Bad Deeds for 11-29-2007

Firefighters Asked to Report People Who Express Discontent With the U. S. Government – It’s like the novel “Fahrenheit 451” has come to life. Firefighters are being trained to not only keep an eye out for illegal materials in the course of their duties, but even to report back any expression of discontent with the government. A year ago, Homeland Security gave security clearances to nine New York City fire chiefs and began sharing intelligence with them. Even before that, fire department personnel were being taught “to identify material or behavior that may indicate terrorist activities” and were also “told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States.” Unlike law enforcement officials, firemen can go onto private property without a warrant, not only while fighting fires but also for inspections.

Rulings That Denied Endangered Species Increased Protection Were Tainted by Political Pressure – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday reversed seven rulings that denied endangered species increased protection, after an investigation found the actions were tainted by political pressure from a former senior Interior Department official. In a letter to Rep. Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia., the agency acknowledged that the actions had been “inappropriately influenced” and that “revising the seven identified decisions is supported by scientific evidence and the proper legal standards.” The rulings came under scrutiny last spring after an Interior Department inspector general concluded that agency scientists were being pressured to alter their findings on endangered species by Julie MacDonald, then a deputy assistant secretary overseeing the Fish and Wildlife Service. Rahall in a statement said that MacDonald, who was a civil engineer, “should never have been allowed near the endangered species program.” He called MacDonald’s involvement in species protection cases over her three-year tenure as an example of “this administration’s penchant for torpedoing science.” MacDonald resigned her position last May.

Giuliani Billed Obscure Agencies for His Trips – As New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons, according to previously undisclosed government records. The costs had nothing to do with the functions of the little-known city offices that defrayed his tabs, including agencies responsible for regulating loft apartments, aiding the disabled and providing lawyers for indigent defendants.

State Department’s Iraq Weekly Status Report is a Copy and Paste of News Articles – The State Department’s “Iraq Weekly Status Report” is filled with sloppily credited cut and pastes from major media articles. What are the more than 1,600 State Dept employees in Iraq doing that they don’t submit enough information back to State so they can file their own report? State Dept. seeks $1.5B for Iraq

US is ‘Worst’ Imperialist According to Archbishop of Canterbury – The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that the United States wields its power in a way that is worse than Britain during its imperial heyday. Rowan Williams claimed that America’s attempt to intervene overseas by “clearing the decks” with a “quick burst of violent action” had led to “the worst of all worlds”. He said the crisis was caused not just by America’s actions but also by its misguided sense of its own mission. He poured scorn on the “chosen nation myth of America, meaning that what happens in America is very much at the heart of God’s purpose for humanity”. Williams suggested American leadership had broken down: “We have only one global hegemonic power. It is not accumulating territory: it is trying to accumulate influence and control. That’s not working.”

Thought for the day:
“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”

Regards,

Jim