University of Florida Student Arrested, Tasered at John Kerry Speech

While Senator John Kerry was giving a speech at the Universtiy of Florida, police attempted to remove 21 year-old Andrew Meyer after he asked Senator Kerry "were you a member of the same secret society as George Bush?" After he demanded to know "what did I do?" repeatedly and tried to evade police he was wrestled to the ground and tasered.



This video shows a bit more of the questioning and the initial confrontation with police:

Anti-War Protests in Washington D.C.

Protesters staged a die-in during a march down Pennsylvania Avenue to protest the Iraq War. More Photos.

Guantanamo Detainee Transcripts (from 2006)

Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) and Administrative Review Board (ARB) Documents Released March 3, April 3, and April 19, 2006

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden, for the 6th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, released his first public statement in over a year.

Jordan Valley

A human rights group called B'Tselem has made claims that movement into the Jordan Valley has been restricted. The Israeli government has responded by saying:

As to claims regarding the passage of Palestinians to the Jordan Valley district, we have to note that at present there exists no prohibition as to the passage of Palestinians by foot to the Jordan Valley area, even though such a passage is subject to security checks at both the Tyasser and Bekaot passages.

Here are some pictures that show what is going on around the Jordan Valley.





Sources

Reference to the Btselem Draft Report regarding restrictions on movement

B'Tselem Website on Jordan Valley Movement (Not sure if this is the report in question, but it makes similar claims about restricted movement)

Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amended old regulations to propose new procedures for employers when:

(1) The employer receives written notice from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that the combination of name and social security account number submitted to SSA for an employee does not match agency records; or
(2) the employer receives written notice from the DHS that the immigration-status or employment-authorization documentation presented or referenced by the employee in completing Form I-9 was not assigned to the employee according to DHS records.

Under the new rules, entitled "Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter", employers that receive the letters described above but fail to subsequently take reasonable action in a case where the employee in question is actually an unauthorized alien could be found to have had "constructive knowledge" of that fact. "Constructive knowledge" is a concept in criminal law which means that a corporation or individual can be held responsible for knowing everything that the different people and branches under him know.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) filed a complaint against the DHS, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and SSA arguing that the new rule is in conflict with statute and that implementation of the rule exceeds the authority given to the DHS and SSA. While this case is still in progress, the judge has issued a preliminary injunction banning the defendants (DHS, ICE, and SSA) from implementing the new rule.

Sources

Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter

Complaint in AFL-CIO v. Dep. of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Social Security Administration

Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against New Rule

Notorious B.I.G.'s Family Files New Wrongful Death Suit

The new suit was filed against the City of Los Angeles on April 16, 2007. Read the court document.

Land of Opportunity

Hazelton is a small town in Pennsylvania that passed a law called the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. This law, had it not been struck down in court as a result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, would have:

1) Created a special process by which citizens could file complaints against businesses believed to employ undocumented workers. If the complaint was found to have merit, the city would then suspend the business license of the particular company.

2) Created a special process by which citizens could file complaints against those who let, lease, or rent to undocumented people. If the complaint was found to have merit, the city would then suspend the rental license of the dwelling unit. Subsequent violations would result in fines.

The video below is of a speech given by the mayor of Hazelton.



Sources

Illegal Immigration Relief Act

Community members speak out against the Illegal Immigration Relief Act
ACLU TV: Immigrant Rights

José Padilla Convicted On All Counts in Terrorism Trial

José Padilla was arrested in 2002, reportedly under suspicion of participating in a dirty bomb plot. He was never charged with such a plot, and he was held without charges until late in 2005 when he was added to an existing case, U.S. v. Hassoun, et al., and charged with "conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country ... for the purpose of opposing existing governments and civilian factions and establishing Islamic states under Sharia (Islamic law), and material support for terrorism."

Padilla, an American citizen of hispanic heritage was a student of Arabic and Islam, and spent some time in Afghanistan. A "Mujahideen Data Form" that Padilla allegedly filled out in Afghanistan was a key piece of evidence in the trial, along with seven phone conversations recorded by the FBI between 1993 and 2002. Padilla was only charged after a lengthy court battle which included a ruling by the Supreme Court, which found that Padilla had made a procedural error in filing his appeal.

GAO Official Likens U.S. to Rome Shortly Before Fall

Transforming Government to Meet the Demands of the 21st Century by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Federal Midwest Human Resources Council and the Chicago Federal Executive Board, in Chicago, Illinois. GAO-07-1188CG, August 7:

As I mentioned earlier, there are striking similarities between America’s current situation and that of another great power from the past: Rome. The Roman Empire lasted 1,000 years, but only about half that time as a republic. The Roman Republic fell for many reasons, but three reasons are worth remembering: declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government.

Free Education in Classical Music Keeps Venezuelan Youths Safe

El Fundacion del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, or El Sistema as it is informally referred to, is a program established in 1975 which gives a free education in classical music to all interested children in Venezuela. While not run by the government, recently the program has received generous financial assistance from the socialist government of President Hugo Chavez.

Designed to keep youth off the streets, the system has grown to encompass 100 centers and 250,000 students since its inception.

One recent class:


The program is so successful, El Sisteme organizes the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, a world renowned orchestra, headlining the Edinburgh Festival on August 17.

Performances by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra:

A recent performance of J. Brahms Piano Concerto in D minor. Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Chopin Piano Concerto No 1, recorded in Caracas, 1982. Part 2, Part 3
Part 4 featuring piano solo by 12 year-old Dimitris Sgouros:

Police shoot captured man in Puerto Rico

Humacao, Puerto Rico -- On August 12 police officer Javier Pagán Cruz shot Miguel Cáceres Cruz several times at point blank range while other officers restrained him. The FBI is investigating the incident.

Karl Rove Resigns

Pres. Bush Remarks on Resignation of Dpty. Chief of Staff Karl Rove

Cheney in 1994: Invading Iraq Would Be a "Quagmire"

In this interview from April 15, 1994, Vice President Dick Cheney (then the Secretary of Defense) said that the United States should not invade Baghdad because it would result in a "quagmire," and risk fracturing the country. He finishes: "...how many additional dead Americans is Saddam worth? And our judgement was 'not very many' and I think we got it right."

Justice Department Invokes Protect America Act to Call For Dismissal of Lawsuit Challenging NSA Surveillance

A notice from the defendant in the case of the Center for Constitutional Rights v. Bush (Case No. 07-1115), San Francisco, Cali. (PDF):

This action should be dismissed for all of the reasons that we have previously explained, regardless of the foregoing FISA amendments. Because the basis for Plaintiffs’ claims is their alleged communications with individuals located outside of the United States suspected of links to al Qaeda or other terrorist groups, however, the FISA amendments provide an additional basis for dismissal. See Compl. 3-5, 36-44. Indeed, now that Congress, in returning to the balance it generally struck when it enacted FISA in 1978, has expressly clarified that surveillance directed at individuals reasonably believed to be outside the United States does not constitute electronic surveillance as defined in FISA, Plaintiffs cannot claim that any alleged surveillance directed at individuals outside the United States violates FISA, the Administrative Procedure Act, or the separation of powers doctrine.

Previous coverage: Protect America Act passed.

Photographs of Afghanistan 1973

Photos taken by Stephen Taylor during a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, 6 years before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan plunged the country into near constant war, a string of conflicts that has continued to this day.

The statue shown here was destroyed by the Taliban

Seven High Ranking Pentagon Officials Appear in Evangelical Fundraising Video

Part 2

The Department of Defense Inspector General released a report (PDF) calling the conduct improper and a violation of Army regulations. According to the Christian Embassy website weekly prayer services and Bible studies are conducted at the Pentagon as well as periodic lunches, dinners, and seminars for White House staff, Congressional staff and diplomats.

Congress Expands President's Powers of Surveillance

Over the weekend the House by a vote of 227-183 and the Senate by a vote of 60-28 passed the Protect America Act, which grants the power to approve surveillance of U.S. citizens communicating overseas with suspected terrorists to the Attorney General, rather than the courts:

`Sec. 105B. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, may for periods of up to one year authorize the acquisition of foreign intelligence information concerning persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States if the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General determine, based on the information provided to them, that--

`(1) there are reasonable procedures in place for determining that the acquisition of foreign intelligence information under this section concerns persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States, and such procedures will be subject to review of the Court pursuant to section 105C of this Act;

`(2) the acquisition does not constitute electronic surveillance;

`(3) the acquisition involves obtaining the foreign intelligence information from or with the assistance of a communications service provider, custodian, or other person (including any officer, employee, agent, or other specified person of such service provider, custodian, or other person) who has access to communications, either as they are transmitted or while they are stored, or equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store such communications;

`(4) a significant purpose of the acquisition is to obtain foreign intelligence information; and

`(5) the minimization procedures to be used with respect to such acquisition activity meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 101(h).

`This determination shall be in the form of a written certification, under oath, supported as appropriate by affidavit of appropriate officials in the national security field occupying positions appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate, or the Head of any Agency of the Intelligence Community, unless immediate action by the Government is required and time does not permit the preparation of a certification. In such a case, the determination of the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General shall be reduced to a certification as soon as possible but in no event more than 72 hours after the determination is made.

The law amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), which states:

(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the President, through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic surveillance without a court order under this subchapter to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year if the Attorney General certifies in writing under oath that—

(A) the electronic surveillance is solely directed at—
(i) the acquisition of the contents of communications transmitted by means of communications used exclusively between or among foreign powers, as defined in section 1801 (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title; or
(ii) the acquisition of technical intelligence, other than the spoken communications of individuals, from property or premises under the open and exclusive control of a foreign power, as defined in section 1801 (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title;

(B) there is no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party; and

(C) the proposed minimization procedures with respect to such surveillance meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801 (h) of this title; and
if the Attorney General reports such minimization procedures and any changes thereto to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence at least thirty days prior to their effective date, unless the Attorney General determines immediate action is required and notifies the committees immediately of such minimization procedures and the reason for their becoming effective immediately.

Note the new omission of the requirement that there is "no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party". The new law is effective for 6 months. 17 Democratic Senators including Joe Lieberman and 41 Democratic Representatives voted for the bill. Only 3 Republican Representatives voted against it. President Bush signed the bill into law on Sunday, issuing a prepared statement justifying the expanded powers:

The Protect America Act, passed with bipartisan support in the House and Senate, achieves both of these goals by modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Over the past three decades this law has not kept pace with revolutionary changes in technology. As a result, our intelligence professionals have told us that they are missing significant intelligence information that they need to protect the country.

S.1927 reforms FISA by accounting for changes in technology and restoring the statute to its original focus on appropriate protections for the rights of persons in the United States - and not foreign targets located in foreign lands.

Today we face a dynamic threat from enemies who understand how to use modern technology against us. Whether foreign terrorists, hostile nations, or other actors, they change their tactics frequently and seek to exploit the very openness and freedoms we hold dear. Our tools to deter them must also be dynamic and flexible enough to meet the challenges they pose. This law gives our intelligence professionals this greater flexibility while closing a dangerous gap in our intelligence gathering activities that threatened to weaken our defenses.

Presidential Debate: Lobbyists

Presidential Debate: Kucinich on NAFTA and the WTO