interpreting the constitution
| 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 |
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| redstat |
redstateupdate.net
number 95 03.18.07
interpreting the constitution
in bed with the red
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
| Slim Harpo Tribute Page |
redstat
one nation, under surveillance : unwarranted
source: Viroqua Institute
verbatim number 18.5
Why tell the enemy what
we're doing if the program is
necessary to protect us from
the enemy? And it is. And it's
legal. And we'll continue to
brief Congress. And we
review it a lot."
Washington DC 01.29.06
we're doing if the program is
necessary to protect us from
the enemy? And it is. And it's
legal. And we'll continue to
brief Congress. And we
review it a lot."
Washington DC 01.29.06
| Plastics and rubber products manufacturing per capita top five states |
WI
SC
OH
IN
AR
source: US Department of Commerce
verbatim number 18.4
"I'm optimistic
about this
country...
about this
country...
...you've got to
know something
about your
president...
know something
about your
president...
...I am some kind of
optimistic about where
we're headed"
Washington DC 03.15.07
optimistic about where
we're headed"
Washington DC 03.15.07
$ 20 40 60 80
The National Archives and
Records Administration has
removed millions of documents
from public view over the past
five years under programs
intended to purge from public
availability documents that may
“support terrorist activity.”
It was revealed last year that the
Air force, CIA and other
unknown intelligence interests
conspired with the NARA to
remove “open-shelf” archival
records secretly so as not to draw
criticism from academics that use
the records in their research.
The agreement sought to remove
documents from the public
domain that “may have been
improperly marked as
declassified” the release of which
may “harm the national security
interests of the United States.”
Although the NARA promised
greater openness after the secret
re-classification program was
revealed, a recent report by the
Associated Press found that
under the “records of concern
program” 1.1 million pages have
been removed from public view
and an additional 625 million
pages could be affected in the
future.
The report found that many of
the documents were pulled from
the public domain without being
reviewed including 80 cubic feet
of naval facility blueprints and
plans. Archive spokesperson
Steve Tilley told the AP that the
agency “couldn't take the time
and didn't always have the
expertise” to evaluate the
material it re-classified. it's all true
Records Administration has
removed millions of documents
from public view over the past
five years under programs
intended to purge from public
availability documents that may
“support terrorist activity.”
It was revealed last year that the
Air force, CIA and other
unknown intelligence interests
conspired with the NARA to
remove “open-shelf” archival
records secretly so as not to draw
criticism from academics that use
the records in their research.
The agreement sought to remove
documents from the public
domain that “may have been
improperly marked as
declassified” the release of which
may “harm the national security
interests of the United States.”
Although the NARA promised
greater openness after the secret
re-classification program was
revealed, a recent report by the
Associated Press found that
under the “records of concern
program” 1.1 million pages have
been removed from public view
and an additional 625 million
pages could be affected in the
future.
The report found that many of
the documents were pulled from
the public domain without being
reviewed including 80 cubic feet
of naval facility blueprints and
plans. Archive spokesperson
Steve Tilley told the AP that the
agency “couldn't take the time
and didn't always have the
expertise” to evaluate the
material it re-classified. it's all true
A study of over 100,000 veterans
returning from the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq who receive government funded
health care found that a large amount,
approximately 25 percent, have been
diagnosed with mental health disorders.
The report also found that 56 percent of
the veterans diagnosed with mental
health disorders suffer from two or
more distinct mental health diseases.
When psychological disorders such as
domestic violence were factored in, the
rate of veterans struggling with mental
illness was 31 percent.
The study, published in the American
Medical Association’s Archives of Internal
Medicine, reviewed the cases of 103,788
veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Iraqi Freedom who served
between 2001 and 2005. Half of the
veterans with mental health problems
returning from the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq who receive government funded
health care found that a large amount,
approximately 25 percent, have been
diagnosed with mental health disorders.
The report also found that 56 percent of
the veterans diagnosed with mental
health disorders suffer from two or
more distinct mental health diseases.
When psychological disorders such as
domestic violence were factored in, the
rate of veterans struggling with mental
illness was 31 percent.
The study, published in the American
Medical Association’s Archives of Internal
Medicine, reviewed the cases of 103,788
veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Iraqi Freedom who served
between 2001 and 2005. Half of the
veterans with mental health problems
have been diagnosed with post-traumatic
stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress
disorder can manifest itself in persistent
nightmares and cause feelings of intense
remorse or hopelessness.
Some returning veterans report
experiencing anxiety and sleep disorders
and others suffer from substance abuse
problems. The study found that “the
youngest group of veterans (age, 18-24
years) was at greatest risk for receiving
mental health or post-traumatic stress
disorder diagnoses.”
The findings suggest that a larger number
of veterans who are returning from
Afghanistan and Iraq are being diagnosed
with mental health problems than
projected by the Veteran’s
Administration. A previous review of
returning veterans found that while a
stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress
disorder can manifest itself in persistent
nightmares and cause feelings of intense
remorse or hopelessness.
Some returning veterans report
experiencing anxiety and sleep disorders
and others suffer from substance abuse
problems. The study found that “the
youngest group of veterans (age, 18-24
years) was at greatest risk for receiving
mental health or post-traumatic stress
disorder diagnoses.”
The findings suggest that a larger number
of veterans who are returning from
Afghanistan and Iraq are being diagnosed
with mental health problems than
projected by the Veteran’s
Administration. A previous review of
returning veterans found that while a
third accessed mental health services,
only 12 percent were diagnosed as
having a mental disorder.
The VA believes that, in the long run,
a greater percentage of veterans of
Afghanistan and Iraq may exhibit
disorders such as PTSD than veterans
of previous conflicts. Veteran’s
Administration officials cite the fact
that many troops are being deployed
for multiple tours of duty in
Afghanistan and Iraq as one of the
reasons for the expected rise in
veterans who are diagnosed with
mental health disorders. Although
this is the case, the Government
Accountability Office found that the
VA had failed to spend $100 million
allocated over the past two years
specifically for veteran’s mental
health treatment. it's all true
only 12 percent were diagnosed as
having a mental disorder.
The VA believes that, in the long run,
a greater percentage of veterans of
Afghanistan and Iraq may exhibit
disorders such as PTSD than veterans
of previous conflicts. Veteran’s
Administration officials cite the fact
that many troops are being deployed
for multiple tours of duty in
Afghanistan and Iraq as one of the
reasons for the expected rise in
veterans who are diagnosed with
mental health disorders. Although
this is the case, the Government
Accountability Office found that the
VA had failed to spend $100 million
allocated over the past two years
specifically for veteran’s mental
health treatment. it's all true
A leading constitutional scholar has said
that there is increasing evidence that
President Bush knew of, or even
personally authorized, the torture of
suspects in US custody.
Jonathan Turley of George Washington
University, speaking to the Associated
Press, said of the detainees, “It seems
pretty clear that they’ve been tortured,
and that the president knew they were
being tortured, and may have even
ordered their torture through
techniques like water boarding.” His
comments came as the government held
secret hearings to determine the status
of 14 terrorism suspects currently being
held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
that there is increasing evidence that
President Bush knew of, or even
personally authorized, the torture of
suspects in US custody.
Jonathan Turley of George Washington
University, speaking to the Associated
Press, said of the detainees, “It seems
pretty clear that they’ve been tortured,
and that the president knew they were
being tortured, and may have even
ordered their torture through
techniques like water boarding.” His
comments came as the government held
secret hearings to determine the status
of 14 terrorism suspects currently being
held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
It was confirmed last November that
CIA operatives and US military personnel
acted under the authority of classified
directives signed by Bush and then
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
when they questioned suspects detained
in the administration’s “war on terror.”
The existence of a set of secret
executive orders was first suggested by
documents obtained by the American
Civil Liberties Union in 2004. As
previously reported by the
redstateupdate, the administration has
successfully invoked the state secrets
privilege to prevent details of the
interrogations from becoming public in
trials involving innocent detainees who
were tortured.
CIA operatives and US military personnel
acted under the authority of classified
directives signed by Bush and then
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
when they questioned suspects detained
in the administration’s “war on terror.”
The existence of a set of secret
executive orders was first suggested by
documents obtained by the American
Civil Liberties Union in 2004. As
previously reported by the
redstateupdate, the administration has
successfully invoked the state secrets
privilege to prevent details of the
interrogations from becoming public in
trials involving innocent detainees who
were tortured.
“The administration has been almost
pathological in trying to find ways to
keep these people from ever seeing a
real judge or a real lawyer, and the
reasons are obvious,” Turley told the
AP. “It seems likely now that the
president may have not only known
about the torture program, but may
have ordered it.”
Recent reports that suspected
terrorist leader Khalid Sheikh
Mohammed had confessed to an
extraordinary array of crimes were
greeted with skepticism abroad, due
to the perception that US detainees
are subjected to conditions illegal
under international law. it's all true
pathological in trying to find ways to
keep these people from ever seeing a
real judge or a real lawyer, and the
reasons are obvious,” Turley told the
AP. “It seems likely now that the
president may have not only known
about the torture program, but may
have ordered it.”
Recent reports that suspected
terrorist leader Khalid Sheikh
Mohammed had confessed to an
extraordinary array of crimes were
greeted with skepticism abroad, due
to the perception that US detainees
are subjected to conditions illegal
under international law. it's all true
Two former Ohio election workers
have been sentenced to 18 months in
jail for their participation in a
fraudulent recount of ballots in the
2004 presidential election. The judge,
in imposing the maximum sentence,
told the fired employees of the
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
that he felt they were accepting
responsibility for rigging the recount
in an effort to protect their former
bosses.
The workers were convicted of
secretly pre-selecting ballots for a
recount sample to ensure that there
would not be enough discrepancies in
the county to necessitate a full
manual recount. “I can’t help but feel
there’s more to this story,” said
Judge Peter Corrigan. “It seems
unlikely your supervisors wouldn’t
know.” Both defendants denied that
they were withholding evidence of a
larger conspiracy.
Prosecutors in the case asked for the
maximum sentences because they
said the former election workers had
been uncooperative. Prosecutor
Kevin Baxter said, "The defendants
have never come clean." it's all true
have been sentenced to 18 months in
jail for their participation in a
fraudulent recount of ballots in the
2004 presidential election. The judge,
in imposing the maximum sentence,
told the fired employees of the
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
that he felt they were accepting
responsibility for rigging the recount
in an effort to protect their former
bosses.
The workers were convicted of
secretly pre-selecting ballots for a
recount sample to ensure that there
would not be enough discrepancies in
the county to necessitate a full
manual recount. “I can’t help but feel
there’s more to this story,” said
Judge Peter Corrigan. “It seems
unlikely your supervisors wouldn’t
know.” Both defendants denied that
they were withholding evidence of a
larger conspiracy.
Prosecutors in the case asked for the
maximum sentences because they
said the former election workers had
been uncooperative. Prosecutor
Kevin Baxter said, "The defendants
have never come clean." it's all true
Justice Department officials have
continued their efforts to
increase data retention
requirements for internet service
providers, proposing in private
discussions with industry leaders
last week that information related
to image and video uploads be
indexed and made available to law
enforcement agencies for at least
two years. The meeting, chaired
by Assistant Attorney General for
Legal Policy Rachel Brand,
included representatives from
Comcast and AOL, according to a
report by CNet News. The
companies were asked to
calculate the cost of compliance
with the proposed regulations.
Brand argued that access to the
companies’ databases was
essential for agencies involved in
continued their efforts to
increase data retention
requirements for internet service
providers, proposing in private
discussions with industry leaders
last week that information related
to image and video uploads be
indexed and made available to law
enforcement agencies for at least
two years. The meeting, chaired
by Assistant Attorney General for
Legal Policy Rachel Brand,
included representatives from
Comcast and AOL, according to a
report by CNet News. The
companies were asked to
calculate the cost of compliance
with the proposed regulations.
Brand argued that access to the
companies’ databases was
essential for agencies involved in
terrorism and child pornography
investigations. According to the report,
universities and libraries would be
exempted from the proposal under
current consideration, apparently
because the Bush administration
anticipates resistance on the issue from
those communities.
Under Attorney General Alberto
Gonzalez the Justice Department has
assiduously supported laws mandating
the collection by private companies of
digital information on the identities and
transactions of their customers.
Gonzalez himself has testified numerous
times before Congressional committees
on the need for federal regulation of
data retention.
Legislation pending in the House would
allow the DoJ to determine retention
and access guidelines. it's all true
investigations. According to the report,
universities and libraries would be
exempted from the proposal under
current consideration, apparently
because the Bush administration
anticipates resistance on the issue from
those communities.
Under Attorney General Alberto
Gonzalez the Justice Department has
assiduously supported laws mandating
the collection by private companies of
digital information on the identities and
transactions of their customers.
Gonzalez himself has testified numerous
times before Congressional committees
on the need for federal regulation of
data retention.
Legislation pending in the House would
allow the DoJ to determine retention
and access guidelines. it's all true
The Pentagon is preparing for an
upcoming agency-wide audit in 2007
after years of criticism from
whistleblowers and investigators from
the Government Accountability Office
about the lack of accounting procedures
at the Department of Defense in general
and particularly regarding the lack of
oversight of the money being spent in
the occupation of Iraq. The Pentagon is
spending over $1 billion a week in Iraq
with scant oversight using antiquated or
flawed systems of accounting.
The GAO reported to congress in 2004
that the Department of Defense was
unable to account for billions in IT
related expenditures due to sloppy
accounting procedures. Investigators
said that funding requests for “73 major
(DOD) initiatives,” could not be verified
due to accounting discrepancies. The
upcoming agency-wide audit in 2007
after years of criticism from
whistleblowers and investigators from
the Government Accountability Office
about the lack of accounting procedures
at the Department of Defense in general
and particularly regarding the lack of
oversight of the money being spent in
the occupation of Iraq. The Pentagon is
spending over $1 billion a week in Iraq
with scant oversight using antiquated or
flawed systems of accounting.
The GAO reported to congress in 2004
that the Department of Defense was
unable to account for billions in IT
related expenditures due to sloppy
accounting procedures. Investigators
said that funding requests for “73 major
(DOD) initiatives,” could not be verified
due to accounting discrepancies. The
costs for the initiatives amounted to 6
percent of the Pentagon budget for
2004, or $1.6 billion.
Former Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld told Congress, as he was
seeking approval for the 2003 defense
budget, that “According to some
estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in
transactions.” An accountant for the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service,
Jim Minnery, quit his job and became a
whistle blower in 2002 and reported to
congress that “we know it's gone. But
we don't know what they spent it on.”
The chief investigator at the GAO
characterized the lack of fiscal oversight
at the Pentagon as “atrocious financial
management" and suggested that
congress require that the Pentagon
establishes measures to ensure fiscal
accountability. it's all true
percent of the Pentagon budget for
2004, or $1.6 billion.
Former Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld told Congress, as he was
seeking approval for the 2003 defense
budget, that “According to some
estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in
transactions.” An accountant for the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service,
Jim Minnery, quit his job and became a
whistle blower in 2002 and reported to
congress that “we know it's gone. But
we don't know what they spent it on.”
The chief investigator at the GAO
characterized the lack of fiscal oversight
at the Pentagon as “atrocious financial
management" and suggested that
congress require that the Pentagon
establishes measures to ensure fiscal
accountability. it's all true
An FBI counter terror alert was passed
to police departments around the
country that warned local officials to be
aware that members of extremist groups
have begun to apply for positions as
school bus drivers and have even bought
school buses and created transportation
companies in hopes of garnering
contracts with school districts.
A spokesperson for the FBI said that
while “there are no threats, no plots and
no history to lead us to believe there is
any reason for concern,” recent
“suspicious activity” led the agency to
to police departments around the
country that warned local officials to be
aware that members of extremist groups
have begun to apply for positions as
school bus drivers and have even bought
school buses and created transportation
companies in hopes of garnering
contracts with school districts.
A spokesperson for the FBI said that
while “there are no threats, no plots and
no history to lead us to believe there is
any reason for concern,” recent
“suspicious activity” led the agency to
communicate the alert to local law
enforcement so that they can “watch
out for kid’s safety.” The
spokesperson went on to say
“parents and children have nothing to
fear.”
The agency said that it knows of no
information to show that foreign
nationals with ties to extremist
groups “are involved in a terrorist
plot against the homeland,” and the
alert was only intended to keep local
police on the look-out for
“suspicious activity.” it's all true
enforcement so that they can “watch
out for kid’s safety.” The
spokesperson went on to say
“parents and children have nothing to
fear.”
The agency said that it knows of no
information to show that foreign
nationals with ties to extremist
groups “are involved in a terrorist
plot against the homeland,” and the
alert was only intended to keep local
police on the look-out for
“suspicious activity.” it's all true
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
50b
30b
| Department of Homeland Security Total Federal Expenditure 2001-2007 |
The Bush administration has established
a policy opposing the disclosure of the
amount of money that is appropriated to
fund the Department of Homeland
Security.
Responding to a provision in a pending
bill that would mandate the disclosure of
the total budget for the department, the
Executive Office of the President
formally advised the Senate it “strongly
opposes” the disclosure of the budget.
The Bush administration said that making
a policy opposing the disclosure of the
amount of money that is appropriated to
fund the Department of Homeland
Security.
Responding to a provision in a pending
bill that would mandate the disclosure of
the total budget for the department, the
Executive Office of the President
formally advised the Senate it “strongly
opposes” the disclosure of the budget.
The Bush administration said that making
public the amount DHS receives each
year would disclose "to the Nation's
enemies and adversaries in a time of
war...significant intelligence" that
could "cause damage to the national
security interests of the United
States." The statement also
informed the Senate that the
disclosure “would provide no
meaningful information to the
general American public.” it's all true
year would disclose "to the Nation's
enemies and adversaries in a time of
war...significant intelligence" that
could "cause damage to the national
security interests of the United
States." The statement also
informed the Senate that the
disclosure “would provide no
meaningful information to the
general American public.” it's all true
Extremist Bus Drivers Pose Vague Threat
Discussion of DHS Budget Supports Terrorism
Soldiers' Mental Health Becomes Collateral Damage
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
advised President Bush on an internal
Justice Department probe even after
learning that his own actions would be a
focus of the investigation. An official
examination of the implementation and
management of the National Security
Agency’s warrantless domestic
surveillance program led to the apparent
conflict of interest, which was revealed
last week by the National Journal.
According to the report, Justice
Department sources confirm that the
inquiry by the department’s Office of
Professional Responsibility would have
explored both Gonzales’ role in
authorizing the program as White House
counsel and his supervision of the
program as Attorney General. It remains
unclear whether the president knew that
Gonzales’ conduct would be reviewed by
the OPR when he personally intervened
to quash the investigation in April 2006.
Members of Congress asked the Justice
Department to conduct an investigation
into the NSA wiretapping program,
which sidestepped Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act court oversight, after
the program was publicly disclosed in
December 2005.The Journal, citing
administration sources and official
documents, reports that Gonzales
learned in early 2006 that the scope of
advised President Bush on an internal
Justice Department probe even after
learning that his own actions would be a
focus of the investigation. An official
examination of the implementation and
management of the National Security
Agency’s warrantless domestic
surveillance program led to the apparent
conflict of interest, which was revealed
last week by the National Journal.
According to the report, Justice
Department sources confirm that the
inquiry by the department’s Office of
Professional Responsibility would have
explored both Gonzales’ role in
authorizing the program as White House
counsel and his supervision of the
program as Attorney General. It remains
unclear whether the president knew that
Gonzales’ conduct would be reviewed by
the OPR when he personally intervened
to quash the investigation in April 2006.
Members of Congress asked the Justice
Department to conduct an investigation
into the NSA wiretapping program,
which sidestepped Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act court oversight, after
the program was publicly disclosed in
December 2005.The Journal, citing
administration sources and official
documents, reports that Gonzales
learned in early 2006 that the scope of
the OPR investigation would include
close scrutiny of his own actions, first as
White House counsel and later as
Attorney General. Continuing to advise
the President about a probe of which he
was a target raises questions of
propriety, according to legal experts,
who say that Gonzales should have
recused himself from such discussions.
It is unknown whether Gonzales
informed the president of his personal
involvement in the OPR probe.
Prominent legal ethicists contacted by
the Journal agreed that while it would
be improper for the Attorney General
to withhold such information, even
more serious issues arise if Bush was
aware of Gonzales’ status when he took
the unprecedented step of denying
security clearances to OPR lawyers,
which ultimately killed the investigation.
In that case, said Charles Wolfram,
professor emeritus of legal ethics at
Cornell University, “both are abusing the
discretion of their offices.”
In closing its investigation, the OPR was
prohibited from informing Congress of
Bush’s involvement. The president’s
personal intervention to block the probe
was eventually disclosed by Gonzales last
July, in testimony before the Senate
Judiciary Committee. it's all true
close scrutiny of his own actions, first as
White House counsel and later as
Attorney General. Continuing to advise
the President about a probe of which he
was a target raises questions of
propriety, according to legal experts,
who say that Gonzales should have
recused himself from such discussions.
It is unknown whether Gonzales
informed the president of his personal
involvement in the OPR probe.
Prominent legal ethicists contacted by
the Journal agreed that while it would
be improper for the Attorney General
to withhold such information, even
more serious issues arise if Bush was
aware of Gonzales’ status when he took
the unprecedented step of denying
security clearances to OPR lawyers,
which ultimately killed the investigation.
In that case, said Charles Wolfram,
professor emeritus of legal ethics at
Cornell University, “both are abusing the
discretion of their offices.”
In closing its investigation, the OPR was
prohibited from informing Congress of
Bush’s involvement. The president’s
personal intervention to block the probe
was eventually disclosed by Gonzales last
July, in testimony before the Senate
Judiciary Committee. it's all true
President Personally Ratified Bill of Wrongs
Pentagon Accounting Practices Indefensible
Previously Public
Pages Purged
Pages Purged
Data Retention Rules Get Graphic
Little Interest in Conflict of Interest
Recount Riggers
Elect Jail Time
Elect Jail Time