Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government25 February

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US 'aware' of Iraq torture - 23,000 people in detention 25

Feb 2006

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 01:19:24 -0500

 

 

 

Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government

25 February 2006

http://www.legitgov.org/

 

 

All links to articles as summarized below are available here:

http://www.legitgov.org/index.html#breaking_news

 

Army Regulation 210-35 dated Jan 14, 2005 - Military responsibilities

for creating/operating slave labor camps within USA " 1–1. Purpose

--This regulation provides Army policy and guidance for establishing

civilian inmate labor programs and civilian prison camps on Army

installations. Sources of civilian inmate labor are limited to on– and

off–post Federal corrections facilities, State and/or local

corrections facilities operating from on–post prison camps pursuant to

leases under Section 2667, Title 10, United States Code (10 USC 2667),

and off–post State corrections facilities participating in the

demonstration project authorized under Section 1065, Public Law (PL)

103–337. Otherwise, State and/or local inmate labor from off–post

corrections facilities is currently excluded from this program. "

 

US 'aware' of Iraq torture 20 Feb 2006 The US is " aware " of torture

taking place in Iraqi prisons, according to the outgoing Maltese UN

human rights chief in Iraq. In a frank interview with The Times, Dr

[John] Pace says photos and forensic records have proved that torture

was rife inside detention centres. Though the process of release has

been speeded up, there are an estimated 23,000 people in detention, of

whom 80 to 90 per cent are innocent.

 

Blair faces torrent of criticism on human rights 24 Feb 2006 Blair remained defiant last night in the face of a torrent of protests

over Britain's human rights record, accusing his critics of having

" the world the wrong way round " .

 

FBI Interrogators in Cuba Opposed Aggressive Tactics 24 Feb 2006 FBI

officials who were interrogating 'terrorism' suspects at the U.S.

detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2002 and 2003

strenuously objected to aggressive techniques the military was using

and believed they could be illegal, according to FBI memos released

yesterday.

 

Senior Lawyer at Pentagon Broke Ranks on Detainees 20 Feb 2006 One of

the Pentagon's top civilian lawyers repeatedly challenged the Bush

regime's policy on the coercive interrogation of terror suspects,

arguing that such practices violated the law, verged on torture and

could ultimately expose senior officials to prosecution, a newly

disclosed document shows.

 

Italy calls for closure of Guantanamo Bay prison 24 Feb 2006 Italian

Premier Silvio Berlusconi has told Arab television station Al Jazeera

that the United States should close its Guantanamo Bay prison as soon

as possible.

 

Soldier Acquitted in Afghan Prisoner Abuse 23 Feb 2006 A military jury

deliberated for only 15 minutes Thursday before acquitting the last of

11 Army reservists from an Ohio unit who had been charged with abusing

prisoners at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

 

EU governments 'ignored evidence of CIA flights' 24 Feb 2006 The

European Union's top investigator into alleged secret CIA flights and

prisons in Europe said Thursday European governments had obviously

ignored evidence of clandestine US secret service activities on the

continent.

 

Canadian intelligence approved CIA flights, instructed officials to

lie to media 24 Feb 2006 CIA planes have landed in Canada 74 times

since the 2001 terror attacks, according to newly declassified

government documents. The documents underscored ideas that the United

States is ferrying suspected 'terrorists' through Canada on the way to

foreign prisons. Internal government briefing notes revealed that

senior intelligence officials from six government agencies, including

the Security Intelligence Service, met in late November to discuss the

flights. One memo dated Nov. 28 instructed officials to tell the media

that there was " no credible information to suggest that these planes

were used to ferry suspected terrorists to and from Canada, or that

illegal activity took place. "

 

Report: NSA continues controversial data-mining program --Total

Information Awareness projects, shut down by Congress in 2003, funded

under different plan. By Tom Regan 24 Feb 2006 " In 2003, Congress

voted to shut down a controversial program called Total Information

Awareness (TIA). The project, which would have linked major

information databases together in order to 'hunt for terrorists,' was

shut down primarily because of privacy concerns, but also because its

main advocate was Adm. John Poindexter, known for his involvement with

the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s... The National Journal reported

Thursday that TIA 'was stopped in name only' and has been continued

within the National Security Agency (NSA), the intelligence agency now

fending off charges that it has violated the privacy of US citizens in

the domestic wiretapping scandal. "

 

TIA Lives On By Shane Harris, National Journal 23 Feb 2006 " A

controversial counter-terrorism program, which lawmakers halted more

than two years ago amid outcries from privacy advocates, was stopped

in name only and has quietly continued within the intelligence agency

now fending off charges that it has violated the privacy of U.S.

citizens. "

 

UAE terminal takeover extends to 21 ports 24 Feb 2006 A United Arab

Emirates government-owned company is poised to take over port terminal

operations in 21 American ports, far more than the six widely

reported. The Bush administration has approved the takeover of

British-owned Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to DP World,

a deal set to go forward March 2 unless Congress intervenes.

 

UAE, Jolted by Port Deal, Is Key Western Arms Buyer 23 Feb 2006 The

United Arab Emirates (UAE), the centre of a growing controversy over

its proposed management of U.S. port terminals, is one of the world's

most prolific arms buyers and a multi-billion-dollar military market

both for the United States and Western Europe. The energy-rich Persian

Gulf nation is currently taking delivery of about 8.4 billion dollars

worth of military equipment, mostly state-of-the-art fighter aircraft,

ordered from the United States (6.4 billion) and France (two billion)

over the last five years.

 

UAE gave $1 million to Bush library 23 Feb 2006 A sheik from the

United Arab Emirates contributed at least $1 million to the Bush

Library Foundation, which established the George Bush Presidential

[sic & barf!] Library at Texas A & M University in College Station.

[LOL, to house 'The Pet Goat?']

 

GOP Leaders Draw Back From Bid to Block Port Deal 25 Feb 2006 A Dubai

company's offer to delay taking control of terminal operations at six

U.S. ports, combined with aggressive White House lobbying, has

tempered a rush by congressional GOP leaders for quick action next

week to block the $6.8 billion transaction, which has triggered a

political furor.

 

Just 17% Favor Dubai Ports Deal 24 Feb 2006 Just 17% of Americans

believe Dubai Ports World should be allowed to purchase operating

rights to several U.S. ports. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that

64% disagree and believe the sale should not be allowed.

 

US troops poised for quick reaction to Iraq tumult 24 Feb 2006 Iraqi

forces are taking the lead security role amid a spike in violence in

Iraq but the U.S. military has moved troops into the field for quick

backup if the situation worsens, a U.S. commander said on Friday.

 

Iraqi Resistance Report for events of Friday, 24 February 2006

--Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr, member, editorial

board, the Free Arab Voice.

 

Iraq Curfew Extended for Second Day 24 Feb 2006 An extraordinary

daytime curfew in Baghdad and nearby provinces appeared to have

blunted the surge in sectarian violence [but not U.S. violence]. Late

Friday, the Iraqi government ordered the curfew to be extended for a

second straight day, state television said. The 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

curfew will remain in effect in Baghdad and the provinces of Diyala,

Salaheddin and Babil - the same areas where the daytime movement ban

was in force on Friday.

 

Iraq Regime Orders Daytime Curfews 24 Feb 2006 Police and soldiers

blocked major roads and surrounded Baghdad's two main Sunni mosques as

streets throughout this city of nearly 7 million emptied of people and

traffic. Residents in Samarra, where the shrine bombing took place

Wednesday, were instructed over loudspeakers to stay indoors " until

further notice. "

 

Baghdad daytime curfew ordered Iraqi police and soldiers fanned out to

enforce an extraordinary daytime curfew in Baghdad and three provinces

[to stop Iraqis from resisting the U.S.-U.K. occupation.]

 

Iraq: Holy Shi'ite tomb attacked with rockets 24 Feb 2006 Iraq Gunmen

fired two rockets at a tomb sacred for Shiites [salman Pak, also known

as Salman al-Farisi] south of Baghdad causing damage but no

casualties, a Shiite official said. [The 'insurgents' have rockets?

Yeah, right! The U.S. terrorists are attacking the shrines, so that

Bush's media whores can pretend there is a 'civil war' when it's

actually a 'civil uprising' against the illegal occupation.]

 

The night before the bombing: Two eyewitnesses By roadstoiraq.com 24

Feb 2006 " I live in a district very near to the mosque and I will tell

you exactly what I saw hours before the bombing. There is a daily

curfew in our city (Samarra) starts from 8:00 in the evening until

6:00 in the morning, in the night before the bombing and just when

it's getting dark there was unusual activities by the ING in the area

around the mosque, I heard their cars the whole night until next day

in the morning. The Mosque Guard's testimony says: Four people with

ING uniforms blind folded them and set the bombs. The witness

continues, so I ask you how could the terrorists enter the area which

is usually surrounded by the ING and enter the mosque then runway

without being got by the police? "

 

President blames occupiers for Iraq problems 25 Feb 2006 Iranian

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the occupying forces are to blame

for all problems in Iraq, IRNA reported. Addressing Iraqi people, he

said, " You are in the beginning of the freedom road. You have to know

that the occupiers are behind all these problems. " [Well-said!]

 

USIP: Afghanistan more dangerous than Iraq 23 Feb 2006 Despite

purported military success in Afghanistan [Yeah, right!], the U.S.

Institute of Peace says the country in 2005 was more dangerous for

American troops per capita than Iraq. The group also said in a new

report that NATO's imminent takeover of operations in southern

Afghanistan could derail counter-insurgency operations.

 

Al-Qaeda claims attempt to blow up Saudi oil processing plant 25 Feb

2006 The Saudi branch of the Al-CIAduh terror network has claimed

responsibility for Friday's foiled attempt to blow up a major Saudi

Arabian oil processing plant.

 

Saudis foil militant attack on world's largest oil plant 25 Feb 2006

Suspected Islamist militants tried to attack a major oil facility in

Saudi Arabia for the first time yesterday, ramming cars packed with

explosives into the gates of a vast processing plant in the country's

east. The attack was foiled when guards opened fire on three cars.

 

Oil Futures Jump $2 on Thwarted Attack 24 Feb 2006 Crude oil futures

prices jumped 4 percent Friday after a thwarted attack on a massive

oil facility in Saudi Arabia... [since the attack was thwarted, *why*

did the oil futures jump $2?]

 

Target Missile Test-Launched From Alaska 23 Feb 2006 A missile rose

more than 100 miles into the atmosphere from Alaska's Kodiak Island

Thursday in the first of several tests planned this year for the

national missile defense system.

 

Clooney relishes 'traitor' attacks for questioning US policy 24 Feb

2006 US actor and director George Clooney says he was proud to be

denounced as unpatriotic for questioning US policy because he wanted

to be on " the right side of history " .

 

Italian police watching 13,000 terror targets 24 Feb 2006 Italian

police and military units are watching over 13,000 potential terrorist

targets, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said in an interview with Al

Jazeera due to be broadcast on Friday.

 

Ex-White House aide says CIA has records he needs 24 Feb 2006 The CIA

has the classified documents that a former White House aide [i. Lewis

" Scooter " Libby] needs to defend himself against charges that he lied

about the leaking of a CIA operative's identity, defense lawyers said

Friday.

 

Drinks query revives Cheney row 24 Feb 2006 Vice-pResident Dick Cheney

faced fresh questions yesterday about the shooting of his hunting

companion on a Texas ranch, with the release of conflicting witness

statements about whether alcohol had been consumed.

 

Cheney's vice-like grip --Bush has granted his deputy the greatest

expansion of powers in American history By Sidney Blumenthal 24 Feb

2006 " On March 25 2003 President [sic] Bush signed executive order

13292, a hitherto little-known document that grants the greatest

expansion of the power of the vice-president in US history. It gives

the vice-president the same ability to classify intelligence as the

president. By controlling classification, the vice-president can

control intelligence and, through that, foreign policy. Bush operates

on the radical notion of the 'unitary executive', that the presidency

has inherent and limitless powers in his role as commander in chief,

above the system of checks and balances... Since the coup d'etat of

executive order 13292, the vice-presidency has been transformed. "

 

Frustrated council gets voting machines but no paper trail 24 Feb 2006

(FL) Volusia County Council members found themselves back at square

one... They didn't get the paper ballot copy of electronic votes they

wanted. Council members agreed unanimously to spend $782,185 for the

touch-screen machines from Diebold Election System.

 

S.D. House Approves Abortion Ban Bill 24 Feb 2006 State lawmakers

voted Friday to ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota and sent the

measure to the governor, who said he is inclined to sign it. Under the

legislation, doctors in South Dakota would face up to five years in

prison for performing an abortion unless it was necessary to save the

woman's life.

 

Lawmaker's proposal: Bar Republicans from adopting 23 Feb 2006 If an

Ohio lawmaker's proposal becomes state law, Republicans would be

barred from being adoptive parents. State Sen. Robert Hagan sent out

e-mails to fellow lawmakers late Wednesday night, stating that he

intends to " introduce legislation in the near future that would ban

households with one or more Republican voters from adopting children

or acting as foster parents. " ...Hagan said his legislation was

written in response to a bill introduced in the Ohio House this month

by state Rep. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, that is aimed at prohibiting gay

adoption.

 

60 percent of Americans worried about bird flu 24 Feb 2006 Nearly 60

percent of Americans are concerned about bird flu, but fewer than

one-third think it will show up in the United States this year,

according to a new poll. [bush is poised to play the bioterror card...]

 

Medicare May Now Limit Drug Plan Options 24 Feb 2006 After promoting

the wide choices available to the elderly and disabled for Medicare

drug coverage, the Bush administration is now considering limiting

those options.

 

Katrina contact recovery info (choicechanges.com) By ilyana 23 Feb 2006

 

[24 Feb lead stories:] DOD secretly continued intel program 23 Feb

2006 A controversial counter-terrorism program has quietly continued

despite being theoretically ended two years ago. The Department of

Defense's Total Awareness Information program was halted by lawmakers

more than two years ago amid outcries from privacy advocates. However,

it was stopped in name only and has quietly continued within the

intelligence agency now fending off charges that it has violated the

privacy of U.S. citizens, the National journal reported Thursday.

 

Pentagon Told to Release Guantanamo Transcripts 24 Feb 2006 A federal

judge ordered the Pentagon on Thursday to release the identities of

hundreds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay to The Associated Press, a

move which would force the government to break its secrecy and reveal

the most comprehensive list yet of those who have been imprisoned there.

 

New Documents Provide Further Evidence That Senior Officials Approved

Abuse of Prisoners at Guantánamo --FBI Memorandum Details Guantánamo

Commander's Repeated Refusal to Abandon Illegal and Ineffective

Interrogation Techniques (aclu.org) 23 Feb 2006 " The American Civil

Liberties Union today released newly obtained documents showing that

senior Defense Department officials approved aggressive interrogation

techniques that Federal Bureau of Investigation agents deemed abusive,

ineffective and unlawful. ...The memo states that FBI personnel

brought their concerns to the attention of senior Defense Department

personnel but that their concerns were brushed aside. "

 

CLGers: Please contribute for February's expenses, thank you! And,

thank you to all who have donated previously!!

http://www.legitgov.org/#contribute

 

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CLG Newsletter editor: Lori Price, General Manager. 2006,

Citizens For Legitimate Government ® All rights reserved. CLG Founder

and Chair is Michael Rectenwald, Ph.D.