GAO & Phillip Perry (Cheney)

As reported in Think Progress, GAO Comptroller General David Walker told the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that Homeland Security has been a challenge to get access to their records. Walker said the problem is “systemic” and not the fault of any single individual. But he complained that GAO has had to go through the office of Chief Counsel Philip Perry. Perry is married to Elizabeth Cheney, a former State Department official who is one of the vice president’s two daughters. Walker said it is his understanding that Perry’s office has to review documents GAO seeks before they are released and that Perry selectively sits in on interviews with department employees.

The GAO’s Skinner “said his investigations have also been hindered”:

“We’re experiencing the same problem,” said Skinner, who added his office is “oftentimes” told who they can interview and that it sometimes takes weeks to get documents. Skinner said he prepared a document last summer to inform all department employees of the IG’s responsibilities and authorities and encouraging them to cooperate with investigations. “That letter has been sitting up in counsel’s office at DHS since I believe June or July of ‘06,” Skinner said.

The latest semiannual report from Inspector General Skinner highlighted “a litany of staff misconduct: immigration officials demanding sex in exchange for visas, airport screeners stealing money from tourists’ luggage, federal air marshals smuggling drugs, and employees from various DHS agencies committing sex crimes.” Cheney's son-in law appears to be able to be as deceptive as his father-in-law.

All this information is available but the disclosure is going to happen after this administration is out of office. What a shame! Nothing will be done and the deception can continue.

Secrecy News from the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy has reported that the trial of defendants Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, two former officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)is scheduled to begin on or around June 4 in the Eastern District of Virginia. This is an unprecedented case in which the government claim that the Espionage Act could be used to prosecute the unauthorized receipt and transmittal of classified information by private citizens who are not engaged in espionage. This was upheld by a Federal Court last year. The question is did they really spy for Israel or were they being used by the governments of the United States and Israel routinely as a diplomatic "back channel" to convey sensitive information. This is definitely not on the front page of any newspapers. The court has made it very difficult for the prosecution and the defense to do their jobs. The outcome appears to be questionable as more and more restrictions are added on.

Bush regains his footing?????

David Broder of the Washington Post believes that like Clinton, Bush is regaining some ground with public opinion. I can't tell if this article is tongue in cheek or Broder really believes what he wrote.

Washington Post allowing falsehoods and half truths on their outlook section

Robert Parry, who broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek, expressed his concern in the Baltimore Chronicle and Sentinel for an article published by the Washington Post on the front page of their Outlook section in which right-wing legal expert Victoria Toensing from the Reagan Administration presents false accusations against the prosecutor. Patrick Fitzgerald and Joe Wilson. Parry states "By presenting these pro-Libby arguments in such a high-profile manner, including fabricated “mug shots” of prosecutor Fitzgerald, the Post could be seen as joining in a last-ditch bid for jury nullification to spare Libby from conviction.(the mugs shots are not online) Parry also said "Back in the late 1980s, I co-wrote a lead article for the Post’s Outlook section and the piece underwent intensive review for fairness and accuracy. So the argument doesn’t hold that the Post sees no problem in publishing reckless charges in the Outlook section just because it can be passed off as opinion.(Before the Fairness Doctrine was repealed?) It appears that the Post is moving further to the right.

Hurrah for Rep Henry Waxman

The top auditors for the government say $10 billion dollars has been wasted or poorly tracked in the Irag war and reconstruction. The GAO gave the report to the Oversight Committee headed by Rep Henry Waxman who said he intended to investigate the fraud, waste and abuse agressively. Incidently the big abuser was Halliburton,the oil-field services firm once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney,with $2.7 billion in question. The problem is that by the time all the graft is uncovered Bush/Cheney will be out of office.

Race doesn't give Obama edge in S.C.

The title says it all. The Associated Press has done it again. Race should never be a deciding factor in voting for a political candidate. Why must they play the race card? Could we not have an election where it's about the issues and how they plan to solve them rather than what color they are or what religion they are or who they are married to, etc. Let's leave the sensationalism out of the news coverage. You might be surprised to find people still reading the news.

The Media and Unnamed sources

On FAIR.org they have found an honorable radio station (KSFR in New Mexico)that has decided not to report any more innuendos from unnamed sources concerning Iran or any other foreign entity since the reporting of similar innuendos coerced the US into war with Afghanistan and Iraq. Now if only more reporting agencies would follow their lead.

Also FAIR reported that the New York Times and the Associated Press violated their own rules on anonymous sources. Why is everyone in such a hurry to print news that can't be substantiated and the people giving the tips cannot stand up and be accountable. Another attempt by the administration to manipulate public opinion through the press and the press has become a door mat allowing the administration to wipe its feet on.