Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Other Items

Condi Rice in court? David Johnston's "Subpoena List of Officials Is Inadvertently Disclosed" in this morning's New York Times tells of the now-you-see-it-now-you-don't subpoena list that was posted online with names but is now posted with "Witness" in place of the names. Rice, Richard L. Armitage and Stephen J. Hadley were among the administration names defense attornies for former AIPAC lobbyists Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman wish to call. Donald G. McNeil's "Mad Cow Disease Is Confirmed in Alabama" reports on the third confirmed case of mad cow in the United States. The New York Times' (that's who is credited in the byline)
"Pastry Chef to Leave White House Post" charts the impending departure of Thaddeus R. DuBois and is worth noting for two reasons. DuBois doesn't claim "for my family" as the reason he'll soon be leaving (a rare exception) and he also reveals that he didn't get overtime pay. DuBois replaced Roland Mesnier who had been the chef for twenty-five years and did get overtime pay. But then he started under someone other than the Bully Boy.

Lastly for the paper of the record, Brad notes Eric Lichtblau's "Cost Concerns for F.B.I. Computer Overhaul:"

The long-stalled effort to overhaul the Federal Bureau of Investigation's antiquated computer system could cost another half-billion dollars to complete, and it runs the risk of continued overruns, a Justice Department report concluded Monday.
The report, prepared by the Justice Department's inspector general, found that the F.B.I. had taken "important steps" to learn from mistakes that dogged the project. But it also identified what it called "continuing concerns" in budgeting and management.


Which indicates how little has changed since the attacks of September 11th that the computer "overhaul" is still being discussed and not being done.

Marci notes Howard Zinn's "Lessons of Iraq War start with U.S. history" (The Progressive Media Project, The Progressive):

On the third anniversary of President Bush's Iraq debacle, it's important to consider why the administration so easily fooled so many people into supporting the war.
I believe there are two reasons, which go deep into our national culture.
One is an absence of historical perspective. The other is an inability to think outside the boundaries of nationalism.
If we don't know history, then we are ready meat for carnivorous politicians and the intellectuals and journalists who supply the carving knives. But if we know some history, if we know how many times presidents have lied to us, we will not be fooled again.


Don't be fooled, listen, watch or read Democracy Now! today.

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