Iran

Newshog has a post about how the new ABC exclusive news report about IEDs coming in from Iran isn't all that exclusive, or for that matter, new. That is all true. One other thing about the report stood out to me though.

Why is the Army releasing this information to ABC at all? From ABC News:

The U.S. Army has embarked on a crash effort to find ways to stop the bombs, according to an unclassified report issued last month. The devices are easily hidden and detonated by motion detectors — like those used in garden security lights — that cannot be jammed. [emphasis mine]

Why is this report unclassified? The Pentagon tells us virtually everything is classified information and they can't tell us about it, and if anyone leaks anything, it gives aid and comfort to the enemy, no matter how obvious what we are doing is. Doesn't this report do the same thing? Doesn't this report tell them that these techniques they are using are working, not to mention that we are trying to interdict them as they come across the border?

I don't know whether or not the Iranian government is involved in this or whether insurgents have set up shop across the border for safety, but this smells like propaganda to support bombing Iran over their nuclear program to me.

Blogger

I've been having a problem with blogger eating posts, but I think I have it figured out.

Wow

I've got to give it up for US Rep Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) She is not a liar. She fully disclosed a trip that has to violate House ethics rules. From Raw Story:

Holier than a golf junket, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and her husband took an all-expenses paid trip to Santa Barbara, Calif., in January for the official business purpose of "spiritual self-reflection."

The Michigan-based Fetzer Institute, the stated mission of which is to "foster awareness of the power of love and forgiveness through research and education programs," paid $1,108.70 to send Emerson and her husband, Ronald Gladney, on the two-night excursion the weekend of Jan. 20.

Emerson wrote in a recently filed travel disclosure form that the official purpose of the trip was: "A time for spiritual self-reflection and an open and honest dialogue."

What the fuck is that? How does that relate to public policy? What the hell exactly is the Fetzer Institute?

The answer to the last question is probably the most enigmatic. After scrolling through the net for information on the Fetzer Institute, I still can't figure out what exactly they do. It all sounds very cultish, but appears to span across more than a single religion. I couldn't find anything that speaks in more than general tones about love, and spirituality, and leadership.

The leadership is the creepy part of it. Lot's of writing about how to coach (convert?) others. Does anyone know who these guys are? Drop me a line.

White Powder

So, you've received a suspicious envelope with white powder in it, what do you do? Let's take a look at how the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters handled such a situation. From Yahoo.com:

For instance, when an envelope with suspicious powder was opened last fall at Homeland Security Department headquarters, guards said they watched in amazement as superiors carried it by the office of Secretary Michael Chertoff, took it outside and then shook it outside Chertoff's window without evacuating people nearby.

Nice containment. I guess I can't say too much though. Right after the Anthrax scare a few years ago, a couple of my employees opened what they deemed a suspicious package. They promptly brought the package to my desk for examination. Thanks. I asked them if they could, give me a call before toting any suspicious packages around to expose others in the future. (It turned out to be nothing)

I do have to say though, it's much, much more unlikely that I would receive a chemical or biological agent than the DHS, they should know better.

Things You'll Rarely Hear A Conservative Say

John LeBoutillier of Newsmax, a conservative online news magazine, was on an early morning talk radio show here in Columbus, Ohio this morning and said some things that I was shocked to hear a conservative say.

First of all, I would like to say that I'm paraphrasing here, so I apologize for any inaccuracies, but I doubt I'll be able to ever find a transcript.

When asked about the Army's investigation into the death of Pat Tillman, Leboutiller responded that the Army brass can't really be trusted, saying they simply lie all the time, though he said that not all of them are liars. He then went on to say that you can't have the similarity in the episodes of torture in Abu Graib, Gitmo, and Afghanistan without the knowledge of higher ups in the military, that it couldn't be limited to low level Army personnel.

There's something you will rarely hear from a conservative.

The Oscars

It sure seemed to me like last night's Academy Awards were somewhat of a neutered event. I'd probably chalk up the soft approach to the fact that there were so many first time nominees and winners. Outside of the Three 6 Mafia, I don't think I've seen a duller awards show for a while, although I did think Jon Stewart was funny, if uneven.

Speaking of the Three 6 Mafia, why did the Academy ask them to change bitches to witches, then allow them to use the word shit? ABC didn't even censor it. Odd.

Duke Cunningham

I just saw on The History Channel a profile of a dogfight that Duke Cunningham participated in during the Vietnam War. Very impressive, a true American hero. Too bad it led him to a life of crime.

Prosecuting The Media

There's a lot of scary stuff in today's Washington Post article about the Bush administration's attempt to stop leaks from emanating from the government. Let's start with this paragraph from the Washington Post:

The Justice Department also argued in a court filing last month that reporters can be prosecuted under the 1917 Espionage Act for receiving and publishing classified information. The brief was filed in support of a case against two pro-Israeli lobbyists, who are the first nongovernment officials to be prosecuted for receiving and distributing classified information.

That's going overboard, but as noted in the article "A 1950 amendment aimed at Soviet spying broadened the law, forbidding an unauthorized recipient of the information to pass it on, or even to keep it to himself." That amendment is what I'm thinking the DOJ would consider using against journalists. But would they do it? Consider this statement by NY Times editor Bill Keller:

"There's a tone of gleeful relish in the way they talk about dragging reporters before grand juries, their appetite for withholding information, and the hints that reporters who look too hard into the public's business risk being branded traitors," said New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller, in a statement responding to questions from The Washington Post. "I don't know how far action will follow rhetoric, but some days it sounds like the administration is declaring war at home on the values it professes to be promoting abroad."

I have no doubt that the administration is salivating over the idea of sending what they consider a dissident journalist to a stay in the federal pen. Of course, when another country does something like this, they are imperiling democracy, but this administration is obsessed with consolidation of power and shining light on all of their screw ups diminishes their ability to do so.

If they start actually prosecuting journalists, do you trust them enough not to selectively leak classified information of nominal importance to those in the media that they don't approve of, only to prosecute them for receiving the information? I don't.

The bottom line is that I see this possibility as a better than fifty percent chance of happening.

Pakistan?

One thing jumped out at me in the Washington Post article about the investigation into Pat Tillman's death From the Washington Post:

Since the U.S. invasion, 215 American troops have died in Afghanistan and in adjacent Pakistan and Uzbekistan, 133 of whom were killed in action, according to Pentagon figures updated Friday.

Pakistan? We've suffered fatalities in Pakistan? Uzbekistan is understandable, we have had bases there and accidents happen. But this statement means we have been operating on the ground in Pakistan and have suffered casualties there. I don't think I've seen anyone mention that before.

One Dollar

While I was out, the Duke got 100 months in prison, or as we say in the biz, a buck even, that's appropriate.

Funny Quote

Political lightweight Tim Grendell actually called for Betty Montgomery to drop out of the Attorney General race for the sake of "party unity." Grendell, who some of my friends from across the aisle call easily the worst dressed and possibly the dumbest member of the Ohio Senate, has got to be joking. He's probably going to lose the primary 80-20.

Put Out To Pasture

The National Religious Broadcasters recently had elections for their board of directors. Pat Robertson failed to win re-election despite the fact that there were only 36 candidates running for 33 seats. From the Washington Post:

[NRB President Frank] Wright said the elections usually hinge on the relative strength of radio, television and Internet broadcasters, so Robertson might have lost simply because he is a TV guy. But Wright acknowledged that there also was dissatisfaction with Robertson's recent call for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his assertion that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was God's punishment for the ceding of land to the Palestinians.

It looks like the association now sees Robertson as a burner, not an earner. Can't have coo coo bird Pat out there chasing away all those little old ladies with generous purses.

Speaking of those purses, the NRB also is planning a vigorous lobbying campaign against one of their viewer's casus belli, ala carte cable. The NRB fears that if you can pick your cable channels, you won't be picking them. They're right.

Post Fighter Pilot Traumatic Congressional Extortion Syndrome

One of the pieces of mitigating evidence turned into U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns for the sentencing of Duke Cunningham is a report by a Beverly Hills psychiatrist. From the San Diego Union Tribune:

There's a report from a Beverly Hills psychiatrist theorizing how the mental toughness and agility that made Cunningham a fighter ace might have instilled a false sense of entitlement and invulnerability that betrayed him in the end.

Well, I didn't know that Cunningham suffered from PFPTCES. It's amazing he only took $2.4 million.

Sentencing starts at 1pm Pacific time. I look for Cunningham to get the full ten years, but doubt he will serve it all.

Iraq Story Form

Reporting on Iraq is a very difficult and dangerous job, so I'm offering this form story for anyone who wishes to cover Iraq without actually going there. Here it goes.

Today in ---Insert City Here---, a car bomb exploded killing ---Insert Number of Dead Here---, and wounding ---Insert Number of Wounded Here---. The bombing is the latest in a string of sectarian related bombings by ---Insert Bombers Sect Here--- against ---Insert Victims Sect Here---. This brings the total number of dead since ---Insert Recent Event Here--- to ---Insert Number of Recently Killed Here---.

In the wake of this bombing, ---Insert Prominent Cleric Here--- has called for calm and a period of mourning to last ---Insert Duration Here---.

That should cover most of your day to day reporting in Iraq.

Fear The Sphere

Great, now it looks like the Antarctic ice sheets are melting faster than expected as well to the tune of 36 cubic miles of ice a year.

Of course, the Washington Post finds some out of the mainstream scientist collecting a check from big oil to provide some balance to the piece. From the Washington Post:

"The Antarctic is really a puzzle," said Taylor, who writes for the Web site TSCDaily, which is partly financed by fossil fuel companies that oppose curbs on greenhouse gases linked to climate change. "A lot more research is needed to understand the degree of climate and ice trends in and around the Antarctic."

Yea, that's brilliant. Let's stall. Look, the research has been done and we need to reduce the release of greenhouse gases, period. These days only stupid people don't buy into the effects of global warming.

Of course, nothing will be done while the republicans are running this country. The fact of the matter is that keeping them in power to neglect the environment is most likely a death sentence for your children.

Investers Wanted

Dominoes Pizza founder Tom Monaghan is building his own fundamentalist Christian town in Florida where pharmacists will be asked not to distribute contraception, no pornography will be sold, and clinics will not give abortions. The town, called Ave Maria (I guess Boringston was taken), is being built about thirty miles east of Naples, and has plans to build about 11,000 houses around a giant church with what they say is the largest crucifix in the country. (65 ft)

Anybody interested in buying a property right outside the town to build a strip club with an even bigger crucifix that strippers can do high dives off of into a vagina shaped pool?

When Stupid Laws Attack

Olivia Shelltrack recently moved into a new home in Black Jack, Missouri with her three kids and her long time boyfriend. They have been denied an occupancy permit due to the fact that there are more than three people living in the house that are not related by "blood, marriage or adoption."

These laws do have their place, I suppose, but this isn't one of them. I'm sure the law was originally put in place to stop groups of younger people from living fraternity style to keep the neighborhood a quieter place to live.

Residents may appeal to the Board of Adjustment, and that's just what Shelltrack and her fiance, Fondray Loving did. Not only did they lose their appeal, but the following happened. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

At the hearing, Shelltrack said, one board of adjustment member, Norma Mitchell, even pointed at her and asked, "I don't understand why you as a woman didn't exercise your right to marry that man," before being hushed by another board member.

Girl, you better make that man put a ring on your finger!

Seriously, though. Black Jack isn't some backwoods small town where town officials are often nitwit relatives of someone important who can't understand the complexities of modern life, it's a suburb of St. Louis. Then again, I don't know to whom Mitchell is related in Black Jack.

Anyway, this law is clearly being misused in this case, and I have to wonder if the reasons for denying this couple their occupancy permit doesn't lie in something more nefarious than the board member simply being stupid.

Sometimes I wish I lived in a place like Black Jack. Can't you imagine the fun I would have driving the locals nuts?

Found via Americablog.

Smart Move

The House Democrats are planning to force a vote on the Dubai ports deal. This is a really smart move, if for nothing else, political purposes. I still think this deal is going to go through and this vote will be a nice national security battery ram to use against anyone who votes against it.

Side Note: I've had a nasty head cold this week, thus the lack of posting.

Neil Cavuto

For the benefit of Fox News' Neil Cavuto, could the sectarian factions in formenting Iraqi civil war draw up some sort of declaration for articles of war?

Does he really believe the media is making this shit up?

Growing Pains

I found this statement by Rep Mark Foley (R-FL) pretty funny. From The Washington Post:

"We simply want to participate and aren't going to be PR flacks when they need us," Foley said. "We all have roles. We have oversight. When you can't answer your constituents when they have legitimate questions . . . we can't simply do it on trust."

How about that. Little Marky is all growns up. After five years of laying on his back with his feet pinned behind his head, he now wants to participate. How quaint.

The republicans have ran Congress ever since Bush was inaugurated in 2001. Never in those five years have they wanted to participate. They've shirked their oversight responsibility throughout the Bush administration's reign, and now, and only now, with a tsunami of backlash coming through the ports of even land locked states, they realize they have a job to do.

Well, it's too little, and it's too late. They passed that stop many miles ago. Welcome to the end of the line.