Erosion
Today was a fascinating news day, with new information emerging about many of the scandals/wars in which the Government is embroiled. Bush recounted new details about a supposed foiled terror plot to strike a Los Angeles skyscraper with a jet liner. His details are supposed to stem the flow of bad news about how the President is conducting the War on Terror in the wake of the escape from a Yemeni prison of 13 al Qaeda members and the continuing warrantless wiretap scandal.
Meanwhile, there both the Abramoff and Libby scandals just got a little deeper. Abramoff revealed today that he has met the President over a dozen times, contradicting Bush’s comments about his ties to Abramoff. Meanwhile, Libby has told a grand jury that his “superiors” authorized him to leak classified information about Iraq’s weapons capability in the run up to the war.
Congress is making some headway in disaster relief hearings, and on an important legislative issue. Reversing his position on the matter, Brownie, now a private citizen, says he is ready to give congress some answers, saying “I feel an obligation to answer any questions they put to me.” Meanwhile, key Senators have reached a compromise on the PATRIOT Act that will likely lead to its renewal.
Finally, and more or less unrelatedly, an Aristide ally l appears set to win Haiti’s Presidential election.
- The Finer Points of the L.A. Terror Plot (TIME)
- E-Mail Notes Say Lobbyist Met President Many Times (New York Times)
- Ex-Cheney Aide Testified Leak Was Ordered, Prosecutor Says (New York Times)
- Ex-FEMA Chief, in Reversal, to Answer Questions on Storm (New York Times)
- Patriot Act Compromise Clears Way for Senate Vote (Washington Post)
- Ex-Aristide ally leads Haiti poll (BBC)