Details on the FISA “Compromise”
The new “compromise” on FISA suggests that the head of an intelligence agency certified the illegal warrantless wiretapping program, along with Alberto Gonzales.
Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist writing about national security and civil liberties. She writes as emptywheel at her eponymous blog, publishes at outlets including Vice, Motherboard, the Nation, the Atlantic, Al Jazeera, and appears frequently on television and radio. She is the author of Anatomy of Deceit, a primer on the CIA leak investigation, and liveblogged the Scooter Libby trial.
Marcy has a PhD from the University of Michigan, where she researched the “feuilleton,” a short conversational newspaper form that has proven important in times of heightened censorship. Before and after her time in academics, Marcy provided documentation consulting for corporations in the auto, tech, and energy industries. She lives with her spouse in Grand Rapids, MI.
The new “compromise” on FISA suggests that the head of an intelligence agency certified the illegal warrantless wiretapping program, along with Alberto Gonzales.
Steny Hoyer wants you to believe he’s having a discharge problem.
But he’s not.
Which is kind of weird, don’t you think? That Steny would try to excuse his own cowardly actions because of someone’s–or someone’s lack of?–discharge, when, as sympathetic as you might be to Steny about his discharge problem, you know it’s just an embarrassed excuse.
Because Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the DC Circuit (where many Gitmo habeas petitions are currently pending) sure seems to be moving forward on developing procedures to give the Gitmo prisoners their habeas petitions.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth met today with lawyers from the Department of Justice and representatives of the Guantanamo detainees to discuss how the court should proceed in light of last week’s Supreme Court decision
In a pathetic attempt to claim that the techniques–including the use of phobias and the removal of clothing–approved by Rummy in December 2002 did not lead to the abuses at Abu Ghraib, Jim Haynes, Diane Beaver, and Jane Dalton are all claiming that the removal of clothing is qualitatively different than nudity.
“Scottish Haggis” Specter, letting his better judgment get the better of him, has decided he has better things to do with his time.
Sen. Arlen Specter said he won’t call for congressional hearings on the NFL’s investigation of the Spygate scandal after previously threatening to do so. Specter’s office confirmed Tuesday his comments a day earlier to the Philadelphia Daily News editorial board, in which he said “I’ve gone as far as
Haynes: How our country deals with this unprecedented threat. This is as it should be. The end of this can only come with history’s judgment of how our Administration served in protecting America. We know that America’s enemies are relentless. I look forward to watching our nation’s leaders to advancing our nation’s security and freedom.
[Alright, Levin, just like you did to Ickes.]
Levin:
Graham: I understand from Schmitt-Furlow report that a dog was used in interrogation.
Beaver: I was not aware of it.
Graham when you said this didn’t happen at Gitmo, you’re not right.
Beaver: What was approved did not happen.
Graham Who did this?
Beaver: I don’t know.
Graham it was part of interrogation plan. Also strip-searched in front of female personnel.
Here are the documents released by the committee.
Are here are some links to Spencer Ackerman’s work on this: here, here, here, and here.
McCaskill: We disrespect men and women who serve if we don’t have this hearing. Did you review Beaver opinion?
Shiffin:No
McCaskill: If you came across phrase, “immnuity in advance,” would it cause you pause?
Shiffrin:
The Senate Armed Services Committee has a hearing on torture that promises to feature fireworks.