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Morning headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top StoryThe Secret History of the Impending War with Iran That the White House Doesn't Want You to Know (by John H. Richardson, writing in Esquire)
Two former high-ranking policy experts from the Bush Administration say the U.S. has been gearing up for a war with Iran for years, despite claiming otherwise. It'll be Iraq all over again. The Heretik
The WorldIran steps up preparations for US war
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is stepping up preparations for possible war with America by replacing a string of moderate regime officials with hardliners who more closely share his views. After months in which his government has played down the risk of war over Iran's nuclear programme, officials have also begun making bellicose pronouncements in an apparent attempt to ready public opinion for a military clash.
Turkish troop dies; Kurd rebels trapped
ANKARA, Turkey - Government troops trapped a group of about 100 separatist Kurdish rebels in a rugged region close to Turkey's border with Iraq, after blocking all escape routes across the frontier, Turkey's state-run news agency reported Monday.
Suicide bomber kills 27 recruits in Iraq
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up Monday among recruits gathered outside a police camp in Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad, killing at least 27 people and wounding 20, police and hospital officials said.
Chalabi back in action in Iraq
BAGHDAD-Ahmad Chalabi, the controversial, ubiquitous Iraqi politician and one-time Bush administration favorite, has re-emerged as a central figure in the latest U.S. strategy for Iraq. His latest job: To press Iraq's central government to use early security gains from the surge to deliver better electricity, health, education and local security services to Baghdad neighborhoods. That's the next phase of the surge plan. Until now, the U.S. military, various militias, insurgents and some U.S. backed groups have provided those services without great success.
Suicide attack kills four in southern Afghanistan
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - A suicide attacker blew himself up Monday near a police convoy in southern Afghanistan, killing three civilians and a policeman and wounding six others, police said.
Myanmar junta denounces US as 'bully'
Myanmar's military government stepped up its propaganda campaign against the United States on Sunday, accusing Washington of inciting last month's pro-democracy demonstrations in hopes of installing a puppet government.
It wouldn’t be the first time we meddled covertly in the affairs of other governments.—Caro
North Korea signs agreements with Vietnam
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam and North Korea signed agriculture, sport, tourism and cultural agreements on Saturday on the first stop of a rare Southeast Asian tour by North Korea's Premier.
Australian country life riven by drought, isolation
CARAGABAL, Australia (Reuters) - In drought-hit lands of eastern Australia, the population of Caragabal is just 38, every shop is closed, water is trucked in, and a synthetic lawn at a bowling club is the last hope of survival for a dying town. The NationRice taps Clinton, Carter for Middle East advice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anxious not to repeat mistakes of past Middle East peace-making, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has turned to former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter for tips ahead of her own conference this year. Rice invited Carter, a vocal critic of Bush administration policies, to the State Department on Wednesday where the two discussed his Arab-Israeli peacemaking efforts in the 1970s.
She wants them to tell her what THEY did wrong! I hope they make her ears burn with what SHE’s done wrong.—Caro
Guantanamo military lawyer breaks ranks to condemn 'unconscionable' detention
(The critique of a)n American military lawyer and veteran of dozens of secret Guantanamo tribunals … will be the centrepiece of a hearing on 5 December before the US Supreme Court when another attempt is made to shut the prison down. So nervous is the Bush administration of the latest attack – and another Supreme Court ruling against it – that it is preparing a whole new system of military courts to deal with those still imprisoned.
From CIA Jails, Inmates Fade Into Obscurity
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- On Sept. 6, 2006, President Bush announced that the CIA's overseas secret prisons had been temporarily emptied and 14 al-Qaeda leaders taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But since then, there has been no official accounting of what happened to about 30 other "ghost prisoners" who spent extended time in the custody of the CIA.
The FBI's Right to Threaten Torture
A federal appeals court has concluded that an FBI agent must go to trial on charges he coerced a false confession out of a prime suspect in the 9/11 attacks. But the FBI still insists that its agent did nothing wrong. And the feds swayed the court to suppress that portion of a recent decision detailing how the FBI agent used the threat of torture to break an innocent man.
Spy chief to restrict intel estimates
National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell … recently issued a directive making it more difficult to declassify the key judgments of national intelligence estimates, which are forward-looking analyses prepared for the White House and Congress that represent the consensus of the nation's 16 spy agencies on a single issue… Referring to the public release of the reports, (McConnell deputy David) Shedd said during a Capitol Hill briefing: "It affects the quality of what's written."
Not to mention that these reports have been extremely critical of the administrations actions in the so-called war on terror.—Caro
Army to review Iraq contracts for fraud
WASHINGTON - A team of specially trained investigators will hunker down in an Army office north of Detroit on Monday to begin poring over hundreds of Iraq war contracts in search for rigged awards.
McConnell earmarks funds for firm accused of bribery.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing “$25 million in earmarked federal funds for a British defense contractor that is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and suspected by American diplomats of a ‘longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations.’” McConnell has taken at least $53,000 in campaign donations from the contractor’s political action committees and employees since his 2002 re-election.
Mukasey urged to answer torture question
WASHINGTON - A Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday he might consider opposing Michael Mukasey's nomination for attorney general if the former judge says waterboarding is not torture.
Surprise, it’s Lindsay Graham. We’ll see how long he resists White House knuckling.—Caro
Dodd says he'll oppose Mukasey as AG
Democrat Chris Dodd said today he will oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey as attorney general. His statement: “Mr. Mukasey's position that the President does not have to heed the law disqualifies him from being the chief attorney for the United States…”
Chris Dodd for President! Oh, that’s right. You’d hardly know it from the media coverage, but he’s already running.—Caro
Pa. governor orders polling locations public
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell rescinded a policy Friday that had kept the state's list of polling places hidden from the public because of terrorism fears… Critics said concealing the compiled list runs afoul of the state's open records law and would complicate statewide efforts to mobilize voters.
Feds strike ID deal over NY licenses
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration and New York cut a deal Saturday to create a new generation of super-secure driver's licenses for U.S. citizens, but also allow illegal immigrants to get a version.
Georgia court frees man in teen sex case
FORSYTH, Ga. - A former high school football star given 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with another teenager was freed Friday by Georgia's highest court, which ruled that his sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Genarlow Wilson spent two years behind bars in the case that led to widespread protests of racism and heavy handed justice.
I’m sure the persecution of this young man had NOTHING AT ALL to do with the fact that he’s black.—Caro
Religion and Entrepreneurship
Based on a large-scale data set of nearly ninety thousand workers in India, this paper finds that religion shapes the entrepreneurial decision. In particular, some religions, such as Islam and Christianity, are found to be conducive to entrepreneurship, while others, such as Hinduism, inhibit entrepreneurship.
There’s a whole lotta Calvinism, even in non-Calvinist Christianity, especially here in the U.S. You’re not worthy of heaven unless you‘re wealthy. All this striving, striving, striving doesn’t make us happy, though, and in fact has helped increase depression rates dramatically in the last 50 years. See the Technology & Science section, below, for information on a promising new approach to treating depression.—Caro MediaPermanent link to MTA daily media news
Morning shakeup at WWRL
"Sammy and Army" are history. Sam Greenfield and Armstrong Williams, the morning show hosts at WWRL (1600AM) in New York, exit the station, in a programming overhaul. The two hosted their last show yesterday. Former Air America Radio personality Mark Riley and current WWRL nighttime host Richard Bey will take over mornings effective Monday. Program director Rennie Bishop calls the move a "creative redirection."
I’m not sorry to see “Army” go, but I feel bad about Sam Greenfield losing his gig. I’ve loved Sam since the old WEVD days. But I like Mark Riley, so what’s a body to do? Hey, Nova M! Jones! Here’s an opportunity for you, Sam Greenfield is available.—Caro
Fox Panel: Dems Are ‘Terribly Weak’ If They Don’t Threaten ‘Devastating Military Strike’ Against Iran
On Fox News Sunday (this week), Fox’s Brit Hume and the Weekly Standard’s William Kristol enthusiasticly endorsed the new pro-war posturing, calling it “useful for Iran to believe that this administration will stop at nothing to keep it from getting a nuclear weapon.” Hume claimed that it “make(s) sense” to threaten Iran with “a devastating military strike,” adding that Iran probably wants Democrats to be “in charge” because they look “terribly weak” in criticizing the “alleged saber rattling”.
Click through to watch the video.—Caro
ElBaradei: Military Strike On Iran ‘Would Lead Absolutely To Disaster’
(Sunday) on CNN, (International Atomic Energy Agency chairman Mohammed) ElBaradei … (said that while he)i did not rule out Iran having an “intent” to obtain nuclear weapons, he explained that there is no evidence that Iran is currently pursuing such a program right now… ElBaradei also urged the U.S. to halt its fiery rhetoric and directly engage Iran in talks: “The earlier we go into negotiation, the earlier we follow the North Korean model, the better for everybody.”
Click through to watch the video.—Caro
With Friends Like These: McLaughlin Group on the Pakistani Threat
John McLaughlin takes a look at the cover story in this week’s Newsweek, “The Most Dangerous Nation in the World,” and much to the dismay of the Bush administration and their PR fronts like Freedoms Watch, isn’t about Iran OR Iraq. “Today no other country on earth is arguably more dangerous than Pakistan.”
Click through to watch the video.—Caro
FNS: The politicization of FEMA (by Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars)
While there is some truth to Mara Liasson’s statement that simply the Bush administration has learned to avoid the bad p.r. they got after Katrina (although not completely), there’s no denying that, as Juan Williams points out, with the wildfires, it was Bush’s base that was affected. However, leave it to Bill “I get everything wrong, but I have a direct line to the White House” Kristol, to claim the difference lies in the fact the political affiliations of the respective states’ governors.
Click through to watch the video.—Caro
Karen Hughes Plant Alert: Bush the Embracer (by Paul Farhi, Washington Post)
The wildfires in Southern California this week have served to remind the world once more about one of the singular and underappreciated skills of George W. Bush: The man is a generous hugger.
Thanks to digby.—Caro
FEMA official involved in fake press conference resigns.
On Tuesday, while “wildfires raged” in California, FEMA staged a live press conference at which agency staffers posed as journalists and asked softball questions. One of those staffers, Director of External Affairs John “Pat” Philbin, has now resigned. He has instead landed an “amazing opportunity” to head public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Oh, good, now he gets to make up stories about Iran.—Caro
The End Is Near! Post Publishes Column Defending Social Security (by Dean Baker)
Is that a trumpet I hear in the distance? Why are the rivers flowing backwards? And who are those four guys on horses? Yes, the Washington Post has published a column arguing against the Social Security crisis story. Robert Ball, the former Social Security commissioner, a member of the 1983 Greenspan commission, and a great defender of the system got 700 words in the paper this morning to make the case. Read it carefully, most of us will probably not live to see another such piece in the pages in the Post.
Campaign Coverage Still Focuses On 'Horse Race,' Says Study
The report, from the Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University also found that news outlets gave Barack Obama the most favorable treatment, while John McCain received the least favorable.
Matthews on White House Crime & Media Failure (by Ari Melber, The Nation)
(Chris) Matthews' entire show (Thursday night), which included an interview with Valerie Wilson, did not even mention the current White House attempt to grant amnesty to telephone companies that allegedly helped the administration break the law to spy on Americans. It's not just Matthews, either. The New York Times is still ignoring the new face-off over the surveillance bill… Does this mean that Chris Dodd, the leader of the fight against telecom amnesty, is getting no coverage in the Times? Of course not. (Friday) the Times published an article about his haircuts. Technology & ScienceCould Cows Power Cheap Laptops?
The One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC) is toying with a novel source of power for its low-cost XO laptops: cows. "We plan to drive a dynamo (taken from an old Fiat) through a system of belts and pulleys using cows/cattle," wrote OLPC's Arjun Sarwal, in an e-mail dated Oct. 21 and posted to one of the group's discussion lists… The goal is to develop a low-cost energy source that can be used in Indian villages.
AT&T Scales Back St. Louis Wi-Fi Plan
ST. LOUIS (AP) - AT&T Inc. has scaled back its plan to blanket the city's 62 square miles with Wi-Fi signals, the wireless Internet service now found in airports and coffee shops. Instead, AT&T said Friday it will build a Wi-Fi pilot project in the downtown core.
Fighting depression so easy a caveman could do it
(O)bservational data has lead (psychologist Dr. Steve) Ilardi and his University of Kansas team to develop an innovative approach to treating depression called Therapeutic Lifestyle Change for Depression (TLC) and recently referred in the media as "living like a caveman."… Ilardi believes that instead of popping pills, we need to go outside, get physical, chat with our neighbors, and live more as we did in our Paleolithic past.
When I was being treated for depression, none of this was even considered.—Caro
New Guidelines Should Improve Ovarian Cancer Detection
Early diagnosis is vital; symptoms can often mimic digestive problems.
Ga. astronomy village fills up quickly
The 96-acre village in rural Taliaferro County in eastern Georgia is designed for amateur stargazers looking for total darkness and wide-open spaces to build weekend homes.
NASA to search files for UFO incident
NASA has agreed to search its archives once again for documents on a 1965 UFO incident in Pennsylvania, a step the space agency fought in federal court.
Moon to Block Bright Star Nov. 3
If you live in the southern or western parts of the United States, you'll have an opportunity on Saturday morning, Nov. 3, to see a fat waning crescent moon gradually drift toward and ultimately hide the 1st-magnitude star, Regulus, the brightest star of the constellation Leo, the Lion.
Scientists Say Dark Matter Doesn't Exist
Two Canadian astronomers think there is a good reason dark matter, a mysterious substance thought to make up the bulk of matter in the universe, has never been directly detected: It doesn't exist. EnvironmentPollution Threat from California Fires
Air quality remained poor in the central San Bernardino Mountains and parts of the San Bernardino Valley, as well as swaths of Orange and Riverside Counties. In San Diego County, where only two of five major fires were more than 50 percent contained, the air was especially dismal Friday.
Warming Revives Flora and Fauna in Greenland
As the climate warms, Greenlandic farmers are experimenting with vegetables that have previously never been grown in the country.
Bacteria Species May Help Ethanol Production
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) -- Scientists say a new bacteria species discovered in Yellowstone's thermal pools could improve the use of bacteria to produce ethanol.
The use of bacteria should help create biofuels from the parts of plants that would otherwise go to waste, instead of the part that we humans can eat. See below.—Caro
UN Expert Calls Biofuel 'Crime Against Humanity'
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A U.N. expert on Friday called the growing practice of converting food crops into biofuel "a crime against humanity,'' saying it is creating food shortages and price jumps that cause millions of poor people to go hungry.
Human-generated ozone will damage crops, according to MIT study
A novel MIT study concludes that increasing levels of ozone due to the growing use of fossil fuels will damage global vegetation, resulting in serious costs to the world's economy. The analysis, reported in the November issue of Energy Policy, focused on how three environmental changes (increases in temperature, carbon dioxide and ozone) associated with human activity will affect crops, pastures and forests.
Logging Is Part of a Plan to Preserve 161,000 Acres in the Adirondacks Purchased by a Conservation Group
After purchasing a vast unbroken wilderness in Adirondack Park that only loggers and a few hunters have ever seen, the Nature Conservancy will not preserve it all as public land.
It makes sense. Allowing logging in part of the preserve can help pay to protect the rest of it. Would that we had that policy with our federal lands.—Caro For more headlines, visit MakeThemAccountable.com. |
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