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News
spread of the red
number 164 08.03.08
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
| Clarence Brown Tribute Page |
President Bush has signed an executive
order extensively revamping
administrative guidelines and operating
procedures for the nation’s 16
intelligence agencies, formally bringing
them under the authority of the newly
created Office of the Director of
National Intelligence. The revisions were
said by administration officials to
comprise the most significant intelligence
overhaul in more than 20 years. The
announcement of the executive order
drew sharp protests from civil rights
advocates, Congressional Democrats,
and even a number of Republican
representatives, several of whom staged
a dramatic walkout during a legislative
briefing on the new regulations by
order extensively revamping
administrative guidelines and operating
procedures for the nation’s 16
intelligence agencies, formally bringing
them under the authority of the newly
created Office of the Director of
National Intelligence. The revisions were
said by administration officials to
comprise the most significant intelligence
overhaul in more than 20 years. The
announcement of the executive order
drew sharp protests from civil rights
advocates, Congressional Democrats,
and even a number of Republican
representatives, several of whom staged
a dramatic walkout during a legislative
briefing on the new regulations by
current DNI Mike McConnell.
Democratic members of the House
Intelligence Committee, led by chairman
Silvestre Reyes of Texas, complained
that the administration had failed to
consult Congress on the changes, only
making the 40-page document available
after it had been signed into law by the
President. But Rep. Peter Hoekstra of
Michigan, the senior Republican on the
committee, was even more emphatic in
his denunciation of the unilateral actions
of the White House, leading five of his
GOP colleagues in walking out of the
closed-door McConnell briefing.
In a statement, Hoekstra said, “Given
Democratic members of the House
Intelligence Committee, led by chairman
Silvestre Reyes of Texas, complained
that the administration had failed to
consult Congress on the changes, only
making the 40-page document available
after it had been signed into law by the
President. But Rep. Peter Hoekstra of
Michigan, the senior Republican on the
committee, was even more emphatic in
his denunciation of the unilateral actions
of the White House, leading five of his
GOP colleagues in walking out of the
closed-door McConnell briefing.
In a statement, Hoekstra said, “Given
the impact that this order will have
on America’s intelligence community,
and this committee’s responsibility to
oversee intelligence activities, this
cannot be seen as anything other
than an attempt to undercut
congressional oversight.” In an
interview with the Los Angeles
Times, Hoekstra said, “This is part
of a systemic problem of the
administration, and I said I’m not
going to take it anymore.”
White House spokeswoman Dana
Perino said, "The executive order
maintains and strengthens existing
protections for Americans' civil
liberties and privacy rights." it's all true
on America’s intelligence community,
and this committee’s responsibility to
oversee intelligence activities, this
cannot be seen as anything other
than an attempt to undercut
congressional oversight.” In an
interview with the Los Angeles
Times, Hoekstra said, “This is part
of a systemic problem of the
administration, and I said I’m not
going to take it anymore.”
White House spokeswoman Dana
Perino said, "The executive order
maintains and strengthens existing
protections for Americans' civil
liberties and privacy rights." it's all true
A California construction company
chosen by the US government for
civil and military infrastructure
projects worth hundreds of millions
of dollars wasted millions on
“incomplete, terminated and
abandoned projects,” according to a
report by Special Inspector General
for Iraq Stuart Bowen. The report
found that Pasadena-based Parsons
Corp. received more than $142
million, or 43 percent of its total
revenues under its Pentagon
contract, for projects that were left
unfinished or abandoned in various
stages of completion. According to
the Inspector General, Parsons
completed only 18 of 53
construction projects under its
contract, which was worth up to
$900 million.
In one notable case detailed in the
report, Parsons was paid $31 for its
work on a prison before being fired
from the job in 2006 for delays and
shoddy work. Although the Pentagon
subsequently paid another contractor
a further $9 million to continue work
at the site, it was finally abandoned
and remains vacant. it's all true
chosen by the US government for
civil and military infrastructure
projects worth hundreds of millions
of dollars wasted millions on
“incomplete, terminated and
abandoned projects,” according to a
report by Special Inspector General
for Iraq Stuart Bowen. The report
found that Pasadena-based Parsons
Corp. received more than $142
million, or 43 percent of its total
revenues under its Pentagon
contract, for projects that were left
unfinished or abandoned in various
stages of completion. According to
the Inspector General, Parsons
completed only 18 of 53
construction projects under its
contract, which was worth up to
$900 million.
In one notable case detailed in the
report, Parsons was paid $31 for its
work on a prison before being fired
from the job in 2006 for delays and
shoddy work. Although the Pentagon
subsequently paid another contractor
a further $9 million to continue work
at the site, it was finally abandoned
and remains vacant. it's all true
The Environmental Protection Agency
has ordered pollution enforcement
officials employed by the agency not to
talk with reporters, congressional
investigators from the Government
Accountability Office or the agency’s
own internal inspector general.
A memorandum sent in June to 11
managers in the EPA’s Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
advised that all of their employees
should be warned against speaking to
investigators, stating that if they are
“contacted directly by the IG’s office or
the GAO requesting information of any
kind…please do not respond to
questions or make any statements.”
The memo instructs EPA staff to
forward all inquiries to designated senior
EPA officials for a response and to
warn the head of the Enforcement
has ordered pollution enforcement
officials employed by the agency not to
talk with reporters, congressional
investigators from the Government
Accountability Office or the agency’s
own internal inspector general.
A memorandum sent in June to 11
managers in the EPA’s Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
advised that all of their employees
should be warned against speaking to
investigators, stating that if they are
“contacted directly by the IG’s office or
the GAO requesting information of any
kind…please do not respond to
questions or make any statements.”
The memo instructs EPA staff to
forward all inquiries to designated senior
EPA officials for a response and to
warn the head of the Enforcement
and Compliance Assurance division,
Robbi Farrell.
The memorandum was written as
congressional investigators attempt to
find out how the agency managed
government information on global
warming. The EPA is alleged by its own
scientists to have misreported and
massaged scientific data on global
warming and, as previously reported by
redstateupdate.net, many employees
also complain that they have been
directly influenced by political pressures
to alter their work product over the
past seven years. Last month, EPA
Administrator Stephen Johnson refused
to cooperate with the Senate
Environment and Judiciary committees
by declining to testify voluntarily.
The memorandum was leaked by
Robbi Farrell.
The memorandum was written as
congressional investigators attempt to
find out how the agency managed
government information on global
warming. The EPA is alleged by its own
scientists to have misreported and
massaged scientific data on global
warming and, as previously reported by
redstateupdate.net, many employees
also complain that they have been
directly influenced by political pressures
to alter their work product over the
past seven years. Last month, EPA
Administrator Stephen Johnson refused
to cooperate with the Senate
Environment and Judiciary committees
by declining to testify voluntarily.
The memorandum was leaked by
members of Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility. The
executive director of the group, Jeff
Ruch, reported that a similar memo
was written by the Midwestern
regional administrator of the EPA
who required employees to direct all
inquiries to the agency’s press office
for response. Requiring employees
to defer to public relations
appointees, according to Ruch,
“shows the EPA’s leadership’s
profound fear of the expertise of its
own professional staff.”
The Inspector General for the agency
reminded EPA employees that
they are legally obliged to cooperate
with Inspector General investigators
and provide unrestricted access
to all agency work product and
internal communications. it's all true
Environmental Responsibility. The
executive director of the group, Jeff
Ruch, reported that a similar memo
was written by the Midwestern
regional administrator of the EPA
who required employees to direct all
inquiries to the agency’s press office
for response. Requiring employees
to defer to public relations
appointees, according to Ruch,
“shows the EPA’s leadership’s
profound fear of the expertise of its
own professional staff.”
The Inspector General for the agency
reminded EPA employees that
they are legally obliged to cooperate
with Inspector General investigators
and provide unrestricted access
to all agency work product and
internal communications. it's all true
The former Bosnian Serb leader
Radovan Karadzic, who was
captured 13 years after ordering
the genocidal massacre of more
than 8000 Bosnian Muslims, has
advised the United Nation’s war
crimes tribunal that the and US
negotiator and former Assistant
Secretary of State Richard
Holbrooke cut a deal that
allowed him to escape
prosecution if he would agree to
resign in 1995.
Karadzic attempted to read a
statement into the court record
at the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia, and later submitted a
letter to the court, alleging that
Holbrooke hatched the deal to
gain Karadzic’s cooperation as
part of US negotiations to end
the three year long war in
Bosnia. Karadzic claims, “Mr.
Holbrooke undertook on behalf
of the USA that I would not be
tried before this tribunal and that
I should understand that for a
while there would be sharp
rhetoric against me.” Karadzic
also said that the US Secretary of
State at the time, Madeleine
Albright suggested that he go into
hiding and, “go to Russia, Greece
or Serbia and open a private
clinic.”
Holbrooke responded stating, “It
would have been immoral, illegal,
unethical and against everything I
stood for” to hatch such a plan
with a war criminal. Holbrooke
wrote in his memoirs that his
state department superiors told
him to "use that old creative
ambiguity” while negotiating
with Karadzic. it's all true
Radovan Karadzic, who was
captured 13 years after ordering
the genocidal massacre of more
than 8000 Bosnian Muslims, has
advised the United Nation’s war
crimes tribunal that the and US
negotiator and former Assistant
Secretary of State Richard
Holbrooke cut a deal that
allowed him to escape
prosecution if he would agree to
resign in 1995.
Karadzic attempted to read a
statement into the court record
at the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia, and later submitted a
letter to the court, alleging that
Holbrooke hatched the deal to
gain Karadzic’s cooperation as
part of US negotiations to end
the three year long war in
Bosnia. Karadzic claims, “Mr.
Holbrooke undertook on behalf
of the USA that I would not be
tried before this tribunal and that
I should understand that for a
while there would be sharp
rhetoric against me.” Karadzic
also said that the US Secretary of
State at the time, Madeleine
Albright suggested that he go into
hiding and, “go to Russia, Greece
or Serbia and open a private
clinic.”
Holbrooke responded stating, “It
would have been immoral, illegal,
unethical and against everything I
stood for” to hatch such a plan
with a war criminal. Holbrooke
wrote in his memoirs that his
state department superiors told
him to "use that old creative
ambiguity” while negotiating
with Karadzic. it's all true
Documents obtains through a Freedom
of Information lawsuit reveal that during
2005 and 2006 the Maryland State Police
conducted hundreds of hours of
surveillance of peace groups and
organizations opposed to the state’s
death penalty. The documents also
reveal that state troopers reported the
name of a local antiwar activist to the
FBI so that his profile could be included
on a national database of terrorists and
drug dealers.
The documents were released by the
American Civil Liberties Union, which
was forced to appeal to the courts to
allow the documents to be released to
the public. The state police records
show that undercover police agents
performed more than 280 hours of
covert surveillance of the groups over a
14-month period.
of Information lawsuit reveal that during
2005 and 2006 the Maryland State Police
conducted hundreds of hours of
surveillance of peace groups and
organizations opposed to the state’s
death penalty. The documents also
reveal that state troopers reported the
name of a local antiwar activist to the
FBI so that his profile could be included
on a national database of terrorists and
drug dealers.
The documents were released by the
American Civil Liberties Union, which
was forced to appeal to the courts to
allow the documents to be released to
the public. The state police records
show that undercover police agents
performed more than 280 hours of
covert surveillance of the groups over a
14-month period.
Undercover agents working for the
Maryland State Police’s Homeland
Security and Intelligence Division
adopted aliases and joined antiwar and
anti-death penalty groups and monitored
e-mail correspondences and
organizational meetings, many of which
were held in local churches. Surveillance
reports were sent to at least seven
federal, state and local enforcement
agencies including the National Security
Agency. Though no laws were broken,
agents continually recommended that
spying should continue.
A staff attorney for the ACLU said, “In
our America, you should be able to
attend a meeting about an issue you
care about without having to worry
that government spies are entering
your name into a database used to
track terrorists.” it's all true
Maryland State Police’s Homeland
Security and Intelligence Division
adopted aliases and joined antiwar and
anti-death penalty groups and monitored
e-mail correspondences and
organizational meetings, many of which
were held in local churches. Surveillance
reports were sent to at least seven
federal, state and local enforcement
agencies including the National Security
Agency. Though no laws were broken,
agents continually recommended that
spying should continue.
A staff attorney for the ACLU said, “In
our America, you should be able to
attend a meeting about an issue you
care about without having to worry
that government spies are entering
your name into a database used to
track terrorists.” it's all true
“You believe in the Almighty,
and I believe in the Almighty...
and I believe in the Almighty...
verbatim 32.1
...That's why we'll be
great partners."
Washington DC 12.10.02
great partners."
Washington DC 12.10.02
| 6 |
| 9 |
| 12 |
| Births of low birth weight as a % of total births selected states |
| wa vt mi nc al ms |
War Criminal
Reports a Crime
Reports a Crime
Troopers Target Suspected Protesters
EPA Acts Decisively to Reduce Noise Pollution-- By Silencing Staff
Congressional Oversight an Afterthought for Intelligence Agencies
Neglected Bridges Will Take Their Toll
Iraq Contractor
Left Jobs Incomplet
Left Jobs Incomplet
A year after the Interstate 35W bridge in
Minneapolis collapsed at rush hour,
sending cars, trucks, buses and debris
hurtling 60 feet down an embankment
into the Mississippi River, little has been
done to comprehensively address the
nation’s deteriorating civil infrastructure
despite public support and various state
and federal legislative initiatives. The
Minneapolis tragedy, which killed 13 and
injured 145, briefly focused public
attention on the issue, but opposition
from the Bush administration and private
corporate interests has effectively halted
action at the federal level, while fallout
from the economic downturn has
overwhelmed state and local efforts.
Experts have warned that more than
one in four US bridges is classified as
either “structurally deficient” or
“functionally obsolete”.
A study released last week by the
American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials concluded
that more than 152,000 public road
bridges in the country remain at risk, out
of a total of about 600,000. The findings
are in line with the most recent survey
by the Federal Highway Administration,
conducted in 2006. At that time the
American Society for Civil Engineers
estimated that repair costs would
Minneapolis collapsed at rush hour,
sending cars, trucks, buses and debris
hurtling 60 feet down an embankment
into the Mississippi River, little has been
done to comprehensively address the
nation’s deteriorating civil infrastructure
despite public support and various state
and federal legislative initiatives. The
Minneapolis tragedy, which killed 13 and
injured 145, briefly focused public
attention on the issue, but opposition
from the Bush administration and private
corporate interests has effectively halted
action at the federal level, while fallout
from the economic downturn has
overwhelmed state and local efforts.
Experts have warned that more than
one in four US bridges is classified as
either “structurally deficient” or
“functionally obsolete”.
A study released last week by the
American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials concluded
that more than 152,000 public road
bridges in the country remain at risk, out
of a total of about 600,000. The findings
are in line with the most recent survey
by the Federal Highway Administration,
conducted in 2006. At that time the
American Society for Civil Engineers
estimated that repair costs would
exceed $200 billion over 20 years. An
independent investigation by the
Associated Press found that in the year
since the I35W collapse just 12 percent
of the nation’s most heavily used bridges
with known structural deficiencies
received any repairs at all.
Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell
told the Los Angeles Times, “The push
to repair bridges and our country’s
infrastructure has become a victim of the
bad economy. If we don’t put money
into our roads and bridges and
infrastructure, our economy will get
even worse. We won’t be able to
transport anything across this country.”
Rendell has joined with other prominent
state and municipal officials, including
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of
California and New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, in a bipartisan coalition to
promote a national infrastructure-
rebuilding program and lobby for a
massive increase in federal funding.
US bridges were built to last about 50
years, and the average bridge in the
country is 43 years old in 2008,
according to the AASHTO report
released last week. Pennsylvania alone
has more than 6000 deficient bridges,
with an average age of 51. it's all true
independent investigation by the
Associated Press found that in the year
since the I35W collapse just 12 percent
of the nation’s most heavily used bridges
with known structural deficiencies
received any repairs at all.
Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell
told the Los Angeles Times, “The push
to repair bridges and our country’s
infrastructure has become a victim of the
bad economy. If we don’t put money
into our roads and bridges and
infrastructure, our economy will get
even worse. We won’t be able to
transport anything across this country.”
Rendell has joined with other prominent
state and municipal officials, including
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of
California and New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, in a bipartisan coalition to
promote a national infrastructure-
rebuilding program and lobby for a
massive increase in federal funding.
US bridges were built to last about 50
years, and the average bridge in the
country is 43 years old in 2008,
according to the AASHTO report
released last week. Pennsylvania alone
has more than 6000 deficient bridges,
with an average age of 51. it's all true