Janine Brookner has made a second career out of opposing the CIA's resistance to reform. Brookner's story highlights some of the problems that haunt the old-boys' club turned spy agency. Her immediate concern is gender discrimination that runs rampant at the institution, though that is exacerbated by the near total lack of oversight that might otherwise encourage reform. (Mother Jones)

Though Paul Bremer’s infamous Article 17 grants immunity for private U.S. military contractors from Iraqi law, The UN will begin probing whether US military or contractors have violated international law in cases of civilian deaths. ( USA Today, Washington Post)

Around thirty detainees are still unaccounted for since the CIA closed its secret prisons overseas. Many of these so-called ghost prisoners are presumably being held by either the U.S. or Pakistan, though even that much is unclear. (Washington Post)

Once again, FEMA apologizes. This time the apology is for last week's fake press conference, where employees pretended to be reporters and actual reporters were banned from asking questions. Meanwhile, so far the agency has suffered one resignation over the situation, which Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has called "one of the dumbest and most inappropriate things I've seen since I've been in government." (Washington Post, Think Progress)

Harpers reports that even the career prosecutors at the Department of Justice believed that the Siegelman prosecution was politically motivated. Posecutor Louis V. Franklin “admits (1) that the most experienced career prosecutor working with him on the case concluded that the Siegelman case should not have been brought; and (2) that he handled the case hand-in-glove with Noel Hillman, the head of Justice’s Public Integrity Section in Washington, and a man now repeatedly and directly linked to Karl Rove in connection with the prosecution of the case.” (Harpers)

The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into British defense contractor BAE Systems for "longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations,” but Sen. McConnell (R-KY) is rewarding the firm by pushing for $25 million in earmarked funds. “McConnell has taken at least $53,000 in campaign donations from BAE's political action committees and employees since his 2002 re-election” and “United Defense Industries, which BAE purchased two years ago, pledged $500,000 to a political-science foundation the senator created, the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville.” (Lexington Herald-Leader)

The State Department is preparing to return one of our proudest diplomatic traditions: forced assignments. The agency is making recommendations for who will fill 50 open positions in Iraq; if those spots are not filled by November 12th, then the government will decide who has will be required to go. (Washington Post)