by Sue Stevens Friday, November 30, 2007
The holidays are typically a time we think about spending money, not cutting expenses. But let's face it, you're going to have to pay for all those shiny new packages under the tree (or whatever holiday icon you choose to celebrate).
You've heard all the standard ways to cut costs: don't buy Starbucks, take a bag lunch, and so forth. But you can get a lot more creative with slicing and dicing the way you divvy up your financial pie. Some of these trimming tips may be familiar to you and some may be new, but if you follow through on them, you're sure to shake loose a few more dollars that can be spent on whatever you value the most.
1. Watch out for shipping costs when buying via the Internet. Use the Internet to comparison shop, then pick up the item locally.
2. If you see something in a catalog that you want to buy, wait a week before ordering to see if you still really want it. (But don't wait too long or your holiday gift may not make it under the tree in time.)
3. When traveling, look online for ideas and/or coupons before you go. Once on site, ask the locals for low-cost favorite spots, a la Rachael Ray.
4. Try a vacation at home. See and do the things you've always meant to do and save on hotel costs. The holidays are a perfect time to enjoy local festivities.
5. Send free e-cards and save on postage.
6. Give your time or services instead of "things" for gifts.
7. Go gray. If you hate sitting with gloppy color on your head and paying an arm and a leg for the privilege, you should know that as the baby boomers age, gray is "in."
8. If you own a house, shift your higher-rate credit card debt to a lower-rate line of credit. Deduct the interest on your tax return.
9. If you own a house, use a home equity loan to pay off auto loans. The interest is tax-deductible.
10. Pay your mortgage payment biweekly instead of monthly--you'll save on interest costs and pay off your mortgage sooner.
11. Pay extra premium payments when paying your mortgage. As above, you'll save interest payments and be able to pay off your mortgage sooner.
12. Pay cash when possible--psychologically it's harder to spend cash than using credit cards, and you'll save on interest charges.
13. Set up one checking account for regular recurring expenses and another for bigger-ticket items. (Only buy if you've saved enough.)
14. Check with state or federal governments to see if you have money owed to you. To find out more about claims in your state, go to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators' Web site.
15. If you've inherited an IRA, understand how to stretch out the tax deferral by taking the correct minimum required distribution.
16. Don't get divorced.
17. Quit smoking.
18. Save all your change and use it to buy gifts next year.
19. Go to matinee movies instead of movies at night.
20. Stop buying clothes that are "dry clean only." Learn to iron.
21. Plan parties where everyone brings something.
22. Have cocktails at home and then go out; have dessert at home.
23. Order vegetarian when you're out.
24. Look up phone numbers in the phone book instead of paying for directory assistance.
25. Sell stuff you don't need or use anymore on eBay.
26. Shop resale shops or estate sales. 27. Shop the clearance racks.
28. Make your own greeting cards on a computer.
29. Fill prescriptions with the generic form of the drug.
30. Plan your purchases--avoid impulse buying.
31. Use public transportation.
32. Track your spending. If you write it all down, you'll probably spend less. And you'll know exactly where your money goes.
33. Use your senior discount (if eligible). Go to www.AARP.org for information about member discounts and services.
34. Skip paying cab fare now and then. Walk or take the bus.
35. Don't buy mutual funds just before capital gains distributions.
36. Use a budget--especially for items like gifts.
37. Compare rates for cable and satellite. Go with the less expensive option. Only sign up for the channels you know you'll watch.
38. Consider buying a certified preowned car instead of a new one.
39. Don't renew subscriptions to publications you don't have time to read.
40. Don't watch so much TV. You won't see all the ads and be as tempted to buy. Take a walk instead or play with your kids.
41. Make IRA contributions early in the year to take advantage of additional months of tax deferral.
42. Lock in a fixed mortgage rate so your interest rate can't increase to a point you can no longer make your house payments.
43. Only use ATMs where you won't be charged service fees.
44. Use the public library to check out movies or books for free.
45. Consider dropping your land line phone at home. Your cell phone may be all you need and some come with free long distance services.
46. Give up expensive health club memberships. Learn to exercise outdoors, at home, or through the park district. Or join the YMCA.
47. With the high cost of oil, those hybrid cars are looking more attractive all the time. Check out Hybrid Car Guide for more.
48. Wait a little longer between manicures (try doing one yourself!), massages, or highlights, and try a local training school.
49. Play golf less often, look for tee times when rates are reduced, or play at lower-cost public courses.
50. Pay off your credit cards monthly and avoid paying interest.
51. If you must charge, switch to a no-fee or low-fee credit card.
52. If your house down payment was less than 20%, cancel your private mortgage insurance once your mortgage balance is 80% or less of your home's value.
53. Check your credit history. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and make sure everything is accurate. Good credit may mean lower interest charges.
54. If you have a tendency to "bounce" checks, deduct a "cushion" from your balance. Then if you accidentally let your balance go below zero, you'll hit that cushion instead of paying fees for insufficient funds.
55. Participate in company retirement plans to save on taxes. Your taxable income will go down and you'll defer taxes to the future.
56. Take advantage of your employer match in your 401(k) or other retirement plan.
57. Don't take a loan from your 401(k) plan--you'll save on double taxation of that repaid interest.
58. Take advantage of company-sponsored reimbursement plans. If your company sponsors free retirement advice, take advantage of it.
59. Talk to financial planners at no cost. Look for newspaper money shows or local events where this service may be offered.
60. Take advantage of free health screenings at work (if offered).
61. Switch to an HMO from a PPO for health insurance.
62. If self-employed, consider switching health insurance plans to high-deductible plans to take advantage of HSAs.
63. Take advantage of medical prescription drug cards.
64. Get multiple quotes on insurance. It pays to shop around.
65. Raise the deductible on your homeowners insurance and car insurance policies.
66. Increase the waiting period to six months or longer on your long-term care insurance.
67. Review life insurance premiums. Can the dividends pay the premium instead of purchasing more coverage?
68. Buy term instead of whole life or universal life insurance.
69. If considering moving or retirement, look into places where the cost of living and/or state tax rates are cheaper.
70. Keep track of your cost basis on investments to save money on taxes when you sell an investment.
71. If you have a loss on your Roth IRA (the current balance is less than what you contributed), consider taking out the balance and claiming a deduction for the loss on Schedule A of your tax return.
72. Avoid paying penalties on retirement distributions by waiting until you're over age 59 1/2 to make withdrawals. Start required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs when you're age 70 1/2.
73. Do a 1035 annuity exchange to a company with lower expenses.
74. Put investments that generate ordinary income in tax-deferred accounts.
75. Use tax-exempt bonds in taxable accounts.
76. Put investments that generate capital gains or dividends (both generally taxed at lower rates than ordinary income) in taxable accounts.
77. Pay attention to the expense ratios on mutual funds you buy.
78. Consider using exchange-traded funds.
79. Pay attention to mutual fund brokerage fees.
80. Use prior-year capital-loss carryforwards to net out realized capital gains. You'll pay less tax.
81. If you have stock options, consider holding the shares after exercise for at least one year. You'll pay capital gains tax on the appreciation when you sell.
82. Cook in bulk and freeze.
83. Turn down your home thermostat a couple of degrees in the winter.
84. Only do full loads of laundry and fill the dishwasher before running it.
85. Get a roommate and share expenses.
86. Investigate phone service via the Internet.
87. Use regular gas instead of premium.
88. Cut back on eating out.
89. Be a smart grocery shopper--cut coupons, shop at discount stores, and stock up on sale items. Check out Costco or Sam's Club.
90. Buy energy-efficient appliances. They're cheaper in the long run.
91. Get rid of "add on" services with phone, TV, etc.
92. Keep up maintenance on cars. It may prevent costly future problems.
93. Get annual physicals to prevent costly future problems.
94. Wash your car at home and skip the car wash.
95. Pay bills online. Save postage.
96. Trade in your car with high insurance premiums for a car with lower insurance premiums.
97. Buy an I-PASS and save on highway tolls (in Illinois).
98. Sign up for a Upromise credit card. A percentage of your purchases will go into a college savings fund for your children.
99. Do your own home improvements. Home Depot and Lowe's employees can walk you through what you need to know.
100. Bring your lunch to work or scout out the inexpensive places to buy lunch. Look for inexpensive items on the menu, like soup.
101. Cut back trips to Starbucks or other premium coffee shops.
December 9, 2007
November 28, 2007
Dont forget about your fans....during the winter
Which direction should my fan go for the Winter or Summer months?
Clockwise in winter and counterclockwise in summer.
Clockwise in winter and counterclockwise in summer.
April 8, 2007
All the good things that come from MO besides me...Easter is Hallmark's fifth busiest card-sending holiday and the company estimates 80 million Easter
Easter is Hallmark's fifth busiest card-sending holiday and the company estimates 80 million Easter cards will be exchanged this year.
Hallmark offers 800 cards for Easter — some religious, some funny and some even have sound chips that play music. But the privately held company based in Kansas City, Mo., had to remove from shelves a card that was considered "biblically incorrect," according to spokeswoman Deirdre Parkes.
The "talking" card in question featured Charlton Heston on the front and dialogue from "The Ten Commandments."
It seems Hallmark would be better off sticking with bunnies and baby chicks.
Egg-dying is an Easter tradition that dates back to the 1800s. Paas, the famed egg-dye company based in St. Louis, Mo., has been around since 1880.
March 3, 2007
Waistlines keep expanding in 31 states
Mississippi and other poor areas weigh down the obesity list
“Populations are not equal in terms of experiencing these health problems,” Collins said. “Low-income populations tend to experience all the health problems we worry about at greater rates.”
The report says the health costs associated with obesity are in the billions of dollars annually. Citing a 2004 report, the advocacy group said $5.6 billion could be saved when it comes to treating heart disease if just one-tenth of Americans began a regular walking program.
“Populations are not equal in terms of experiencing these health problems,” Collins said. “Low-income populations tend to experience all the health problems we worry about at greater rates.”
The report says the health costs associated with obesity are in the billions of dollars annually. Citing a 2004 report, the advocacy group said $5.6 billion could be saved when it comes to treating heart disease if just one-tenth of Americans began a regular walking program.
Waistlines keep expanding around the globe
Urbanization, Western ways adding to the world's weight problem
"Obesity has become a problem of poverty," says Daniel Epstein of the WHO Regional Office of the Americas. “Poor people have an easier time of eating junk food. People fill up on things that have a high caloric value but little nutritional value.”
"Obesity has become a problem of poverty," says Daniel Epstein of the WHO Regional Office of the Americas. “Poor people have an easier time of eating junk food. People fill up on things that have a high caloric value but little nutritional value.”
February 25, 2007
February 9, 2007
Immigration raid leaves Texas town a skeleton
City fueled by illegal meatpackers falls apart after hundreds arrested
By Sylvia Moreno
Updated: 2:49 a.m. ET Feb 9, 2007
interesting:
But authorities charge that these immigrants had false identity documents, enabling them to get driver's licenses and jobs illegally, victimizing U.S. citizens and fueling the fraudulent document industry. Traffic stops or crime reports became confusing events in Cactus in recent years. Immigrants would offer two names, said former Cactus Police Chief Tim Turley. They had "el verdadero," as they called it -- the true name -- and their work name.
By Sylvia Moreno
Updated: 2:49 a.m. ET Feb 9, 2007
interesting:
But authorities charge that these immigrants had false identity documents, enabling them to get driver's licenses and jobs illegally, victimizing U.S. citizens and fueling the fraudulent document industry. Traffic stops or crime reports became confusing events in Cactus in recent years. Immigrants would offer two names, said former Cactus Police Chief Tim Turley. They had "el verdadero," as they called it -- the true name -- and their work name.
January 15, 2007
Year of Vonnegut’ honors iconic author
Slaughterhouse-Five’ author being celebrated by Indianapolis hometown
This guy is one of my favorites.
Vonnegut, whose novels have mixed dark tragedy with humor and elements of social commentary, science fiction and autobiography, is regarded by many critics as a key influence in shaping 20th-century American literature. Many of his books remain on high school and college required reading lists, said Chris Cairo, director of project development at the Marion County Public Library in Indianapolis.
This guy is one of my favorites.
Vonnegut, whose novels have mixed dark tragedy with humor and elements of social commentary, science fiction and autobiography, is regarded by many critics as a key influence in shaping 20th-century American literature. Many of his books remain on high school and college required reading lists, said Chris Cairo, director of project development at the Marion County Public Library in Indianapolis.
November 4, 2006
Where’s 104-year-old Waldo? Still working!
Spry Kansas senior raises bees and sells honey, just retired from running
I love this article!!!! :)
"I'm not a strong believer in retirement. I don't think retirement is in the Bible. Maybe it's there, but I haven't found it," he said.
"My running got so slow I could walk as fast as I could run," he said.
He attributes his longevity to many things _ genes, exercise, food, mental attitude and faith. Many in his family lived into their 80s and 90s.
McBurney believes in a healthy diet with lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, much of it grown in his garden.
"The kids in the city come home from school with nothing to do. They sit down in front of the TV with a bottle of pop and a sack of potato chips and they get fat, and fat is a killer," he said.
---> I think he figured out our childhood obesity problem
No drinking, no smoking
McBurney says he never smoked or drank alcohol, which he believes helped him live longer.
"I always got along fairly well without them, so I still don't know the taste of either of them," he said.
I love this article!!!! :)
"I'm not a strong believer in retirement. I don't think retirement is in the Bible. Maybe it's there, but I haven't found it," he said.
"My running got so slow I could walk as fast as I could run," he said.
He attributes his longevity to many things _ genes, exercise, food, mental attitude and faith. Many in his family lived into their 80s and 90s.
McBurney believes in a healthy diet with lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, much of it grown in his garden.
"The kids in the city come home from school with nothing to do. They sit down in front of the TV with a bottle of pop and a sack of potato chips and they get fat, and fat is a killer," he said.
---> I think he figured out our childhood obesity problem
No drinking, no smoking
McBurney says he never smoked or drank alcohol, which he believes helped him live longer.
"I always got along fairly well without them, so I still don't know the taste of either of them," he said.
October 20, 2006
Just in case you didn't know, there aren't a lot of women in B-school...
So someone posts this on BusinessWeek boards:
The Yale School of Management has the highest percentage of female students of the top business schools in the U.S. and Europe, according to a recent census of leading M.B.A. programs.
With female enrollment at 38 percent for the class of 2008, SOM reported the highest female-to-male ratio of 27 prestigious institutions, according to a report released last week by the Forte Foundation. SOM was followed by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which has a female enrollment of 36 percent. The census showed an overall trend of an increasing number of women pursuing business degrees.
"Our mission of educating leaders for business and society cuts across gender lines in a fundamental way that is appealing to any prospective student who hopes to make a positive difference in the world," SOM Dean Joel Podolny said. …..
And then someone else posts this:
I would like to add that I am also very female friendly. I open doors for women, comment when they change hair style, try to refrain from staring at their chests, and I always say excuse me after I belch.
Looks like I have a lot in common with Yale.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Yale School of Management has the highest percentage of female students of the top business schools in the U.S. and Europe, according to a recent census of leading M.B.A. programs.
With female enrollment at 38 percent for the class of 2008, SOM reported the highest female-to-male ratio of 27 prestigious institutions, according to a report released last week by the Forte Foundation. SOM was followed by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which has a female enrollment of 36 percent. The census showed an overall trend of an increasing number of women pursuing business degrees.
"Our mission of educating leaders for business and society cuts across gender lines in a fundamental way that is appealing to any prospective student who hopes to make a positive difference in the world," SOM Dean Joel Podolny said. …..
And then someone else posts this:
I would like to add that I am also very female friendly. I open doors for women, comment when they change hair style, try to refrain from staring at their chests, and I always say excuse me after I belch.
Looks like I have a lot in common with Yale.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 16, 2006
October 12, 2006
Cameroonians Fight Breast Ironing
(I cant believe this!!! )
Ms. Magazine - August 4, 2006
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?id=9813
Cameroonians Fight Breast Ironing
Breast ironing, a brutal practice meant to slow the development of young women's breasts in order to ward off sexual attention, is inflicted on a quarter of all girls in Cameroon, according to a recent study by GTZ, a German NGO.
An additional 3.8 million girls, nearly one-fourth the population of Cameroon, are at risk of breast ironing. The practice involves wrapping heated bandages around a young girl’s chest, then “massaging” or pounding the breast with stones, wooden pestles or hammers that have been heated over coals.
According to BBC News, many mothers and female relatives support the practice — though practitioners can face a three year prison sentence — because, they say, undeveloped breasts mean increased educational opportunity and protection against “sexual immorality.” GTZ’s research shows that women victims face serious health risks, including cyst formation, cancer, serious infections, and damage to skin and breast tissue.
In an effort to fight breast ironing, the Network of Aunties Association (RENATA), a local NGO composed of teen mothers, has partnered with GTZ to launch a television and radio advertising campaign explaining the dangers of the ritual. It is a personal mission for some members of RENATA, such as the organization’s Executive Director, Bessem Ebanga, who told Agence France-Presse, "The aim of RENATA is to prevent young girls from being subjected to what we were."
Ms. Magazine - August 4, 2006
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?id=9813
Cameroonians Fight Breast Ironing
Breast ironing, a brutal practice meant to slow the development of young women's breasts in order to ward off sexual attention, is inflicted on a quarter of all girls in Cameroon, according to a recent study by GTZ, a German NGO.
An additional 3.8 million girls, nearly one-fourth the population of Cameroon, are at risk of breast ironing. The practice involves wrapping heated bandages around a young girl’s chest, then “massaging” or pounding the breast with stones, wooden pestles or hammers that have been heated over coals.
According to BBC News, many mothers and female relatives support the practice — though practitioners can face a three year prison sentence — because, they say, undeveloped breasts mean increased educational opportunity and protection against “sexual immorality.” GTZ’s research shows that women victims face serious health risks, including cyst formation, cancer, serious infections, and damage to skin and breast tissue.
In an effort to fight breast ironing, the Network of Aunties Association (RENATA), a local NGO composed of teen mothers, has partnered with GTZ to launch a television and radio advertising campaign explaining the dangers of the ritual. It is a personal mission for some members of RENATA, such as the organization’s Executive Director, Bessem Ebanga, who told Agence France-Presse, "The aim of RENATA is to prevent young girls from being subjected to what we were."
October 2, 2006
October 1, 2006
A 3.41 minute clip about Carrboro..makes me want to live there
It is sort of funny that I went from Austin, Texas to Durham, NC and this town called, 'Carrboro,' is just like 10 minutes from my house and it looks like it is a Austin double.
Check out this funny clip on You Tube.
Check out this funny clip on You Tube.
September 29, 2006
WorldPublicOpinion.org
Today PIPA, the organization I work for, has released a poll of Iraqis. The
poll was conducted earlier this month in Iraq and the results are what many
may have expected. Go to our website WorldPublicOpinion.org for the
article, questionnaire and full report.
Some choice findings.
71% of Iraqis want the US to gradually withdraw its troops within one year.
This number includes a strong majority of both Shias (74%) and Sunnis (91%).
Not to leave out any major ethnic/religious groups, an overwhelming 91% of
all Iraqis support the US leaving within two years, including a majority of
Kurds (79%). Only 9% of Iraqis want the US to stay until the security
situation stabilizes.
78% of Iraqis think the US is provoking more conflict than it is preventing.
Only 21% think the US is a stabilizing force. 77% of Iraqis think the US
plans to have permanent bases and 78% think the US would refuse to leave if
asked.
In addition, 79% of Iraqis think the US is a mostly negative influence in
Iraq. worse than their impressions of Iran (52% negative) and Syria (55%
negative). More Iraqis have a favorable view of Hezbollah (62% favorable).
Iraqis are also not confident that US military forces can protect their
security, with 84% having little or no confidence in US military forces.
Only 16% have a lot or some confidence. By contrast, Iraqis have more
confidence in the Iraqi police (71% some or a lot), Iraqi army (64%) and
Iraqi Interior Ministry forces (62%).
Because they do not perceive the US as willing to leave, 61% of Iraqis
support attacks against US troops, including a majority of both Sunnis (92%)
and Shias (62%). Only Kurds do not favor attacks against the US. This
finding is up dramatically from January when 47% of Iraqis favored attacks
against the US. The big difference? Though Sunni support for attacks is
unchanged, support for attacks among Shias has risen dramatically from 41%
in January to 62% in the most recent poll.
poll was conducted earlier this month in Iraq and the results are what many
may have expected. Go to our website WorldPublicOpinion.org for the
article, questionnaire and full report.
Some choice findings.
71% of Iraqis want the US to gradually withdraw its troops within one year.
This number includes a strong majority of both Shias (74%) and Sunnis (91%).
Not to leave out any major ethnic/religious groups, an overwhelming 91% of
all Iraqis support the US leaving within two years, including a majority of
Kurds (79%). Only 9% of Iraqis want the US to stay until the security
situation stabilizes.
78% of Iraqis think the US is provoking more conflict than it is preventing.
Only 21% think the US is a stabilizing force. 77% of Iraqis think the US
plans to have permanent bases and 78% think the US would refuse to leave if
asked.
In addition, 79% of Iraqis think the US is a mostly negative influence in
Iraq. worse than their impressions of Iran (52% negative) and Syria (55%
negative). More Iraqis have a favorable view of Hezbollah (62% favorable).
Iraqis are also not confident that US military forces can protect their
security, with 84% having little or no confidence in US military forces.
Only 16% have a lot or some confidence. By contrast, Iraqis have more
confidence in the Iraqi police (71% some or a lot), Iraqi army (64%) and
Iraqi Interior Ministry forces (62%).
Because they do not perceive the US as willing to leave, 61% of Iraqis
support attacks against US troops, including a majority of both Sunnis (92%)
and Shias (62%). Only Kurds do not favor attacks against the US. This
finding is up dramatically from January when 47% of Iraqis favored attacks
against the US. The big difference? Though Sunni support for attacks is
unchanged, support for attacks among Shias has risen dramatically from 41%
in January to 62% in the most recent poll.
Hollywood tackles Mexican mystery
Hollywood tackles Mexican mystery
By Chris Summers
BBC News
Mexican police have charged a man in connection with a string of murders in a border town. The so-called maquiladora murders are the subject of two Hollywood films, one of which stars Jennifer Lopez and is due out in the US next month.
By Chris Summers
BBC News
Mexican police have charged a man in connection with a string of murders in a border town. The so-called maquiladora murders are the subject of two Hollywood films, one of which stars Jennifer Lopez and is due out in the US next month.
September 26, 2006
100 best employers for working mothers
More companies offer flex hours in order to retain female employees
This is good to know we have this force working for women.
This is good to know we have this force working for women.
September 23, 2006
Women call off Colombia sex ban
The girlfriends of gang members in one of Colombia's most violent cities have called off a sex strike aimed at ending a deadly gang feud.
Didn't this work in Greek history as well? This sounds familiar...
Didn't this work in Greek history as well? This sounds familiar...
September 15, 2006
Shanghai muddle over popular name
If you are trying to track down someone named Chen Jie in Shanghai, you may need a little extra help.
According to official statistics, it is the city's most popular name and is currently shared by 3,937 people.
But while the government wants parents to choose more unusual names, they are limited to those on a list of standard Chinese characters.
Over 1.5 million people in the capital, Beijing, have the surname Wang, the Shanghai Daily reported.
China has more than 700 family names, but the vast majority of people use one of the most popular 20 names.
According to official statistics, it is the city's most popular name and is currently shared by 3,937 people.
But while the government wants parents to choose more unusual names, they are limited to those on a list of standard Chinese characters.
Over 1.5 million people in the capital, Beijing, have the surname Wang, the Shanghai Daily reported.
China has more than 700 family names, but the vast majority of people use one of the most popular 20 names.
September 10, 2006
Senate report: No Saddam, al-Qaida link
Long-awaited analysis also finds that anti-Saddam group misled U.S.
Note: I don't understand....in considering the totality of the circumstances, Saddam's connection to Al-Qaida and building up a nuclear weapons arsenal were the 2
main reasons we went to Iraq.
WASHINGTON - There’s no evidence Saddam Hussein had ties with al-Qaida, according to a Senate report issued Friday on prewar intelligence that Democrats say undercuts President Bush’s justification for invading Iraq.
Bush administration officials have insisted on a link between the Iraqi regime and terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Intelligence agencies, however, concluded there was none.
Republicans countered that there was little new in the report and Democrats were trying to score election-year points with it.
The declassified document released Friday by the intelligence committee also explores the role that inaccurate information supplied by the anti-Saddam exile group the Iraqi National Congress had in the march to war.
It concludes that postwar findings do not support a 2002 intelligence community report that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program, possessed biological weapons or ever developed mobile facilities for producing biological warfare agents.
The 400-page report comes at a time when Bush is emphasizing the need to prevail in Iraq to win the war on terrorism while Democrats are seeking to make that policy an issue in the midterm elections.
It discloses for the first time an October 2005 CIA assessment that prior to the war Saddam’s government “did not have a relationship, harbor, or turn a blind eye toward Zarqawi and his associates.”
Bush and other administration officials have said that the presence of Zarqawi in Iraq before the war was evidence of a connection between Saddam’s government and al-Qaida. Zarqawi was killed by a U.S. airstrike in June this year.
Click for related content
WP: Iraq sees record number of roadside bombs
Senate chapter on Saddam, al-Qaida (PDF file)
Senate chapter on Iraq National Congress (PDF file)
Partisan reaction
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the report was “nothing new.”
“In 2002 and 2003, members of both parties got a good look at the intelligence we had and they came to the very same conclusions about what was going on,” Snow said. That was “one of the reasons you had overwhelming majorities in the United States Senate and the House for taking action against Saddam Hussein,” he said.
--> so you knew there was no al-Qaida connection and no nukes?!!@#$
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., a member of the committee, said the long-awaited report was “a devastating indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration’s unrelenting, misleading and deceptive attempts” to link Saddam to al-Qaida.
The administration, said Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., top Democrat on the committee, “exploited the deep sense of insecurity among Americans in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, leading a large majority of Americans to believe — contrary to the intelligence assessments at the time — that Iraq had a role in the 9/11 attacks.”
The chairman of the committee, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said it has long been known that prewar assessments of Iraq “were a tragic intelligence failure.”
But he said the Democratic interpretations expressed in the report “are little more than a vehicle to advance election-year political charges.” He said Democrats “continue to use the committee to try and rewrite history, insisting that they were deliberately duped into supporting the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.”
Divisions slowed release
The intelligence committee issued a portion of its analysis, labeled Phase I, on prewar intelligence shortcomings in July 2004. But concluding work on Phase II of the study has been more problematic because of partisan divisions over how senior policymakers used intelligence in arguing for the need to drive Saddam from power.
Last November, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada forced the Senate into a rare closed-door session to discuss the delay in coming out with the new data.
The 400-page report covers only two of the five topics outlined under Phase II. Much of the information — on the intelligence supplied by the INC and Chalabi and the overestimation of Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction threat — has been documented in numerous studies.
The committee is still considering three other issues as part of its Phase II analysis, including statements of policymakers in the run-up to the war.
Note: I don't understand....in considering the totality of the circumstances, Saddam's connection to Al-Qaida and building up a nuclear weapons arsenal were the 2
main reasons we went to Iraq.
WASHINGTON - There’s no evidence Saddam Hussein had ties with al-Qaida, according to a Senate report issued Friday on prewar intelligence that Democrats say undercuts President Bush’s justification for invading Iraq.
Bush administration officials have insisted on a link between the Iraqi regime and terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Intelligence agencies, however, concluded there was none.
Republicans countered that there was little new in the report and Democrats were trying to score election-year points with it.
The declassified document released Friday by the intelligence committee also explores the role that inaccurate information supplied by the anti-Saddam exile group the Iraqi National Congress had in the march to war.
It concludes that postwar findings do not support a 2002 intelligence community report that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program, possessed biological weapons or ever developed mobile facilities for producing biological warfare agents.
The 400-page report comes at a time when Bush is emphasizing the need to prevail in Iraq to win the war on terrorism while Democrats are seeking to make that policy an issue in the midterm elections.
It discloses for the first time an October 2005 CIA assessment that prior to the war Saddam’s government “did not have a relationship, harbor, or turn a blind eye toward Zarqawi and his associates.”
Bush and other administration officials have said that the presence of Zarqawi in Iraq before the war was evidence of a connection between Saddam’s government and al-Qaida. Zarqawi was killed by a U.S. airstrike in June this year.
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Senate chapter on Saddam, al-Qaida (PDF file)
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Partisan reaction
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the report was “nothing new.”
“In 2002 and 2003, members of both parties got a good look at the intelligence we had and they came to the very same conclusions about what was going on,” Snow said. That was “one of the reasons you had overwhelming majorities in the United States Senate and the House for taking action against Saddam Hussein,” he said.
--> so you knew there was no al-Qaida connection and no nukes?!!@#$
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., a member of the committee, said the long-awaited report was “a devastating indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration’s unrelenting, misleading and deceptive attempts” to link Saddam to al-Qaida.
The administration, said Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., top Democrat on the committee, “exploited the deep sense of insecurity among Americans in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, leading a large majority of Americans to believe — contrary to the intelligence assessments at the time — that Iraq had a role in the 9/11 attacks.”
The chairman of the committee, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said it has long been known that prewar assessments of Iraq “were a tragic intelligence failure.”
But he said the Democratic interpretations expressed in the report “are little more than a vehicle to advance election-year political charges.” He said Democrats “continue to use the committee to try and rewrite history, insisting that they were deliberately duped into supporting the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.”
Divisions slowed release
The intelligence committee issued a portion of its analysis, labeled Phase I, on prewar intelligence shortcomings in July 2004. But concluding work on Phase II of the study has been more problematic because of partisan divisions over how senior policymakers used intelligence in arguing for the need to drive Saddam from power.
Last November, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada forced the Senate into a rare closed-door session to discuss the delay in coming out with the new data.
The 400-page report covers only two of the five topics outlined under Phase II. Much of the information — on the intelligence supplied by the INC and Chalabi and the overestimation of Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction threat — has been documented in numerous studies.
The committee is still considering three other issues as part of its Phase II analysis, including statements of policymakers in the run-up to the war.
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