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source: Viroqua Institute
interpreting the constitution
crowd control
News
spread of the red
red state rebate
spread of the red
number 173 11.09.08
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| verbatim archive |
| Slim Harpo Tribute Page |
The United States government
has paid at least $6 billion to
more than 300 private security
contractors for services in Iraq
since the occupation of the
country in 2003, according to the
results of a federal investigation
released last week. The report
also documents that the
Pentagon has failed to take
measures to ensure that
companies that default on jobs or
perform poorly are prevented
from receiving further contracts.
The report by Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction
Stuart Bowen is the most detailed
look so far at the murky world of
the private security firms
employed to support US military
operations during the Bush
administration.
Several companies that have been
accused of fraud and waste
in their dealings with the Defense
Department are included on the
list of 310 private security
contractors compiled by the
Inspector General. According to
the New York Times, while the
large contracts are dominated by
familiar US firms like Blackwater,
DynCorp,and Bechtel, the
extensive roster also includes
many little-known companies
from Uganda, Cyprus, the
Philippines, Romania, and the
Czech Republic.
The report identifies 1262 DoD
reconstruction projects in Iraq
that have been terminated before
completion. At least 530 of these
were cancelled due to contractor
default. About $90 million was
paid to contractors for projects
they defaulted on. it's all true
has paid at least $6 billion to
more than 300 private security
contractors for services in Iraq
since the occupation of the
country in 2003, according to the
results of a federal investigation
released last week. The report
also documents that the
Pentagon has failed to take
measures to ensure that
companies that default on jobs or
perform poorly are prevented
from receiving further contracts.
The report by Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction
Stuart Bowen is the most detailed
look so far at the murky world of
the private security firms
employed to support US military
operations during the Bush
administration.
Several companies that have been
accused of fraud and waste
in their dealings with the Defense
Department are included on the
list of 310 private security
contractors compiled by the
Inspector General. According to
the New York Times, while the
large contracts are dominated by
familiar US firms like Blackwater,
DynCorp,and Bechtel, the
extensive roster also includes
many little-known companies
from Uganda, Cyprus, the
Philippines, Romania, and the
Czech Republic.
The report identifies 1262 DoD
reconstruction projects in Iraq
that have been terminated before
completion. At least 530 of these
were cancelled due to contractor
default. About $90 million was
paid to contractors for projects
they defaulted on. it's all true
The federal government’s plan to replace
US passports with new state-of-the-art
electronic cards containing RFID chips
has been plagued by a series of
controversies and security breaches,
most recently last week with the State
Department warning Washington, DC-
area passport applicants that their
personal data may have been obtained by
a ring of identity thieves.
Reports over the summer that the
manufacturing of the electronic
passports has been outsourced to
overseas companies drew criticism from
members of Congress who raised
concerns about the security implications
of the outsourcing arrangements. An
investigation by the Washington Times
revealed that the Government Printing
Office was overcharging the State
Department for the finished passport
US passports with new state-of-the-art
electronic cards containing RFID chips
has been plagued by a series of
controversies and security breaches,
most recently last week with the State
Department warning Washington, DC-
area passport applicants that their
personal data may have been obtained by
a ring of identity thieves.
Reports over the summer that the
manufacturing of the electronic
passports has been outsourced to
overseas companies drew criticism from
members of Congress who raised
concerns about the security implications
of the outsourcing arrangements. An
investigation by the Washington Times
revealed that the Government Printing
Office was overcharging the State
Department for the finished passport
blanks, booking a profit on the
transaction in an apparent violation of
its federal charter.
House Energy and Commerce
Committee chairman John Dingell (D-
MI) initiated an investigation into the
procedures adopted for rolling out the
new passports, a high profile component
of the Bush administration “homeland
security” policy. Dingell told the Times,
“I am not only troubled that there may
be serious security concerns with the
new passport production system, but
also that GPO officials may have been
profiting from producing them.”
Spokesmen for the GPO, the State
Department, and the Department of
Homeland Security disputed that the
outsourcing of passport production to
foreign contractors had created any
significant security risks. it's all true
transaction in an apparent violation of
its federal charter.
House Energy and Commerce
Committee chairman John Dingell (D-
MI) initiated an investigation into the
procedures adopted for rolling out the
new passports, a high profile component
of the Bush administration “homeland
security” policy. Dingell told the Times,
“I am not only troubled that there may
be serious security concerns with the
new passport production system, but
also that GPO officials may have been
profiting from producing them.”
Spokesmen for the GPO, the State
Department, and the Department of
Homeland Security disputed that the
outsourcing of passport production to
foreign contractors had created any
significant security risks. it's all true
Persistent Privacy Problems Plague Passports
Report Documents
Expanding Contracting
Expanding Contracting
A federal judge has ruled that the
government may classify and withhold
information that reveals violations of the
law, as long as the classification is not
solely for the purpose of covering up
criminal activity. The decision, which
narrowly interprets an important
executive order on classification policy,
was rendered in a lawsuit brought by the
American Civil Liberties Union against
the Defense Department seeking
documents related to detainee
interrogations at Guantanamo Bay. The
ruling by District of Columbia District
Judge Royce C. Lamberth is a setback
for efforts to impose limits on executive
branch authority to deny access to
documents and other information on
security grounds.
The ACLU petitioned for the release of
records from Combatant Status Review
government may classify and withhold
information that reveals violations of the
law, as long as the classification is not
solely for the purpose of covering up
criminal activity. The decision, which
narrowly interprets an important
executive order on classification policy,
was rendered in a lawsuit brought by the
American Civil Liberties Union against
the Defense Department seeking
documents related to detainee
interrogations at Guantanamo Bay. The
ruling by District of Columbia District
Judge Royce C. Lamberth is a setback
for efforts to impose limits on executive
branch authority to deny access to
documents and other information on
security grounds.
The ACLU petitioned for the release of
records from Combatant Status Review
Tribunals held at Guantanamo to
determine if detainees were so-called
“enemy combatants”. Staff attorney Ben
Wizner of the ACLU National Security
Project said of the ruling, “This decision
allows the Bush administration to
continue its illegal cover-up of its
systemic torture policies. The
government has suppressed these
detainees’ allegations of brutal torture
not to protect any legitimate national
security interests, but to protect itself
from criticism and liability. It is unlawful
for the government to withhold
information on these grounds.”
The wider implications of Judge
Lamberth’s interpretation of the
wording of Executive Order 12958,
which governs classification policy, were
discussed by Steven Aftergood in an
article in the Federation of American
determine if detainees were so-called
“enemy combatants”. Staff attorney Ben
Wizner of the ACLU National Security
Project said of the ruling, “This decision
allows the Bush administration to
continue its illegal cover-up of its
systemic torture policies. The
government has suppressed these
detainees’ allegations of brutal torture
not to protect any legitimate national
security interests, but to protect itself
from criticism and liability. It is unlawful
for the government to withhold
information on these grounds.”
The wider implications of Judge
Lamberth’s interpretation of the
wording of Executive Order 12958,
which governs classification policy, were
discussed by Steven Aftergood in an
article in the Federation of American
Scientists’ Secrecy News: “This
narrow understanding of the
executive order converts an
important guarantee of the integrity
of the classification process into an
empty rhetorical gesture.” Aftergood
points out that, under the ruling,
“the executive order provision
limiting classification of violations of
the law is not a limitation on the
types of information that may be
classified at all, but rather an
unverifiable limitation on the
classifier’s intention.”
The White House and the Office of
the Vice President have consistently
refused to cooperate with federal
oversight agencies, citing security
concerns. The administration has
invoked executive privilege to avoid
Congressional subpoenas. it's all true
narrow understanding of the
executive order converts an
important guarantee of the integrity
of the classification process into an
empty rhetorical gesture.” Aftergood
points out that, under the ruling,
“the executive order provision
limiting classification of violations of
the law is not a limitation on the
types of information that may be
classified at all, but rather an
unverifiable limitation on the
classifier’s intention.”
The White House and the Office of
the Vice President have consistently
refused to cooperate with federal
oversight agencies, citing security
concerns. The administration has
invoked executive privilege to avoid
Congressional subpoenas. it's all true
Executive Branch Obstruction Can Be Classified as Transparent
The Bush administration has embarked
upon a massive rule changing frenzy as it
enters its final sixty days. The rule
changes, many of which have been
lobbied for by special business interests
for some time, would have far reaching
consequences for the environment,
workers and consumers. The regulatory
blitzkrieg is premised upon the fact that,
although the rules will be hastily
approved, the task of undoing rule
changes is cumbersome and costly and
many of the eleventh hour rules are
likely to remain on the books for a long
time or will never be reversed.
Nearly one hundred rule changes have
been proposed by the administration,
upon a massive rule changing frenzy as it
enters its final sixty days. The rule
changes, many of which have been
lobbied for by special business interests
for some time, would have far reaching
consequences for the environment,
workers and consumers. The regulatory
blitzkrieg is premised upon the fact that,
although the rules will be hastily
approved, the task of undoing rule
changes is cumbersome and costly and
many of the eleventh hour rules are
likely to remain on the books for a long
time or will never be reversed.
Nearly one hundred rule changes have
been proposed by the administration,
including amendments to rules
protecting the nation’s ocean fisheries,
our drinking water and the air quality in
the nation’s national parks, and relaxing
rules that limit industrial agricultural
waste discharges and power plant
emissions.
The Bush administration has proposed to
make fundamental and far-reaching
changes to the Endangered Species Act.
The new rules would exclude
greenhouse gasses from the regulations
and allow individual federal government
agencies to decide on their own if a
planned project would threaten a
protected species. The rules currently
require that agencies consult with
protecting the nation’s ocean fisheries,
our drinking water and the air quality in
the nation’s national parks, and relaxing
rules that limit industrial agricultural
waste discharges and power plant
emissions.
The Bush administration has proposed to
make fundamental and far-reaching
changes to the Endangered Species Act.
The new rules would exclude
greenhouse gasses from the regulations
and allow individual federal government
agencies to decide on their own if a
planned project would threaten a
protected species. The rules currently
require that agencies consult with
experts at the Fish and Wildlife
Service or the National Marine
Service before embarking on a
project that may impact a protected
species. The rule changes are the
most significant amendment of the
Endangered Species Act since 1987.
Another change would allow mining
companies to dump debris into
mountain streams when they believe
that “avoidance is not possible”.
This rule change, as with the majority
of those proposed by the admin-
istration as it prepares to leave
office, shifts the regulatory power
away from the agency and towards
private companies. it's all true
Service or the National Marine
Service before embarking on a
project that may impact a protected
species. The rule changes are the
most significant amendment of the
Endangered Species Act since 1987.
Another change would allow mining
companies to dump debris into
mountain streams when they believe
that “avoidance is not possible”.
This rule change, as with the majority
of those proposed by the admin-
istration as it prepares to leave
office, shifts the regulatory power
away from the agency and towards
private companies. it's all true
Last Blast of Legislation by Fiat Leaves Legacy of Corporate Cronyism
According to the Congressional Budget
Office, retirement plans, including 401(k)
plans, have lost more than$2 trillion in
value over the past 15 months as stocks
have been battered in increasingly
turbulent financial times. Many
Americans who are at or nearing
retirement age are facing the prospect of
having to forestall retirement and
continue to remain in the workforce.
The dramatic reduction in value of
stocks has also forced some retirees to
have to return to the workforce because
their retirement investments have
disappeared. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports that more than 6
million workers last year were over 65,
and says that the rate of workers who
are over fifty-five will continue to
increase over the next ten years.
A study recently released by the senior
advocacy group AARP found that the
recent declines in the stock market have
led many workers to become anxious
about ability of basic retirement
strategies meeting their financial
requirements when the are old enough
to retire. AARP performed a survey of
American workers and found that 27
percent of workers age 45 and over, and
32 percent of workers between the ages
of 55 and 64 said they have delayed their
Office, retirement plans, including 401(k)
plans, have lost more than$2 trillion in
value over the past 15 months as stocks
have been battered in increasingly
turbulent financial times. Many
Americans who are at or nearing
retirement age are facing the prospect of
having to forestall retirement and
continue to remain in the workforce.
The dramatic reduction in value of
stocks has also forced some retirees to
have to return to the workforce because
their retirement investments have
disappeared. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports that more than 6
million workers last year were over 65,
and says that the rate of workers who
are over fifty-five will continue to
increase over the next ten years.
A study recently released by the senior
advocacy group AARP found that the
recent declines in the stock market have
led many workers to become anxious
about ability of basic retirement
strategies meeting their financial
requirements when the are old enough
to retire. AARP performed a survey of
American workers and found that 27
percent of workers age 45 and over, and
32 percent of workers between the ages
of 55 and 64 said they have delayed their
planned retirement date because of the
current economic slowdown. Overall,
65 Percent of the workers surveyed who
are 45 and older said that they anticipate
delaying their retirement. 69 percent
said that they will have less to spend in
their retirement if the nation’s economic
situation does not improve.
Beyond these figures, AARP also reports
that over the past year, 20 percent of
workers 45 and older have stopped
making payments into their retirement
accounts and 13 percent of workers
withdrew money from their retirement
accounts to meet unexpected financial
obligations. The financial services
company Ameritrade found in its polling
that 63 percent of American workers
have stopped contributing to their
retirement plans.
AARP says that it found that there is
“considerable distress among vulnerable
elements” of the working population and
says that their findings suggests that the
“most at-risk individuals may be the
hardest hit” by the economic collapse.
AARP calls for employers to do more to
ensure that employees are more secure
in their retirement saying, “Employer-
provided pension coverage needs to be
greatly increased.” it's all true
current economic slowdown. Overall,
65 Percent of the workers surveyed who
are 45 and older said that they anticipate
delaying their retirement. 69 percent
said that they will have less to spend in
their retirement if the nation’s economic
situation does not improve.
Beyond these figures, AARP also reports
that over the past year, 20 percent of
workers 45 and older have stopped
making payments into their retirement
accounts and 13 percent of workers
withdrew money from their retirement
accounts to meet unexpected financial
obligations. The financial services
company Ameritrade found in its polling
that 63 percent of American workers
have stopped contributing to their
retirement plans.
AARP says that it found that there is
“considerable distress among vulnerable
elements” of the working population and
says that their findings suggests that the
“most at-risk individuals may be the
hardest hit” by the economic collapse.
AARP calls for employers to do more to
ensure that employees are more secure
in their retirement saying, “Employer-
provided pension coverage needs to be
greatly increased.” it's all true
Researchers reported that minorities
are more likely to die in America’s
emergency rooms following a serious
traumatic injury than white patients.
The study, which appeared in the
October issue of Archives of
Surgery, also found that patients
without health insurance are more
likely to die in emergency rooms
than patients covered by private
health insurance.
For insured patients, black patients
have a 20 percent and Latino patients
a 51 percent increased odds of dying
after a trauma in US emergency
rooms than white patients. Among
uninsured patients, a white patient’s
risk of dying rises by 55 percent. For
uninsured minority patients, the odds
of dying increase by 78 percent for
blacks and 130 percent for Latinos.
The findings are surprising because
admittance to America’s emergency
rooms is universal. The author of
the study, Dr. Adil Haider, said,
“There are racial disparities in survival
after trauma, and differences in
insurance...cannot explain away
these disparities.” it's all true
are more likely to die in America’s
emergency rooms following a serious
traumatic injury than white patients.
The study, which appeared in the
October issue of Archives of
Surgery, also found that patients
without health insurance are more
likely to die in emergency rooms
than patients covered by private
health insurance.
For insured patients, black patients
have a 20 percent and Latino patients
a 51 percent increased odds of dying
after a trauma in US emergency
rooms than white patients. Among
uninsured patients, a white patient’s
risk of dying rises by 55 percent. For
uninsured minority patients, the odds
of dying increase by 78 percent for
blacks and 130 percent for Latinos.
The findings are surprising because
admittance to America’s emergency
rooms is universal. The author of
the study, Dr. Adil Haider, said,
“There are racial disparities in survival
after trauma, and differences in
insurance...cannot explain away
these disparities.” it's all true
...and I particularly like
it when I'm fishing."
Washington DC 09.26.08
it when I'm fishing."
Washington DC 09.26.08
verbatim number 33.5
"I didn't grow up
in the ocean - as a
matter of fact -
near the ocean, I
grew up in the
desert...
in the ocean - as a
matter of fact -
near the ocean, I
grew up in the
desert...
...Therefore, it
was a pleasant
contrast to see
the ocean...
was a pleasant
contrast to see
the ocean...
| Plastic surgery procedures selected countries |
| us |
| mexico |
| canada |
| 0 50,000 100,000 |
| japan |
| france |
| greece |
| uk |
Retirement Plans Changing For Struggling Seniors
Emergency Rooms
Don't Suffer From
Color Blindness
Don't Suffer From
Color Blindness