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The Daily Muck
The U.S. military's operating manual for the Guantanamo prison camp was leaked on Wikileaks.org yesterday, revealing that visitors from the International Committee of the Red Cross were denied access to some prisoners (something the military has repeatedly denied). The manual was not classified and the military has confirmed its authenticity. (Reuters, Wired)
Meet representative Ric Keller (R-FL). According to Evangelical leader James Dobson, Keller was “the obvious choice for those who care about the biblical values upon which our nation was founded.” The only problem, as Harper’s points out, is that Keller has proven to be a “true, unreconstructed, all-American family values hypocrite.” Check out the details of his apparent affair with a 23 year old staffer, his suspect payments to her, his divorce from his ill wife, and then his subsequent marriage to that staffer. (Harpers)
President Bush is getting serious, or is seriously worried about his legacy. His new executive order calls for a system of imposing accountability on federal agencies. Each agency must appoint a "performance improvement officer,” measure progress, and set goals. The objective is to ensure that "no dropped batons” – except maybe Iraq -- go “from this administration to the next administration." (Washington Post)
Members of a Sunni Muslim group that was formed with American support to fight Sunni militants said yesterday that an extensive U.S. air and ground attack "deliberately” killed at least seven of its fighters in the "hideous" attack. A U.S. military spokesman said the operation targeted Al-Qaeda associates -- "At this point we have no indication that we were engaging any ally of any sort.” (McClatchy)
European Parliament members will reopen an investigation into whether European governments and secret services accepted and concealed secret U.S. flights carrying terrorism suspects across Europe. The probe was reopened after a Russian documentary showed new evidence of a secret prison and flights in Ukraine. (Reuters)
FBI investigators are not the only ones who believe that Blackwater is responsible for wrongful deaths. The family of a U.S. soldier who died on Blackwater flight 61 in the Afghanistan mountains has the green light to sue Blackwater for negligence and incompetence. The Seattle Weekly has details of the case and a shocking transcript of cockpit conversations before flight 61 clipped a mountain ridge. Among the things Blackwater pilots and personnel discussed was whether they should be paid for having so much fun and what heavy metal music they should play. (Seattle Weekly)
FBI investigators assert that Blackwater’s killing of 14 Iraqi civilians on September 16 was unjustified. The FBI and a U.S. attorney will continue their investigation and then issue a “prosecutive memo” that outlines the evidence and assesses whether a crime has been committed. Though investigators have found that some of the dead Iraqis were fleeing the scene, Blackwater “turret gunner Paul’s” statement to State Department investigators claimed that he was merely returning fire on Iraqis. (Washington Post, ABC News)
If you are obsessed with earmarks check out earmarkwatch.org. The new Web site, created by prominent watchdog groups will help you track down the latest pork, including the $1 million that went to “Darn Tough Socks for Marine Corps Merino Wool Cushion Boot Sock," sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT). (Washington Post)

Comments (11)
Jane wrote on November 15, 2007 10:23 AM:A "performance improvement officer,” to measure progress, and set goals?
Yeah, right. Sounds like Bush is trying to institutionalize the role of the folks he hired in from Regent U.
tom wrote on November 15, 2007 10:30 AM:Darn Tough Socks are awesome socks - lesser socks are not worthy of a Marine's foot.
TheraP wrote on November 15, 2007 10:42 AM:Don't forget the Bridge Ladies! Free speech ("We did not vote for bush") is now treason!
Steve5117 wrote on November 15, 2007 11:00 AM:Jane:
Could the job of a "performance improvement officer" be to improve the performance of past actions by making sure there is no evidence left behind?
TheraP wrote on November 15, 2007 11:06 AM:Steve5117: "No evidence left behind" has a nice ring to it! Sounds of a piece with everything else these crooks have brought us!
Bushie wrote on November 15, 2007 11:10 AM:Ric Keller is living according to GOP and Beltway values. As to James Dobson, is his first value the Bible, or the Dollar.
Steve5117 wrote on November 15, 2007 11:44 AM:TheraP: The job requirements for a performance improvement officer include the ability to use erasers, white out, black markers and paper shredders. Computer experience with DoD file destruction software is a plus.
RobertRosen wrote on November 15, 2007 12:24 PM:What do some of our military think of Blackwater? In the Seattle story about the crash of Blackwater 61, there's a telling moment involving the widow of the then-highest ranking officer to be killed in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Mike McMahon, who died in the plane piloted by Blackwater cowboys (he showed up at the last moment, and, against regulations, was allowed aboard):
Ex-Bushie wrote on November 15, 2007 12:36 PM:"When McMahon's widow, Jeanette—an Army colonel and also a chopper pilot—appeared at the oversight committee hearing last month, she cuttingly suggested the wrong person died that day in the Hindu Kush. Referring to the Blackwater founder sitting in the audience, she said her husband, "like Mr. Prince, was a CEO of sorts in the military, as an aviation commander, and as such had amassed a great safety record in his unit. It is ironic and unfortunate that he had to be a passenger on this plane, versus one of the people responsible for its safe operation."
If the families win that Blackwater lawsuit - and they seem to be, so far - U.S. contractors will face liability for their acts overseas, which by itself could put the gung-ho Bush war-privateers out of business.
paul wrote on November 16, 2007 9:31 AM:Just read the Old Testament. Biblical values include getting maidservants pregnant, offering your daughters to a crowd of sexual deviates, and polygamy.
Non Partisan wrote on November 16, 2007 3:13 PM:Re: Ric Keller
I don't know anything about Keller's personal life, but I do know there is zero reason to "suspect" the "payments" Keller made to someone on his staff, who later worked for his fundraisering outfit. Silverstein doesn't (and therefore can't) connect the dots to make a coherent allegation of impropriety. If you're going to imply that he's done something improper, shouldn't you at least say what it is, and why it is improper? Silverstein's article is shameless subpar journalism.