affairs, news and politics

The current Republican paradigm has been to smash the opposition, don't listen to them, smear them at every opportunity and, overall, practice "the end justifies the means."  Just think about DeLay's nickname:  the hammer.  Politics at its best needs to be about win-win, at its worst about compromise.  Win-lose really shouldn't be part of the equation except in extreme circumstances (one side wishes to oppress a people, ala civil rights).

I say "current Republican" because I believe there are a whole host of common Americans out there that don't want to see this anymore.  I would like to believe that people can be fiscally conservative, traditional, etc. without being, well, simply mean-spirited.  Without giving in to lying, cheating and winning at all cost.

Notice the difference after the election in the language being used.  New York Times - Harry Reid

Democrats express not wanting revenge, but wanting to work together.  I hope this is what happens.  Are there not items we can all agree on:  torture should not be allowed, detainees should have basic rights to habeas corpus and wars of choice against non-threats should not be tolerated?

I'll leave it at that.  A lesson mommy and daddy taught us when children:  play and work together.

Technorati Tags: election 2006, news and politics, current affairs, current events, tom delay, the hammer, harry reid, nancy pelosi, democrat majority, torture, extraordinary rendition, habeas corpus, military commissions act

Took a bit of a break after getting sick, working on phone calls for the Nov. 7 election and other personal issues.  Now I'm back!

Working to uphold the Constitution of the USA:  Center for Constitutional Rights

The US mid-term election 2006 is over.  Democrats have made gains in both houses, in fact leading them both.  However, does this really mean anything?  The answer is:  no.  Unless the people hold them accountable.   They are putting forth minimum wage as a top priority.  I think this is a nice gesture.  However, the impact on the economy, despite what we hear from both sides, is almost nil (either negative or positive).  It is an easy item to get passed and more symbolic than anything.

So what should the Democrat congress concentrate on?  What few people seem to be talking about is the US government's continued unlawful imprisonment of so-called "enemy combatants" in Kabul, Guantanemo Bay and other, secret locations.  In the name of "security" and "freedom" the US government continues to promote torture, forced confessions and illegal detainment.  Oh, let me correct that last piece.  What used to be illegal is now legal as of October 17, 2006 when President George W. Bush signed into law a sweeping law that basically amended/nullified the War Crimes Act and swept backwards, granting amnesty to those who perpetrated the crimes by stating that the acts were legal as of 9/11/2001.  See:  Military Commissions Act

In other words, our chief monarch has declared that he alone is capable of defining what torture is, what an enemy combatant is and has made himself above the law (or former law) in order to avoid prosecution.

Because the law was signed granting Rumsfeld, Bush, Cheney and all their lackeys immunity, a lawsuit has been requested in Germany of all places.  I encourage America to join with this cause.  We cannot allow war criminals to operate with impunity and, more importantly, we cannot allow them to run the USA government, creating laws to suit their whim and whatever law they choose to break.

Torture is hideous.  It has never been proven to provide accurate information.  And, furthermore, is being utilized by the US government to extract forced confessions from detainees held for more than 3 years.  Trials are scheduled to take place where habeas corpus does not apply.  What happened to the US Constitution?  What price are we willing to pay and, just as important, willing to inflict on humanity around the world in the name of security, freedom or other one-word politically-spun concepts.  I, for one, refuse to let this issue be buried by "minimum wage" and mundane concerns.

So, yes, "freedom" is a loaded word and a loaded gun.  The US government continues to use words like "freedom" and "democracy" as weapons to justify their "one-percent doctrine" which basically tells the world that the "end justifies the means" no matter how disgusting, abhorrent or illegal it might be.  Everyone should read Enemy Combatant, the story of Moazzam Begg (see my book list).  What does it serve or will it ever serve.  See this interview:  Moazzam Begg

This is the single-most important thing that Congress can hold monarch Bush accountable for.  Whether it takes impeachment (another thing Americans seem unwilling to contemplate, but never was there a better case for it), criminal prosecution in Germany and overturning of the Military Commissions Act, we need to stop this.  And it is the job of US citizens to make this happen.  Press your representatives and educate yourselves.  If we do not tolerate this, then it can be stopped.

See this recent news story:  Holding immigrants indefinitely

Technorati Tags: democracy now, amy goodman, extraordinary rendition, kidnapping, detainee law, guantanemo bay, enemy combatant, war criminals, donald rumsfeld, george w. bush, dick cheney, bush, news and politics, current affairs, current events, democrat congress, illegal immigrants, torture, forced confessions, military commissions act, moazzam begg

So, we have a chance to vote in the USA and change some very, very wrong things.  A vote for the Republican party essentially supports the following:

1. Torture
2. Unlawful detention of prisoners and suspension of habeas corpus guaranteed by the Constitution of the US
3. Ignoring the Constitution of the United States
4. Money Laundering a la Jack Abramoff
5. Pandering to the religious right wing of the country and lack of separation of church and state
6. Illegal wiretapping
7. Invading sovereign nations for no other purpose than a war of choice
8. War profiteering
9. Disdain for true, real science (global warming evidence and stem cells)

You can be a Republican and/or conservative and still see these things as true.  Unfortunately your party has been hijacked.  Hijacked by those whose only interest is self-preservation at the top of the food chain.

A vote for anyone else is at least a vote of discontent.  And, if we manage to get alternates into Congress, then we can work to hold them accountable to a higher standard.

Technorati Tags: current affairs, current events, news and politics, iraq, iraq war, detainee law, torture, extraordinary rendition, bush, cheney, rumsfeld, republican, democrat, mid-term election, 2006 election, global warming, war profiteering, wiretapping, religious right, US constitution, christian fundamentalists, separation of church and state, stem cell research, stem cells

As approach November 7, 2006, it seems things are looking favorable for the Democrats.  Given the illegal re-districting by Republicans such as Tom 'crooked' DeLay (see Texas redistricting), I am still skeptical that the huge 'sweep' predicted by some in the media can happen.  Let's face it, the gambling table has been rigged.  And, to top it all of, we still have the shadow of former ballot-box fraud from 2004 Ohio and 2000 Florida.  States such as my own, Colorado, are rife with speculation concerning the validity and traceability of e-voting machines.

See latest poll activity from Newsweek:  GOP Losing Ground

So, while I remain hopeful I'm not counting them before they hatch.  I will say this:  progressive voters of all stripes are more energized and active than in prior years.  Moveon.org and Truemajority.org (see Progressive Links section above) are great organizations.  I've volunteered time on the phone to make sure democrats who don't vote, do vote.  They're funding close congressional races from the grassroots.  In essence, it's the counter to Karl Rove's mad lying machine which is fully revealed in the book, The Architect (see The ARchitect Book).  This is real grassroots stuff, powered by normal folk like myself who simply want change.  No lies, no spin, no coercion of the political base.  I suppose it's a test of honest politics and how it should work.  I hope it does work.

If the best the neo-cons can offer up is criticism of John Kerry's botched joke (spinning it as an insult to the trips, when it's very clear his audience understood what he meant), then change may happen yet.  The Republicans can't seem to offer up more than character slurs and political lies about their opponents, with the occasional implication that Democrats are 'unpatriotic' (don't get me started on that, see past blog entries).  They deflect attention from the Iraq Occupation, their trouncing of the constitution (wire tapping, the new detainee law) and real issues that consume most Americans such as:  healthcare and economic stability for the middle class.  They grow their own coffers, raise the national debt to heights unparalleled in US history, outsource all manufacturing overseas and then claim the economy is doing great (if you're fooled by the DOW reaching 12,000 you need to think again and start googling the effects of unpaid national debt to China).

I must ask myself, "Why are the Republicans so corrupt?"  We've seen corrupt neo-cons who believe themselves king before (Nixon). But it is so rife and systemic within their party that it's almost unbelievable.  Tom DeLay, Abramoff, Ney, ministers such as Haggard.  Hell, if we're truly honest with ourselves, we need to include Bush, Rumsfeld, Rove and Cheney in the mix.  Despite what they would like us to think there is plenty of evidence they hung out with such notables as Abramoff, Enron executives and have promoted countless no-bid contract deals in Iraq and New Orleans.

I don't think there is once explanation.  Ultimate power corrupts I guess is the cliche.  Yet these people seem to promote it.  They lie.  They take clear easily-referenced facts such as Bush's frequent strategy of "stay the course" and look at us with a straight face and say the president never promoted that strategy.  Orwell would be flipping endlessly in his grave if he could hear rhetoric like that (1984, the novel).  It may have to do with promoting yourself endlessly as "morally superior," or the "family values" shtick.  They hold themselves up as Christians who understand what is "moral" better than the rest of the country.  Yet the irony of course is that they lie, cheat, steal and, in general, engage in unethical behavior not supported by the Bible or any other "moral" source.

Thus, you have Ted Haggard.  So, he's a drug snorting man who hires male prostitutes to get off one in a while.  He's been the most vocal supporter of the gay marriage ban in Colorado.  Self-hate?  And, I'm quite positive, drug use or hiring prostitutes is not supported by his mega-mega-church.  See this link to see how Ted can't even admit to what he's done:  Lying Hypocrite Evangelical.  Since when does a 50-something man suddenly decide to ask about buying meth?  How many 50 year olds suddenly decide, "You know what, I think I'll pick up smoking today."  It doesn't happen, folks.  He's a liar and I'm quite certain he participated in the homosexual activities as well.

In the face of so much hypocrisy, lying and power mongering the choice would seem to be simple.  Yet it seems many Americans want to hold on to the idea that their public leaders are upright citizens who wish to guide the country based on the principles of god, constitution, etc. etc.  The facts are there if you really want to see them.  Blind submission to authority has an easy cure.

I'll end this by saying:  vote.  But only if you want change and understand what you're voting for.  If you're voting because somebody (church, friend, politician) says it's "right" then you might as well not vote at all.  Don't Vote.org

Technorati Tags: vote, mid-term election, election, election 2006, john kerry, bush, current affairs, current events, news and politics, news, republican lies, democrat, republican, karl rove, ted haggard, evangelical christians, christian right, fundamentalists, pat robertson, james dobson, jerry falwell, voter fraud, e-voting machines,ballots, voting machines, iraq war, detainee law