TT#22 | 13 Unresolved Issues from 2007

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The Grand Canal, Venice (ca. 1835)
Joseph M. W. Turner (1775-1851)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Photo by D. Cupples

In 2007, we learned of numerous governmental issues and scandals, 13 of which are listed below in no particular order.  As yet, they are unresolved. [The painting has nothing to do with the topic, I just didn't want my photo to go to waste.]

1. The 190,000 U.S. Weapons lost in Iraq.  About 190,000 AK-47s and pistols from the U.S. were lost in Iraq in 2004-05.  General David Petraeus, who was in charge of arming  Iraqi security forces then, chalked it up to clerical errors.  I'd like to know where those weapons ended up and who took them there.

2. President Bush's hyping the Iran-nuclear threat despite the NIE.  President Bush spent the better part of 2007 insisting that Iran was an immediate threat because it has nuclear weapons. A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released in August states that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003.  Media coverage flared up for a few days in December, then ceased. I'd like to know what the president knew about the NIE and when.

3. The Siegelman prosecution. The U.S. Justice Department prosecuted former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman for corruption, dropped the case (partly due to non-credible witnesses and evidence), then re-opened the case.  Some believe the prosecution was improper, including 44 former state attorneys general (Republicans and Democrats).  I'd like to see the results of a thorough investigation.

4.  Immigration Clampdown.  Despite an announced "clampdown" on corporations that hire illegal immigrants, the Bush administration seems to have been able to arrest only 100 or so of the people who did the hiring, and only a "tiny fraction" end up with criminal charges filed against them.  I'd like to find out why the "clampdown" seems to be going so poorly.

5. CIA's Destruction of Torture Tapes.  Last month, we learned that the CIA destroyed video tapes of detainees being tortured, despite a court's and the 9/11 Commission's request to see all evidence relating to detainee interrogations.  I'd like to know whether the tape destruction was illegal.

6.  Iraq war progress.  We get so many different reports on our progress in Iraq.  Some say that violence is down,  yet the statistical methods for measuring violence are still debated.  Some say the war is a success, but we can't send troops home. In fact, we need more troops (and money). It's no wonder most of us Americans are confused about Iraq.  I'd like to know how we're really doing.

7. U.S. Embassy in Iraq. We taxpayers have committed $592 million to building an embassy in Iraq, our largest embassy in the world. The work was shoddy (e.g., bad wiring that caused fires). It was supposed to open in September.  Now, it's scheduled to open in 2009 -- and the costs have increased by $144 million. I'd like to know who was responsible for this expensive mess.

8.  Blackwater.  Government contractor Blackwater came under fire for allegedly 1) shooting Iraqi civilians, 2) charging us taxpayers high prices, 3) smuggling weapons, and 4) trying to steal an Iraqi military plane.  Former State Department inspector general Howard Krongard was accused of blocking investigations into Blackwater's alleged misconduct.  I'd like to know if those allegations are true.

9.  The U.S. Attorney firings.  Despite good performance reviews, nine U.S. Attorneys were fired in December 2006.  At first, White House spokesperson Tony Snow said the firings were performance based; months later, he denied having said that. Congress interviewed dozens of Justice Department staff, and evidence suggests that the firings may have been based on political agendas (a no-no in law enforcement). I'd like to know who was involved in firing the prosecutors and the real reasons for the firings.

10. White House executive privilege claims. Congress subpoenaed information from several White House staffers regarding the fired U.S. Attorney scandal, and the White House ordered them to ignore the subpoenas, claiming executive privilege. the Senate Judiciary Committee has taken steps to cite those staffers with contempt of Congress.  I'd like to see whether that happens.

11. Gonzales misconduct investigation. former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before Congress over the fired U.S. Attorneys.  He said some variation of  "I don't recall" more than 50 times during testimony.  The Senate Judiciary Committee requested investigations into whether Gonzales had committee perjury or other misconduct while AG.  I'd like to see results of those investigations.

12. The Deflating Housing Bubble. Our nation's hyper-inflated housing market has been declining. In October, home prices fell 6.7 percent, compared with a year earlier.  It was the largest drop recorded since1987 and marked the tenth month of price declines. I'd like to know when the bubble will be fully popped.

13. Hidden 401-K fees.  In November 2006 and 2007, the Government Accounting Office reported that many 401-(k) managers make it difficult for investors to figure out what their fees will be. I'd like to see Congress, or the appropriate U.S. authority, force 401-k managers to openly disclose what they will ultimately charge investors.

Commenters' Links:

1. Susie J
2. Writing in Faith
3. One Gal's Musings
4. Around the Island
5. A Gentleman's Domain
6. The Pink Flamingo
7. Greatful Living
8. Raven's Range
9. No Nonsense Girl
10. Fond of Snape
11. The Rest is Still Unwritten
12. J's Thoughts & Musings
13. Single Parents Unite
14. Ritty Rats
15. Just for Fun
16. Dane Bramage
17. The World at my Fingertips
18. Writer Cramps
19. The not-So-Deep Thoughts
20. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
21. Zenmomma's Garden
22. State of Confusion
23. Monday Through Sunday
24. Storyweaver's Web
25. Puss Reboots
26. I Read Banned Books
27. That Grrrl
28. Such Simple Pleasures
29. Small Reflections
30. Hi-Tech Momma
31. Lori's Old School Mix
32. MamaArcher's Blog
33. Nicole Austin--Romance Author
34. Work of the Poet
35. My Great Escape....
36. Lisa Spaitz Spindler
37. Cheerio
38. Taking What is Left
39. The Otherworld Diner
40. Wacky Mommy
41. The Happy Wonderer
42. Tuesday Update
43. Artventuring
44. Looking Towards Heaven
45. The Story of Me
46. Joely Sue Burkhart
47. My 2 Cents
48. Twist & Skewer
49. Traces of a Stream
50. PMKU
51. Mama Pajama
52. Leslie Dicken
53. Nichtszusagen
54. Siani's Pot-Pourri
55. BadKittyCats.Com
56. Not Much More than This
57. Suzanne Says...
58. Random Thoughts of a Single Mom
59. From Smiler, With Love
60. Love Conquers All
61. Everyday Adventures
62. West of Me

Comments

[susiej]

This is fantastic! You should be interviewed on a talk show.

[SandyCarlson]

No. 1 gets me. Clerical errors. Hah. Always the secretary gets the blame. This is a great list. I hope you repost later in the year to keep us on the ball.

[The Gal Herself]

This just in! I believe I heard that a special prosecutor will be named in the destruction of the torture videotapes! It's a sad and sorry list, isn't it? Here's hoping that 2008 and the candidates bring about the change they promise.

[Robin]

Yeah, those clerical errors in number 1 are going to cause a lot of innocent people to end up dead I suspect.

[Nicholas]

The reason for #4, and maybe many others too, is perhaps that people are being lobbied (paid off!) aggressively.

[SJ Reidhead]

Interesting list. As far as #9, I do know if the NM US Attorney was any example, they all needed to hit the showers. Here in NM, a huge corruption investigation was being stalled. The moment there was a change in US Attorneys, indictments started flying like confetti, including some very highly placed officials and former officials here in the state.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo

[SJ Reidhead]

Interesting list. As far as #9, I do know if the NM US Attorney was any example, they all needed to hit the showers. Here in NM, a huge corruption investigation was being stalled. The moment there was a change in US Attorneys, indictments started flying like confetti, including some very highly placed officials and former officials here in the state.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo

[greatfullivin]

It all just makes me sick. I for one am so tired of the corruption on both sides of the aisle, Clerical errors that cost millions of dollars and maybe lives. I hope 2008 is better for all of us.

[Linda R. Moore]

Wow. Just, wow.

And here's me, applying for citizenship in this most interesting of years.

I started a new blog on January 1st, and my TT this week is about biting off more than I can chew. ;)

[No nonsense girl]

I'm glad to see you back. :)

What a great/interesting entry!!!!

[Janet]

too many things...too many things.

[Candy]

That's why I hate politics! Can't resist discussing it with friends though, hehe!

[Jenny McB]

And here in NH, we have Rudy telling us that this is a war on terror, excuse me, I thought it was about weapons of mass destruction.. Meanwhile the White house and dubya have been quiet, too quiet about everything you listed.

Here's to an interesting election year. Happy New Year!

[Lori]

Yep...those sound like some definite unresolved issues:) May 2008 bring our soliders home and lower the deficit a couple trillion. Happy TT.

[RittyRats]

Ew, ouch!! If I was a politician, I would be beet red right now! Lots of embarassing things happenin' in WashDC, and perhaps, in governor's mansions around our nation, too.
Great TT! Keep us thinking!

[armywife]

sadly, none of this seems very surprising. somedays i think we've sunk to a new low, but really, i think its just that we've forgotten how low the old low was.

fun list though

happy TT

[Dane Bramage]

Intersting slant on 2007. I don't think anyone else has such an innovative review approach.

Thanks for visiting my T13 #63 13 Celebrity Births in 2007

[Yuriko]

Hmm.. I don't even think the weapons got over there... it was probably "paper filler" so that when it appears on the streets in some inner city in the hands of some drug king pin, it can be blamed on the Iraqis or "clerical error".

I mean.. how do gang members get semi-automatics in the first place?

[Gattina]

Very interesting what you wrote ! What we hear (in Europe) about the war in Iraq is that it is a catastrophe and a completely crazy and stupid war for nothing, the only reason why your troups are still there is because Bush doesn't want to loose his face, but to what price ! The other countries are withdrawing their troups now.

[Gattina]

Very interesting what you wrote ! What we hear (in Europe) about the war in Iraq is that it is a catastrophe and a completely crazy and stupid war for nothing, the only reason why your troups are still there is because Bush doesn't want to loose his face, but to what price ! The other countries are withdrawing their troups now.

[Ann Bruce]

#1 always makes me snicker. That's one hell of a clerical error.

Unfortunately, my list is not quite as serious: Life is sexually transmitted and other thoughts to ponder.

[Lara]

Great TT--while it's good to look ahead, we can't get too ahead of ourselves and let past issues slide.
Great post and have a happy 2008!

[zenmomma]

These just make me so sad. But the countdown continues. Only 382 days left.

[Natalie]

This makes me shake my head in shame at our government. Sigh...

[Xakara]

*Sigh*

I know what I'm going to get when I come here, and yet I can't help but want to know. *Headshake*

Thanks for helping us not to lose focus and to take a good hard look at the things the next person in office is going to have to clean up. (Yeah, cuz that's going to happen)

~X