DHS Holds Cyber Storm II Security Exercise 10 Mar 2008 Resent-Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:54:48 -0500 (CDT) Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens For Legitimate Government 10 Mar 2008 http://www.legitgov.org/ All items are here: http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news Spitzer's Sex Life Is Weapon of Mass Distraction for Bunch of Bad News for Bush 10 Mar 2008 By Lori Price On Monday, we learned: The Iraq war will top 3 trillion dollars; a former Pentagon official has written a book attacking the CIA and other US officials over the US-led Iraq war; 5 US soldiers were killed in a Baghdad blast; an Iraqi tribal leader - the head of an 'Awakening Council' - and three others were killed in a Diyala province suicide bombing; CIA torture will continue, per Bush decree; the House Judiciary Committee has filed suit to force two White House officials to provide information about the firing of U.S. attorneys; more trouble for Carlyle Group has surfaced; oil has soared to $108 per barrel; gas prices have reached a new record; a lawsuit has been filed claiming that the Fish and Wildlife Service is now in breach of its own mandate; an AP investigation has revealed that a vast array of pharmaceuticals are in the US water supply. Oh. Last but not least: The Dow and Nasdaq are down hundreds of points, again. But, here is the mainstream media's headline: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring. Sources: Spitzer Resignation Expected --Lt. Gov. David Paterson Could Be Sworn In Tonight 10 Mar 2008 Gov. Eliot Spitzer was not expected to continue as governor and may resign sometime Monday evening, sources told CBS 2 shortly after it was reported that he was linked to a prostitution ring. Reliable sources told CBS 2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer that Lt. Gov. David Paterson could be sworn in as governor as early as 7 p.m. Monday. [What about David Vitter? See: The Double Hypocrisy of the Rightwing: The Vitter's Victual By Michael Rectenwald 16 Jul 2007.] Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring 10 Mar 2008 Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation. The wiretap recording, made during an investigation of a prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP, captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a room. The person briefed on the case identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9. DHS Holds Cyber Storm II Security Exercise --Cyber Storm II will include 18 federal departments and agencies, nine states and more than 40 private sector companies 10 Mar 2008 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting the largest cyber security exercise ever organized. Cyber Storm II is being held from March 10-14 in Washington, D.C. and brings together participants from federal, state and local governments, the private sector, and the international community. Cyber Storm II will include 18 federal departments and agencies, nine states (CA, CO, DE, IL, MI, NC, PA, TX, VA), five countries (US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK), and more than 40 private sector companies. They include ABB, Inc., Air Products, Cisco, Dow Chemical Company Inc. [?], Harris Corporation, Juniper Networks, McAfee, Microsoft, NeuStar, PPG Industries, and Wachovia. Bush veto allows CIA torture to continue 10 Mar 2008 US President [sic] George W Bush has vetoed legislation that would have prevented the CIA from using torture during interrogation of terrorism suspects. The annual intelligence authorisation bill would have required the CIA to follow the Army Field Manual rules on interrogations, which specifically prohibit torture of suspects, most notably waterboarding. MPs demand torture flights inquiry --MPs demand independent inquiry into the use of UK territory for CIA rendition 10 Mar 2008 MPs and human rights groups yesterday demanded an independent inquiry into the use of UK territory by CIA "torture flights" as fresh questions emerged over the government's handling of the issue. U.S. Iraq war costs could top $3 trillion 09 Mar 2008 The United States' total cost for the war in Iraq will reach $3 trillion, the authors of a new book on the subject say. Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz claim in their book, "The Three Trillion Dollar War," that past estimates were much too low. Studies: Iraq costs US $12B per month 10 Mar 2008 The flood of money into the Iraq war is steadily rising, new analyses show. In 2008, its sixth year, the war will cost approximately $12 billion a month, triple the "burn" rate of its earliest years, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and co-author Linda J. Bilmes report in a new book. Pentagon insider attacks war plan 09 Mar 2008 A former Pentagon official has written a book attacking Colin Powell, the CIA and other US officials over the US-led Iraq war, the Washington Post reports. As under secretary of defence until 2005 Douglas Feith was closely involved with the planning of the invasion. However, in "War and Decision", he blames officials outside the Pentagon for seriously mismanaging the invasion and occupation, the Post reports. Ex-Defense Official Assails Colleagues Over Run-Up to War 09 Mar 2008 In the first insider account of Pentagon decision-making on Iraq, one of the key architects of the war blasts former secretary of state Colin Powell, the CIA, retired Gen. Tommy R. Franks and former Iraq occupation chief L. Paul Bremer for mishandling the run-up to the invasion and the subsequent occupation of the country. Satellite images reveal extent of harm to Iraqs archaeological sites 03 Mar 2008 New images obtained from a commercial satellite imaging company have revealed the extent of harm to archaeological sites in southern Iraq after the country's invasion by the US and its allies in March 2003. 5 U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq 10 Mar 2008 The U.S. military said five American soldiers on a foot patrol were killed Monday in a bomb attack in central Baghdad. Four of the soldiers died at the scene and the fifth died later from wounds, the military said in a statement. The blast also wounded three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter, the military said. Bomber kills Iraqi tribal leader 10 Mar 2008 An Iraqi tribal leader has been killed in a suicide bombing at his house south-east of Baquba, police say. Thaer Ghadban al-Karkhi was the head of one of the majority-Sunni Arab Awakening Councils, allied with the US military 'against' al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh] in Iraq. A woman detonated an explosives vest after he answered the door, killing him, his niece and two guards. Socialists Win Spanish Election, Retaining Power 09 Mar 2008 Spains ruling Socialists triumphed in a national election on Sunday, giving Prime Minister Josi Luis Rodrmguez Zapatero a fresh mandate to pursue his agenda of sweeping social and political liberalization. Islamist sleeper cell in Scotland Yard: report 10 Mar 2008 Scotland Yard refuses to comment on a report from The News of the World that an al-Qaeda [al-CIAduh] sleeper cell has infiltrated London's Metropolitan Police headquarters. Terror moles at the Met --MI5 target four cops in undercover op 09 Mar 2008 A nest of 'Al-Qaeda' terror spies has been uncovered in Britain's top police force. MI5 agents have identified four London Met officers after searching for a cell of fanatics passing Scotland Yard's secrets. The spooks homed in on the officers in the past few weeks after working with anti-terror police to uncover "sleeper" agents in London's Met. Phone led US experts to Farc leader 10 Mar 2008 The top Colombian Marxist rebel leader [Raul Reyes] killed in a jungle air strike last week was tricked into using a satellite phone tracked by American experts, The Sunday Telegraph has learned. China foils attempted terror attack on flight 10 Mar 2008 China has foiled an attempt to crash a passenger jet en route to Beijing and the aircraft made a safe emergency landing, a senior official said, in what state media called an attempted terrorist attack. Federal Police Officer Reports Anthrax Exposure 10 Mar 2008 (TX) A federal police officer walked into Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital claiming he was exposed to anthrax, Fort Worth Fire Department officials said. The officer from the federal building in downtown Fort Worth had come in contact with some white powder and as a precaution he went to the hospital to get checked out, officials said. At least one person treated for anthrax exposure in Fort Worth 10 Mar 2008 At least one person was being treated Monday at the Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital emergency room after the patient had claimed to have been exposed to anthrax. Hospital officials could not confirm the report, but the patient or patients were being decontaminated and other precautionary measures were being taken. House files lawsuit to force Bush administration officials to testify 10 Mar 2008 The House Judiciary Committee filed suit Monday to force former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to provide information about the firing of U.S. attorneys. The lawsuit filed in federal court says Miers is not immune from the obligation to testify and that she and Bolten must identify all documents that are being withheld from Congress. House files lawsuit to enforce subpoenas against 2 White House officials 10 Mar 2008 The House Judiciary Committee has filed suit to force former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to provide information about the firing of U.S. attorneys. US government sued over failure to protect polar bears --Campaigners believe delays over endangered species listing stem from the government's desire to sell oil and gas leases. 10 Mar 2008 The US government agency responsible for compiling the country's list of endangered species will face a new legal challenge today over its failure to protect the polar bear. Environmental groups are set to sue the Bush regime in a federal court in California, claiming the Fish and Wildlife Service is now in breach of its own mandate. Wolf Opponent for McCain's Vice President? Reichwing nutball and VIRULENT *ENEMY* to POLAR BEARS, WOLVES and the ENVIRONMENT - first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin one name being circulated as a possible pick for Insane McCain's Vice President! 10 Mar 2008 During her short time as Alaskas governor, Sarah Palin has pushed for more aerial gunning of wolves and bears, introduced legislation that would eliminate the public's right to vote on wildlife issues, and appointed her high school basketball coach to the state's powerful Board of Game where he would support their anti-conservation policies. But despite her abysmal record on wildlife and conservation issues, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is being discussed as a possible running mate in John McCains bid for the presidency. Sign petition: Let Governor Palin Know That You Care About Wildlife and Democracy. Boeing to Protest Loss of $35B Air Force Tanker Award 10 Mar 2008 Boeing Co. says it will formally protest a $35 billion [!] Air Force tanker award it lost. European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. won the high-stakes deal to replace 179 air-to-air refueling tankers. Kentucky Lawmaker Wants to Make Anonymous Internet Posting Illegal 05 Mar 2008 Kentucky Representative Tim Couch (R-GOPedophile) filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal. The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site. Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted. Crude ends near $108 on weak dollar, speculation --Speculators triple their net long positions last week; heating oil hits new high 10 Mar 2008 Crude-oil futures soared more than $3 a barrel on Monday to surpass $108 for the first time, before closing above $107 a barrel as the dollar remained weak against other currencies and more investment funds flowed into the oil market. U.S. Stocks End Down For Third Consecutive Session 10 Mar 2008 U.S. stocks on Monday closed lower for a third consecutive session, with financial shares leading the decline as nervous investors debated how much the Federal Reserve should cut interest rates and as oil topped $108 a barrel for the first time. Carlyle Group May Buy Major CIA Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton By Tim Shorrock 08 Mar 2008 Carlyle Group, one of the worlds largest private equity funds, may soon acquire the $2 billion government contracting business of consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the biggest suppliers of technology and personnel to the U.S. governments spy agencies... If it goes ahead with the widely reported plan to buy Booz Allen, it will re-emerge as the owner of one of Americas largest private intelligence armies. More trouble at Carlyle Capital 07 Mar 2008 Lenders to Carlyle Capital Corp. Ltd. have begun to liquidate securities held in its $21.7 billion portfolio and the fund said Friday it was considering "all available options." The margin calls against Carlyle portend an ominous development one day after the fund was served with default notices, convulsing already skittish markets. Party leaders weighing Michigan, Florida mail-in re-vote 09 Mar 2008 Democratic leaders in Michigan and Florida suggested Sunday they might be moving toward a solution that would allow them to send voting delegates to the partys presidential nominating convention this summer. Democrats Confident After Taking Hastert's Seat 10 Mar 2008 Congressional Democrats on Sunday were celebrating an election victory that they said increased their confidence of holding the House in November and affirmed that party positions on the Iraq war and health care were resonating with voters. AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water 09 Mar 2008 A vast array of pharmaceuticals - including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones - have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows. Surging costs of groceries hit home --Bread, eggs, milk prices up sharply 09 Mar 2008 American families, already pinched by soaring energy costs, are taking another big hit to household budgets as food prices increase at the fastest rate since 1990. After nearly two decades of low food inflation, prices for staples such as bread, milk, eggs, and flour are rising sharply, surging in the past year at double-digit rates, according to the Labor Department. Climate change may spark conflict with Russia, EU told --Alert over scramble for control of energy resources in the Arctic 10 Mar 2008 European governments have been told to plan for an era of conflict over energy resources, with global warming likely to trigger a dangerous contest between Russia and the west for the vast mineral riches of the Arctic. CLG needs your support. http://www.legitgov.org/#contribute Or, please mail a check or money order to the CLG: Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG) P.O. Box 1142 Bristol, CT 06011-1142 Contributions to CLG are not tax deductible. [Previous lead stories:] Senate Committee Seeks Audit of Iraq Oil Money 09 Mar 2008 Two senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have requested a full accounting of how Iraq is spending its soaring oil revenue. Since the invasion in 2003, the United States has invested close to $50 billion in reconstruction Bush's corpora-terrorists. A letter from the Armed Services Committee says, "we believe that it has been overwhelmingly U.S. taxpayer money that has funded Iraq reconstruction [sic] over the last five years, despite Iraq earning billions of dollars in oil revenue over that time period that have ended up in non-Iraqi banks." Senators: Where is Iraq's oil money going? 09 Mar 2008 Two senators are asking congressional investigators to look at Iraq's oil revenues and see if the war-ravaged nation can pay for its own reconstruction, an effort that has been bankrolled to this point mostly by U.S. taxpayers. AP: Troops sickened at Iraq bases using KBR water 09 Mar 2008 Dozens of U.S. troops in Iraq fell sick at bases using "unmonitored and potentially unsafe" water supplied by the military and a contractor [KBR, Inc.] once owned by Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney's former company, the Pentagon's internal watchdog says. A report obtained by The Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested. Those who'd like to be added to the list can go here: http://www.legitgov.org/#subscribe_clg and add your name. Those who wish to be removed from the list can access the same link and click 'unsubscribe.' Please write to: signup@legitgov.org for inquiries/issues/concerns with your subscription. CLG Newsletter editor: Lori Price, Manager. Copyright ) 2008, Citizens For Legitimate Government . All rights reserved. CLG Founder and Chair is Michael Rectenwald, Ph.D.