Dec 9, 2005 at 8:08 PM by Political Chase
Reuters reports the US based Human Rights Watch organization is making allegations Poland was the primary operations center for the CIA’s secret detention network in Europe. In an interview with a Polish newspaper, Marc Garlasco, an analyst, indicated “Poland was the main base for CIA interrogations in Europe, while Romania played more of a role in the transfer of detained prisoners.”
Human Rights Watch is still collecting information for a report to be issued in the near future. Although the research is not finalized, the organization claims it has information from CIA and other sources.
“Human Rights Watch has collected information that CIA airplanes traveling from Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004 made direct flights to remote airfields in Poland and Romania,” it said in a statement issued by its New York office.
According to Garlasco, two CIA detention centers in Poland were closed shortly after it was disclosed (here and here) the CIA was operating “black centers” in Eastern Europe.
Tags : War+on+Terror, CIA, Secret+Prisons, Black+Sites, Rendition
Dec 9, 2005 at 2:11 PM by Political Chase
This is from a post at TPM that I thought was worth sharing if you have not read it.
“What the Republicans need is 50 Jack Abramoffs. Then this becomes a different town,” Grover Norquist, 1995.
(ed.note: cite National Journal, July 29, 1995. Tip from TPM Reader DG.)
If you are not familiar with Grover Norquist, click here. Norquist is widely quoted for this statement, “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”
Technorati Tags : Jack+Abramoff, Politics
Dec 9, 2005 at 3:07 AM by Political Chase
Toy and I would like to extend a very humble thank you to Lucien Carter of Top 10 Sources for recognizing The Political Chase’s coverage of the Plame Wilson investigation.
While we are committed to TPC’s Mission, we are equally as committed to insure we enjoy the effort that supports the mission. We are grateful for our readers and hope that each person gains as much from reading the blog as we do in developing the content.
Many thanks!
—David Pleasant
—–
Dec 9, 2005 at 1:50 AM by Political Chase
The New York Daily News reports that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is expected to quit early next year. Deputy Secretary Gordon England is “the inside contender,†but catch this…Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is rumored to a viable contender for the corner office in the Pentagon.
[T]here’s also speculation that Sen. Joe Lieberman - a Democrat who ran against Bush-Cheney in the 2000 election - might become top guy at the Pentagon.
That’s not as far fetched as it might first appear.
[…] The White House considered Lieberman for the UN ambassador’s job last year before giving the post to John Bolton, a Bush adviser said.
“He thought about it for a week or so and finally said no,” the adviser recalled.
A source close to the White House said Rumsfeld wanted out a year ago, after Bush’s reelection, but neither he nor President Bush wanted his departure to appear to have been forced.
“They didn’t want to give the critics the satisfaction that their piling on was what got rid of him,” a Bush adviser said.
Rumors that Lieberman could replace Rumsfeld started flying early this week, and Bush and Vice President Cheney fanned the flames by quoting the former Democratic veep candidate’s pro-war statements.
[…]President Bush “has told friends that Rumsfeld is a political liability, but the President has a history of sticking with his personnel baggage until an opportune moment.†According to a White House source, “Only Rumsfeld will make Rumsfeld leave.â€
If Rummy’s gone, Cheney will have to seek another alter ego.
Tags : Politics, Rumsfeld, Bush+Administration
Dec 9, 2005 at 12:47 AM by Political Chase
Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) may have a few more knotty problems than he perceived earlier today.
Reuters reports at least three conservative Senators have now harshly criticized Specter’s announced White House-backed deal. Larry Craig of Ohio, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Lisa Murkowski are “gravely disappointed.”
Tags : War+on+Terror, Patriot+Act, Politics
