On the al-Haramain Decision
Here's my thoughts on Walker's al-Haramain decision.
BREAKING NEWS: Judge Vaughn Walker Keeps Al-Haramain Alive!
The decision just came to me hot from a source involved in the case. Judge Walker has entered his order on al-Haramain.The court has determined to let the case precede!
The CIA IG Report and the Bradbury Memos
One of the most troubling aspects of the Bradbury memos is the way they admit the CIA program had not been safe--particularly with respect to the way waterboarding and sleep-deprivation had been practiced--even while declaring those programs legal.
The Bybee Memo Can't Be Used for Good Faith Defense on Water-Boarding
The May 10, 2005 "Techniques" memo makes it clear that the torturers who claim the Bybee memo legalized their water-boarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah are wrong.
That's because the torturers didn't do what the memo authorized.
The OLC Memos, "Erroneous and Inflammatory Assumptions," and John Rizzo's Lies
Obama says the OLC memos will correct our "erroneous and inflammatory assumptions" about detainee treatment. On the contrary, the memos make it clear the degree to which John Rizzo was lying to OLC lawyers about detainee treatment.
The Torture Memos
ACLU has them posted:
August 1, 2002 John Yoo memo
First May 10, 2005 Steven Bradbury memo
Second May 10, 2005 Steven Bradbury memo
May 30, 2005 Steven Bradbury memo
And while you're over at ACLU, consider showing them some love for all their great work prying these out of the government.
Consider this a working thread.
Obama on the OLC Memo Release
My thoughts on Obama's statement on the release of the torture memos.
The 6-Month Review
By reviewing the terms of the review that Holder was preparing, we may get a better sense of how the FISA program was out of compliance.
Feingold (and ACLU): I Told Congress So
Russ Feingold points out that he has warned Congress something like this abuse of the warrantless wiretap authority would happen. Good.
Did Holder Know About the "Significant Misconduct" When DOJ Claimed Sovereign Immunity?
On April 3, DOJ submitted a filing that argued that no citizen had the ability to sue if she had been wrongly wiretapped under Bush's illegal wiretap program. On August 15, we learn that DOJ's Inspector General "recently" learned of "significant misconduct" in the wiretap program. Did Holder know of that "significant misconduct" when his DOJ made those expansive claims?
Lichtblau and Risen Report Illegal Wiretapping of Americans ... Again
Surprise surprise. The warrantless wiretapping program is still illegally wiretapping Americans.
Does This Explain DOJ Reluctance to Turn Over AIG Monitoring Documents?
TPMM notes that DOJ has been reluctant to turn over to the Oversight Committee the documents pertaining to its Delayed Prosecution Agreement with AIG. Here are some data points that might begin to explain why DOJ would be reluctant to reveal what they knew about AIG and when they knew it.
The Big Banks' FDIC Boondoggle
The Administration seems to be playing with NYT reporting to send Goldman Sachs a message that its efforts to get free of government regulation may bring regulation on other benefits it has received under the bailout.
Grading on a Curve
Timmeh has decided to let us know which banks are insolvent. But he's only doing so because the banks are so unruly they won't listen to him.
It's Not the Water-Boarding, It's the Blows to the Head
The CIA doesn't want the Bradbury OLC memos made public. Given the details of the ICRC report, it's clear that it's not because its news. Rather, if the OLC memos are made public, it'll make it clear Bradbury gave legal cover for these actions even after they had already done physical and mental damage with them.
Chalabi: "I am convinced [there was] an implicit agreement between America and Iran"
Ahmed Chalabi assures us that there was an implicit agreement between Iran and the US before the US took out Saddam.
Ponzi Nation
Have you noticed the SEC has been busting almost more Ponzi schemes as the FDIC has eated banks?
No Wonder Bob Corker's Trying to Play Politics with Spring Hill
Bob Corker has been cynically lying. He has been claiming that if GM's Spring Hill plant is closed in bankruptcy, it will be the result of politics. But Corker undoubtedly knows that, one of the few things used as collateral for any of GM's secured debt, Spring Hill will be one of the first things to be liquidated.
Dana "Pig Missile" Perino to Do Crisis Communications for AIG?
One of the biggest crisis communications firms just hired Dana "Pig Missile" Perino to do crisis communications.
Greg Craig and State Secrets
Mark Ambinder's starting to figure out something I've been pointing to for some time. Greg Craig is the reactionary pushing Obama to keep adopting Bush's worst policy traits.