Oil traders view war with Iran as ‘inevitable.’
Oil traders view war with Iran as ‘inevitable.’
On Friday, oil prices hit a record $95.93 a barrel. One “veteran energy trader at a U.S. hedge fund” told The Washington Post that part of the reason prices are so high is because “traders have become convinced that military conflict between the United States and Iran is inevitable.” He added, “People react to perceptions of what will happen. That’s not idle speculation.”
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Law firm sues Kerik for $200,000.
Law firm sues Kerik for $200,000.
Bernard Kerik, former NYPD commissioner and close friend of Rudy Giuliani, is now “being sued for allegedly stiffing a law firm on a $202,384.04 tab, after its lawyers helped keep him out of jail.” The suit comes as federal prosecutors are reportedly prepared to file charges against Kerik “that will likely include allegations of bribery, tax fraud and obstruction of justice.” Marc Mukasey, son of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, has also been tasked by Giuliani “to keep an eye on” Kerik’s criminal investigation and “distance Giuliani from all” the allegations.
Rep. Lofgen: Bush Administration Carries Out Politically-Motivated Immigration Raid
Rep. Lofgen: Bush Administration Carries Out Politically-Motivated Immigration Raid
Twenty-four year old Tam Tran is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants and has consistently spoken out on U.S. immigration reform. On May 17, she appeared before the House Immigration Subcommittee to speak in support of the DREAM Act, which would have granted legal status to children of immigrants who complete at least two years of college.
More recently, a USA Today article on Oct. 8 featured Tran in an article on “children caught in the immigration crossfire”:
Without the DREAM Act, Tam Tran, 24, is a person without a country. The daughter of Vietnamese boat people, Tran was born in Germany, where her parents ended up after the German Navy plucked them out of the sea. The family moved to the USA when Tran was 6. … For now, Tran is permitted to stay — only because the United States has no repatriation treaty with Vietnam. Tran, who has never been to Vietnam, says that “I consider myself a Southern Californian.“
Just three days after the article appeared, federal officers entered her home in the middle of the night and forcibly arrested her family. Tran’s family was detained on a “years-old deportation order,” even though they have been in regular communication with immigration officials for almost 20 years since arriving in the United States.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the immigration subcommitee, equated the family’s arrest to “witness intimidation” and accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials of targeting the Tran family because Tam “testified before Lofgren’s panel earlier this spring.” Earlier this week, USA Today spoke with Lofgren about the Tran family’s arrest:
“Would she and her family have been arrested if she hadn’t spoken out?” Lofgren said of Tran, who was not at home for the raid but has been asked to report to Immigration and Customs officials next week. “I don’t think so.“
Since Bush crony Julie Myers took over ICE, the agency has increasingly become known for its willingness to retaliate against immigrants who publicly discuss their situation in the United States. Arrests have been made after individuals spoke out on everything from immigration reform, to workplace rights, to the right to fair wages, to the right to report crimes without fear of retaliation.
UPDATE: More on the DREAM Act from Migra Matters.
UPDATE II: Kyle at Citizen Orange has more on Tran’s case.
14 percent:
14 percent:
The drop in federal corruption prosecutions since President Bush took office, according to a new Syracuse University study. Prosecutions have fallen every year since 2003:
The study also found that “prosecution of all kinds of white-collar criminals” has dropped 27 percent since Bush took office, despite the President’s 2001 promise following the Enron scandal to “do everything in our power to end the days of cooking the books, shading the truth, and breaking our laws.”
State Dept. not giving ‘honest answers’ on Iraq corruption.
State Dept. not giving ‘honest answers’ on Iraq corruption.
Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and John Tierney (D-MA) introduced a resolution today chastising the State Dept. for “withholding from Congress and the American people information about the extent of corruption in the Maliki government.” Waxman writes:
“The resolution further condemns the State Department for retroactively classifying documents that had been widely distributed previously as unclassified, and [for] directing its employees not to answer questions in an open forum that call for ‘assessments which judge…the ability/determination of the Iraqi government to deal with corruption.’”
Earlier today, several House Chairmen wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calling for “honest answers” about corruption in Iraq.
Glaciers disappearing from Glacier Park.
Glaciers disappearing from Glacier Park.
The glaciers of Glacier Park are melting more quickly than expected. Dan Fagre, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey notes, “We’re about eight and a half years ahead of schedule. … They’re going faster than we thought.” The last official count in 1998 “pegged the number of glaciers here at 27, down from 150 a century ago.”
25,000:
25,000:
Number of people the U.S. military is holding in its prisons in Iraq, according to Gen. Douglas Stone. Approximately 860 of the detainees are under the age of 16.” The United States has incarcerated “10,000 more detainees compared to this time last year, worsening already serious backlogs in the court system.”
Supreme Court refuses appeal of tortured detainee.
Supreme Court refuses appeal of tortured detainee.
Today, the Supreme Court “terminated a lawsuit from a man who claims he was abducted and tortured by the CIA, effectively endorsing Bush administration arguments that state secrets would be revealed if the case were allowed to proceed. Khaled el-Masri, 44, alleged that he was kidnapped by CIA agents in Europe and held in an Afghan prison for four months in a case of mistaken identity.”
Anti-Immigration Hate Group Intent On Denying Green Card For Soldiers’ Spouses
Anti-Immigration Hate Group Intent On Denying Green Card For Soldiers’ Spouses
Eduardo Gonzalez is preparing to deploy for his third tour of duty with the U.S. Navy in November. He will serve aboard the U.S.S. Harry Truman in the Persian Gulf. As he faces deployment, Gonzalez is not focused on his own safety, as most would be, but rather on the safety of his wife (who is not a U.S. citizen) and child, who face “deportation to Guatemala.”
Gonzalez described his feelings on the situation:
Defending the country that’s trying to kick my family out, goes through my mind. … This is the type of situation that the government doesn’t really get to see. They’re tearing families apart. And it hurts. It hurts a lot.
Watch CNN’s report on the story:
Despite Gonzalez’s service to the nation, anti-immigration hate groups are rallying to deport Mildred Gonzalez. Mark Krikorian, who heads the the Center for Immigration Studies, a radical group that opposes immigration, offered this heartless assessment of the situation:
What you’re talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces, and that’s just outrageous. What we’re talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military. … There’s no justification for that kind of policy.
The Center for Immigration Studies was founded by John Tanton. “Most Americans have never heard of John Tanton because he operates behind the scenes, but he is the founder and/or early funder of almost every national anti-immigrant organization in the country, including at least a dozen groups” that promote a racist ideology.
The right-wing is more than happy to send Gonzales off to fight in Iraq, but can’t see beyond their hate to reciprocate his patriotic service by granting his wife legal residence.
House passes bill strengthening govt watchdogs.
House passes bill strengthening govt watchdogs.
Today, a bipartisan majority voted 404-11 to give government watchdogs “more autonomy and protection from political retribution.” President Bush has promised to veto the legislation, but the bill garnered significantly more support than the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
Bush administration wasted millions on government travel.
Bush administration wasted millions on government travel.
A Government Accountability Office report reveals “federal employees wasted at least $146 million over a one-year period in business or first-class airline tickets.” The report found that “67 percent of premium-class travel by executives or their employees…was unauthorized or otherwise unjustified. Among the worst offenders: the State Department, whose employees typically fly abroad on official business.”
Iraq offers cash ‘marriage bonus’ to bridge sectarian divide.
Iraq offers cash ‘marriage bonus’ to bridge sectarian divide.
The Iraqi government is offering a $1,500 cash bonus “to married Iraqi couples from different sectarian groups in a drive to heal rifts between communities and foster reconciliation.” Sunni-Shi’ite marriages were commonplace prior to the U.S. led invasion, but are now increasingly rare.
The Simpsons mocks Murdoch’s WSJ acquisition.
The Simpsons mocks Murdoch’s WSJ acquisition.
In the opening sequence of last night’s Simpsons episode, Bart Simpson is seen writing “The Wall Street Journal Is Better Than Ever” on the chalkboard:
Murdoch once appeared on the show as himself, and the writers gave him the entrance line, “I’m Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire tyrant, and this is my skybox.”
Boehner: Using Children For Political Messaging Is ‘Beyond The Pale,’ Unless I Do It
Boehner: Using Children For Political Messaging Is ‘Beyond The Pale,’ Unless I Do It
This week’s Democratic Radio Address will be delivered by a 12-year-old boy named Graeme Frost. Graeme was in a severe car accident three years ago, and received care under the SCHIP program.
In his address, Graeme will tell the story of how he “was in a coma for a week and couldn’t eat or stand up or even talk at first.” But, using coverage provided under SCHIP, Graeme received treatment that allowed him to return to school and begin to lead a normal life again.
A spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) sharply criticized Graeme’s appearance:
To use an innocent young child as a human shield and misrepresent the position of the president of the United States is, frankly, beyond the pale.
If there’s one thing Boehner just won’t tolerate, it’s politicians employing children for political purposes…
The SCHIP bill sent to Bush for authorization would provide essential medical care for four million children like Graeme Frost. Yet John Boehner seems more interested in playing partisan games than in supporting expansion of a program that is “widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest social policy successes.”
O’Reilly Rips Columbia’s Invitation To Ahmadinejad As ‘Revolting,’ But Admits He Invited Him Too
O’Reilly Rips Columbia’s Invitation To Ahmadinejad As ‘Revolting,’ But Admits He Invited Him Too
Last night, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly criticized Columbia University’s decision to invite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak on campus. O’Reilly, who spent much of last week railing against Columbia’s invitation, called the event “revolting” and singled out Columbia University President Lee Bollinger as being “hypocritical beyond belief” for his invitation.
But moments later, O’Reilly revealed that he had also offered an invitation to Ahmadinejad to appear on his own show. In response to a viewer email asking why he didn’t invite the Iranian President on his show, O’Reilly said:
We actually did invite him, sir, but he knows the no spin zone when he sees one. Ahmadinejad doesn’t answer questions; he bloviates. But I’d love to tell him that face to face. And I would.
Watch it:
O’Reilly has maintained that his objection to Ahmadinejad’s speech does not stem from fear of an open exchange of ideas, but rather of giving him a high-profile platform:
REED WERNER: Well, I would like to know what are you afraid of by him coming.
O’REILLY: I don’t think we’re afraid of anything, but we don’t want to – I don’t think anybody’s afraid of anything, but we don’t want to give status and credibility.
O’Reilly appears to acknowledge that speaking at Columbia lends status and credibility to a speaker, while appearing on his own show does not.
(HT: Newshounds)
Top 100 effects of global warming.
Top 100 effects of global warming.
Mic Check, the radio prep service of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, released a report today highlighting the “Top 100 Effects of Global Warming.” Some examples:
– Say Goodbye to Pinot Noir: The reason you adore pinot noir is that it comes from a notoriously temperamental thin-skinned grape that thrives in cool climates. Warmer temperatures are already damaging the pinots from Oregon, “baking away” the grape’s berry flavors. [Bloomberg]
– Mediterranean Sea? Try the Dead Sea.: Italian experts say thanks to faster evaporation and rising temperatures, the Mediterranean Sea is quickly turning into “a salty and stagnant sea.” The hot, salty water “could doom many of the sea’s plant and animal species and ravage the fishing industry.” [AP]
– Farewell to the Arctic Fox: The White Arctic Fox used to rule the colder climes, but as temperatures warm up, its more aggressive cousin, the Red Fox, is moving North and taking over. [Wired]
– War in Somalia: In April, a group of 11 former U.S. military leaders released a report charging that the war in Somalia during the 1990s stemmed in part from national resource shortages caused by global warming. [Washington Post]
Billionaires no longer rich enough to make Forbes list.
Billionaires no longer rich enough to make Forbes list.
For the first time, $1 billion isn’t enough to land someone on Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans. Forbes associated editor Matthew Miller said that there “are 82 American billionaires who do not make the Forbes 400 this year.” Income inequality has grown dramatically in recent years, “with the top 1 percent of Americans — those with incomes that year of more than $348,000 — receiving their largest share of national income since 1928.”
Pentagon delays security handover in Iraq.
Pentagon delays security handover in Iraq.
For the second time this year, “the target date for putting Iraqi authorities in charge of security in all 18 provinces has slipped yet again, to at least next July.” The delay highlights “the difficulties in developing Iraqi police forces and the slow pace of economic and political progress.”
Bush Administration Flooding Iraqi Black Market With Billions Of Dollars In Weapons
Bush Administration Flooding Iraqi Black Market With Billions Of Dollars In Weapons
In his testimony before Congress last week, Gen. David Petraeus confirmed that the United States plans to sell billions of dollars of weapons to Iraq:
Iraq is becoming one of the United States’ larger foreign military sales customers, committing some 1.6 billion (dollars) to FMS already, with the possibility of up to 1.8 billion (dollars) more being committed before the end of this year.
This move may mean big profits for arms manufacturers in the United States and abroad. But as Salon’s Mark Benjamin notes, “[G]ood business doesn’t necessarily equal good foreign policy.”
A recent Government Accountability Report found that the United States has been unable to keep track of the arms it sold in the region. Under Petraeus’s watch, more than “110,000 AK-47 assault rifles, 80,000 Glock pistols, 135,000 pieces of body armor and 115,000 Kevlar helmets issued to Iraqi security forces” have gone missing. U.S. weapons sold to the Iraqi government were also found in Turkey, where they were linked to violent crimes.
U.S. officials also acknowledged in June that they were arming Sunni groups who promised to fight Al-Qaeda. But as Center for American Progress Senior Fellows Lawrence Korb and Brian Katulis note, the Bush administration’s short-sighted strategy is actually contributing to the deterioration of the security situation:
First, the United States is arming up different sides in multiple civil wars that could turn even more vicious in the coming years. Second (and more important to America’s strategic interests) billions of dollars of U.S. military assistance is going to some of the closest allies of America’s greatest rival in the Middle East — Iran. The Shi’a-dominated Iraqi national army and security forces could quite quickly turn their weapons against American troops and allies in the region.
Recent statistics also show that the more the United States trains and equips the Iraqi security forces, the more violence in the country increases.
Three more lawmakers take food stamp challenge.
Three more lawmakers take food stamp challenge.
Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) have agreed to take the food stamp challenge. They will “limit their spending to $1 per meal for a week” in an effort to “highlight inadequacies with the current food stamp program.” This past summer, four lawmakers first took the food stamp challenge. Read more about their experiences here.
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