spread of the red
number 109 07.01.07
Attorney General Weak on Legal Theory, Strong on Execution
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and
his senior staff at the Justice Department
have improperly ordered federal
prosecutors to seek capital punishment
in cases where it may not be justified,
according to the testimony of a former
US Attorney before a Senate panel. Paul
K. Charlton told the panel that Gonzales
has pushed to expand the federal death
penalty for political reasons, routinely
ignoring evidence and the opinions of
local lawyers involved in the cases.
Charlton, the former prosecutor for
Arizona, is one of nine former US
Attorneys involved in the current firings
controversy.
In testimony before the Senate Judiciary
his senior staff at the Justice Department
have improperly ordered federal
prosecutors to seek capital punishment
in cases where it may not be justified,
according to the testimony of a former
US Attorney before a Senate panel. Paul
K. Charlton told the panel that Gonzales
has pushed to expand the federal death
penalty for political reasons, routinely
ignoring evidence and the opinions of
local lawyers involved in the cases.
Charlton, the former prosecutor for
Arizona, is one of nine former US
Attorneys involved in the current firings
controversy.
In testimony before the Senate Judiciary
Committee Subcommittee on the
Constitution last week, Charlton sharply
criticized Justice Department procedures
for reviewing capital cases for their
failure to adequately consider the quality
of available evidence, specifically citing a
case in which Gonzales had ordered his
office to pursue the death penalty
despite a total lack of forensic evidence.
In that case, US v. Rios Rico, local
prosecutors believed that the victim’s
body was buried in a landfill, but their
application for federal funds to exhume
the body was denied. Lacking a body, a
murder weapon, or any DNA evidence,
Charlton’s office recommended against
seeking the death penalty. Without
seeking further input from Charlton’s
Constitution last week, Charlton sharply
criticized Justice Department procedures
for reviewing capital cases for their
failure to adequately consider the quality
of available evidence, specifically citing a
case in which Gonzales had ordered his
office to pursue the death penalty
despite a total lack of forensic evidence.
In that case, US v. Rios Rico, local
prosecutors believed that the victim’s
body was buried in a landfill, but their
application for federal funds to exhume
the body was denied. Lacking a body, a
murder weapon, or any DNA evidence,
Charlton’s office recommended against
seeking the death penalty. Without
seeking further input from Charlton’s
team, Gonzales overruled their
decision, ordering the office to
prosecute Rios Rico as a capital case.
Charlton told the Senators that he
repeatedly asked Justice Department
officials and senior staff within the
Office of the Attorney General to
reconsider the decision, but was
consistently rebuffed. His request for
a brief meeting with Gonzales to
discuss the case was denied, but he
was assured by an assistant to Deputy
Attorney General Paul McNulty that
McNulty “had spent a significant
amount of time on this issue with the
Attorney General, perhaps as much
as 5 to 10 minutes.” it's all true
decision, ordering the office to
prosecute Rios Rico as a capital case.
Charlton told the Senators that he
repeatedly asked Justice Department
officials and senior staff within the
Office of the Attorney General to
reconsider the decision, but was
consistently rebuffed. His request for
a brief meeting with Gonzales to
discuss the case was denied, but he
was assured by an assistant to Deputy
Attorney General Paul McNulty that
McNulty “had spent a significant
amount of time on this issue with the
Attorney General, perhaps as much
as 5 to 10 minutes.” it's all true
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
News
interpreting the constitution
Supreme Court Curtails Rights as it Shifts to the Right
Increasing Sums
Confined to Slums
Confined to Slums
As the 2006/2007 session of the US
Supreme Court closes, the Roberts
Court has demonstrated itself to be a
protector of the rights of corporations
over individuals. The new court also
revealed itself to be an activist body in
its rejection of established legal
precedents. Although the court
accepted a comparatively small docket of
cases to review in 2006, its decisions,
often in 5-4 rulings, reflect a majority
determined to restrict the rights of
individuals, limit the ability of
government to stop bad practices and
protect the interests of big business.
The court’s 5-4 ruling in a case regarding
two school district’s policies to integrate
their classrooms contradicted the
landmark Brown v Board of Education
ruling of 1954. Although Justice
Kennedy did not agree with a complete
Supreme Court closes, the Roberts
Court has demonstrated itself to be a
protector of the rights of corporations
over individuals. The new court also
revealed itself to be an activist body in
its rejection of established legal
precedents. Although the court
accepted a comparatively small docket of
cases to review in 2006, its decisions,
often in 5-4 rulings, reflect a majority
determined to restrict the rights of
individuals, limit the ability of
government to stop bad practices and
protect the interests of big business.
The court’s 5-4 ruling in a case regarding
two school district’s policies to integrate
their classrooms contradicted the
landmark Brown v Board of Education
ruling of 1954. Although Justice
Kennedy did not agree with a complete
ban on consideration of race in such
programs, the decision effectively
invalidates voluntary school integration
programs. Justice Breyer recognized in
his dissent the gravity of the conservative
member’s decision writing, “It is not
often in law that so few have changed so
much so quickly.”
The court also carved out an exception
to the constitutional guaranty of free
speech when it decided that a high
school student’s banner could be
censored by the school’s administration.
The court found, again in a 5-4 decision,
that the slogan “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” could
be considered to support illegal drug use
and therefore, the school administrators
were allowed to abridge the student’s
free speech rights.
The court also ruled in 5-4 decisions to
programs, the decision effectively
invalidates voluntary school integration
programs. Justice Breyer recognized in
his dissent the gravity of the conservative
member’s decision writing, “It is not
often in law that so few have changed so
much so quickly.”
The court also carved out an exception
to the constitutional guaranty of free
speech when it decided that a high
school student’s banner could be
censored by the school’s administration.
The court found, again in a 5-4 decision,
that the slogan “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” could
be considered to support illegal drug use
and therefore, the school administrators
were allowed to abridge the student’s
free speech rights.
The court also ruled in 5-4 decisions to
limit the rights of employees sue
employers for discrimination, that
states could restrict a woman’s
abortion rights, and that rules to
curtail unfair political advertisements
were unconstitutional. The court
also restricted the rights of
shareholders to sue corporations,
overturned a 96 year old law
outlawing price fixing by producers
and determined the Environmental
Protection Agency did not have to
follow federal laws if the agency
ceded its authority to the states.
DePaul College of Law professor
Sheldon Nahmod told the Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin that, “ The
conservative majority has come into
its own without apology,” adding,
“individual rights have, for the most
part, taken a back seat.” it's all true
employers for discrimination, that
states could restrict a woman’s
abortion rights, and that rules to
curtail unfair political advertisements
were unconstitutional. The court
also restricted the rights of
shareholders to sue corporations,
overturned a 96 year old law
outlawing price fixing by producers
and determined the Environmental
Protection Agency did not have to
follow federal laws if the agency
ceded its authority to the states.
DePaul College of Law professor
Sheldon Nahmod told the Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin that, “ The
conservative majority has come into
its own without apology,” adding,
“individual rights have, for the most
part, taken a back seat.” it's all true
More than half the world’s
population will live in cities by the
end of next year, marking a trend
toward global urbanization that
will continue to intensify over the
next century, according to a
report released last week by the
United Nations Population Fund.
The portion of the total global
population living in cities is
expected to reach 60 percent by
2030. According to the report,
urban populations in developing
countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin
America will more than double
during that time.
The strains of rapid population
growth are most likely to be felt
in the sprawling slums of Africa
and Asia. The report warns of
environmental consequences as
“the accumulated urban growth
of these two regions during the
whole span of history will be
duplicated in a single generation.”
The authors note that the
required expansion of civil
infrastructure in these countries
will greatly exceed previous
periods of rapid development in
wealthier nations.
Asian cities are expected to swell
by more than one billion
inhabitants by 2030, according to
the report, with African cities
adding 440 million residents, and
Latin American urban areas
growing by more that 200 million.
During the same period, the
authors project that the total
global rural population will
decrease by about 30 million. UN
spokesperson Thoraya Obaid said,
"The shift from rural to urban
changes a balance that has lasted
for millennia." it's all true
population will live in cities by the
end of next year, marking a trend
toward global urbanization that
will continue to intensify over the
next century, according to a
report released last week by the
United Nations Population Fund.
The portion of the total global
population living in cities is
expected to reach 60 percent by
2030. According to the report,
urban populations in developing
countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin
America will more than double
during that time.
The strains of rapid population
growth are most likely to be felt
in the sprawling slums of Africa
and Asia. The report warns of
environmental consequences as
“the accumulated urban growth
of these two regions during the
whole span of history will be
duplicated in a single generation.”
The authors note that the
required expansion of civil
infrastructure in these countries
will greatly exceed previous
periods of rapid development in
wealthier nations.
Asian cities are expected to swell
by more than one billion
inhabitants by 2030, according to
the report, with African cities
adding 440 million residents, and
Latin American urban areas
growing by more that 200 million.
During the same period, the
authors project that the total
global rural population will
decrease by about 30 million. UN
spokesperson Thoraya Obaid said,
"The shift from rural to urban
changes a balance that has lasted
for millennia." it's all true
crowd control
| redstat |
US Border Fence Illegal, Alienating
| Cancer death incidence per 100 000 population, selected countries |
Officials of the US Customs and Border
Protection Service have confirmed that
part of a security barrier designed to
defend the southern US border was
accidentally built on Mexican soil. The
embarrassing gaffe was discovered by a
routine aerial survey conducted in
March. The survey revealed that a 1.5
mile-long section of the 15-mile border
fence near Columbus, New Mexico
protrudes from one to six feet into
Mexican territory.
The government of Mexico has asked
that the fence be dismantled
immediately. The cost of removing and
relocating the section of the security
barrier is estimated to be between $2.5
million and $3.5 million. The entire
15-mile security barrier was constructed
in 2000 at a cost of $7.5 million,
apparently following a fence line built by
Protection Service have confirmed that
part of a security barrier designed to
defend the southern US border was
accidentally built on Mexican soil. The
embarrassing gaffe was discovered by a
routine aerial survey conducted in
March. The survey revealed that a 1.5
mile-long section of the 15-mile border
fence near Columbus, New Mexico
protrudes from one to six feet into
Mexican territory.
The government of Mexico has asked
that the fence be dismantled
immediately. The cost of removing and
relocating the section of the security
barrier is estimated to be between $2.5
million and $3.5 million. The entire
15-mile security barrier was constructed
in 2000 at a cost of $7.5 million,
apparently following a fence line built by
local ranchers in the 19th Century.
Customs and Border Protection
spokesman Michael Friel told the
Associated Press that the fence traced
“what was known to be the international
boundary at the time,” adding that the
survey used to locate the barrier was
“less precise than it is today.”
Despite the error, US Senator Jeff
Bingaman (R-NM) has called for a new
fence to be erected before the removal
of the existing barrier, citing security
issues. Residents of New Mexico have in
the past raised concerns about the
Mexican border village of Las Chepas,
calling it a center of narcotics smuggling
and illegal immigration activities. The US
Department of Homeland Security has
announced plans to standardize future
security barrier projects. it's all true
Customs and Border Protection
spokesman Michael Friel told the
Associated Press that the fence traced
“what was known to be the international
boundary at the time,” adding that the
survey used to locate the barrier was
“less precise than it is today.”
Despite the error, US Senator Jeff
Bingaman (R-NM) has called for a new
fence to be erected before the removal
of the existing barrier, citing security
issues. Residents of New Mexico have in
the past raised concerns about the
Mexican border village of Las Chepas,
calling it a center of narcotics smuggling
and illegal immigration activities. The US
Department of Homeland Security has
announced plans to standardize future
security barrier projects. it's all true
400
300
200
100
0
italy us france uk
source: OCED Health Facts
in bed with the red
Separate Investigations Discover Oversight Largely Overlooked
Government investigator reviews of
military construction and contracting
programs, where the US military gave
multi-million dollar contracts to private
firms instead of itself performing the
projects, have revealed major
mismanagement and abuse, in one
instance resulting in an international
criminal investigation.
The Governmental Accountability Office
and the Special Investigator for Iraqi
Reconstruction both reported to
Congress recently that private
contractors who were retained by the
US military have frittered away multiple
millions of American taxpayer dollars
performing construction projects and
executing general services contracts
supporting US troops in occupied Iraq
with little or no oversight. The
investigators reviewed the construction
of a military airbase in Germany by
private contractors and the services
provided to military personnel in Iraq by
the firm Kellogg, Brown and Root.
The Government Accountability Office
reviewed the construction of the
Pentagon’s largest overseas project, the
Kaiserlautern Military Community
Center, also known as “K-Town”, a
multi-million dollar facility that is
intended to house soldiers, a movie
complex, a retail shopping mall, “name
military construction and contracting
programs, where the US military gave
multi-million dollar contracts to private
firms instead of itself performing the
projects, have revealed major
mismanagement and abuse, in one
instance resulting in an international
criminal investigation.
The Governmental Accountability Office
and the Special Investigator for Iraqi
Reconstruction both reported to
Congress recently that private
contractors who were retained by the
US military have frittered away multiple
millions of American taxpayer dollars
performing construction projects and
executing general services contracts
supporting US troops in occupied Iraq
with little or no oversight. The
investigators reviewed the construction
of a military airbase in Germany by
private contractors and the services
provided to military personnel in Iraq by
the firm Kellogg, Brown and Root.
The Government Accountability Office
reviewed the construction of the
Pentagon’s largest overseas project, the
Kaiserlautern Military Community
Center, also known as “K-Town”, a
multi-million dollar facility that is
intended to house soldiers, a movie
complex, a retail shopping mall, “name
brand” restaurants and a gambling facility.
The GAO found that “construction
flaws, vandalism of property, repeated
work stoppages and slow-downs by
contractors, and ongoing criminal
investigations,” have resulted in
“cost, schedule, and performance
problems” leading to significant delays.
The complex was scheduled to open in
early 2006 and the original budget for
the complex was $150. The GOA
reports that, due to the waste,
mismanagement and fraud, neither “the
German government construction
agency in charge of the project, nor the
Air Force have a reliable estimated
completion date or final cost for the
project.”
The Special Investigator for Iraqi
Reconstruction reviewed the
performance of the private firm Kellogg,
Brown and Root in its fulfillment of a
multi-million dollar no-bid contract to
perform services for military personnel in
Iraq. The contract given to KBR
included providing food preparation,
laundry, transportation, power
generation and communications services
for military personnel, among other
tasks. When KBR got the no-bid
contract, it was a subsidiary of
Halliburton, LLC, the company that
Vice-President Cheney headed
The GAO found that “construction
flaws, vandalism of property, repeated
work stoppages and slow-downs by
contractors, and ongoing criminal
investigations,” have resulted in
“cost, schedule, and performance
problems” leading to significant delays.
The complex was scheduled to open in
early 2006 and the original budget for
the complex was $150. The GOA
reports that, due to the waste,
mismanagement and fraud, neither “the
German government construction
agency in charge of the project, nor the
Air Force have a reliable estimated
completion date or final cost for the
project.”
The Special Investigator for Iraqi
Reconstruction reviewed the
performance of the private firm Kellogg,
Brown and Root in its fulfillment of a
multi-million dollar no-bid contract to
perform services for military personnel in
Iraq. The contract given to KBR
included providing food preparation,
laundry, transportation, power
generation and communications services
for military personnel, among other
tasks. When KBR got the no-bid
contract, it was a subsidiary of
Halliburton, LLC, the company that
Vice-President Cheney headed
prior to being elected.
The Special Investigator’s review
found that KBR had mismanaged
projects and failed to adhere to
common accounting practices costing
taxpayers tens of millions of dollars
and leading to a situation where
investigators “were unable to
determine an accurate measurement”
of services provided. While the
investigators rebuked military
personnel for lax or ineffective
oversight, investigators were told by
military personnel that they “did not
believe the Army’s guidance applied
to” private contractors, creating a
situation where KBR “was performing
self-oversight.”
Both investigations concluded that
the private contractors operated in a
netherworld where little or no
oversight combined with
mismanagement and graft to slow
down construction, reduce services
and increase costs to the American
taxpayer. The Special investigator
for Iraqi Reconstruction told
Congress that in Iraq, lack of
effective oversight and the military’s
reliance on KBR to “self-manage and
self-report on its performance” led
to a 45 percent cost over-run to be
paid by taxpayers. it's all true
The Special Investigator’s review
found that KBR had mismanaged
projects and failed to adhere to
common accounting practices costing
taxpayers tens of millions of dollars
and leading to a situation where
investigators “were unable to
determine an accurate measurement”
of services provided. While the
investigators rebuked military
personnel for lax or ineffective
oversight, investigators were told by
military personnel that they “did not
believe the Army’s guidance applied
to” private contractors, creating a
situation where KBR “was performing
self-oversight.”
Both investigations concluded that
the private contractors operated in a
netherworld where little or no
oversight combined with
mismanagement and graft to slow
down construction, reduce services
and increase costs to the American
taxpayer. The Special investigator
for Iraqi Reconstruction told
Congress that in Iraq, lack of
effective oversight and the military’s
reliance on KBR to “self-manage and
self-report on its performance” led
to a 45 percent cost over-run to be
paid by taxpayers. it's all true
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verbatim number 21.4
"I understand there's a suspicion that we-we're
too security-conscience." Washington DC 04.14.05
too security-conscience." Washington DC 04.14.05
