milicorn

ruminations on international financing and whatever

Friday, February 09, 2007

Feith the scapegoat?
The long-awaited report by the Pentagon’s acting inspector general, Thomas F. Gimble, on the investigation into the handling of prewar intelligence was sent to Congress, centering on Douglas J. Feith, who at the time was under secretary of defense for policy. here Executive Summary of the Report (From Sen. Levin's Office. PDF format)

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Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Claimed source of power for warrantless wiretaps
The White House claims Congress granted it widespread powers to execute the war on terror after passing the joint resolution called the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. here Joint Resolution Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, 50 USC 1541, PUBLIC LAW 107–243 including warrantless wiretaps.

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Monday, February 05, 2007

Collection of DNA authorized by late amendment
PL 109-162 of 2006 reauthored the Violence Against Women Act, including an amendment offered by Sen. Jon Kyl(R-AZ) that would for the first time allow the federal government to collect the DNA of anyone who is arrested, even if the person is never charged or convicted, or of any “non–United States person” who is even briefly detained..
• The DNA provision has no connection to protecting women from domestic violence and in fact may doubly victimize them if they are arrested, or even detained for questioning, based on false accusations from abusers.

Title X Section 1004 provides:

(A) The Attorney General may, as prescribed by the
Attorney General in regulation, collect DNA samples from
individuals who are arrested or from non-United States
persons who are detained under the authority of the United
States. here

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