one nation, under surveillance
number 25 10.16.05
Pentagon: 'This is not about spying on Americans'
The Senate Intelligence Committee has
approved a proposal that would allow
Defense Department operatives to
conduct covert intelligence activities
involving US citizens on US soil. The
controversial language was added to the
Intelligence authorization bill in
September with no public hearings or
debate. Also approved by the committee
were amendments lifting restrictions on
data-sharing among law enforcement
and military agencies, and exempting the
Pentagon from certain Freedom of
Information Act requirements. The
proposals became public this month
when the intelligence spending bill was
filed with the full Senate.
approved a proposal that would allow
Defense Department operatives to
conduct covert intelligence activities
involving US citizens on US soil. The
controversial language was added to the
Intelligence authorization bill in
September with no public hearings or
debate. Also approved by the committee
were amendments lifting restrictions on
data-sharing among law enforcement
and military agencies, and exempting the
Pentagon from certain Freedom of
Information Act requirements. The
proposals became public this month
when the intelligence spending bill was
filed with the full Senate.
Pentagon spokesmen have insisted that
the measures are needed to assist the
Defense Intelligence Agency in its
terrorist tracking operations. DIA
General Counsel George Peirce told the
Washington Post, "This is not about
spying on Americans."
But critics of the legislation,both in
Congress and in the private sector, have
warned that the proposals erode
hard-won privacy guarantees designed to
prevent military intelligence gathering in
domestic contexts. Civil libertarians
charge that the Pentagon is essentially
seeking to reacquire powers that were
revoked by Congress after the so-called
the measures are needed to assist the
Defense Intelligence Agency in its
terrorist tracking operations. DIA
General Counsel George Peirce told the
Washington Post, "This is not about
spying on Americans."
But critics of the legislation,both in
Congress and in the private sector, have
warned that the proposals erode
hard-won privacy guarantees designed to
prevent military intelligence gathering in
domestic contexts. Civil libertarians
charge that the Pentagon is essentially
seeking to reacquire powers that were
revoked by Congress after the so-called
COINTELPRO scandals of the 1960's
and 70's were made public. During
that operation,DIA agents routinely
ignored the law, infiltrating political
groups and conducting surveillance on
private American citizens.
Similar DIA sponsored provisions
were removed from the 2005
intelligence authorization bill after a
public outcry over the possibility of
new spying on Americans. Despite
that setback, Defense Department
officials quietly reinserted the
amendment into this year's legislation
at the eleventh hour.
and 70's were made public. During
that operation,DIA agents routinely
ignored the law, infiltrating political
groups and conducting surveillance on
private American citizens.
Similar DIA sponsored provisions
were removed from the 2005
intelligence authorization bill after a
public outcry over the possibility of
new spying on Americans. Despite
that setback, Defense Department
officials quietly reinserted the
amendment into this year's legislation
at the eleventh hour.
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US Reveals
E-perialist Agenda
E-perialist Agenda
Even the Defense Industry is Critical of This Contract
Defense industry experts and contractors
have decried the recent Pentagon
decition to grant a 27.9 million dollar
contract to a company that is currently
under investigation for defrauding the US
government and jeopardizing the security
of the Army and Air Force.
The company L-3 Communications came
under investigation in 2004 when the
Department of Defense became aware
of the company supplying inferior parts
for circuit boards in its fulfillment of a
multimillion-dollar contract for
the US Armed Services and Special
Operations Command. The circuit
have decried the recent Pentagon
decition to grant a 27.9 million dollar
contract to a company that is currently
under investigation for defrauding the US
government and jeopardizing the security
of the Army and Air Force.
The company L-3 Communications came
under investigation in 2004 when the
Department of Defense became aware
of the company supplying inferior parts
for circuit boards in its fulfillment of a
multimillion-dollar contract for
the US Armed Services and Special
Operations Command. The circuit
boards are a component of “survival
radios” that provide search and rescue
teams with the ability to communicate,
locate and authenticate radio
transmissions of downed US Air crews
transmitting messages such as “capture is
imminent” or “injured but can move”.
The radios themselves cost as much as
$10,000.00 per unit and are currently in
use in military operations in Iraq.
The Defense Criminal Investigative
Services has teamed with the US
Attorney to investigate L-3’s cover up of
its knowledge that the circuit boards do
not work properly.
radios” that provide search and rescue
teams with the ability to communicate,
locate and authenticate radio
transmissions of downed US Air crews
transmitting messages such as “capture is
imminent” or “injured but can move”.
The radios themselves cost as much as
$10,000.00 per unit and are currently in
use in military operations in Iraq.
The Defense Criminal Investigative
Services has teamed with the US
Attorney to investigate L-3’s cover up of
its knowledge that the circuit boards do
not work properly.
The ongoing investigation into the
practices of L3 did not stop the
Pentagon from awarding a 27.9
million dollar cost-plus-incentive-free
contract to test Trident II nuclear
submarines for the US and the
United Kingdom. Industry analysts
characterize granting the contract as
“some kind of cruel joke” based
upon the recent history of the
company supplying cheap and faulty
parts for troop safety equipment and
covering up its malfeasance by lying
to the Department of Defense.
practices of L3 did not stop the
Pentagon from awarding a 27.9
million dollar cost-plus-incentive-free
contract to test Trident II nuclear
submarines for the US and the
United Kingdom. Industry analysts
characterize granting the contract as
“some kind of cruel joke” based
upon the recent history of the
company supplying cheap and faulty
parts for troop safety equipment and
covering up its malfeasance by lying
to the Department of Defense.
The United States is facing an
international revolt against its
unilateral governance over the
Internet. A coalition of countries
including China, Brazil, Iran and
Saudi Arabia have been seeking a
new multinational authority to
control the operations of the
root servers of the Internet,
which are currently controlled by
a private company, the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers, under the auspices
of the US Department of
Commerce. The recent decision
by the European Union to join
these countries in seeking to
remove control from the US and
ICANN sets the stage for a
tense confrontation at next
month's World Summit on the
Information Society in Tunisia.
ICANN was formed during the
Clinton administration to
establish technical guidelines for
root servers and to maintain a
secure database of Internet
addresses. The plan was to
eventually phase out unilateral
US oversight. But the Bush
administration announced in June
that it intended to extend its
control over Internet governance
indefinitely, citing security
concerns.
That announcement has led to
the current standoff within the
international community. The
decision by the EU to break with
the United States is seen by
diplomatic observers as a sign of
growing frustration over US
intransigence on the issue.
international revolt against its
unilateral governance over the
Internet. A coalition of countries
including China, Brazil, Iran and
Saudi Arabia have been seeking a
new multinational authority to
control the operations of the
root servers of the Internet,
which are currently controlled by
a private company, the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers, under the auspices
of the US Department of
Commerce. The recent decision
by the European Union to join
these countries in seeking to
remove control from the US and
ICANN sets the stage for a
tense confrontation at next
month's World Summit on the
Information Society in Tunisia.
ICANN was formed during the
Clinton administration to
establish technical guidelines for
root servers and to maintain a
secure database of Internet
addresses. The plan was to
eventually phase out unilateral
US oversight. But the Bush
administration announced in June
that it intended to extend its
control over Internet governance
indefinitely, citing security
concerns.
That announcement has led to
the current standoff within the
international community. The
decision by the EU to break with
the United States is seen by
diplomatic observers as a sign of
growing frustration over US
intransigence on the issue.
| redstat |
interpreting the constitution
White House Tortures Logic in
Opposition to McCain Amendment
Opposition to McCain Amendment
The Bush administration has repeated its
threat to veto the defense spending bill
because the Senate has added an
amendment barring US forces from
torturing and abusing prisoners under
their control. Despite strong White
House and Pentagon opposition, the
Senate voted 90-9 to approve the
amendment which prohibits "cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment of persons under custody or
control of the United States
government." The vote was seen as a
rebuke to the administration for policies
that have resulted int the international
scandals at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Republican Senators John McCain, a
threat to veto the defense spending bill
because the Senate has added an
amendment barring US forces from
torturing and abusing prisoners under
their control. Despite strong White
House and Pentagon opposition, the
Senate voted 90-9 to approve the
amendment which prohibits "cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment of persons under custody or
control of the United States
government." The vote was seen as a
rebuke to the administration for policies
that have resulted int the international
scandals at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Republican Senators John McCain, a
decorated veteran, and Lindsey Graham,
a former military judge advocate general,
sponsored the amendment. They were
joined by 44 other Republicans and 43
Democrats, as well as Independent
James Jeffords of Vermont. Nine
Republicans voted against the provision.
Opponents claim the ban on torture
would limit the governments ability to
fight the "war on terror."
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
joined 28 other retired senior military
officers in supporting McCain's initiative.
A statement from the White House said
the amendment would "restrict the
president's authority to protect
Americans effectively from terrorist
attack and bringing terrorists to justice."
a former military judge advocate general,
sponsored the amendment. They were
joined by 44 other Republicans and 43
Democrats, as well as Independent
James Jeffords of Vermont. Nine
Republicans voted against the provision.
Opponents claim the ban on torture
would limit the governments ability to
fight the "war on terror."
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
joined 28 other retired senior military
officers in supporting McCain's initiative.
A statement from the White House said
the amendment would "restrict the
president's authority to protect
Americans effectively from terrorist
attack and bringing terrorists to justice."
spread of the red
Republican Group Studies the Art of
Cutting Basic Services
Cutting Basic Services
crowd control
Confronted with the costs of both of
this season’s hurricanes and the
billion dollars a month occupation of
Iraq, President Bush has steadfastly
refused to re-think the tax cuts he
worked to pass in his first term which
benefited America’s wealthy. In the
face of historical budget deficits
exceeding $331 billion this year, the
president has asked the republican
controlled congress to explore
cutting programs and services that
many Americans rely upon.
Answering the president’s call, an
advisory panel made up of 100 house
republicans called the Republican
Study Committee (RSC) has drafted a
proposal called “operation offset” to
cut government programs to achieve
a savings of more than $100 billion in
the next year.
The republican plan proposes to
increase Medicare co-payments for
hospital visits, prescription drugs and
doctor visits by 70% for adults and
300% for children. The republican
plan is to “encourage a more cost
conscious use of services” by seniors,
parents and children.
Operation offset also calls for the
complete elimination of the
corporation for Public Broadcasting.
House republicans have long had the
CPB in its sights, cutting funding and
this season’s hurricanes and the
billion dollars a month occupation of
Iraq, President Bush has steadfastly
refused to re-think the tax cuts he
worked to pass in his first term which
benefited America’s wealthy. In the
face of historical budget deficits
exceeding $331 billion this year, the
president has asked the republican
controlled congress to explore
cutting programs and services that
many Americans rely upon.
Answering the president’s call, an
advisory panel made up of 100 house
republicans called the Republican
Study Committee (RSC) has drafted a
proposal called “operation offset” to
cut government programs to achieve
a savings of more than $100 billion in
the next year.
The republican plan proposes to
increase Medicare co-payments for
hospital visits, prescription drugs and
doctor visits by 70% for adults and
300% for children. The republican
plan is to “encourage a more cost
conscious use of services” by seniors,
parents and children.
Operation offset also calls for the
complete elimination of the
corporation for Public Broadcasting.
House republicans have long had the
CPB in its sights, cutting funding and
complaining about public broadcasting’
s scientific and arts programming.
The republican plan to completely
eliminate funding for public
broadcasting would save $400 million
in 2006.
The RSC has also proposed to
eliminate both the National
Endowment for the Arts and the
National Endowment for the
Humanities. The plan states that
“the general public benefits very
little” from the arts and educational
endeavors funded by the NEA and
NEH. The plan calls for the federal
dollars removed from the programs
will be made up through “private
donations”.
The RSC also proposes cuts in or
elimination of the following
programs: subsidized loans to
graduate students, grants to states
for the Safe and Drug Free Schools
program, and state and community
grants for conservation. The group
also plans to decrease funding for the
government’s Global Aids Initiative
and the Peace Corps.
While the RSC did not suggest the
repeal of the tax breaks the congress
passed for America’s richest citizens,
it does propose to raise $140 million
by eliminating free parking for federal
employees.
s scientific and arts programming.
The republican plan to completely
eliminate funding for public
broadcasting would save $400 million
in 2006.
The RSC has also proposed to
eliminate both the National
Endowment for the Arts and the
National Endowment for the
Humanities. The plan states that
“the general public benefits very
little” from the arts and educational
endeavors funded by the NEA and
NEH. The plan calls for the federal
dollars removed from the programs
will be made up through “private
donations”.
The RSC also proposes cuts in or
elimination of the following
programs: subsidized loans to
graduate students, grants to states
for the Safe and Drug Free Schools
program, and state and community
grants for conservation. The group
also plans to decrease funding for the
government’s Global Aids Initiative
and the Peace Corps.
While the RSC did not suggest the
repeal of the tax breaks the congress
passed for America’s richest citizens,
it does propose to raise $140 million
by eliminating free parking for federal
employees.
Scalia Bars Reporters,
Scalia Tars Reporters
Scalia Tars Reporters
Justice Antonin Scalia exercised his
freedom to ban press coverage of a
speech he gave last week in Washington
DC to the American Council of Life
Insurers. Although the group promoted
the speech in a press release, Scalia
forbade admittance of reporters and
banned TV cameras and tape recorders.
Scalia has a history of censoring media
coverage of his speaking events. In
2004 the court apologized to reporters
who were forced by federal marshals to
erase tape recordings of a public speech
Scalia made at the judge’s demand. In
2003 Scalia barred TV cameras from a
speech he made about freedom of
speech.
The day following Scalia's speaking event,
the Supreme Court heard arguments in
a case about the federal whistle blower
statute. Attorneys defending the rights
of whistle blowers argued that the
public needs to know when government
employees report malfeasance and
wrongdoing in the public sector. Scalia
opined that simply because reporters
want to advise the public of such wrong
doing does not qualify the matters as
constitutionally protected speech.
freedom to ban press coverage of a
speech he gave last week in Washington
DC to the American Council of Life
Insurers. Although the group promoted
the speech in a press release, Scalia
forbade admittance of reporters and
banned TV cameras and tape recorders.
Scalia has a history of censoring media
coverage of his speaking events. In
2004 the court apologized to reporters
who were forced by federal marshals to
erase tape recordings of a public speech
Scalia made at the judge’s demand. In
2003 Scalia barred TV cameras from a
speech he made about freedom of
speech.
The day following Scalia's speaking event,
the Supreme Court heard arguments in
a case about the federal whistle blower
statute. Attorneys defending the rights
of whistle blowers argued that the
public needs to know when government
employees report malfeasance and
wrongdoing in the public sector. Scalia
opined that simply because reporters
want to advise the public of such wrong
doing does not qualify the matters as
constitutionally protected speech.
redstateupdate.net
verbatim number 5.1
"I want there to
be a robust
discussion about
the best way for
the federal
government...
be a robust
discussion about
the best way for
the federal
government...
...in certain extreme
circumstances...
circumstances...
...to be able to rally
assets for the good of
the people."
Washington DC 09.26.05
assets for the good of
the people."
Washington DC 09.26.05
source: Viroqua Institute
| Judicial experience of Supreme Court appointees |
| 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 |
| Roberts/0 years |
| Thomas/1.5 years |
| Scalia/4 years |
| Stevens/5 years |
| O'Connor/6 years |
| Souter/12 years |
| Ginsburg/13 years |
| Kennedy/13 years |
| Breyer/14 years |
| Miers/0 years |