An Early Clash Over Iraq Report

An Early Clash Over Iraq Report
Specifics at Issue as September Nears

By Jonathan Weisman and Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, August 16, 2007; A01

Senior congressional aides said yesterday that the White House has proposed limiting the much-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill next month of Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker to a private congressional briefing, suggesting instead that the Bush administration's progress report on the Iraq war should be delivered to Congress by the secretaries of state and defense.

White House officials did not deny making the proposal in informal talks with Congress, but they said yesterday that they will not shield the commanding general in Iraq and the senior U.S. diplomat there from public congressional testimony required by the war-funding legislation President Bush signed in May. "The administration plans to follow the requirements of the legislation," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in response to questions yesterday.

The skirmishing is an indication of the rising anxiety on all sides in the remaining few weeks before the presentation of what is widely considered a make-or-break assessment of Bush's war strategy, and one that will come amid rising calls for a drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq.

With the report due by Sept. 15, officials at the White House, in Congress and in Baghdad said that no decisions have been made on where, when or how Petraeus and Crocker will appear before Congress. Lawmakers from both parties are growing worried that the report -- far from clarifying the United States' future in Iraq -- will only harden the political battle lines around the war.

White House officials suggested to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week that Petraeus and Crocker would brief lawmakers in a closed session before the release of the report, congressional aides said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would provide the only public testimony.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) told the White House that Bush's presentation plan was unacceptable. An aide to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) said that "we are in talks with the administration and . . . Senator Levin wants an open hearing" with Petraeus.

Those positions only hardened yesterday with reports that the document would not be written by the Army general but instead would come from the White House, with input from Petraeus, Crocker and other administration officials.

"Americans deserve an even-handed assessment of conditions in Iraq. Sadly, we will only receive a snapshot from the same people who told us the mission was accomplished and the insurgency was in its last throes," warned House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.).

"That's all the more reason why they would need to testify," a senior Foreign Relations Committee aide said of Petraeus and Crocker. "We would want them to say whether they stand by all the information in the report." He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not cleared to speak to reporters.

The legislation says that Petraeus and Crocker "will be made available to testify in open and closed sessions before the relevant committees of the Congress" before the delivery of the report. It also clearly states that the president "will prepare the report and submit the report to Congress" after consultation with the secretaries of state and defense and with the top U.S. military commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador.

But both the White House and Congress have widely described the assessment as coming from Petraeus. Bush has repeatedly referred to the general as the one who will be delivering the report in September and has implored the public and Republicans in Congress to withhold judgment until then. In an interim assessment last month, the White House said that significant progress has been shown in fewer than half of the 18 political and security benchmarks outlined in the legislation.

Several Republicans have hinted that their support will depend on a credible presentation by Petraeus, not only of tangible military progress but of evidence that the Iraqi government is taking real steps toward ethnic and religious reconciliation. One of them, Sen. John W. Warner (Va.), left for Iraq last night with Levin for his own assessment.

Petraeus and Crocker have said repeatedly that they plan to testify after delivering private assessments to Bush. U.S. military and diplomatic officials in Baghdad appeared puzzled yesterday when told that the White House had indicated that the two may not be appearing in public. They said they will continue to prepare for the testimony in the absence of instructions from Washington. "If anything, we just don't know the dates/times/or the committees that the assessment will be presented to," a senior military official in Baghdad said in an e-mail yesterday.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee aide said that, ideally, both Crocker and Petraeus would testify before that panel. The Senate committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have also requested that Rice appear at a separate hearing but have received no response. A spokeswoman for Levin said that the senator expects at least Petraeus to testify before the Armed Services Committee but would be happy to have Crocker as well.

Although the reports from Petraeus and Crocker are the most eagerly awaited, several other assessments are also required by the May legislation. The Government Accountability Office is due to report on Iraqi political reconciliation and reconstruction by Sept. 1. An independent committee, headed by retired Marine Gen. James Jones, has been studying the training and capabilities of the Iraqi security forces and will report to Congress early next month. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, said that the chiefs are making their own assessment of the situation in Iraq and will present it to Bush in the next few weeks.

Speaking to reporters traveling with him in Iraq yesterday, Petraeus said he is preparing recommendations on troop levels while getting ready to go to Washington next month. He declined to give specifics.

"We know that the surge has to come to an end," Petraeus said, according to the Associated Press. "I think everyone understands that, by about a year or so from now, we've got to be a good bit smaller than we are right now. The question is how do you do that . . . so that you can retain the gains we have fought so hard to achieve and so you can keep going."

Staff writer Josh White contributed to this report.

Author of 'Bush's Brain': Rove 'is pathological ... in absolute denial' David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Author of 'Bush's Brain': Rove 'is pathological ... in absolute denial'

Keith Olbermann on Monday recalled for viewers an incident "34 years ago last Friday, when a story appeared in the Washington Post detailing a Republican National Committee probe" of then-22 year old Karl Rove, who'd been teaching political dirty tricks to his fellow College Republicans. As a result of that probe, Rove was hired by RNC head George H.W. Bush and made the acquaintance of then-27 year old George W. Bush.

Olbermann then welcomed James Moore, author of Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential, and asked him, "What does Mr. Bush become when he has to operate without Rove for the first time in his political life."

"He goes from lame duck to lame brain," said Moore. "This presidency is going to achieve nothing. ... There's nothing left that he can accomplish domestically, the war is a mess, and Karl is radioactive."

When Olbermann asked if Rove was really going to stay out of the 2008 campaign, Moore replied, "Even a shark gets a full belly every now and then. And this is a chance for this guy to cash in on his reputation. ... I think the most important thing that this guy wants to do is to set down and to write his first draft, his version of history so that he can put his definitive spin on the 8 years of the Bush administration, in hopes that history will judge them a bit more kindly than everybody expects history to judge them."

Olbermann then asked whether people might "start coming out of the woodwork and filling in the blanks" of Rove's career.

"You like to believe that we're all -- at least have a shred of humanity and will have a moment of atonement," said Moore. "I don't think Karl does. I think that there's a certain part of this guy that is pathological, and he has a happy little movie in his head that he's watching and he creates a reality that he refers to. And that's what sustains him and the people who support him, and they're in absolute denial. ... I don't know that these people are going to talk any time in the near future."

"If Rove's so smart, how come they did lose Congress?" asked Olbermann.

"What Karl has done throughout the years is to turn everything political," said Moore. "Federal agencies are used to accumulate political power. Everything they did was to accumulate political power. And eventually, what happened was that when those agencies were called upon to serve the constituencies that elected people to Washington, when they were unable to do that, the public finally said, 'Okay, we've had enough.'"

The following video is from MSNBC's Countdown, broadcast on August 13.

Kucinich: 'Belligerent' Bush Admin. trying to 'deceive' US into 'yet another war'

Kucinich: 'Belligerent' Bush Admin. trying to 'deceive' US into 'yet another war'

Nick Juliano Published: Wednesday August 15, 2007

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), one of the most anti-war members of the House, accused the Bush Administration's labeling of Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization a prelude for war there.

"The belligerent Bush Administration is using this pending designation to convince the American public into accepting that a war with Iran is inevitable," Kucinich said. "This designation will set the stage for more chaos in the region because it undercuts all of our diplomatic efforts."

Kucinich, who is mounting a second dark horse race for the presidency, has called for Vice President Dick Cheney's impeachment. Introducing an impeachment resolution in April, Kucinich accused Cheney of manipulating intelligence in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq and "rattling the sabers of war against Iran," as RAW STORY reported at the time.

On Wednesday, reports emerged that the Bush administration was considering classifying Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organizations. The Revolutionary Guard would be the first national military included on the list.

"This new label provides further evidence for Iran's leaders that there is no point to engage in diplomatic talks with the United States if our actions point directly to regime change," Kucinich said in a statement released by his office. "Our nation is better served by demanding sensible and responsible diplomatic foreign policy initiatives from the Bush Administration.

"This is nothing more than an attempt to deceive Americans into yet another war-this time with Iran," Kucinich concluded.

Senior US official likens challenges facing America, Roman Republic

Senior US official likens challenges facing America, Roman Republic

John Byrne Published: Tuesday August 14, 2007

The US comptroller general David Walker issued a report last week in Chicago in which he likened the present situation in the United States to the Roman Republic or an organization that fails to adapt and "may not survive."

Nobody reported it. The first report of the speech came today in London's Financial Times.

Walker, who heads the Congressional, nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has offered dire forecasts for the United States in the past. In interviews with 60 Minutes and NPR, he's said that he believes the US cannot continue to live at such levels of prosperity indefinitely, since much of current prosperity is erected upon debt.

"Throughout history, many great nations have also failed to survive," Walker told an audience in Chicago last week. "I should point out that the longest standing republic and the major superpower of its day no longer exists, and that's the Roman Republic."

He warned of “striking similarities” between the current crises facing America and the factors toppled Rome, including “declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."

"In my view," he added, "it's time to learn from history and take steps to ensure the American Republic is the first to stand the test of time."

America's top government inspector didn't stop there. He also bemoaned US fiscal policy, underfunded healthcare, poor public schools, lack of retirement benefits, a worsening environment, Iraq, aging infrastructure and immigration policy. His remark about "aging infrastructure" came just days before the Minneapolis bridge collapse.

"Simply stated, America is on a path toward an explosion of debt," he added. "And that indebtedness threatens our country's, our children's, and our grandchildren's futures."

"Long range simulations from my agency are chilling," he continued. "If we continue as we have, policy makers will eventually have to dramatically and/or slash government services the American people depend on and take for granted. Just pick a program -- student loans, the interstate highway system, national parks, federal law enforcement, and even our armed forces."

In a May 60 Minutes broadcast Walker warned that the US faced a "fiscal cancer."

"The fact is, is that we don't face an immediate crisis," he told CBS. "And, so people say, 'What's the problem?' The answer is, we suffer from a fiscal cancer. It is growing within us. And if we do not treat it, it could have catastrophic consequences for our country."

"If nothing changes, the federal government's not gonna be able to do much more than pay interest on the mounting debt and some entitlement benefits," he added. "It won't have money left for anything else – national defense, homeland security, education, you name it."

Read the full speech here.

Karl Rove biographer: 'This is the end of the Bush presidency'

Karl Rove biographer: 'This is the end of the Bush presidency'

Wayne Slater, author of The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power, joined CNN on Monday to deliver what was, in effect, a political obituary on both Rove and the Bush administration.

"He can be called ... someone who was extraordinarily successful in the politics of -- politics," said Slater. "He is brilliant as a political strategist, and yet at the end, we've seen this colossal failure by the Bush administration, this collapse, and he has to bear some responsibility for that as well."

Slater suggested that Rove was responsible, in particular, for the administration's failure on the issue of illegal immigration. "I blame in large part Karl Rove and his politics," he stated. "He approached the White House to win by division, to divide Republicans from Democrats, and, in some cases, various elements within the Republican Party against itself. ... That strategy works, and worked for a series of elections, so long as you only wanted to win by a vote or two. ... But what it leaves you is incapable of effectively governing."

"In the aftermath of 9/11," continued Slater, "Karl saw that the approach that would be most successful would be a very sharp and ruthless division of the electorate ... that effectively left the architecture of the architect's dream of an enduring majority really in doubt and, as we've seen, pretty much collapsing around him."

"This is the end of the Bush presidency," Slater concluded. "Absolutely."

The following video is from CNN's Your World Today, broadcast on August 13.

Elliot D. Cohen: Why Haven't the Mainstream Corporate Media Covered the AT&T/NSA Domestic Spying Program?

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Mon, 08/13/2007 - 9:07am. Guest Contribution

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Elliot D. Cohen, Ph.D.

The recently passed "Protect America Act of 2007" (S. 1927), which expands presidential powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to spy on our overseas phone and e-mail communications without a court warrant, appears to be just the tip of the iceberg of government eavesdropping on American citizens. Yet, mainstream media (MSM) have given scant coverage to the NSA/AT&T domestic spying program, and a landmark case now pending before the 9th circuit federal appeals court, the outcome of which may mark the final blow to Fourth Amendment privacy rights in America.

On January 31, 2006, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class action suit against AT&T for allegedly collaborating with the National Security Agency (NSA) in electronically eavesdropping on the phone and e-mail messages of millions of Americans, both domestic and overseas, as these communications passed through the AT&T system. This program, which appears to have been approved by the President, first came to light in 2005 when an AT&T employee at the San Francisco hub blew the whistle on the program. The whistleblower (who produced photographs and other pertinent documents) claimed that AT&T kept a "secret" room requiring NSA clearance. As millions of phone and e-mail messages entered the hub, wires were spliced to reroute them through this room. The messages were then parsed for key language related to whatever the government was searching for -- presumably, terrorists. Other whistleblowers eventually reported similar secret rooms at other AT&T hubs in other U.S. cities, including St. Louis, Seattle, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

Both AT&T and the Justice Department made motions to dismiss the case. Not denying the existence of the program, the Justice Department argued that the trial would require disclosure of top secret information. AT&T claimed immunity under a provision of the Electronic Communications Protection Act (18 U.S.C. 2511). However, presiding U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker denied both motions, arguing that "The compromise between liberty and security remains a difficult one. But dismissing this case at the outset would sacrifice liberty for no apparent enhancement of security." The Bush administration then appealed the decision to the 9th circuit, where amidst passage of S. 1927, it is now pending before the 9th circuit. There are also 54 other lawsuits involving NSA spying whose fates, along with the EFF case, await the 9th circuit's ruling.

Prior to the enactment of the "Protect America Act of 2007," FISA limited electronic surveillance without a court order to "the acquisition of the contents of communications transmitted by means of communications used exclusively between or among foreign powers" (italics added) where there was "no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party." Otherwise a warrant from a FISA court had to be issued. Now, under the extended powers, no warrant is needed as long as the surveillance is "concerning persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States." In this regard, the revised law "clarifies" the previous FISA definition of "electronic surveillance" stating, "Nothing in the definition of electronic surveillance under section 101(f) shall be construed to encompass surveillance directed at a person reasonably believed to be located outside of the United States" (Section 105A). Thus, for example, it does not matter whether an overseas communication is between two U.S. citizens-one located in the US and the other outside of it -- just as long as the surveillance is "directed at [the] person reasonably believed to be located outside of the United States." This means that all overseas communications coming in and out of the United States can be monitored without warrant or probable cause.

The "Protect America Act of 2007" also gives telecom companies such as AT&T and Comcast a central role in the acquisition of foreign intelligence by stipulating that the information acquired must be obtained from, or with the assistance of a communications service provider including any employee, agent, or officer thereof "who has access to communications, either as they are transmitted or while they are stored, or equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store such communications." Accordingly, the Act legalizes the role of telecom companies as accomplices in eavesdropping on the overseas communications of Americans.

But the plot thickens still. In addition to monitoring all overseas communications, and making the telecoms an accessory, the Bush administration now wants the 9th circuit to permit the AT&T/NSA spying program. Since this program indiscriminately monitors all communications made through a service provider, this would permit government eavesdropping on all communications occurring in the United States, including ones exclusively between American citizens -again, presumably, to "protect" America. The pattern here is by now a familiar one: violate the law, legalize the violation, and then use the legalized violation as precedent for legalization of further previously unlawful actions.

The present slippery slope toward the demise of Fourth Amendment protections also has implications for the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press. If government is authorized to police private communications without court warrants granted on the basis of probable cause, then this can have a chilling effect on what is said in these communications; and it is not difficult to foresee this progressive pattern of oppression leading toward the silencing of opinions deemed by the president "hostile" to "national security." (Legal precedent already exists for this. See, for example, the chilling new definition of "unlawful enemy combatant" in the Military Commissions Act of 2006.)

Unfortunately, there has been scant coverage by MSM of the AT&T/NSA spying program and the pending court cases against it, despite the imminent threat this program and its legalization poses to communication privacy in America, and indeed to democracy itself. So why haven't the MSM given due attention to this serious threat to national security?

The answer probably lies in the ever-increasing trend toward corporate media consolidation in America. First, the MSM corporations including News Corp (FOX), General Electric (NBC), Time Warner (CNN), Viacom (CBS), and Disney (ABC) have all enjoyed joint ventures with AT&T. Since these few giant media corporations that control network news in America are driven largely by their bottom lines, they are not likely to persist in exposing a serious business partner to bad press. Consequently, such stories are played down or not covered at all.

Second, the behemoth media and telecom companies have strong monetary incentives to cooperate with the government -- such as the receipt of lucrative military defense contracts, tax breaks, and relaxed ownership and antitrust rules. For example, the recent merger of Bell South with AT&T was possible only because the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), presently chaired by Kevin Martin, a Bush appointee with close ties to the White House, approved the merger.

It is therefore easy to see how these giant corporations have allowed themselves to become pawns of what may be the most powerful and controlling White House in American history. In the present situation, the Bush administration has exploited their voracious appetites for profit in order to eavesdrop on American citizens. Sadly, it is the American experiment in democracy that has paid the price.

In the end, democracies stand or fall on the collective, unified power of the people. If the American people, in substantial number, refuse to use (or reduce reliance on) the services of giant telecommunication corporations that cooperate with government in undermining our constitutional rights (enlisting when we can the services of other companies that refuse to cooperate), then these giant companies will be likely to listen -- since to do otherwise would mean lost revenues. Similarly, if we are willing to seek alternative, independent media to keep informed (and we must keep informed), then giant media companies such as News Corp, Time Warner, and General Electric will be less likely to censor and play down the stories that independent media are now competently covering. Unfortunately, most Americans get their news from the MSM, not from independent media such as Web-based sites. This would need to change if democracy in America is to survive.

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Elliot D. Cohen, Ph.D. is a media ethicist and critic. His most recent book is The Last Days of Democracy: How Big Media and Power-Hungry Government are turning America into a Dictatorship. He is also first prize winner of the 2007 Project Censored Award.

Giuliani's Five Big Lies About 9/11

Giuliani's Five Big Lies About 9/11

Wayne Barrett - Village Voice - Aug 13th, 2007

In a July appearance, Giuliani sketched out his counterterrorism biography, a resume that happens to be rooted in falsehood ...more

The Bush-GOP 2008 Electoral Victory Plan: Bomb Iran and Bludgeon the Ayatollah-Loving Democrats over the Head

The Bush-GOP 2008 Electoral Victory Plan: Bomb Iran and Bludgeon the Ayatollah-Loving Democrats over the Head

A. Alexander, August 13th, 2007

The Bush administration, according to officials speaking off the record, doesn't have a "smoking gun" linking Iran to events in Iraq. Still, as elections approach, Democrats had better be ready for the Bush regime to use an attack on Iran as a political stick. A very blunt stick with which to beat Democrats about the head, while screaming, "Cowards," and insisting that, "they love Iran more than America and they love the Ayatollah more than the troops!"

For their part, because they are Democrats, Hillary 'Little Bush' Clinton will hem-n-haw and make excuses as to why she must go along with the Iranian assault and Congressional Democrats, urine dribbling down their trembling legs, will surrender and authorize Mister Bush's third disastrous war.

One would think that, after all these years of Bush-Republican electoral-victory-thru-warfare game planning, Democrats would catch on and, after two years of the administration making-up lies regarding Iran's actions in Iraq, be expecting Mister Bush and Cheney's coming Iran attack and their intention of using it for political gain. But, being Democrats, they're clueless.

For the clueless Democrats, let's make it simple: For instructional purposes, think of the Bush-Rove-Republican scheme for election victory in 2008 as the, "Bomb Iran and Bludgeon the Ayatollah-Loving Democrats over the Head Plan," and work from there. Democrats ignore this warning, which they will most certainly do, at their own peril.

Now, the rest of America can sit back and watch as the Bush administration puts their "Bomb Iran and Bludgeon the Ayatollah-Loving Democrats over the Head Plan," into action. Too, it'll be pretty amusing to watch as the caught-completely-off-guard Democrats, as usual, disintegrate into a pile of blubbering buffoons.

Egyptian girl dies from circumcision

Illustrative photo: Muslim women
Photo: AP [file]

Veiled Palestinian women. (Not related to story.)
Photo: AP [file]

A 13-year-old Egyptian girl died during a female genital mutilation (FGM) operation, the second such case reported over the past two months, local media said Saturday.

The doctor involved has been referred to the state prosecutor for investigation and his clinic in the rural Gharbiyah province has been closed down, state-owned Al-Gomhoria daily reported.

The earlier death of a 12-year-old girl during an FGM operation in June sparked a public outcry and prompted the government to officially ban hospitals from performing the traditional procedure which is widespread throughout Egypt.

The latest death was uncovered when Karima Rahim Massoud's father applied on Friday for a death certificate, insisting his daughter had died from natural causes, reported the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm. The father has also been referred to the prosecutor.

The reports could not be immediately confirmed as judicial authorities could not be reached for comment Saturday.

FGM usually involves the removal of the clitoris and other parts of female genitalia on the grounds it tames girl's sexual desire and maintains her honor.

It is practiced by Muslims and Christians alike, deeply rooted in the Nile Valley region and parts of sub-Saharan African, and is also done in Yemen and Oman.

While top clerics insist the practice has nothing to do with Islam, parents, especially in rural villages and Cairo slums, believe they are helping their daughters by protecting their virginity before marriage.

While groups which favor the practice coin it female circumcision, the expression Female Genital Mutilation gained growing support in the late 1970s. The word mutilation was chosen not only to establish a clear linguistic distinction from male circumcision, but to emphasize the gravity of the act. In 1990, this term was adopted at the third conference of the Inter African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) in Addis Ababa. In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the United Nations adopt this terminology and subsequently, it has been widely used in UN documents.

Among practicing cultures, FGM is most commonly performed between the ages of four and eight, but can take place at any age from infancy to adolescence. Prohibition has led to FGM going underground, at times with people who have had no medical training performing the cutting without anesthetic, sterilization, or the use of proper medical instruments. The procedure, when performed without any anesthetic, can lead to death through shock from immense pain or excessive bleeding. The failure to use sterile medical instruments may lead to infections.

Other serious long term health effects are also common. These include urinary and reproductive tract infections, caused by obstructed flow of urine and menstrual blood, various forms of scarring and infertility. The first time having sexual intercourse will often be extremely painful, and infibulated women will need the labia majora to be opened, to allow their husband access to the vagina. This second cut, sometimes performed by the husband with a knife, can cause other complications to arise.

A June 2006 study by the WHO has cast doubt on the safety of genital cutting of any kind. This study was conducted on a cohort of 28,393 women attending delivery wards at 28 obstetric centers in areas of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and the Sudan. A high proportion of these mothers had undergone FGM. According to the WHO criteria, all types of FGM were found to pose an increased risk of death to the baby.

Froomkin: Dick Cheney’s Secret Plan To Invade Iran

Froomkin: Dick Cheney’s Secret Plan To Invade Iran

By: Logan Murphy @ 4:03 PM -

Via The Washington Post:

At yesterday’s press conference, President Bush announced that he had put Iran on notice: “One of the main reasons that I asked [U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan] Crocker to meet with Iranians inside Iraq was to send the message that there will be consequences for people transporting, delivering EFPs, highly sophisticated IEDs [improvised explosive devices] that kill Americans in Iraq.”

Describing Iran as “a very troubling nation right now,” largely because of its nuclear program, Bush warned its leaders that “when we catch you playing a non-constructive role [in Iraq] there will be a price to pay.”

So what price is Bush prepared to exact? Is this saber-rattling a harbinger of war? And perhaps most to the point: What is Vice President Cheney up to?

Warren P. Strobel, John Walcott and Nancy A. Youssef write for McClatchy Newspapers today that “the president’s top aides have been engaged in an intense internal debate over how to respond to Iran’s support for Shiite Muslim groups in Iraq and its nuclear program. Vice President Dick Cheney several weeks ago proposed launching airstrikes at suspected training camps in Iraq run by the Quds force, a special unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to two U.S. officials who are involved in Iran policy. . . . Read more…

New York steps up security against al Qaeda attack in response to DEBKAfile Exclusive Report, followed by additional info on Manhattan dirty bomb

New York steps up security against al Qaeda attack in response to DEBKAfile Exclusive Report, followed by additional info on Manhattan dirty bomb

August 11, 2007, 10:45 AM (GMT+02:00)

New York police increased security Friday, Aug. 10, throughout Manhattan and tunnels and bridges against threat of an al Qaeda plot to detonate a dirty bomb in the city. The department cited an “unverified radiological threat” from Internet chatter reported on Israeli Web site debka.com, stressing the security hike was precautionary.

At the same time, the NY police confirmed to Reuters that additional information had been received that a dirty bomb may go off on Friday evening around 34th Street in Manhattan.
More...

New Al Qaeda threat of radioactive truck attacks naming New York, Los Angeles, Miami

DEBKAfile Exclusive: New Al Qaeda threat of radioactive truck attacks naming New York, Los Angeles, Miami

August 10, 2007, 1:11 AM (GMT+02:00)

The threat was picked up by DEBKAfile’s monitors from a rush of electronic chatter on al Qaeda sites Thursday, Aug. 8.

The al Qaeda communications accuse the Americans of the grave error of failing to take seriously the videotape released by the American al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gaddahn last week. “They will soon realize their mistake when American cities are hit by quality operations,” said one message.

Another said the attacks would be carried out “by means of trucks loaded with radio-active material against America’s biggest city and financial nerve center.”

A third message mentioned New York, Los Angeles and Miami as targets. It drew the answer: “The attack, with Allah’s help, will cause an economic meltdown, many dead, and a financial crisis on a scale that compels the United States to pull its military forces out of many parts of the world, including Iraq, for lack of any other way of cutting down costs.”

There is also a message which speaks obliquely of the approaching attacks easing the heavy pressure America exerts on countries like Japan, Cuba and Venezuela.

DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources and monitors say there is no way of gauging for sure how serious these threats are, how real, or whether they are part of a war of nerves to give the Gaddahn tape extra mileage. But it is important to note that the exchange of messages took place over al Qaeda’s internal Internet sites and that they contained the threat of radioactive terror and specific American cities for the first time after a long silence on these subjects.

In addition, a growing number of clips has been disseminated of late over al Qaeda sites instructing the faithful how to design remote-controlled gliders, pack them with explosives and launch them against predetermined targets.

There is One Very Good Reason Why Bush and Republicans are Trying to Terror-Scare America ... Again

A. Alexander, August 8th, 2007

Gosh, why, all of a sudden and out of the blue, is the Bush administration so busy hammering on terror threats, terror reports, releasing details of supposedly foiled terror attempts, and demanding that the Constitution be shredded in a pretended need to listen to terrorist calls that are really innocent Americans' calls? The answer is simple: According to recent polls Mister Bush and Republicans trail the Democrats on EVERY issue, except one. Care to guess, which issue - the lone and only-ist issue that the Republicans are more trusted to handle than are the Democrats?

Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick! Aaarrrrgghhhnnnnnntttttttt! Times up.

The answer is ... TERRORISM!

That's right - out of some twenty issues, the American people favor Republicans over Democrats on only one ... terrorism. How or why that is, is beyond comprehension, but it is what it is.

Seriously, what have either Bush or Republicans done well in regards to terrorism? The answer is nothing! There are more global terror attacks now than there were prior to Bush's silly 'war on terrah', invading Iraq created more jihadists than Bush and Republicans could ever hope to kill and, six years after the fact, Democrats had to implement the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, because neither Bush nor Republicans would. What Mister Bush and Republicans have done to con the American people into believing that they've kept the country safe from terrorism is beyond comprehension. Frankly it is as crazy as it is baffling. Yet, it is the fact.

And, since Mister Bush and Republicans have an advantage on that one issue ... they intend to exploit it through terror-mongering and by terror-scaring the nation into casting votes for Republicans in 2008. So, America, be ready for a steady diet of Bush and Republicans hammering on terror threats, terror reports, releasing details of supposedly foiled terror attempts and demanding that the Constitution be shredded in a pretended need to listen to terrorist calls that aren't terrorist calls at all.

Yep, uh-huh, it'll be terror! terror! terror! scare-'em all-day-everyday from now until November 2008, because Mister Bush and the Republicans have an advantage on ONE issue ... terrorism ... BOO!

President Bush Vows To Protect Us.

President Bush Vows To Protect Us..

By: SilentPatriot @ 3:02 PM - PD

…from the Evil Zombiefascists

(adjust the volume in the bottom right if you can’t hear clearly)

Olbermann FISA Segment: - 'Insidious Encroachment' & 'Spinelessness'

Olbermann FISA Segment: - 'Insidious Encroachment' & 'Spinelessness'

Rep. Steve Cohen Drafting Articles of Impeachment for Gonzales

Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-08-07 14:17. Congress | Impeachment

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Congressman and Judiciary Committee Member Steve Cohen is moving beyond Congressman Inslee's bill to draw up actual articles of impeachment against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

In a telephone interview from Memphis on Monday, Cohen said he and his staff are working with former Reagan Justice Department lawyer Bruce Fein to draw up articles of impeachment against Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales. The conservative Fein has advocated impeaching Cheney for initiating kidnappings and secret detentions and advocating the ongoing domestic warrantless wiretapping program.

"I just think that with what I've seen in these first seven months is that there's been so much disregard for the Constitution by the administration," said Cohen. "I've seen it firsthand on the Judiciary Committee with General Gonzales."

Cohen said Gonzales' efforts when he was White House counsel to get a surveillance program approved by then-Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft as he recovered in his hospital room were particularly egregious.

Please ask your Congress Member to contact Rep. Cohen and sign on in support!

"It's a major part of our country's civil liberties, and principles, that we don't spy on our people," Cohen said.

Gates says that even though you can’t trust anything we’ve ever said—Here’s Petraeus!

Gates says that even though you can’t trust anything we’ve ever said—Here’s Petraeus!

By: John Amato @

Gates made an appearance on MTP Sunday and parroted the same propaganda line that O’Hanlon and Kristol are using—it’s just that he can’t deliver them quite as effectively. As Timmeh notes, everything this administration and their puppet propagandists have feed the American people about the war has been WRONG—so why should we trust you now? He dryly replies that everybody loves Gen Petraeus and the wooden wonder Ambassador Crocker.

Download (1727) | Play (1351) Download (1007) | Play (732) (full transcript)

MR. RUSSERT: You mentioned that we misunderestimated some of the divisions between the factions of the government, the Shiites and the Sunnis. Mr. Secretary, for Americans watching today, many are saying to themselves, “The administration was wrong about weapons of mass destruction, wrong about the size of the force necessary to occupy Iraq, wrong about the costs of the war, wrong about Shiite and Sunni division. Why should we have any confidence in anything they say about the future of Iraq?”

SEC’Y GATES: Well, I think that what we should have confidence in is the evaluation that Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus are going to make in early September. These men have been on the ground for quite some time now. They are the best of our professionals. They will look at this. Their report—certainly General Petraeus’ part of it—will be examined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent to me and then to the president. So it, it won’t be entirely General Petraeus; it’ll be mostly General Petraeus. But what we’re trying to do is get an honest an evaluation of this situation as we possibly can so that the president and the Congress can decide how to move forward.

I seem to remember a certain General that wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post right before the ‘04 election about how great the Iraq military was stepping up…Who was it again? Oh, right…Army lieutenant General Petraeus

Nonetheless, there are reasons for optimism. Today approximately 164,000 Iraqi police and soldiers (of which about 100,000 are trained and equipped) and an additional 74,000 facility protection forces are performing a wide variety of security missions. Equipment is being delivered. Training is on track and increasing in capacity. Infrastructure is being repaired. Command and control structures and institutions are being reestablished.

Most important, Iraqi security forces are in the fight — so much so that they are suffering substantial casualties as they take on more and more of the burdens to achieve security in their country. Since Jan. 1 more than 700 Iraqi security force members have been killed, and hundreds of Iraqis seeking to volunteer for the police and military have been killed as well…read on

All Sunni Ministers Now Boycotting Iraqi Government

All Sunni Ministers Now Boycotting Iraqi Government

By: Logan Murphy

AP Via Yahoo:

Iraq’s political crisis worsened Monday as five more ministers announced a boycott of Cabinet meetings — leaving the embattled prime minister’s unity government with no members affiliated with Sunni political factions.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber killed at least 28 people in a northern city, including 19 children, some playing hopscotch and marbles in front of their homes. And the American military reported five new U.S. deaths: Four soldiers were killed in a combat explosion in restive Diyala province north of the capital Monday, and a soldier was killed and two were wounded during fighting in eastern Baghdad on Sunday.

Despite the new U.S. accusations of Iranian meddling, the U.S. and Iranian ambassadors met Monday for their third round of talks in just over two months. A U.S. embassy spokesman called the talks between U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and his counterpart, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, “frank and serious.”

The Cabinet boycott of five ministers loyal to former Iraqi leader Ayad Allawi left the government, at least temporarily, without participants where were members of the Sunni political apparatus — a deep blow to the prime minister’s attempt to craft reconciliation among the country’s majority Shiites and minority Sunnis and Kurds. Read more…

Stephen Colbert Warning To America: Beware The North American Union!!

Stephen Colbert Warning To America: Beware The North American Union!!

By: Logan Murphy

On Monday’s “Colbert Report” Stephen puts out an all points bulletin to America, warning of the impending superhighway being planned by the North American Union that will run from Mexico, through the heart of America and end in Canada. Colbert proves that he’s no conspiracy theorist because he can back up his claims with data he found on the internets and false reports from The New York Times.

Download (120) | Play (139) Download (66) | Play (93)

“Ok, nation. They don’t want you to know about this Superhighway. Who are THEY? You might know them by a different name — THEM.”

Nuke weapons lab reports another major security breach

Nuke weapons lab reports another major security breach

Michael Roston
Published: Tuesday August 7, 2007

A government watchdog group warns that New Mexico's Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the nation's nuclear weapons design laboratories, has again experienced a security failure of 'the most serious' level.

"An incident involving the unauthorized release of classified data via email occurred last week at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)," reported a press release Monday from the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). "The incident...is rated among 'the most serious threats to national security.'"

However, POGO also noted that the lab had attempted to change the classification of the security breach in order to minimize it.

"In an attempt to minimize the problem, the breach was downgraded to a less severe category of IMI-4," the group stated. "After another review, however, it was elevated back to IMI-1."

A so-called 'IMI-1,' or Impact Measurement Index-1 incident can include loss or theft of a nuclear device, components or weapon data; intrusions, hackings, or break-ins into Energy Department computer systems containing secret information; or acts or attempts of terrorist actions.

In spite of the high rating of the breach, a LANL spokesman who talked to the Santa Fe New Mexican attempted to further downplay the incident.

“We did have a lab employee who made a mistake and inadvertently allowed sensitive information to get on our yellow network, which is password protected,” Kevin Roark told the paper's Andy Lenderman. "It’s for lab employees only. It is not accessible to the outside world. However, sensitive information should not reside on the yellow network."

In its release, POGO listed 12 security incidents at Los Alamos since nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee was falsely accused of leaking nuclear secrets to the Chinese military. In one late 2006 incident, a LANL employee who was arrested on suspicion of dealing methamphetamines was found to have sensitive information from the lab in his home.

"LANL has been fined, lab officials have been fired, and the lab was even closed for a number of months so that it could get its act together," POGO Senior Investigator Peter Stockton said in a statement. "It’s clear that it just can’t."

POGO's full statement can be read at this link.

House Passes Bush’s FISA Law - American Civil Liberties Destroyed

August 5th, 2007

House Passes Bush’s FISA Law - American Civil Liberties Destroyed

By: Logan Murphy @ 6:30 AM - PDT

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) says it all. It’s official, George Bush and Alberto Gonzales now have the legal authority to spy on you and I without a warrant at any time. The vote was as follows:

Yea:227 Nay:183

There were a number of Democrats who voted for President Bush and against the American people and our civil liberties. Here’s the final vote tally. It’s unlikely there’s anyone around in our representatives’ offices at this time, but you can find their contact information here.

Update: Nancy Pelosi has written a letter to John Conyers asking him to amend the FISA bill:

Speaker Pelosi said that S. 1927, the bill passed tonight by the House to temporally amend FISA for six-months, after H.R. 3356, the Improving Foreign Intelligence Surveillance to Defend Our Nation and Our Constitution Act bill failed last night, contains many provisions that are unacceptable and she does not believe that the American people will want to wait that long before corrective action is taken. In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes, Speaker Pelosi requested that the Committees report to the House “as soon as possible after Congress reconvenes,” legislation to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Below is the text of the letter:

Iraq Power Grid On Verge Of Collapse

Iraq Power Grid On Verge Of Collapse

By: Logan Murphy @ 7:03 PM

AP Via Yahoo:

Iraq’s power grid is on the brink of collapse because of insurgent sabotage of infrastructure, rising demand, fuel shortages and provinces that are unplugging local power stations from the national grid, officials said Saturday.

Electricity Ministry spokesman Aziz al-Shimari said power generation nationally is only meeting half the demand, and there had been four nationwide blackouts over the past two days. The shortages across the country are the worst since the summer of 2003, shortly after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, he said.

Power supplies in Baghdad have been sporadic all summer and now are down to just a few hours a day, if that. The water supply in the capital has also been severely curtailed by power blackouts and cuts that have affected pumping and filtration stations.

Karbala province south of Baghdad has been without power for three days, causing water mains to go dry in the provincial capital, the Shiite holy city of Karbala.

“We no longer need television documentaries about the Stone Age. We are actually living in it. We are in constant danger because of the filthy water and rotten food we are having,” said Hazim Obeid, who sells clothing at a stall in the Karbala market. Read more…

This how we win hearts and minds. Dirty water, rotting food, no electricity, no refrigeration or air conditioning in 130 degree heat and worst of all, no end in sight.

During Politicized FISA Debate, Nadler Forced To Withdraw ‘Truthful And Accurate Statement’ That Bush Broke The Law

During Politicized FISA Debate, Nadler Forced To Withdraw ‘Truthful And Accurate Statement’ That Bush Broke The Law

Yesterday, under heavy political pressure from the White House, the Senate approved a bill that provided expansive spying authority for the Bush administration. The White House had earlier rejected a compromise bill that provided powers sought by the Director of National Intelligence, opting instead to play politics with the issue.

Moments ago, the House passed the White House-backed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill by a 227-183 vote.

During the heated House floor debate over the legislation, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said the White House-backed FISA legislation was nothing more than a political ploy:

This bill is what Karl Rove and his political operatives in the White House have decided they need to win elections. That’s not national security. That’s political warfare.

I do not believe we will soon be able to undo this damage. Rights given away are not easily regained. This bill is not needed to protect America from terrorists. The only purpose of this bill is to protect this administration from its own political problems and cynicism, and its own illegal actions it has taken outside the law without any authorization.

In a symbolic move that reflected the efforts by many conservatives to politicize the FISA debate, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) immediately rose and asked that Nadler withdraw his statement that the Bush administration had conducted illegal activities.

After some pause, Nadler said he would withdraw his “truthful and accurate statements” in order to proceed with the floor debate. Issa, unhappy with Nadler’s retraction, said, “He is not withdrawing it if he claims they’re accurate.” Nadler responded, “I’m withdrawing them without any reservation but I retain my opinion.” Watch it:

Issa’s comments reflected the nature of the FISA debate — conservatives were more concerned with providing political cover for the White House than passing legislation that addressed national security concerns.

Nadler’s comments are hardly inaccurate. The current FISA debate was precipitated by the fact that a court had ruled the administration’s spying actions were outside the law. Just this week, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) revealed a secret court ruling that found “a key element of the Bush administration’s wiretapping efforts illegal.”

Federal Agents Searching People at Indianapolis Bus Stops: Air Marshals Patting Civilians Down

Federal Agents Searching People at Indianapolis Bus Stops: Air Marshals Patting Civilians Down

by BlueDotRedField

Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:25:34 PM PDT

Welcome to another creeping slide towards the big brother state. On August 2, 2007 over two dozen agents of the TSA setup two checkpoints at bus stops in Indianapolis Indiana and searched passengers who wanted to ride on city buses. Federal agents, including Air Marshals were present and patted people down, looked in bags, and performed "behavior" tests for the stated purpose of finding weapons and people who were a threat to public safety.

Before you think I am joking, let me refer to both the Indianapolis Star report TSA checks IndyGo bus passengers as well as posted first person reports of what happened yesterday and why it effects us all.

UPDATE: Thanks to DailyKos readers, this has been found to be a part of an 18 month old Federal Operation, read more below!

• BlueDotRedField's diary :: ::
• 
  

The first reports I heard of something going on yesterday seemed like a bloggin hoax:

Anybody know what's going on? There are TSA stations with about 20 agents each set up in at least two spots in downtown Indy, 1 is near Capitol and Market, the other is near the federal building. They're stopping and searching people getting on and off city busses and travelling on the street. This is going a little too far. Where exactly did this authority come from?

(reference: Feds searching people in Indy )

I thought this had to be a hoax since the TSA surely had better things to do than hassle people riding buses in a major US city. But over the day more and more reports came in confirming that not only were searches being made, but that they were being made by federal agents (including Air Marshals) and that many agencies were involved.

Then came a report from the Indianapolis Star, which said:

Screeners from the Transportation Security Administration checked passengers at two Downtown city bus stops this morning, looking for weapons and suspicious behavior.

David Kane, federal security director for TSA in Indianapolis, called it a "VIPR" operation.

"It's called Visual Intermodal Prevention Response. We have plainclothes inspectors, blue-gloved uniformed security officers who are checking baggage, the behavior detection officers, and federal air marshals, which are the law enforcement arm of TSA."

Security stations were set up at bus stops at Capitol Avenue and Market Street, and Ohio and Meridian streets.

Some passengers were patted down or submitted to having bags checked.

TSA said the searches were “by-permission,” meaning patrons could decline to be checked. Those who did would not be turned away, an official said, unless they otherwise appeared to be a security threat.

(reference: TSA checks IndyGo bus passengers )

So to be clear, 20 or more agents of the federal government came to Indianapolis, downtown, and setup two search stops for those wanting to ride the bus. People could decline, legally, but only if the knew they could. Traveller safety was the excuse, but in reality all the were on an explicit fishing operation that included everything plus "behavior detection officers".

Did people even know they could decline the search? That is unclear. But at least one report indicates that they TSA weren't even aware of local law! For those who do not know, Indiana allows licensed individuals to carry firearms and accepts permits from other states for individuals to carry firearms as well. We have the highest per capita concealed carry population in the nation and the TSA was not even aware of our laws.

My wife has a cousin who lives in Indy and he was one of the lucky ones volunteered for a pat-down. He, like me, recognizes the value in being prepared for one's own self defense. The screener asked if he could be patted down for weapons to which he responded "I'll save you the trouble, my licensed handgun is on my right hip." The screener thought he was joking. Once she realized he was serious she announced that there was a situation and called in the reinforcements.

He was told rudely "YOOOOUUU CAN'T CARRY A GUN AROUND HERE!" And he replied "I bet I can, this isn't an airport..." By then a supervisor walked over, took a quick look at his Kentucky CCW and asked the Indianapolis PD next to him if it was any good. The Indy cop replied that a CCW from any state or country is valid in Indiana. So the supervisor declared in a loud voice to let him proceed, treat anyone with a CCW like a cop and pass them on. Needless to say though, he had a very quiet bus ride with lots of passengers staring at him the whole time.

Aside from being galled at the concept of this kind of thing, I think it's pretty sad that the federal security professionals need to learn the rules as they go. One would think that if you were supposed to set up a checkpoint to screen for weapons, you'd do a preliminary check to see what was against the law in Indiana, what was permitted, etc. Goes to show how arbitrary the whole thing is.

(reference: Federal Agents Searching Civilians in Indy (No BS) ).

So what was this operation, why was it needed, and what does it mean for us all?

First, it was a clear encroachment on our 4th Amendment rights. Even if it was legal (because individuals could refuse it), the fact that law enforcement is searching people without cause is an encroachment.

Second, it was an encroachment done by the Federal Government in the guise of proposed safety. While Indianapolis has had crime problems, the bus system has not been the hub of those problems. Nor have any federal crimes been committed on Indianapolis busses.

Third, it was a Federal operation performed by those who are not even aware of the law. Since they had no understanding of Indiana weapons laws and were performing weapons searches, why should I have any confidence in their understanding of, and care for Constitutional law in regards to personal searches.

Fourth, it was a Federal invasion of civilians that used our federal tax dollars to search bus passengers, who if criminal could have moved on to the next bus stop or just declined the search. The very same Air Marshals that are supposed to be protecting our plans are searching people at bus stops. This operation could hardly have been an effective expenditure of resources, especially as no reported arrests or confiscations took place.

Fifth, the stops seem to be better explained as a test of what encroachments Americans will accept, and the fact that only one article has mentioned it, sparsely at that, makes their test a likely success for federal agencies that seek to expand their powers.

So now it is up to us to decide, again, what is acceptable and what is not.

Personally, I plan to contact my Congressman in the morning (as this was a federal operation) and demand some basic investigations be done. Specifically, I have the following questions:

1. Why my tax dollars were spent this way?

2. What SPECIFIC threat this was addressing?

3. What CLEAR 4th Ammendment considerations were taken in the planning and made clear in the searches?

4. What effect this event was expected to have among the population, etc.?

5. Why were federal agents unaware of Indiana law when they were there to search for violations of that law?

6. Was any notification given to the public before the event (as is done with road-blocks)?

7. In a time when there are concerns with not having enough air marshals on commercial planes, why do we have them at bus stops rather than at the airport?

8. Are there plans to continue this program or expand it to other cities? Should we all expect federal agents to be searching citizens in our streets with no cause?

I also plan to send a letter to the Indiana ACLU and to the mayor's office.

To quote my congressman Baron Hill:

September 11th illustrated that, while the threat may have changed, the US still faces dangerous enemies in the 21st century. Our enemies are no longer monolithic nation-states, but, instead, fluid networks of terrorists that operate covertly in dozens of nations. To successfully combat this threat, it is crucial that we coordinate and develop a coherent strategy to enhance our homeland security. We must not, however, sacrifice the personal freedoms of American citizens to achieve these goals. (Source: 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test Nov 7, 2006)

Let's see if anyone responds.

To my fellow Kos readers, I ask "Where is the reporting on this?" I have not seen anything in the HuffingtonPost, or drugeretort, etc. Please help us all by looking into this.

It really is just the beginning.

UPDATE: I was wrong, thanks to hungrycoyote, the fact is this is a part of an 18 month old program opposed by law enforcement groups:

The law enforcement association already was unhappy with an 18-month-old TSA program that teams the agency's armed federal air marshals -- who have law-enforcement powers -- with unarmed screeners and inspectors on special units deployed at airports, rail and bus stations.

These squads, known as Visual Intermodal Protection and Response units, or VIPR teams, gained a higher profile earlier this month when they were sent to East and West Coast airports and other transportation facilities to beef up security patrols in the wake of terrorist incidents in England and Scotland.

"The teaming up of highly trained federal air marshals with civilian TSA screeners in uniform in front of airports and train stations is a recipe for disaster," Gordon wrote.

Lawmen object to plans for screeners

Undermining the Constitution: Bush is at it again

Undermining the Constitution: Bush is at it again

A. Alexander, July 29th, 2007

Mister Bush is at it again. That is to say, the man whose Attorney General perjures himself before Congress on a regular and ongoing basis; the man whose administration falsified the evidence so that he could invade Iraq; the man whose White House won't allow scientists to release lifesaving information that isn't in agreement with their ideology; the cabal that, in the event of another "terror attack" or natural disaster, has written a de facto plan to declare martial law and usurp total power and, regardless of the obviously dangerous implications of such a scheme, won't allow Congress to review that plan; the Commander in Chief, such as he is, who so easily sent nearly 4,000 members of the military to their senseless deaths, and sentenced an additional 26,000 to a lifetime of missing their arm, or leg, or hearing, or eyesight, or mental stability; the very same character that ordered the "Justice Department" to file false charges against Democrats, and fired every attorney who refused; the President who has, since the Twin Towers fell, illegally spied upon innocent U.S. citizens and made it legal for the FBI to enter homes without warrant or warning ... that man, Mister Bush, is pretending to be concerned about the wellbeing, safety, security, and "freedom and liberty" of the American people. That is to say, George W. Bush is demanding that Congress rewrite the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), so that the U.S. government can more easily spy, not on terrorists, but rather on innocent Americans.

Yes, Mister Twenty-Something-Percent Approval -- he, who so easily defies the Will of and stands in utter contempt of the American people -- is again, as always, practically promising a vicious and disastrous terror attack on every little boy and girl in America, unless Congress acquiesces and agrees to complete the destruction of the nation's Constitution. Perhaps, Mister Bush and his administration will forgive "We the People," for not wishing to surrender more of our rights and liberties and freedoms and dignity. Maybe the President and Dick Cheney will understand the reluctance on behalf of "We the People," to again place our trust in an administration that stands in blatant contempt of everything that the United States of America is supposed to represent.

However, whether or not Mister Bush and his cabal, especially Dick Cheney, are capable of empathizing with "We the People," it just doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because, if these past six-plus years have taught "We the People" anything, it has taught us that America can survive terrorist attacks, but it can't long survive the threat posed by the extremist ideology espoused and practiced by the likes of the Bush administration and today's radicalized Republican Party.

So, yes, Mister Bush is at it again. He is using fear of terrorism as the means to further undermine the United States of America and Her Constitution. Let's hope that "We the People," refuse to surrender to him ... again.

Meet Giuliani's Gold Digger .. er .. Wife

Meet Giuliani's Gold Digger .. er .. Wife

Judy Bachrach - Vanity Fair - Aug 2nd, 2007

Giuliani's current wife used to call her ex-husband "'a kike,' when I couldn't afford something; 'a rich little kike,' … 'Jew boy' ...more

Meet Giuliani's Gold Digger .. er .. Wife

Meet Giuliani's Gold Digger .. er .. Wife

Judy Bachrach - Vanity Fair - Aug 2nd, 2007

Giuliani's current wife used to call her ex-husband "'a kike,' when I couldn't afford something; 'a rich little kike,' … 'Jew boy' ...more

Flying Saucers Go Into Production

Updated: 21:52, Thursday August 02, 2007

A flying saucer that glides three metres off the ground and carries two passengers has gone into commerical production.

US company Moller International has begun to manufacture parts for its Jetsons-like personal flying pod, the M200G Volantor.

The M200G volantor: yours for under £45,000

The M200G is the size of a small car and is designed to take off and land vertically.

Company founder Dr Moller calls the craft "the ultimate off-road vehicle" as it is able to travel over any surface.

"It's not a hovercraft, although its operation is just as easy," said the aeronautical engineering boffin.

"You can speed over rocks, swampland, fences, or log-infested waterways with ease because you're not limited by the surface."

The flying saucer is designed to fly at an altitude of up to three metres, where it benefits from extra lift created by a cushion of air - known as ground effect.

The craft was inspired by The Jetsons

This allows the M200G to glide over terrain at 50mph, powered by eight of the Company's Rotapower rotary engines.

Moller International has not arranged for training or licensing requirements to operate the vehicle.

But it is prepared to offer demonstration sessions at its California base once the vehicle is ready for market.

The company has said the price for its M200G could start as low as £44,340 depending on the number ordered.

See the M200G volantor taking a test ride here:

Wasted millions

U.S. spy satellite declared loss, to drop from orbit

By Andrea Shalal-Esa 2 hours, 51 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The National Reconnaissance Office has deemed an experimental U.S. spy satellite a total loss and will allow it to slowly drop from orbit and burn up in the atmosphere, two defense officials told Reuters this week.

The classified L-21, built by Lockheed Martin Corp at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, was launched on December 14 but has been out of touch since reaching its low-earth orbit, put by satellite watchers at about 220 miles above the earth.

It will now gradually fall out of orbit over the coming decades, said the officials, who asked not to be named. At some later date, it will burn up as it enters the earth's atmosphere, posing no danger to people below, they said.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon will likely now have to test aspects of new technologies that were on the L-21 by piggybacking them onto other satellites over the next four to five years, the officials said.

For instance, the military could put the new sensors aboard TacSat 3, the latest in a series of smaller satellites, when it launches later this year.

The NRO could still try to build a new spacecraft to test the technology, but it would take several years to get the funding for such a satellite and build it, one official said.

The two officials declined to identify what exactly the experimental Lockheed satellite was meant to test, but said its failure was troubling, given that other countries were rapidly plowing ahead with development and launch of new capabilities, especially in the area of synthetic aperture radars.

Synthetic aperture radars offer high-resolution and can pierce darkness and thick clouds to identify targets, even peering below the surface of the ground or peeking into foliage that might obstruct the view of photo-based sensors.

One official said Germany in June launched TerraSAR-X, a sophisticated new satellite armed with a synthetic aperture radar that analysts say marks the start of a new level of quality in the mapping of the earth.

Canada is also working on this technology.

The NRO, which designs, builds and operates reconnaissance satellites for the U.S. military and intelligence communities, declined to comment, as did Lockheed.

RUNAWAY COSTS, DELAYS

The failure of the L-21 comes amid a spate of issues with other NRO and military satellites, and as the Pentagon tries to rein in runaway costs and schedule delays on space programs.

NRO Director Donald Kerr, nominated to be principal deputy director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that he recommended ending two multibillion-dollar classified intelligence programs because they could not be successfully completed.

Kerr said one of the contractors had been put on "a watch list," and could only bid on new work if granted a waiver.

He did not name the programs or companies involved, but said he told the contractor on the list it could be removed only when it showed that it could build hardware that worked.

Analysts and one official familiar with the issue said Kerr was referring to a major revamp of the Future Imagery Architecture program, initially run by Boeing Co, and a Lockheed satellite program dubbed "Misty." The official said the company on the watchlist was Boeing.

Boeing declined to comment.

Separately, two U.S. military satellites used to monitor ship movements failed to reach their correct orbit when they were launched several months ago aboard an Atlas V rocket.

Officials are now trying to "nudge" the satellites into the correct orbit by using small amounts of the fuel onboard, but the effort is still ongoing, one defense official said.

Olbermann: 'Sorry That's Classified and Other Lame Excuses'

Olbermann: 'Sorry That's Classified and Other Lame Excuses'

TIME Magazine Must be Reading BuzzFlash. It finally understands that Bush is Keeping Gonzales in Office to Protect Him, Cheney, Rove and Others from Criminal Prosecution. It is the Action of a Mob Leader, Not a President.

White House Wants to Expand Its Surveillance Powers Under FISA.

White House Wants to Expand Its Surveillance Powers Under FISA. Who Does It Want to be in Charge of Its Enhanced Spying Efforts? Alberto Gonzales. Can He Do That from Jail?

Wanker of the Day: Michael Weiner Savage

Wanker of the Day: Michael Weiner Savage

By: Nicole Belle @ 1:07 PM - PDT

Media Matters:

On the July 30 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage reacted to news that Chief Justice John Roberts had suffered a seizure that day by raising the possibility that “his health was in some way tampered with by the Democrats.”

Ugh. And Billo thinks liberals are hateful. Media Matters has more and audio, if you can stomach it.