Citizens for Legitimate Government

CLG's BREAKING NEWS and COMMENTARY

Breaking: Court agrees to hear Prop 8 challenges 19 Nov 2008 California's highest court has agreed to hear legal challenges to the state's new same-sex marriage ban, but is refusing to allow gay couples to resume marrying until it rules on the measure's validity. The California Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment which passed with 52 percent of the vote.

CLG exclusive: Re-killed Ayman al-Zawahiri is back in 'audio message,' taunting Obama --The elusive, whack-a-mole al-Qaeda #2 is back again (from the dead)! By Lori Price 19 Nov 2008 Ayman al-Zawahiri criticized U.S. President-elect Barack Obama in an 'audio message' posted on the Internet, calling him dishonorable and a servant of whites, the Associated Press reported. The second-in-command of Islamic militant network al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh] has called on Muslims to harm "criminal" America. You just can't keep a good terrorist down (or dead) for long, especially when Bush needs a terror attack/martial law before January 20.

Blackwater gunboats will protect ships --The McArthur arrives in the Gulf of Aden at the end of the year. It is to be joined by three or four similar vessels over next year to form the company's private navy. 19 Nov 2008 The American security company Blackwater is planning to cash in on the rising threat of piracy on the high seas by launching a flotilla of gunboats for hire by the shipping companies. The firm, which gained international notoriety when its ~~staff~~ terrorists killed civilians in Iraq, has already equipped one vessel, called The McArthur, which will carry up to 40 armed guards and have a landing pad for an attack helicopter.

Mystery surrounds CIA Somalia trip 19 Nov 2008 Operatives from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have entered the Somali breakaway region of Puntland under a cloud of suspicion. The CIA agents arrived in the town of Bossaso on Wednesday and are holding meetings with Puntland's high-ranking officials, a Press TV correspondent reported. An international advocacy group blasted Washington in its recent report, saying US air strikes in the Horn of Africa country had caused devastation for aid workers on the ground.

Iraq war illegal, former U.K. lawyer says 18 Nov 2008 Justification used by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to support the U.S.-led of invasion of Iraq in 2003 was flawed, Iranian state media said Tuesday. Baron Thomas Henry Bingham, former head of the judicial branch of the House of Lords, told the British Institute of International and Comparative Law that lawmakers had not provided sufficient evidence to the former premier to justify the invasion of Iraq, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported Tuesday.

Iraqi parliament's debate on US pact disrupted 19 Nov 2008 Lawmakers loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday disrupted a parliamentary debate ahead of a Nov. 24 vote on a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that would keep American troops in Iraq for three more years. Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani adjourned the session until Thursday after Sadrist lawmaker Ahmed al-Massoudi aggressively approached a lawmaker from the ruling coalition who was reading aloud the text of the agreement.

'Rather than accepting responsibility, the Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) Corporation is seeking in an aggressive way to escape accountability for its actions.' The Hidden Enemy --Iraq plant coordinator: KBR knew sodium dichromate was at the plant. 17 Nov 2008 Ed Blacke was the Health, Safety and Environmental Coordinator at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant near Basra, Iraq. Blacke arrived in June of 2003 and remained through the middle of August 2003. His Houston-based company, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) was contracted to rebuild the facility after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and toppled Saddam's government... Ed Blacke claims KBR knew sodium dichromate was at the plant. He says KBR was negligent by not giving the Indiana National Guard soldiers protective gear.

'This is clearly illegal because our government can't contract away the Constitution by enlisting the aid of other governments that do not adhere to the Constitution's requirements.' Did U.S. push detention of American without charges? 17 Nov 2008 An American Muslim subjected to several years of intense FBI scrutiny and questioning about links to terrorism has been held without charges, access to a lawyer or contact with his family for nearly three months by the security services of the United Arab Emirates. The case of Naji Hamdan, coupled with FBI interrogations of an American citizen secretly detained without charges in East Africa, raises the question of whether the Bush regime has asked other nations to hold Americans suspected of terrorism links whom U.S. officials lack the evidence to charge.

Taxpayers will pay for Gonzales' private attorney 18 Nov 2008 The Justice Department has agreed to pay for a private lawyer to defend former Attorney General [torturer] Alberto Gonzales against allegations that he encouraged officials to inject partisan politics into the department's hiring and firing practices. Gonzales' attorney recently revealed in court papers that the Justice Department had approved his request to pay private attorney's fees arising from the federal lawsuit.

'Sealing Afghan border impossible' 19 Nov 2008 Pakistan's army chief meets with NATO commanders in Brussels to discuss the 'war on terror' along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. During the Wednesday meeting General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani urged NATO to engage with Pashtuns tribes near Afghanistan rather than sealing the border to stop incursions by pro-Taliban militants. "Because of the nature of the border, geography, history and culture, there is no force that can physically block that border," Kayani said.

Pakistan seeks $7.6bn in IMF ~~reform deal~~ bailout 17 Nov 2008 Pakistan has asked the International Monetary Fund for a $7.6bn (�5.2bn) standby loan in return for economic reforms, said the country's de facto finance minister. The terms of the loan require Pakistan tocut the government's fiscal deficit to below 4 per cent of gross domestic product, from more than 7 per cent in the financial year to June, said Shaukat Tarin, finance adviser to the prime minister.

Kerry expected to get top foreign affairs panel post 19 Nov 2008 Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) is widely expected to be named the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position that will give him enormous influence over international relations.

US House panel backs Waxman as energy chairman 19 Nov 2008 Rep. Henry Waxman of California narrowly won a preliminary contest on Wednesday to replace Rep. John Dingell of Michigan as chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. On a secret-ballot vote of 25-22, the House Democratic Steering Committee recommended that Waxman head the energy panel in the new Congress set to convene in January.

Tom Daschle accepts Obama offer to lead Health and Human Services 19 Nov 2008 President-elect Barack Obama has asked former Sen. Tom Daschle to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services, and the South Dakota Democrat has accepted the offer. Daschle, if confirmed, would head the agency that will handle the new administration's signature initiative to expand health insurance coverage, a Democrat familiar with the process said.

Ted Stevens loses Alaska senate race --The loss vindicates Republican senators who yesterday delayed a decision on whether to punish Stevens for his felony conviction. 19 Nov 2008 Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has lost his bid for an eighth term. AP called the race yesterday, which was Stevens' 85th birthday. He was bested by Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Just days before the election, Stevens was convicted of lying on senate financial disclosure forms, concealing more than $250,000 in home renovations and gifts from an oil services company. Yesterday senate Republicans chose not to censure Stevens or expel him, opting instead to wait until the final vote tally.

Lieberman credits Obama after Dems let him keep post 18 Nov 2008 Democrat-turned-~~independent~~ traitor Sen. Joe Lieberman managed to keep his Senate committee chairmanship in part because President-elect Barack Obama didn't want to punish him for supporting Sen. John McCain, LieberBush said Tuesday. The Senate Democratic caucus, following a lengthy and often heated debate, voted 42-13 Tuesday to let Lieberman continue chairing the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Satire: Lieberman Operation Successful: Lips Removed From Bush's Buttocks By R J Shulman 19 Nov 2008 In a painful sixteen hour operation performed at Bethesda Medical Center, a team of doctors has successfully separated Senator Joe Lieberman�s lips from the posterior of President [sic] George W. Bush. "It was touch and go for a while," said Dr. Siddhartha Gupta. "We didn�t know if we were going to lose a lip or a buttock, but it all worked out." The doctors had a brief scare when it appeared they had lost the President�s right cheek. (Satire)

Last-minute Bush abortion ruling causes furor 18 Nov 2008 A last-minute Bush administration plan to grant sweeping new protections to health care providers who oppose abortion and other procedures on religious or moral grounds has provoked a torrent of objections, including a strenuous protest from the government agency that enforces job-discrimination laws. The proposed rule would prohibit recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform or to assist in the performance of abortions or sterilization procedures because of their "religious beliefs or moral convictions." Three officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including its legal counsel, whom President [sic] George W. Bush appointed, said the proposal would overturn 40 years of civil rights law prohibiting job discrimination based on religion.

8 = HATE By AntiGayBlacklist 19 Nov 2008 The following individuals or organizations (according to ElectionTrack.com) have donated money to the California Proposition 8 campaign which seeks to ban same sex marriages. Please do not patronize them. 8 = HATE.

Manitoba mourns the loss of Debby, world's oldest polar bear; dead at 41 18 Nov 2008 She came to Canada as a Russian orphan in the midst of the Cold War and quickly became a beloved icon for generations of Manitobans. After earning worldwide recognition as the oldest of her kind, Debby the polar bear died peacefully on Monday at the ripe old age of 41. Her keepers and admirers laid flowers by her empty enclosure at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo Tuesday as they tearfully remembered the majestic, gentle bear.

Readers, we need your support!
Please send a donation.
Or, please mail a check or money order to the CLG:
Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG)
P.O. Box 1142
Bristol, CT 06011-1142
To allow us complete freedom in tackling the Bush regime, CLG is not an IRS Section 501 C-3 charitable organization. Therefore, your contribution is not tax-deductible.

*****

Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales indicted in S. Texas --Charges related to alleged abuse of prisoners in federal detention centers 18 Nov 2008 A South Texas grand jury has indicted Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in Willacy County's federal detention centers. The indictment criticizes Cheney's investment in the Vanguard Group, which holds interests in the private prison companies running the federal detention centers. It accuses Cheney of a conflict of interest and "at least misdemeanor assaults" on detainees by working through the prison companies. Gonzales is accused of using his position while in office to stop an investigation into abuses at the federal detention centers.

Grand jury indicts Cheney, former AG 18 Nov 2008 Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have been named in a South Texas grand jury indictment on charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners being detained in Willacy County federal detention centers, The Associated Press said. Willacy County is located in South Texas and includes the cities of Lyford, Raymondville and San Perlita.

Afghan article says US Bin-Ladin hunt phoney --Text of article, "Bin-Ladin on the run? The rumour which was fact", by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh, on 29 September 2008 --Posted by Juan Cole 17 Nov 2008 The USG Open Source Center translates an article from the Persian Afghan press alleging that French troops were at one point close to capturing Usamah Bin Ladin in Afghanistan, but that American forces stopped them from doing so. It says that a forthcoming French documentary containing interviews with the French soldiers provides proof for the allegation. The argument is that the Bush administration needed Bin Ladin to be at large in order to justify its military expansionism. (Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari Kabul Hasht-e Sobh in Dari)

AP Decries Army Photoshopping 17 Nov 2008 Late Friday night, the Associated Press published an article discussing the digitally altered photos of Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody that had been issued to the media by the Defense Department. The article announced that the AP will no longer use Defense-issued photographs.

Army manipulated general's photo 15 Nov 2008 The Associated Press on Friday suspended the use of photos provided by the Defense Department after the Army distributed a digitally altered photo of the U.S. military's first female four-star general. The image of Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody is the second Army-provided photo the AP has eliminated from its service in the last two months. The AP said that adjusting photos and other imagery, even for aesthetic reasons, damages the credibility of the information distributed by the military to news organizations and the public. "For us, there's a zero-tolerance policy of adding or subtracting actual content from an image," said Santiago Lyon, the AP's director of photography.

'Burrowing' Bush ensures his corpora-terrorist trolls and environmental terrorists remain in place: Administration Moves to Protect Key Appointees --Political Positions Shifted to Career Civil Service Jobs 18 Nov 2008 Just weeks before [mercifully] leaving office, the Interior Department's top lawyer has shifted half a dozen key deputies -- including two former political appointees who have been involved in controversial environmental decisions -- into senior civil service posts. The transfer of political appointees into permanent federal positions, called "burrowing" by career officials, creates security for those employees, and at least initially will deprive the incoming Obama administration of the chance to install its preferred appointees in some key jobs.

Top judge: US and UK acted as 'vigilantes' in Iraq invasion --Former senior law lord condemns 'serious violation of international law' 18 Nov 2008 One of Britain's most authoritative judicial figures last night delivered a blistering attack on the invasion of Iraq, describing it as a serious violation of international law, and accusing Britain and the US of acting like a "world vigilante". Lord Bingham, in his first major speech since retiring as the senior law lord, rejected the then attorney general's defence of the 2003 invasion as fundamentally flawed.

Mullen: U.S. Would Need More Than 2 Years for Iraq Withdrawal 17 Nov 2008 The U.S. military would require two to three [!?!] years to remove its roughly 150,000 troops and equipment from Iraq safely, and the timing of that withdrawal should be based on security conditions on the ground, the nation's top military officer said today.

Premier of Iraq Is Quietly Firing Fraud Monitors 18 Nov 2008 The government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is systematically dismissing Iraqi oversight officials, who were installed to fight corruption in Iraqi ministries by order of the American occupation administration [Yeah, right!] The dismissals, which were confirmed by senior Iraqi and American government officials on Sunday and Monday, have come as estimates of official Iraqi corruption have soared. One Iraqi former chief investigator recently testified before Congress that $13 billion in 'reconstruction' funds from the United States had been lost to fraud, embezzlement, theft and waste by Iraqi government officials [and Bush's corpora-terrorist trolls].

Military judge in 9/11 case replaced 17 Nov 2008 A new military judge has been named to the 'trial' of accused September 11 mastermined Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other defendants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a Pentagon official said Monday. Colonel Stephen Henley was tapped to replace Colonel Ralph Kohlmann, who will retire in April, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The American Civil Liberties Union called the timing of the move "highly suspect and disturbing," noting that it came a day after president-elect Barack Obama pledged in an interview with CBS Television to shut down Guantanamo. "We cannot allow the Bush administration to sabotage president-elect Obama's plans by ramming through these cases in its last days," said Anthony Romero, the ACLU's executive director.

Seattle man could face charges in Blackwater case 14 Nov 2008 Federal prosecutors in Seattle are awaiting word from the Department of Justice to decide whether to indict a former Blackwater USA ~~security operator~~ mercenary now living in Seattle for the Christmas Eve 2006 shooting death of the bodyguard of the Iraqi vice president. The case is not connected with the shooting involving six Blackwater ~~contractors~~ mercenaries in a crowded Baghdad square in September 2007 that left 17 civilians dead.

Top US military officer: Taliban gains upper hand 18 Nov 2008 The top U.S. military officer says the Taliban is doing well right now, and it's no surprise that the militants would reject settlement talks with the Afghan government. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Associated Press in an interview that the Taliban feels confident enough in its success to, as he put it, negotiate from a position of strength.

AFRICOM Begins Field Operations 13 Nov 2008 The U.S. Defense Department divides the world up into different "commands." We hear a lot about Central Command because it has responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The newest part of the system is Africa Command, often referred to as AFRICOM. Previously, U.S. military operations in Africa were divided between three different command offices. The new AFRICOM designation has also been controversial.

Official: Terrorism, water shortages likely 18 Nov 2008 The number of terrorist attacks will likely decline by 2025 but they will be more deadly, a top U.S. intelligence officer predicted Tuesday, citing projections from a report on global trends to be made public this week. Global climate change will continue, and current efforts to control it [?] will not bear fruit until around 2030, Thomas Fingar, deputy director of national intelligence, said. Significant water and possibly food shortages could result.

Bremerton Ferry Run Resumes Following Threat 18 Nov 2008 The Bremerton - Seattle ferry run has has resumed after it was canceled and a ferry returned to the Bremerton terminal after a "terrorist threat" was received, the Washington State Patrol said. The WSP said someone who overheard a conversation reported it to authorities as a terrorist threat against a state ferry, forcing that ferry to return to its terminal at Bremerton.

U.S. Loses Ruling on Hatfill 18 Nov 2008 A federal judge ordered the Justice Department yesterday to release documents that explain why investigators suspected Steven J. Hatfill in the 2001 anthrax mailings. Hatfill has since been exonerated. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered the Justice Department to make public affidavits and related records used to persuade judges to allow federal agents to search Hatfill's property. He also ruled that the government must disclose similar records involving Hatfill's girlfriend.

Japanese government rushing through terror bill 18 Nov 2008 The Japanese government is deciding whether to extend parliament's current session, in an effort to renew an anti-terrorism bill. The current parliamentary session is set to expire November 30th.

TSA's 'behavior detection' draws scrutiny in light of few arrests --Critics say the number of arrests is small and indicates the program is flawed. 18 Nov 2008 Fewer than 1% of airline passengers singled out at airports for suspicious behavior are arrested, Transportation Security Administration figures show, raising complaints that too many innocent people are stopped. A TSA program launched in early 2006 that looks for terrorists using a controversial surveillance method has led to more than 160,000 people in airports receiving scrutiny, such as a pat-down search or a brief interview. That has resulted in 1,266 arrests, often on charges of carrying drugs or fake IDs, the TSA said. The TSA program trains screeners to become "behavior detection officers" who patrol terminals and checkpoints looking for travelers who act oddly or appear to answer questions suspiciously.

Clinton-Era Figure a Top Contender For AG --Sources Say Obama Wants Ex-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder to Lead DOJ 18 Nov 2008 Washington lawyer Eric Holder has emerged as the top contender for the Attorney General post in Barack Obama's administration, and key Senate staff members are fielding questions about how a potential Holder confirmation hearing could play out, ABC News has learned. Holder would be the first African-American Attorney General if nominated by Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Hillary Clinton to accept Obama's offer of secretary of state job --President-elect Barack Obama reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration 17 Nov 2008 Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned. Since being elected senator for New York, Clinton has specialised in foreign affairs and defence.

Ex-CIA Officials Tied to Rendition Program and Faulty Iraq Intel Tapped to Head Obama's Intelligence Transition Team (Democracy Now!) 17 Nov 2008 John Brennan and Jami Miscik, both former intelligence officials under George Tenet, are leading Barack Obama�s review of intelligence agencies and helping make recommendations to the new administration. Brennan has supported warrantless wiretapping and extraordinary rendition, and Miscik was involved with the politicized intelligence alleging weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the war on Iraq.

Democrats Let Lieberman Keep Senate Chairmanship 19 Nov 2008 Senator Joseph I. LieberBush, the Democrat-turned-~~independent~~ Reichwing maggot from Connecticut, was allowed to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday despite his support for Senator John McCain [and Sarah Palin] in the presidential campaign. DemocRATic senators voted instead to oust Mr. Lieberman from the Environment and Public Works Committee, where he had been chairman of a subcommittee. That penalty was a slap on the wrist compared with the prospect of losing the homeland security leadership post. [Useless, spineless DemocRATs keep traitor (and betrayer of the people of Connecticut) Joe LieberBush (R-Israel) as chair of key committees --This is *exactly* why no one has ANY respect for these sycophantic f*ckers. Does anyone think for a *minute* the GOP would keep such a traitorous maggot, if the roles were reversed? LOL. Democrats have controlled Congress since 2006 and have done *nothing* but vote with Bush and his corpora-terrorist trolls. And, we won't forget Obama's vote on FISA, either. --LRP]

Alaska's Stevens trails as Senate count nears end 18 Nov 2008 U.S. Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, convicted last month on corruption charges, trails his Democratic challenger by 2,374 votes as the vote count for the state's U.S. Senate race nears its end, state election officials said on Tuesday.

Judge delays trial of accused Palin e-mail 'hacker' --Lawyer for David Kernell asks court to bar references to 'hacking' and 'hacker' 17 Nov 2008 The Tennessee college student [David Kernell] indicted a month ago for allegedly breaking into the e-mail account of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will face trial next May, not next month as originally scheduled, according to recent court documents. Initially, the trial was to begin Dec. 16 for Kernell, who faces a single count of illegally accessing Palin's Yahoo Mail e-mail account.

Lawmakers, Treasury lock horns on foreclosures 18 Nov 2008 Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and members of Congress clashed on Tuesday over the best use for the $700-billion financial bailout fund, with lawmakers demanding money to stem a national wave of mortgage foreclosures.

U.S. auto execs plead for Congress to fund bailout 18 Nov 2008 U.S. auto executives took their case for a $25 billion industry bailout to Congress on Tuesday, warning that the industry was teetering on the brink of disaster as they work to overcome political opposition.

British MPs pass climate change bill 19 Nov 2008 British politicians have given final approval to a bill committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 - the first country to have such a legally binding framework on climate change.

World's oldest polar bear dies in Winnipeg zoo at 42 17 Nov 2008 The oldest polar bear in the world is dead at 42. Officials with the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg announced in a statement Monday evening that Debby the polar bear was euthanized earlier in the day, "surrounded by her caring zookeepers and veterinarians."

Patrick Christie's art to help bashed flamingo 17 Nov 2008 The bashing of a flamingo [dubbed Greater] at Adelaide Zoo has prompted artist Patrick Christie to auction a piece of work to raise money for the bird's care. The male greater flamingo, which is blind in one eye and believed by zoo staff to be about 78 years old, was bashed last month and left with concussion and head and beak injuries. Zookeepers last week said the bird had yet to regain its appetite and was quieter and sleepier than normal.

*****

Dozen juveniles held at Guantanamo Bay --Pentagon revises upward number of children imprisoned at Guantanamo 16 Nov 2008 The number of juveniles held at Guantanamo Bay was revised upwards by US military officials. Twelve juvenile prisoners have been held at the US camp on Cuba, up from eight reported in May to a United Nations committee on child rights, the Pentagon said.

Obama 'will close Guantanamo Bay' 17 Nov 2008 In his first major interview since polling day, President-elect Barack Obama said last night that upon taking office he would close Guantanamo Bay and ban torture by the American military.

'This agreement hands Iraq over (to the US) on a golden platter and for an indefinite period.' Iraq's cabinet agrees deal for US troops to remain for three more years 16 Nov 2008 Iraq's cabinet today approved a security pact with the United States that will allow American forces to stay in Iraq for three years after their UN mandate expires at the end of this year. Followers of Iraq's Shia leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, have objected to the pact. "This agreement hands Iraq over (to the US) on a golden platter and for an indefinite period," said Ahmed al-Massoudi, spokesman for the 30-seat Sadrist bloc in parliament.

Iraqi cabinet approves accord setting U.S. troop withdrawal 16 Nov 2008 Iraq's cabinet on Sunday approved a security pact that sets a timetable for the nearly complete withdrawal of American forces within three years, but the agreement faces an uncertain outlook in Iraq's parliament. Followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al Sadr, meanwhile, view the agreement as an affirmation of the American occupation and oppose it outright.

Pakistan closes NATO's supply line into Afghanistan 16 Nov 2008 Pakistan has closed the Torkham border crossing in the Khyber tribal agency resulting in temporary suspension of NATO's primary supply line into Afghanistan. The closure has suspended movement of fuel tankers and food trucks to NATO and US-led forces in Afghanistan for security reasons, media reports said here today. [What a shame!]

British Army soldier killed by road bomb in Afghanistan 16 Nov 2008 A British Army soldier has been killed by a road bomb in southern Afghanistan. The Gurkha soldier was taking part in a routine road patrol in Musa Qala, Helmand province, when the vehicle in which he was travelling struck an improvised explosive device (IED).

Toxic Chemicals Blamed for Gulf War Illness 17 Nov 2008 Gulf War illness, dismissed by some as a psychosomatic disorder, is a very real illness that affects at least 25 percent of the 700,000 U.S. veterans who took part in the 1991 Gulf War. It's likely cause was exposure to toxic chemicals that included pesticides that were often overused during the war, as well as a [deadly] drug given to U.S. troops to protect them from nerve gas, a frequent weapon of choice of [supplied by the US to] former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Panel finds widespread Gulf War illness 16 Nov 2008 At least one in four U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffers from a multi-symptom illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during the conflict, a congressionally mandated report being released Monday found. For much of the past 17 years, government officials have maintained that these veterans -- more than 175,000 out of about 697,000 deployed -- are merely suffering the effects of wartime stress, even as more have come forward recently with severe ailments.

Why Obama Will Continue Star Wars 16 Nov 2008 Missile-defense skeptics yearning for a fresh look at the wisdom of pumping $10 billion annually into missile defense aren't going to get it from Barack Obama when he moves into the Oval Office. Even in a Democratic-run Pentagon the push for missile defense is going to continue. If Obama keeps Defense Secretary Robert Gates on, as some advisers are arguing he should, that would come as no surprise. [Uh, where's the 'change we can believe in?']

Confirmed: Air Force Flunks Nuke Inspection By Noah Shachtman 13 Nov 2008 It's confirmed: The atomic missile team at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana "failed its nuclear surety inspection" earlier this week, Air Force Times is reporting. Inspectors found problems that 341st Missile Wing�s "weapons storage area and its personnel reliability program, which monitors who can work with nuclear weapons."

'That loophole lets a known terrorist who is on a government watch list board a plane without needing a fake ID. All that's needed is a home computer, a printer and a little skill at HTML.' Chertoff: We're Closing that Boarding-Pass Loophole By Ryan Singel 17 Nov 2008 There�s a hole in airline security big enough to get Osama bin Laden himself onto a domestic flight, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff acknowledges, but that�s no reason to ditch watch lists or ID checks at the airport, he says. Chertoff told Threat Level in an interview last week that the government was aware of, and patching, the so-called boarding-pass loophole, which just came back into the public eye after a recent Atlantic magazine story where a reporter got though security using a fake boarding pass.

KBR's Convenient Contract --KBR is awarded a $75 million U.S. Army Corps contract to provide emergency power to Western states --days before a wildfire sweeps California, 'threatening the power of the city of Los Angeles.' By Lori Price 16 Nov 2008 Now, that's what I call a coincidence!

Auditors go easy on contractors --Department officials overruled auditors who objected to nearly $1 billion in payments to KBR, the Houston-based contractor that supplies U.S. troops with food and housing. 09 Nov 2008 Instead of seeing red, Pentagon audit managers saw business as usual after being told that a major military contractor failed to open all its books for review. At a meeting of Defense Contract Audit Agency staff in California last May, auditor Acacia Rodriguez used a 24-page PowerPoint briefing to describe how she and her co-workers struggled with the Bechtel Group's "chronic failure" to provide the financial records required to prove tax dollars were being spent properly. "Mtn View, we have a problem!!!" said one of Rodriguez's briefing charts, a shorthand reference to the audit agency's branch office in Mountain View, outside San Francisco.

Grand jury investigating another House GOP contract 15 Nov 2008 A state grand jury is investigating a second computer services contract by the House Republican caucus, trying to determine if a multimillion-dollar database was used illegally for political purposes. Investigators from the office of Attorney General Tom Corbett have questioned House employees about a contract with GCR & Associates, a computer consulting firm with offices in New Orleans and Birmingham, Ala., sources said. The company received $9 million in state business from 2002 to this year for computer programming that provided detailed information on registered voters, their patterns and analyses.

Rather's Lawsuit Shows Role of G.O.P. in Inquiry --Bush's media whores at CBS used used Republican operatives to vet the names of potential members of a panel that had been billed as independent 17 Nov 2008 When Dan Rather filed suit against CBS 14 months ago -- claiming, among other things, that his former employer had commissioned a politically biased investigation into his work on a "60 Minutes" segment about President [sic] Bush�s National Guard service -- the network predicted the quick and favorable dismissal of the case... But Mr. Rather has unearthed evidence that would seem to support his assertion that CBS intended its investigation, at least in part, to quell Republican criticism of the network. Internal CBS memorandums turned over to his lawyers show that network executives used Republican operatives to vet the names of potential members of a panel that had been billed as independent and charged with investigating the "60 Minutes" segment.

2 DemocRATs to Submit Compromise on Lieberman 18 Nov 2008 A pair of Senate Democrats will offer a compromise plan today to sanction Sen. Joseph I. LIEberman (R-Israel) for his support of the Republican presidential ticket but allow him to keep a key committee chairmanship and remain in the party caucus. Senators and aides said yesterday that Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) and Ken Salazar (Colo.) will present a plan at a caucus meeting that would strip Lieberman of a low-profile subcommittee chairmanship, possibly one on global warming. But LieberBush would retain the gavel of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

McCain backer LIEberman may keep committee chair 17 Nov 2008 Sen. Joe LieberBush appears increasingly likely to hold onto his prized chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee as he meets Tuesday with Democratic colleagues unhappy over his vocal support for GOP nominee John McCain during this year's presidential campaign.

Gag me with a chainsaw *and* mega barf alert: Obama, McCain pledge to work together 17 Nov 2008 U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and vanquished rival John McCain met for the first time since the Nov. 4 election on Monday, pledging to work together to face the financial crisis and other national challenges. "We're going to have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country," Obama said before the two began their closed-door meeting, adding that he wanted to offer his thanks to McInsane for "outstanding service" already rendered to the United States.

Rahm Emanuel apologizes for father's disparaging remarks about Arabs 14 Nov 2008 Rahm Emanuel U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel apologized to an Arab-American group on Thursday for comments disparaging Arabs made by his father.

Dershowitz: I helped keep Carter silent 13 Nov 2008 Why didn't Jimmy Carter speak from the podium at the Democratic National Convention? Alan Dershowitz said he had something to do with it. In an interview with Shalom TV, the Harvard Law School professor says he "pushed" Barack Obama "very hard to make that decision," Dershowitz said in an interview with Shalom TV. "Barack Obama had to make a choice between his Jewish supporters and his anti-Israel supporters like Jimmy Carter, and he did not choose Jimmy Carter. And that was an embarrassment for Jimmy Carter and a show of disrespect."

Satire: Obama Victory Starts Hot New Trend: Palling Around With Terrorists By R J Shulman 17 Nov 2008 The decisive victory of Barack Obama in the presidential election has made a once taboo topic the talk of the town, associating with a terrorist. "Everybody wants to have their picture taken with a terrorist," said Sandy Holsteder of US Magazine, "William Ayers has so many invites, he will never have to buy lunch or dinner again." (Satire)

Priest: No communion for Obama supporters --Priest says it's because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion 13 Nov 2008 South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote. [And, parishioners are putting their sanity at risk, listening to this Reichwing nutjobs.]

Several presidents of private colleges earn more than $1 million 17 Nov 2008 A dozen presidents of private colleges earned more than $1 million in compensation during the 2006-07 year, including Northwestern University chief Henry Bienen, who was the second-highest paid college executive in the nation. The annual survey of presidential pay released Monday by The Chronicle of Higher Education found that 89 private college presidents took home more than $500,000 in annual compensation, more than double those who did five years earlier.

Henry Paulson abandons plan to purchase bad mortgages and will invest $700bn bailout in banks 13 Nov 2008 Henry Paulson announced a $700 billion U-turn on Wednesday when he said that Washington would no longer be using taxpayer money to buy distressed assets from troubled banks. The Treasury Secretary's change of heart marks a dramatic shift, given that the primary purpose of the $700 billion bailout fund, approved in Washington only in September, had been to purchase mortgage-backed securities from troubled lenders.

Inhofe: Cancel the 'blank check' --Senator criticizes Henry Paulson for changing $700 billion bailout plan 16 Nov 2008 U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said Saturday that Congress was not told the truth about the bailout of the nation's financial system and should take back what is left of the $700 billion "blank check'' it gave the Bush administration. "It is just outrageous that the American people don't know that Congress doesn't know how much money he (Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson) has given away to anyone,'' the Oklahoma Republican told the Tulsa World.

Goldman Targeted by Investor Complaints of Naked Short-Selling --Investors: Goldman is acting against its clients by trying to profit at their expense. 17 Nov 2008 Investors in the $591 billion high- yield, high-risk loan market are accusing Goldman Sachs Group Inc. of naked short selling to profit from record price declines. At least two fund managers complained verbally to officials of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association, saying they believe Goldman helped drive down prices by using the technique, according to people with knowledge of the objections.

Lehman's administrators paid more than the bankers 14 Nov 2008 The administrators of the UK and European arm of bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers are making better money than the bankers. PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has around 300 employees working on the Lehman administration, is being paid �4m a week, the accounting firm revealed yesterday. By contrast, the monthly wage bill for Lehman's remaining 1,100 bankers is �8m � �2m a week � though that does not include planned "small retention bonuses".

Citigroup to slash 52,000 jobs 17 Nov 2008 Citigroup revealed plans to cut 52,000 jobs by early next year in a dramatic move to restore the No. 2 U.S. bank to health [?!?] as it combats mounting debt losses and sagging economies worldwide. The cuts announced by Chief Executive Vikram Pandit on Monday will shrink Citigroup's work force by 15 percent, and are in addition to 23,000 jobs eliminated between January and September.

Our Home-Grown Melamine Problem By James E. McWilliams 17 Nov 2008 China's food supply appears to be awash in the industrial chemical melamine. Dangerous levels have been detected not only in milk and eggs, but also in chicken feed and wheat gluten, meaning that melamine is almost impossible to avoid in processed foods... For all the outrage about Chinese melamine, what American consumers and government agencies have studiously failed to scrutinize is how much melamine has pervaded our own food system.

*****

Short Term Archives --Recent news items