Bush Administration Infighting Rears Head

M O N D A Y , O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 0 4Bush Administration Infighting Rears Headby Michael in New York on 10/25/2004 02:10:00 AMUsually, the scandals and infighting of an administration come outafter they've left office.</p><p> You'd expect that to be even more the casefor the Bushies -- he demands unswerving loyalty and hates anyinteroffice sniping getting into the press.But story after major, detailed story is spilling out of the New YorkTime, the Washington Post and all the other major players with a lotof juicy dirt.</p><p> Here's the first of a massive two-part look at thoseridiculous military tribunals set up for the terrorists held atGuantanamo Bay.</p><p> It's fascinating, but political junkies will especiallyenjoy the score-settling."The plan was considered so sensitive that senior White Houseofficials kept its final details hidden from the president's nationalsecurity adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and the secretary of state,Colin L.</p><p> Powell, officials said.</p><p> It was so urgent, some of thoseinvolved said, that they hardly thought of consulting Congress."White House officials said their use of extraordinary powers wouldallow the Pentagon to collect crucial intelligence and mete out swift,unmerciful justice. "We think it guarantees that we'll have the kind oftreatment of these individuals that we believe they deserve," saidVice President Dick Cheney, who was a driving force behind thepolicy."But three years later, not a single terrorist has been prosecuted.</p><p> Ofthe roughly 560 men being held at the United States naval base atGuantánamo Bay, Cuba, only 4 have been formally charged.Preliminary hearings for those suspects brought such a barrage ofprocedural challenges and public criticism that verdicts could still bemonths away.</p><p> And since a Supreme Court decision in June that gavethe detainees the right to challenge their imprisonment in federalcourt, the Pentagon has stepped up efforts to send home hundreds ofmen whom it once branded as dangerous terrorists."Here's part two, another massive but engrossing article that nailsdown that the worst of the worst held in extraordinary circumstancesat Guantanamo are mostly low-level nothings.</p><p> Plus, more infighting!"Although White House lawyers said they rushed to devise a newjudicial structure that could handle serious Qaeda terrorists, many ofthe detainees sent to Guantánamo turned out to be low-levelmilitants, Taliban fighters and men simply caught in the wrong placeat the wrong time.</p><p> The Pentagon's efforts to gather intelligence frommore valuable prisoners were also deeply flawed, military intelligenceofficers said, complicating the prosecution of some detainees andnearly paralyzing efforts to release others."Interviews with dozens of officials show that the myriad problemsignited an often fierce behind-the-scenes struggle that set thePentagon and its allies in the White House against adversaries at theNational Security Council, the State Department and JusticeDepartment.</p><p> The friction among officials like Defense SecretaryDonald H.</p><p> Rumsfeld; the national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice;and Mr.</p><p> Ashcroft sheds new light on the internal dynamics of anadministration that has shown a remarkably united public front." HuffPost PoliticsJeffrey Smith: Governor Sebelius Must Veto KansasBill That Endangers Milk Safety - Governor Sebeliuswants to be our new Secretary of Health andHuman Services.</p><p> But before she is sworn in, shehas an important job to...12 minutes agoDaily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Tonight's RescueRangers are Louisiana 1976, jlms qkw, shayera,dopper0189, ybruti, and srkp23 with vcmvo2editing.* ~ World order will be secured only ...27 minutes agoCrooks and LiarsC&L's Late Night Music Club: The 50 State Strategywith The Pine Box Boys (CA) - Title: Mr.</p><p> SkeletonArtist: The Pine Box Boys San Francisco isn'tknown for Bluegrass, but maybe if there weremore bands like The Pine Box Boys, it would ...32 minutes agoEschatonThe Stupids - When I was growing up what alwayspissed me off more than anything was when mysense of justice was violated.</p><p> I'm not claiming thatmy sense of such things...59 minutes agoFiredoglakeLate Nite: Michele Bachmann Stars in “Birth of anAberration” - Minnesota's wackiest export treadsthe boards of the Wingnut dinner theater.1 hour agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S Show All AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Bush...http://www.americablog.com/2004/10/bush-administration-infig... 1 of 64/7/09 1:02 AM