All The News That’s Fit To Print.
Michael Mukasey is the Bush Administration’s choice for successor to the Attorney General throne of Alberto Gonzales. At first, it seemed like he was going to be an easy confirmation, but then he stuck his foot in it with his comments about torture and water boarding.
Basically, one week he stated something to the general effect of, “Eeew! Torture bad!” and then the next week, started waffling and tap-dancing around the issue, refusing to give firm statements on such techniques as water boarding. The democratic congress are refusing to vote on his confirmation, and saying that their votes will hinge on his water boarding answers. The above article states that they want Mukasey to make a firm statement on water boarding, so as to tarnish anything done by Gonzales’ State Department with a definite illegal patina. I suspect they want to use it as a jumping-off point to attempt to prosecute Alberto Gonzales.
- When Blackwater Kills, No Questions Asked (This one is from an Iranian paper, so make of it what you will.)
- Senior Democrats Want Blackwater Case Details
- Iraqi Witnesses Discuss Blackwater Shooting
On September 16th of this year, Blackwater employees were guarding a convoy that entered into Baghdad’s Nisoor Square. Blackwater claims that the convoy came under enemy fire, and so returned fire, killing 17 people. Witnesses to the incident claim that Blackwater fired first, under no provocation. The Iraqi government is screaming mad, wants Blackwater out of Iraq, and has revoked their immunity from Iraqi law. Our government has sent a special FBI team to investigate. Apparently, our State Department has also given Blackwater some form of immunity, which is only supposed to be available to government employees and not private contractors, to employees of Blackwater, in return for their statements on the issue. This, understandably, has Congress’ panties in a bunch, and will possibly inhibit prosecution of Blackwater employees if it’s deemed that they’re to blame.
So, if you play for the Bush team, don’t worry about breaking the law. They got your back.
There is not, repeat, not a problem with Social Security. Stop acting like there is. “They’re” just trying to scare you, okay? Quit being a candy-ass about it.
Finally, Carl Zimmer has a disturbing question over at the Loom. Apparently, there’s been a plea for presidential candidates to debate scientific matters. The article was printed under the “religion” section of the paper in question. Wait — what?
Before I go, a quick quibble. I keep hearing people ask each other if they “believe in global warming”. This is incorrect. You believe in God. You believe in the Tooth Fairy, or Santa Claus. You accept global warming. Global warming is a scientific theory. You may or may not accept the validity of that theory. Global warming is not a superstition or fairy tale. You do not believe in it, like it’s a religion. That is all.
(Photo credit: Newspaper.)
