Iran Dropped Nuke Program, Bush Hyped Iran's Nukes Anyway
Intelligence reports indicate that Iran dropped its Nuclear Weapons program in 2003. The White House was reportedly briefed months ago, but President Bush continued pushing for war with Iran on the grounds that Iran has nukes. (Washington Post, BN-Politics-1, BN-Politics-2)
CIA Destroyed Tapes of Torture Sessions
In 2005, the CIA destroyed video tapes of "harsh interrogation" of terror suspects. Some wonder if the CIA's destruction of evidence amounts to obstruction of justice, because a federal court and the 9/11 Commission had requested such evidence. Congressional and Justice Department officials warned the CIA not to destroy the evidence. (NY Times-1, NY Times-2, BN-Politics-1, BN-Politics-2)
Embattled State Department IG Resigns
McClatchy reports: "State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard, under fire for allegedly impeding probes into problems with construction of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and with security firm Blackwater Worldwide, submitted his resignation Friday." (See also, BN-Politics-1, BN-Politics-2)
$1 Billion (More) in Military Hardware Missing in Iraq
Pentagon auditors found that $1 billion in military equipment sent to Iraq -- including weapons and vehicles -- are unaccounted for (e.g., the military could not account for 12,712 out of 13,508 weapons). In August, we learned that 190,000 U.S. weapons were lost in Iraq in 2004-05. (CBS, BN-Politics-1, BN-Politics-2)
Iraq: Car Bombs Killed 25
Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was in Iraq for a news conference, where he gave optimistic assessments about declining violence in Iraq. On the same day, four car bombs exploded in Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, and an area north of Baghdad -- collectively killing 25 people and wounding 65. (BN-Politics-1, BN-Politics-2)
U.S. Senate Approves Tax Bill, Bucks AMT
The Senate "overwhelmingly approved a measure to spare millions of families from
the growing reach of the alternative minimum tax...." (Washington Post)
Teenager Killed 8 people and Self at Shopping Mall
At a Nebraska shopping mall, a 19-year-old American fired an assault rifle, killing eight people before killing himself. His note stated, "I'm a piece of shit....but I'm going to be famous now." (BBC News, Reuters, BN-Politics)
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