January 6, 2009 archive

Clueless, arrogant, cynical, stupid, greedy, heartless bastards.

1. McClatchy Newspapers report Obama’s Justice nominees signal end of Bush terror tactics. By appointing Dawn Johnsen as head of the Office of Legal Counsel, David Ogden as deputy attorney general, Elena Kagan as solicitor general, and Tom Perelli as the associate attorney general overseeing civil matters, “President-elect Barack Obama signaled that he intends to roll back Bush administration counterterrorism policies authorizing harsh interrogation techniques, warrantless spying and indefinite detentions of terrorism suspects.”

   In addition, McClatchy reports Obama’s choice of Leon Panetta to lead CIA suggests shake-up is coming. “I think he’s an inspired choice,” said William Perry, former defense secretary during the Clinton administration. “What the CIA needs is strong, steady management at the top, and he can provide that.”

   Meanwhile, guess who’s objecting loudly to Panetta? Co-conspiratorial Democrats. The Washington Post reports Some question Panetta’s intelligence experience.

   “I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA director,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who in her new post will oversee his confirmation hearings, said. “My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.”

   And “the need for the CIA director to be completely apolitical and Panetta’s lack of experience in intelligence concerns me,” Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) added.

   With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?

2. The NY Times reports a Former detainee of the U.S. describes his 6-Year ordeal.

   When Muhammad Saad Iqbal arrived home here in August after more than six years in American custody, including five at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, he had difficulty walking, his left ear was severely infected, and he was dependent on a cocktail of antibiotics and antidepressants…

   Mr. Iqbal was never convicted of any crime, or even charged with one. He was quietly released from Guantánamo with a routine explanation that he was no longer considered an enemy combatant, part of an effort by the Bush administration to reduce the prison’s population.

   Iqbal was caught up in Bush’s extraordinary rendition program and, according to the NY Times, much of his account “could not be independently corroborated.” He says he was tortured and his lawyers will sue the U.S. government.

Four at Four continues with India giving Pakistan a dossier of the Mumbai attacks, three new marine national monuments, and a follow-up on the forest road story from yesterday.

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House speaker re-elected

1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) – The woman who made history two years ago by becoming the first female speaker of the House has been re-elected to that post.

This Friday, January 9th will be the premier of the Wild Wild Left Radio Hour at 6pm Eastern time on the Blogtalk Radio Network.

I’m Diane G, and will be producing the weekly hour, and am honored to have two of the Left Blogosphere’s best writers, Gottlieb and Ed Encho as Co-Hosts of the Show.

This week we will open with a short introductory conversation, followed by a WWL take on current events.

In our second half hour, our special guest this week is Commander Jeff Huber, author of two books, and proprietor of the esteemed “Pen and Sword” blog.

Cmdr. Huber will be answering questions from a military expertise point of view about the fronts we are engaged in presently, as well as the Gaza Crisis.

Tune into to listen to the live stream, add commentary in the live chat area, or call in and talk directly to our Hosts or Guest. Make sure you tell me what Blog you post from, and we will shamelessly plug your blog on air too!

Details on how to use the BlogTalkRadio site below the fold.

Important News From The AP:

The Color Of Sasha Obama’s Backpack. Now Back To Our Regularly

Scheduled Programing  

Gaza now in ‘full-blown’ humanitarian crisis

Red Cross warns 500,000 civilians in danger; Israel rejects calls for truce

Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Gaza is now in a “full-blown” humanitarian crisis, a senior international Red Cross official said Tuesday as Israeli ground forces edged closer to major population centers.

International Committee of the Red Cross head of operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl said the situation for Palestinian civilians is “extreme and traumatic as a result of 10 days of uninterrupted fighting.”

He said ICRC staff in Gaza told the neutral body Tuesday that the previous night was “the most frightening of all to date” on account of the ground offensive Israel has launched in the Palestinian territory.

Israel looks to drive out Hamas

• Officials push for regime change

• Islamist party ‘fatally damaged’

• Both sides reject calls for ceasefire

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem

The Guardian, Tuesday 6 January 2009

Israeli intelligence and military officials are increasingly pushing for the assault on Gaza to continue until it assures the eventual downfall of Hamas amid assertions that the 10 days of military bombardment have crippled the Islamist party’s ability to govern.

As the onslaught progresses, officials are more confident of “changing the equation” in Gaza and are predicting the collapse of the Hamas administration.

Last night, Israeli forces bombed the centre of Gaza, and there were reports of intense clashes with Hamas fighters on the edge of the city. But the fighting and the occupation of parts of the north and centre of the Gaza Strip did not stop Hamas from firing more than 40 rockets into Israel.

Ex-Detainee of U.S. Describes a 6-Year Ordeal



By JANE PERLEZ, RAYMOND BONNER and SALMAN MASOOD

Published: January 5, 2009

LAHORE, Pakistan – When Muhammad Saad Iqbal arrived home here in August after more than six years in American custody, including five at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, he had difficulty walking, his left ear was severely infected, and he was dependent on a cocktail of antibiotics and antidepressants.

In November, a Pakistani surgeon operated on his ear, physical therapists were working on lower back problems and a psychiatrist was trying to wean him off the drugs he carried around in a white, plastic shopping bag.

The maladies, said Mr. Iqbal, 31, a professional reader of the Koran, are the result of a gantlet of torture, imprisonment and interrogation for which his Washington lawyer plans to sue the United States government.

USA

Panetta Chosen as C.I.A. Chief in Surprise Step



By MARK MAZZETTI and CARL HULSE

Published: January 5, 2009

WASHINGTON – Leon E. Panetta, a former congressman and White House chief of staff, has been selected by President-elect Barack Obama to head the Central Intelligence Agency. The choice, disclosed Monday by Democratic officials, immediately revealed divisions in the party as two senior lawmakers questioned why Mr. Obama would nominate a candidate with limited experience in intelligence matters.

The job was the last unfilled major post for Mr. Obama, who has criticized the agency for using interrogation methods he characterized as torture. Democratic officials said Mr. Obama had selected Mr. Panetta for his managerial skills, his bipartisan standing, and the foreign policy and budget experience he gained under President Bill Clinton.

???????????????

That’s my reaction, in totality, to this run-a-way train that life has become.

I am reduced to laughing an empty ironic cackle. heh. huh. spitting and sputtering. no. forget it. i’m not doing this in capital letters.

forget the rules. all the packaging. all the shiny shit. it is time to step back.

ma’am. step away from that shop window.  that’s right. and take a jump into some madness below the fold . . .

^{cross posted at Daily Kos}