The Declining Credibility of the IAEA
Yesterday, I pointed out that the IAEA is preparing to release a report on potential development of nuclear weapons in Iran almost exactly two years after the departure of Mohamed ElBaradei as its leader. As discussed in that post, one of…
Jamie Dimon Owns Obama's Testicles
Jamie Dimon owns Barack Obama's testicles. That's the only explanation I can think of for why, rather than firing his JP Morgan Exec Chief of Staff for being incompetent, Obama simply shifted him over to serve as the public face of his Administration.
Ten…
Gitmo's Commanders and My 4-Year Old Niece Play Games
I enjoyed watching my 4-year old niece wallop Mr. EW in a game of "Matches" last week. She kept making up new rules every turn, ensuring Mr. EW didn't know precisely what the rules of the game were.
It provided me an excellent opportunity…
CHINA! and RUSSIA! and [an unnamed ally that is likely Israel] Are Stealing Our Stuff!
Last week, ODNI released a report on cyberwarfare that is raising eyebrows for the way it named China and Russia as the sponsors of cyberespionage explicitly.
Jack Goldsmith wonders what naming them will accomplish.
I am sure that naming…
Two Years After ElBaradei's Departure, IAEA Joins Anti-Iran Drumbeat
As I noted on Thursday, the "sport" of predicting when Israel will attack Iran has now moved from the progressive blogosphere to many conventional news outlets. This week will see a major escalation in the anti-Iran rhetoric after the…
The Waffle House Terrorists "Citizens Who Threaten Our Safety and Security"
When the Waffle House Plot broke last week, I joked that maybe the FBI will start profiling Waffle Houses rather than mosques; they'd probably have more luck finding terrorists there.
But I wanted to make a few points about the plot in addition…
Tide, Tigers and Other Pro Football
ESPN tells me that the BIGGEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME EVAH is being played today between Number 1 LSU and Number 2 Alabama. Got a pretty tough hill to climb to beat the Stanford/USC game last weekend though; we shall see. No question about these…
The Implications of DOJ's FOIA "Lies"
On Thursday, we learned it has been the practice of DOJ for nearly a quarter century to provide misleading information in response to FOIAs asking for certain kinds of information--broadly, ongoing investigations, informants, and foreign intelligence.
In…
The Dangers of Hiring BAE's Mercenaries
How stupid was Moammar Qaddafi, who reportedly hired the same mercenary firm that tried to take out Equatorial Guinea's dictator in 2004?
A total of 50 private soldiers, including 19 South Africans, are reported to have travelled to Libya…
CIA's "Vengeful Librarians" v. DiFi: Open Source Grudge Match
The AP's story on the CIA's social media monitoring project is an important article, if unsurprising.
At the agency's Open Source Center, a team known affectionately as the "vengeful librarians" also pores over Facebook, newspapers, TV news…
Columnist Endorses War Crimes Against al Qaeda Because They Murdered a Journalist
I had never heard of Alex Beam before today, but his column in today's Boston Globe crossed my email (h/t dakine01) and I am still fuming at his cavalier endorsement of war crimes. Perhaps even more infuriating, though, is that Beam's endorsement…
Is DOJ Trying to Hide Valerie Plame at the Sterling Trial?
While I was away in South Carolina, the government released the redacted copy of Leonie Brinkema's order on several issues relating to the Jeffrey Sterling case (the government immediately appealed aspects of this ruling).
There are several…
DOJ Admits It Has Been "Lying" for 24 Years; Journalists Applaud
I'm sort of mystified by yesterday's reporting on the DOJ letter to Chuck Grassley and Pat Leahy regarding FOIA. Basically, the letter announced that DOJ has been "lying" on FOIA responses for 24 years, and that DOJ will only change its approach…
DOJ Lies about Its FOIA Lies
Patrick Leahy just released a letter DOJ sent him and Chuck Grassley regarding DOJ's effort to formalize their practice of lying in response to some FOIA requests. Now, Leahy claims the government has withdrawn its proposed rule--which I think…
DOJ Will Neither Confirm Nor Deny They've Okayed the Assassination of US Citizens
On October 7, Charlie Savage FOIAed the OLC memo authorizing Anwar al-Awlaki's assassination which he described in detail in this article. DOJ has responded--with a Glomar response.
Pursuant to FOIA Exemptions One, Three and Five, 5 U.S.C.…
Predictions of Israeli Attack on Iran Hit Traditional Media--How We Got There
In late November of 2007, the world--and especially the progressive blogosphere--was shocked when the George W. Bush administration released a National Intelligence Estimate that came to the firm conclusion that Iran had suspended work on its…
War Gaming WikiLeaks--and the First Amendment
At least according to this short piece, the US and Europe are holding a war game today to "simulat[e] how they would in future stop a Wikileaks-type hack."
I find this to be a really troublesome development. After all, the way to stop a "Wikileaks-type…
The Army Teaches American Culture to Americans
Sorry for my absence over the last week. Mr. EW and I drove to South Carolina to visit his family. I had thought I'd get posting time. It didn't work out that way.
Profuse thanks to Jim White and bmaz for watching the shop while I was gone.
While…
Crackers and Castor Beans: FBI Busts Wannabe Ricin WMD "Terrorists" in Georgia
Almost as if in response to Marcy's noting less than two weeks ago that at least in Detroit the FBI overlooks white terrorists when profiling, the FBI yesterday announced the arrests of four individuals in Georgia accused of planning attacks…
Afghanistan Exit Strategy: "Fight, Talk, Build" Working (for Fight, Anyway)
As the US stumbles around, trying to find its way out of a country it has occupied for over ten years, the path "forward" remains as murky as ever. Just under two weeks ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was chosen as the point person…
