News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government

Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government
04 Mar 2011

'Libya no-fly zone an option': Obama gives strongest indication yet U.S. forces may be deployed in Middle East 04 Mar 2011 President Barack Obama said today the U.S. was considering enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. In his strongest remarks yet about the Libya crisis, the President indicated that he was keeping 'all options open' including enforcing a controversial no-fly zone with American military aircraft. Speaking at a meeting with Mexican premier Felipe Calderon, he insisted that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi leave office, declaring he had lost his authority to lead.

Obama signals willingness to intervene militarily in Libya 04 Mar 2011 President Obama said Thursday that he had ordered plans giving the U.S. military "full capacity to act, potentially rapidly," in Libya if the situation there deteriorates. "I don't want us hamstrung," Obama said. He cited the possibility of a humanitarian crisis, or "a situation in which defenseless civilians were finding themselves trapped and in great danger," or "a stalemate that over time could be bloody" if Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi continues to resist international demands that he step down.

US funding Afghan insurgency with $100 million under cover of hydropower project --Ex-Pentagon adviser: U.S. should cut Afghan aid 02 Mar 2011 By pumping more than $100 million into a hydropower plant, the United States sought to improve the lives of Afghans and win the hearts and minds of tribesmen and farmers who might otherwise turn to the Taliban insurgency. Instead, a prominent outside Pentagon adviser argues, the bungled boondoggle ended up funding the insurgents while doing little to help the United States end the war and bring troops home. The story of the Kajaki dam, the largest U.S. aid project in Afghanistan, is emblematic of the U.S. government’s failing approach to development aid in Afghanistan, according to a policy brief by Mark Moyar, a former professor at the Marine Corps University and frequent consultant to U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and the Mideast. [Notice Republicans don't have a problem with billion$ spent on infrastructure in any country except the US? That's because the money goes to mercenaries, corporaterrorists and *actual* terrorists -- not the people -- so the war on [of] terror will go on forever.]

U.S. commander makes rare apology after air strike kills nine civilians in Afghanistan --Civilian casualties up 20 per cent to 6,215 since 2009 03 Mar 2011 The commander of U.S. and Nato forces in Afghanistan made a rare apology yesterday for an air strike that killed nine civilians. The move comes after Afghan politicians warned a rise in such raids was hampering 'efforts' to end the war against the Taliban. Members of parliament angrily denounced two recent Nato strikes in eastern Kunar province in which they said more than 73 civilians were killed, about half of them children, and called on Petraeus to explain.

US-led soldier slain in Afghanistan 03 Mar 2011 A soldier with the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has died in a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan. "An ISAF service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today," Xinhua cited a brief statement released by the military contingent on Thursday.

Former CIA spy gets five-and-a-half years for drugging and sexually abusing Algerian woman --Sentence is two years longer than recommended time --Judge says he took a 'calculated risk' the Muslim woman would not report it --CIA agent went on a drug-fuelled binge to evade capture, but eventually found in a hotel with a gun, high on crack 04 Mar 2011 A former CIA spy has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for drugging and sexually abusing an Algerian woman while he was head of the agency’s operations in the North African country. The length of sentence was longer than expected for Andrew Warren, who went on a crack cocaine-fuelled run from the law after police initially questioned him. U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle said Warren seemed to think he could get away with the crime because he had diplomatic immunity and his victim was a married Muslim who would be unlikely to report the crime for fear of becoming an outcast.

Pakistan: CIA man has no immunity --Court in Lahore rules that Raymond Davis, held on charges of killing two men, should stand trial. 03 Mar 2011 A Pakistani court has said a CIA contractor facing trial over the fatal shooting of two men does not have diplomatic immunity. The court in the eastern city of Lahore also adjourned hearing of the case where Raymond Davis is being tried until March 8. Thursday's decision is at least a temporary blow to the US, which insists Davis was considered a diplomat and was acting in self-defence against the dead men, whom he called robbers.

Two journalists killed in Iraq 01 Mar 2011 An Iraqi journalist reporting for the satellite television station al-Ittijah, whose name has not been released, was among those killed in a blast that targeted a celebration in Ramadi. The killing occurred a week after another Iraqi journalist was shot dead in Mosul by a group of unidentified men. Over the weekend, a number of reporters were detained during and after their coverage of the mass demonstrations that took place in central Baghdad's al-Tahrir Square. They said they were handcuffed, blindfolded, beaten and threatened by security forces while held in custody for nine hours. [Saddam Hussein: The better deal, six ways to Sunday.]

Egypt PM Shafiq resigns amid pressure 03 Mar 2011 Egypt interim Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has resigned, following weeks of anti-government protests demanding that the government be purged of all remnants of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's regime. "The Supreme Council of Military Forces announces that it has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq," Egypt's ruling military council said, without elaborating on the reasons for the move, AFP reported on Thursday. He will be replaced by former Transport Minister Essam Sharaf, the council added.

Julian Assange lodges extradition appeal --WikiLeaks founder's lawyers file appeal against his extradition to Sweden to face charges of rape and sexual assault 03 Mar 2011 Lawyers representing the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, have lodged papers to appeal against his extradition from Britain to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault. The high court in London confirmed it had received documents to challenge the ruling made at Belmarsh magistrates court, south London, last week.

Assange lawyer under investigation in Sweden 02 Mar 2011 Julian Assange's Swedish lawyer Björn Hurtig is under investigation by the Swedish Bar Association following accusations made by a British judge during the WikiLeaks founder's extradition trial. In releasing his ruling last week that Assange should be extradited to Sweden, District Judge Howard Riddle accused Hurtig of deliberately misleading the court, calling him "unreliable". Riddle also claimed that Hurtig, who was called to testify at the trial by his client's British legal team, had purposefully given faulty information about how many times Swedish prosecutors tried to contact him.

WikiLeaks soldier 'forced to strip naked' 04 Mar 2011 Supporters of an American army analyst accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified US cables say new charges levelled against him may be designed to force a confession or to get him to implicate others. US military prosecutors have added 22 extra charges including a count of aiding the enemy, which is punishable by death. But US legal experts say the charge is ill-defined and supporters of Private Bradley Manning say he is still suffering degrading treatment at the hands of his military jailers. His defence lawyer says in a blog entry that Manning was stripped and left naked for seven hours last night without explanation.

Accused WikiLeaks source Manning stripped, left naked in military cell, lawyer says 04 Mar 2011 The lawyer representing the US Army Private accused of sharing classified documents with WikiLeaks claims his client was stripped of his clothes and left naked in a cell for seven hours. David E. Coombs wrote about the incident at the Quantico Marine base in Virginia, where Pfc Bradley Manning has been held since July, in an entry on his website, the New York Times reported. "This type of degrading treatment is inexcusable and without justification," Mr Coombs wrote. "It is an embarrassment to our military justice system and should not be tolerated. Pfc Manning has been told that the same thing will happen to him again tonight."

Wikileaks whistleblower Bradley Manning faces death penalty after Army charges him with 'aiding the enemy' 03 Mar 2011 The U.S. soldier accused of leaking tens of thousands of confidential embassy cables to Wikileaks could face the death penalty after the Army today filed 22 new charges of illegally disclosing classified information against him. Among the charges facing Private Bradley Manning, 23, is one of 'aiding the enemy', a capital offence. The seven-month investigation into Manning by the Army also accuses the former systems analyst of wrongfully obtaining classified material for the purpose of posting it on the Internet and knowing that the information would be accessed by the enemy.
Frankfurt Airport Shooting an Act of Islamic Terror, European Officials Say 03 Mar 2011 Authorities in Europe are calling the shooting at a Frankfurt, Germany, airport that claimed the lives of two U.S. servicemen an act of Islamic terrorism, though U.S. investigators said it is too soon to tell. The suspected gunman, 21-year-old Arid Uka, who was captured immediately after Wednesday's shooting, admitted to the deadly attack and said he acted alone, German Interior Minister Boris Rhein said today, according to a report by The Associated Press. Uka allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire on a bus carrying U.S. airmen in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, killing two and wounding two others before his gun jammed, officials said.

German Investigators Suspect Islamist Motives behind Attack 03 Mar 2011 German authorities are pursuing substantial evidence that the perpetrator of Wednesday's attack at Frankfurt Airport, which killed two American airmen, had links with Islamist groups in Germany. There is concern that additional attacks may be in the works. Following initial investigations, security authorities in Germany are investigating whether Wednesday's shooting at Frankfurt Airport was a targeted attack on the US Army. They are also exploring whether US soldiers in Germany are at risk of further attacks.

Student sues FBI for planting GPS on his car --Egyptian-American college student in Calif. suing FBI for secretly putting GPS tracking device on his car 02 Mar 2011 An Egyptian-American college student who says he has never done anything that should raise the attention of U.S. law enforcement officials is suing the FBI for secretly putting a GPS tracking device on his car. Twenty-year-old Yasir Afifi says a mechanic doing an oil change in October discovered the device stuck under his car with magnets. His friend posted pictures online to see if anyone could identify it. Afifi says two days later, FBI agents showed up outside his apartment in San Jose, California, and demanded their property back. [I hate when that happens! ]

Documents Reveal TSA Plan to Body-Scan Pedestrians, Train Passengers 02 Mar 2011 Giving Transportation Security Administration agents a peek under your clothes may soon be a practice that goes well beyond airport checkpoints. Newly uncovered documents show that as early as 2006, the Department of Homeland Security has been planning pilot programs to deploy mobile scanning units that can be set up at public events and in train stations, along with mobile x-ray vans capable of scanning pedestrians on city streets. The non-profit Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) on Wednesday published documents it obtained from the Department of Homeland Security showing that from 2006 to 2008 the agency planned a study of new anti-terrorism technologies that EPIC believes raise serious privacy concerns. [Yes, but since the TSA proposals were implemented by Bush regime, the GOP's fine with it.]

Bill Would Make Some Airport Screening Sexual Assault --Those Convicted Would be Required to Register As Sex Offenders 02 Mar 2011 Lawmakers and residents engaged in heated debate Tuesday over a bill that would make random airport security pat-downs and body scans criminal in New Hampshire. The bill (HB628-FN) "makes the touching or viewing with a technological device of a person's breasts or genitals by a government security agent without probable cause a sexual assault," according to the introductory text of the bill. "Let's put their name on the sex offender registry, and maybe that will tell them New Hampshire means business," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Andrew Manuse, R-Derry.

Another day, another surrender: Democrats Open Talks by Offering $6.5 Billion More in Cuts 04 Mar 2011 As they opened negotiations with Republicans over budget cuts, the White House and Congressional Democrats on Thursday offered to trim an additional $6.5 billion from current spending, a figure far short of the Republican goal of cutting agency budgets by $61 billion. The plan to push the spending dispute onto the Senate floor emerged after a high-level meeting presided over by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Before the session, White House officials disclosed that they were willing to accept an additional $6.5 billion in cuts, on top of $4 billion in reductions enacted in a short-term budget bill earlier this week. [WHO on EARTH offers concessions BEFORE a meeting? *Democrats.*]

How Americans want -- and don't want -- to balance the budget --81% support tax on millionaires By Ezra Klein 03 Mar 2011 Cutting funding for the Affordable Care Act is less popular than I would've thought given the program's poor poll numbers, and voucherizing Medicare, which is the core of Paul Ryan's plan for entitlement reform, is the most unpopular idea on the list (and that's before people realize that the real savings come from offering vouchers that won't be large enough to purchase insurance).

NBC/WSJ poll: Americans adamantly opposed to cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, K-12 education 02 Mar 2011 [Scrolling *way down* in the article to get to the facts that Comcast's MSNBC maggots are loathe to reveal:] The most popular: placing a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year (81 percent said that was acceptable), eliminating spending on earmarks (78 percent), eliminating funding for weapons systems the Defense Department says aren’t necessary (76 percent) and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent). The least popular: cutting funding for Medicaid, the federal government health-care program for the poor (32 percent said that was acceptable); cutting funding for Medicare, the federal government health-care program for seniors (23 percent); cutting funding for K-12 education (22 percent); and cutting funding for Social Security (22 percent).
Ohio Librarians Rally Against Bill Targeting Collective Bargaining 03 Mar 2011 The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 5 by a one-vote margin (17-16) Wednesday afternoon, and, as in Wisconsin, targeting workers' collective bargaining rights does not sit well with labor supporters, including library workers around the state. Six Republicans joined Senate Democrats in voting against the bill. A number of library workers said Gov. John Kasich, along with some of his fellow Republicans, is trying to paint public sector employees as the cause of the state's deep budget problems as he prepares to release his proposed biennial budget on March 15.

Ohio Senate Passes Bill to Restrict Public Unions --Ohio Senate passes bill to ban public workers from striking, restrict collective bargaining 03 Mar 2011 The bargaining rights of public workers in Ohio would be dramatically reduced and strikes would be banned under a bill narrowly passed by the state Senate on Wednesday. The GOP-backed measure that would restrict the collective bargaining rights of roughly 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees squeaked through the state Senate on a 17-16 vote. Six Republicans sided with Democrats against the measure. Firefighters and teachers shouted "Shame!" in the chamber as the legislation was approved and moved on to the GOP-controlled House, where it is likely to receive strong support.

Cops: Wis. protester unplugged Fox News cables [That's a good start.] 03 Mar 2011 A Chicago man has been arrested for allegedly unplugging cables to a Fox News van at the Wisconsin Capitol protests. The cords powered the lights and cameras during Fox's remote broadcasts. A Fox News staffer says no broadcast was interrupted [damn] because of the incident and no permanent damage was done. Dan Edelstein, 23, of Chicago has been charged with disorderly conduct.
Wisconsin's Walker vows no compromise on unions 03 Mar 2011 Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) vowed on Thursday never to compromise on the core of his plan to curb the power of public sector unions and said investors should buy the state's bonds precisely because he was taking a tough stance. In an interview with Reuters Insider exactly two weeks after state Senate Democrats fled to Illinois to stall action on Walker's proposal, he said public sector unions must be reined in to allow local governments to cut costs.

Wisconsin Protesters Ordered Out of Capitol After Gov. Scott Walker Threatens Layoffs --Governor Threatens to Lay Off State Workers if His 'Budget-Repair Bill' Isn't Passed 03 Mar 2011 A judge has ordered pro-union protesters occupying Wisconsin's state Capitol in Madison to leave the building -- though the public will be allowed back inside when normal business hours resume at 8 a.m. Monday, prompting some protesters to claim a legal victory. Judge John Albert in Dane County, Wis., ruled that people are allowed to attend hearings at the Capitol and enter the building during normal business hours, but not to sleep there overnight when it normally is closed, according to ABC News affiliate WKOW in Madison, Wis.

Union Protesters Suspended for Calling Out Sick 03 Mar 2011 Three union workers who called out sick to attend a labor rally at the New Jersey Statehouse last week have been suspended. The move comes a day after Gov. Christie [R-Sociopath] told NBC New York in an interview that "people who call in sick better be sick." Christie issued his warning ahead of another labor rally that drew thousands on Thursday. Monmouth County officials said the three employees suspended without pay Thursday work for the county's Senior Citizen Area Transportation service and are members of CWA Local 1038.

BP fund lawyer to refuse 100,000 Gulf spill disaster claims --Vast majority of 130,000 unsettled claims do not have adequate documentation, says [9/11 whore] Ken Feinberg 01 Mar 2011 Upwards of 100,000 claims arising from the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico may never be paid, the beleaguered administrator of the oil company's compensation fund has acknowledged. A defensive Ken Feinberg, under fire from the Obama administration, Gulf leaders and local business for the slow pace of payouts for losses due to the BP spill, said the vast majority of the 130,000 unsettled claims did not have adequate documentation. "Here is the problem that I continually have to address … roughly 80% of the claims that we now have in the queue lack proof," Feinberg told foreign reporters in Washington. "That is a huge number." [Yes, and one that's the inverse of his IQ, I'm sure.]

BP directors take bonuses for year of Gulf of Mexico oil spill --Two of BP's most senior directors have taken bonus payments for their work in the year of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill 03 Mar 2011 Byron Grote, finance director, and Iain Conn, head of downstream, had their £800,000 and £724,000 salaries and benefits topped up with rewards of £380,000 and £310,500 respectively. The bonuses amounted to 30pc of the full potential payout. BP’s annual report also revealed that Tony Hayward, the former chief executive who left the company after the worst of the crisis, will get almost £100,000 a year for his work as a non-executive of BP’s Russian joint venture TNK-BP. He left the board in October with £2m in salary and severance payments, plus a £600,000-a-year pension. [Yeah, let's cut more teachers' salaries, shall we? Maybe Sharron Angle is right: Only Second Amendment remedies can stop the insanity. Oh. Save yourself an email and me the time. I know BP is a UK-based company. I don't care. It's all part of the same septic tank that needs to be *flushed.* And, the bonus here is that I got 'septic tank' and 'Sharron Angle' into the same paragraph. --LRP]

Business Tax Cut May Carve Into Budgets of 19 States --Tax cut could cost 19 states as much as $5.3 billion in lost revenue over next few years 02 Mar 2011 Struggling states could lose as much as $5.3 billion in tax collections during the next few years in an unintended consequence of one of the lower-profile federal tax cuts that President Obama signed in December, according to a report released Tuesday. The tax-cut package the president signed in December is best known for extending the Bush-era tax rates for [at least] two years... But it included a business tax cut that could blow a hole in state budgets: a provision allowing businesses to deduct the full value of new equipment purchases from their taxes through 2011.

Unemployment rate falls to 8.9% 04 Mar 2011 The nation’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in February, the lowest level since April 2009, as 192,000 jobs were added to non-farm payrolls. The Labor Department reported Friday that employment rose in manufacturing, construction and temporary help agencies. State and local government payrolls declined. Federal government employment was unchanged. [Time for gas prices to skyrocket, since Obama did *nothing* to curb Wall Street speculators.]

Fla. high court: Governor can reject rail funding 04 Mar 2011 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Friday that $2.4 billion in high-speed rail funding intended for Florida will be sent to other states after the state Supreme Court upheld Gov. Rick Scott's decision to reject the money. The Republican governor's decision effectively kills the Tampa-Orlando route. Until Scott's election in November, it had been on track to become a leading example of how the Obama administration's stimulus plan is creating jobs and reviving the nation's passenger rail system.

Judge stays healthcare ruling, gives W.House deadline 03 Mar 2011 A U.S. judge on Thursday put on hold his ruling that President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul insurance cartel giveaway was unconstitutional, allowing the White House to continue implementing the landmark legislation for now. But U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson failed to dispel widespread uncertainty about the fate of the highly-politicized healthcare reform law. He gave the Obama administration seven days to ask an appeals court to quickly review his Jan. 31 ruling and said the law could be declared void if it failed to meet the deadline.

Texas approves bill requiring sonogram before abortion 04 Mar 2011 Women seeking an abortion would have to first get an ultrasound under a measure approved on Thursday by the Texas House of Representatives. The proposal, the first significant bill considered by the House this year, was designated by Republican Governor Rick Perry as an emergency priority. A similar measure has already been approved by the state Senate. Women would have to get an ultrasound between 24 and 72 hours before an abortion, the bill says.

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