Saturday, December 08, 2007

SPB News for Saturday.




State Dept. retains manager of troubled embassy project A State Department project manager banished from Iraq by the U.S. ambassador and under scrutiny by the Justice Department continues to oversee the construction of the much-delayed new American embassy in Baghdad from nearby Kuwait, State Department officials disclosed Thursday. James L. Golden, a contract employee, is still managing the $740 million project, said Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy, the department's top management official.

Israel considering strike on Iran despite US intelligence report Senior Israeli officials warned today they were still considering the option of a military strike against Iran, despite a fresh US intelligence report that concluded Tehran was no longer developing nuclear weapons. Although Israel argues that it wants to see strong diplomatic pressure put on Iran, it is reluctant to rule out the threat of a unilateral military attack. Matan Vilnai, Israel's deputy defence minister, told Army Radio today: "No option needs to be off the table."
IDF to show US nuclear data on Iran Disappointed after failing to make their case on Iran and influence the outcome of the United States's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released this week, Military Intelligence will present its hard core [!?!] evidence on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program on Sunday to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff during a rare visit he will be making to Israel.
Pentagon plans unchanged by Iran report: general A U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 has had no effect on Pentagon planning, a senior U.S. military officer said on Friday. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Sattler, director for strategic plans and policy on the U.S. military's Joint Staff, said officials were still digesting the National Intelligence Estimate released on Monday.

Justices to Weigh Court Access for Americans Imprisoned in Iraq by U.S. Military The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether federal judges can hear arguments from American citizens who are being held in Iraq by the U.S. military for alleged crimes there. The justices today said they will review the cases of Shawqi Ahmad Omar, who was captured during a raid that targeted a former al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh] leader, and Mohammad Munaf, who is facing execution for taking part in a kidnapping plot. Both men are seeking to avoid being turned over to Iraqi authorities.

Mall Shooter Was State Ward For 4 Years --State Spent $265K On Hawkins' 'Care' Nebraska spent $265,000 and four years trying to provide help to the 19-year-old who became the Westroads Mall shooter on Wednesday afternoon. Eight people were killed, in addition to the shooter, Robert A. Hawkins. Gov. Dave Heineman said Hawkins became a ward of the state on Sept. 17, 2002. Landry said Hawkins stayed at a facility in Missouri called Piney Ridge, plus Omaha's Cooper Village, Lutheran Family Services and Addiction and Behavioral Health Services Inc.

Comment by
Jennifer Daskal, Sr. Counterterrorism Counsel, Human Rights

by Jennifer Daskal

The CIA was well aware that its interrogations crossed a line considered by many to be torture. Now some in the CIA may also be guilty of obstruction of justice as well - a serious felony that carries a possible 20 year sentence. There needs to be a serious criminal.

U.S. Congress plans obstruction inquiries
WASHINGTON: The Central Intelligence Agency faced the threat of obstruction-of-justice investigations on Friday from both the Justice Department and congressional committees over the destruction of videotapes of interrogations of Qaeda operatives.




2 comments:

airJackie said...

Nice to see Israel still wants to bomb Iran. Looks like their own their own and even their brother Joe Lickerman can't help them. If they do bomb Iran, Israel can look for China and Russia to defend Iran. Now Israel just might be wiped off the map by fault of their own.

KittyBowTie1 said...

Well, if the U.S. would take Israel off the taxpayer gravy train, they wouldn't be able to afford to attack Iran.