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White House Dismissed Legal Advice On Detainees
Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Senior lawyers inside and outside the Bush administration repeatedly warned the White House that it was risking judicial scrutiny of its detention policies in Guantanamo Bay if it did not pursue a more pragmatic legal strategy that considered the likely reaction of the Supreme Court. But such advice, issued periodically over the past six years, was ignored or discounted, according to current and former administration officials familiar with the debates.
ORDERS FOR TORTURE CAME FROM THE TOP
Joel Skousen
World Affairs Brief
This week I’ll analyze several more examples of government corruption, domestic spying and torture. Scott Horton begins with an analysis of the emerging testimony before Congress trying to determine who initiated torture techniques in the war on terror. “The use of torture techniques became a matter of public knowledge four years ago. In response to the initial disclosures, the Bush Administration first decided to spin the fable of a handful of ‘rotten apples’ inside of a company of military police from Appalachia and scapegoated a handful of examples in carefully managed and staged show trials. When further disclosures out of Bagram and Guantánamo made this untenable, they spun a new myth, this time suggesting that the administration had responded to a plea from below for wider latitude. In fact at this point the evidence is clear and convincing, and it points to a top-down process. Figures near the top of the administration decided that they wanted brutal techniques and they hammered them through, usually over strong opposition from the ranks of professionals.
U.S. asks to rewrite detainee evidence
The Bush administration wants to rewrite the official evidence against Guantanamo Bay detainees, allowing it to shore up its cases before they come under scrutiny by civilian judges for the first time.The government has stood behind the evidence for years. Military review boards relied on it to justify holding hundreds of prisoners indefinitely without charge. Justice Department attorneys said it was thoroughly and fairly reviewed.Now that federal judges are about to review the evidence, however, the government says it needs to make changes
White House invokes executive privilege in EPA inquiry
The White House on Friday invoked executive privilege in refusing to turn over documents to a congressional committee investigating the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to deny California permission to implement its own vehicle emission standards.The Bush administration asserted executive privilege hours before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was to vote on whether to bring contempt-of-Congress proceedings against EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson and Susan Dudley, administrator of regulatory affairs in the White House Office of Management and Budget, for refusing to turn over subpoenaed documents -LA Times
Confidence in the US Congress is at a record low
politico.com — Even as President Bush ’s approval rating languishes at a record low, more than twice as many Americans have confidence in the presidency — 26 percent — than have confidence in Congress.
WHY IS FOX NEWS PROTECTING OBAMA?
If Barack Obama wanted to dispel doubts about his national security credentials, he hasn’t done so with the announcement of a new “Senior Working Group on National Security” that includes Dr. Tony Lake, a former national security adviser to Bill Clinton.Lake became a laughingstock for expressing doubts as to whether Alger Hiss, the founder of the United Nations and a top State Department official, was a communist spy.Lake’s doubts led to a controversy that caused him to withdraw his nomination as Clinton’s CIA director -Cliff Kincaid/NewsWithViews
Obama defends new FISA bill as ‘compromise’
RAW STORY
Saturday, June 21, 2008
In a statement about a controversial bill, Senator Barack Obama defends intelligence gathering that would expand the wiretapping powers of President Bush’s administration.
Obama said the legislation is a ‘compromise’ from last year’s Protect America Act and reduces rather than increases the Bush administration’s power to spy on Americans.
Israel tries diplomatic route to isolate Iran
This has been a busy month for Israeli diplomats.Many observers had predicted that this would be another summer of war for Israel and its adversaries across the Middle East.Instead, Israel is starting the sweltering season by pursuing talks with some of its most intractable foes.The nascent negotiations represent Israel’s most concerted diplomatic effort so far to blunt the expanding influence of Iran by striking deals with some of Tehran’s allies -Dion Nissenbaum/McClatchy Newspapers
China stages torch relay in Tibet
BBC
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Olympic torch has been carried through the Tibetan provincial capital of Lhasa amid heavy security.The 11km (seven mile) parade passed off smoothly, with the flame carried past apparently hand-picked spectators.
A Totally Lawless Regime
PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Counterpunch
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Think about this question: In the 21st century what regime is more lawless than the Bush Regime?
Everyone is entitled to his own answer. The only answer I can come up with is the Zimbabwe regime of Robert Mugabe. Voted out of power in the last election, the great man hasn’t left. Zimbabweans are going to have to vote again, and the great man has said that any vote that is not for him will be cancelled by a bullet.
Does Investigation of the Pentagon’s Channel to an Iran Contra Arms Dealer Continue?
When Democratic members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence presented the final installments of the committee’s long-awaited pre-war intelligence investigation to the press earlier this month in the Senate gallery, they demurred when reporters’ asked them if they intended to pursue possible charges against Bush administration officials whom the Senators said had exaggerated the case for war based on the intelligence available to them.But there are signs that further federal investigation of at least one aspect of the committee’s inquiry may continue -Laura Rozen/Mother Jones
House votes to expand Bush wiretap powers, telecom immunity
Nick Juliano
RAW STORY
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Less than 24 hours after introducing a controversial measure to expand President Bush’s authority to spy on Americans, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Friday voted to approve the administration- and Republican-supported bill, sending it to the Senate where it will likely be adopted.
McCain Defends Trade Pact
Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post
Saturday, June 21, 2008
OTTAWA — Sen. John McCain traveled to Canada on Friday to offer a vigorous defense of the North American Free Trade Agreement, as his campaign sought to portray rival Sen. Barack Obama as inconsistent on free trade.
White House Refuses To Release Documents On Air-Quality Policy
The Bush administration yesterday invoked executive privilege and refused to turn over key documents sought by a House investigative committee, escalating a fight over the White House role in U.S. policy on greenhouse-gas emissions and ozone air quality standards.
Chevron Halts Nigeria Onshore Oil Output After Attack
Chevron Corp. said its Nigerian unit halted onshore oil production after one of its pipelines in Delta state was “breached” by a suspected act of sabotage.
About 120,000 barrels a day of crude have been halted by the blowing up of the pipeline, Agence France-Presse reported today.
FLASHBACK: We have your sons: CIA
Two young sons of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks, are being used by the CIA to force their father to talk.
Yousef al-Khalid, 9, and his brother, Abed al-Khalid, 7, were taken into custody in Pakistan in September when intelligence officers raided a flat in Karachi where their father had been hiding.
Iran says Israel a ‘dangerous regime’
Tehran: A military strike against Iran could turn the Middle East into a “ball of fire” and push Iran to a more aggressive stance on its nuclear program, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said.
Silent Victims of the Iraq War
Five years after the U.S. invaded Iraq, more than 800,000 children have been forced to flee their homes to escape the violence. According to a report released Tuesday, most are unable to go to school and 60% do not have access to clean drinking water. More than half of the displaced children suffer from malnutrition. The mortality rate of children under 5 years old is three times higher in Iraq than in Syria or Jordan.
Iranians don’t believe that military strikes are coming
Iran has become accustomed to Israeli threats of military action aimed at halting its nuclear programme. The Iranians have adopted a two-track response: to warn of the regional conflagration that would ensue, and to try to persuade the world that its intentions are purely peaceful, while insisting on its right to enrich uranium which is enshrined by treaty.
Russia, US agree deal on Moscow arms for Afghanistan: ministers
Moscow and Washington have agreed a deal in principle over the supply of Russian weaponry to the Afghan army in its fight against the Taliban insurgency, senior diplomats announced in a statement Friday.
Gov. Napolitano Approves Prohibition on Real ID
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano signed a bill today that prohibits the implementation of the REAL ID in Arizona. SB2677 received a Final vote of approval in the House last week by an overwhelming margin of 51 to 1. Napolitano’s signature was uncertain until today when she signed the bill into law.
The bill prohibits implementation of the REAL ID Act of 2005, which was passed by Congress as part of a supplemental spending bill for tsunami relief and the War on Terror. The bill did not receive a hearing in either the House or the Senate, and the public was largely unaware of it until it had already been signed into law.
Oklahoma Declares Sovereignty
THAT the State of Oklahoma hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States.
THAT this serves as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers.
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate of each state’s legislature of the United States of America, and each member of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.
Big Oil’s Iraq Payoff: Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP — the original partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company — are in talks for no-bid contracts to service Iraq’s largest fields
FISA Bill Eviscerates the Fourth Amendment
Kucinich Threatens 60 Impreachment Articles if Judiciary Doesn’t Act
Senate Housing Bill Requires eBay, Amazon, Google, and All Credit Card Companies to Report Transactions to the Government
Midwest Flooding will Inflate Grocery Bills Across the Board
Ex Bear Stearns Managers Indicted for Fraud
Central Bank Has Lost Control of Credit Crisis |
Hillary Clinton to join Barack Obama on campaign trail in White House race
Alex Spillius
London Telegraph
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Senator Hillary Clinton is to join Barack Obama on the campaign trail for the first time since their long and acrimonious tussle for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The former First Lady has already conceded defeat but their joint appearance on Friday, the details of which have yet to be finalised, will present a strong image of party unity ahead of November’s election, amid lingering frustration among some of supporters.
Ohio teacher burned cross on students’ arms
breitbart.com — A public school teacher preached his Christian beliefs despite complaints by other teachers and administrators and used a device to burn the image of a cross on students’ arms, according to a report by independent investigators  NASA: THERE’S ICE OUT THERE!
Robo Cop On Rails: It’s Not About Illegals, It’s About Keeping You on the Reservation
Kurt Nimmo | Linceus GmbH’s miniature monorail cars are proposed to secure the border. In fact, if implemented, they will be used to keep us on the globalist reservation.
The Best Farmland in the U.S. Is Flooded; Most Americans Are Too Stupid to Panic
As soon as I became aware of the flooding situation in the American Midwest, I posted the story with the EMERGENCY prefix on the title. Just so we’re clear, when I write EMERGENCY at the beginning of a post title, this is my way of indicating that the situation is as serious as it gets. It means that I feel as though everyone reading should consider taking immediate evasive action. All the jawboning about conspiracy, how things could have been, how things should be, etc. are behind us now. You know, EMERGENCY, act fast, eyes wide, nostrils flared, etc.
Democrats Have Legalized Bush’s War Crimes
Ron Paul Draws Record Crowd to Montana GOP Convention
Enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters waited through a $45 a plate dinner, multiple GOP speakers and an auction conducted by former Sen. Conrad Burns to hear their candidate speak Friday night at the 2008 State Convention Banquet.
They say it was worth it.
“He was fantastic,” said Elena Gagliano, a retired Philipsburg Mont. resident. “He believes in freedom and I’m sick and tired of infringement on my life.”
Agreement gives more 9/11 workers health benefits
AP
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Gov. David Paterson said Friday that he has reached an agreement with New York state legislative leaders to extend health benefits to hundreds of workers who toiled at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
If You Like Ron Paul You Will Love BJ Lawson
Ron Paul has inspired many citizens from coast to coast to become more  active in politics. Some of these citizens have chosen to run for office. All of these office seekers for liberty deserve praise, but BJ Lawson is not your average citizen candidate. He has already won his primary in North Carolina’s 4th District and now faces the toughest challenge yet: Beating the incumbent Democrat in a Democratic district.
Ron Paul supporters eye Montana delegates
Paul supporters have a strong presence at this year’s state Republican convention in Missoula and promise to use their manpower to get more Paul delegates to the national convention.
Paul finished second in the state’s Super Tuesday caucus, behind Mitt Romney. McCain finished third.
Feds Sued Over Seizure Of Liberty Dollars
Republican Woes Stretch to the Rockies
Meanwhile, in Nevada, the Ron Paul supporters who succeeded in derailing the Republican state convention back in April have refused to accept their candidate’s withdrawal from the presidential race, and are going to have an alternative convention. The party’s executive committee was forced to reschedule their convention when it became apparent that there was more support for Paul than for McCain.
Campaign For Liberty Interviews Ron Paul
Campaign for Liberty was at the Capitol this evening to ask Dr. Paul about legislative issues of the day.
US Steelmakers In Big Victory Over China
Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe and the geek who hacked Pentagon computers to look at UFOs So who goes free?
Richard Pendlebury
UK Daily Mail
Saturday, June 21, 2008
One morning, Gary McKinnon was drifting into sleep, after another night of smoking dope and computer gaming, when an apparition addressed him from the end of his bed. At first, he wondered whether it was not part of a drug-induced dream. In fact, it was a real, flesh-and-blood policeman. ‘Hello Gary,’ said the detective from the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. ‘You’re under arrest.’
The Power of Nightmares
If you haven’t seen this classic deconstruction of the “War on Terror”, you really should watch it. Originally broadcast in Britain in 2005, it has never been broadcast (to my knowledge) on U.S. television, but has played in a shortened version in a few U.S. film festivals.
The Same Rules Apply
Stocks Drop To 3 Month Low On Oil Surge
Dem leadership abandons party to pass FISA revision
Why did the 9/11 Attacks Happen? One Man’s Independent Investigation
Feds arrest Miami Beach munitions dealer
A 22-year-old munitions dealer and others in his Miami Beach company were arrested on charges of selling prohibited Chinese weaponry to the U.S. government to supply allied forces in Afghanistan, according to law enforcement officials.Efraim Diveroli, president of AEY Inc., and three other employees were arrested Thursday night and Friday morning — accused of conspiring to misrepresent the types of munitions they sold to the U.S. Department of Defense as part of a $300 million Army weapons contract, officials said -Jay Weaver/Miami Herald
Afghans claim Taliban routed
Afghan authorities say hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed or wounded after being routed in a battle for a strategic valley northwest of Kandahar City that insurgents took over earlier this week.Local political and military leaders and Canadian military commanders announced the victory Thursday from a mountainside perch overlooking the battlefield in a wide river valley.All that remained was the mopping up of scattered pockets of Taliban resistance, the Afghans said -Doug Schmidt/Windsor Star CA
No EU - Common Purpose Government Infiltrators
Google Video
Saturday, June 21, 2008
This presentation was given at Leicester England. MEP Roger Helmer came specially to be there and guest host the meeting. Edward Spalton of the CIB (Campaign for an Independent Britain) gave a short introduction. The presentation was given by Brian Gerrish on his researches concerning Common Purpose.
Air Force to seek new tanker bids: outgoing boss
The ousted head of the U.S. Air Force said Friday he expected the service to seek new bids for midair refueling aircraft from Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp after federal auditors faulted the selection process for a $35 billion program.The service probably would miss its 2013 goal for putting the new tankers into use, said Michael Wynne, forced to resign as Air Force secretary by Defense Secretary Robert Gates
UN warns attack on Iran will spark ‘fireball’ in Middle East
Tim Butcher
London Telegraph
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that a military strike on Iran to prevent it developing atomic weapons would turn the region into a “fireball”.
The Procrastinator
The Daily Show
Saturday, June 21, 2008
President Bush hasn’t done anything in seven and a half years. Is being president like being in college?
Internet addiction is a ‘clinical disorder’
Andy Bloxham
London Telegraph
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Obsessive internet use is a public health problem which is so serious it should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.
SCOTUS Ratifies CPS Childnapping and Blackmail
James Redlin, a high school teacher from Illinois, will never know the name of the conscientious citizen who disrupted and nearly destroyed his family.All he knows is that when he came home from a brief trip on a train with his six-year-old son his wife Susan, told him that an official from the Department of Child and Family Services had paid a visit.Mr. Redlin’s supposed “offense” was tickling his son during a train ride -William N. Grigg
Failed States: Mexico & California
At the same time the US Federal Reserve relaxed its rules, expanded it Lending Facilities, and rescued big US bank balance sheets with massive swaps of USTreasury Bonds for impaired private mortgage bonds, the Mexican Peso rose.With deep trouble south of the border in economic fundamentals, one would expect the MexPeso to falter.Then there is the North American Alliance, all surreptitiously planned by those in power -Jim Willie/Financial Sense Online
THE SCIENCE OF THE U.N.
A peculiar and dangerous virus is currently infecting American public discourse.This virus pathologically transforms our language, so that our conversations with one another become garbled, confused, and ultimately meaningless.Words are transformed into something they never were intended to mean, or robbed of their meaning altogether. “Democracy” is set to the meaning of “republic,” “gambling” becomes “investment,” and “vice” becomes the “virtue of diversity.” -Arthur Robinson/NewsWithViews
September 11th And The Bush Administration
2-Hour Presentation: 9/11: Blueprint for Truth: (Arizona)
Professor David Ray Griffin speaks on 9/11
Top 5 Causes of the Great Depression
APNewsBreak: U.S. asks to rewrite detainee evidence
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer Fri Jun 20, 5:10 PM ET
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration wants to rewrite the official evidence against Guantanamo Bay detainees, allowing it to shore up its cases before they come under scrutiny by civilian judges for the first time.
The government has stood behind the evidence for years. Military review boards relied on it to justify holding hundreds of prisoners indefinitely without charge. Justice Department attorneys said it was thoroughly and fairly reviewed.
IMF: US economy is set to ’stagnate’
The US economy is likely to “stagnate” in the second half of this year, the International Monetary Fund warned on Friday, as stock markets in the US and Europe fell to their lowest levels since March and US bank shares hit a five-year low.
Ron Paul on Glenn Beck 06/19/2008
Freedom lovers in need
The Ron Paul family received some truly sad news yesterday. Eric  Davenport, one of the Presidential Campaign’s most important volunteers, was tragically killed in a traffic accident over the weekend. Eric and his young wife, Danielle, spent countless hours working in the South Florida RP ‘08 headquarters. Together, they made hundreds of calls, stuffed thousands of envelopes and walked neighborhoods tirelessly supporting liberty. They even took an extended leave of absence from their jobs so they could support Dr. Paul full time.
More consumers, workers shoplift as economy slows
USA Today | Steadily and alarmingly, shoplifting seems to be rising at many retail chains, and experts are pointing at a prime cause: the sputtering economy.
The Irish Voted. The Treaty Lost. It’s Democracy
Generation X-Ray - Child Victims Of Technology Abuse |
