The News in iTunes

posted by The Sailor @ 3:15 PM Permalink

Trial exposes White House crisis machine

David Addington, chief legal adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, says he was taken aback when the White House started making public pronouncements about the CIA leak investigation.

In the fall of 2003, President Bush's press secretary was categorically denying that either Karl Rove or I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was involved in exposing the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA employee married to a critic of the war in Iraq.

"Why are you making these statements?" Addington asked White House communications director Dan Bartlett.

"Your boss [Cheney] is the one who wanted" them, Bartlett replied
[...]
The White House denials on behalf of Rove and Libby came just before Rove secretly began acknowledging to the FBI that he had confirmed Plame's identity for conservative columnist Bob Novak, who first published her name and relationship to Wilson.

Chain Of Fools 2:46 Aretha Franklin
Liar 3:12 Argent
It's A Cheating Situation 2:56 John Prine & Emmylou Harris

Inquiry on Intelligence Gaps May Reach to White House

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Friday that he would ask current and former White House aides to testify about a report by the Pentagon’s inspector general that criticizes the Pentagon for compiling "alternative intelligence" that made the case for invading Iraq.

Twisted 2:21 Joni Mitchell
Would I Lie To You? 4:25 Eurythmics
Send in The [neo]Clowns 3:41 Frank Sinatra

Reconstruction Official on Iraqi Billions: "What Difference Does It Make?"

What happened to billions in Iraqi funds that were overseen by the Coalition Provisional Authority? That's not "important," according to David Oliver, the former Director of Management and Budget of the agency.

A recording of the unfortunately candid remarks, previously made by Oliver to the BBC, were played during this morning's oversight hearing by Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA). The hearing has focused on the CPA's administration of nearly $9 billion in Iraqi funds in 2003 and 2004 -- money that Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, has said was inadequately accounted for.

"I have no idea, I can't tell you whether or not the money went to the right things or didn't - nor do I actually think it is important," Oliver says on the tape . "Billions of dollars of their money disappeared, yes I understand, I'm saying what difference does it make?"

Money For Nothing 4:06 Dire Straits
Stealin' 4:53 Uriah Heep
Free Ride 3:08 Edgar Winter Group

Bush Boosts Defense, Trims Medicare in Record Budget

President George W. Bush sent Congress a record $2.9 trillion spending blueprint for the coming year that seeks billions in savings from Medicare and Medicaid, boosts defense spending 12 percent and projects a surplus in five years.

Bush's budget [...] lays out a menu of politically perilous cuts affecting the poor, the elderly and the disabled.

Add It Up 4:43 Violent Femmes
Livin' In The Red 3:43 War
Into The Old Man's Shoes 4:02 Elton John

Military: No Gitmo Guard Abuse Evident

An Army officer who investigated possible abuse at Guantanamo Bay after some guards purportedly bragged about beating detainees found no evidence they mistreated the prisoners _ although he did not interview any of the alleged victims

No More Mr. Nice Guy 3:07 Alice Cooper
Cold Cold Heart 3:38 Norah Jones
Psycho Killer 4:20 Talking Heads

Gitmo Cover-up?

[...]
Amongst the recommendations issued by the investigating officer but ultimately rejected by the SouthCom commander following the investigation was "that disciplinary or other action be taken against Sergeant Cerveny," which Lt. Col Vokey says is the most "outrageous part of the investigation."
[...]
Lt. Col. Vokey says this investigation sets a dangerous precedent for all officers who find themselves in a position to report suspected criminal activity.  "This was outrageous and sends a dangerous message to all our service members: you'd better not report anything that goes on at Guantanamo Bay, or you'll be threatened or charged with a crime."

Under Pressure 4:03 David Bowie & Queen
Heroes 3:38 David Bowie
Hold Your Head Up 6:16 Argent