Which part of police state don't you understand?
Friday, March 09, 2007

I have good days and bad. I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been convicted of obstruction of justice. Sure the justice he was obstructing has been taken out behind the wood shed and shot in the face, but still the conviction was a step in the right direction. The investigation into the dismissal or pressed resignations of several U.S. District Attorneys is moving forward. That's the good.

Our old friend U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler is expected to rule on a gag order protecting the identities of high profile clients of the so-called D.C. Madam. U.S. Scientists have in effect been told to watch what they say with regard to global climate change, receding ice caps, and the plight of polar bears when they travel abroad. An audit has shown that the FBI has improperly and illegally used provisions of the USA Patriot Act to obtain information on U.S. citizens. And the videotape of Pentagon officials' most recent interrogation of Jose Padilla - the last before he abruptly refused to continue working with his defense team - has been "mislaid." That's the bad.

It's been a hell of a week.

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John Le Carré It Ain't
Friday, February 16, 2007

A 22-year veteran CIA analyst known only as 'Doe' won a minor legal victory this week when U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that his/her/its case could proceed against the CIA. Doe's suit alleges CIA officials pressured and later terminated the decorated agent in the agency's counter-proliferation department for gathering evidence contrary to the Bush Administration's official line with regard to Iraq's pre-war WMD programs. Shocking. I know.

I say minor victory because this is probably the last you will ever hear of it. First, because the U.S. media would rather cover the NASCAR 'scandal' and Anna Nicole Smith (I refuse to link either on principle) than high crimes and misdemeanors. Second, because the story has been essentially Googlebombed out of existence by the CIA/extraordinary rendition proceedings in Italy (try and Google the CIA this week and see if you can find this story). And last, but not least, because U.S.District Judge Gladys Kessler, has been promoted and is being replaced by "former White House insider Dabney Friedrich."

I give credit where credit is due. No one plays the shell game better than this Administration. They've fired or forced-out seven U.S. Attorneys since march, and now this. It's like watching Cheney and Rove channeling Penn and Teller. If that image does haunt your dreams...

Special thanks to Matt for pointing this story out. Viva La Revolution!

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"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it."

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