Shhhhhhhhhh...

With a shit-storm like this (compiled by Larry Johnson over at TPMCafe):

• TV screens are filled with documentaries about the Federal debacle in failing to effectively respond to hurricane Katrina. The images of bodies slumped in chairs surrounded by weeping crowds seeking refutge outside the New Orleans Convention Center are searing themselves into the souls of Americans who take time to watch Spike Lee's, When the Levees Broke, or the other retrospectives provided by NBC, CBS, and ABC. I'm reminded of the old Navy saying, "you can't polish shit". Americans watching these shows also are reminded in the most graphic terms that President Bush was on vacation when his leadership was needed most.
  
  
• A National Geographic documentary,The Final Report: Osama's Escape , hit the airways this week focusing on the Bush Administration failure to catch Osama Bin Laden. Gary Berntsen's terrific book, JAWBREAKER, recounts this debacle in detail. This was preceded by a film recounting the story of Ali Mohamad (Triple Cross), an Egyptian military officer who was a spy for Bin Laden and fooled the FBI for years. Inside 9/11 also was on. Taken together, these films paint an ugly picture of Bush's incompetence in managing the highly touted "war on terrorism".
  
  
• The violence in Iraq spiked despite repeated assurances by U.S. Commanders that things were getting better in Baghdad. U.S. soldiers are dying at a rate of 2 per day (as of 29 August 2006) compared to the 1.48 per day that died last month (and the month is not over). You shouldn't be surprised by this since the U.S. Commanders decided to increase counter terrorist operations in and around Baghdad. Temporary successes in quelling violence in some neighborhoods is being countered by escalating violence in other sectors. To make matters worse, U.S. troops inadvertently killed innocent civilians yesterday. This only fuels the desire for revenge among Iraqi citizens.
  
  
• The Taleban--the militant Islamists who controlled Afghanistan and protected Al Qaeda--have recaptured southern Afghanistan and are intensifying operations in the Northern portions of Afghanistan. The Taleban are doing this with the direct assistance of members of the Pakistan Intelligence Service (ISI). So far most folks in the United States are blissfully unaware of this brewing disaster. The success of the CIA and the U.S military in helping oust the Taleban in 2001 is coming apart at the seams.
  
  
• Hezbollah remains firmly entrenched in southern Lebanon and is busy consolidating its defenses against an expected next round of Israeli attacks. Hezbollah has demonstrated that sometimes the best defense is a good defense.

Is it any wonder Dear Leader might need a moment of quiet:

WASHINGTON, DC—In a nationally televised address Monday, President Bush urged all citizens, regardless of race, creed, color, or political affiliation, "to quiet down for just one minute" so he could have "a chance to think."

"Every American has an inalienable right to free speech and self-expression," Bush said. "Nonetheless, I call upon the American people to hold off on it for, say, 60 seconds. Just long enough for me to get this all sorted out in my head."

"Please," Bush added.

OK, that last part was from The Onion. But it's not that much of a stretch...

And on that note, here's Bjork with "It's Oh So Quiet."