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

[JaniceNW]

Oh my goodness. You are so right. I am disgusted with the government even more than usual. I am also tired of caucuses even though one hasn't happened yet. My idea: no declaring or ads until 60 days before election!!!!We need to make it an amnedment to the constitution. If course, Bush would ignore it too. Thanks for the great info!

[pjazzypar]

I am concerned about all of these issues, most especially # 6 and 7. Thanks for visiting me and Have a Happy New Years.

[Pamela Kramer]

Great list! This must have taken a great deal of thought.

[Mama Pajama]

Great list! A good reminder! Thanks for stopping by!

[Leslie Dicken]

OMG, so much there! I'm ashamed to say that I often want to just stick my head in the sand and not worry about these things. I'm glad there are people like you who do, though!!

Thanks for visiting my T13 post!

[Darla]

*sigh* This is so discouraging! Thanks for helping to keep us informed!

[Siani]

Wow. That's a lot of serious, unresolved issues. I guess we have just as many here in the UK. Governments, eh? Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy TT!

[megan & bad kitty cats]

Exactly! Excellent list. There needs to be accountability and these are such valid and important queries. Answers would be good, but I am not holding my breath.

Rimbaud may look like an Angel, but a brat indeed! Fur pulling is his only grace. Here's hoping you have no new sutures in the future! Purrs from the Kitty Cats and Peace

[Lib]

That is one heck of a list. It boggles the mind really. I just don't understand how the powers that be can be so completely ineffectual.

Great TT!

And as far as Virtual Assistance (from your comment on my blog) - if your hubby ever seriously considers it, please tell him to come talk to me. There is a lack of the male perspective in the VA industry and I am sure he would compliment the feminine slant nicely. And in any case, it couldn't hurt to explore possible options.

[Suzanne]

Excellent questions, all. Would be nice to get answers in our lifetime, but like others, I'm not holding my breath, either.

[Minkydo]

Interesting list. I need to refresh my memory on some of those items. Thanks :)

[Smiler]

That's a great list of questions about some very serious issues. I guess we can never expect the media to follow through on stories and tell us about outcomes and such. They're just interested in covering the hot topic of the moment so they'll get a maximum of viewers and readers. It mustn't be considered a "hot enough" topic to give people progress news after they're done covering the issue and moved on to something else. I'm Canadian so and not what you'd call all that informed about political matters, mostly because all of it inevitably depressed me. It seems like the guys don't take Democracy seriously a all. Even the election system itself can't be trusted, so who can?

[Smiler]

sorry about all the typos. I'm hopeless!

[Jeannene]

Thank you for coming by to visit me!! I hope you return in the future. Very interesting Blog, and will be by to read more on what you share here;-))

Jeannene(Love Conquers All)

[Gellianne]

Hi! Very informative.Thanks for sharing.

[Risky]

Very interesting list. Most of that I didnt know.
Thanks for stopping by my list!

[Tink]

Quite a list! Serious stuff that needs to be solved, if possible...
Thanks for visiting my TT; sorry I'm this late in returning the favour!

[Joy Renee]

I've been following every one of these except #13 which is completely new to me. I used to read political blogs for hours every day but had to back off to a few times per week because these stories made me so frustrated, anxious and verging on despair. I admire you for your ability to collect and present the info in easily digestible packages.

i'm visiting this post two weeks late because you haven't put up a TT since and i'm just now getting around to returning visits i've owed since November. Thanx for your visits to Joystory. Sorry i was so lax. it's been manic these past couple months.

major kudos for the work you all do here.

i hope you haven't given up TT as that was when i made my visits to Bucknaked. if so i'll have to move your link into my political blog rotation.