Judge Bybee, Can You Say Panic?
Judge Bybee doesn't seem to know what to do to respond to Pat Leahy's invitation to come chat.
What Did BushCo Hide By Not Revealing Surveillance Activities?
EPIC reports that Bush didn't keep up with its required reporting on certain kinds of surveillance activities. Sort of makes you wonder what they're hiding, huh?
The Gestation of Bradbury's Torture Memos
One of the reasons Jay Rockefeller wrote a narrative of the OLC memo process tied to torture was to document just how little the Administration gave a shit about what Congress had to say about the program--particularly it's demand that the torture program comply with the Convention Against Torture.
When Did John Yoo Start the Bybee Memo?
When did John Yoo start writing the Bybee Memo? In March, 2002, after Abu Zubaydah was captured? Or just a few months after 9/11?
Condi's "Position of Responsibility"
These two YouTubes ought to be watched in tandem. Together, they give a whole new meaning to the term "position of responsibility."
Obama and State Secrets
Obama says he's interested in fixing state secrets. I think he's just trying to get ahead of a bus that is already moving.
JP MorganThe Banks Forces Chrysler into Bankruptcy
The UAW was willing to negotiate, but the banksters weren't. So Chrysler will now enter bankruptcy.
The Obama administration will announce at noon today that it will take Chrysler LLC into a historic bankruptcy to force a cut in debt key to a partnership with Fiat S.p.A. after three firms refused a sweetened offer.
With the UAW late Wednesday ratifying cost cuts in its contract and cuts in the money due its retiree
Condi: If It Smells Like Nixon, It's Criminal
Condi channels Nixon to defend torture.
A Bush EO on Torture?
Did Bush "pixie dust" the EO on intelligence to allow for torture?
Obama on Torture
You and I are not the audience for Obama's answer to this question. The audience for this answer is those who idolize Churchill, conservatives who place national security above all. The audience for this answer is a group of Republicans who can be persuaded on this point.
Ultimately, though, to the question "Did the Bush Administration sanction torture," is, "Whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake."
Leahy to Bybee: Here's Your Chance to Chat
Pat Leahy has invited Jay Bybee to come clean before the SJC.
Politico: Still Stumbling Over Obvious Crimes to Cover a He-Said-She-Said Story
Glenn Thrush once again shows more interest in a stupid beltway dispute then the evidence of criminality.
Obama's 100 Days of Auto Bailout
Overall, I'd rank Obama's treatment of the auto bailout with an A-.
Jay Bybee Speaks Quavers
Jay Bybee issues a legalistic statement that attempts to contest stories of his own doubts about the torture memos.
From "Haggis" to "Scrapple"--It's Still Offal
I'm renaming Haggis "Scrapple." Beyond the name change, I doubt much has changed.
9th Circuit Rejects Obama/Bush State Secrets Argument In Mohammed
A three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Mary Schroeder, William Canby and Michael Hawkins, has firmly rejected the vile cover up attempted against several detainees/former detainees led by Binyam Mohamed. Very good news.
Russ Feingold: Repeated Assertion of State Secrets "Reminiscent of Bush Administration"
Russ Feingold raised two biggest concerns in a press conference on his report card of the Obama Administration's first 100 days. He said Obama's use of State Secrets was "reminiscent of the Bush Administration." And he suggested the intelligence community continues to stonewall the intelligence committees.
Breaking News! CIA's Spooks Lie and Deceive!
The NYT has a great story on how John Kiriakou pitched waterboarding in a minimally damaging way. But why not look at the CIA's current campaigns to do the same?
Did Bybee Say No to Waterboarding on July 24, 2002?
Earlier today, I showed that Jim Haynes personally pushed the SERE people to come up with some materials on waterboarding and other techniques on July 25, 2002, just one day after OLC had given CIA clearance to use some--but not all--of the techniques they had asked for.
I wish I had read this passage from this Charlie Savage story before I wrote that post.
One thing could change that dynamic, however.
Did Condi Really Not Know Defense Was Sleeping with the Spooks on Torture?
There's a weird detail in John Yoo's prepared testimony for last year's House Judiciary Committee hearing on Assholes Who Torture. He claims the National Security Committee (so, presumably John Bellinger or Condi or her boss) ordered OLC not to let on what it was doing to either State or Defense.
In particular, the offices of the CIA general counsel and of the NSC legal advisor asked OLC for an opinion on the