News
number 111 07.15.07
White House Denied Baker Ingredients to Prepare Second Course
A bipartisan Congressional effort to
reconvene the Iraq Study Group to
prepare a second report on the US
occupation of Iraq has been effectively
halted by the Bush administration, which
has reportedly refused to authorize the
participation of the panel’s chairman,
former Secretary of State James Baker.
The first ISG report, released last
December, received a tepid response
from the White House, and its main
recommendations have been largely
ignored. Baker has said privately that he
will not participate without the support
of the president, even though the House
has already voted to fund the panel. The
incident is the latest in a series of public
reconvene the Iraq Study Group to
prepare a second report on the US
occupation of Iraq has been effectively
halted by the Bush administration, which
has reportedly refused to authorize the
participation of the panel’s chairman,
former Secretary of State James Baker.
The first ISG report, released last
December, received a tepid response
from the White House, and its main
recommendations have been largely
ignored. Baker has said privately that he
will not participate without the support
of the president, even though the House
has already voted to fund the panel. The
incident is the latest in a series of public
repudiations by the White House of
senior members of the president’s
father’s administration.
According to a report in the
Washington Post, the White House is
firmly opposed to any independent
assessment of the situation in Iraq that
may detract attention from two military
reports that are expected in September.
Congressional attempts to reach a
political consensus on Iraq have centered
on the original ISG report, and last
month the House voted 355 to 69 to
revive the panel with a view to
producing an updated version. But ISG
co-chairman Lee Hamilton told the
Post, “It’s not likely to happen unless
senior members of the president’s
father’s administration.
According to a report in the
Washington Post, the White House is
firmly opposed to any independent
assessment of the situation in Iraq that
may detract attention from two military
reports that are expected in September.
Congressional attempts to reach a
political consensus on Iraq have centered
on the original ISG report, and last
month the House voted 355 to 69 to
revive the panel with a view to
producing an updated version. But ISG
co-chairman Lee Hamilton told the
Post, “It’s not likely to happen unless
the White House approves it. The
group can’t go ahead without its
concurrence or acquiescence, as we
need travel support and access to
documents.”
A number of Congressional
Republicans, who view a renewed
ISG as an opportunity for political
cover on the increasingly unpopular
occupation of Iraq ahead of next
year’s elections, were disappointed
with the administration's refusal to
cooperate with the panel. Calling
the action “really shortsighted,” Rep.
Christopher Shays (R-CT) predicted,
“It’s going to further isolate the
president.” it's all true
group can’t go ahead without its
concurrence or acquiescence, as we
need travel support and access to
documents.”
A number of Congressional
Republicans, who view a renewed
ISG as an opportunity for political
cover on the increasingly unpopular
occupation of Iraq ahead of next
year’s elections, were disappointed
with the administration's refusal to
cooperate with the panel. Calling
the action “really shortsighted,” Rep.
Christopher Shays (R-CT) predicted,
“It’s going to further isolate the
president.” 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 |
fun d' mental
Traffic
Papal Policy
Prompts Protests
From Protestants
Prompts Protests
From Protestants
Surgeon General Says President Prescribed Scientific Censorship
The only US Surgeon General to be
appointed by President Bush recently
revealed that the Bush administration
suppressed medical and scientific
information and disallowed him to speak
about certain medical matters. Dr.
Richard H. Carmona, who was not
reappointed when his term expired in
2006, was also ordered to mention the
president by name at least three times
on every page of speeches he gave when
he was surgeon general.
Carmona revealed the administration’s
censorial demands in Congressional
testimony before the House Oversight
and Government Reform Committee.
The former surgeon general said that the
Bush administration disallowed him to
speak publicly about stem cell research,
emergency contraception and sex
education. The administration also
appointed by President Bush recently
revealed that the Bush administration
suppressed medical and scientific
information and disallowed him to speak
about certain medical matters. Dr.
Richard H. Carmona, who was not
reappointed when his term expired in
2006, was also ordered to mention the
president by name at least three times
on every page of speeches he gave when
he was surgeon general.
Carmona revealed the administration’s
censorial demands in Congressional
testimony before the House Oversight
and Government Reform Committee.
The former surgeon general said that the
Bush administration disallowed him to
speak publicly about stem cell research,
emergency contraception and sex
education. The administration also
suppressed public health research that
countered or contradicted the political
positions of the president.
Carmona said that the Bush
administration refused his proposal to
offer guidance in crafting policy regarding
stem cell therapies from a medical
perspective. Carmona was told to
“stand down” and all references to stem
cell research and treatment were
removed from speeches he wrote.
The Bush administration disallowed
Carmona from testifying against tobacco
companies in a federal court case, and
even advised federal prosecutors that
he was “incompetent” to testify. The
former surgeon general also told
the Congressional panel that he
was assigned to attend “political pep
rallies” and give speeches in support of
countered or contradicted the political
positions of the president.
Carmona said that the Bush
administration refused his proposal to
offer guidance in crafting policy regarding
stem cell therapies from a medical
perspective. Carmona was told to
“stand down” and all references to stem
cell research and treatment were
removed from speeches he wrote.
The Bush administration disallowed
Carmona from testifying against tobacco
companies in a federal court case, and
even advised federal prosecutors that
he was “incompetent” to testify. The
former surgeon general also told
the Congressional panel that he
was assigned to attend “political pep
rallies” and give speeches in support of
political candidates.
Dr. Carmona, who served as surgeon
general for four years, said that
anything that didn’t “fit into the
political appointee’s ideological,
theological or political agenda,” of
the Bush administration was, “often
ignored, marginalized or simply
buried.” Carmona said that
administration officials would “spin”
the wording of reports he submitted
“in such a way that would be
preferable to a political or ideological
preconceived notion that had nothing
to do with science.”
The chairman of the oversight
committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-
CA) said,“On key public health issues,
the surgeon general has been
muzzled.” it's all true
Dr. Carmona, who served as surgeon
general for four years, said that
anything that didn’t “fit into the
political appointee’s ideological,
theological or political agenda,” of
the Bush administration was, “often
ignored, marginalized or simply
buried.” Carmona said that
administration officials would “spin”
the wording of reports he submitted
“in such a way that would be
preferable to a political or ideological
preconceived notion that had nothing
to do with science.”
The chairman of the oversight
committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-
CA) said,“On key public health issues,
the surgeon general has been
muzzled.” it's all true
The Vatican recently released a
proclamation asserting the
primacy of Catholicism among
world religions that proclaim the
divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Pope Joseph Ratzinger,
referencing a 900-year-old schism
in the Christian religion, said that
the Catholic Church suffered a
“wound”, that Christian religions
other than Catholicism were
“defective” and that Catholic
doctrine is the single “means of
salvation.”
The papal document stated that
non-Catholic Christian churches
“lack something in their condition
as particular churches,” and they
“suffer from defects.” In spite of
these problems, the pope
recognized that other churches
can still be utilized by God as
“instruments of salvation.” The
declaration also specified that
Orthodox Christian churches
“remained linked” to the Catholic
Church, but Protestant
denominations “cannot…be
called Churches in the proper
sense.”
The proclamation was met with
criticism by other large Christian
denominations that expressed
surprise that the new pope
would, very early in his papacy,
find it important to so forcefully
assert the primacy of Catholicism
and risk closing doors to inter-
religious cooperation and
dialogue. The World Council of
Reformed Churches wrote a
letter of protest to the Vatican
that said that the proclamation,
“makes us question whether we
are indeed praying together for
Christian unity." it's all true
proclamation asserting the
primacy of Catholicism among
world religions that proclaim the
divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Pope Joseph Ratzinger,
referencing a 900-year-old schism
in the Christian religion, said that
the Catholic Church suffered a
“wound”, that Christian religions
other than Catholicism were
“defective” and that Catholic
doctrine is the single “means of
salvation.”
The papal document stated that
non-Catholic Christian churches
“lack something in their condition
as particular churches,” and they
“suffer from defects.” In spite of
these problems, the pope
recognized that other churches
can still be utilized by God as
“instruments of salvation.” The
declaration also specified that
Orthodox Christian churches
“remained linked” to the Catholic
Church, but Protestant
denominations “cannot…be
called Churches in the proper
sense.”
The proclamation was met with
criticism by other large Christian
denominations that expressed
surprise that the new pope
would, very early in his papacy,
find it important to so forcefully
assert the primacy of Catholicism
and risk closing doors to inter-
religious cooperation and
dialogue. The World Council of
Reformed Churches wrote a
letter of protest to the Vatican
that said that the proclamation,
“makes us question whether we
are indeed praying together for
Christian unity." it's all true
spread of the red
| redstat |
NRC Licenses Bogus Firm, Attempts to Contain Fallout
| States with the highest rates of growth between 2004 and 2005 |
Federal investigators, who incorporated
a fake company, were able to receive a
license from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission to purchase enough
radioactive material to construct a ‘dirty
bomb’. The fake firm received the
license documents from the NRC in 28
days through the US Mail.
The investigation into licensing practices
of the NRC was requested by members
of Congress and carried out by the
Governmental Accountability Office.
The GAO reported to Congress that
investigators were able to not only
procure a “genuine radioactive materials
license” from the NRC through the mails
with little scrutiny, but the investigators
were also able to alter the license so
that “the bogus company could purchase
an unrestricted amount" of radioactive
materials.
a fake company, were able to receive a
license from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission to purchase enough
radioactive material to construct a ‘dirty
bomb’. The fake firm received the
license documents from the NRC in 28
days through the US Mail.
The investigation into licensing practices
of the NRC was requested by members
of Congress and carried out by the
Governmental Accountability Office.
The GAO reported to Congress that
investigators were able to not only
procure a “genuine radioactive materials
license” from the NRC through the mails
with little scrutiny, but the investigators
were also able to alter the license so
that “the bogus company could purchase
an unrestricted amount" of radioactive
materials.
The investigators then used the
documents to ignite a bidding war via
facsimile between two US firms to sell
the materials to the fake company. One
of the suppliers told undercover agents
that he would offer “to provide twice as
many machines” as the fake firm
requested.
The investigators were attempting to
purchase equipment used to detect soil
moisture for construction purposes.
The instruments contain small amounts
of Americium-241 that could have been
used to make a dirty bomb large enough
to contaminate an area the size of a city
block. The investigators had to abandon
the undercover operation because a
state agency in Maryland sought to do an
on-site inspection of the firm that,
according to the GAO, “existed only
on paper.” it's all true
documents to ignite a bidding war via
facsimile between two US firms to sell
the materials to the fake company. One
of the suppliers told undercover agents
that he would offer “to provide twice as
many machines” as the fake firm
requested.
The investigators were attempting to
purchase equipment used to detect soil
moisture for construction purposes.
The instruments contain small amounts
of Americium-241 that could have been
used to make a dirty bomb large enough
to contaminate an area the size of a city
block. The investigators had to abandon
the undercover operation because a
state agency in Maryland sought to do an
on-site inspection of the firm that,
according to the GAO, “existed only
on paper.” it's all true
9
6
3
%
AZ NV FL ID OR
source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
interpreting the constitution
crowd control
Gonzales a False Witness in Support of Surveillance
Katrina Evacuees Face
Permanent Emergency
Permanent Emergency
Newly disclosed documents reveal that
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had
received numerous official reports of FBI
civil liberties violations prior to his April
2005 testimony before the Senate
Intelligence Committee, in which he
asserted that no such abuses had
occurred since the adoption of the USA
Patriot Act in 2001.
Seeking reauthorization of the Act,
Gonzales told senators, “There has not
been one verified case of civil liberties
abuse” under the law. But internal
Justice Department documents obtained
by the Electronic Frontier Foundation
under a Freedom of Information Act
request show that department lawyers
were aware of a pattern of FBI
violations, reports of which were
regularly forwarded to the White House
Intelligence Oversight Board and senior
administration officials. One of these
reports was sent to Gonzales six days
before his testimony in support of the
Patriot Act.
Democratic legislators reacted with
outrage to the disclosure, renewing their
calls for Gonzales to resign.
Congressional oversight committees
have repeatedly sparred with the
Attorney General, who has been accused
of giving inaccurate or misleading
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had
received numerous official reports of FBI
civil liberties violations prior to his April
2005 testimony before the Senate
Intelligence Committee, in which he
asserted that no such abuses had
occurred since the adoption of the USA
Patriot Act in 2001.
Seeking reauthorization of the Act,
Gonzales told senators, “There has not
been one verified case of civil liberties
abuse” under the law. But internal
Justice Department documents obtained
by the Electronic Frontier Foundation
under a Freedom of Information Act
request show that department lawyers
were aware of a pattern of FBI
violations, reports of which were
regularly forwarded to the White House
Intelligence Oversight Board and senior
administration officials. One of these
reports was sent to Gonzales six days
before his testimony in support of the
Patriot Act.
Democratic legislators reacted with
outrage to the disclosure, renewing their
calls for Gonzales to resign.
Congressional oversight committees
have repeatedly sparred with the
Attorney General, who has been accused
of giving inaccurate or misleading
testimony on domestic surveillance,
improper politicization of Justice
Department activities, and his firing of at
least nine top federal prosecutors in
2006. In a statement, Sen. Charles
Schumer (D-NY) said, “This should be
the last straw, but there never seems to
be a last straw when it comes to George
W. Bush and Alberto Gonzales.”
Two top Justice Department officials
confirmed to the Washington Post
that they had kept Gonzales' office
informed of the FBI abuses on an
ongoing basis. James A. Baker, who runs
the Office of Intelligence Policy and
Review, told the Post, ”I have discussed
and informed attorneys general, including
this one, about mistakes the FBI has
made or problems or violations or
compliance incidents, however you want
to refer to them.” But the officials
defended Gonzales’ 2005 testimony,
citing the Webster’s Dictionary definition
of the term “abuse,” which the Attorney
General had employed. Assistant
Attorney General for National Security
Kenneth L. Wainstein said that the
violations he knew of were not
“intentional” acts of misconduct. Both
men said they did not know whether
Gonzales had actually read any of the
reports on FBI violations that were
forwarded to his office. it's all true
improper politicization of Justice
Department activities, and his firing of at
least nine top federal prosecutors in
2006. In a statement, Sen. Charles
Schumer (D-NY) said, “This should be
the last straw, but there never seems to
be a last straw when it comes to George
W. Bush and Alberto Gonzales.”
Two top Justice Department officials
confirmed to the Washington Post
that they had kept Gonzales' office
informed of the FBI abuses on an
ongoing basis. James A. Baker, who runs
the Office of Intelligence Policy and
Review, told the Post, ”I have discussed
and informed attorneys general, including
this one, about mistakes the FBI has
made or problems or violations or
compliance incidents, however you want
to refer to them.” But the officials
defended Gonzales’ 2005 testimony,
citing the Webster’s Dictionary definition
of the term “abuse,” which the Attorney
General had employed. Assistant
Attorney General for National Security
Kenneth L. Wainstein said that the
violations he knew of were not
“intentional” acts of misconduct. Both
men said they did not know whether
Gonzales had actually read any of the
reports on FBI violations that were
forwarded to his office. it's all true
More than eighteen months after
Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds
of thousands of residents of New
Orleans, more than 40, 000 families
remain in some form of temporary
shelter provided by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. The
evacuees that remain under the care
of FEMA and disaster relief
organizations are disproportionately
elderly, disabled, or low-income
families that have little realistic hope
of returning to their devastated
neighborhoods, according to an
investigation by the New York
Times.
Redevelopment of the city has not
addressed the infrastructure in low-
income neighborhoods, and a recent
study noted that less than 21 percent
of the 77, 000 rental units destroyed
by the storm are even slated for
replacement, with none rebuilt to
date. Rents have shot up, doubling
and even tripling because of the
scarcity of rental housing. Civic
activists have decried a decision by
the Department of Housing and
Urban Development to raze the
city’s four largest housing projects for
private redevelopment. it's all true
Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds
of thousands of residents of New
Orleans, more than 40, 000 families
remain in some form of temporary
shelter provided by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. The
evacuees that remain under the care
of FEMA and disaster relief
organizations are disproportionately
elderly, disabled, or low-income
families that have little realistic hope
of returning to their devastated
neighborhoods, according to an
investigation by the New York
Times.
Redevelopment of the city has not
addressed the infrastructure in low-
income neighborhoods, and a recent
study noted that less than 21 percent
of the 77, 000 rental units destroyed
by the storm are even slated for
replacement, with none rebuilt to
date. Rents have shot up, doubling
and even tripling because of the
scarcity of rental housing. Civic
activists have decried a decision by
the Department of Housing and
Urban Development to raze the
city’s four largest housing projects for
private redevelopment. it's all true
redstateupdate.net
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
| Clarence Brown Tribute Page |
verbatim number 21.6
"But no question al Qaeda is
dangerous for the American
people, and that's why -- as
well as other people that love
freedom -- and that's why
we're working hard with allies
and friends to enhance our
intelligence...
dangerous for the American
people, and that's why -- as
well as other people that love
freedom -- and that's why
we're working hard with allies
and friends to enhance our
intelligence...
...That's why we need
terrorist surveillance
programs...
terrorist surveillance
programs...
...We're keeping on
the offense."
Washington DC 07.12.07
the offense."
Washington DC 07.12.07