interpreting the constitution
number 52 05.19. 06
NSA Deems Justice Department Investigators to be a Security Risk
The Justice Department has canceled
an investigation into the Bush
Administration’s wiretapping of
American’s telephones after being
stonewalled by another federal
agency. The National Security
Administration has refused to give
Justice Department investigators the
security clearance to gather and
review evidence or interview NSA
employees.
The Justice Department’s Office of
Professional Responsibility had begun
an investigation earlier this year into
the role of DOJ lawyers in the Bush
administration's acknowledged
warrantless surveillance being
an investigation into the Bush
Administration’s wiretapping of
American’s telephones after being
stonewalled by another federal
agency. The National Security
Administration has refused to give
Justice Department investigators the
security clearance to gather and
review evidence or interview NSA
employees.
The Justice Department’s Office of
Professional Responsibility had begun
an investigation earlier this year into
the role of DOJ lawyers in the Bush
administration's acknowledged
warrantless surveillance being
performed by the NSA. Although Justice
is unable to directly investigate the NSA,
the OPR was seeking to clarify the role
of department attorneys in the
warrentless wiretapping program.
The chief counsel for the OPR,
H. Marshall Jarrett, wrote in a letter to
congress that Justice had “been unable
to make any meaningful progress in our
investigation because OPR has been
denied security clearances for access to
information about the NSA program."
Jarrett told congress that Justice had
attempted to get the security clearance
needed to begin investigating for more
than four months and the NSA had
finally declined to clear OPR
is unable to directly investigate the NSA,
the OPR was seeking to clarify the role
of department attorneys in the
warrentless wiretapping program.
The chief counsel for the OPR,
H. Marshall Jarrett, wrote in a letter to
congress that Justice had “been unable
to make any meaningful progress in our
investigation because OPR has been
denied security clearances for access to
information about the NSA program."
Jarrett told congress that Justice had
attempted to get the security clearance
needed to begin investigating for more
than four months and the NSA had
finally declined to clear OPR
investigators on May 6. "Without these
clearances” Jarrett wrote, “we cannot
investigate this matter and therefore
have closed our investigation."
A spokesperson for Justice said that the
spy program was deemed to be
“exceptionally sensitive” by the NSA and
those who seek to be informed about
the program must have a “specific need
to know”. The spokesperson did not
say if the cooperation of his agency in
the surveillance of private telephone calls
of US citizens with no judicial approval
created a ‘need to know’ for Justice
Department investigators. George Bush
has defended the spying program saying
that it is "necessary". it's all true
clearances” Jarrett wrote, “we cannot
investigate this matter and therefore
have closed our investigation."
A spokesperson for Justice said that the
spy program was deemed to be
“exceptionally sensitive” by the NSA and
those who seek to be informed about
the program must have a “specific need
to know”. The spokesperson did not
say if the cooperation of his agency in
the surveillance of private telephone calls
of US citizens with no judicial approval
created a ‘need to know’ for Justice
Department investigators. George Bush
has defended the spying program saying
that it is "necessary". 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
in bed with the red
Diebold Design Makes it Easy to Hack the Vote
Life Protection Bill
Leaves Rape Victims
Unprotected
Leaves Rape Victims
Unprotected
Software systems analysts have
confirmed reports that a major security
flaw has been discovered in an electronic
voting machine that is used in several
states. The potential security risk, which
has been acknowledged by the machine’s
manufacturer, could allow large-scale
tampering with election results that
would remain virtually undetectable to
auditors. Access to a single machine
could affect results upstream in the
central tabulating software, according to
computer scientists familiar with the
flaw. Election officials in at least four
states have initiated investigations into
the threat to security with many
primaries underway and national
confirmed reports that a major security
flaw has been discovered in an electronic
voting machine that is used in several
states. The potential security risk, which
has been acknowledged by the machine’s
manufacturer, could allow large-scale
tampering with election results that
would remain virtually undetectable to
auditors. Access to a single machine
could affect results upstream in the
central tabulating software, according to
computer scientists familiar with the
flaw. Election officials in at least four
states have initiated investigations into
the threat to security with many
primaries underway and national
elections scheduled for November.
Spokesmen for the manufacturer,
Diebold Election Systems, downplayed
the scope of the security risk as they
sought to reassure their clients. A letter
from Diebold to state election
supervisors stated: “The probability for
exploiting this vulnerability to install
unauthorized software that could affect
an election is considered low.”
Nevertheless, the company will attempt
to devise a software “patch” to address
the problem.
The flaw was discovered by Finnish
computer security expert Harri Hursti,
Spokesmen for the manufacturer,
Diebold Election Systems, downplayed
the scope of the security risk as they
sought to reassure their clients. A letter
from Diebold to state election
supervisors stated: “The probability for
exploiting this vulnerability to install
unauthorized software that could affect
an election is considered low.”
Nevertheless, the company will attempt
to devise a software “patch” to address
the problem.
The flaw was discovered by Finnish
computer security expert Harri Hursti,
working in Emery County, Utah for
BlackBoxVoting.org, a nonprofit
group that tracks election security
issues. What he found was a “hole,”
or “gateway” in the system that was
put there intentionally by the
designers to facilitate future software
upgrades. Because of the nature of
the risk, computer experts are calling
this the worst flaw ever discovered in
the controversial electronic voting
machines. Systems analysts declined
to discuss the problem in detail,
fearing they might provide a blueprint
for election fraud. it's all true
BlackBoxVoting.org, a nonprofit
group that tracks election security
issues. What he found was a “hole,”
or “gateway” in the system that was
put there intentionally by the
designers to facilitate future software
upgrades. Because of the nature of
the risk, computer experts are calling
this the worst flaw ever discovered in
the controversial electronic voting
machines. Systems analysts declined
to discuss the problem in detail,
fearing they might provide a blueprint
for election fraud. it's all true
The state Senate of Louisiana has
passed a ban on abortions in
almost all cases and imposes
criminal penalties on doctors who
may perform abortions in the
future. Louisiana’s ‘Human Life
Protection Act’ would not allow
women who have been raped or
impregnated through an act of
incest to receive abortions. If the
bill becomes law a woman could
only get an abortion in the state if
her life were threatened by
carrying the pregnancy to full
term.
The proposed law would go into
effect immediately after the US
Congress outlaws abortions
federally, abortion is banned by
amending the US constitution or
the president promulgates an
executive order banning the now
legal medical procedure.
The measure is written to
prevent women from using the
legal birth control medication
RU486, also know as the
‘morning after pill’. The measure
stipulates that the law goes into
effect “when a male sperm
penetrates the zona pellucida” of
a woman’s ovum, or at the
moment of conception. The bill
also disallows using any “drug,
potion or medicine” that would
result in an abortion. Under the
proposal, doctors who perform
the procedure can be sentenced
to up to 10 years in jail and fined
civil penalties of up to
$100,000 dollars. it's all true
passed a ban on abortions in
almost all cases and imposes
criminal penalties on doctors who
may perform abortions in the
future. Louisiana’s ‘Human Life
Protection Act’ would not allow
women who have been raped or
impregnated through an act of
incest to receive abortions. If the
bill becomes law a woman could
only get an abortion in the state if
her life were threatened by
carrying the pregnancy to full
term.
The proposed law would go into
effect immediately after the US
Congress outlaws abortions
federally, abortion is banned by
amending the US constitution or
the president promulgates an
executive order banning the now
legal medical procedure.
The measure is written to
prevent women from using the
legal birth control medication
RU486, also know as the
‘morning after pill’. The measure
stipulates that the law goes into
effect “when a male sperm
penetrates the zona pellucida” of
a woman’s ovum, or at the
moment of conception. The bill
also disallows using any “drug,
potion or medicine” that would
result in an abortion. Under the
proposal, doctors who perform
the procedure can be sentenced
to up to 10 years in jail and fined
civil penalties of up to
$100,000 dollars. it's all true
| redstat |
spread of the red
Europeans Follow Secret Flights into Stone Wall
Members of a European Union
delegation looking into the CIA’s alleged
illegal transfers of suspected terrorists on
secret flights throughout Europe have
sharply rebuked US officials for their lack
of cooperation with the investigation.
The EU group, which traveled to
Washington last week to interview State
Department personnel and members of
Congress, said they were disappointed
by what they called “stonewalling” by the
United States. They also described
several European governments as
uncooperative with the EU probe,
suggesting that these countries had been
pressured by the Bush administration.
The secret flights were documented by
human rights group Amnesty
International in a report released in
April. The report tracked over 1000
flights that it linked to the CIA, through
known “front” companies, that had
traversed European airspace since 2001.
delegation looking into the CIA’s alleged
illegal transfers of suspected terrorists on
secret flights throughout Europe have
sharply rebuked US officials for their lack
of cooperation with the investigation.
The EU group, which traveled to
Washington last week to interview State
Department personnel and members of
Congress, said they were disappointed
by what they called “stonewalling” by the
United States. They also described
several European governments as
uncooperative with the EU probe,
suggesting that these countries had been
pressured by the Bush administration.
The secret flights were documented by
human rights group Amnesty
International in a report released in
April. The report tracked over 1000
flights that it linked to the CIA, through
known “front” companies, that had
traversed European airspace since 2001.
An unknown number of these flights may
have been used for the “extraordinary
rendition” of terror suspects, a
procedure in which the suspects are
kidnapped and transported to foreign
countries for interrogation which may
involve the torture or even the
execution of the secret prisoners.
Allegations of extraordinary renditions
by US agencies have previously been
reported by redstateupdate.net.
The EU investigation has noted a
particular lack of cooperation from the
governments of Macedonia and Albania,
countries widely supposed to house
secret US detention facilities. But
members of the delegation said it was
difficult to imagine that the CIA
operations were unknown to other
European countries. US statements that
it respects the sovereignty of other
nations may indicate that the Europeans
knew of the CIA flights. it's all true
have been used for the “extraordinary
rendition” of terror suspects, a
procedure in which the suspects are
kidnapped and transported to foreign
countries for interrogation which may
involve the torture or even the
execution of the secret prisoners.
Allegations of extraordinary renditions
by US agencies have previously been
reported by redstateupdate.net.
The EU investigation has noted a
particular lack of cooperation from the
governments of Macedonia and Albania,
countries widely supposed to house
secret US detention facilities. But
members of the delegation said it was
difficult to imagine that the CIA
operations were unknown to other
European countries. US statements that
it respects the sovereignty of other
nations may indicate that the Europeans
knew of the CIA flights. it's all true
| Unemployment rates by state, figures from March 2006 |
| KY |
| SC |
| MI |
| AK |
| MS |
% 2 4 6 8
source : Bureau of Labor Statistics
Weather
Traffic
EPA Protects Homeland, Neglects Environment
Dept of Agriculture
Presenters Advise
Farmers of Farm Bill
and Global Terror
Presenters Advise
Farmers of Farm Bill
and Global Terror
The federal agency that is charged with
monitoring and safeguarding the
environment in the US, the
Environmental Protection Agency, has
established a new bureau within its
organizational structure called the EPA
Office of Homeland Security.
The agency, which is know traditionally
to ensure the purity of the nations’ air
and water and protect endangered
species, will now help protect the
American homeland from terror attacks
and assist the federal government’s
response to what the agency’s
administrator, Stephen L. Johnson,
describes as a “possible pandemic” of
contagious disease.
monitoring and safeguarding the
environment in the US, the
Environmental Protection Agency, has
established a new bureau within its
organizational structure called the EPA
Office of Homeland Security.
The agency, which is know traditionally
to ensure the purity of the nations’ air
and water and protect endangered
species, will now help protect the
American homeland from terror attacks
and assist the federal government’s
response to what the agency’s
administrator, Stephen L. Johnson,
describes as a “possible pandemic” of
contagious disease.
The Director of the EPA Office of
Homeland Security will be responsible
for planning the agency’s response to an
“incident of national significance” in
“coordination with relevant” federal
agencies, such as the FBI, the Pentagon
and the Department of Homeland
Security.
The Bush administration has earmarked
over $180 million for the new EPA
office at the same time it has reduced
overall funding for agency. Earlier this
year, the EPA Inspector General
criticized funding inadequacies that led to
a reduction in the agency's ability to
assess the effects of pesticides in unborn
children. it's all true
Homeland Security will be responsible
for planning the agency’s response to an
“incident of national significance” in
“coordination with relevant” federal
agencies, such as the FBI, the Pentagon
and the Department of Homeland
Security.
The Bush administration has earmarked
over $180 million for the new EPA
office at the same time it has reduced
overall funding for agency. Earlier this
year, the EPA Inspector General
criticized funding inadequacies that led to
a reduction in the agency's ability to
assess the effects of pesticides in unborn
children. it's all true
The US Department of Agriculture
has issued talking points to its
undersecretaries; assistant secretaries
and other appointees instructing
them how to intertwine comments
about the success of President Bush’s
strategy in Iraq in their speeches and
other public presentations.
The memo advises USDA staff that,
"the President has requested that all
members of his cabinet and sub-
cabinet incorporate message points
on the Global War on Terror into
speeches, including specific examples
of what each agency is doing to aid
the reconstruction of Iraq.” The
department memo says that USDA
secretaries may get inquiries about
the Farm Bill or agricultural trade
when they appear at public events,
but they should be prepared to speak
about “progress in Iraq”.
The memo gives speech outlines and
pre-written “transition examples”
that incorporate Iraq occupation
boosterisms into speeches for
audiences traditionally made up of
farmers and agribusiness audiences
regarding agricultural exports and
USDA provided school lunches.
USDA speakers are advised to
inform audiences that President
Bush has a “clear strategy” for the
occupation of Iraq, and that his plan
“incorporates every aspect of
American power.” it's all true
has issued talking points to its
undersecretaries; assistant secretaries
and other appointees instructing
them how to intertwine comments
about the success of President Bush’s
strategy in Iraq in their speeches and
other public presentations.
The memo advises USDA staff that,
"the President has requested that all
members of his cabinet and sub-
cabinet incorporate message points
on the Global War on Terror into
speeches, including specific examples
of what each agency is doing to aid
the reconstruction of Iraq.” The
department memo says that USDA
secretaries may get inquiries about
the Farm Bill or agricultural trade
when they appear at public events,
but they should be prepared to speak
about “progress in Iraq”.
The memo gives speech outlines and
pre-written “transition examples”
that incorporate Iraq occupation
boosterisms into speeches for
audiences traditionally made up of
farmers and agribusiness audiences
regarding agricultural exports and
USDA provided school lunches.
USDA speakers are advised to
inform audiences that President
Bush has a “clear strategy” for the
occupation of Iraq, and that his plan
“incorporates every aspect of
American power.” it's all true
in bed with the red
Congress Votes to Keep Inspector Out of the Loop
Earlier this month, when the US Senate
approved a supplementary spending bill
for the continued occupations of Iraq
and Afghanistan, the $1.5 billion that was
allocated for infrastructure
improvements was removed from the
oversight of the Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction. At the
request of the White House, the money
was designated Foreign Operations
funding, and therefore will not be
subject to the same controls as Relief
and Reconstruction funds. Although both
sources of revenue are managed by the
State Department, a different entity will
have oversight authority over the new
funds.
The Special Inspector General, Stuart
Bowen, has been assiduous in pursuing
fraud, incompetence, and corruption in
approved a supplementary spending bill
for the continued occupations of Iraq
and Afghanistan, the $1.5 billion that was
allocated for infrastructure
improvements was removed from the
oversight of the Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction. At the
request of the White House, the money
was designated Foreign Operations
funding, and therefore will not be
subject to the same controls as Relief
and Reconstruction funds. Although both
sources of revenue are managed by the
State Department, a different entity will
have oversight authority over the new
funds.
The Special Inspector General, Stuart
Bowen, has been assiduous in pursuing
fraud, incompetence, and corruption in
the massive, $22 billion reconstruction
effort. Working with a staff of 55
auditors, Bowen has become what the
Wall Street Journal has called “one of
the most prominent and credible critics”
of the US occupation of Iraq. But the
new money for reconstruction won’t be
part of Bowen’s portfolio. Instead, the
State Department inspector general
office will oversee the disposition of the
funds. In Congressional testimony last
year, the State Department said that this
office did not have the resources to
continue its work in Iraq.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D, VT) called the
move “ a transparent attempt to shut
down the only effective oversight of this
massive reconstruction program which
has been plagued by mismanagement and
fraud.” it's all true
effort. Working with a staff of 55
auditors, Bowen has become what the
Wall Street Journal has called “one of
the most prominent and credible critics”
of the US occupation of Iraq. But the
new money for reconstruction won’t be
part of Bowen’s portfolio. Instead, the
State Department inspector general
office will oversee the disposition of the
funds. In Congressional testimony last
year, the State Department said that this
office did not have the resources to
continue its work in Iraq.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D, VT) called the
move “ a transparent attempt to shut
down the only effective oversight of this
massive reconstruction program which
has been plagued by mismanagement and
fraud.” it's all true
redstateupdate.net
verbatim number 10.4
"The government does
not listen to domestic
phone calls without court
approval...We are not
trolling through the
personal lives of millions
of innocent Americans...
not listen to domestic
phone calls without court
approval...We are not
trolling through the
personal lives of millions
of innocent Americans...
...Americans expect their
government to do everything
in its power under our laws
and Constitution to protect
them and their civil liberties…
That is exactly what we are
doing. Thank you for
listening." Washington DC 05.13.06
government to do everything
in its power under our laws
and Constitution to protect
them and their civil liberties…
That is exactly what we are
doing. Thank you for
listening." Washington DC 05.13.06
