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The Daily Muck
The Texas-based private security firm, U.S. Protections and Investigations (USPI) is under investigation itself. USPI, which receives millions of dollars to secure U.S.-funded road projects in Afghanistan and train Iraqi security forces, has had its files, safe, and computers seized from its Kabul office because of alleged fraud. (ABC’s The Blotter)
Giuliani claims that the U.S. has disrupted 23 domestic terrorist attacks since September 11, 2001. President Bush has taken credit for foiling only about a dozen attacks and a check of homeland security experts reveled their consternation about “23.” Maybe Rudy was thinking of the 29 hours that he spent at “ground zero” between September 17 and December 16, 2001. (National Journal’s The Hotline)
MotherJones published a Blackwater timeline that brings more clarity to the murky operations of the private military contractor. September 24, 2006: "Blackwater convoy driving down the wrong side of the road ('counter flowing') in al-Hillah strikes an oncoming car, propelling it into a telephone pole. The Iraqi car bursts into flames. Blackwater contractors leave the scene without offering help to the victim, who dies in the fire." (Mother Jones)
Roll Call reports that the Justice Department and the Federal Election Committee are honing in on cases of abuse of campaign funds. As part of this crackdown, officials are suggesting that another 10 embezzlement cases and a host of cases involving misspent funds are in the pipeline. Which begs the question: how long is this pipe, and will we ever see indictments? (Roll Call)
American Electric Power has agreed to a settlement with the EPA over violations of the Clean Air Act; the firm will pay around $5 billion in technology upgrades to decrease its pollution. It's vindication for the government's plan to bring fewer but more substantial EPA cases. Or rather, it would be a vindication if this case hadn't been brought by the Clinton administration. (US News)
New Hampshire's Attorney General closed an investigation into one of Romney's aides for the potential crime of illegally running a license check on a reporter. The attorney general said her office found no evidence that anyone requested registration records for a reporter's car. (AP)
The Los Angeles Police Department released a report assessing what went wrong in a brutal crackdown this past spring against pro-immigrant demonstrators. The conclusion? Poor management and no riot training for the police who left almost 250 people injured after a small group of demonstrators turned violent. (NY Times)
The government might spend $40 billion to buy up 17,000 homes along the Mississippi coast to provide a buffer from another hurricane attack. The idea was first floated immediately after Katrina. Under the program, those who have rebuilt their homes will be paid for the cost of the land, but not for any post-Katrina improvements (back when the government called a barrier a bad idea). (Washington Post)
Comments (7)
Jane wrote on October 10, 2007 9:56 AM:The private security firms argument appears to be that since they can't tell friend from foe they get to kill everybody. Suprise: after years of these practices everybody hates us. Very self serving argument and practice for the compannies: see it's so dangerous -- that's why you need us.
Alguien wrote on October 10, 2007 11:13 AM:That's exactly right, Jane!
Ellen wrote on October 10, 2007 11:31 AM:The more they hate us, the more we need private protection agains our "enemies and haters". But, please do not forget that we are there to "win their hearts and minds" and to teach them about "freedom and democracy"....!!!!!
"Alguien wrote on October 10, 2007 11:13 AM:
That's exactly right, Jane!
The more they hate us, the more we need private protection against our "enemies and haters". But, please do not forget that we are there to "win their hearts and minds" and to teach them about "freedom and democracy"....!!!!!"
WOW. I finally understand what is going on with the House Democratic caucus and the virtually-everything-illegal- Bush-ever-did-and-will-do FISA bill. The Democrats believe the GOP--it's the American people and taxpayers who are the enemy!! Whew. What a load off my mind. I finally understand why Hoyer and Emanuel want to shove this horrible FISA down our throats. We are the enemy!!
Ya know, I think Nader was wrong about Bush and Gore being the same, but I think he might be right about Hoyer and Boehner. How bad does that suck? Democrats taking control of Congress was supposed to be a good thing, and start making things ok. I can't in good conscious vote for anyone who supports this FISA debacle.
moondancer wrote on October 10, 2007 11:46 AM:Ellen@11:31 etal.
Nader was close. There is no difference between the parties.
anonymouse wrote on October 10, 2007 1:32 PM:Every bill, policy, event is viewed by virtually all congress exactly the same way. First, how does this effect my survival? Second, how does it effect the survival of my party? Third, how can I exploit this?
The result of this progression might vary a little by party, but not much.
Cynical I know, but i challenge anyone to refute my statement.
"Every bill, policy, event is viewed by virtually all congress exactly the same way. First, how does this effect my survival? Second, how does it effect the survival of my party? Third, how can I exploit this?"
Excellent explanation, Moondancer. I totally agree with you. Please save this comment so we can be reminded after "We the People" elect these same clowns back into office next time...
Roberta wrote on October 10, 2007 8:18 PM:"President Bush has taken credit for foiling only about a dozen attacks and a check of homeland security experts reveled their consternation about '23.'"
I think you meant revealed, not reveled. Though maybe they are reveling in their consternation. That would be appropriately twisted for the creepily named "Homeland Security."
"Roll Call reports that the Justice Department and the Federal Election Committee are honing in on cases of abuse of campaign funds."
Another nit to pick: Honing is sharpening; you hone your knife or your skills. Homing is zeroing in on something; think "homing device," or even pigeon.
Roberta wrote on October 10, 2007 9:03 PM:Now to my comment on the items and the discussion that ensued in the posts.
I agree that the license contractors enjoy--pretty much everywhere--can't be good for public relations. Rules are actually a good thing, especially when you've got a bunch of employees who are ex-military and may not be, let's say, adept at making decisions independently.
That said, I cannot see how the discussion got from Jane's to Alguien's to Ellen's. Does Ellen need emoticons to understand that Alguien's comments after agreeing with Jane are sarcastic?
Even if she didn't understand the sarcasm, how does Ellen get "I finally understand what is going on with the House Democratic caucus and the virtually-everything-illegal- Bush-ever-did-and-will-do FISA bill. The Democrats believe the GOP--it's the American people and taxpayers who are the enemy!!"? Where do the American people and taxpayers become in enemy in the above comments?
Unfortunately, American people and taxpayers have little to no power over what happens in Iraq (or in many aspects of life in the US), as has been amply demonstrated by "the surge" vis à vis public opinion about the war. Just when was the last time that anything the State Department did get put out there for a vote, or even for constructive feedback?
Look, almost every item in today's Daily Muck would have required some pretty creative thinking before the fact to have anticipated these abuses and basic cock-ups. Yes, there are laws about fraud, murder, elections, and abuse of power that are supposed to stop people from doing naughty things, but even in cities that aren't war zones, people break laws.
Therefore, it's about time, I guess, to have groups of devious people sit around in rooms and look at scenarios (such as using contractors that go into Iraq not having to adhere to military regulations) to write down all the horrible things that could happen (that maybe they would do, if they could get away with them) so that safeguards can be put in place before the fact. Maybe what seems like common sense after the fact (give road contractors access to many millions of dollars without much oversight, and they'll probably skim off a few mill for themselves) isn't so common before the fact, because the ones hiring those contractors wouldn't steal, so why should anyone else?
This, Ellen, is what I think is a difference between Republicans and Democrats that isn't much discussed: I think there are way more devious Republicans in positions of power out there, and they can immediately suss out ways around laws, regulations, and just plain common decency (think Rove) that most Democrats in power can't even conceive. And those devious guys tutor their masters in what to say and do. That's a real tactical advantage.
So unless lawmakers and those who are supposed to oversee things for the common good use savvy con artists (kind of like Treasury used Frank Abagnale to catch forgers) to anticipate all possible bad things that can happen, we're going to be forever outraged by these current abuses and all the ones yet to be committed or discovered.