National Intelligence Estimate - more confusion ?

National Intelligence Estimate

The recent stories on the National Intelligence Estimate report, make an inference to the Al-Qaida group using its contacts in Iraq to mount an attack in the United States. The parts of the report, available for reading, make reference to increased threats, from within “radicalized” groups, and indicates that the United States still faces threats, but also points to the fact that these threats may also be coming to us without a “centralized terrorist organization.” This aspect of the report got very little play in the media, which skews the story a bit. The headlines associated with the report, were sensational and surprising - the report itself is not.

Re visiting the Duke case

Monday, December 25, 2006

Duke Case Flowchart

posted by al chervik @ 8:22 AM

Cataracts and Politics

The Grant Of Executive Clemency that was given to Lewis Libby, surprised some today, predicting a pardon, and others predicting that the administration would steer clear of the issue. The fact that Libby’s prison term was commuted, and the rest of the sentence (fine, supervised release) was left in tact, lends some insight into how the President views his role. A pardon for a convicted Felon, would no doubt show contempt for the process, ( as the Clinton Administration displayed with its 11th hour pardons) A commutation of the prison portion of the Libby sentence shows us that the administration is clearly loyal to its footman, but also shows a level of detachment from the taxpayers. It may just be, that politicians playing at this level of competition, with all the money and deal making that got them to where they are, really believe they are on solid ground, even when standing in quicksand. Although it’s nice to think that our elected officials stand behind what they believe in, it is disconcerting to think that the result of such devotion to ones beliefs is a type of political cataracts