It's useful to take a step back from the details of the Indian attacks, and compare what we've been told about the WTC 1, 2, 7 explosions. The President's disclosures through the NSA in both incidents do not reconcile, raising additional questions.

We judge the common element in both the Indian attacks and the WTC explosions is the home grown element which supports the government. In India, this is known as Hindu terrorism, unrelated to Islamic terrorism; nor directly related to Pakistan, but a domestic factor.

This note springs from admittedly impartial information about the Indian attacks, but hopes to develop a baseline of ELINT intercept scenarios. These should have been available for the 9-11 Commission and Public, were not.

A comparison between the Electronic Interception (ELINT) disclosures about the Indian attacks shows the United States has fabricated information, timelines, and evidence to justify activity unrelated to bonafide national security.

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The act -- Emergency Economic Stabilization Act -- established TARP.  The act is misnamed. The implemented plan, even if adjusted, will not adequately stabilize the economy, but continue providing capital to entities with deteriorating balance sheets.

This is not a solution.

If executed, this plan and recommendations are expected to create more of a problem. The concern is the administration has abandoned this plan, embarked on a new strategy. It's unclear what relevant standards GAO was using when evaluating the different strategy, unrelated to the documented plan.

That's the good news.

The bad news is the GAO report sounds more like a (worthless) Senate Iraq WMD Phase II report: The mind reels looking at what they've not adequately challenged. Every line in this report shows evidence the US Congress, Administration, and GAO are missing the mark.

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The evidence isn't there, but this hasn't stopped Indian accusations.

India is reported to be concerned that Pakistan played a large role in the recent attacks. However, there's more to the story than what's in the NYT.

Rather than sit on the sidelines and accept the Indian status quo, America could exercise leadership to encourage the Pakistanis and Indians to focus on a common enemy at sea.

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We previously examined photos of the North Korean President. Today, we're examining a composite image in Vogue. (Note: The image linked-to here is similar, but not exactly the same as the one in Vogue.)

This analysis of the Vogue-published composite may help advance the discussion on the North Korean images.  If the images of the North Korean President were altered, we should see some of the same inconsistencies as we see with the Vogue-published composite. This was not apparent.  Unlike the images of the North Korean President, there are many discrepancies in the Marley & Me photograph in Vogue.

Based on this analysis of the Vogue image, we remain convinced the images of the North Korean President are more likely real, and were not significantly altered. The question is what the North Koreans were not showing.

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This isn't a surprising pattern: The DC-hires are (?) qualified for the wrong mission, giving us more Abu Ghraib- and Guantanamo-like disasters, creating foreseeable (but mismanaged) problems, compounded by a flawed solution.

This time, it's with the "bailout," which the GAO audited:

TPMM on the bailout bungle: "Treasury Department had hired staff with the specific attributes needed to carry out its original plan for the bailout -- buying banks' bad assets -- only to then decide that it would change its approach by directly injecting capital."

They (stupidly) changed (midstream) the goal, but did not (as they should have) adjust the plan. Nevermind the cattle wranglers they hired knew a different river and had a useless map.

These lessons are relevant to deploying 20,000 troops on American soil.

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This should be interesting, before the "pre-arraignment" procedures.

The VP's lawyers haven't given convincing arguments why a sitting VP cannot be prosecuted. Regardless the court conclusions, the grand jury indictment stands.

Impeachment would bypass these judicial theatrics, and assert legislative power against the executive. The People through the States are the ones that are supposed to put pressure on the House.

Time for the States to act and pass proclamations calling on the House to Impeach Cheney. The Vermont Senate passed one, as Florida did in 1903 against Judge Swayne.

Here are the other state proclamations. This isn't something that "might" happen, but has started. Long ago. Just as the Framers intended.

Repost

This summarizes the problem with the legal services oversight, and needed reform; (partially) reposted from here.

Comments disabled: To comment on this thread, visit the discussion here.

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Affordable Mortgages or Affordable Housing?

There' s nothing like having a bad plan hidden on the pretext of a greater good. We saw the same justifications for secret Iraq invasion planning, and the President's defiance FISA and of the JAG's input on Geneva.

The same is happening with the recovery. The same President which refused to permit oversight is continuing his convoluted plans in Cheney's dungeon.

This discusses the flaws behind Paulsen's approach (visit the link), and outlines a framework to address the core economic and oversight issues. The common element is the breakdown of the legal services industry, as discussed here.

Warning: This is not investment advise. Talk to a trained financial-legal professional before making any decisions.

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Accountability on Malfeasant Corporate Boards. US Govt

Commenting: This is an embedded blog (important stuff that didn't fit well): To leave comments, visit the main discussion.

There's (one of many) disconnects in the financial bailout.

The responses are from people who were surprised, removed, and unable to manage the risk:

QUESTION: Does today's action mean that the conservatorship hasn't worked as you wanted?

And also, now, you only have $20 billion left in TARP. Will you go to Congress and ask for the last part -- tranche?

PAULSON: I would say two things.

First of all, the conservatorship has worked out as we had hoped.

Why should we believe they have better information about progress? There's little given to justify confidence that the conservatorship has worked; or that they have better information about the risks to know whether the real (still TBD) problems are getting solved.

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This statement is not supportable:

HuffPo reports "You can't have district attorneys across the country bringing charges against federal officials," Treece said. And even in a federal probe, Cheney and Gonzales have a "qualified privilege" that would protect them so long as they were acting within their jobs, Treece said.

Others have a different view. Namely, Jonathan Turley and Vincent Bugliosi.

See "From Pillar to Post": The Prosecution of American Presidents, journal article by Jonathan Turley; American Criminal Law Review, Vol. 37, 2000

The excuses for inaction must be confronted. Here is what you -- as a TPM reader -- can do.

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While the Vice President goes through theatrics, the States should put pressure on the House to impeach the Vice President, even after he leaves office.

America cannot outsource its criminal justice system to the international community. TPM readers have the opportunity to help bring about the needed change.

There is something specific TPM readers can do. A draft-"State Proclamation" calls on the House to impeach. It will include your inputs. 

The House Rules permit proclamations from the States calling on the House to start impeachment proceedings.  The House can also start impeachment based on charges from a grand jury.

Consider the language of these state proclamations calling for impeachment. After you review this information with your friends, you can provide inputs to how you would like to proceed. Inaction is not "change".

These State Proclamations will help the Congress focus on what must be changed; and give the public the needed information to know whether the promise of change is real.

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Raw says the VP has been indicted [faxed copy]. The prosecutor says [video] he has enough evidence to prosecute Cheney.

OP Ed calls on Conyers to impeach Cheney.

What You can do: Contact your state legislators to pass proclamations calling on the House to impeach Cheney, over the charges forwarded by the Texas grand jury.

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We' reported on TPM blog spam linked to the University of Chicago and lawyers, indirectly linked with the White House.

There are finite legal resources. Not all legal professionals view their responsibilities seriously. Apparently someone who has "no time" to intelligently discuss Geneva-FISA issues does have time to do "other things".

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We voted for change, not excuses for the status quo.

Uncooperative "career" staff can be impeached. The carry overs do not have unchecked power to homestead in the Executive Branch.

Either they perform along the agenda of change, or they must be removed.

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The North Koreans released a "new" image of their President, implying the image was from a military art festival

We previously analyzed an earlier image. The new image appears to be from the same event.

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