Friday, April 10, 2009
Judge: U.S. hid witness's mental illness in Guantanamo cases
"The Justice Department improperly withheld important psychiatric records of a government witness who was used in a "significant" number of Guantanamo cases, a federal judge has concluded."
Judge: U.S. hid witness's mental illness in Guantanamo cases | McClatchy
"Listen, we got a plan, and we're following it regardless of the 'facts.'"
Judge: U.S. hid witness's mental illness in Guantanamo cases | McClatchy
"Listen, we got a plan, and we're following it regardless of the 'facts.'"
Obama Administration Backs Bush Policy in Terror Case (Update1)
Under Bush, the government argued national security would be jeopardized if the 2007 suit against Boeing’s Jeppesen Dataplan is allowed to proceed. Jeppesen was accused of falsifying flight plans to disguise the Central Intelligence Agency’s delivery of suspected terrorists to secret prisons where they were allegedly tortured.
The ACLU alleged that Jeppesen helped transport terrorism suspects on more than 70 flights to countries where they weren’t protected by U.S. law and were tortured during CIA interrogation.
‘Reprehensible Policy’
“Eric Holder’s Justice Department stood up in court today and said that it would continue the Bush policy of invoking state secrets to hide the reprehensible history of torture, rendition and the most grievous human rights violations committed by the American government,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero in a statement yesterday. “This is not change. This is definitely more of the same.”
Obama Administration Backs Bush Policy in Terror Case (Update1) - Bloomberg.comThe Federal government deciding which lawsuits go to court and which ones don't? That doesn't sound like freedom.
CIA Has Quit Operating Secret Jails, Chief Says
CIA Director Panetta Says Agency Is No Longer Operating Secret Prisons - washingtonpost.com
Obama gets this one right, but gets the wiretapping/immunity wrong.
Obama gets this one right, but gets the wiretapping/immunity wrong.
Fed Said to Order Banks to Stay Mum on ‘Stress Test’ Results
Fed Said to Order Banks to Stay Mum on ‘Stress Test’ Results - Bloomberg.com
It's their tax money, why should they know who it's going to?
It's their tax money, why should they know who it's going to?
In Italy, They Called It Fascism
"America, are you honestly going to sit idly by as your government completely co-opts private industry and eradicates what's left of the economic model that's produced what little prosperity you're left with today?"
who's your nanny?: In Italy, They Called It Fascism
Actually, it's private industry that has co-opted the power of government. It's called privatizing profits, and nationalizing losses. "If I win on this giant bet, I get the dough. If I lose on this giant bet, you pay the losses." It's a good gig, if you can get it. How do you get it? Scare Americans. Apparently they will give up any and all freedoms if they are afraid. Tell them your bank is their "system," and it is about to collapse! They'll believe you.
who's your nanny?: In Italy, They Called It Fascism
Actually, it's private industry that has co-opted the power of government. It's called privatizing profits, and nationalizing losses. "If I win on this giant bet, I get the dough. If I lose on this giant bet, you pay the losses." It's a good gig, if you can get it. How do you get it? Scare Americans. Apparently they will give up any and all freedoms if they are afraid. Tell them your bank is their "system," and it is about to collapse! They'll believe you.
The 4.7 Million Iraqi Refugees Caused by America
"There are 4,700,000 Iraqi refugees, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. What is the U.S. policy of assistance to Iraqi refugees whose lives were torn apart by the American bombing and occupation? Do we even have such a policy?"
Mondoweiss: Bromwich: Who talks about the 4,700,000 Iraqi refugees?
Mondoweiss: Bromwich: Who talks about the 4,700,000 Iraqi refugees?
Former FBI chief defends flow of money to Saudi ambassador
"$2 billion from an British arms manufacturer to Saudi Arabia's then-U.S. ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, has come under scrutiny. Louis Freeh defends Bandar on 'Frontline.'"
Former FBI chief defends flow of money to Saudi ambassador
Former FBI chief defends flow of money to Saudi ambassador
Red Cross says doctors helped CIA "torture"
"Health workers violated medical ethics when they helped interrogate terrorism suspects who were tortured at secret CIA prisons overseas, the International Committee of the Red Cross said."
Red Cross says doctors helped CIA torture | International | Reuters
Red Cross says doctors helped CIA torture | International | Reuters
In 2003, Canada & Australia Give Same Speech
In 2003, Stephen Harper and Australian Prime Minister John Howard deliver largely identical speeches urging their nations to join George W. Bush's Coalition of the Willing to go to war with Iraq.
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal
"In 2001, Portugal began a remarkable policy experiment, decriminalizing all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Some predicted disastrous results—that drug addiction rates would soar and the country would become a haven for "drug tourists." Now that several years have passed, policy experts can study the results. In a new paper for the Cato Institute, attorney and author Glenn Greenwald closely examines the Portugal experiment and concludes that the doomsayers were wrong. There is now a widespread consensus in Portugal that decriminalization has been a success. The debate in Portugal has shifted rather dramatically to minor adjustments in the existing arrangement. There is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. Join us for a discussion about Glenn Greenwald's field research in Portugal and what lessons his findings may hold for drug policies in other countries."
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal (Cato Institute: Policy Forum)
Freedom works???!! If only our forefathers had told us about this. Given us some sort of document or system which explained this. Damn you, forefathers!
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal (Cato Institute: Policy Forum)
Freedom works???!! If only our forefathers had told us about this. Given us some sort of document or system which explained this. Damn you, forefathers!
US Munitions Delivered to Israel
US munitions delivered to Israel | Amnesty International
"Durnnit! I just can't seem to figure out why those Middle Easterners hate us! I got it! They hate us for our freedoms!"
"Durnnit! I just can't seem to figure out why those Middle Easterners hate us! I got it! They hate us for our freedoms!"
Why Are Army Recruiters Killing Themselves? - TIME Magazine
"Lawrence Kagawa retired last July after more than 20 years in uniform; he spent the latter half as a highly decorated recruiter, and his tenure included a stint in the Houston battalion from 2002 to 2005. "There's one set of values for the Army, and when you go to Recruiting Command, you're basically forced to do things outside of what would normally be considered to be moral or ethical," he says."
Why Are Army Recruiters Killing Themselves? - TIME
Why Are Army Recruiters Killing Themselves? - TIME
15 Year Ponzi Scheme Discovered
Homes, Cars, Art Seized In Ponzi Investigation - cbs4denver.com
"...but, but, but I thought we were paying billion upon billion of tax dollars to the SEC to perform audits and PROTECT US from bad banks and investment schemes!!!" Hmmm....that system doesn't seem to be working.
"...but, but, but I thought we were paying billion upon billion of tax dollars to the SEC to perform audits and PROTECT US from bad banks and investment schemes!!!" Hmmm....that system doesn't seem to be working.
Geithner's Stress Test "A Complete Sham," Former Federal Bank Regulator Says
Geithners Stress Test "A Complete Sham," Former Federal Bank Regulator Says: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance
The stress test is a Public Relations scheme, designed to make you feel good about giving up your tax dollars to legalized ponzi schemes.
The stress test is a Public Relations scheme, designed to make you feel good about giving up your tax dollars to legalized ponzi schemes.
Glenn Greenwald on Obama Secrecy/Immunity Claims
"...what fueled the extreme hostility towards the Bush/Cheney administration were their imperious and radical efforts to place themselves behind an impenetrable wall of secrecy and above and beyond the rule of law. It would require a virtually pathological level of tribal loyalty and monumental intellectual dishonesty not to object just as vehemently as we watch the Obama DOJ repeatedly invoke these very same theories and, in this instance, actually invent a new one that not even the Bush administration espoused. "
Keith Olbermann's scathing criticism of Obama's secrecy/immunity claims - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com
(invoking Jedi mind trick) "This is not the change you're looking for..."
Keith Olbermann's scathing criticism of Obama's secrecy/immunity claims - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com
(invoking Jedi mind trick) "This is not the change you're looking for..."
Olbermann Goes After Obama for Immunity/Secrecy Claims
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Iraqi protesters call for US exit
Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Iraqi protesters call for US exit
Why don't we see this on the nightly TV news? Seems relevant and important.
Why don't we see this on the nightly TV news? Seems relevant and important.
Pentagon budget envisions a series of Iraq-style wars
"At a formal press announcement Monday and in media appearances over the next day, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates unveiled the biggest military budget in world history, in anticipation of an endless series of Iraq and Afghanistan-style wars by American imperialism.
Both the military budget itself and the official who drafted it—Gates held the same position in the last two years of the Bush administration and is the first Pentagon chief to be retained by a new president—underscore the fundamental continuity between Obama and Bush."
Pentagon budget envisions a series of Iraq-style wars :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it
Both the military budget itself and the official who drafted it—Gates held the same position in the last two years of the Bush administration and is the first Pentagon chief to be retained by a new president—underscore the fundamental continuity between Obama and Bush."
Pentagon budget envisions a series of Iraq-style wars :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Banking "System" Says, "Let's Play Pretend" with Our Assets
"When elementary school kids want to escape the confines of their circumstances they pretend to be pirates, princesses, and Jedi knights. Now, with the relaxation of "mark to market" valuation rules announced yesterday by the accounting trade's self-regulatory body, our bankrupt financial institutions can escape their own reality by pretending to be solvent. The unraveling of our fairytale economy over the last few months has not yet convinced us that the time has come to put away childish things. The applause that greeted the news yesterday on Wall Street is a clear sign that we still have some growing up to do."
Let's Play Pretend! - Peter Schiff
Let's Play Pretend! - Peter Schiff
Saturday, April 4, 2009
‘Tarp cop’ launches probes into bail-out fraud
"US authorities have launched more than a dozen criminal investigations into possible fraud involving bank bail-out funds, the special inspector-general for the troubled assets relief programme told Congress on Tuesday."
FT.com / US / Economy & Fed - ‘Tarp cop’ launches probes into bail-out fraud
FT.com / US / Economy & Fed - ‘Tarp cop’ launches probes into bail-out fraud
Watchdogs: Treasury won't disclose bank bailout details
"The massive programs designed to rescue the nation's financial sector are operating without adequate oversight, with vague goals and limited disclosure of their details to the taxpayers who are paying for them, government watchdogs told a Senate panel Tuesday."
Watchdogs: Treasury won't disclose bank bailout details | McClatchy
Do you really need more evidence that you're being robbed? When are you going to realize that what they promise and what they deliver are polar opposites? Iraq? "Security?" Reform? How many more contiguous examples do you need before you get mad?
Watchdogs: Treasury won't disclose bank bailout details | McClatchy
Do you really need more evidence that you're being robbed? When are you going to realize that what they promise and what they deliver are polar opposites? Iraq? "Security?" Reform? How many more contiguous examples do you need before you get mad?
Study Shows Smoking lowers Parkinson's disease risk
"A new study adds to the previously reported evidence that cigarette smoking protects against Parkinson's disease. Specifically, the new research shows a temporal relationship between smoking and reduced risk of Parkinson's disease. That is, the protective effect wanes after smokers quit."
www.data-yard.net
Just let people do what they want to do, as long as they aren't hurting anyone but themselves...because, maybe they aren't, you goddamn know it all!
www.data-yard.net
Just let people do what they want to do, as long as they aren't hurting anyone but themselves...because, maybe they aren't, you goddamn know it all!
Spielberg's "The Minority Report" is Almost Here
"A recent article in the UK Independent entitled, Police identify 200 children as potential terrorists, heralds what looks to be the unofficial beginning of British law enforcement's own "Pre-crime" program. For the first time, we can begin to see intelligence gathering and emerging technologies converging in a culture of pre-emptive law enforcement. Officials interviewed in this article are keen to play down any concerns about racial or religious profiling, insisting the program is an innocuous one. Civil liberties group may argue otherwise."
OpEdNews » The UK Minority Report: Has 'Precrime' Finally Arrived?
OpEdNews » The UK Minority Report: Has 'Precrime' Finally Arrived?
Paper Mills Add Unneeded Diesel Fuel Process to Qualify for Tax Money
"Thanks to an obscure tax provision, the United States government stands to pay out as much as $8 billion this year to the ten largest paper companies. And get this: even though the money comes from a transportation bill whose manifest intent was to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, paper mills are adding diesel fuel to a process that requires none in order to qualify for the tax credit. In other words, we are paying the industry--handsomely--to use more fossil fuel. "Which is," as a Goldman Sachs report archly noted, the "opposite of what lawmakers likely had in mind when the tax credit was established.""
Stunning Government Billion-Dollar Giveaway to Paper Companies in the Works | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet
Do you get it now? Subsidies and incentives don't work. Corporations have giant legal departments to get around these things. And, to make it easy, the laws are so complicated and contradictory, they do it all the time. If you really want to stick it to corporations, make them compete with each other. That's what they try to avoid more than anything. Competing is hard, and has low margins. Lobbying has very high returns on your money, and you don't have to work very hard at it.
Stunning Government Billion-Dollar Giveaway to Paper Companies in the Works | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet
Do you get it now? Subsidies and incentives don't work. Corporations have giant legal departments to get around these things. And, to make it easy, the laws are so complicated and contradictory, they do it all the time. If you really want to stick it to corporations, make them compete with each other. That's what they try to avoid more than anything. Competing is hard, and has low margins. Lobbying has very high returns on your money, and you don't have to work very hard at it.
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