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Secret Prisons
The CIA has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al Qaeda captives at a Soviet-era compound in Eastern Europe, according to U.S. and foreign officials familiar with the arrangement.
The secret facility is part of a covert prison system set up by the CIA nearly four years ago that at various times has included sites in eight countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several democracies in Eastern Europe, as well as a small center at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, according to current and former intelligence officials and diplomats from three continents.
Now we know why the CIA has its own airline.
The hidden global internment network is a central element in the CIA's unconventional war on terrorism. It depends on the cooperation of foreign intelligence services, and on keeping even basic information about the system secret from the public, foreign officials and nearly all members of Congress charged with overseeing the CIA's covert actions.
Do you think this is maybe what Harry Reid was furious about yesterday that led him to loudly exclaim three times to reporters, "The Senate does NO oversight. None. "
The existence and locations of the facilities -- referred to as "black sites" in classified White House, CIA, Justice Department and congressional documents -- are known to only a handful of officials in the United States and, usually, only to the president and a few top intelligence officers in each host country.
The CIA and the White House, citing national security concerns and the value of the program, have dissuaded Congress from demanding that the agency answer questions in open testimony about the conditions under which captives are held. Virtually nothing is known about who is kept in the facilities, what interrogation methods are employed with them, or how decisions are made about whether they should be detained or for how long.
More problems with those "quaint" Geneva Conventions.
While the Defense Department has produced volumes of public reports and testimony about its detention practices and rules after the abuse scandals at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at Guantanamo Bay, the CIA has not even acknowledged the existence of its black sites. To do so, say officials familiar with the program, could open the U.S. government to legal challenges, particularly in foreign courts, and increase the risk of political condemnation at home and abroad.
But the revelations of widespread prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq by the U.S. military -- which operates under published rules and transparent oversight of Congress -- have increased concern among lawmakers, foreign governments and human rights groups about the opaque CIA system. Those concerns escalated last month, when Vice President Cheney and CIA Director Porter J. Goss asked Congress to exempt CIA employees from legislation already endorsed by 90 senators that would bar cruel and degrading treatment of any prisoner in U.S. custody.
For months the White House has been denying that the United States supports using torture on prisoners and detainees. That dog just won't hunt anymore and if the White House thought to change the subject this week to one it can look good on, it clearly has another think coming.
To Torture... Not to torture...
HOW was that ever even the question?
Are the Democrats right to demand a Senate investigation into the Iraq war?
Yes 72%
No 28%
How would you characterize Tuesday's closing of the Senate chamber to the public?
A necessary step 63%
A stunt 37%
Total Votes: 48,077
Republican Senators Warner and McCain continue to oppose ending the filibuster b/c they know that if a ban is made 'Permanent' that someday their party will be in the minority and will need to use it. Its nice to know there are still a handful of Senators who respect Senate traditions.
"Senator John McCain of Arizona and other Republicans who joined the "Gang of 14" to block the move in the spring said they remained reluctant to support it because it would set a precedent eroding the Senate traditions that give even its minority party special power.
Senator John W. Warner, a veteran Republican of Virginia and a leader of the 14, said he was "unquestionably" as reluctant as he was in the spring.
"There stands Jackson like a stone wall," Mr. Warner said, describing his commitment to protecting Senate traditions, although he added that he would "keep an open mind."
Senator Salazar looks like he has decided to be on the right side of the filibuster and Alito battle, this time.
Posted by Casey Morris at November 2, 2005 08:37 AM
After all the lies and lies and more LIES, plus the number of people killed (our own and Iraqis) thanks to BushCo's private little illegal war to control Iraq's oil, the only people who "should" be tortured start at the top... pResNitwit, Chinkster, Rove, Scooter, Rummy, and the rest of the cabal who have supported their illegal, immoral, and unethical war and their ideas about how "quaint" the Geneva Convention rules are about torture.
No one else ought to be tortured for any reason whatsoever. As my mama said, "You get more flies with honey than with vinegar."
But I'd gladly pour vinegar into torture wounds on the BushCo Cabal individuals... Their immoral and unethical actions and attitude about the "quaint" Geneva Convention rules is going to bite the @$$e$ of even those of us who never condoned torture in the first place. They are the ones who make ordinary people like me completely ashamed to be an American. Their actions reflect badly on me, and others like me, who do not condone torture for any reason whatsoever.
I still believe the BushCo Cabal ought to be turned over to The Hague and tried for war crimes....
This is a carry over from the previous thread regarding what we can do to effect those who help support the radical right wing.
http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/petitions.htm
I still believe the BushCo Cabal ought to be turned over to The Hague and tried for war crimes....
Posted by: NonnyO at November 2, 2005 09:29 AM
Absolutely NOT. He is OUR Problem.
American war criminal. American Courts. American Justice.
It is our ONLY way to regain our standing in the world.
And with that im going to go be HUDS monkey.
Save me a seat.
Gee Christy, ya mean the kind of American justice Tom DeLay is getting?
Can't get there from here.
Got some great publicity here thanks to a DCP'er named Michael Kahn!
http://chicagosuburbannews.com/story.php?pub=2&sid=24943
Chaka Kahn!
Chaka Kahn!
Send your thoughts and well-wished to Senator Reid at his "Give-em Hell Harry" blog here:
http://giveemhellharry.com/blog/43/national-security-must-come-before-politics
chaka performed at the Republican convention; no thanks chaka
Your honor, I ask that my double Chaka reference above be stricken from the CD.
Here Come Da Judds
Something for you to try...
First type...
november 2 walkout
into Google and check what's listed third on the list.
Then type in
nov 2 walkout
and check again!
dw... I love those cats, cuz they, like, know.
Try this... http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/analysis/toons/2005/10/28/mitchell/index.html
from kos poster Jotorious:
I was lurking in Nutcaseland (freerepublic) and saw this poll being freeped. The question is whether Congress should further Debate the war rationale. Currently the Results are like 72% against 28% for continuing debate. This sentence is so the site will not think my diary is too short. I hope it doesn't offend. Hopefully, we can adequately Respond:
http://www.capitalnews.org/
from DW: when I voted the results were
Poll Of The Day
Should Congress continue debating why the U.S. went to war in Iraq?
Yes 71%
No 28%
Total Votes: 1822
Vote away if you have the time...
And here's one more on cnn.com:
The move by Democrats to force a closed session of the Senate over pre-war intelligence on Iraq was:
A "victory" for the American people..... 47% ... 26777 votes
A "stunt" .............................. 25% ... 14159 votes
Just another day on the Hill ........... 28% ... 15859 votes
Total: 56795 votes
http://us.cnn.com/
On what planet Senator Ben Nelson is Mr. Alito a 'moderate'?
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- A centrist Democratic senator complimented Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Wednesday as a moderate jurist who won't "hammer away and chisel away" existing law."
Please don't solicit my family Senator for contributions to your next campaign.
Someone pointed out the picture of Harry Reid that appeared in this morning's Washington Post, complete with "halo".
See it here...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/2/85426/9534
There's some more pictures worth a chuckle or two if you scroll down through the comments.
RATS DESERTING...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101392.html
DeLay Loath to Doff His Leadership Hat
Active Role Divides House Republicans
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 2, 2005; A03
Former House majority leader Tom DeLay's efforts to retain power despite his indictment have angered some rank-and-file Republicans, many of whom say his ethical problems and uncertain status are staining them and destabilizing GOP unity.
Although he was forced to relinquish his leadership post Sept. 28, after the first of two indictments for alleged involvement in money laundering related to the 2002 Texas election, DeLay continues to use an office in the leadership suite, occasionally presides over private meetings with committee chairmen and lobbies members during key floor votes.
Also, the Texas Republican's staff continues to maintain the House schedule and dash off memos to lawmakers, ostensibly as employees of a majority leader's office without a full-fledged majority leader. And on his trips to the sheriff's office for an Oct. 20 booking in Houston and a court appearance in Austin on Oct. 21, DeLay was accompanied by three bodyguards from the Capitol Hill police force, just as he was when he was majority leader.
"My issue is having an indicted former leader hanging around the leadership offices," said one House Republican, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of DeLay's remaining authority. "This guy did so much good work getting us into the majority. Why does he want to stick around? He's not helping us."
"Tom DeLay should not be in a position of authority," said Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), who called for DeLay's resignation from the House leadership even before he was indicted. "He should not be calling the shots or driving the agenda, and if he is, that would be unfortunate."
Countering those are DeLay's ardent House supporters, dozens of whom now sport hammer-shaped lapel pins evoking DeLay's nickname, "The Hammer," to proclaim their allegiance. They say much of the discord is due to DeLay's departure from the leadership, not his continuing influence.
"This can't go on this way indefinitely," said Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.), a leader of House Republican moderates who wants an election in January to fill DeLay's slot. "We need to get this leadership issue behind us."
A series of faction meetings and private discussions last week could culminate in a face-off today, when House Republicans gather for a half-day retreat at the Library of Congress to air their grievances. DeLay appeared in court in Texas yesterday as his legal team succeeded in getting the presiding judge replaced in the case alleging fundraising improprieties. He planned to fly back last night for the conference today.
The indictment Friday of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has heightened concerns among some Republican lawmakers that they are approaching the 2006 midterm election under an ethical cloud. A poll released last week by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that the Republican Party is viewed favorably by 42 percent of the population, while 49 percent view the GOP unfavorably, an imbalance not seen since the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
And some House members say they are bracing for Democratic mailings to their constituents with the mug shots of DeLay, Libby and former White House procurement chief David Safavian. Moreover, White House adviser Karl Rove remains under investigation by the special counsel probing the CIA leak.
"Ethics is everything," Shays said. "If you don't have a strong moral standing, if you don't have an ethical foundation, you just crumble."
DeLay's presence at a series of delicate talks on budget cutting last month with committee chairmen left some senior lawmakers dumbfounded, confused and even angry that a demand as sensitive as billions of dollars in spending cuts would come from a member without a leadership post or even a senior committee position.
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has temporarily assumed the post of majority leader. But with DeLay actively engaged in leadership business, the chain of command is confusing at best.
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and other leaders remain publicly in DeLay's camp. House Republican Vice Chairman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) distributed a glossy "member profile" of DeLay last week, gushing about DeLay's role in foster parenting, his run-in with an errant quail hunter, his love of jazz and his affections for his bichons friss , Baily and Taylor, and his miniature dachshund, Scooter.
"The 'Hammer' Has a Big Heart," read the headline.
Most importantly, DeLay remains intimately involved in setting legislative strategy, especially as the House drives to cut federal spending to help pay for a surge of hurricane relief. And he has continued his well-honed practice of rounding up votes on controversial measures that otherwise might not win House approval.
DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden said DeLay has maintained those roles at the request of Hastert and other House leaders -- with the blessing of most rank-and-file members.
"It's not lost on anybody that Mr. DeLay has a unique understanding of the issues and a record of success," Madden said. "He's going to continue to play a role as long as members encourage him to do so."
With difficult votes coming, especially on a massive budget bill cutting $50 billion in spending over five years and a $70 billion tax cut to follow, some Republicans say DeLay needs more authority, not less.
"DeLay knows how to get votes; he knows how to work the floor; he knows how to talk to chairmen, because he's been doing it for years," said one House leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because internal leadership matters are considered confidential. "I know some members have concerns, but the flip side is, if he wasn't involved and we ran into problems, people would say: 'Well, DeLay knows how to get things done. Why isn't he being used?' "
Regardless of how members feel about DeLay, Republicans across the ideological spectrum say the current unstable structure of the leadership is inviting discord. DeLay has asked Republicans to leave his post vacant until the charges against him are resolved, and supporters say the case could be tossed out or beaten by January.
But for now, the majority leader's office is "a staff without a head," said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.).
"Who's responsible for what? Who do you call if you have a problem?" Bass asked.
Already, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) has said he would like to run for a leadership post. Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, an increasingly influential faction of fiscal conservatives, has signaled to members that he is exploring a run. And many expect Rep. John A. Boehner (Ohio), a leadership member since the 1994 Republican House takeover, to make a bid.
All that has helped fragment the House Republican Conference as members jostle for advantage.
"There's a power vacuum," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). "If we don't get some unity and sense of purpose soon, people will start looking after themselves."
DeLay has tried to shore up his position by lining up with conservatives, especially on the drive for budget cuts, where he once played the role of conciliator. And that has created other problems, as the Republican Study Committee gains power at the expense of other factions.
"You can't have a part of the conference wagging the whole body," Davis said. "The conservatives say it's all about keeping the party base, keeping the party base. But you hold the majority by holding your marginal districts."
FILE THIS UNDER THE CATEGORY: "DO THEY REALLY THINK WE'RE THAT DUMB?"
White House Deflects Intel Questions
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
46 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The White House sought to deflect politically charged questions Wednesday about President Bush's use of prewar intelligence in Iraq, saying Democrats, too, had concluded Saddam Hussein was a threat.
"If Democrats want to talk about the threat that Saddam Hussein posed and the intelligence, they might want to start with looking at the previous administration and their own statements that they've made," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.
He said the Clinton administration and fellow Democrats "used the intelligence to come to the same conclusion that Saddam Hussein and his regime were a threat."
McClellan made his comments one day after Senate Democrats sprung a surprise, forcing a rare closed-door session to dramatize their charge that Bush relied on faulty intelligence in the run-up to war and congressional Republicans have failed to sufficiently investigate.
"They have repeatedly chosen to protect the Republican administration rather than get to the bottom of what happened and why," Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Tuesday in demanding that the Senate chamber be emptied of everyone but members and a few staffers.
The move allowed Democrats to refocus attention on the Iraq war at a time when Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court has taken the spotlight. It also heightened an already tense relationship between the two political parties in the Senate.
Taken off guard, Republicans angrily called the Democratic move a political stunt but agreed two hours later to have a bipartisan group review how the Senate Intelligence Committee is coming along in its investigation of prewar intelligence.
"The United States Senate has been hijacked by the Democratic leadership," said Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.
Democrats sought assurances that Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., would complete the second phase of an investigation of the administration's prewar intelligence — as he said he was doing anyway.
A six-member task force — three members from each party — was appointed to review the Intelligence Committee's work and report to their respective leaders by Nov. 14.
Roberts' committee produced a 511-page report in 2004 on flaws in an Iraq intelligence estimate assembled by the country's top analysts in October 2002, and he promised a second phase would look at issues that couldn't be finished in the first year of work.
The committee has worked on the second phase of the review, Roberts said, but it has not finished. He blamed Democrats for the delays and said his staff had informed Democratic counterparts on Monday that the committee hoped to complete the second phase next week.
"Now we have this ... stunt 24 hours after their staff was informed that we were moving to closure next week," a clearly angry Roberts told reporters. "If that's not politics, I'm not standing here."
For their part, Reid and Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, claimed that Republicans have repeatedly rebuffed Democratic pleas for a thorough investigation.
When Reid made his move at mid-afternoon, the public was ordered out of the chamber, the lights were dimmed, the TV cameras were turned off and the doors were closed.
Under Senate rules, no vote is required when a member demands a secret session.
Some Democrats have accused the White House of twisting intelligence to exaggerate the threat posed by Iraq.
Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted last Friday for lying during an investigation that touched on the war — a probe of the leak of the identity of a CIA official married to a critic of the administration's Iraq policy.
"The Libby indictment provides a window into what this is really all about, how this administration manufactured and manipulated intelligence in order to sell the war in Iraq and attempted to destroy those who dared to challenge its actions," Reid said.
Libby resigned from his White House post after being indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements and perjury.
It was the first time in more than two decades the chamber has been forced into a closed session without bipartisan agreement. The last closed session was in 1999 to consider the impeachment of President Clinton.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_go_pr_wh/senate_iraq;_ylt=AmUd4n1KF_YSkbUjyA5sE2Ws0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-
White House pays price for its lies.
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/opinion/ci_3174950
White House pays price for its lies.
Posted by: sparrow at November 2, 2005 01:39 PM
At first glance, I thought this was about Armstrong Williams.
Prayola
The World Can't Wait Demonstration is going on in Federal Plaza in Downtown Chicago surrounded by a one-man deep line of riot geared police--a sort of low key police presence for Chicago, but not the ultra-low key shorts and bicycle police we usually get for NSPI events. Seems pretty calm so far. They don't seem to be getting much press as all the press trucks are surrounding the Daley Center Plaza--our state government plaza--this afternoon. TWCW was having a lot of problems with their sound systems and couldn't get the Studs Terkel speech. Michael Brennan President, Metro Seniors in Action, Chicago spoke briefly about the environment. Several student groups had spokespeople, Columbia College whose theater dept could be tapped for Fear Up I would imagine. I couldn't stick around because I had to get back to some trouble a-brewing at work, but I'll let you all know if I find out anything more.
Thanks so much for the update, Ellen.
Your e-mails: Advice for the president
CNN.com readers offer ideas for what Bush should do
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/02/feedback.president/index.html
Does your Senator fall into this group? You may want to give them your input as well
Moderates' Support Sought for Alito
White House Tries to Forestall Filibuster by Targeting 'Red State' Democrats
By Peter Baker and Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 2, 2005; Page A06
~snip~
A day after President Bush nominated him to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Alito spent the day on Capitol Hill introducing himself to more lawmakers. He focused on Democratic senators representing Republican-leaning states as well as Republican members of a bipartisan coalition that headed off judicial filibusters this year.
~snip~
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), another member of the Gang of 14, said that "it's way too early to talk about extraordinary circumstances." The group -- seven Republicans and seven Democrats -- plans to meet tomorrow in the office of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to talk through its approach to the nomination.
~snip~
Alito began his tour of red-state Democrats yesterday with Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.). He is to visit Nelson today and Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.) tomorrow.
None of the three sits on the Judiciary Committee, whose members are usually visited first by Supreme Court nominees, and all three said the White House offered the courtesy calls without being asked.
~snip~
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101479.html
For those very interested in an independent media and media reform, here's an important story from kos poster JPZenger:
GOP Investors Trying to Break Up Knight-Ridder Newspapers
by JPZenger
Wed Nov 02, 2005 at 10:03:43 AM PDT
A group of investors from Florida, who are regular contributors to Bush and GOP National Committee, are trying to break up the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain. Knight-Ridder is one of the few truly independent mainstream news sources that provides truly independent coverage and investigative journalism. Knight Ridder includes the Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as major papers in Northern California, Miami and many other cities.
Their reporters had the rare distinction of being able to see through the Bush Administration's smokescreen before the Iraq invasion. Their stories in 2002 and 2003 predicted everything that has subsequently happened in Iraq - based upon leaks provided to them by career State Department and Defense Department staff.
"Knight Ridder gets an ultimatum
John Reinan, Star Tribune
November 2, 2005
"A large investor is demanding that Knight Ridder Inc., the nation's second-largest newspaper chain, put itself up for sale or auction off its flagship publications, which have wrestled with flat advertising revenue and stagnant or declining circulation.
In a letter Tuesday to the Knight Ridder board of directors, the investment firm Private Capital Management (PCM) threatened to launch a hostile takeover if the company does not move to "aggressively pursue" a competitive sale.
It's too early to say whether any suitors will emerge for Knight Ridder or whether PCM will be able to make good on its threat to oust a majority of the company's directors, but Tuesday's disclosure -- and the potential that it could trigger more mergers or consolidation -- could cause investors to take a new look at newspaper stocks...
"There's always been a tension between journalism and business, but in the last decade, business has been very much predominant," the Poynter group's Naughton said. "The mystery to me is why communities don't rise up in anger at what's being done to their media in the name of profit."
the rest of the story can be found here:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5702434.html
here's the kos post with comments:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/2/12343/3632
I'm about to take my digital camera on my lunch hour to SF Civic Center for the World Can't Wait rally. Just a three block walk and a sandwich.
Back soon, hopefully with pix to download.
From RawStory.com...
LAWYERS SAY BOLTON'S CHIEF OF
STAFF WAS CIA OFFICIAL NAMED
IN LIBBY INDICTMENT... SOON...
World can't Wait rally here at noon. About 80 students and adults gathered along both sides of the main thoroughfare in town with signs and chanting.
The best part was the horn honking by various delivery trucks, dump trucks, lumber trucks and other such vehicles passing by. Very cool.
2:35
Knight Ridder may not have the shine and stature that NYT once had, but in comparison with the other media conglomerates, not at all bad. The largest stockholder of 19% wants to sell, but may not be able to convince the others to sell.
My newspaperman husband went on a fellowship, its second year '76-77, to Columbia. Sponsored by KR, named in honor of Walter Bagehot, economist of London centuries ago, the idea was to create more more knowledgeable jouranlists in economics, taught at the business school. The 80s was a golden age of business journalism, in that corporations felt obligated to talk, and reporters to be fair. None of these anonymous sources. Alan got some national writing awards as the big fish in the little pond of Denver. A wonderful few years of living his life-long dream. Everyone should have a taste of that.
Denver and the country were well-served by Knight-Ridder's decision to make better reporters. Sponsoring because they saw how few could really talk about the recession of the 70s.