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Follow-up to a series of recent postings on the growing controversy concerning NASA’s policy to limit public access to accurate scientific documents on global warming. New York Times – Call for Openness at NASA Adds to Reports of Pressure: “Top political appointees in the NASA press office exerted strong pressure during the 2004 presidential campaign …
“Five independent investigators of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights are calling on the United States to close immediately the detention centre in Guantánamo Bay and bring all detainees before an independent and competent tribunal or release them.” (The report, 54 pages, PDF). White House response to the report, Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, …
Follow-up to yesterday’s posting, Investigation into Domestic Spying Program Blocked, today AP reports Justice Argues Against Ashcroft Testimony, and the New York Times reports Senate Panel Decides Against Eavesdropping Investigation, at Least for Now. From AP, this report tonight that addresses the complicated issues involved in the continuing struggle involving the administration, members of Congress …
“In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit (PDF) filed by EPIC, a federal judge has ordered (PDF) the Department of Justice to process and release documents related to the Bush Administration’s warrantless surveillance program by March 8. It is the first court opinion addressing the controversial domestic spying operation. “President Bush has invited …
DHS Has Not Implemented An Information Security Program for Its Intelligence Systems (Unclassified Summary) (PDF, 3 pages), 2/16/2006.
Follow-up to yesterday’s posting, Declassifying Gov. Docs. For Libby Defense, today Steven Aftergood provides a detailed analysis of the powers of the President and Vice President, respectively, in declassifying national security information. As Steven explains, Executive Order 13292, issued by President Bush, contains language that “dramatically elevates the Vice President’s classification authority to that of …
Follow-up to postings on Plame CIA leak [see specifically Cheney ‘Authorized’ Libby to Leak Classified Information, by Murray Waas, National Journal, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006], tonight AP reports: “Vice President Dick Cheney disclosed Wednesday that he has the power to declassify sensitive government information, authority that could set up a criminal defense for his former …
Follow-up to House Cmte. Seeks Operations Docs. from Websites Selling Cell Phone Records, “House Energy and Commerce Committee investigators have identified people behind 22 Web pages that may offer criminals, stalkers and any other paying customer the detailed records of a person’s private telephone calls.” Press release today: “Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, …
Washington Post (reg. req’d), 325,000 Names on Terrorism List – Rights Groups Say Database May Include Innocent People: “The National Counterterrorism Center maintains a central repository of 325,000 names of international terrorism suspects or people who allegedly aid them, a number that has more than quadrupled since the fall of 2003, according to counterterrorism officials.” …
Rep. John Conyers blogs tonight “…the House Judiciary Committee considered my resolution of inquiry on the domestic spying program. The Resolution was rejected 16 to 21, with all Democrats and one Republican (Congressman Hostetler) voting for it.” Congressional Probe of NSA Spying Is in Doubt-White House Sways Some GOP Lawmakers: “Congress appeared ready to launch …
A Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Washington, February 15, 2006: Main Report (379 pages, PDF) Appendices (141 pages, PDF) Related government documents and news: Expedited Assistance for Victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: FEMA’s Control Weaknesses Exposed the Government …
National Security Archives press release: “Under pressure from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the Justice Department on February 10 conceded in federal court that it could begin releasing as early as March 3 the internal legal memos relied on by the Bush administration in setting up the controversial National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping program. …
