Another "Disgruntled" Bush employee

After high profile books by Secretary O' Neil and Richard Clarke, Scott McClellan has joined the growing list of former Bush employees who are speaking out about the insides of the Bush Administration. This comes as a big surprise since unlike the other former employees who have written books being critical of Bush, McClellan is a long time Bush loyalists going back as far as when he was Governor of Texas. He described the invasion of Iraq as a "serious strategic blunder" and the turning point for him was when he was mis-led about the Valarie Plame leak case by Rove and other top aides.

Bush loyalists are already going on the attack calling him a disgruntled ex-employee and saying perhaps his editor made changes, but Scott McClellan seems to be sticking by his statements. Even CIA Director George Tenet and Gen. Franks have written books, while not overly critical, they have criticized the planning in Iraq. The lists keeps on growing of "disgruntled" ex-employees, are they really disgruntled or is the truth about the Bush Administration finally being documented. This man was not an outsider, he was the Press Secretary of the United States of America appointed by the President himself, his words can not just be discounted.

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We are at war, government can hold you forever

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a US Resident who was arrested for plotting an attack against the United States. What makes his case interesting is that he is not going through our court system, but is instead being held indefinitely without a trial and may get a military tribunal. I know most people are thinking, who cares, its just one guy and he probably is a terrorist, but their is a bigger issue here. An issue about our rights and what makes us different from the terrorists. If we start eroding our beliefs, values, and freedoms, then are the terrorists not winning?

This man should have the evidence against him presented in court, if the government feels the punishment would not be harsh enough, they should make the charges for terrorism harsher instead of trying to hold people indefinitely without presenting the case against them. He was not captured on the fields of Afghanistan like other terrorists, he was a legal resident of the United States. Another reason I have a problem with this is our government has a record of people abusing their powers, I believe the government does need expanded powers in war time, but the Bush administration has continued to push for powers without any checks and balances. For ex., they tried to bypass the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) courts which approved warrant requests while keeping information classified, the Bush administration said they were not fast enough, but out of over 22,000 requests only 5 were denied and the courts allow surveillance to be carried out for 72 hours before they are notified in cases of urgency. They resist every attempt to make sure ordinary Americans have their constitutional rights protected.

Unless al-Marri is eventually granted a trial by the Supreme Court, other US residents could be rounded up and put in military prisons for whatever the government deems is a threat. What if an innocent man is locked up with no access to a lawyer or trial? I am not saying this man should be freed, but he should be put up for trial, even Saddam Hussein got a trial in Iraq.


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Senator questions US aid to Pakistan

Senator Carl Levin questioned continued US aid money to Pakistan which now totals $10 billion since September 11, in military and economic funding. Pakistan has a shaky track record on fighting terrorists, just last year they signed a pact with the Taliban which has led to an increase on cross border attacks on Afghanistan. It is also well known that part of this money disappears due to corruption and part of it goes to support the insurgency in Kashmir against India. The United States needs to set real benchmarks for military success and democratic reform in Pakistan before continuing to hand over money. While we push for democracy in other parts of the world we are ignoring the dictatorships among our allies including Pakistan. Even after agreeing to help us in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agency continues their support of militants in both Afghanistan and Kashmir.

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Obama looking for Veep, Clinton Still In

It looks as though Obama has started his search for a VP candidate while still working to secure the nomination. While I have been a Clinton supporter, I believe that time has come for her to get out. Their are three reasons I believe she is still hanging on, 1. She promised her supporters to stay till June 3rd, 2. She needs to raise enough money to pay off her debt before she leaves, and 3. She really thinks she can pull off an October surprise in June. If the issue is money, I think Obama should work with his donors as past candidates have to help her pay off her debt so he could continue on. After June 3rd she should gracefully bow out and prepare for 2016, she is still young enough to run once more considering the ages of some of our former Presidents.

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