Let's Stop Following the Misleader

Prissy always did have an attitude about following orders from people dumber than herself...

Dearest Readers, later today Prissy and Betty Buckaneer will be doing a pilot for our new radio show, The Progressive Revolution

Prissy will podcast as soon as the tech guys record it, later this evening or tomorrow, it should be posted. While it will be live today in Columbus, the new FM station doesn't have much range yet-but with the podcast online, that won't matter much.

To all the daddies out there today and to the men who are not bio daddies, yet put forth a good example, "Happy Father's Day!"

Hot Links

Financial Times BAE faces fresh congressional scrutiny

Congress is renewing its scrutiny of BAE Systems in the wake of allegations that the British defence company bribed a former Saudi ambas­sador to Washington to secure valuable defence contracts.

The department of justice is also considering whether it should open a full-blown inquiry into whether BAE has violated US anti-bribery laws in relation to its international arms deals.

That should be interesting...

Sure it will, from Reuters Top general says his Iraq report will be candid

The top U.S. commander in Iraq said on Sunday he will have a good idea in September how well the troop increase has worked and will be able to provide a forthright report to the policy makers in Washington.

"We can provide a reasonable snapshot of the situation at that time and how things have gone in the surge, both in the security and then in the political and economic arenas," Gen. David Petraeus said on "Fox News Sunday."

President George W. Bush has said Petraeus' September report would be important in deciding the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq, but some in his administration have started to play down its significance to relieve some of the anticipation among members of Congress.

General Sanchez actually does give "candid" reports, now that he is no longer on Dubya's payroll...

UK Times ‘Ostrich’ ruling by judge may tilt jury against Lord Black

“Here, the Government has introduced sufficient evidence to support an inference of deliberate avoidance,” the judge ruled at the trial in Chicago.

Her decision will make it harder for Lord Black to beat US charges that he looted $60 million (£30 million) in bogus “noncompete” payments and perks – including a $62,000 surprise birthday party for his wife Barbara Amiel and a trip for two on the corporate jet to Bora Bora – from the newspaper empire that he ran.

“I don’t think he is walking out of this without a few years,” said Leonard Cavise, a law professor at DePaul University.

Lord Black has loudly protested his innocence in the press, drawing a rebuke from the judge when he declared in one interview that the prosecutors’ case was “hanging like a toilet seat around their necks”. But the normally loquacious peer curtly declined a formal invitation from the judge to testify on his behalf as his lawyers put on an unexpectedly brief defence, lasting only a few days. The only words that he has spoken in court during the three-month trial are: “I decline to exercise my right to testify.”

Patrick Fitzgerald's Chicago office is also prosecuting m'lord -he's got problems on a global scale. This guy will get his goose cooked, much like Scooter. Rich guys are the worst bad guys, for sure.

What motivated the 9/11 hijackers? See testimony most didn't. Watch Lee Hamilton cut off the FBI agent giving him an answer he didn't like.

Page 147 of the 911 Commission Report: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) first came to the attention of U.S. law enforcement as a result of his cameo role in the first World Trade Center bombing. According to KSM, he learned of Ramzi Yousef 's intention to launch an attack inside the United States in 1991 or 1992, when Yousef was receiving explosives training in Afghanistan. During the fall of 1992, while Yousef was building the bomb he would use in that attack, KSM and Yousef had numerous telephone conversations during which Yousef discussed his progress and sought additional funding. On November 3, 1992, KSM wired $660 from Qatar to the bank account of Yousef 's co-conspirator, Mohammed Salameh. KSM does not appear to have contributed any more substantially to this operation.

Yousef 's instant notoriety as the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Cen- ter bombing inspired KSM to become involved in planning attacks against the United States. By his own account, KSM's animus toward the United States stemmed not from his experiences there as a student, but rather from his vio- lent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel.

He didn't say violent disagreement with American freedoms...

Wired Judge Orders FBI to Turn Over Thousands of Patriot Act Abuse Documents

The April request from the Electronic Frontier Foundation asked the FBI to turn over documents related to its misuse of National Security Letters, self-issued subpoenas that don't need a judge's approval and which can get financial, phone and internet records. Recipients of the letters are forbidden by law from ever telling anyone other than their lawyer that they received the request. Though initially warned initially to use this power sparingly, FBI agents issued more than 47,000 in 2005, more than half of which targeted Americans. Information obtained from the requests, which need only be certified by the agency to be "relevant" to an investigation, are dumped into a data-mining warehouse for perpetuity.

An Inspector General report in March found rampant errors in the small sample of NSLs examined and systemic underreporting of the powers usage to Congress. The report also found that agents issued more than 700 "expedited" letters, some containing materially false sworn statements. These letters had no legal basis and essentially asked companies to turn over data by pretending there was an emergency in order to get the data necessary to get a proper NSL. One former FBI agent says its clear the FBI violated the law.

Now the Justice Department must turn over 2,500 pages of documents a month to the EFF, including information on cozy surveillance contracts between the FBI and telephone companies and information on how data captured by NSLs were put into the FBI's massive data mining warehouse.

The Justice Department told the court that there were more than 100,000 potentially responsive documents and that ten people are working full time on filling the request for documents. Look out for a run on thick, black magic markers in D.C.

Oh yes indeed, we want to know it all...let the lawsuits begin!

Video of the Marine, loyal Bushies and the pentagon wish to make an example of. Interesting that cowards who ducked out of Vietnam are pushing for this...Sgt. Liam Madden-Justified Dissent

Patrick Fitzgerald who told Prissy his blog is a fake! Duh, Mr. Fitzgerald, Prissy's blog is a fake too. Public Service - Good Medicine

Since graduating from Amherst College 25 years ago, Patrick Fitzgerald ’82 has proved himself one of the nation’s best prosecutors, and one of its most remarkable citizens.

Think Progress Special Counsel Probe Into Rove’s Politicization Of Government Advances

The Office of Special Counsel, which has already recommended that GSA chief Lurita Doan be suspended or fired for participating in partisan activities while on the job, is now moving forward with its investigation of nearly 20 other administration agencies.

Eighteen agencies have been asked by the Office of Special Counsel to preserve electronic information dating back to January 2001 as part of its government wide investigation into alleged violations of the law that limits political activity in federal agencies.

The OSC task force investigating the claims has asked agencies, including the General Services Administration, to preserve all e-mail records, calendar information, phone logs and hard drives going back to the beginning of the Bush administration. The task force is headed by deputy OSC special counsel James Byrne.

The White House has admitted that roughly 20 agencies have received a PowerPoint briefing created by Karl Rove’s office “that included slides listing Democratic and Republican seats the White House viewed as vulnerable in 2008, a map of contested Senate seats and other information on 2008 election strategy.”

This is about Ms. Doan's deed as a "loyal Bushie."

Gov Exec Magazine GSA chief spars with House panel Democrats

Waxman said Doan cannot be an effective leader because she "has abused the trust of her employees, [and] threatened to deny [employees] promotions and bonuses for telling the truth." He also argued she has lost the public's confidence by politicizing GSA.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., on Tuesday said President Bush should fire or suspend Doan immediately. And in April, two Democratic senators called for her to resign in light of "multiple ethical lapses."

The head of the Office of Special Counsel, an independent investigative agency, said in a four-page letter delivered to President Bush late last week that Doan should be "be disciplined to the fullest extent" for violating the Hatch Act and for failing to cooperate fully and honestly with OSC's investigation into the violation.

OSC concluded that Doan violated the Hatch Act's prohibition against using her authority to interfere with or affect an election through her role in a Jan. 26 meeting at GSA headquarters. After a presentation by White House official Scott Jennings, Doan allegedly asked a question about helping Republican candidates, though accounts of her exact wording vary. Doan has maintained that she does not remember making such a comment and has argued that the OSC report is flawed and omits critical evidence.

Federal Times more about Doan 2005 e-mail shows Doan record of promises to assist GOP

Before her appointment to head the General Services Administration, Lurita Doan pledged to use a prospective position atop another agency to help the Republican Party. In a draft of a May 2005 e-mail to a Republican official pitching her credentials to head the Small Business Administration, Doan, who is black, wrote: “I believe that the part[y] has a unique opportunity to make about a 5 percent swing of black votes to the GOP. One of the largest concentrations of wealth and influence lies in the black business community of small black business owners who represent the participants in various SBA programs.”

The Office of the Special Counsel reported to President Bush on June 8 that Doan violated the Hatch Act at a January meeting of GSA political employees. At that meeting, a White House political aide gave a presentation on congressional races that Republicans planned to target in 2008. After the briefing, Doan, a Bush appointee, said something like, “How can we help our candidates,” according to multiple witnesses.

Doan has denied partisan bias and said she is not interested in politics or political polling. But Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said at a hearing today that the e-mail refuted those claims.

Was she a friend of Rover's too?

FreePress Radio US-IRAN: New War Rhetoric Undercuts Iraq Talks

WASHINGTON, Jun 12 (IPS) - U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman’s call for cross-border raids into Iran appears to be the culmination of a two-week long campaign by proponents of war to put the military option centre-stage in the U.S. debate over Iran once more.

The immediate effect of reigniting the let’s-bomb-Iran discussions is the undercutting of the recently initiated U.S.-Iran talks over Iraq, which in turn will cause the military confrontation with Iran to be viewed in a new light.

Senator Lieberman out-hawked the George W. Bush administration on the television news show "Face the Nation" this past Sunday by calling for "aggressive military action against the Iranians," including "a strike over the border into Iran." Repeating by now all but abandoned accusations by the Bush administration of Iranian complicity in the killing of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, the Connecticut senator’s comments caused a storm in the U.S. media Monday. Suddenly, the military option against Iran was once more at the centre of the U.S.’s Iran debate.

Chico Beat, sent by a military Dad. Happy Father's Day, Tim Kahlor, MFSO Orange County, CA. One of the best military dads Prissy has known in our efforts to end the war. A Letter to a Child Not Yet Born To be delivered in the year 2057, to an American soldier stationed at a base somewhere in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability... the White House said on Wednesday. The United States has had thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea to guard against a North Korean invasion for 50 years.

Dear Pfc. ___________. Perhaps you are 18, maybe 19, born in 2038, or 2039, a child not yet born to a child not yet born. If the teaching of history is as bad in your time as it was in ours, you may not have heard of the man who is responsible for your presence in Iraq, so I will begin this letter-sent through space and across time-by telling you that you are where you are because an American president named George W. Bush told the American people that Iraq had stockpiled weapons that were an immediate threat to the security of the American homeland. This happened before you were born, of course, and before your parents were born, too, so it will perhaps surprise you to know that decisions made by a man so very long ago were instrumental in determining the course of your life.

It was that man, George W. Bush, who also told the nation that Iraq had been responsible for an attack on American soil that brought down two skyscrapers in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, and knocked out a chunk of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. that same day. You probably read about these events when you were in middle school. They are as far removed from you in time as the Eisenhower administration was from your grandfather's time. (Eisenhower was an American president a hundred years remote from your own days.)

Anyway, because of that attack and our fear of those weapons, we launched an invasion of Iraq, a hi-tech pounding the military strategists called "shock and awe," designed to scare the bejesus out of the Iraqis and pave the way for our occupation of the place. We did not call it an "occupation," of course. We called it a "liberation," and we were told that the Iraqis would greet us accordingly.

Reuters-still suffering the effects of Vietnam. Oh but George Bush isn't...Mothers hope U.S.-Vietnam Agent Orange efforts help

"It is better to die immediately than to die this way," said Tu, who earns 2 million dong ($124) a month as a night-time cleaner at a school.

Phong, his back bent and his left arm shortened, stands up by leaning against the cot railing. He makes unintelligible noises and does not understand when he is spoken to, his parents said.

In 1975, the final year of the U.S. war in Vietnam, Phong's father Nhu Van Phuc spent time at two places now identified by scientists as "hot spots" for dioxin, a small compound within the "agent orange" herbicide that is one of the most toxic known.

The United States maintains there is no scientifically proven link between the wartime spraying and more than three million people Vietnam says are disabled by dioxin over three generations.

It should be pointed out no one in the Bush family is suffering the effects of any war, unless you include a dive in the polls...

The Local, Sweden's English newspaper Former DN Editor: 'This ruling damages freedom of expression'

Svante Nycander, former editor of Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, gives his view after local politician Dahn Pettersson is fined for hate speech. Pettersson claimed in a motion that 95 percent of all heroin that comes into Sweden comes via Kosovo.

"The ruling in Malmö District Court is damaging to freedom of expression. Many will take it as proof that the authorities are afraid of uncomfortable truths, and that lacking reasoned counter-arguments they punish those who speak plainly.

And..."This is the result of changes at various points in the clause on Agitation against a National or Ethnic Group. The ban has developed in such a way that it inhibits not only prejudiced statements, but also nearly all discussion of sensitive issues that interest a large proportion of the public. Such a law thwarts its own purpose.

Know of fraud, or where the money for Iraq went? Get it off your chest here.

FraudNET

The purpose of the Government Accountability Office's FraudNET is to facilitate the reporting of allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds.

If you want to report such allegations, you may do so by filling out a FraudNET Form or by using one of these other methods: * Send allegations via e-mail to fraudnet@gao.gov * Send a fax to FraudNet at 202-512-3086 * Write to:

GAO FraudNET 441 G Street NW Washington, D.C. 20548

TPM Cafe A Letter to the RNC from former CIA Officers by Larry Johnson

As former intelligence officers -- most of us have served the United States in undercover positions -- we are saddened and appalled by the recent public comments of former Senator Fred Thompson, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Governor Mitt Romney -- one a potential candidate and the other two declared candidates for the Republican nomination for president -- with respect to the perjury and obstruction of justice conviction of Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

These men misrepresent the case against Mr. Libby and call into question the integrity of a respected Federal Judge and U.S. attorney. Their positions with respect to the just and fair punishment meted out to Mr. Libby raise serious questions about their commitment to the rule of law free of partisan bias.

We are particularly concerned by the recent speech by Fred Thompson, who declared: As you may recall, for some inexplicable reason, the CIA sent the husband of one of its employees to Niger on a sensitive mission. She had suggested it. He came back to the U.S. and proceeded to publicly blast the administration. Naturally, everyone wanted to know "who is this guy?" and "why was he sent to Niger?" Just as naturally, the fact that he was married to Valerie Plame at the CIA was leaked.

Larry goes on to write "This is not an issue of Republican versus Democrat. The signatories of this letter include registered Republicans, Democrats, and Independents."

Want a good laugh? Read what some of Scooter equally shallow friends wrote in support of their criminal friend. Birds of a feather, stick together?

E&P Why the 'L.A. Times' Called for Iraq Pullout by Greg Mitchell who finally gets it. What Greg, are your own little darlings getting uncomfortably close to draft age? Better late than never or 50 years from now, like Korea...

(June 13, 2007) -- “I see no moral reason to wait until fall,” Jim Newton, editorial page editor at the Los Angeles Times told me earlier today. “We need to evaluate in real time. That’s part of the motivation for the editorial this week. Besides Gen. Petraeus, others have a right to assess the facts as well.”

Newton was referring to an editorial in his paper on Tuesday calling for peace talks and a ceasefire in Iraq. It’s the kind of talk we heard often in relation to Vietnam and later conflicts but oddly missing in regard to Iraq. But the Times is taking all sorts of bold stands on the war these days. Six weeks ago the paper advocated – hold on to your hats – that the U.S. actually start to disengage in Iraq.

That editorial was titled simply, if eloquently, “Bring Them Home.

PBS Utube clip A must watch! BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Listening to History

Bill Moyers reflects on a conversation between Lyndon Johnson and his National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy that took place in 1964.

Bill Moyers blog Begging His Pardon

The line that should shame Libby forever...

One beltway insider reports that the entire community is grieving—“weighted down by the sheer, glaring unfairness” of Libby's sentence.

And there’s the rub.

None seem the least weighted down by the sheer, glaring unfairness of sentencing soldiers to repeated and longer tours of duty in a war induced by deception. It was left to the hawkish academic Fouad Ajami to state the matter baldly. In a piece published on the editorial page of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Ajami pleaded with Bush to pardon Libby. For believing “in the nobility of this war,” wrote Ajami, Scooter Libby had himself become a “casualty”—a fallen soldier the President dare not leave behind on the Beltway battlefield.

Not a word in the entire article about the real fallen soldiers. The honest-to-God dead, and dying, and wounded. Not a word about the chaos or the cost. Even as the calamity they created worsens, all they can muster is a cry for leniency for one of their own who lied to cover their tracks.

There are contrarian voices: “This is an open and shut case of perjury and obstruction of justice,” said Pat Buchanan. “The Republican Party stands for the idea that high officials should not be lying to special investigators.” From the former Governor of Virginia, James Gilmore, a staunch conservative, comes this verdict: “If the public believes there’s one law for a certain group of people in high places and another law for regular people, then you will destroy the law and destroy the system.”

Yikes, Prissy just agreed with Pat Buchanan and other female disrespectors...Bill Moyers is one of the best journalists in America. That's why they put him on PBS, so no one else will know what he is saying.

Quotes of the Day

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.-- Henry David Thoreau

The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.--Alexis de Tocqueville, French historian and author of Democracy in America(July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859)

If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.--Aristotle

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.--CS Lewis

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust.--Demosthenes

Dubya's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

The war, missing emails, the Dubya and the Dick! Want it all to just end right now? Prissy has a cure for your frustrations-register your protest. Yes you can write a post card or make a call, but why not get really creative?

Creativity seems to have been stifled, most likely at an early age, in hard core right wingers. It puts them at a real disadvantage. If Americans during the American revolution had not been creative in their strategies, we may have lost...shudder at the thought.

Of course we did win and with it the right to tell our government when it is wrong-without fear of reprisal, as guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.Look, no net!

Not that Bushies concerned themselves with those pesky rights-no indeed-they stepped all over them. But we can demand their return with creative protesting.

Prissy will give you some ideas, let her know if you hear of a really creative (and legal!) protest method. Civil disobedience methods and tactics are welcome, as Prissy doesn't know much about those...

In Nancy Pelosi's district, military families have used sidewalk chalk to write her and her staff messages "END THE WAR" "You do not support the troops, only the war" "Impeach Bush for Blowing the Job" -oh there are many other slogans you can use. Freeway blogger has some great ones, if you need ideas.

Progress Ohio is having a campaign "What would you tell Senator Voinovich?" The winner gets a truck billboard with their saying on it, along with encouragement for others to call Voinovich. They will drive past the Senators house and neighborhood as well as his old stomping ground of Cleveland. The former governor really should know Ohioans better than to think he'll get away with his rubber stamp on Dubya's crazy foreign policies. Shame on him!

From Prissy's Inbox: May want to stock up enough for a couple of weeks, Dearest Readers Truckers Protest April 23-25 "Truck Out"

Participate in the TRUCKER'S "TRUCK OUT" RALLY, on April 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Join in on one or all three days to rivet every citizen's attention on the injustice being done to you and to our country by the criminal, reckless, and unprecedented actions of our Government.

Traprock Peace Center Presents Scott Ritter & former Congressman Andy Jacobs in INDIANAPOLIS

As Indiana National Guard members face call up for offshore deployments to Iraq, Veterans for Peace Indiana Chapter #49 invites you to discuss:

U.S. Policy in the Middle East: Wednesday April 18, 2007 7-8:30 pm Target Iran / The Role of Congress

Hear Scott Ritter US Marine, Gulf War Veteran and former UNSCOM Weapons Inspector and Honorable Andy Jacobs, Korean War Veteran and former Indiana Congressperson

Note to Dearest Readers: Scott Ritter thinks stopping a war with Iran may be impossible. As far as the missing emails go, remember that Rover and his laywer "found" 250 emails that the were previously unavailable-not "archived through the usual White House process." That and the emails were being sent through a non-government email account.

Patrick Fitzgerald's investigators made copies of the hard drives of all of Rovers' computers during the CIA Leak investigation.

Dearest Readers, Please let Prissy know if you will be traveling to the Columbus area. Betty and Prissy had the pleasure of meeting some Dearest Readers Saturday night and it was a lot of fun;-)

Coming up in Columbus: EARTH DAY April 22, 2007 Check the schedule of events here.

Hot Links

India Times Euro hits 2-year high versus $

The euro reached a two-year high against the dollar and approached a record versus the yen as signs of faster growth in Europe raised speculation the European Central Bank will increase interest rates.

Gains in the euro accelerated after it rose above $1.34, triggering orders to buy back the currency, traders said. ECB officials said this week that higher borrowing costs are needed to contain inflation as reports showed strength in manufacturing. The Bank of England kept rates unchanged on Thursday.

Mercury News San Mateo pyschiatrist arrested on molestation charges

Dr. William Ayers, 75, a well-known San Mateo County child psychiatrist, sat behind bars on $1.5 million bail Thursday night accused of several counts of child molestation in a case spanning decades.

Ayers - who treated children from the 1960s through last year - first came to the attention of authorities in 2002 when a victim reported that he was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by the doctor during the 1970s. Authorities, however, were unable to prosecute the doctor because the case fell out of the statute of limitations.

But during a subsequent civil case against Ayers, several victims reported that they also had been molested by Ayers from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. None of those cases, however, fell within the statute of limitations.

Is he another 'Chester the Molester' republican? Just wondering...

India Times Pakistan offers to sell Iranian gas to India

Lending a new twist to negotiations on the tri-nation gas pipeline, Islamabad has offered to sell Iranian gas to India at its border to save New Delhi the bother over risks associated with safe transit of the fuel through Pakistani territory.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a late night meeting with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora here on April 3 offered to buy 60 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from Iran, use half of it in his country and sell the rest to India at the Indo-Pak border, highly placed sources said.

This way India will neither have to deal with Iran, which faces UN sanctions over its nuclear programme, nor be bothered about cumbersome security of the 1,035-km pipeline stretch in Pakistan and safe delivery of gas at its border.

On the flip side, Pakistan may add some margin to the already high Iranian gas price.

ABC 7Cheney Hasn't Called Libby Since Trial

"Well, there hasn't been occasion to do so," Cheney said in an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS'"Face the Nation."

Libby is the highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago. He was found guilty last month of perjury and obstruction in the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

The episode undercut the Bush administration's credibility, one of a string of a bad-news stories that have hurt the president's standing.

President Bush and Cheney have expressed sadness for Libby and his family, but largely refrained from comment because the matter is an active legal case. Libby plans to appeal.

Dick is just mad because Scooter was caught...

Haaretz Israel Angry, Wants to Sell China Arms, US Says NO

Peretz told his hosts that he had suffered injuries when he was serving as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (sparing them details of the accident). Ivanov was the most impressive of them all: sharp, fluent and displaying the qualifications that have made him one of the two leading candidates to succeed Russian President Vladimir Putin. Gates, who will arrive in Israel tomorrow for a short visit, was limp and gray, quite the opposite of Ivanov. He did not radiate the power of someone who represents the defense establishment in the strongest country in the world.

In the mid-1980s, Gates was the head of the CIA intelligence administration and deputy to the CIA director, William Casey. In his professional capacity, Gates often met with people from the Mossad and Israeli military intelligence in Washington and Tel Aviv. They did not like him much. On one of his visits here, Yoram Hessel of the Tevel division for foreign relations at the Mossad accompanied him on a flight to the Golan Heights. Gates looked out over Syria and advised Israel not to leave the Golan. Now at the diplomatic level, he will take care not to repeat this.

Gates' visit to Israel reflects a decision not to boycott it: He must not skip Israel on his visit to the region, though he is known to be cooler toward it than his predecessor Donald Rumsfeld. There are no fateful issues that Gates is authorized to conclude with Peretz, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (whom he asked to meet, perhaps because of the rumor that she is getting closer to becoming prime minister) and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Dealing with Iran is the president's jurisdiction. In Iraq, the Pentagon has refrained from accepting overt Israeli help. Gaza, which the administration is making efforts to prevent from bursting into flames, belongs to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, even in the channel of Security Coordinator Keith Dayton. So what's left? Not a lot, mainly just the delicate issue of the sale of arms to other countries - an issue wrapped in hypocrisy on both sides.

It's probably a positive thing Israeli officials don't like Gates. Quite frankly, Prissy doesn't like or trust him much, either...

Salon Will Rush Limbaugh be Next Off Air?

At least, that was the fear at the Free Congress Foundation on April 13, where a panel discussion of an ancient broadcasting regulation quickly turned into a discussion of Don Imus and how his firing might portend a similar fate for some of the right's best-known media personalities. In the absence of any compelling evidence, participants in the latest of the conservative think tank's occasional Next Conservatism Forum series managed to convince themselves that the Fairness Doctrine, a rule that was scrapped by the Federal Communications Commission 20 years ago, was poised for a comeback, and was about to become a weapon in a liberal jihad against the right wing's freedom of speech.

In fact, the prominent conservatives, addressing a crowd of 30 on the ground floor of a Washington row house, described what sounded like a conspiracy. Panelist Ken Blackwell, formerly Ohio's secretary of state and the Republican candidate for governor last fall, said Imus was "not a conservative" and that "the left has sacrificed one of their own to give them a platform to go after true conservative talk show hosts." Cliff Kincaid, of the conservative media watchdog Accuracy in Media, said the Imus firing had been a revelation. "It wasn't exactly clear to me how [liberals] intended to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, but I think now with the Imus affair, we know ... [And it's a] short leap from firing Imus to going after Rush Limbaugh."

Established in 1949, the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC regulation that required broadcasters to give balance to opposing viewpoints in any opinion programming. Its abolition by the FCC during the Reagan administration is widely credited with making the explosion of conservative talk radio possible.

With the return of the Democrats to power in Congress, conservatives have become concerned that the Fairness Doctrine might be on its way back. William S. Lind, director of the Free Congress Foundation's Center for Cultural Conservatism and moderator of the April 13 panel discussion, said the choice of topics had been occasioned by an "emergency" -- the Fairness Doctrine's seemingly imminent return.

We can only hope...

Muckraker Gonzo Drinks GOP Koolaid "Can't Remember"

I tell you, it's hard work remembering what Alberto Gonzales remembers and doesn't remember.

In October of last year, President Bush had a conversation with Gonzales about U.S. attorneys. According to the White House's public statements, the conversation was a broad one, about voter fraud in three districts. Gonzales has said publicly that he doesn't remember such a conversation taking place.

But that's not what Kyle Sampson told congressional investigators this past weekend. According to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sampson said that in early March of this year, Gonzales told him about a conversation he'd had in October with Bush that was specifically about U.S. Attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias. Remember that the White House was getting heavy pressure from Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and other New Mexico Republicans to can Iglesias.

So in early March, Gonzales told Sampson privately about this conversation (this was, by the way, before the White House had publicly disclosed that there had been any conversations between Bush and Gonzales about U.S. attorneys). But on March 26, Gonzales told NBC and the world that he didn't remember having any such conversation.

ABC Killer's Note: 'You Caused Me to Do This'

Cho Seung-Hui, the student who killed 32 people and then himself yesterday, left a long and "disturbing" note in his dorm room at Virginia Tech, say law enforcement sources.

Sources have now described the note, which runs several pages, as beginning in the present tense and then shifting to the past tense. It contains rhetoric explaining Cho's actions and says, "You caused me to do this," the sources told ABC News.

The number of dead is almost twice as high as the previous record for a mass shooting on an American college campus. That took place at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 1, 1966, when a gunman named Charles Whitman opened fire from the 28th floor of a campus tower. Whitman killed 16 and injured 31.

Seattle Times French intelligence service knew of al-Qaida hijacking plot in early 2001 (so did as many as 8 other countries intel warnings were also ignored, including Cuba and Germany)

"It wasn't about a specific airline or a specific day, it was not a precise plot," Lorenzi told The Associated Press. "It was a note that said, 'They are preparing a plot to hijack an airplane, and they have cited several companies."'

The Sept. 11 commission's report on the four hijacked flights has detailed repeated warnings about al-Qaida and its desire to attack airlines in the months before Sept. 11, 2001.

In a version declassified last September, the report shows that the Federal Aviation Administration's intelligence unit received "nearly 200 pieces of threat-related information daily from U.S. intelligence agencies, particularly the FBI, CIA, and State Department."

NDTV Patti Smith lashes out at Guantanamo Bay

Rocker Patti Smith said on Friday that her concern for the hundreds of men imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay compelled her to record a song about a former detainee.

"I feel responsible as an American citizen. It's a terrible injustice and I think it will be a stain upon us when history examines this period," said Smith.

Smith's Without Chains focuses on Murat Kurnaz, a German-born Turkish citizen who said he was kept under fluorescent lights for 24 hours at a time and complained of being beaten at the US military detention center in southeast Cuba.

And...In October, German prosecutors said they found no evidence linking Kurnaz to Islamic radicals in Pakistan or Afghanistan and formally dropped their investigation.

Reuters Over 250,000 still without power in U.S. East and Canada

More than 250,000 homes and businesses remained without power Tuesday morning after a rare spring nor'easter hit on Sunday and Monday, knocking out electric service to more than 1.3 million customers from the Carolinas to Maine and Quebec.

Wired U.S. Watch Lists Sow Frustration and Fear

Elizabeth Kushigian spent time in an isolation room at Miami International Airport every time she returned from an international trip -- until a senator got her taken off a DHS watchlist.

For years, Elizabeth Kushigian never had a problem flying back-and-forth to Costa Rica, where she runs a local micro-lending nonprofit. But in 2004, she suddenly found it impossible to re-enter the United States without being ordered into a special isolation room at Miami International Airport. There, she'd wait for extra scrutiny.

"I was in the line where you come in and stamp your passport, and each time they would scan the passport and look at (the) screen and stiffen," Kushigian says. "I was on some sort of list. I don't know why; it could have been because of something I did in the '60s and in the early 1980s, I did some civil disobedience on behalf of El Salvador."

Kushigian is just a member of a growing club of American citizens whose lives have been touched by a slew of government watch lists proliferating with little oversight or redress mechanisms since the 9/11 attacks. Containing, by some estimates, hundreds of thousands of names submitted by dozens of agencies, the lists have not only snagged people like Kushigian -- who wind up on them for mysterious reasons -- they've also stigmatized and inconvenienced thousands of others whose names happen to be similar to an entry on the list.

Quotes of the Day

Few men of action have been able to make a graceful exit at the appropriate time--British journalist, author, satirist, media personality, soldier-spy

There's a trick to the Graceful Exit. I begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is over -- and to let go. It means leaving what's over without denying its value.--Ellen Goodman

Great Quotes from Catch-22

Morale was deteriorating and it was all Yossarian's fault. The country was in peril; he was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence by daring to exercise them. Chapter 39, pg. 415

The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.-- Yossarian, character

Open your eyes, Clevinger. It doesn't make a damned bit of difference who wins the war to someone who's dead.-- Chapter 12, pg. 133-134

You know, that might be the answer - to act boastfully about something we ought to be ashamed of. That's a trick that never seems to fail. Chapter 13, pg. 149

Shock and Awe, There is Justice in America! Libby Guilty

Who is really behind the U.S. vs. Libby... Coming up next?

Friends don't let friends out CIA agents...

Hot Links

Patrick Fitzgerald and his band of merry prosecutors did it! Four of Five counts and Scooter Libby is guilty as charged...so Prissy decided to re-run these hot links from last year in April- its info is still good.

When the verdicts came down today at noon, we made signs which said "Libby GUILTY 4/5 Counts" and "Merry Fitzmas" on the other side. Lot's of support in Columbus today, honks and thumbs up.

Betty and I are still working on the show, but things are coming along nicely. Stay tuned!

Read Fitzgerald's closing argument From the Desk of Patrick J. Fitzgerald: Fitz Closing - Transcript - "Let's Get Busy..."

Oh, to be a Bushie and knowing the worst is yet yet to come.

Jane and John Q. Public are up in arms over the gas prices. They are confused and angry-some had to cancel vacation plans. And how is it they voted for cheap gas and a quick war with Dubya and now we have all these high prices and wars with no end? The generals are telling us it is time to leave Iraq and forget about Iran. Dick Cheney is senile enough to wish the resurrection of the cold war years with Mr. Putin. Retired Judges coming out telling us we are looking at dictatorship, if Dubya isn't put to a halt. Not to mention 750 potential legal violations. Americans are calling and writing their "representatives" in unprecidented numbers.

And now we have Hookergate. There goes Dubya's "base".

OK-So that wasn't the real reason he gave. Porter Goss, Director of CIA resigns and Bush accepted it. Gee, the only time he accepted those things before was right before somebody got indicted...but who knows?

Maybe this time a close White House official got sick of the Bushworld way of shoddily doing the business of the people and violating our civil rights. Anything is possible.

But far more likely he is involved in the upcoming D.C. sex scandel along with Duke Cunningham. Rumor is shemales were involved. "Hookergate" -it all happened in the ole Watergate Hotel. Those guys just cannot get enough of that place. Yuk, that won't be good for business. More later...

From the Smoking Gun Libby Claimed Bush Authorized Leak See the paperwork. Easy read. Libby said Bush specifically authorized this leak for Cheney, so Libby could pass on National Intelligence Estimates to Miller.

RAW Story Gannon comes out: Former escort, conservative reporter grilled on White House visit

Jeff Gannon "came out" following a question from blogger-activist Michael Rogers, who publishes PageOneQ and maintains the blog, blogACTIVE, which reports on anti-gay politicians who are themselves gay.

Gannon emerged on the Washington stage after a liberal blog revealed that he had worked as a gay escort prior to his installment at the White House. AmericaBLOG, run by D.C.-based John Aravosis, discovered revealing photographs of Gannon, who billed himself as an "Ex-US Marine Corps Jock."

In a conversation with RAW STORY Thursday evening, Gannon spoke frankly about numerous questions this site has raised about his work. RAW STORY was the first to publish the Secret Service logs of his visits to the White House, revealing that Gannon checked in on numerous occasions but failed to check out.

BBC

CIA boss in surprise resignation

No reason was given for the move, which was presented at a hastily arranged press call at the White House, where the two men exchanged compliments.

Mr Goss has served in the role for less than two years, since being given the job of reforming the agency after a series of intelligence failures.

Mr Bush said Mr Goss had "a tough job and he led ably".

He did not nominate a successor, but said reforms of the CIA would continue.

Indymedia Interview with Jason Leopold Special Prosecutor Seeking to Indict Karl Rove in CIA Leak Case

Just one week before he made his fifth appearance before the grand jury, Rove lost his position as Bush's chief policy coordinator in a White House shakeup. Sources close to the investigation have told reporters that Fitzgerald is now seeking an indictment of Rove for perjury committed in previous grand jury testimony and for lying to FBI investigators. Rove withdrew his original denials that he had no conversations with reporters concerning the identity of Valerie Plame after he learned that Time magazine's Matt Cooper would testify that Rove was a source for his Time story on Plame.

In early April, Fitzgerald filed court documents revealing that indicted former chief of staff to Vice President Lewis Libby testified that Dick Cheney had told him that President Bush personally authorized the release of classified intelligence in July 2003 to refute critics of his administration's justification for war. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with investigative reporter Jason Leopold, who explains why he believes special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is now seeking the indictment of Karl Rove

Fellow blogger Waterflake in Germany All eyes on Rove in the CIA Leak case

The charges are piling up for Rove by Fitzgerald. Bush had to decide whether to save his friend and architect that made him or keep the Bush family for having a human stain forever on the Bush dynasty.

The decision that Bush makes on Rove today may alter all the plans that the Bush family had strategize before his 2000 Presidential election such as the original blueprint to spearhead for oil and profits, and the financial backings of Bush’s corporate buddies, politicians, certain international countries, and the Saudis.

Rove lived the "good life" too long. But, his "good life" is about to come to end thanks to Special Prosecutor Pat Fitzgerald.

From Syracuse News Quit using our name, West Point warns Grad

The U.S. Army registered a trademark on the words "West Point" in 2000 to prevent anyone else from using the mark on educational material or a wide range of commercial goods, including golf balls, commemorative coins, Christmas tree ornaments and paper products.

"Users must have (the Army's) permission to incorporate these words in Web sites or organizational titles," D'Aquino said.

When a trademark violation comes to their attention, Army officials take action, D'Aquino said.

Cross' organization has hired Syracuse attorney Joseph Heath to battle back against the academy, located 50 miles north of New York City. In a letter sent Monday to West Point, Heath questioned the academy's stance given his client's First Amendment rights and the widespread use of the words "West Point."

Cross, a psychology professor at Onondaga Community College and family therapist, co-founded West Point Graduates with his 1962 classmates Jim Ryan, of New York City, and Joe Wojcik, of Claremont, Calif.

Glad to see these veterans not backing down. If you can, please help their cause. West Point Veterans Against the War

China Daily- Has the impending fight for democracy in the U.S.A. brought about a change of heart? Perhaps they see, by way of our Dubya, how ridiculous dictatorship looks and how people naturally resist. Wen urges pursuit of democracy

The Premier said that China should creat a democratic atmosphere that can ensure people's rights to vote, to make decision, to participating in management and to exercise supervision.

"We must enable everybody to fully grow up in an environment of equity, justice and freedom," according to Wen, adding that the country will also provide a platform for people to criticize and supervise the government.

And...Wen told the students and teachers that democracy and science must be pursued by young people, and if the goals are not achieved,there would be no socialism and modernization.

He also asked the students to balance the learning of liberal arts and science, and asked the young teachers to further understand and learn from students, who are very creative and innovative.

Counterpunch Endgame for the Constitution by American hero Dr. Paul Craig Roberts

Bush has declared himself to be the sole judge of the limits of his powers--a claim that violates Bush's oath of office to uphold the US Constitution. Bush has set aside the Bill of Rights by detaining people indefinitely without charges, by kidnapping and torturing people, and by spying on Americans without warrants. These are actions that are illegal under law as well as unconstitutional. All of these violations of law and the Constitution are serious impeachable offenses.

Yet. Congress is supine as the Bush regime exercises dictatorial powers. The exercise of these dictatorial powers by the executive is a far greater danger to American liberty than are Muslim terrorists.

Bush's apologists claim that only terrorists have anything to fear. However, unaccountable executive power is inconsistent with free societies. America is no exception. Unless Bush is impeached and turned over to the war crimes court in the Hague, Americans will never reclaim their liberties from an executive branch that has established itself as the sole judge of the limits of its powers.

As Jacob Hornberger, president of the Future of Freedom Foundation wrote last month, "we now live in a nation in which the president has the omnipotent power to ignore all constitutional restraints on his power." Bruce Fein, a Justice Department official in the Reagan administration said that Bush "is moving us toward an unlimited executive power."

Yahoo Rumsfeld Heckled by Former CIA Analyst

"Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?" asked Ray McGovern, the former analyst, during a question-and-answer session.

"I did not lie," shot back Rumsfeld, who waved off security guards ready to remove McGovern from the hall at the Southern Center for International Studies.

And...Three protesters were escorted away by security as each interrupted Rumsfeld's speech by jumping up and shouting anti-war messages. Throughout the speech, a fourth protester stood in the middle of the room with his back to Rumsfeld in silent protest. Officials reported no arrests.

Rumsfeld also faced tough questions from a woman identifying herself as Patricia Roberts of Lithonia, Ga., who said her son, 22-year-old Spc. Jamaal Addison, was killed in Iraq. Roberts said she is now raising her young grandson and asked whether the government could provide any help.

Rumsfeld referred her to a Web site listing aid organizations.

Thanks Rummy, more of that compassionate conservative.

From the Wilderness by Wayne Madsen. Mr. Madsen has extensive experience in the intelligence analysis field GRAND JURY WILL SOON ISSUE EXPLOSIVE INDICTMENTS This was from summer of 2004. We know the investigation has taken so long, because the leak turned out to continue leading to many more crimes. Extensive crimes occurred.

Looking forward to seeing what charges Fitzgerald comes up with. Will Rove be charged with the ultimate offense? Or will Rover roll over?

TREASON - This word imports a betraying, treachery, or breach of allegiance.

The Constitution of the United States, Art. III, defines treason against the United States to consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid or comfort. This offence is punished with death. By the same article of the Constitution, no person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Two witnesses? See articles below:

The special prosecutor has been focusing on Bush, Cheney, presidential counselor Karl Rove, Cheney's chief of staff Lewis I. ("Scooter") Libby, Cheney assistants David Wurmser and John Hannah, and National Security Council officials Elliott Abrams and Stephen Hadley.

Recently, CIA Director George Tenet and Plame's ultimate boss, Deputy Director of Operations James Pavitt, suddenly resigned within hours of one another. Intelligence sources have said the two have been cooperating with Fitzgerald's investigation of the Plame/Brewster-Jennings leak and the damage to U.S. clandestine operations which globally track the flow of WMDs.

Sensitive CIA operations that were compromised by the leak included companies, government officials, and individuals associated with the nuclear smuggling network of Pakistan's chief nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. In addition, the identities of U.S. national and foreign agents working within the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, North Korea's nuclear laboratory in Yongbyon, Pakistan's Kahuta uranium enrichment plant, banks and export companies in Dubai, Islamabad, Moscow, Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, and Kiev, and Kuala Lumpur, and government agencies in Libya, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Iran were severely compromised. The CIA has reportedly given Fitzgerald highly classified details on the damage done to the CIA's WMD tracking network.

According to Department of Justice insiders, the length of Fitzgerald's 70 minute interview of Bush was significant. Only one other prosecutor's interview of a sitting president lasted as long, that of Iran-contra prosecutor Lawrence Walsh's questioning of the late Ronald Reagan. However, in that case, Walsh concluded after the interview that Reagan actually did not know what had transpired in his administration with respect to the scandal. TodayÂ’s officials may not be so fortunate.

23 Administration Officials Involved In Plame Leak

Take your pick. From Think Progress:

23 Administration Officials Involved In Plame Leak The cast of administration characters with known connections to the outing of an undercover CIA agent. Meet the players. Click on name to find out what there connection to the case. Great work @ Think Progress!

Karl RoveSenior Advisor to President Bush (2001-2005); Deputy White House Chief of Staff (2005-Present)

I. Lewis '“Scooter'” LibbyChief of Staff to Vice President Cheney (2001-2005)

Condoleezza RiceNational Security Advisor (2001-2005); Secretary of State (2005-Present)

Stephen HadleyDeputy National Security Advisor (2001-2005); National Security Advisor (2005-Present)

Andrew CardWhite House Chief of Staff (2001-2006)

Alberto GonzalesChief White House Counsel (2001-2005); Attorney General (2005-Present)

Mary MatalinSenior Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney (2001-2002)

Ari FleischerWhite House Press Secretary (2001-2003)

Susan RalstonPersonal assistant to Karl Rove (2001-Present?)

Israel HernandezPersonal assistant to President Bush (2001-2005)

John Hannah Aide to Vice President Cheney

Scott McClellan

Dan Bartlett

<Claire BuchanDeputy Press Secretary (2001-2005)

Catherine MartinAssistant to the Vice President for Public Affairs (2001-2004)

Jennifer MillerwiseSpokeswoman for Vice President Cheney (2001-2003)

David WurmserCheney assistant on national security

Colin PowellSecretary of State (2001-2005)

Karen HughesWhite House Aide (2001-2002); Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (2005

Adam LevineCommunications Aide (2001-2003)

Bob JosephDirector for Nonproliferation at National Security Council (2001-2005); Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs (2005-Present)

Vice President Dick Cheney

President George W. Bush

by Artist Stephen Pitts

From Attywood, always asking the hard questions Why won't the government try the real criminals of 9/11?

But the government has been completely stymied about what do to with these people. Why -- and this is the one where it is really worth connecting the dots. It goes straight into the White House, the Oval Office and the vice president`s office because key decisions were made about aggressive interrogation techniques that were going to be used on these people.

In other words, the real scum who carried out 9/11 can't be tried because we tortured them and the Bush administration is now afraid of what would come out at a trial. So now the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 can't get the real justice that they want and deserve.

Meanwhile, the Moussaoui trial may have been a side show, but it also served its purpose for the Bush administration by keeping 9/11 -- the falling bodies, the horrific fate and heroism of Flight 93 -- fresh in the public's mind, so it can be invoked anew in Iran and wherever else the voice of God steers Bush and his war machine in the coming months.

Mission accomplished? For the White House, yes. For anyone who believes in justice? No.

Indeed, justice is required for the souls of the innocent. We must persevere.

Know something? Then please help us all and blow your whistle...here's one problem which begs for a whistleblower Here's one place to blow a whistle-they even take documentation anonomously: Government Accountibility Project GAP

Mission: The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is a 28-year-old nonprofit public interest group that promotes government and corporate accountability by advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists. We pursue this mission through our Nuclear Safety, International Reform, Corporate Accountability, Food & Drug Safety, and Federal Employee/National Security programs. GAP is the nation's leading whistleblower protection organization.

From Wired Feds' Watch List Eats Its Own

What do you say about an airline screening system that tends to mistake government employees and U.S. servicemen for foreign terrorists?

Newly released government documents show that even having a high-level security clearance won't keep you off the Transportation Security Administration's Kafkaesque terrorist watch list, where you'll suffer missed flights and bureaucratic nightmares.

These are all more brilliant neorepublican ideas. Major Paul Hackett was hassled coming home from Iraq-they felt his clothing showed he had handled explosive materials. He was still wearing his desert tans from Iraq. Welcome Home, Soldier.

Every idea they "create" always has to do with a better way to hassle people. To not be free from search and seizure or safe in our person. Some would diagnose that as paranoia. Not one of their cases has held up. I am not impressed with the Moussaoui trial.

There were too many glaring inconsistencies in this case-otherwise he would have received the death penalty. Crazy is not yet a crime. Not yet.

A man name Ferris, here in Columbus "confessed" that he was going to cut the cables to the Brooklyn bridge for Al-Queda-with a hacksaw or some such nonsense. Ferris' ex-wife said he was a hardworking sort when he took his meds, but heard voices and other odd behaviors, but not violent. She was surprised to hear about his plans.

Prissy has an older lady friend, on Medicare, who told us that she had to sign a form, giving DHS and law enforcement access to her mental health records to continue her treatment for services. She suffers minor depression, in addition to a heart ailment. This was a new standard form, required of all. Her fear was the misuse of this policy. People who say they have nothing to worry about because they follow the rules, assume they are dealing with people who also follow the rules.

She suggests considering the possibility someone could be "pre-screened" to take the fall for a crime. The fall guy being too vulnerable to defend themselves adequately would "confess". It is 1984.

Seeing how the Bush administration has played so far, this is certainly not beneath them. Does their idea of acceptable torture, include brain damaging drugs until the mind breaks? The thought is beyond any bounds of human decency.

Flashback on Rove/Dubya/Plame connection Did Bush Lie to FitzgeraldBy Robert Parry April 7, 2006

Lewis Libby's testimony identifying George W. Bush as the top official who authorized the leaking of intelligence about Iraq's alleged nuclear weapons program raises two key questions: What did the President tell the special prosecutor about this issue in 2004 and what is Bush's legal status in the federal criminal probe?

Though the new court document does not say Bush ordered his subordinates to leak Plame's identity, the President's alleged initiative to have Libby disclose the secret CIA analysis appears to have set the stage for the Plame disclosure as well. Despite Bush's deceptive public pronouncements, the more important legal question is what Bush told Fitzgerald when the President submitted to a 70-minute interview "not under oath " on June 24, 2004.

If Bush misled the prosecutor about authorizing Libby to brief a reporter, then Bush himself could be open to charges of making false statements or obstructing justice, potential felonies and possibly impeachable offenses.

Also deserving an explanation is the curious trip that Fitzgerald reportedly made to the office of Bush's personal criminal attorney, James Sharp, on the morning of Oct. 28, 2005, just before announcing the indictment of Libby on charges of obstruction, perjury and false statements. [NYT, Oct. 29, 2005]

It's unclear why Fitzgerald would take time out of his very busy schedule that day to visit Bush's personal lawyer unless Fitzgerald had to pass on sensitive information about Bush's status in the investigation. Possibilities range from telling Bush that he would not be named in the Libby indictment to saying he had become an investigative target.

Attorney Sharp accompanied Bush on June 24, 2004, when the President was questioned about the Plame case, CNN reported.

Highly unusual behavior. James Sharp is a high dollar, white collar criminal defense attorney. Why have an attorney present, yet not be sworn in? Hmm...

Remember- Martha Stewart was not under oath when she made false statements to investigators-but she went to jail anyway.

New Zealand Scoop Great read. Prissy recommends reading the entire article, if you have time. Evelyn Pringle: Karl Rove Indictment Long Overdue

On August 1 and 2, 2004, both the Sunday Times and Financial Times in the UK reported that a con-man by the name of Rocco Martino admitted that he was involved in disseminating the false stories and documents but said the US and Italian governments were behind the disinformation operation.

"It's true, I had a hand in the dissemination of those documents," Martino said, "but I was duped."

"Both Americans and Italians were involved behind the scenes," he said. "It was a disinformation operation."

In July 2005, an Italian parliamentary report was issued on the forged documents and listed the 4 men likely involved as: Michael Ledeen, Dewey Clarridge (CIA operative in Iran-Contra Affair), Ahmed Chalabi, and Francis Brookes (member of a "public relations" body formed by the Pentagon to promote Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress).

The report said the forgeries may have been planned at a meeting in Rome in December 2001, attended by Ledeen and Larry Franklin.

Franklin is the Pentagon Iran analyst who earned a lengthy prison sentence last year for passing classified information to former officials with the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC. Franklin worked closely with Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith in the Office of Special Plans whose main purpose was to manufacture bogus intelligence to bolster the case for war.

On April 12, 2005, the Al Jazeera news organization reported that when the former CIA head of counter-terrorism, Vincent Cannistaro, was asked whether Michael Ledeen had been the one who produced the forged documents, he replied, "You'd be very close."

In holding off on charging Rove, it may just be that Fitzgerald is looking at much bigger fish to fry. On October 23, 2005, UPI editor Martin Walker cited "NATO intelligence sources" as saying, "Fitzgerald's team of investigators has sought and obtained documentation on the forgeries from the Italian government.

One more quote from the above article:

When the Libby indictment was handed down and it became known that Rove had definitely participated in blowing Valerie's cover, 16 former CIA and military intelligence officials petitioned Bush to suspend Rove's security clearance and Bush refused to grant their request.

After it became public that Rove was involved in the leak, on July 15, 2005, ninety-one Democrats in Congress signed a letter to Bush calling for Rove to explain his role in the leak or to resign, and 13 Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee called for hearings on the matter.

Some call him a Commie-Lyndon LaRouche. Does that mean we can't talk to him? His site has a high degree of accuracy. From Executive Intelligence Review.Cheney's Ouster Is Key to U.S. Survival

Government sources have told EIR that Rove's testimony could be vital, in shaping whether the Independent Counsel probe remains focussed on the Vice President and his top aides, or whether it broadens to include top Oval Office and National Security Council personnel. These sources indicate that the pace of the Fitzgerald probe was greatly accelerated, as the result of recent court filings by attorneys for indicted former Cheney chief-of-staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby's lawyers indicated that they intend to call Rove as a defense witness when the case goes to trial early next year.

And...Bush's own impeachment is also on the political agenda, along with the calls for Cheney's ouster. As of this writing, three state legislatures are deliberating on impeachment resolutions against President Bush "California, Illinois, and Vermont. The California resolution, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, a Los Angeles area Democrat, names both Bush and Cheney, and mandates the California delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to "cause to be instituted in the Congress proper proceedings for the investigation of President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removed from office."

All three of the impeachment initiatives cite Section 603 of Thomas Jefferson's Manual of the House of Representatives as the basis for a state legislature initiating an impeachment proceeding. Between 1797 and 1801, then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson prepared a Manual of Parliamentary Practice, to guide him in his capacity as President Pro Tem of the U.S. Senate. In 1837, the U.S. House of Representatives formally adopted the Jefferson rules to "govern the House in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of the House and joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Think Progress U.S. General: Iran Attack Fraught With Risk, Bush Needs to "Make Diplomacy Work"

Lt. Gen. Victor Renuart, the director of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has spoken out on Iran: Military action against Iran would be fraught with risk and would have repercussions across the region, a leading American general conceded.

"Any action militarily is very complicated," Lt Gen Victor Renuart, the director of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Daily Telegraph.

"And any action by any country will have second-order effects, and that is a strong case to continue the diplomatic process and make it work."

Gen. Renuart is the latest in a long line of national security experts and others warning of the dangers of a military strike on Iran, and emphasizing the importance of making diplomacy work. (Read the full list HERE.)

But would anyone notice?

Cannonfire Deeper into the Wilkes/MZM scandals (Updated)

Apparently, Wilkes felt queasy about housing his PAC at the same address as ADCS proper, so he set up a small office in a San Diego business park. Someone must have put down the wrong address on one of the applications.

So which candidates got chunks of that taxpayer money earmarked for "defense"?

Henry Bonilla, Roy Brown, Rick Clayburgh, Duke Cunningham (of course!), John T. Doolittle, Maria Guadalupe Garcia, George W. Gekas, Lindsay Graham, Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Samuel Johnson, Thaddeus G. McCotter, Constance Morella, Devin Nune, Steve Pearce, Bill Van de Weghe Jr., Jerry Weller.

All Republicans, of course. As the scandal unfolds, the pundits will try to convince us that "both sides do it." That simply is not true.

Go Cliff! From Fraud Buster Bob-didn't hear about this in the corporate owned media... Arnebeck Starts Ohio Ethics Commission Investigation

A historic press conference took place today in Ohio's capital city, Columbus. Cliff Arnebeck, the attorney for the Ohio Honest Elections campaign, revealed that he wrote a letter to the Ohio Ethics Commission asking for a broader ethical investigation" of Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell. Specifically, Arnebeck wants an investigation of the allegation by fellow Republican Matt Damschroder, Director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, that Blackwell may have had a Diebold lobbyist contribute $50,000 to a political interest favored by the Secretary of State.

Also, Arnebeck wants the Ethics Commission to probe how Blackwell ended up as a multimillionaire while on the public payroll, and the effect of his minority investment in a radio company that managed to secure $2.5 million in loans from prominent banks at the same time that Blackwell was serving as state treasurer.

In yesterday's blog, I pointed out that Blackwell and his three partners turned their initial $500,000 into a $190 million windfall within 6 years. Arnebeck is asking the obvious questions. Did people like billionaire Carl Lindner, of Chiquita Banana fame, invest and facilitate Blackwell'’s rise to the top? Lindner was one of the owners of the banks that lent the initial funds to Blackwell and his three co-investors.

Dearest Readers, Blackwell gives speeches and takes campaign money from right wing white supremist groups. Blackwell is African-American. Commonly known as "Uncle Tom" in Ohio's African-American community. Prissy concurs.

Blackwell did everything he could to ensure Dubya took Ohio-apparently that is why a grateful Dubya came to Ohio on election night-to thank him.

Blackwell would sell his own mother down the river if he thought it would make his fellow neorepublicans love him.

An unhappy Ohio voter. Didn't say if he was Democrat or Republican- Only that he tossed the new voting machine to the floor and was arrested.

Online Journal Shocking Diebold conflict of interest revelations from secretary of state further taint Ohio's electoral credibility By Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman

Blackwell is the frontrunner for Ohio's Republican nomination for governor. The first African-American to hold statewide office, the former mayor of Cincinnati made millions in deals involving extreme right-wing "religious" radio stations.

Damschroder is former chair of the Franklin County GOP. He says former Diebold contractor Pasquale "Patsy" Gallina boasted of making the contribution to Blackwell. Damschroder himself has publicly admitted to personally accepting a $10,000 check from Pasquale, made out to the Franklin County GOP. That contribution was made while Damschroder was involved in evaluating Diebold bids for county contracts.

Damschroder was censured but not removed from office. On Election Day 2004, Franklin County voting officials told the Free Press that Blackwell and Damschroder were meeting with George W. Bush in Columbus. AP accounts place both Bush and Karl Rove unexpectedly in Columbus on Election Day. Damschroder has denied that he met personally with Bush, but refuses to clarify whether or not he was at GOP meetings with Bush in attendance on Election Day.

An eyewitness ally of Blackwell told a small gathering of Bush supporters, with a Free Press reporter present, that Blackwell was in a frenzy on Election Day, writing percentages and vote totals on maps of rural Republican counties, attempting to figure out how many votes, real or manufactured, Bush would need to overcome the exit poll results in Cleveland and Columbus.

Yahoo Judge Doubts Moussaoui's Claims About 9/11

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The judge presiding over Zacarias Moussaoui's sentencing told trial lawyers that she doesn't believe Moussaoui's claims on the witness stand that he knew advance details of the Sept. 11 plot.

"I still think that Moussaoui was not accurate in a lot of what he said about how much he knew about what was going to happen with which particular buildings and when," U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said during a closed hearing on April 21 outside the jury's presence. Transcripts of the hearing were released Tuesday.

This one really ticks Prissy off. Let's see-Prissys cell was AT&T-the ones that gave away customers privacy without a warrant...and now this! Ohio University Hacked, Data Of 300,000 Exposed

Ohio University's database has been compromised for over a year, and hackers have had access to the personal data of more than 300,000 alumni and other people.

Included in this data are 137,000 Social Security numbers. This news was just announced by the University yesterday surely making victims furious.

The University is urging anyone that thinks their data was in the compromised database to visit here, or call 1-800-901-2303 for helpful information.

Hackers have also gained access to a separate system that contains research and patent information that the University plans to commercialize. Both cases are under FBI investigation.

Wouldn't have anything to do with Ohio University's "kitchen grease" fuel system, that runs every diesel powered vehicle on campus, would it? Now whoever would benefit from such an idea?

USA Today Across USA, wave of anger building over gas prices

FRONT ROYAL, Va. The sunrise turns the night sky pink Tuesday as four travelers meet at the Park 'N Ride lot off Interstate 66 on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A nightmare has brought them together: the price of gasoline, which lists at $2.84 for regular, $2.94 for medium and $3.04 for supreme at the Shell and Exxon stations down the street. Their blue Kia van is bound for Washington, 60 miles away. Today, the one-way trip will cost $10.

Jennifer Sperry, 32, works at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Her mother, Linda Burnett, 51, is bound for the same agency. Regina Sommers, 39, works at a law firm. And Pete Williams, 53, is building manager at the Reagan federal building.

Two weeks ago they faced the inevitable and formed this carpool, which saves them each more than $300 a month and costs them autonomy, convenience and privacy. Sperry and her mother used to drive in together, just the two of them, free to dish and divulge as they pleased. They don't see each other on weekends; that was their time together.

And the oil companies could care less. Pray their selfish ways cease...

Zaman Iran's Kandil Strike Upsets the US

The operations in Iraq that were reportedly started by Iran against Pejak organization affiliated with the terror network PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party), are disturbing the United States.

Washington, reacting to the alleged operations, pointed out the two countries are neighbors. Upon questioning by reporters, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said: "Good neighbors do not bombard each other. If this news is true, I think the Iraqis will have something to say."

The Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party announced news of the operation does not reflect reality, and they will respond in case of an attack. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called on the Iraqi administration to protect its borders. Gul, warning Bagdat (Baghdad) against harboring terrorists, said, "Nobody should allow this in their own country." Mentioning the tension between Iran and the US, Gul said they are against mass destruction weapons in the region, and want to see the problem solved in peaceful ways.

As news reports that Iran bombarded Northern Iraq increase, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack in his regular daily news conference said Washington is not happy with the attitude of Iran. McCormack maintains he has no detailed information on the strike allegations.

Harpers Magazine- More about "Hookergate" Follow-up 2: Red Lights on Capitol Hill

A few days ago I wondered aloud exactly how Shirlington Limousine of Arlington, Virginia, owned by Christopher Baker'-a man with a lengthy history of illegal activity got millions of dollars in federal contracts with the Department of Homeland Security and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and if those contracts had anything to do with Shirlington's relationship with defense contractor and accused Duke Cunningham-briber Brent Wilkes. The latter, readers might recall, allegedly used Baker's limo service to transport congressmen, CIA officials, and perhaps prostitutes to his Washington parties.

Most companies owned by a man with a 62-page rap sheet aren't nearly so lucky in winning taxpayer dollars.

ABC Teen Shares Her Horrific Experiences at Congressional Hearing Targeting Online Porn

While Masha is now safe and Mancuso is in prison, she told Congress's Energy and Commerce Committee at its fourth such hearing this year that her horror isn't over. "Because Matthew put my pictures on the Internet, the abuse is still going on," she told legislators in her testimony.

"You have to do something about the Internet," she wrote. "Matthew found the adoption agency on the Internet. They let him look at my pictures from Russia on the Internet even though they didn't really know anything about him.

Prissy feels for this young lamb. But don't let congress decide what goes on the internet. They will use child pornography issue to abuse the rest of our democracy. Odd, since the same ones who wish to clamp down on the internet are often perverts themselves.

Prissy just hopes they weren't enjoying what they heard-don't say "Oh Prissy"

Prissy has seen wife beaters who claim to be against "that sort of thing", too. See list of republican perverts from previous post.

Judicial Watch Judicial Watch Compels Secret Service to Produce White House Logs Detailing Abramoff Visits

While the Secret Service acknowledged receipt of Judicial Watch's FOIA request on February 2, 2006, they failed to produce the records. Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit on February 22. On April 25, 2006, Judge Penn executed a joint stipulation and agreed order directing the Secret Service to produce the requested records by May 10, 2006.

The records requested by Judicial Watch could show the frequency and length of Abramoff's White House visits, thereby shedding some light on the nature of the relationship between Jack Abramoff and Bush administration officials. Once Judicial Watch obtains the White House logs detailing Abramoff's visits, it will make the records available to the American public on the Internet as part of its public education mission.

"The American people deserve the truth concerning admitted felon Jack Abramoff's visits and meetings with Bush administration officials in the White House,"” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "We don't know what these records will show, but it's time we get more of the facts on the table."

All stickers from Northern Sun

The Scotsman UK troops 'doomed to fail' in Afghanistan

"There are widespread allegations that the poppy eradication process is corrupted at many levels and that wealthy individuals are being exempted from eradication," says the report.

"According to farmers, the eradication teams only eradicate fields where the owners or farmers do not pay a 'ransom'. There are strong indications that the farms belonging to powerful people are not being eradicated while the poorer farmers' livelihoods are being destroyed."

Although the British government has stressed that its troops will not carry out eradication but provide security for those involved in it, the report says local people will not see that distinction, and will turn against international military forces.

"The local population has now come to identify international troops with eradication activities rather than with reconstruction efforts."

And now drugs are legal in Mexico, so apparently they feel the coalition is interferring with Afghanistan business transactions...

US Newswire Congress Says No To Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq; Senate Vote Challenges Bush War Plans, Blocks U.S. Control over Iraq Oil

WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Responding to a huge wave of popular opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq, the full Senate today declared the United States should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq and added a clear statement that the U.S. does not wish to control Iraq's oil resources. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) congratulated Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) on winning approval for the measure, which specifically prohibits the use of any new funds to establish permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. The House passed a similar ban in March.

"This is an important milestone in the development of U.S. policy toward Iraq. For the first time since the U.S. launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003, both chambers of Congress have now said the U.S. must change course in Iraq," said Joe Volk, Executive Secretary of FCNL, the 63-year-old Quaker lobby that has the largest team of peace lobbyists working on Capitol Hill.

The president recently said U.S. troops will remain in Iraq at least until 2009, while senior U.S. military commanders have argued in public testimony that the U.S. may decide to permanently station military troops in Iraq. "The Senate vote today sends a clear signal to the people of Iraq, to the international community, and to the people of this country that the United States does not intend to permanently occupy Iraq," said Joe Volk. "This Congressional action also is a strong signal that the Bush administration has to change policy in Iraq now."

Well,well- Congress remembered they were Americans living in a democracy. They ha d better...or Prissy's Granny will be after them next.

US Newswire Pelosi: Sham Lobby Reform Bill Does Nothing to Reform Republican Culture of Corruption

"When the energy companies write the energy bill, we have gasoline that costs $3 a gallon; when pharmaceutical companies write the Medicare prescription drug bill, we have a bill full of giveaways to cronies, but nothing for America's seniors; when lobbyists write the lobbying reform bill, we end up with a ruse that winks at reform and does nothing to curtail the culture of corruption.

"Democrats offered real reform legislation: banning gifts and travel from lobbyists and organizations that retain or employ them; banning official travel on corporate jets; shutting down the K Street project; subjecting earmarks to the full light of day; closing the revolving door between government officials and lobbying firms; and bringing back fair, open, and honest procedures to the House floor. Republicans voted that legislation down.

"Republicans don't want to end the culture of corruption because they continue to benefit from it. It's time for a new direction."

Quotes of the Day

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.--Thomas Jefferson

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.--Thomas Jefferson

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.--Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791