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Zebra 3 Report by Joe Anybody
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
Terror Being Used To Create Fear = Oh...! ....... Really ?
Mood:
 sharp
Now Playing: Defense Tech * Homeland Security Blues
Topic: POLITICS
Hello z3 Readers By the way before we get started - check out this abc news story discussing if the fear issue is being employed by fox tv towards society ...well how ironic (duhhhh) Here is the link to the abc story and a few paragraphs Nuclear Blast on TV's '24' Causes Fallout for FoxCritics Ask Whether the Show Is Feeding Terror FearsBy SUSAN DONALDSON JAMESJan. 15, 2007 — - "How much longer? I hear someone," says the nervous terrorist with a heavy Middle Eastern accent, just before U.S. agents storm a warehouse where a nuclear device is being assembled. Confusion reigns, drama builds, the device is detonated and a mushroom cloud looms over Los Angeles. Such is primetime television in the age of terrorism, or as some critics charge, has "24" gone too far? "It's the closest television comes to roller coasters," said David Bianculli, television critic for the New York Daily News. "It works well dramatically, and as far as feeding fears, that's what '24' is all about." Sut Jhally, co-producer and co-director of the film "Hijacking Catastrophe," says the dramatic action in the show creates a dangerous climate in which the public loses some of its perspective on what's real and what's not. Of course that may be a minority opinion given the show's enormous popularity. "24" is taken seriously by some serious folks. Last June the conservative Heritage Foundation hosted a panel called, "'24' and America's Image in Fighting Terrorism: Fact, Fiction or Does It Matter?" Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff participated. But some national security experts worry that television fantasy can trigger the imagination of terrorists. Jack Cloonan, a former senior agent on the FBI's bin Laden squad in New York, said that trainees in former al-Qaeda camps watched movie videos "to get ideas." "The show has huge entertainment value, but it ups the ante for everybody," said Cloonan. "We saw what Columbine did. Fox may think they are doing a public service, but I don't see any redeeming value at all." Josh Governale, spokesman for "24," refused to comment on tonight's episode. http://abcnews.go.com/US/print?id=2795969 My fellow resders allow me to continue, Now below my text here ...I am copying the following post to put in my z3 report, because it illustrates the point i have been making for a long time - about how trumped up terror fear as explained/shown in the "power of nightmares" video-series from the bbc. Consider what this article is saying and the abc one you just read above, and then - think about how fear is running/ruining this world and exploited by our neocon leaders and croonies to this very day, renebr the terror alerts? the BBC article can be watched from my website here http://www.joe-anybody.com/id16.html I urge you all to watch the bbc Nightmare 3-part-series after you read the following post which I found on a military website that is full of interesting information here titled "homeland security blues" http://www.defensetech.org/archives/cat_homeland_security.html More of my opinion on this terror-angle can be found on my Joe anybody website under the 'Terror' tab --> http://www.joe-anybody.com/id57.html Homeland Security Blues
When I scan the papers for how the feds, state and locals are dealing with terrorist CBRN [Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear] incidents, I cringe. We seem to swing from pandering to our worst fears to get a few more bucks to blind rote repetition in hazard response that doesn't match logic to the threat. Here's a few examples that I hope are not typical, but I wonder...
 In Denver, there was a "white powder" scare on Sunday - actually, it wasn't even a powder scare, it was a number of capsules holding a yellow powder which were delivered to a bank. It tested positive for a biological organism (protein) but not anthrax. There was no threat in the envelope, no return address, no visible signs of ill effects on the employees handling the mail. So of course the locals did the routine thing - quarantine the seven bank employees and the police officer who answered the 911 call, call the feds, let the WMD Civil Support Team confirm it's not anthrax, and strip and wash the employees in the bank's parking lot. Yep - routine. But as a precaution, the employees were scrubbed in a puffy orange tent and sent home in a hazardous- materials suit because the substance was still unknown Sunday evening. One of the female employees cried on her way out of the decontamination tent, where she was required to strip naked and get scrubbed down by a hazardous-materials team. The police officer also was decontaminated because he came in contact with the employees when he answered the 911 call.
Okay, is it asking too much for someone - between FEMA, the FBI, the Army (assuming the 20th SUPCOM), the WMD CST, and the Denver firefighters and hazmat team - to think, hmmm, doesn't test out as a BW agent or any typical white/yellow powder, no weird messages in the envelope, maybe we don't have to recreate the decon scene from "Silkwood" for what is probably a false alarm and obviously not a chemical or radiological hazard that might cause an acute lethal reaction. Idiots. Let's flash over to Kansas City, where Kansas State University is planning to open up a Bio-Security Research Institute, which will study food safety. About $54 million is being invested in the facility. The university has a program called "Making America Safer" which includes several projects funded by DHS. They're looking forward to helping... Now, under the center’s purview, hundreds of researchers and students are engaged in projects aimed at keeping America safe. The center works with the departments of Agriculture, Defense and Justice and other federal, state and local agencies “to facilitate an effective strategy for rapid response to emerging agricultural threats,” Vanier said. The center is even developing plans for training police and firefighters who would be early responders in the event of a bioterrorist attack.
No, it's not the scientists' job to limit or halt bioterrorism attacks, contrary to the article's cheery tone. Intelligence professionals find out where the terrorists are and counterterrorism units grab the bad guys. All the scientists do is preach how deadly the bugs are and why they need more money to research the hazards. Although I should take it easy on K-State's associate vice provost for research and compliance, Jerry Jaax - he paid his dues as an Army MRIID doc working at the Reston Ebola breakout in 1989 - he's still a typical medic: "a bioterrorism attack could cripple the agricultural-based economy of the [Kansas] region. Jaax said a 'significant risk' of such an attack does exist." Yadda yadda. Where's the intel assessment? Last, let's jump up to the Fed level. ABC News gets Richard Clarke (its paid consultant) and the FBI's WMD Division to hype up the spinach E. coli incident into a potential agro-terrorism incident. Government investigators say there's no evidence linking the current E. coli outbreak — in which tainted spinach has caused at least 171 known cases in 25 states, according to the FDA — to terrorism. But those same investigators are keenly aware that America's food supply is vulnerable to attack. An international meeting on how to fight agro-terrorism starts Monday in Kansas City. Government agencies have held mock exercises to see what would happen if the food supply was compromised. The results were catastrophic. "What happened was utter chaos," said Sen. Patrick Roberts, R-Kan. "We lost almost the entire livestock herd of the United States, all export stock. We had panic at the grocery stores."
What a shock. A national exercise which went for the "worst case scenario" route to test the leadership responses, despite all lack of any evidence of a current terrorist threat and the complete lack of any past history of agro-terrorism. But it justifies the USDA's research bills. Is it too much to ask for some sanity? Some logic and common sense? Natural disasters, accidents and indigenous diseases are still the major killers out there, people. I'm not against some funds for countering CBRN terrorism - it pays my bills - but certainly we could be spending it smarter, and more importantly, talking about the topic more intelligently. UPDATE: Offices in Denver got four "anthrax" envelopes Monday - some copycat with a sick sense of humor. We need FEMA or the state EOCs to develop procedures that will minimize panic and not automatically go to four-alarm mode, assuming that every white powder is anthrax unless otherwise proven. These hoaxes and false alarms are going to continue - better figure out a sane way to face that fact. -- Jason Sigger, crossposted at Armchair Generalist
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 12:16 AM PST
Updated: Tuesday, 16 January 2007 2:03 AM PST
Monday, 15 January 2007
Iran Focus says what I have said all along
Mood:
 incredulous
Now Playing: Chairman of the Guardians Council says 911 was a Puppet Show
Topic: 911 TRUTH
Well now isn't this interesting, but then this is not news to me I am glad the coffee is being smelled by the world at large ...for we all were scammed...... Iran Focus Iran says U.S. planned 9/11 attacks | Fri. 12 Jan 2007 | http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9812
 Tehran, Iran, Jan. 12 – Iran trumpeted a stunning accusation against the United States on Friday, claiming it had planned the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.
The Chairman of the Guardians Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati described 9/11 as a "puppet show", adding that it had been orchestrated by the Americans themselves.
"They used this event as a pretext in order to create the slogan of fighting terrorism and promoting democracy to carry out an assault on Islamic countries. But the reality is that they have been defeated in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Lebanon and their slogan has lost its effect", Jannati told worshippers during a sermon in Tehran. His comments were aired on state television.
In September 2006, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps accused the Bush Administration and the Israeli security service Mossad of ordering the September 11 attacks.
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Posted by Joe Anybody
at 8:34 PM PST
Updated: Monday, 15 January 2007 8:39 PM PST
Saturday, 13 January 2007
I am happy to tell you
Mood:
 hug me
Now Playing: Joe Anybody Photo Video Web page Debut
Topic: ANYBODY * ANYDAY
http://www.fliptrack.com/profile/Joe%20Anybody Here is a website that I have put together It is a few political (& non) photo/video clips w/music I made I will be changing - adding things here from time to time ~ so drop back in ~ 
The Film Po Po Pro is a collection of pictures of various protesting and police confrontations, not all are of the pictures are US issues but the power clash with armed enforcers is real. The Film Happy Times-Do All 3 is a short clip of the Neocons, burning man,torture pictures, and kids. These are Happy Times folks ....Rush Limbaugh told me so. And most the recently added is a film called Fractalburn it has some cool illusion and fractals. It has no politics and took me about a day to put it all together. The software to make these flicks is somewhat cumbersome to learn and their are lots of limits (I have to use their music for example, but its all free) I enjoyed putting some of my pictures to music and sharing the message or the concept. Po Po Pro is my my first and favorite. Help support Peace and encourage an end to war. This link here will take you to my video page --> http://www.fliptrack.com/profile/Joe%20Anybody
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 5:01 PM PST
Updated: Monday, 15 January 2007 4:29 PM PST
Thursday, 11 January 2007
Can You say IMPEACH
Mood:
 loud
Now Playing: !000 people say it with their bodies
Topic: FAILURE by the GOVERNMENT
http://beachimpeach.com/photos.shtml 
January 6, 2007 -- Over 1000 people gathered in Nancy Pelosi's district, on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, to spell out the message "IMPEACH!"
Zebra 3 Readers ya got see these people in the pictures and the video.
As my kid says when he seen the pictures ...he said "Gee what does that tell ya?" Watch this excellent - You Tube Video of this event - Here Impeach At The Beach Dont Forget There is this LINKS PAGE that I found with much much more stuff http://beachimpeach.com/links.shtml
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 8:22 PM PST
Updated: Thursday, 11 January 2007 8:49 PM PST
Tuesday, 9 January 2007
Greenpeace right on the ass of a apple
Mood:
 suave
Now Playing: Dont stop the ebb and flow of the capitalist ways and means
Topic: ENVIRONMENTAL
So looks like GREENPEACE is on Apple Computer to start acting GREEN 
At first I headed into this article slightly skeptical, the more I read the more I liked the concept and the public pressure. Ya know it is too bad it takes ACTIVISM to get business's and corporations and even the government to act. They would be status quo and not do a damn thing if the dang activists were not there EXPOSING and badgering them. (here is the link) --> http://www.greenpeace.org/apple/itox.html The whole activism pressure is a sheer use of using energy for a positive effect. What gets me is the universal acceptance that as long as "profits" were to be made "GET OUT OF THE WAY" ...it appears to me that the sole purpose of most peoples respect for life and freedom entail and actually really is all about the money. It looks more and more to me like the "way we all live on this planet together, the power and control centers around profits above all else....No morals. No scruples. Making money. Get out of the way, commerce and profits are coming through. Don't stop the ebb and flow of the capitalist ways and means. So you can send a comment by snail mail or call at the main office Apple 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014 408.996.1010 } And tell Steve Jobs @ Apple, to do the green thing and start acting responsible. I am going to send my printed letter (since I don't see a email address) What is amazing is that many other electronic company's are all ready doing this 'Green Thing'. In fact this list below amazes me as I read how as the band wagon gets rolling but .....Apple seems to put profits before good green sense and there concern for the world (so far) 
Here is 50 Greenpeace Activists at Apple Computer with Green Lights shining on the building, thus lighting it up green and raising the question ....Why is Apple not Being Green?
Click For Photos
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 11:34 PM PST
Updated: Wednesday, 10 January 2007 12:35 AM PST
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Iraq Contractors Have New Rules To Follow
Mood:
 caffeinated
Now Playing: Military Article On The Hired Help
Topic: WAR
Five years into the war on terror, American military contractors have finally lost some of their immunity from prosecution for dirty deeds done on the federal dime. In a post over on DefenseTech, the Brookings Institution's Peter Singer reports on a quiet insertion into the 2007 Pentagon budget that means ..."contractors' 'get out of jail free' card may have been torn to shreds." Basically, contractors are now subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which means they can be court martialed: QuotE: Since the start of the Iraq war, tens of thousands of heavily-armed military contractors have been roaming the country -- without any law, or any court to control them. That may be about to change, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow P.W. Singer notes in a Defense Tech exclusive. Five words, slipped into a Pentagon budget bill, could make all the difference. With them, "contractors 'get out of jail free' cards may have been torn to shreds," he writes. They're now subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the same set of laws that governs soldiers. But here's the catch: embedded reporters are now under those regulations, too. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003123.html
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 10:41 PM PST
Saturday, 6 January 2007
Today In the New York Times, I Read About The Deep Divide
Mood:
incredulous
Now Playing: Bush Facing Deep Divide Over More Troops for Iraq
Topic: WAR
Let start this post on the topic of “Escalating Troops Iraq” with a quote from this Saturday NY Times <1-6-07> by Sen. Mary L Landrieu who is a Louisiana Democrat. She stated to the White House, “The American people’s patience is wearing thin with the vagueness,” Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat from Nebraska was quoted as saying “I don’t know that the American people will see the surge (of troops in Iraq) as a new direction, The American people want to see a change in direction, not just a change in slogans.” As well as Senator Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat who said, “An increase in troops would face considerable scrutiny in Congress from Democrats and Republicans.” And my fellow Zebra 3 Reader, this nugget here from the Times article struck me as a double edged point to ponder: After the meeting, Mrs. Clinton did not issue a statement, while Mr. Obama spoke to reporters about his conversation with Mr. Bush. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, who both are considering a presidential candidacy, arrived at the White House at nearly the same time. After the meeting, Mrs. Clinton did not issue a statement, while Mr. Obama spoke to reporters about his conversation with Mr. Bush. “I personally indicated that an escalation of troop levels in Iraq was a mistake and that we need a political accommodation, rather than a military approach to the sectarian violence there,” he said. “I think he recognizes that the status quo is unacceptable and has to change.” Folks notice how Clinton had no comment ..... I believe she is pro war... that is why!! Notice Obama has stepped up and said rhe right thing ! ahhhhhhhh Seems like he is a-hell-of-a-lot-smater than the ditz that is running things now.
So these were the comments being relayed to Bush in the White House just the other day with the “special meeting he called” Read Full Article From the NY Times Here 
So what is the Commander in Chief getting ready to do? Ramp up the number of warm US bodies to send in for more targets.., that’s what he is doing! In blatant disregard for all the anti-war information and the (sic) intelligence he is going on a self-destruct course. See the link I put to a comment on MSNBC / You Tube from the journalist Keith Obernman, it is titled: Keith Olbermann's Special Comment He eloquently says these US Military deaths are all on Bush shoulders and who has lied about this from the start. It is his fault! He is to Blame! Folks we all know that fighting is wrong. We all know there were no WMD ..It was lies! We know torture is being done in (sic) off shore-prisons! (GITMO, etc) (Where US law doesn’t apply) We have killed 100 of Thousands innocent Iraq civilians by this attack on their country Our US solider death tolls now stretches over 3000 US dead and rising We know but hardly hear of the injuries to US soldiers which is 1000 and 1000’s of injurie! We are destroying the whole region water, roads, schools, hospitals, kicking in door-to-door, crimes rapes and shooting/killings. This fricken war is wrong and SUCKS Bush is out of his mind is going to try to drag us all down with him! In his greed for oil, power, and self serving war profiteering he is 'Ruining the World' and my country who under his insane directive are continiously and shamelessly killing without cause or reason The answer I see is Impeachment. It would rid our society and country from this terrible mans rein. After Impeaching, I then see charges for prison and war crimes waged as being the proper and right thing to be done. He is not, beyond all law …..he too, must follow the laws of this country. I am ashamed to watch this man lie and kill to prove he was (sic) right! Now against all odds, all advise, and full of himself …he suggests “more bodies” That may be my kids he wants to use …….and when I think he would use my kid for his war obsession it makes me stand up and YELL ……. ”STOP THIS... YOU, WAR MONGER!" "CANT WE IMPEACH THIS IDIOT?” Let’s see if these Congressmen and women can ram the logic home? Hell maybe we need a Civil War here at home over this sick perverted White House killing fascination and waving our flag while they do it principles. I am writing my Senators next (again!) and tell them we need to.... .... put an end to the Killing ....Now!
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 2:07 PM PST
Updated: Sunday, 7 January 2007 5:24 AM PST
Friday, 5 January 2007
Date: 6-6-06: Topic: Greg Palast Lecture
Mood:
 chillin'
Now Playing: Greg Palast Armed Madhouse Review by Joe
Topic: POLITICS
I wrote the following report last summer 6-6-06 after listening to Greg Palast discuss his latest book "Armed Madhouse" at a Portland Oregon location. I am reposting this after reading it again last night, because it highlights many interesting need-to-know topics that are so relevant today. (Greg's book "Armed Madhouse" which I have almost finished listening to since I have a copy on CD ... is an eye opening amazing book) - please read or listen to it if at all possible - Greg's website is http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=509&row=0 
============================================= 6-6-06 Portland Or. First Unitarian Church. Report written by Joe Anybody "Armed Madhouse" Book Discussion Greg urged all of us to write our County Election Clerks and demand Verified Elections in Oregon. He told of spoiled votes and how he once flew to New Mexico And there he found 34,000 uncounted ballots in the garbage so to speak Problems with chads, touch screens, and GLITCH’s these were the “spoiled votes” He discusses the other type of “rejected ballots” which also were not counted. These were known as “provisional ballots”. Which were all those Military Ballots, that were returned because they couldn’t be “forwarded to the soldier’s location?” Resulting in many Soldiers that didn’t get to vote at all. And ….ALL, by the way, were black soldiers. Then there was the Felony Voters ….to the tune of 94,000 whom were targeted in Florida. In one case of this rejecting voters, Greg noticed was, where the Republican State Party Chairman was challenging these black voters credibility, and well, it turns out that every single name on their list was a good legal voter. I think he said around 1 million 900 thousands votes were not counted due to these provisional ballots eventually being tossed in the garbage Greg then discussed the Oil Lies And how he had secretly taped these big Huston Oil guy’s and himself discussing the plan. Only to latter have to remind them when they were lying that he had them on tape, playing “their own voice” as proof to get them to remember. They had “a Plan” and it was given to Greg by the ol stupid guy ruse He says to one “Hey!” ….“what is your plan mine is different” They told him To be used in Iraq it was called The Plan for Sustainable Oil Industry. He goes on to mention James Baker III, whom he exposes as a man with an office in the White House & Saudi Arabia. He joked about how Baker plays in the Oval Office. How he represents big players like the Carlyle Group, Exxon, and Bush and the Saudi’s who were sued in the 911 Tower attack. With meetings and Oil War plans being in the making they all planned This was such, as the private meeting with Cheney in his bunker. This meeting was also attended by Ken Lay and others in March of 2000 and together they all worked on the plan. In what most of us would refer to as à ”price fixing” these guys brokered deals which they claimed would “enhance the relationship with OPEC” It was the old sales pitch …..“Less oil” = high prices. . Back when Iraq appropriated the oil wells from Iran in the 60’s Greg mentions in Iraq there is 74 fields and only 15 are being in production? He asked Why so little production in this area? He refers to 1920 and Winston Churchill who Greg says invented Iraq and for its purpose of oil and oil drilling ….which currently today is that company known as British Petroleum He mentioned how when John Kennedy was talking with the British after being asked to join in and overthrow the Government of Iran by attacking Iraq who had appropriated the oil and land. But then Kennedy turned around and told the British how they had been robbing the Iraq people for so long it wasn’t appropriation of their oil wells… it was justice” Greg mentions 253 billion dollars flowing out to OPEC from the US And 1/3 of a trillion coming back which is about 311 billion In fact since the war began Exxon reserves have grown by 666 billion dollars. He talked of Venezuela, offering cheap oil and having plenty of the reserves to do it. Greg mentions Chavez doesn’t like the US oil plans, and coincidently Venezuela, owns a key U.S. subsidiary called Citgo Petroleum Corp., which has 14,000 gas stations and owns eight oil refineries in the US He offers cheap oil but said he will not give the US his,”countries money” back He is willing to help the poor with cheap oil but not loan or put his profits into the US economy. In fact to prove his point Greg said Chavez withdrew 20 billion dollars out of the US and loaned it to the countries of Argentina and Ecuador. He ends the lecture by promoting his book and encouraging us to get out and vote. He talked of Martin Luther Kings Family being proud of his new book Armed Madhouse. Proud enough to place this book on their father’s grave which is what was told to Greg by one of the family members. He ends with a short inspiring talk of marching for civil right And a references by Jessie Jackson saying, how they should march down and throw the book through one of the white house windows not put it on a grave. And a brief why we should bother to vote, - and a short “don’t take our flag” reflection. They want to take votes from dead soldier, well make them Steal them, he says! Greg predicts that they will take (steal) 5 million votes this next time in 2008 So he says we will need to then have….. 6 billion voters at the polls on that day! Greg then closed with a quote, a fitting choice to repeat (I think it was from Bush who the quote was from) a reminder from March 17 in a message to the Iraqi people “Do not fight for a dieing regime …it is not worth your life” We could heed those words today ourselves, says Greg. This report is also posted on Portland Indy Media here http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/06/340504.shtml (Pardon any misquotes or unintentional misprints or incorrect note deciphering ~just an average joe passing along what he can)
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 5:29 PM PST
Updated: Friday, 5 January 2007 6:07 PM PST
BUSH USES SIGNAGE STATEMENT TO ALLOW HIM TO READ YOUR MAIL WITHOUT A WARRANT
Mood:
 celebratory
Now Playing: Sneaky Postal Rule passed and not much discussion (huh)
Topic: CIVIL RIGHTS
DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD SEE THE DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT CAN SAY HE CAN READ YOUR MAIL WITH OUT A WARRANT? I was amazed to read one of the opening sentences from the article He then issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open mail under emergency conditions, contrary to existing law and contradicting the bill he had just signed, according to experts who have reviewed it. WELL READ THIS ARTICLE BELOW, WHICH I COPIED FROM --> http://www.rinf.com/forum/surveillance-society/bush-says-feds-can-open-mail-without-warrant-t131.0.html;msg370 SEE MY LINK ON JOE-ANYBODY.COM ON SIGNAGE STATEMENTS ** HERE ** 
HERE IS THE ARTICLE ON BUSH SAYING HE CAN OPEN YOUR MAIL WITH OUT A WARRANT: By James Gordon Meek
New York Daily News
WASHINGTON — President Bush quietly has claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans' mail without a judge's warrant.
Bush asserted the new authority Dec. 20 after signing legislation that overhauls some postal regulations. He then issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open mail under emergency conditions, contrary to existing law and contradicting the bill he had just signed, according to experts who have reviewed it.
A White House spokeswoman disputed claims that the move gives Bush any new powers, saying the Constitution allows such searches.
Still, the move, one year after The New York Times' disclosure of a secret program that allowed warrantless monitoring of Americans' phone calls and e-mail, caught Capitol Hill by surprise.
"Despite the president's statement that he may be able to circumvent a basic privacy protection, the new postal law continues to prohibit the government from snooping into people's mail without a warrant," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the incoming House Government Reform Committee chairman, who co-sponsored the bill.
Experts said the new powers could be easily abused and used to vacuum up large amounts of mail.
"The [Bush] signing statement claims authority to open domestic mail without a warrant, and that would be new and quite alarming," said Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies in Washington.
"You have to be concerned," a senior U.S. official agreed. "It takes executive-branch authority beyond anything we've ever known."
A top Senate Intelligence Committee aide promised a review of Bush's move.
"It's something we're going to look into," the aide said.
Most of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act deals with mundane changes. But the legislation also explicitly reinforces protections of first-class mail from searches without a court's approval.
Yet, in his statement, Bush said he will "construe" an exception, "which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection in a manner consistent ... with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances."
Bush cited as examples the need to "protect human life and safety against hazardous materials and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection."
White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore denied Bush was claiming new authority.
"In certain circumstances — such as with the proverbial 'ticking bomb' — the Constitution does not require warrants for reasonable searches," she said.
Bush, however, cited "exigent circumstances" that could refer to an imminent danger or a long-standing state of emergency.
Critics noted the administration could obtain a warrant quickly from a court or a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judge, and the Postal Service could block delivery.
But the Bush White House appears to be taking no chances, national-security experts agreed.
Martin said Bush is "using the same legal reasoning" as he did with warrantless eavesdropping.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
from Seattle Times
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 1:07 AM PST
Updated: Friday, 5 January 2007 1:54 AM PST
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Rat Hole
Mood:
 mischievious
Now Playing: NY Times article explains recent shift in Padilla Wiretap Case
Topic: TORTURE
 By DEBORAH SONTAGIn 1997, as the government listened in on their phone call, Adham Hassoun, a computer programmer in Broward County, Fla., proposed a road trip to Jose Padilla, a low-wage worker there. The excursion to Tampa would be his treat, Mr. Hassoun said, and a chance to meet “some nice, uh, brothers.” ..... ....... .................. ........................ ............................... But this is not the version of Mr. Padilla — Al Qaeda associate and would-be bomber — that John Ashcroft, then the attorney general, unveiled in 2002 when he interrupted a trip to Moscow to trumpet Mr. Padilla’s capture. In the four and a half years since then, as the government tested the limits of its power to deal with terrorism outside the traditional law enforcement system, Mr. Padilla is the only accused terrorist to have gone from enemy combatant to criminal defendant. His criminal trial, scheduled to begin late this month, will feature none of the initial claims about violent plotting with Al Qaeda that the government cited as justification for detaining Mr. Padilla without formal charges for three and a half years. Those claims came from the government’s overseas interrogations of terrorism suspects, like Abu Zubaydah, which, the government said, Mr. Padilla corroborated, in part, during his own questioning in a military brig in South Carolina. ...more--> READ THE FULL NYTimes ARTICLE HERE My Fellow Readers .....you need to update this into your ongoing tracking of the White House and how they are manipulating this TORTURE topic. In this NY Times article that just came out today I find a few interesting "moves" . One "move" is dropping the charges and then pinning them on his associate who is at GITMO. Thus avoiding a Supreme Court trial An Oddity also is, the reason he was first suspected/ wanted/ and then arrested is NOW totally removed and not an issue for those original charges...so what is with that? I thought he was a main player at first. (They <neocon leadership> are covering their tracks on serious civil rights issues...errrrrr I mean .....abuses!) The article also discuss the forced confessions, and my fellow readers I must say I have read documentaries on where the GITMO interrogators are putting the words and names into their prisoners mouths. The Interrogates by using stress/fear and torturous positions keep insisting they <prisoner> are involved or know about one... or will "cop" to a crime or charge just to make the interrogations stop. This my good readers is appalling. For our Honor Bound GITMO guys and ABU and other prisons in Iraq for the matter of the record is anything but and a whole lot less about "HONOR". Notice also in the article the fricken "Cheesy" way that the US is implying that "CODES" were being used or their ridiculous cross revelations encrypting is as bad as some of those old Nostradamus sayings I grew up on as a kid. Look at this story in the Times, for the Integrity that the US should be using and abiding by. How innocent are these two men....... well give them an honest trial and we will see. I wonder if it will be like the Mayfield trial in a allot of ways? who knows it already is getting "stinky" like we are unearthing a smelly Rat Hole"..... This whole Torture / GITMO issue is gonna bite them freaks in the ass sooner than they expected. But .....untill then my friendly z3 readers keep your eye on their lips, listen with your heart and soul, and reconize the smell from these sneaking rats! Who have been feeding on Torture and Human Rights Violations, for I think this rat-pack is trying to cover their stinking - rat hole!
Posted by Joe Anybody
at 1:34 AM PST
Updated: Thursday, 4 January 2007 8:35 AM PST
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