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August 31, 2007 Articles from August 28 to 31 |
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CORRUPTION UPDATES 109
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Musharraf strikes deal with Bhutto
By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad
Financial Times, August 29, 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9508d6f2-5655-11dc-ab9c-0000779fd2ac.html
General Pervez Musharraf has reached an agreement with exiled opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under which he will resign as military chief in exchange for her party’s support for his re-election as president.
In Islamabad, a cabinet minister said Gen Musharraf had agreed to retire from the military in return for support from Ms Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s party (PPP).
The minister also said Gen Musharraf was considering calling a session of parliament in September to approve new constitutional amendments, such as lifting a ban on prime ministers who have served twice from returning to office a third time.
The agreement allows Ms Bhutto, who has been in exile since 1998, the prospect of a third term as prime minister – a record for a country where the military has ruled for half its 60 years as an independent state.
In recent negotiations with the government, Ms Bhutto also demanded corruption charges against her and other members of her party be dropped.
She said on Wednesday night she was looking at returning to the country between September and December, without mentioning an exact date.
Pakistan’s constitution forbids a general from holding political office while still serving and also for up to two years after retirement, but Gen Musharraf has successfully outmanoeuvred the ban since taking power in a coup in 1999. Now, analysts say, he may seek a waiver from the two-year restriction as part of the new package of constitutional amendments.
The general’s move to compromise with Ms Bhutto, however, is stirring rising opposition from within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid e Azam party (PML-Q). The dissent makes it difficult to know how many of the 200 MPs from PML-Q in the 342-seat lower house of parliament will support Gen Musharraf’s re-election. One PML-Q leader said at least 12 of the party’s MPs could vote against the general.
Analysts warned that many PML-Q members who defected from the PML-Nawaz, a faction led by Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, may seek to return to the fold as Mr Sharif regains popularity following the announcement of his plan to return home from exile in London within two weeks.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Wednesday, Mr Sharif said he was disappointed with Ms Bhutto’s efforts to cut a deal with Gen Musharraf. This was a “clear violation” of his agreement with her on a restoration of democracy that “says no deals with military dictators”.
Bhutto sells out to American Dictatorship
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., September 3, 2007
Times, and American Corporate MediaSoftens Musharraf's Military Dictatorship
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August 29, 2007
The Times presents Musharraf as something other than an unconstitutional tyrant that rules through naked military power. He is not, and it is this type of support from the Western press, and the guns and dollars of the United States, that keeps tyrants in power around the world.
It has been reported that the US is putting pressure on both Bhutto and Musharraf to blend the corruption of the former, with the fascism of the latter, and like mixing chocolate with peanut butter, the US hopes that a corporate fascist state like ours will magically appear out of Pakistan's military dictatorship. This will not occur.
Will US broker a Musharraf-Bhutto alignment between Army and Secular Corruption?
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August 25, 2007
(originally written for CU104_2)
Musharraf's position as the Army's "candidate" for the upcoming presidential contest received the backing of the Army when they assaulted the Red Mosque. The Army demonstrated they would use military force to back Musharraf.
Musharraf's legitimacy is nakedly based on army bayonets and American dollars. Bush has responded to the collapse of even the appearance of legitimacy in Pakistan's military dictatorship by encouraging Musharraf to cut political deals with the opposition he had banished to maintain military control of the government.
Bush's plan is to replicate General Zia's "rump" style civilian government, created in 1988. Zia's rump was supposed to put a civilian face on the Army's control of real power in Pakistan. Bush's plan will prove to be as unworkable as Zia's.
The problem is going to be that Neither Bhutto's People's Party, nor Shariff's Pakistan Muslim League are going to allow the military to maintain political control when they resume political participation in Pakistan. Bush's plan is leading to chaos, if not civil war, in Pakistan.
Bush has funded and armed Musharraf's dictatorship, and is continuing to do so. Bush is pressuring Musharraf to allow the appearance of democracy, while supporting his military dictatorship. Rather than withdrawing support for Musharraf, and dealing with the ensuing administration, Bush's plan is to create a political frankenstein, stitching together tyranny and democracy into a political abomination which is doomed to destroy itself.
Here's how it will go down: Bhutto and Sharif will win the elections, forcing the Army to assert martial law, kill the protesters, and arrest the political opposition. The Army will reimpose a dictator, possibly forcing Musharraf out in the process.
The alternative scenario is just as grim. If Bush can force a deal between the Army and the parties, a Bhutto-Sharif government will be elected, and Musharraf will remain as president. Within six months the civilian government will be driven from office by the army. The army will assert martial law, kill the protesters, and arrest the political opposition.
Bush's support and accommodation of Pakistan's military dictatorship is a huge source of the political instability in Pakistan. Our only hope of having a stable long-term relationship with Pakistan is to demand the military step out of politics, and allow the people of Pakistan to run their own affairs. If we were a democracy, we would find and develop long term friendship with democratic players around the world. Instead, we align ourselves with dictators, kings, and petty tyrants.
Bush's plan bet all of our chips on Musharraf and the Pakistani Military, and that relationship has weakened both the US and Pakistan. Our participation in propping up Musharraf's dictatorship has destabilized Pakistan, and our continued support for Musharraf and military authority will only bring a bigger blowup when Pakistan finally rejects foreign supported military dictators.
Bush's new plan involves continuing the political ascendancy of the Pakistani military, which will only continue and deepen Pakistani political instability. It's kind of funny that Bush is only reaching for democracy in desperation, to save his military dictatorship in Pakistan.
If America actually stood for democracy and freedom, we would not be facing any of the dangers we now face in the Middle-East. American greed and aggression is conditioning the middle east to reject American "democracy" as nothing more than a cover for imposing dictators, suppressing the cultural and political voice of Muslims, and controlling the region's vast energy resources.
The whole world is coming to the clear conclusion that America does not stand for democracy or freedom. This will not change until Americans come to the same conclusion, and get off our asses and do something about our broken democracy.
Until then, our corporate fascist government will continue to rob us, and the world of its rights and resources.
Corruption Updates 31, 10th article on page, “Pakistan's old new year"
Corruption Updates 38, 10th article on the page, "American Dictator Removes Chief Justice in Pakistan"
Corruption Updates 44 , 3rd article on page, “American backed Dictator Attempting to Crush Pakistan's Judiciary"
Corruption Updates 61, 5th article on the page, "Musharraf 'seeks Karachi peace'"
Corruption Updates 62, 7th article on the page, "Pakistan's ex-top judge has addressed thousands..."
Corruption Updates 62, 10th article on the page, Clinton:Pakistani businessman, donor to Dems, returns to U.S. to face charges
Corruption Updates 63, 9th article on the page, "Pakistan: 4 Arrested in Killing of Judge’s Aide"
Corruption Updates 67, 4th article on the page, "Musharraf Issues Decree Cracking Down on News Media"
Corruption Updates 68, 2nd article on the page, Pakistan Holds 2 in Pearl Killing: False, These Men Kidnapped 4 years Ago
Corruption Updates 69, 2nd article on the page, "Pakistan Arrests 300 Workers From Opposition"
Corruption Updates 70, 7th article on the page, Paki: Protests Rage Against Musharraf; Aides Criticize Justice He Ousted
Corruption Updates 72, 1st article on the page, Musharraf Rescinds Media Regulations After Public Outcry
Corruption Updates 74, 5th article on the page, Pakistan: Judge Gains Legal Ground
Corruption Updates 84, 2nd article on the page, Pakistan Is Building New Reactor
Corruption Updates 87, 3rd article on the page, Musharraf Suffers Setback in Effort to Remove Pakistan’s Chief Justice
Corruption Updates 88, 9th article on the page, Musharraf’s Plane Fired Upon as Mosque Standoff Continues
Corruption Updates 88, 10th article on the page, As Pakistan’s Chief Looks Ahead, Army Holds the Cards
Corruption Updates 92, 8th article on the page, U.S.: Pakistan Will Fight Militants: American Dictator Save Pakistan from itself
Corruption Updates 92, 9th article on the page, Islamabad Bombing Kills at Least 12: Pakistani Blood Bath Beginning with full US Support
Corruption Updates 95, 1st article on the page, Pakistani justice's reinstatement is blow to Musharraf
Corruption Updates 95, 2nd article on the page, Parties to Challenge Pakistan Election Plan
Corruption Updates 96, 4th article on the page, New Violence at Reopened Pakistan Mosque: American Dictator Provokes Widespread
Corruption Updates109, 1st article on the page, Musharraf strikes deal with Bhutto: Bhutto sells out to American Dictatorship
Corruption Updates 114, 6th article on the page, Pakistan bomb kills elite troops
Los Angeles Times, September 14, 2007; Bhutto's return to Pakistan set for Oct. 18
CNN, 9-10-07; Sharif arrives in Pakistan
Associated Press, September 11, 2007; Lawyers Appeal Sharif Exile: For the full series of recent Sharif events go to the Homepage
BBC NEWS, August 20, 2007; Pakistan frees 'al-Qaeda suspect'
BBC NEWS: 8-20-07; Paki Security chief gets jail warning
full paki link list
Search the Corruption Database under
Pakistan (28 Abstracts)
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2) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Justice Dept. Probing Whether Gonzales Lied
By Dan Eggen Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer and
Friday, August 31, 2007; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083000995_pf.html
The Justice Department's inspector general indicated yesterday that he is investigating whether departing Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales gave false or misleading testimony to Congress, including whether he lied under oath about warrantless surveillance and the firings of nine U.S. attorneys.
The disclosure by Inspector General Glenn A. Fine in a letter to Congress signals an expansion of the department's internal investigations into Gonzales's troubled tenure, probes that were not previously known to be focused so sharply on the attorney general and his testimony.
Fine's office has also separately expanded a probe into whether senior Gonzales aides improperly considered partisan affiliations when reviewing applicants for nonpolitical career positions. As part of that inquiry, Fine sent hundreds of questionnaires in the past week to former Justice Department job applicants.
In the questionnaires, Fine asks applicants whether they were quizzed by political appointees about their party affiliation, favorite politicians and judges, voting history, campaign contributions, and views on the death penalty and terrorism, according to a copy of the Aug. 24 questionnaire obtained by The Washington Post. Recipients are also asked to say whether White House aides participated in the interviews and to confirm if they were asked "what kind of conservative you were (law and order; social; fiscal)."
Democrats and some Republicans had urged him to resign amid allegations that he and his aides repeatedly let political considerations taint the law enforcement mission at Justice.
Fine, in a letter yesterday to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), said his office "has ongoing investigations" related to Gonzales's testimony on several key issues, including the prosecutor firings and allegations of improper hiring practices, the National Security Agency's Terrorist Surveillance Program, the FBI's use of national security letters, and Gonzales's characterizations of his conversation with an aide before a House hearing.
Fine had previously confirmed that he was looking at whether Gonzales tried to improperly influence potential testimony by talking about the prosecutor firings with the aide, former senior counselor and White House liaison Monica M. Goodling.
Goodling testified in May that she had "crossed the line" by considering political criteria in hiring career professionals at Justice, including looking up political donations by some applicants. She and D. Kyle Sampson, Gonzales's former chief of staff, also admitted using such criteria in the appointment of administrative immigration judges, who are considered career employees.
Leahy had asked Fine earlier this month to include parts of Gonzales's testimony in his investigation. Fine said in yesterday's letter that those subjects were already being examined by him and Jarrett, who is working with him on several aspects of the probes. "We believe that through those investigations and other OIG reviews we will be able to assess most of the issues that you raise," Fine wrote, using the abbreviation for the Office of the Inspector General.
In a letter sent with the questionnaire for former job applicants, Fine said that he and Jarrett "are conducting a joint investigation of allegations regarding Monica Goodling's and others' hiring and other personnel decisions," and that recipients of the letter "may have been interviewed by or spoken with" Goodling or others about job openings at Justice.
In addition to Goodling, the letter names Sampson, former White House liaison Jan Williams and former aide Angela Williamson as possible interviewers of job applicants. Williams and Williamson, who no longer work at Justice and have not previously been identified in connection with the investigation, could not be reached for comment.
The period covered by the surveys is Jan. 1, 2004, to April 2007, indicating that investigators are also looking at hiring practices under then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, who was replaced by Gonzales in February 2005.
The questionnaire includes separate sections for applicants who sought political jobs and for those who were interviewed for career positions, but both groups are asked whether they were questioned about political beliefs and ties.
None of the key aides who testified about the prosecutor firings on Capitol Hill -- including Goodling and Sampson -- have been approached by Justice investigators, according to defense lawyers and others familiar with the investigation. That indicates that investigators are in the early or middle stages of their inquiries and may not be planning to contact the central figures in the probe until they have finished speaking to others, defense lawyers said.
It has been known for some time that Fine's office has been looking into the actions of Gonzales and other high Justice Department officials regarding the dismissals of nine U.S. attorneys last year, under circumstances that even Gonzales and his allies have acknowledged were puzzling and were accompanied by vague and contradictory explanations.
But in his letter to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the judiciary panel, Fine made it clear that he is also looking into whether Gonzales made statements to Congress that were "intentionally false, misleading, or inappropriate," both about the firing of the prosecutors and about the terrorist-surveillance program, as Leahy had asked him to do.
"In particular," Fine wrote, his office is conducting a review "relating to the terrorist-surveillance program, as well as a follow-up review of the use of national security letters," which investigators use to obtain information on e-mail messages, telephone calls and other records from private companies without court approval.
In addition, Fine said, his office is conducting an inquiry, along with the department's Office of Professional Responsibility, into the removal of the prosecutors and other hiring and firing practices at the Justice Department.
Can the Justice Department be Trusted?
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August 31, 2007
Maybe. Gonzales' has demonstrated for seven years that he can only be trusted to justify, establish, and defend the President's crimes from the highest law office in the land. A disgusting spectacle.
This ticked off a whole lot of people in the DOJ. Many were forced out, and many others retired to avoid disgrace, as well as criminal liability.
Gonzales, in concert with the White House, disgraced the DOJ by criminally politicizing every aspect of the operation of the rule of law.
The Justice Department's leader, Gonzales, was openly defying established law, Congressional Oversight, and the Constitution itself. Will Gonzales be punished for his crimes?
The answer to that question will come from Mr. Fine, who worked in the Inspector General's Office prior to the ascendencey of the Bush Administration. Mr. Fine may actually be concerned about the damage Gonzales and Bush have done to our country and Constitution.
Mr. Fine may just blow the lid off of all of Gonzales' crimes during his tenur at Justice, which offers great potiential to lead directly to the office and claimed authority of the President.
But, unfortunatly for our country and Constitution, Pelosi led Congress to pass a law which indemnifies and apparently expands Bush's use of clearly illegal searching powers.
Since Pelosi is covering Bush's crimes, and has "taken impeachment off the table," the real question is, will Pelosi's Wimp Congress do anything about the crimes Mr. Fine exposes?
Not if they can help it.
Corruption Updates 43, 2nd article on the page, GONALES CAUGHT IN OPEN LIES TO CONGRESS
Corruption Updates 43, 4th article on the page, Gonzales Met With Top Aides On Firings: GONALES CAUGHT IN OPEN LIES TO CONGRESS
Corruption Updates 46, 1st article on the page, Gonzales Caught Lying, AGAIN: Gonzales, Miers Approved Firings, Ex-Aide Says
Corruption Updates 48, 5th article on the page, Justice Department In New Fight Over Papers on Firings: Gonzales a Liar
Corruption Updates 48, 9th article on the page, Gonzales a Liar: Ex-Justice Official's Statements Contradict Gonzales on Firings
Corruption Updates 51, 3rd article on the page, Gonzales Aide Floated Replacements Early On
Corruption Updates 54, 1st article on the page, A Root and Branch Survey: Gonzales allowed aides some hiring power, records show
Corruption Updates 91, 7th article on the page, Gonzales Knew About Violations, Officials Say: US Attorney General a Liar
Corruption Updates 95, 4th article on the page, Gonzales testifies in firings row: And Lied to Congress about the hospital assault
Corruption Updates 96, 1st article on the page, FBI director contradicts Gonzales on wiretaps: Noose of Lies Tightening around Gonzales Neck
Corruption Updates 109, 2nd article on the page, Justice Probing whether Gonzales Lied: illegal Survalliance, Kidnapping, Torture, and illegal trials
Corruption Updates 21, 7th article on page, Ex-judges: Detainee law unconstitutional”
Corruption Updates 23, 8th article on page, Harmon Calls Wiretapping Illegal
Corruption Updates 23, 9th article on the page, "TIMES SOFTPEDALS PRESIDENTIAL WAR CRIMES AND DOMESTIC CRIMES"
Corruption Updates 25, 2nd article on page, December 8, 2006, GOP senator says war may be 'criminal'
Corruption Updates 25, 7th article on page, 12-6-06, Italy Seeks Indictments of C.I.A. Operatives in Egyptian’s Abduction
Corruption Updates 25, 8th article on the page, "FBI CHIEF DEFYS CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE ILLEGAL PROGRAM"
Corruption Updates 31, 1st article on page, 1-17-07, AG criticizes judges for terror rulings
Corruption Updates 31, 2nd and 3rd articles on page, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Indefensible, and A Bush appointee's crude gambit on detainees' legal rights
Corruption Updates 31, 7th article on page, 1-19-07, Pentagon Revises Its Rules on Prosecution of Terrorists
Corruption Updates 31, 8th article on page, 1-19-07, Pentagon sets rules for detainee trials
Corruption Updates 32, 3rd article on the page, PRESIDENT TRIES END RUN AROUND CONSTITUTION: CLAIMS ACTIONS ARE SECRET, AND ABOVE THE LAW
Corruption Updates 34, 4th article on page, BUSH KIDNAPPING ON TRIAL IN GERMANY: WHY IS GERMANY HOLDING US TO THE RULE OF LAW?
Corruption Updates 36, 5th article on the page, White House Confirms Americans Have No Constitutional Protections
Corruption Updates 41, 5th article on the page, FBI Violations May Number 3,000, Official Says: HOW DO YOU SAY ILLEGAL SEARCH? “National Security Letter"
Corruption Updates 51, 9th article on the page, Administration Seeks to Expand Surveillance Law
Corruption Updates 54, 4th article on the page, A Root and Branch Survey: Gonzales allowed aides some hiring power, records show
Corruption Updates 69, 1st article on the page, Kidnapping and Torture Disgraces America Around the World
Corruption Updates 75, 4th article on the page, Subpoena Vote Is Set in Wiretap Inquiry
Corruption Updates 90, 1st article on the page, White House says it won't hand over documents on attorney firings: BUSH REFUSES OVERSIGHT
Corruption Updates 91, 8th article on the page, Gonzales Was Told of FBI Violations: Gonzales lied, Yet Again
Corruption Updates 94, 1st article on the page, White House Warning on Contempt Charges: We Break the Law
Corruption Updates 95, 4th article on the page, Gonzales testifies in firings row
Corruption Updates 97, 2nd article on the page, "Executive privilege touchy for presidential hopefuls: They Crave the Same Powers. Just a Reminder of why Bush is Out of Control"
Center for Constitutional Rights, Professor Jordan J. Paust, A precise accounting of the domestic and international War Crimes of Bush and his Administration
The Link List above omitted the a Vast Link List concerning Gonzales role in the US Attorney Scandal. This Link will bring you there.
Search the Corruption Database under
Gonzales
US Attorney
Torture
Illegal Searches
Illegal Trials
Illegal Detentions
Unconstitutional Presidential Powers
Please limit comments to 400 words, unless you write really well! Remember to include the Corruption Updates page number, and the article number on the page. Example: (82_1.)
3) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Democrats Say They Will Press Gonzales Inquiries
By PHILIP SHENON and DAVID JOHNSTON
NY Times, August 29, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/washington/29gonzales.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 — The resignation of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales does not mean an end to several investigations into his actions and truthfulness during his tenure at the Justice Department, with Congressional Democrats promising on Tuesday to press their inquiries.
Mr. Gonzales is a focus of investigations by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, centered on his role in the dismissals of United States attorneys last year for what appear to have been political reasons.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, said Monday that Congress would insist that Mr. Gonzales’s replacement “pledge to cooperate with ongoing Congressional oversight into the conduct of the White House in the politicization of federal law enforcement.”
Senator Patrick J. Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said although he welcomed Mr. Gonzales’s departure, it would have no effect on the committee’s pursuit of answers about who ordered the dismissals of the United States attorneys and whether Mr. Gonzales had told the truth to Congress about them.
Senate Democrats made a separate request last month for Solicitor General Paul D. Clement, the highest-ranking Senate-confirmed official at the Justice Department after Mr. Gonzales, to appoint a special counsel to review whether the attorney general had perjured himself in Senate testimony about either the United States attorneys or the eavesdropping program.
Mr. Clement, who will be acting attorney general until a permanent successor is installed, has not publicly disclosed whether he has pursued the appointment.
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
Dems Claims to Defend Constitution a Lie
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Dems fail to defend Constitution against Bush Terror Attack
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August 7, 2007
The Article below was written January 19, 2007 for CU 32_3
The specific words of the Fourth Amendment of The Constitution are:
“...and No warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Neither the President nor Congress has any legitimate authority to interfere with, or alter the Constitution's specific named standard defining legal searches. Nor can the Courts strike down our Constitution.
Each branch of our government is required to remain within its Constitutional bounds, while ensuring that the other branches also keep within their limits.
All of the branches of our government have traveled beyond the limits of the Constitution, and have become illigitimate.
As things stand now, Congress thinks its duty is to divide the wealth of our nation among themselves and their corporate sponsors. The President is openly consolidating and exercising the powers of a dictator. The courts have been working on a decades-long devolution of our Constitutional and civil rights.
It is way past the time when honest citizens, let alone our dishonest politicians, should have stood up against these crimes and corruptions which threaten our Constitution, the rights of our citizens, and the safety of our country.
Our corrupt Congress and our criminal President are a clear and present danger to the shredded remnants of our democracy and our few remaining civil liberties.
We voted out the last Congress, and like magic, nothing has changed. This Congress continues to feed at the trough of corruption, and the President continues to assault our Constitution. Nothing has changed.
Congress and President must be removed from office and prosecuted for openly violating our laws and betraying our Constitution.
The only solution to controlling political corruption requires that we change who funds the candidates. Any meaningful reform to our elections must make all the candidates, and the results of all of our elections, reflect power of the local voters, rather than the power and interests of the corporations who sponsor our politicians.
Local voters must be put back in charge of their representatives. This can only be done if we make the local voters the primary source of funding for local candidates.
The funding and contributions that support every candidate in every election must come only from the voters in that election.
Today, the outcome of local elections-all elections-are decided by which candidate can raise the most outside money. The dependency of candidates on vast sums of outside money assures voters that the final winner of the election will be more dependent on the corporations and special interests who bribed them, than the support of their own voters.
The reason we are suffering under a criminal Congress and President is that elections today are a function of wealth and power, not of democracy.
As deeply as our elections are corrupted by wealth and power, so too is the depth of corruption of our representatives. These corrupted politicians are only capable of emitting legislation and policy that serves the interests of their corporate sponsors.
Restoring control of our elections to the local voters is only the first step in restoring our democracy. We still face the tasks of restoring the individual rights that have been eroded in recent decades. We are faced with the task of restoring the free press from its corporate captivity. And finally, we will have to drive Congress and the President back within the bounds of our Constitution.
Pelosi's Congress just "gave" Bush a "law" that suspends the Constitution just to his tastes, while at the same time dividing up earmarks between themselves, and our national wealth between their corporate sponsors.
Rather than making Bush's warrantless wiretapping programs legal, Congress' passage of this vile law joins them to the President as enemies of our rights, and the Constitution of the United States.
Bush has led us to war on false pretexts.
Bush has made rules for captures, which the Constitution grants exclusively to Congress.
Bush has claimed the power to practice the use of torture, a clear violation of repeatedly affirmed domestic and international laws.
Bush has created secret prisons beyond law or oversight.
Bush and Congress have, in concert, attacked habius corpus, and pretended the right to diminish the fundamental rights of all persons held under legitimate American authority.
Bush has kidnapped and unlawfully detained numerous individuals in sovereign countries far from any war, exceeding the lawful exercise of war powers by any legitimate President of the United States, violating the sovereignty of these nations, as well as the laws of war, and the rule of law itself.
Bush has claimed and exercised unlimited power to search all Americans without warrant, a clear violation of the Constitution and the law of this country.
Bush and Congress have, in concert, repeatedly attacked the right of every American to be secure in their possessions and their effects by repeatedly passing laws in violation of the Constitution allowing secret warrantless searches of American's homes, their possessions, and records, or as the Constitution defines it, their effects.
Bush has claimed the power to set aside law and the Constitution using signing statements, an innovation not named in the Constitution, in clear violation of the process for creating laws defined by the Constitution.
Bush has refused the lawful oversight of Congress, claiming that national security concerns put him above and outside of the Constitutionally checked and balanced duties of the office of the President. Congress has indemnfied the president's crimes by taking impeachment off the table.
And Congress sits idly by, collecting their wages of bribery as its powers, and our protections are stripped away, Constitutional right by Constitutional right.
Corruption Updates 3, “Media Reports: Both Parties Corrupt”
Corruption Updates 19, 1st article on page, “TOP RECIPEINTS OF LOBBYISTS BRIBES ARE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES”
Corruption Updates 20, 1st article on page, 10-25-06, “PELOSI FUNRAISING FRENZY ASSURES SPECIAL INTEREST DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF WHICH SIDE WINS IN NOV”
Corruption Updates 20, 6th article on page, "DEMS RECEIVE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES ANTICIPATING VICTORY IN NOV"
Pelosi: Impeachment 'off the table,' Oct 23, 2006, RAW story
Pelosi: Pelosi Kills Impeachment Resolution, Nov 6, 2007, AP
Corruption Updates 21, 2nd article on page, 10-30-06: “SHADOW PARTIES (527S) INFUSE MILLIONS IN BRIBE MONEY INTO ELECTION SPECIAL INTERESTS SKIRT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS TO MAINTAIN THEIR ILLIGIMATE AUTHORITY THROUGH POLITICAL BRIBERY”
Corruption Updates 21, 8fh article on page, 11-1-06: “DEMS BIG CHANCE TO REAP THE REWARDS OF CORRUPTION POLITICAL VICTORY OPENS DOORS OF LOBBYING FIRMS TO DEMO INSIDERS: IT'S THE DEMS TURN TO ROB THE PUBLIC BLIND, AND BETRAY OUR DEMOCRACY”
After the Election:
Corruption Updates 26, 1st article on page, 12-8-06, “LOBBYISTS SEE NO CHANGE UNDER DEMS CORRUPTION PRESENTED AS FORCE OF NATURE, DEM CORRUPTION NATURAL”
Corruption Updates 28, 1st article on page, 1-2-07: “LOBBYISTS HIRING-BRIBING DEMS SHIFTING FUNDS AND PERSONELL TO DEMS ASSURES NO REAL CHANGES
Corruption Updates 33, 4th article on page, “Lobbyists find new Congress is open for business”
SF Chron, July 27, 2007; Dem leaders shield farm bill: Dems Preserve Subsidies to Corporate Agriculture
LA Times, July 29, 2007; Executive privilege touchy for presidential hopefuls: Just a Reminder of why Bush is Out of Control
LAT, July 31, 2007; House approves sweeping ethics bill: House does Everything EXCEPT DEMOCRACY
Corruption Updates 68, 1st article on page, "Dems drafting bill that could derail state warming law"
AP, August 1, 2007; House Drops Tougher Auto Fuel Economy: Dems Suck Corporate Cocks: Told you So
Bee, August 3, 2007; Fiendstien: Auditor (Husband) under fire reaps big profits: Feinstein Robs Elderly of HealthCare, and Profits Hansomly
SF Chron, August 4, 2007; Feinstein draws fire over vote for judge: Fiendstien was Never more that a Tool of Wealth and Power
Chron, August 5, 2007; House passes energy bill: Chronicle Covers Dems Asses
Washington Post, August 5, 2007; House Approves Wiretap Measure: Pelosi, Dems, Betray Constitution Again
Washington Post, August 12, 2007; How the Fight for Vast New Spying Powers Was Won: Dems-Repug Traitors Pass Illegal Spy Bill in Defiance of Constitution
NY Times, August 12, 2007; Democrats Say Leaving Iraq May Take Years: Dems Still Voting for Iraq War
Corruption Updates 109, 3rd article on the page, Dems say they will press Gonzales Inquires
Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2007; FBI looks into disgraced donor's business: Investigating a pyrmid scheme from within a pyrmid scheme. The House of Mirrors.
Los Angeles Times, September 11, 2007; Clinton to Hsu: Your Money is hot now. Please take it back
Billery:
Corruption Updates 127, 9th article on the page, Billery and Corporate Democrats throughly Bribed by Corporate Medicine
Corruption Updates 109, 8th article on the page, Clinton: Yet Another Criminal Foreign Donor
Corruption Updates 33, th article on the page, Corporate Democrats of the Democratic Leadership Council Laughs at democracy
See Right Web for an interesting profile of the DLC and its Corporate backers
Five Articles: Nunez's Life of Luxury at the Public Trough Corruption Update 128_1
Donors poured millions into state parties, Bee, Oct 3, 2007: Corruption Update 128_6
Poll: Pelosi Hated by Californians, Bee Oct 27, 2007
Search the Corruption Database under
Democrats
Clinton
Please limit comments to 400 words, unless you write really well! Remember to include the Corruption Updates page number, and the article number on the page. Example: (82_1.)
4) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Terrorism Policies Split Democrats
Anger Mounts Within Party Over Inaction on Bush Tactics
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 30, 2007; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082902355_pf.html
A growing clamor among rank-and-file Democrats to halt President Bush's most controversial tactics in the fight against terrorism has exposed deep divisions within the party, with many Democrats angry that they cannot defeat even a weakened president on issues that they believe should be front and center.
The Democrats' failure to rein in wiretapping without warrants, close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay or restore basic legal rights such as habeas corpus for terrorism suspects has opened the party's leaders to fierce criticism from some of their staunchest allies -- on Capitol Hill, among liberal bloggers and at interest groups.
At the Democratic-leaning Center for American Progress yesterday, panelists discussing the balance between security and freedom lashed out at Democratic leaders for not standing up to the White House. "These are matters of principle," said Mark Agrast, a senior fellow at the center. "You don't temporize."
The American Civil Liberties Union is running Internet advertisements depicting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) as sheep.
"Bush wanted more power to eavesdrop on ordinary Americans, and we just followed along. I guess that's why they call us the Democratic leadersheep," say the two farm animals in the ad, referring to Congress's passage of legislation granting Bush a six-month extension and expansion of his warrantless wiretapping program.
Rep. Rush D. Holt (D-N.J.), who leads a newly created House select intelligence oversight panel, lamented, "Democrats have been slow to recognize they are in the majority now and can go back to really examine the fundamentals of what we should be doing to protect democracy."
But conservative Democrats and some party leaders continue to worry that taking on those issues would expose them to Republican charges that they are weak on terrorism. And advocates of a strong push on the terrorism issues are increasingly skeptical that they can prevail.
"I don't think it's that we're reluctant to take on Bush," said Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (Fla.), a senior member of the House intelligence committee. "I think it's we are reluctant to take on each other. . . . If I can fast-forward to September, October, November, December and see where we'll be, we'll be nowhere."
The terrorism issue came to a head early this month in an explosive final closed-door House Democratic Caucus meeting before the August recess. Reps. Hastings, Moran, Melvin Watt (N.C.), John F. Tierney (Mass.) and Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) pleaded with party leaders not to bring to a vote a White House bill extending the administration's authority to listen in on electronic communications from abroad without a warrant.
Conservative Democrats, including Rep. Allen Boyd (Fla.), argued just as vociferously that Democrats dare not leave on vacation without passing the White House bill.
The administration's bill passed 227 to 183, with 41 Democrats joining all but two Republicans in favor.
Pelosi signaled last Thursday that she is serious about revisiting the warrantless-wiretapping law, which expires in January. In a rare recess conference call with House Democrats, she opened the session by having John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, lay out his schedule for hearings on the issue, starting right after the break. She also instructed Conyers; Silvestre Reyes (Tex.), chairman of the House intelligence committee; and other committee chairmen to move quickly on draft legislation.
In the Senate, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) are reviving their bill to give the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court exclusive authority over wiretapping, with new provisions to enhance the government's ability to tap e-mail and other modern forms of communication.
But others are pessimistic. Hastings said that Congress will probably be consumed with the Iraq war through the fall. He predicted that administration officials will announce that the current permissive law has thwarted terrorist attacks and saved lives but will withhold details as classified.
"Then Bush walks all the way to the end of his administration with no changes," he said.
If anything, the habeas corpus and Guantanamo Bay issues will be tougher. In June, nearly 150 House Democrats signed a letter by Moran urging the shuttering of the prison. But Moran said last week that he no longer thinks he could muster the votes to pass the measure, even though the move is supported by former secretary of state Colin L. Powell, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. Republicans appear to have won the argument with their accusation that Democrats want to import terrorists.
But political fear still hovers over any legislation that touches on the fight against terrorism, which, for Democrats, may be the new third rail of politics.
Principal in Corporate Politics? It's Time for Change
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August 31, 2007
The Dems are funded by the Corporations. The Dems went along with the wholesale purchase of our Government by these Corporations and their lobbyists, followed at some distance by their various other well-monied special interests. The Dems sold our democracy down the river.
This Democratic sell-out made possible a recipricol rise in the power and credibility of the most conservative wing of the corporate party, the Neo-Cons, who used their massive advantage in corporate funding to capture the Presidency. By moving to the right, away from democratic values towards the "center," the Dems lost their identity, and lost their ability to win on principal.
Complimenting their purchase of the Dems, their capture of the presidency, the corporate special interests presented the people with a Congress that they had throughly bribed, if not bought and owned outright.
This trend has continued into the present Congress. The massive shift in corporate funding from the Regugs to the Dems prior to the Nov. '06 general election assured that despite the crisis in our country, and the mood of the voters, nothing would change. The Dems have rolled over time and time again to both Bush's Dictatorial powers, and serving the needs of the corporations before the needs of our citizens.
This Congress' only skill is in lining up the bribes and political payoffs necessary to maintain their power, and feed first at the trough of political corruption.
The Dems supported these radically incompentent Neo-Cons when they waged, and continue an illegal war in Iraq. They have spuriously legalized the President's various international crimes, including kidnapping, torture, dissappearences. The Dems have supported the President's domestic crimes with various pieces legislation. The Democrat Congress continues to fund both the President's international and domestic crimes..
It will be impossible for the Dems, or the Regugs, to attack the external manifistations of our government's corruption, when the heart of both parties, and the political system itself, has been captured by the wealth of our corporations.
The best result would be for what few patriots are left in the Dem party to tear themselves out of the party and stand clearly for our Constitutional Rights and Liberties.
This would be a great chance to restore our democracy. Any honest breakout movement from either party would have to attack the relationship between the corporations and the parties to assure their very survival, or they will be crushed by the combined power of our Corporate Parties.
Until we end the system of corporate bribery and corruption, our politicians will continue to treat our rights like they treat the law and our rights; as something to be horse-traded away to further their pursuit of wealth and power.
It is vital that the resistors of the political evil that has captured our government bring the fight to the people, by restoring the people as the source of political power. We have been without honest leadership for so long that a real political rebellion would be welcomed by all Americans of good will in both parties.
Read our initiative, and help us spread the word.
See the link list following #3, Above.
Search the Corruption Database under
Democrats
Unconstitutional Presidential Power
Please limit comments to 400 words, unless you write really well! Remember to include the Corruption Updates page number, and the article number on the page. Example: (82_1.)
5) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
U.S. Troops Arrest Members of Iran Ministry in Baghdad
NY Times, August 29, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/world/middleeast/29detain.html?ref=
BAGHDAD, Wednesday, Aug. 29 — An Iranian Energy Ministry delegation was arrested by American troops at a hotel in central Baghdad during an official visit to Iraq, the Iranian state news agency, IRNA, and hotel staff said Tuesday night.
...six Iranians were led away blindfolded and handcuffed shortly after 10 p.m. Hotel officials said the delegation checked into the hotel on Monday bearing a letter of invitation from the Iraqi Electricity Ministry.
“The American soldiers arrived about 9.30 p.m., entered the hotel and their commander asked me about the Iranian delegation, how many they were, their room numbers and did I have a copy of their room keys,” he said. “I told him that the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity had invited them, that they were guests of the ministry and that we had a letter from the ministry confirming this.”
Mr. Abed said the soldiers entered the al-Warkaa restaurant on the ground floor where the Iranians were having dinner, brought them into the lobby and questioned them. “After about 15 or 20 minutes they gathered the Iranians’ personal belongings, put them in plastic folders, put blindfolds on their eyes and then accompanied the delegation outside the hotel,” he said.
American "Diplomacy" Leaves a lot to be Desired
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Bush is using the same approach to American international authority in "diplomacy" as he takes to his domestic police powers. Bush's grab of domestic Police State Powers have given him the power to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner in conducting American Law. Bush is claiming these same powers for himself in international diplomay.
Internationally, Bush claims the power to define the outcome of the negociations or elections before they take place. And watch out if the other party refuses to comply, or elects the wrong candidates, or god forbid, throws out our dictator.
If you have the termidity to disobey, Bush will try to use sanction to starve you into submission. Or fund death squads against your supporters. Or arm and fund the election loser to stage a coup. Or repeatedly kidnap, torture, and detain your diplomats, as Bush is doing to Iran now. The final options are to bomb Iran into the stone age, as Israel just did to Lebanon, or to invade, and break your country, as the US just did to Iraq.
But the preferred outcome is for the offending parties to obey, and maintain the pretense of democracy and freedom while supplicating to the domination of a foreign power.
Iran is not going to swallow the predigested demands of "diplomacy" we are trying to spit into their mouths. Iran is not going to elect another American Shah. They are not going to starve under our sanctions. Our death squads and terror cannot get far past their borders, and none of their generals will stage a coup as a tool of American Power.
After Bush gets done whinning and pouting, he is going to go to war with Iran, either by taking the Jewish Option, and bombing Iran into the stone age, or the American Option, and staging another disasterious invasion.
I believe Bush will take the first option, and try to bomb Iran after creating some kind of hokey pretext. This will draw us into the second option, and we will be dragged into committing ground troops to Iran.
This will lead to a regional war between Shite and Sunni across the Middle-East, and will become a critical point of realingment of the world balance of power for the rising global power of China, Russia, and India against the United States.
Enjoy the ride. We enjoyed the benefits of getting here, to our status as a thieving global empire. Lets see how we enjoy getting back to a democratic republic.
The only was to fight these corrupted politicians is at the most fundamental level. We must dienfranchise their illicit hold on political power by ending their power to purchase politicians, parties, and elections.
Our initiative will short-circut the direct hold that wealth and power have taken on our government, making the voters the basis of political power, rather than the special interests.
Check it out, and begin spreading the word that legitimate governments are elected from and by the voters, not the corporations.
Israel threatens Iran with sneak attack, ap, 9-29-04
Corruption Updates 32, 10th article on the page, "Iran:Bush's Parade of International Crimes Continue"
Corruption Updates 45, 3rd article on the page, Is a U.S.-Iran War Inevitable?
Corruption Updates 57, 10th article on the page, "Cheney talks tough on Iran from U.S. carrier:Cheney is Dr.Strangelove"
Corruption Updates 58, 4th article on the page, "Cheney's choices"
Corruption Updates 72, 2nd article on the page, "Lieberman: U.S. Should Weigh Iran Attack"
Corruption Updates 73, 4th article on the page, Nicaraguan president in Tehran today
Corruption Updates 74, 5th article on the page, U.N. Monitor Urges Defusing of Stalemate Over Iran
Corruption Updates 84, 3rd article on the page, Iran Cracks Down on Dissent
Corruption Updates 88, 1st article on the page, U.S. Says Iran Helped Iraqis Kill Five G.I.’s: Torture or Truth?
Corruption Updates 89, 8th article on the page, Iran Expands Role in Media, via Satellite and in English
Corruption Updates 96, 3rd article on the page, 11 Revolutionary Guards Die in Iran Clashes: Is America Backing Suicide Bombers
Corruption Updates 97, 1st article on the page, U.S. Arms Plan for Mideast Aims to Counter Iranian Power: Bush fuels middle east Arms Race
Corruption Updates 109, 5th article on the page, US Arrests More Iranian Diplomats in Iraq
Al Ahram, 13 - 19 September 2007; Iranian Sisyphus: Rafsanjani returns to high position
Will US Sneak Attack Iran?
CNN, 9-17-07; France: Prepare for war over Iran
BBC NEWS, 1-17-06; US special forces 'inside Iran'
Is Israel Planning a Nuclear Strike on Iran? der spiegel, 1-8-07
Pentagon ready for spring attack on Iran, guardian, 2-10-07
Iran and Russia cooperating on mutual defense, BBC, Nov 13, 07
US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack, Washington times on line, February 25, 2007
Would Pace Attack Iran if Bush Ordered It? commondreams.org, 2-22-07
Bush Administration War Plans Directed Against Iran, STWR, 9-17-07
Pace fired for disputing attack on Iran? stwr 9-19-07
Corruption Updates 124, 2nd article on the page, Iran's top nuclear negotiator resigns
Uneasy allies in historic summit: Iran Secures Northern Border with Russia Anticipating hostilites from all other Quarters, BBC News, Oct 15, 2007
Iran and Russia cooperating on mutual defense, BBC, Nov 13, 07
Corruption Updates 124, article 2a on the page, Olmerts quick visit to Moscow following Putin’s trip to Tehran
Corruption Updates 126, 1st article on the page, NY Times Says US Sanctions Revolutionary Guard
Corruption Updates 126, 2nd article on the page, US Actually declared Iranian Defense Department a Terrorist Organization: The whole Iranian Military, and Industrial Complex of Iran is declared a "Terror" Organization!
Corruption Updates 126, article 2b on the page, China not Down with US Sanctions
Corruption Updates 126, 3rd article on the page, Putin not Down with US Sanctions
Corruption Updates 126, 10th article on the page, Gulf States Suffer Inflation, Pressure on Dollar Peg, as Dollar Collaspes
Corruption Updates 127, 2nd article on the page, Iran Steps up Preparations for US War
Corruption Updates 127, article 2b, Iran Adapts to Economic Pressure
Report contradicts Bush on Iran nuclear program, reuters, Mon Dec 3, 2007
Bush accuses Iran of thought crime, global security, 12-4-07
Iran stops accepting U.S. dollars for oil, ria novosti, 12-8-07
Iran-Russia talks, iran times, 12-11-07
Moderate Rafsanjani threatens US, Ettela’at, DEC. 3, 2007
Bush Tempering Iran rhetoric anticipating exposure of his nuke threat lies, lat, 12-1-07
US faking iran gunboat incident? Democracy Now, 1-11-08
Israel ready to attack Iran, ap, 1-14-08
rogue nuke nation Israel fires ballistic missile, aljazeera, 1-17-08
US: Israel's Bitch, aljazerra, 1-17-08
Chavez: us cut off, and Oil to 200 a barrel if us attacks iran, pravda, 11-15-07
Iran and Russia cooperating on mutual defense, ap, 12-24-07
Bush guns up middle east as iran conflict looms, ap, January 14, 2008
Israel ready to attack Iran, ap, January 14, 2008
Iran, afghanistan, and pakistan: snow in the deserts, upi, 1-9-08
Bush guns up the whole middle east, ISN Security Watch (14/12/07)
Seymore Hersh, The New Yorker
Will US Sneak Attack Iran?
US readies first strike nukes, wp, 5-15-05
US planning for first strike, and tactical use of nukes, global research, 2-22-06
Pentagon preps for Iran, washington post, 4-16-06
Pentagon ready for spring attack on Iran, guardian, 2-10-07
CNN, 9-17-07; France: Prepare for war over Iran
BBC NEWS, 1-17-06; US special forces 'inside Iran'
Even the John Birch Society is freaked, jbs news feed, 10-18-07
Israel threatens Iran with sneak attack, ap, 9-29-04
Is Israel Planning a Nuclear Strike on Iran? der spiegel, 1-8-07
Pentagon ready for spring attack on Iran, guardian, 2-10-07
US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack, Washington times on line, February 25, 2007
Would Pace Attack Iran if Bush Ordered It? commondreams.org, 2-22-07
Bush Administration War Plans Directed Against Iran, STWR, 9-17-07
Pace fired for disputing attack on Iran? stwr 9-19-07
Iran and Russia cooperating on mutual defense, BBC, Nov 13, 07
Bush guns up the whole middle east, ISN Security Watch (14/12/07)
US faking iran gunboat incident? Democracy Now, 1-11-08
Bush rallies allies for Iran conflict, delivers arms to Saudi Arabia, ap, 1-14-08
Israel ready to attack Iran, ap, 1-14-08
rogue nuke nation Israel fires ballistic missile, aljazeera, 1-17-08
Iran dismisses israeli threats, meo, 1-18-08
US: Israel's Bitch, aljazerra, 1-17-08
Iran Rising, committee, oct, 2007
Neocon urges israel to bomb Iran, iranmania, 1-20-07
iran threatens retaliation for israli strike, reassures middle east, aljazeera, 1-27-08
Iran gets last batch of Russian atomic fuel - agency, reuters, 1-28-08
bush's last gasp? weak sanctions against iran, reuters, 1-29-08
iran-egypt to normalize ties, iranmania, 1-30-08
Iranian Egyptiona rapprochement, al ahram, 1-31-08
Iran Test Launches Rocket, global security, 2-4-08
US grumbles, iranmania, 2-5-08
Arab bitch states expect israel to destroy iran nuke tech, dawn, 2-12-08
UN Approves New Sanctions Against Iran, ap, 3-3-08
ahmadinejad to baghdad, "US source of terror," rte, 3-3-08
sanctions worthless, ap, 3-4-08
us troops an insult to middle east, bbc, 3-4-08
yet another military chief pushed out, esquire, 3-11-08
US commander quits 'over Iran', aljazeera, 3-11-08
Bush misstates Iran's position on desire for nuclear weapons, McClatchy Newspapers, 3-21-08
Iran extends nuke tech, says, "will never bow to bullies," press tv, 4-8-08
Iran to join SCO? press tv, 4-9-08
Bush threatens iran, reuters, 4-10-08
The Iranian Chessboard: players and policies inside iran, meo, 5-2-08
Iraq to probe claims of Iranian meddling, world news au, 5-5-2008
Attack Iran?
U.S. criticizes new report about Bush Attack on Iran, iht, 5-22-08
Senate passes MASSIVE Iraq war funding bill with add-ons, Ny post, 5-21-09 DEM/REPUGS JOINING TO FUND AN INPENDING ATTACK ON IRAN?
recent article: Second carrier group deployed to Gulf as U.S. approves plans for Iran counterstrike, world tribune, 5-1-08
background: will us attack iran: links. iran links. essay: iran rising. essay: bubbling regional war to pick up speed?
The American Empire in the Middle-East: american policies mark us as hypocrites, fools, and criminals against humanity
US fails to toe tough Bush line on Mideast, ft, 5-27-08
US is unwise to deny Iran’s key role in Gulf, ft, 5-27-08
Russia backs Iran's right to enrich, has no suspicions that Iran is making nukes, RIA novosti, 5-31-08
background: Iran-Russia cut defence deal. Russia links. essay: Russia-China and the rise of a new world balance of power.
Bush meltdown building pressure in Israel to Sneak Attack Iran, ynet, 6-6-08
The New "Globalism" World Imperial Order
War on Iran: Law the first casualty, asia times, 6-13-08
Rethinking the National Interest, condolezza rice, foreign affairs, 8-08
background; links: Iran. Links: Will israel sneak attack Iran? essay: clouds of war gathering over middle east, 10-13-07. essay: Lieberman proves himself insane: Demands Attack on Iran, 6-10-07. essay: Iran/Terror pretext for Bush to seize power? 3-29-07. essay: Bush "Diplomacy" 8-07.
War with Iran?
Israeli jets 'practise Iran atom plant raid,' daily mail, 6-20-08
ElBaradei warns against any attack on Iran, meo, 6-21-08
Russia's foreign minister warns against use of force on Iran, ap, 6-20-08
background; links: Iran. Links: Will israel sneak attack Iran? essay: clouds of war gathering over middle east, 10-13-07. essay: Lieberman proves himself insane: Demands Attack on Iran, 6-10-07. essay: Iran/Terror pretext for Bush to seize power? 3-29-07. essay: Bush "Diplomacy" 8-07.
Sneak Attack on Iran?
Israel trains to raid Iran, but capacities in doubt, reuters, 6-21-08
Did the Dems just fund an Iranian attack/war?
Democrats: US House approves massive war funds bill, bbc, 6-20-08
note: It appears that congress just gave bush the money necessary to attack iran, or respond after israel attacks iran.
Iran continues war games, aljazeera, 7-10-08
Israel 'ready to act' over Iran, bbc, 7-10-08
US warns Iran on missile threat, bbc, 7-10-08
What Is Iran Counting on? dar al-hayat, 7-7-08
Iran: US Preparing the Battlefield, the new yorker, july 7, '08
Ex-Mossad chief: Iran not bluffing, iranmania, 7-19-08
Constructive talks require change in US policy, iranmania, 7-19-08
'No clear answer' at Iran talks, aljazeera, 7-20-08
Iran talks doomed to 'small talk,' asia times, 7-22-08
Iran's Oil Minister Speaks
Iran says oil could reach $500 on dollar, politics, reuters, 7-26-08
Israel 'asked the U.S. for weapons to attack Iran,' mail, 8-13-08
Media Blackout: The Armada in the Gulf, lewrockwell.com, 8-27-08
Is Bush Prepairing an "October Surprise" war with Iran? alex
Tehran Says It’s Getting Missiles nyt
Iran Arms Deliveries Confirmed, MT, 12-23-08
2009
Editorial: Iran makes a bold regional move, daily times,1-1-09
Iran wants to use oil exports as a weapon against supporters of Israel, iranvajahan, 1-5-09
OAPEC to ignore Iran oil supply cut to supporters of Israel, iranvajahan, 1-5-09
Iran Threatens to Break Israel's Gaza Blockade, worldpress, 1-5-09
Iran puts sat into orbit for 1st time, press tv,2-2-09
Iran's new satellite challenges China, asia times, 2-10-09
Bush Junior
U.S. now sees Iran as pursuing nuclear bomb, lat, 2-12-09
Iran elections: Newspaper warns Khatami faces assassination risk, guardian, 2-17-09
Israel launches covert war against Iran, telegraph, 2-16-09
Update: Domestic and Global Status of the American Corporate Empire, 2-19-09
New Direction, or different Words?
Obama 'ready to drop shield plans for Russian help on Iran,' ria novosti, 3-2-09
Israel: Iran can build nuclear bomb, c4news, 3-8-09
Iran says U.S. failing in Afghanistan, reuters, 3-9-09
Iran denies reports of accepting invitation, frontier post, 3-15-09
Russia has not delivered S-300 missile systems to Iran - source, ria novosti, 3-18-09 (previous missile reports)
ANALYSIS
Series of US attacks on International Rule of Law: Harbingers of the New World Balance of Power, alex wierbinski, 1-21-07
Dems Still Voting for Iraq War: The True Reasons our Corporate Empire is Waging War in the Middle-East, Alex Wierbinski, August 12, 2007
Search the Corruption Database under
Iran
Please limit comments to 400 words, unless you write really well! Remember to include the Corruption Updates page number, and the article number on the page. Example: (82_1.)
6) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Ex-Surgeon General’s Maverick Side Was Bound to Appear, Friends Say
NY Times, August 14, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/washington/14carmona.html?pagewanted=print
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 — In his speeches, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the former surgeon general, often tells audiences about receiving the advice that if he wanted a friend in Washington, he should get a dog.
Dr. Carmona then offers his own bit of wisdom: get two dogs.
“During your tenure, one of those dogs will turn on you,” he said in a speech in January.
Forced from his job last summer, Dr. Carmona made a public splash last month when he testified before Congress that the Bush administration had muzzled him, forced him to trumpet administration priorities, restricted his travel and suppressed or tried to weaken important public health reports.
“He’s a principled guy to the point sometimes where you want to bang him upside the head,” said Larry Fleischman, a lawyer in Tucson and a longtime friend.
Dr. Carmona, who declined requests for an interview, was ignored and marginalized throughout his tenure as surgeon general, friends and colleagues said. But he waited to complain publicly until well after his departure in July 2006.
...in January, in remarks at the annual dinner of the Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation, he delivered a stinging attack.
“I increasingly witnessed a government that was more and more using theology and ideology to drive its policies and its people — stem cells, abortion, Plan B, the war and many more,” he said. “Our go-it-alone so-called cowboy diplomacy has in fact isolated us from the world more than ever in our history.”
Just before Congress went out on recess for the month of August, Mr. Waxman and a dozen others offered legislation meant to shield future surgeons general from political interference by giving the surgeon general’s office an independent budget and stipulating that public health science must guide the surgeon general’s work. The measure also stipulates that a surgeon general can be removed from office only with good reason.
Fristky Surgeon General Silent About Political Manipulation of Science-Politics until After he Was Fired
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Yet another honest government servant: After he got out of government.
We need people who put our principals before position, power, or profit when they are confronted by corruption, not after they had prostrated themselves to illegal power and got burned.
Corruption Updates 91, 6th article on the page, Ex-Surgeon General Says White House Hushed Him
Corruption Updates 37, 5th article on the page, Fed Attorneys Silent on Pressure/Threats Until Fired
Corruption Updates 10, 5th article on the page, Do Bribed Politicians Provide Safe Regulation of Pipelines, or Anything Else?
Corruption Updates 46 , 9th article down, "High Court Faults EPA Inaction on Emissions"
Corruption Updates 16, 4th article on the page, "EPA STANDARDS WILL KILL YOU: SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBERY BRINGS AMERICA DEATH"
Corruption Updates 21, 9th article on page, “White House under Investigation for Censoring Science”
Corruption Updates 24, 4th article on page, “BIG OIL OWNS INTERIOR DEPARTMENT”
Corruption Updates 24, 5th article on page, NYTIMES, 12-3-06, LOBBYING BY TRUCKING INDUSTRY BRINGS DEATH TO NATION'S HIGHWAYS INSURANCE AND SAFETY LOBBIES HAVE INSUFFICIENT BRIBE MONEY TO STOP TRUCKING LOBBY FROM GUTTING SAFETY RULES
Corruption Updates 25, 5th article on page, AP, 12-6-06, BATTERY LOBBY BRIBES ENDANGER HEALTH BUSH REPAYS BRIBES WITH OUR HEALTH AND WELFARE BY ATTEMPTING TO KILL LEAD STANDARDS
Corruption Updates 25, 6th article, AP, 12-6-06, “FARM LOBBY BRIBES ENDANGER HEALTH GRASSLEY (R-IOWA) REPAYS BRIBES BY KILLING EPA REGULATION OF FARMS
Corruption Updates 32, 2nd article on the page, "BUSH TRIES TO KILL CHEMICAL RULES, SCIENCE, AND INTEGRITY IN ONE FELL SWOOP: INTEGERTY FALLS, RULES AND SCIENCE DAMAGED, BUT STILL STANDING
How lobbying buys lawmakers and law:
Corruption Updates 1, 2nd to last article on the page, “Big Oil Owns our Politicians”
Corruption Updates 2, 6th article down, “Contribute to Win, Big Contribs try to Trump State Safety Laws”
See, “Contribute to Win, Big Contribs donate when legislation pending,” Corruption Updates 2, 6th article down.
Corruption Updates 3, 2nd article on page, “Big Business Spends Lawmakers into Compliance”
Corruption Updates 4, 1st article on page, “Checks in, Laws Out, It's that Simple”
Search the Corruption Database under
Killing Safety Regulations
Public Health
Please limit comments to 400 words, unless you write really well! Remember to include the Corruption Updates page number, and the article number on the page. Example: (82_1.)
7) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
In E-Mails, Political Pressure on Ex-Surgeon General
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 31, 2007; A04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083001846_pf.html
White House officials viewed former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona as a public relations tool, pushing him to make political appearances and promote the Bush administration's agenda while he was in office, according to a series of executive branch e-mails released yesterday by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).
The 18 pages of e-mails back up Carmona's testimony before a House committee in July that he routinely battled Bush appointees who sought to rewrite his speeches, send him on political trips, and suppress his reports on global health, prison health and other politically sensitive topics.
An e-mail on Feb. 6, 2006, includes a memo to Carmona from then-White House political director Sara Taylor requesting that he deliver the keynote speech to the Alabama Republican Council's annual fundraiser in Birmingham on March 4 of that year. "WH would be grateful if you could do this event," Jamie Burke, the White House liaison at the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in her cover note.
Carmona replied that "this one may present a conflict since it appears to be a fundraiser and OGC [Office of General Counsel] has previously told me to stay away from those type of events." He did not attend.
In January 2006, Burke sent Carmona several e-mails asking, on behalf of the White House political office, whether he would speak to a Fraternal Order of Police gathering in Nashville on Feb. 11. "Just found out this is a HUGE push from WH -- can you do this event?" Burke wrote on Jan. 23. "Sorry to be such a pest." Carmona made that trip.
Carmona served as the nation's top public health official from 2002 to 2006, when he was abruptly told he would not be reappointed. The e-mails show that, early in his tenure, political appointees considered him uncooperative. In an April 14, 2003, message, for instance, William Turenne, a former Eli Lilly executive who was serving as a high-level consultant at HHS, told then-White House liaison Regina Schofield that she had "a mess" on her hands in Carmona.
"He needs to be the SG [Surgeon General] with specific speeches, on specific topics addressing the Secretary's and the president's agenda -- which will become more political as the re-elect gets underway," Turenne wrote.
In a Sept. 25, 2002, e-mail to Schofield, Turenne described Carmona as "wandering" and "not focused on the president's/secretary's agenda."
"These documents confirm that White House and HHS officials improperly sought to influence the activities of the Surgeon General to achieve political goals," Kennedy wrote yesterday in a letter to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt.
Kennedy, chairman of the Senate health committee, obtained the e-mails as part of a probe into political interference in public health matters. In his letter, Kennedy noted that many of the White House e-mails were sent from Republican National Committee accounts held by White House officials, and he requested more documents.
Leavitt declined to comment.
Science, Surgeon General Punked out as Political Tools by Bush
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Corruption Updates , th article on the page,
See link list following article #7, above.
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8) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Wealth, mystery surround donor Hsu
Fugitive Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu is linked to shadowy businesses and unsavory episodes.
By Greg Miller and Chuck Neubauer
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
August 31, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-hsu31aug31,0,7233072.story?coll=la-home-center
From the Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — Money has brought both trappings and trouble for Norman Hsu. Major contributions to the campaigns of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and other candidates have made the apparel executive an insider in elite political circles. He shows up in cozy pictures with politicians, at lavish fundraising events, and on the boards of prestigious organizations.
But Hsu's history includes more unsavory episodes and associations. In 1990, he allegedly was kidnapped by Chinese gang members in San Francisco as part of an apparent effort to collect a debt. A year and a half later, he pleaded no contest to a charge of fleecing investors in what authorities called a Ponzi scheme of fraud. Along the way, he left a bankruptcy filing and bitter investors who accused him of making off with their savings.
Hsu is now at the center of a political scandal, with Sen. Clinton (D-N.Y.) and others rushing to return his contributions and sever embarrassing ties to a man still wanted on an outstanding warrant for the fraud case in California. Hsu could turn himself in as early as today in San Mateo County, where a hearing on the matter has been scheduled.
Court documents and interviews with close associates of Hsu have shed considerable light on his unlikely emergence as a major Democratic fundraiser. But much of Hsu's story remains a mystery -- including how to account for significant gaps on his resume and record, and where he got all the money that he has showered on Democratic candidates and causes.
An ex-girlfriend -- who is identified in court records but who asked not to be named in news accounts for fear of reprisal -- said Hsu had conned her out of nearly $100,000. "He took advantage of me," she said.
News clippings from the mid-1980s describe the Hong Kong native as a budding entrepreneur in the apparel industry...
A 1983 business news story reported that one of Hsu's companies, a San Francisco-based firm called Laveno, had sales of $400,000 and that the amount "should increase tenfold" in the coming year.
Hsu left Laveno in 1984; it went bankrupt a year later. Other clothing ventures followed a similar pattern. By the early 1990s, Hsu's business dealings had landed him in trouble with law enforcement officials as well as investors.
The most alarming episode came in 1990, when police in Foster City, south of San Francisco, stopped a vehicle that had run a red light at 3:40 a.m. Inside, police found four men. According to news accounts, a frightened Hsu managed to tell police he had been kidnapped.
News accounts say Hsu was assaulted, and his former girlfriend said he later showed her burn marks on his arm that he said were inflicted by his abductors.
Police took the other three men in the vehicle into custody. Among them was Kwok Chung Chow, then 30, who was a high-ranking figure in one of the leading criminal gangs in San Francisco's Chinatown. At the time, police speculated that the abductors intended to extort Hsu, but a lawyer's filing in Hsu's personal bankruptcy said he had been kidnapped "allegedly by individuals who are creditors of the debtor."
The outcome of the case could not be determined by The Times. Police officials in the Bay Area said they had not been able to retrieve case records, and Chow and one of the other alleged abductors declined to comment when reached by phone by a Times reporter.
The debts that the alleged abductors appear to have been seeking could have stemmed from the business scheme in which Hsu convinced investors to help him raise money for a company that was to purchase latex gloves from a supplier and then sell them at a profit. Hsu never purchased the gloves and had no contract to sell them, authorities said.
Court records associated with that case outline what authorities described as a classic Ponzi scheme. Early investors were repaid and encouraged to recruit others to contribute cash to subsequent investments. In the end, more than a dozen invested in the latex glove scheme, contributing more than $1 million.
"We've established what amounts to a pattern here," said prosecutor Ronald D. Smetana of the California attorney general's office in a preliminary hearing, according to a transcript. "In fact, what Mr. Hsu was in the business of was running a Ponzi scheme; he was taking money and spending part of it on himself and returning it as it was available.
Hsu pleaded no contest in February 1992 to one count of grand theft and agreed to serve as long as three years in prison and pay a $10,000 fine.
But Hsu failed to show up for a sentencing hearing that summer, and the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest in September 1992, setting his bail at $2 million. Authorities failed to locate Hsu for 15 years, until he was identified in news accounts this week as a prominent donor to Democratic candidates.
But details about Hsu's activities since 1996 are elusive. Unlike in the 1980s, when Hsu's name appeared in a flurry of business and court records, there is scant evidence that he was actively launching businesses or making contributions to politicians.
At some point, Hsu began spending at least part of his time in New York City, where he appears to have pursued a private yet lavish lifestyle.
Hsu's emergence as a major political fundraiser is equally mysterious.
Records indicate that he didn't make his first federal campaign contribution until 2003, when he gave $2,000 to the presidential campaign of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). Hsu rapidly established himself as a major donor, contributing to an array of Democrats -- including California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Louisiana Sen. Mary L. Landrieu and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Hsu has donated or raised more than $1 million for Democrats and their causes, often delivering large donations from multiple individuals. Some of these "bundled" contributions have raised suspicions. In particular, Hsu has worked closely with a family in Daly City, Calif., headed by William Paw, a mail carrier, and his wife, Alice, who is listed as a homemaker.
The Paws apparently never donated to national candidates until 2004. Since then, they have given $213,000, including $55,000 to Clinton. Barcella denies Hsu provided money for the contributions, which would violate federal law. The Paws, Barcella said, "have the financial wherewithal to make their own donations."
As a result of his largesse, Hsu's stock rose rapidly in Democratic circles.
He is a member of Clinton's "HillRaiser" group, made up of individuals who each pledge to raise more than $100,000 for her presidential campaign. Hsu helped host a series of high-profile events, including one in March at the Beverly Hills home of Ron Burkle, an ardent Clinton backer. In May, he co-hosted a fundraiser in Palo Alto with Susie Tompkins Buell, another Clinton bundler.
In some cases, powerful Democrats have sought out Hsu. Kerrey, rumored to be weighing another run for public office, said he called Hsu to propose a meeting to recruit him to join the board at the New School.
Kerrey said he did not intend to ask Hsu to resign, despite Hsu's criminal record. "It would be the board itself that would have to make the decision," Kerrey said.
Globalism Profits Democrats: Foreign Bribery Welcome
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
This is the second foreigner Billery has accepted bribes from duing the 2008 campaign. Here's my article on the first.:
Dem Traitors at it Again: Selling Influence to, and Accepting Bribes From Foreigners
Written May 30, 2007 for CU 62_10
This happened before, during the 1996 election cycle, when Clinton and the Corporate Branch of the Democratic Party received unreported foreign bribes.
But this does not bother the Dems, especially the "global" Dems. If they had their way, foreigners would be able to both bribe, and collect favors, from them just like the American Special interests do.
Are not Greed, Bribery, and the American Way equal as universal truths? Does not everyone, from Saudi Prince to Mexican Peasant, recognize the power of political bribery? Is it not unfair to prohibit well funded foreginers from entering our political auction, just as we have allowed poor foreigners to enter the labor pool?
The Poor Foreigners can destroy our working conditions and wages from the bottom, and the Rich Foreigners can participate in the destruction of our democracy, from the top.
Meet you in the middle, with poverty for almost all.
Maybe Hillary doesn't have to wait for Amnesty to reap foreign bribes. Let's just open up the political auction to all the illegal foreigners already here.
The Dems could charge them by the head, and pay them off by giving them free access to our hospitals, medical care, our schools, roads, water and electrical supplies. Hell, we still have enough for half the people who are here.
Both parties will continue to use foreigners as cheap labor, earning massive profits while throwing the social costs onto what's left of the middle-class's broken infrastructure.
The Clinton's have previous experience selling our country down the river, besides NAFTA:
Albion Monitor, Monitor Wire Services, 2-18-97, "More Questions About Clinton's Asian Donations"
March 30, 1998: Clinton's Asian superfunds - '96 campaign funds - Senate probe reports
Dec. 19, 1996, NY Times, "Money From Private Sources Helps Clinton and Associates With Bad Times and Good"
Corruption Updates 62, 10th article on the page, Clinton: Pakistani businessman, donor to Dems, returns to U.S. to face charges
A fine list of NY Times Articles detailing the scummy relationships between the Clintons and Foreign Theives
The Clinton's Corporate Democracy:
Corruption Updates 33, th article on the page, Corporate Democrats of the Democratic Leadership Council Laughs at democracy
See Right Web for an interesting profile of the DLC and its Corporate backers
Corruption Updates 59, 2nd article on the page, At Wal-Mart, Clinton didn't upset any carts
Corruption Updates 62, 6th article on the page, Suit Sheds Light on Clintons’ Ties to a Benefactor
Corruption Updates 62, 10th article on the page, Clinton: Pakistani businessman, donor to Dems, returns to U.S. to face charges
Corruption Updates 76, 4th article on the page, Clinton: Fundraiser allegedly demanded stock
Corruption Updates 78, 6th article on the page, Poll: Dem Voters Hate Canididates
Corruption Updates 93, 7th article on the page, He backs Clinton; her backers help him
Corruption Updates 97, 2nd article on the page, Executive privilege touchy for presidential hopefuls: Just a Reminder of why Bush is out of Control
Corruption Updates 109, 8th article on the page, Clinton-Hsu: Yet Another Criminal Foreign Donor
Corruption Updates 113, 3rd article on the page, Clinton to Hsu: Your Money is hot now. Please take it back
Corruption Updates 113, 4th article on the page, FBI looks into disgraced donor's business: Investigating a pyrmid scheme from within a pyrmid scheme. The House of Mirrors.
Corruption Updates 127, 9th article on the page, Billery and Corporate Democrats thoroughly Bribed by Corporate Medicine
Hsu the Billery bundler, lat, 9-14-07
NYT, October 29, 2007; Health Sector Puts Its Money on Democrats: Billery Bought to the Hilt by Corporate Medicine: Expect all Medical Costs to Continue Rising after Election
Clinton sets up fake soft-ball questions at public rallies: Just like bush, Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2007
Hsu used billery connection to bilk investors, Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2007
Clinton rolls a sizable pork barrel, LAT, 12-12-07
Hsu, bundler to billery, Democrats Is sentenced in California, NYT, January 5, 2008
BIG OIL: Another Clinton fundraiser has a suspect past, mcclatchy, 4-3-08
full billery link list
Dems are corporate whores: the link list
Search the Corruption Database under
Clinton (15 Abstracts)
Democrats
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9) The Article linked below was Abstracted from the source cited.
Newsom, Harris and Ma among local leaders who received contributions from fugitive
Thursday, August 30, 2007
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/30/MN4VRSVO8.DTL
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, District Attorney Kamala Harris, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took money from fugitive fundraiser Norman Hsu, the deep-pocketed Democrat who handed out more than $250,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton and other party candidates and causes in the past few years.
According to state and local records, Hsu has given more than $53,000 to various political efforts in the state since 2004, including $27,600 to the state Democratic Party, $5,000 to 2006 gubernatorial hopeful Steve Westly and $10,000 to Hollywood director Rob Reiner's "Pre-School for All" campaign, which became Proposition 82 on the June 2006 ballot.
The state party gave $26,600 of that money back three weeks after Hsu donated it in 2004, said Bob Mulholland, a party consultant.
At the time he gave the money to San Francisco's district attorney, Hsu was wanted on a $2 million warrant issued when he didn't show up for sentencing after pleading no contest to San Mateo County felony grand theft charges in 1992.
Newsom's campaign also received $2,950 in donations from members of the Paw family of Daly City, longtime friends and business associates of Hsu. The family, which lives in a modest home not far from Westmoor High School, has given more than $280,000 to various Democratic causes, many of them to the same causes and candidates supported by Hsu.
Concerns that Hsu might have illegally reimbursed the Paws for their many contributions have persuaded some Democratic politicians, such as Rep. Doris Matsui of Sacramento, to return contributions from both Hsu and the Paws, although an attorney for Hsu has insisted that the Paws' money was their own.
"It's a difficult question," said Jaye. "They have said that they were not reimbursed (for their donations). We're thinking of a kind of watch-and-review situation. I don't think it's appropriate to say, 'We don't believe you' if they say they weren't reimbursed."
The five adults living at the Daly City home have given more than $30,000 to California campaigns since 2004, including $13,300 to Ma, $8,500 to Phil Angelides, the 2006 Democratic candidate for governor, and $3,000 to Jerry Brown's campaign for attorney general.
Together Hsu and the Paws gave $16,600 to Ma, the former San Francisco supervisor whose Assembly district includes Daly City.
On May 20 of this year, for example, Hsu, Winkle Paw and Marina Paw each gave Ma the exact same amount for her 2008 re-election campaign. According to records filed with California's secretary of state, each person gave Ma the maximum $3,600 contribution for her primary campaign and an additional $1,400 check for the general election.
Local Dems Receive Bribes from Where?
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Corruption Updates , th article on the page,
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Abu Ghraib officer spared prison
The only US army officer to be charged over the Iraq jail abuse scandal has been reprimanded for disobeying an order not to discuss the inquiry.
Story from BBC NEWS: August 29, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6968989.stm
Lt-Col Steven Jordan had faced up to five years in jail for e-mailing soldiers about the investigation.
He had been in charge of the prison's interrogation unit when pictures of US soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners were taken in 2003.
He was cleared on Tuesday of three charges of mistreatment of detainees.
The prosecution contended that he had fostered a climate conducive to abuse by divorcing himself from the training and supervision of the soldiers under his command.
John Sifton, senior counterterrorism researcher with Washington-based Human Rights Watch, called the prosecution of Lt-Col Jordan "amateurish and half-baked", and said the military lacked the will to get to the bottom of the abuse.
Hina Shamsi, deputy director of New York-based Human Rights First, told the Associated Press news agency that none of the courts martial "has given the systemic accounting the nation needs of what happened, why, and how far up the chain of command responsibility lies".
Military Command lets itself Off the Hook for Abu Garib Torture Center
Alex Wierbinski, Berkeley, Ca., August , 2007
Corruption Updates , th article on the page,
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Torture
Generals
Iraq War
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1] Musharraf-Bhutto Deal
essay: Times, and American Corporate Media Softens Musharraf's Military Dictatorship
essay: Will US broker a Musharraf-Bhutto alignment between Army and Secular Corruption?
2] Justice Dept. Probing Whether Gonzales Lied
essay: Can the Justice Department be Trusted?
3] Democrats Say They Will Press Gonzales Inquiries
essay: Dems fail to defend Constitution against Bush Terror Attack
essay: Draft Articles of Impeachment
4] Terrorism Policies Split Democrats
essay: Principal in Corporate Politics? It's Time for Change, alex, 8/07
5] U.S. Troops Arrest Members of Iran Ministry in Baghdad
essay: American "Diplomacy" Leaves a lot to be Desired
6] Ex-Surgeon General’s Maverick Side Was Bound to Appear, Friends Say
comment: Fristky Surgeon General Silent About Political Manipulation of Science-Politics until After he Was Fired
7] In E-Mails, Political Pressure on Ex-Surgeon General
8] Wealth, mystery surround donor Hsu
essay: Dem Traitors at it Again: Selling Influence to, and Accepting Bribes From Foreigners
9] Newsom, Harris and Ma among local leaders who received contributions from fugitive
10] The only US army officer to be charged over the Iraq jail abuse scandal has been reprimanded for disobeying an order not to discuss the inquiry.
