Iraq war could cost US over $2 trillion: Nobel prize-winning economist 07 Jan 2006
Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government
07 January 2006
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Iraq war could cost US over $2 trillion, says Nobel prize-winning economist --Economists say official estimates are far too low --New calculation takes in dead and injured soldiers 07 Jan 2006 The real cost to the US of the Iraq war is likely to be between $1 trillion and $2 trillion (£1.1 trillion), up to 10 times more than previously thought, according to a report written by a Nobel prize-winning economist and a Harvard budget expert.
Extra Armor Could Have Saved Many Lives, Study Shows 06 Jan 2006 A secret Pentagon study has found that at least 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to their upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor. That armor has been available since 2003 but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials.
Fake al-Qaeda video again? --CLG reader, Johnny Asia, unearths an oddity with the most recent 'al-Qaeda' video. 07 Jan 2006 "In this handout image made from video and released by IntelCenter, al-Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, is allegedly seen in a videotape which aired Friday, January 6, 2005. Al-Zawahri states that the United States' decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq represented 'the victory of Islam' and called on Muslims to attack oil sites. The banner reads, 'Even as I offer my condolences to my Muslim Ummah'. Ummah is translated to nation in Arabic and is a reference to the earthquake in Pakistan. The logo, bottom left of image, is 'As-Sahab,' an institute that produces al-Qaeda videos. IntelCenter is a government contractor that does support work for the U.S. intelligence community. (AP Photo/Intel Center, HO)." http://www.legitgov.org/intelcenter_al-zawahri_070105.html
US officials in talks with Iraqi insurgents: NYT 07 Jan 2006 U.S. officials have been talking with local Iraqi 'insurgent' leaders to exploit a rift between homegrown insurgents and radical groups such as 'Al Qaeda,' The New York Times reported on Saturday. [They *are* the insurgents! They are, in essence, in talks with themselves.]
Americans Said to Meet Rebels, Exploiting Rift 07 Jan 2006 American officials are talking with local Iraqi 'insurgent' leaders to exploit a rift that has opened between homegrown insurgents and radical groups like 'Al Qaeda,' and to draw the local leaders into the political process, according to a Western diplomat, an Iraqi political leader and an Iraqi insurgent leader.
Suicide bombing targets Iraqi police 07 Jan 2006 A suicide car bomb has hit a passing Iraqi police patrol in south-east Baghdad, wounding four police commandos and five civilians. Police say the attack took place in the city's New Baghdad district.
Six Iraqis Hurt in Mosul Attack 07 Jan 2006 Six Iraqi civilians, including three children, were injured along with four police yesterday when a car bomber attacked an Iraqi police patrol in Mosul.
US journalist seized in Iraq 07 Jan 2006 A female American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad and her driver has been killed. Immediately after the incident, American and Iraqi troops sealed off the area. [The US terror squads in Iraq are busy little bees!]
Germany's Merkel says Guantanamo should be shut 07 Jan 2006 German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in an interview published days before her first visit to the United States, said Washington should close its Guantanamo Bay prison camp and find other ways of dealing with terror suspects.
Case Dropped Against U.S. Officer in Afghan Inmate Deaths 08 Jan 2006 The Army has dropped its case against the only officer to face criminal charges in connection with the beating deaths of two prisoners held by the United States in Afghanistan, military officials said yesterday.
'Iran Could be Stopped with Sanctions' 07 Jan 2006 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in his last interview before becoming ill that if the international suppression over Iran continues Tehran's nuclear studies may be prevented.
Sharon's chances of survival slim, say doctors --Second bout of surgery after new bleeding in brain --Colleagues comfort one another outside hospital 07 Jan 2006 Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, yesterday underwent emergency surgery for the second time after doctors discovered evidence of new bleeding in his brain.
Report Rebuts Bush on Spying --Domestic Action's Legality Challenged 07 Jan 2006 A report by Congress's research arm concluded yesterday that the administration's justification for the warrantless eavesdropping authorized by Dictator Bush conflicts with existing law and hinges on weak legal arguments.
Basis for Spying in U.S. Is Doubted 07 Jan 2006 Dictator Bush's rationale for eavesdropping on Americans without warrants rests on questionable legal ground, and Congress does not appear to have given him the authority to order the surveillance, said a Congressional analysis released Friday.
Unpatriotic Spying By Michael Hammerschlag 07 Jan 2006 "This is an administration that has viciously slandered any critics, practiced dishonesty on an industrial level, started an unnecessary disastrous war, transferred trillions of dollars from the poor, middle class, and unborn to the rich in tax cuts and corporate payoffs, and now has engaged in massive spying of its critics. The only possible purpose for this [unlimited spying] is intimidation and injury... and the potential for abuse is infinite."
Homeland Security opening private mail 06 Jan 2006 Last month, Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired University of Kansas history professor, received a letter from his friend in the Philippines that had been opened and resealed with a strip of dark green tape bearing the words "by Border Protection" and carrying the official Homeland Security seal. "I had no idea (Homeland Security) would open personal letters," Goodman told MSNBC.com in a phone interview. "That’s why I alerted the media. I thought it should be known publicly that this is going on," he said.
MSNBC Poll: Do you support allowing Customs and Border Protection to open private correspondence sent to U.S. citizens from abroad? *49759 responses --Yes, the government needs this authority to protect us from possible terrorist attacks. 17%; No, this is an unwarranted intrusion on personal privacy and constitutionally protected rights. 83% [Poll snapshot, 18:27 EST 07 Jan 2006]
VeriChip files IPO to fund RFID chips for humans 03 Jan 2006 Human RFID chipmaker VeriChip Corp. said it filed for an initial public offering. A subsidiary of Applied Digital Solutions Inc., VeriChip has come under fire recently by privacy advocates who claim the company's human RFID chips could be unfairly, even dubiously used to collect information about people.
All four British Foreign Office documents (villagemagazine.ie) 05 Jan 2006 "In this week's Village, we exclusively publish British Foreign Office documents which reveal American and British complicity in torture. In the magazine, two of the documents are published, here are all four of them."
Torture 05 Jan 2006 British Foreign Office documents reveal US and UK complicity in torture and raise further questions on the use of Shannon by the CIA. By David Shanks "The former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, has released documents which show US and UK complicity in the torture of terror suspects in Uzbekistan. The documents have not been published officially in the UK because of restrictions under the Official Secrets Act."
Terrorism threat worse in wake of Iraq war: Rudd 08 Jan 2006 The Federal Opposition says allegations that terrorists are attempting to recruit members in Australia show the terrorism threat in Australia has worsened.
Al-Qaeda 'recruiting in Australia' 07 Jan 2006 The federal opposition is concerned Australia has become a recruiting ground for al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq.
Haiti UN mission chief found dead 07 Jan 2006 The commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti has been found shot dead in a hotel room.
Venezuela to Expand Fuel Discounts to U.S. 07 Jan 2006 Venezuela said Friday it will expand a program to provide discounted home heating oil to low-income Americans, bringing savings to some Indian tribes in Maine.
Kin blame 9/11 debris for death of NYPD detective 07 Jan 2006 A retired NYPD detective, who worked more than 450 hours at Ground Zero, died Thursday from brain and respiratory complications that his family insists were linked to the World Trade Center cleanup. While autopsy results are pending, union officials maintain James Zadroga's death is the first post-9/11 death of a city officer linked to hazardous material from Ground Zero.
Lawsuit leveled at electronic voting 07 Jan 2006 (PA) State Sen. Jim Ferlo has joined a group of voting rights activists in a lawsuit aimed at forcing Westmoreland County to seek more public input before it purchases a new generation of touch-screen voting machines for the upcoming May primary election. The lawsuit, filed yesterday, could have statewide implications. It argues that, under the Pennsylvania Constitution, all 67 counties must let voters pick their preferred model of electronic machines through ballot questions.
Arcata calls for impeachment 06 Jan 2006 (CA) A split City Council passed a resolution demanding the impeachment or resignation of pResident Bush and Vice pResident Dick Cheney, citing violations of international and constitutional law.
DeLay relinquishes House majority leader post 07 Jan 2006 U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, now under indictment in Texas and tainted by a corruption scandal, told fellow House of Representatives Republicans on Saturday that he will not try to reclaim his job as majority leader.
Republican Lawmaker DeLay Says He's Quitting as Majority Leader 07 Jan 2006 U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay said he will permanently step down as House Majority leader today in a letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert that was e-mailed to reporters.
Prosecutor Broadens DeLay Inquiry --Data on GOP Donation to U.S. Family Network Demanded 06 Jan 2006 The Texas prosecutor who secured an indictment of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) on money-laundering charges broadened the scope of his inquiry into election spending yesterday, demanding documents related to funds that passed through a nonprofit organization, the U.S. Family Network.
Disgraced Congressman 'Wore a Wire' 06 Jan 2006 In a week when legislators are focused on the question of who else might be brought down by ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s cooperation with prosecutors as he seeks lenient sentencing over his two federal guilty pleas this week, sources tell TIME that in a separate investigation, ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham wore a wire to help investigators gather evidence against others just before copping his own plea.
'Friends' of Jack Abramoff --List of who may be implicated in scandal could be extensive By Keith Olbermann 06 Jan 2006 "That the Bush White House would even want the media focusing on how it is doing in Iraq perhaps a sign of just how much it does not want anyone talking about Jack Abramoff. Jack Abramoff has already pled guilty and many politicians, including President [sic] Bush, are rushing to return money linked to the disgraced former lobbyist. In Mr. Bush‘s case, donating $6,000 of the total of $300 million he raised in 2004 to the American Heart Association."
Wis. Governor Vetoes Abortion-Pain Bill 07 Jan 2006 Gov. Jim Doyle (D) on Friday vetoed a bill that would have forced doctors to tell women seeking abortions after their fifth month of pregnancy that their fetuses could suffer pain. Doyle said there is no evidence conclusively proving when a fetus can feel pain. The Republican-controlled Legislature should not be allowed to decide scientific fact, he said.
Pastor who preached against gays arrested on lewdness charge 07 Jan 2006 (OK) A pastor who has spoken out against homosexuality was arrested after propositioning a male undercover police officer outside a hotel, authorities said.
[06 Jan lead stories:] Special 'Bush Bypass' Issue In a one-day snapshot of news from the Bush regime, the U.S. government (or Bush himself) has/is bypassing the Constitution, the Senate, the House, the torture ban, and Nato.
NSA whistleblower asks to testify 05 Jan 2006 A former National Security Agency official wants to tell Congress about electronic intelligence programs that he asserts were carried out illegally by the NSA and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Russ Tice, a whistleblower who was dismissed from the NSA last year, stated in letters to the House and Senate intelligence committees that he is prepared to testify about highly classified Special Access Programs, or SAPs, that were improperly carried out by both the NSA and the DIA. "I intend to report to Congress probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts conducted while I was an intelligence officer with the National Security Agency and with the Defense Intelligence Agency," Mr. Tice stated in the Dec. 16 letters, copies of which were obtained by The Washington Times.
Congressional Report Questions Legal Justification for Wiretaps 06 Jan 2006 Dictator George W. Bush's assertion that he didn't need congressional approval to authorize wiretapping without warrants isn't "well grounded" in law, according to a non-partisan congressional report.
IRS tracked taxpayers' political affiliation 06 Jan 2006 As it hunted down tax scofflaws, the Internal Revenue Service collected information on the political party affiliations of taxpayers in 20 states.
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CLG Newsletter editor: Lori Price, General Manager. Copyright © 2006, Citizens For Legitimate Government ® All rights reserved. CLG Founder and Chair is Michael Rectenwald, Ph.D.
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