spread of the red
number 70 09.17.06
European Union Condemns Illegal Secret Detentions
The European Union has formally
condemned the United States’ practice
of holding detainees in secret prisons in
foreign locations, following the recent
acknowledgement by President Bush
that such a network of detention
centers was being operated by US
intelligence agencies. The disclosure of
the program has led to broad
international criticism of the US and
created controversy in a number of
European capitals, with many leaders
having previously accepted Bush
administration assurances that the
prisons did not exist. The EU action
came just days after the British Lord
Chancellor described the US prison
facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a
condemned the United States’ practice
of holding detainees in secret prisons in
foreign locations, following the recent
acknowledgement by President Bush
that such a network of detention
centers was being operated by US
intelligence agencies. The disclosure of
the program has led to broad
international criticism of the US and
created controversy in a number of
European capitals, with many leaders
having previously accepted Bush
administration assurances that the
prisons did not exist. The EU action
came just days after the British Lord
Chancellor described the US prison
facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a
“shocking affront to the principles of
democracy.”
The EU, meeting in Brussels to discuss
the ramifications of President Bush’s
admission for its 25 member states,
called on the US to adhere to
international standards in its treatment
of terrorism suspects, most of whom are
never charged with any wrongdoing. In a
statement on behalf of the entire union,
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja
said, “The existence of secret detention
facilities where detained persons are
kept in a legal vacuum is not in
conformity with international
humanitarian law and international
criminal law.”
democracy.”
The EU, meeting in Brussels to discuss
the ramifications of President Bush’s
admission for its 25 member states,
called on the US to adhere to
international standards in its treatment
of terrorism suspects, most of whom are
never charged with any wrongdoing. In a
statement on behalf of the entire union,
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja
said, “The existence of secret detention
facilities where detained persons are
kept in a legal vacuum is not in
conformity with international
humanitarian law and international
criminal law.”
The confirmation of the existence of
the prisons has refueled speculation
about which countries may host the
secret facilities. Within Europe, EU
member Poland and EU candidate
Romania are consistently named as
possible sites. Other countries
alleged to host secret detention
centers include Egypt, Morocco,
Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.
In a speech earlier in the week, the
Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer,
Britain's highest ranking legal official,
denounced a US policy that he said
was "deliberately seeking to put the
Guantanamo detainees beyond the
reach of law." its all true
the prisons has refueled speculation
about which countries may host the
secret facilities. Within Europe, EU
member Poland and EU candidate
Romania are consistently named as
possible sites. Other countries
alleged to host secret detention
centers include Egypt, Morocco,
Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.
In a speech earlier in the week, the
Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer,
Britain's highest ranking legal official,
denounced a US policy that he said
was "deliberately seeking to put the
Guantanamo detainees beyond the
reach of law." its 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
News
Classroom Prayer
Meetings in Texas
Meetings in Texas
Congressional Iranian Weapons Report Bombs at United Nations
United Nations weapon’s inspectors
have lodged an official complaint about a
report released by congressional
republicans that misstates the nuclear
capabilities of Iran suggesting that Iran is
a threat.
The inspectors from the International
Atomic Energy Agency said in a letter of
complaint that was hand delivered to a
US ambassador and sent to the head of
the House Intelligence Committee that
the report greatly overstates the
capability of Iran to produce weapons
grade uranium in a way that is
“dishonest”.
The senior director of the IAEA wrote
in the letter that the House report made
claims that were "erroneous, misleading
and unsubstantiated.” The agency
indicated that the 29-page report
have lodged an official complaint about a
report released by congressional
republicans that misstates the nuclear
capabilities of Iran suggesting that Iran is
a threat.
The inspectors from the International
Atomic Energy Agency said in a letter of
complaint that was hand delivered to a
US ambassador and sent to the head of
the House Intelligence Committee that
the report greatly overstates the
capability of Iran to produce weapons
grade uranium in a way that is
“dishonest”.
The senior director of the IAEA wrote
in the letter that the House report made
claims that were "erroneous, misleading
and unsubstantiated.” The agency
indicated that the 29-page report
contained five significant errors and
provided documentation in its refutation
of the report’s allegations.
One of the most frightening assertions in
the report is that Iran has enriched
uranium to a level of 90 percent. The
IAEA flatly denies the claim citing
evidence that demonstrates that Iran has
produced uranium enriched to less than
4 percent.
The report, “Recognizing Iran as a
Strategic Threat: An Intelligence
Challenge for the United States”, was
written by a staff member of the House
Intelligence Committee who was an
assistant to John Bolton and was the
administration's former point man on
Iran at the State Department. The
report was released last month and the
committee said that the intent of the
provided documentation in its refutation
of the report’s allegations.
One of the most frightening assertions in
the report is that Iran has enriched
uranium to a level of 90 percent. The
IAEA flatly denies the claim citing
evidence that demonstrates that Iran has
produced uranium enriched to less than
4 percent.
The report, “Recognizing Iran as a
Strategic Threat: An Intelligence
Challenge for the United States”, was
written by a staff member of the House
Intelligence Committee who was an
assistant to John Bolton and was the
administration's former point man on
Iran at the State Department. The
report was released last month and the
committee said that the intent of the
report was to convince the American
public to see “Iran as a threat”. The
full Intelligence Committee never
discussed the report and it was never
brought up for a vote.
This is the first time that the IAEA
has challenged the US since the
White House began to pressure the
UN to sanction Iran for processiong
uranium. As part of what the Bush
administration calls “transformational
diplomacy”, the U.S. State
Department recently opened a
special office to promote a
“democratic transition” in Iran.
When questioned about Iran’s
nascent uranium enrichment program
President Bush told reporters in
April, “We want to solve this issue
diplomatically (but) all options are on
the table.” its all true
public to see “Iran as a threat”. The
full Intelligence Committee never
discussed the report and it was never
brought up for a vote.
This is the first time that the IAEA
has challenged the US since the
White House began to pressure the
UN to sanction Iran for processiong
uranium. As part of what the Bush
administration calls “transformational
diplomacy”, the U.S. State
Department recently opened a
special office to promote a
“democratic transition” in Iran.
When questioned about Iran’s
nascent uranium enrichment program
President Bush told reporters in
April, “We want to solve this issue
diplomatically (but) all options are on
the table.” its all true
A review of the theology courses
in Texas public high schools has
revealed that the vast majority of
such classes are nothing more
than school sponsored prayer
meetings. In some instances
public high schools actually bring
in ministers to ‘teach’ students.
The study found that Bible
history, the Bible as literature and
Biblical philosophy courses that
are taught at public high schools
as electives “fail to meet minimal
standards for teacher
qualifications, curriculum and
academic rigor.”
The study also reported that the
majority of such public school
courses “push an agenda that is
hostile to religious freedom,
science and public education.”
The study “Reading, Writing and
Religion: Teaching the Bible in
Texas Public Schools,” was
performed by the Austin-based
Texas Freedom Network. The
year long study analyzed courses
taught in a cross section of more
than 1000 Texas public school
districts where high schoolers can
choose to take elective so-called
‘Bible” courses for credit.
The report found that such
courses generally use the Bible as
the single textbook, describe the
Bible as being the single “divinely
inspired” work. Teach that the
separation between church and
the state in America is a ‘myth’
and promote an anti-science view
of the earth’s creations that is
favored by fundamentalist
Christians and contradicts science
courses also taught in Texas
classrooms. its all true
in Texas public high schools has
revealed that the vast majority of
such classes are nothing more
than school sponsored prayer
meetings. In some instances
public high schools actually bring
in ministers to ‘teach’ students.
The study found that Bible
history, the Bible as literature and
Biblical philosophy courses that
are taught at public high schools
as electives “fail to meet minimal
standards for teacher
qualifications, curriculum and
academic rigor.”
The study also reported that the
majority of such public school
courses “push an agenda that is
hostile to religious freedom,
science and public education.”
The study “Reading, Writing and
Religion: Teaching the Bible in
Texas Public Schools,” was
performed by the Austin-based
Texas Freedom Network. The
year long study analyzed courses
taught in a cross section of more
than 1000 Texas public school
districts where high schoolers can
choose to take elective so-called
‘Bible” courses for credit.
The report found that such
courses generally use the Bible as
the single textbook, describe the
Bible as being the single “divinely
inspired” work. Teach that the
separation between church and
the state in America is a ‘myth’
and promote an anti-science view
of the earth’s creations that is
favored by fundamentalist
Christians and contradicts science
courses also taught in Texas
classrooms. its all true
spread of the red
| redstat |
New Premium on Torture Insurance
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
US counterintelligence agents and
interrogators have begun to take out
‘torture’ insurance policies to indemnify
themselves from costs associated with
court actions and congressional
investigations.
The insurance policies cost about $300
and would cover legal fees and
judgments over $1 million should CIA
agents be sued by detainees who have
been released from US detention
facilities around the world. Many former
detainees have alleged that they were
tortured and otherwise brutalized by
CIA agents in contravention of article 3
of the Geneva Conventions.
The torture protection policies are
offered by the Special Agents Mutual
Benefit Association, an insurance
company founded by retired FBI agents.
interrogators have begun to take out
‘torture’ insurance policies to indemnify
themselves from costs associated with
court actions and congressional
investigations.
The insurance policies cost about $300
and would cover legal fees and
judgments over $1 million should CIA
agents be sued by detainees who have
been released from US detention
facilities around the world. Many former
detainees have alleged that they were
tortured and otherwise brutalized by
CIA agents in contravention of article 3
of the Geneva Conventions.
The torture protection policies are
offered by the Special Agents Mutual
Benefit Association, an insurance
company founded by retired FBI agents.
Although CIA interrogators would be
provided the legal assistance of Justice
Department lawyers to defend them in
actions brought by detainees who claim
to have been abused during their
confinement and questioning, in
instances where torture is alleged,
government legal assistance could be
withdrawn. The White House has
insisted that various forms of torture are
legal in the ‘terror war’. Some of the
agents fear that they may face civil and
criminal prosecution in the US and
abroad. Additionally, Congressional
hearings into torture at Abu Ghraib and
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba may give rise to
the need for legal representation for
agents involved in interrogation.
Agents who can elect to purchase
torture insurance include supervisors,
guards and attorneys. its all true
provided the legal assistance of Justice
Department lawyers to defend them in
actions brought by detainees who claim
to have been abused during their
confinement and questioning, in
instances where torture is alleged,
government legal assistance could be
withdrawn. The White House has
insisted that various forms of torture are
legal in the ‘terror war’. Some of the
agents fear that they may face civil and
criminal prosecution in the US and
abroad. Additionally, Congressional
hearings into torture at Abu Ghraib and
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba may give rise to
the need for legal representation for
agents involved in interrogation.
Agents who can elect to purchase
torture insurance include supervisors,
guards and attorneys. its all true
source: World Resource Institute
one nation, under surveillance
News
State Officials Deputize Online Vigilantes
Epidemic of Departures
Increasingly Ails CDC
Increasingly Ails CDC
Colorado authorities have implemented
a program that allows private citizens to
report their suspicions about other
citizens’ activities through a state-run
website that is linked to federal
intelligence databases. Tips received
from online informants are forwarded to
a data analysis center, called a “fusion
center,” which provides an interface
between federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies. Counter
terrorism agents working at the fusion
center then evaluate the significance of
each report of suspicious activity, in
some cases referring the reports to the
FBI for investigation.
State officials launched the program on
the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks, encouraging citizen participation
in anti-terror surveillance efforts.
According to a report in the Denver
Post, authorities said that suspicious
activities might include “unusual requests
for information,” “unusual interest in
high-risk or symbolic targets,” “unusual
purchases,” or “persons who appear out
of place.” Reports received through the
system are sent for initial analysis to the
Colorado Information Analysis Center in
Centennial, where they are checked
against an array of state and federal
a program that allows private citizens to
report their suspicions about other
citizens’ activities through a state-run
website that is linked to federal
intelligence databases. Tips received
from online informants are forwarded to
a data analysis center, called a “fusion
center,” which provides an interface
between federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies. Counter
terrorism agents working at the fusion
center then evaluate the significance of
each report of suspicious activity, in
some cases referring the reports to the
FBI for investigation.
State officials launched the program on
the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks, encouraging citizen participation
in anti-terror surveillance efforts.
According to a report in the Denver
Post, authorities said that suspicious
activities might include “unusual requests
for information,” “unusual interest in
high-risk or symbolic targets,” “unusual
purchases,” or “persons who appear out
of place.” Reports received through the
system are sent for initial analysis to the
Colorado Information Analysis Center in
Centennial, where they are checked
against an array of state and federal
databases. If data analysts feel further
investigation is warranted, the report is
forwarded to the FBI, and state counter
terrorism officials are notified.
Privacy rights activists and civil
libertarians have assailed the program as
unconstitutionally intrusive. Legal
experts warn that the newly
implemented program will eventually be
challenged in court. “This is encouraging
people to spy on one another,”
Colorado ACLU executive director
Cathryn Hazouri told the Post, “Be
careful. Be aware that you could ruin
peoples’ reputations; ruin their ability to
go on an airplane. There are so many
things that grow out of this kind of
program.”
The Colorado fusion center has
forwarded approximately 300 tips to
federal authorities over the past 18
months. Officials have designed the new
system to increase the flow of
information into state and federal anti-
terrorism programs. Citizens may even
upload photos with their reports. The
CIAC also operates an anti-terrorism
telephone hotline for would-be
informants, which receives about 20 tips
each week. its all true
investigation is warranted, the report is
forwarded to the FBI, and state counter
terrorism officials are notified.
Privacy rights activists and civil
libertarians have assailed the program as
unconstitutionally intrusive. Legal
experts warn that the newly
implemented program will eventually be
challenged in court. “This is encouraging
people to spy on one another,”
Colorado ACLU executive director
Cathryn Hazouri told the Post, “Be
careful. Be aware that you could ruin
peoples’ reputations; ruin their ability to
go on an airplane. There are so many
things that grow out of this kind of
program.”
The Colorado fusion center has
forwarded approximately 300 tips to
federal authorities over the past 18
months. Officials have designed the new
system to increase the flow of
information into state and federal anti-
terrorism programs. Citizens may even
upload photos with their reports. The
CIAC also operates an anti-terrorism
telephone hotline for would-be
informants, which receives about 20 tips
each week. its all true
Unprecedented turnover among top
administrative and scientific staff at
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has led to what some
insiders are calling a crisis of morale
within the agency. Retirements and
resignations since 2004 have been
well above annual averages, and the
exodus is particularly acute among
senior scientific officials. The trend
prompted five former directors to
write to current CDC Director Julie
Gerberding to express their concerns
about the structure and direction of
the organization.
The letter, which was obtained by
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
as part of an investigation into the
effects of policy changes at the CDC,
was written last December. Signed by
five of the six directors to have led
the agency over the last 40 years, the
letter speaks of “the inability of many
of the partners to understand the
direction in which CDC is headed.”
Critics charge that the current
management team has expanded
bureaucracy while de-emphasizing
scientific inquiry. its all true
administrative and scientific staff at
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has led to what some
insiders are calling a crisis of morale
within the agency. Retirements and
resignations since 2004 have been
well above annual averages, and the
exodus is particularly acute among
senior scientific officials. The trend
prompted five former directors to
write to current CDC Director Julie
Gerberding to express their concerns
about the structure and direction of
the organization.
The letter, which was obtained by
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
as part of an investigation into the
effects of policy changes at the CDC,
was written last December. Signed by
five of the six directors to have led
the agency over the last 40 years, the
letter speaks of “the inability of many
of the partners to understand the
direction in which CDC is headed.”
Critics charge that the current
management team has expanded
bureaucracy while de-emphasizing
scientific inquiry. its all true
redstateupdate.net
| Inside Wrigley Field |
| verbatim archive |
| Clarence Brown Tribute Page |
verbatim number 13.5
"We are in a conflict
between good and evil...
between good and evil...
...and America will call evil
by its name."
West Point NY 06.01.02
by its name."
West Point NY 06.01.02
| "I glance at the headlines. I rarely read the stories and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves." Washington DC 09.21.03 |
verbatim number 13.6
Traffic : Merge Right
FCC Killed Report: No Story at Ten
A report on the effects of increased
media consolidation was ordered
destroyed by senior officials of the
Federal Communications Commission,
apparently because its conclusions were
at odds with policies being implemented
by the Commission.
A copy of the report, which was
prepared in 2004, was forwarded to
Senator Barbara Boxer (D, CA) by an
agency whistleblower. Boxer raised the
issue during Senate confirmation
hearings for FCC Chairman Kevin
media consolidation was ordered
destroyed by senior officials of the
Federal Communications Commission,
apparently because its conclusions were
at odds with policies being implemented
by the Commission.
A copy of the report, which was
prepared in 2004, was forwarded to
Senator Barbara Boxer (D, CA) by an
agency whistleblower. Boxer raised the
issue during Senate confirmation
hearings for FCC Chairman Kevin
Martin. In a letter to Boxer, Martin
claimed that he had never before
heard of the report, and noted that
Michael Powell was the FCC
Chairman at the time that the report
was destroyed.
The study showed that locally owned
news broadcasts added significantly to
local coverage, especially on-location
segments. The report was compiled
as the FCC considered easing rules
limiting media ownership. its all true
claimed that he had never before
heard of the report, and noted that
Michael Powell was the FCC
Chairman at the time that the report
was destroyed.
The study showed that locally owned
news broadcasts added significantly to
local coverage, especially on-location
segments. The report was compiled
as the FCC considered easing rules
limiting media ownership. its all true
Reporters Paid by Administration to Bash Cuba
Ten journalists from South Florida have
been revealed to have been on the pay-
roll of the government sponsored US
Office of Cuban Broadcasting. The
office runs both Radio and TV Marti and
is a propaganda enterprise of the US
government created to broadcast pro-
American media into Cuba to “promote
democracy”. Its programs cannot be
broadcast in the US.
Documents obtained by the Miami
Herald disclosed that since 2001 the 10
been revealed to have been on the pay-
roll of the government sponsored US
Office of Cuban Broadcasting. The
office runs both Radio and TV Marti and
is a propaganda enterprise of the US
government created to broadcast pro-
American media into Cuba to “promote
democracy”. Its programs cannot be
broadcast in the US.
Documents obtained by the Miami
Herald disclosed that since 2001 the 10
journalists received amounts ranging
from $1500 to more than $174,000
in government payments. Three of
the journalists found to be receiving
government monies have written for
the Herald. The paper later severed
its relationship with the writers.
The president of Miami Herald Media
Company said that the reporters had
violated a “sacred trust” by accepting
the government payments. its all true
from $1500 to more than $174,000
in government payments. Three of
the journalists found to be receiving
government monies have written for
the Herald. The paper later severed
its relationship with the writers.
The president of Miami Herald Media
Company said that the reporters had
violated a “sacred trust” by accepting
the government payments. its all true
Bush Writer Finds Home at Newspaper
One of America’s leading newspapers,
the Washington Post, widely viewed
to be a liberal leaning media voice, has
hired the former Bush administration
speech writer who coined the phrase
“axis of evil.”
As the occupation of Iraq continues
and the justifications the US used to
invade the country have been
discredited as exaggerations and
outright lies, the Post has hired
Michael Gerson to write for its
editorial page.
Gerson was also responsible for
conjuring up the nightmarish image of
America being attacked with nuclear
weapons by terrorists when he wrote
the now infamous line “the first sign
of a smoking gun might be a mush-
room cloud.” That phrase was
the Washington Post, widely viewed
to be a liberal leaning media voice, has
hired the former Bush administration
speech writer who coined the phrase
“axis of evil.”
As the occupation of Iraq continues
and the justifications the US used to
invade the country have been
discredited as exaggerations and
outright lies, the Post has hired
Michael Gerson to write for its
editorial page.
Gerson was also responsible for
conjuring up the nightmarish image of
America being attacked with nuclear
weapons by terrorists when he wrote
the now infamous line “the first sign
of a smoking gun might be a mush-
room cloud.” That phrase was
spoken by Mr. Bush, Vice-President
Cheney and Condoleezza Rice as
they each attempted to convince the
American public to support their plan
to invade Iraq.
The newspaper's editorial page
editor assured readers that Gerson is
“a different kind of conservative
from the other conservatives on
our page.” its all true
Cheney and Condoleezza Rice as
they each attempted to convince the
American public to support their plan
to invade Iraq.
The newspaper's editorial page
editor assured readers that Gerson is
“a different kind of conservative
from the other conservatives on
our page.” its all true
redstat
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source: Viroqua Institute