Working Families - Miriam V

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The continued insurgency in Iraq serves as a constant reminder of the
effects of the Bush administration's lack of post-war planning. It's not
like anyone
needed the benefit of hindsight to figure this out: A pre-war memo detailing
concerns over the lack of planning was just released under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA), and it presciently describes exactly the type of
troubles now brewing. The memo, dated a month before the initial invasion,
outlined
the concerns of three top State Department officials, and was sent at a time
when the Pentagon was steadily increasing its control over the operation.
The memo offered the warning that "a failure to address short-term public
security and humanitarian assistance concerns could result in serious human
rights
abuses which would undermine an otherwise successful military campaign, and
our reputation internationally."
[link]
Republican Governor of Ohio Robert Taft has been formally indicted on four
ethics violations. Each count carries a maximum $1,000 fine and six month
jail
term. Taft allegedly failed to report gifts on 52 occasions valued at $5,800
over the last four years. Taft, who is the first Ohio governor to be charged
with a crime, has indicated that he is not planning to resign.
[link]
Could the walls be closing in on Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA)?
Cunningham is under grand jury investigation for his close ties with a
defense contractor
(Cunningham is a member of the House subcommittee on the Pentagon's budget).
On Tuesday, federal authorities searched the office and home of Brent
Wilkes,
CEO of ACDS, Inc., which has received $80 million in Defense Department
contracts since 1999. And then there's this link: Wilkes is a former
business associate
of Mitchell Wade, another defense contractor with close ties to Cunningham
(Wade is also currently under grand jury investigation). The Pentagon's
inspector
general concluded in 1999 that ACDS was awarded a contract based on improper
procedures.
[link]
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Morning Snark
List of 1 items
Here's a reality show idea: "Trading Spaces: Political Corruption Edition."
Rep. Cunningham and Gov. Taft can trade spots for a few days and each deal
with
the other's blossoming charges of political improprieties. Then at the end
of the episode, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) can make a special guest appearance to
offer his own tricks of the trade. All advertising revenue would go directly
to the Federal Election Commission.
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