The travel noose tightens around Kissinger

In his Harpers column, Scott Horton notes how the case against Henry Kissinger as complicit in a set of U.S.–ordered assassinations in Salvador Allende's Chile is moving relentlessly forward:

As I noted earlier, Christopher Hitchens’s two-part 2001 article, “The Case Against Kissinger,” built a strong though circumstantial case connecting Henry Kissinger to a series of assassinations in Chile around the time of the overthrow and killing of President Salvador Allende. The evidence has continued to grow since Hitchens’s arguments appeared. On Friday, the release of a taped conversation between Kissinger and President Richard M. Nixon added more.

He then quotes Jeff Stein's report in the Washington Post’s Spytalk blog:

[I]n 1971, Nixon and Kissinger were working to undermine the socialist administration of Chilean President Salvador Allende, who would die during a U.S.-backed military coup two years later. One of the key figures to stand in the way of Chilean generals plotting to overthrow Allende was the Chilean army commander-in-chief, Rene Schneider, who was killed during a botched kidnapping attempt by military right-wingers in 1970.

The new tapes won’t end the argument, but they add persuasive evidence that the CIA was at least trying to eliminate Schneider, and perhaps with the connivance of Nixon and Kissinger. The key exchange between the president and his national security adviser occurred on June 11, 1971.

Part of that exchange:

Kissinger: CIA’s too incompetent to do it. You remember—
Nixon: Sure, but that’s the best thing. [Unclear].
Kissinger: —when they did try to assassinate somebody, it took three attempts—
Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: —and he lived for three weeks afterwards.

It sounds like comic dialogue, until you realize they're discussing murder. Gen. Schneider, as Chilean commander in chief, was one of the real roadblocks to the CIA-Chilean military coup against President Allende — he insisted, quaintly, on respecting the democratic process. You had to go through Schneider to get to Allende. Apparently that was the route.

Horton concludes:

This tape adds to the evidence that the assassination of Chile’s senior military commander resulted from a decision involving Kissinger and Nixon. Kissinger is reported to continue to have great difficulties traveling because he faces arrest warrants issued abroad. This tape shows why those warrants are hardly frivolous.

Scott Horton is one of the leading go-to guys on terror and international prosecutions. He's been watching the cases of the Bush terror lawyers carefully as well. A good man to put on your radar if you care about international reaction to out-of-control torture and assassination.

For me though, this case is a reminder of something beyond the news:

1. These justice wheels may be slow, but they can also be relentless. George Bush, Dick Cheney, John Yoo and each of your very good friends — there are many around the world who wish you a very long life.

2. Kissinger and Nixon in the White House are alleged to have used what — in effect — is the president's personal army (the Praetorian Guard–like CIA) to murder foreign generals and presidents. This is how client states are treated by their owners.

Masters of the Universe, take note, as you sell off America's wealth, and wealth-making capability, for your personal aggrandizement. When that wealth is owned abroad, our own military may be as effective against Kissinger–Nixon-type threats as was General Schneider.

GP Read More......

Ugandan Author of 'Kill Gays' Bill coming to DC for Nat'l Prayer Breakfast with Obama

Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin reported last night that David Bahati, the author of the "Kill Gays" bill is planning to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation/The Family, on February 4th. President Obama is also expected to attend that breakfast.

If "The Family" wants Bahati at its event, that's their choice. Bahati's presence sends a message that his views are condoned by the event's sponsors. If he's there, Obama can't attend. It's that simple. Nor should any other member of Congress or Administration official.

More at AMERICAblog Gay. Read More......

Raul Castro thinks Obama is trying to overthrow Cuba

Step away from the gas leak, Raul. Obama is too timid to fight for promises he made in the US so somehow it sounds like a stretch to imagine him wanting to overthrow Cuba. Unless there's another side of Obama that we don't know about, Raul Castro sounds as loony as his brother.

Offering Cuba's first public acknowledgment of the arrest of an American contractor, Castro said the case shows "the United States won't quit trying to destroy the revolution and bring a change to our economic and social regime."

"In the last few weeks we have witnessed the stepping up of the new administration's efforts in this area," he told parliament. "They are giving new breath to open and undercover subversion against Cuba."

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White House Counsel, Greg Craig, resigned

The White House just announced the resignation of White House Counsel Greg Craig:

The White House today announced today that White House Counsel Greg Craig will return to private practice and Bob Bauer will serve as White House Counsel.

Before the announcement, The Washington Post cited Craig's "embattled tenure," mostly over Guantanamo, as a reason for his departure:

The departure comes after months of dissatisfaction over Craig's management of Guantanamo policy and other matters and less than a month after officials said Craig was no longer guiding the effort to close the prison. His departure represents the highest-level White House shake-up to date.

On January 22nd, the President said Guantanamo would be within a year of that date:
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Wash Post: "U.S. Faces Doubts About Leadership on Human Rights"

Don't expect bold leadership internationally when at home we've gotten fear, weakness and compromise. Of course, internationally when you exhibit those traits, people often die as a result. Read More......

LA Times: Activists say poor nations' access to affordable drugs stymied

LA Times:

Activists in the U.S., as well as Thailand and other developing countries, have accused the Obama administration of blocking greater access to affordable drugs in a bid to win the pharmaceutical companies' support for its healthcare overhaul.

Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam International -- an anti-poverty group -- said they had hoped President Obama would join them in the fight to make generic drugs available to combat disease in impoverished countries.

But "it appears that Obama appointees are continuing to work from the playbook of the last administration," said Oxfam policy advisor Rohit Malpani. The British-based group had opposed President George W. Bush's trade policies as being detrimental to public health.

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North Korea pardoned two captive American journalists

Nice work, Bill Clinton. Read More......

Bill Clinton is on his way to North Korea in attempt to free the two imprisoned journalists

The former president (and husband of the Secretary of State) is on his way to North Korea:

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is on his way to North Korea to try to negotiate the release of two American journalists convicted by the communist state of "grave crimes", South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Tuesday.

Clinton had already left for the North but had not yet arrived in Pyongyang, Yonhap said in a report from Washington quoting a source familiar with the issue.

"As soon as he arrives, he will be entering negotiations with the North for the release of the female journalists," the source was quoted as saying.

North Korea used to be Bill Richardson's turf. Clinton's got big shoes to fill. Read More......

Cory Aquino died today

The former president of the Philippines died today. I remember the tumultuous days back in 1986 when she led a movement that turned out the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. Those were in the early days of CNN, when wall-to-wall news coverage was still a relatively new phenomenon.

Aquino's ascendancy was actually a pretty stunning turn of events. Marcos had been firmly entrenched for decades (and long had the backing of the U.S. government.) But, the widow, whose husband, Ninoy, was killed in 1983 upon his return to the Philippines (by the military), changed the course of her country's history in 1986. Assassinating Ninoy Aquino was a major miscalculation by the Marcos government and marked the beginning of the end. For news junkies, this was very cool to watch unfold. It was just great to watch a dictator fall because of people power -- and, of course, we soon learned about the shoes of Imelda, which added another whole dimension to the story. Read More......

Cornyn confuses India and China

That's okay, we often confuse Cornyn for a real Senator. Read More......

Ousted Honduran President returned to his country -- for a second

Drama on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras today:

Ousted President Manuel Zelaya, vowing to return to power, took a symbolic step inside Honduras on Friday but quickly stepped back across the border again to avoid being arrested.

Accompanied by a pack of international reporters and television cameras, the ousted leader in his trademark cowboy hat took a step or two inside Honduran territory in the small town of Las Manos on the border with Nicaragua.

Pausing to give live telephone interviews, he approached the chain dividing the two central American nations, stepping briefly over and holding the chain over his head in triumph for a moment before returning to the Nicaraguan side.

Zelaya really turned this into a media event. CNN covered it live. Not exactly sure what it accomplished, but he did get into his homeland ever so briefly. And, not sure what impact this has on the negotiations underway to resolve this situation. Read More......

A coup in Honduras ousted the President

A coup:

President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was ousted by the army on Sunday, capping months of tensions over his efforts to lift presidential term limits, in the first military coup in Central America since the end of the cold war.

Soldiers stormed the presidential palace in the capital, Tegucigalpa, early Sunday, disarming the presidential guard, seizing Mr. Zelaya and putting him on a plane to Costa Rica.

Mr. Zelaya, a leftist aligned with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, angrily denounced the coup as illegal. “I am the president of Honduras,” he insisted at a news conference at the San José airport in Costa Rica, still wearing his pajamas.

Later Sunday the Honduran Congress voted him out of office, replacing him with the president of Congress, Roberto Micheletti.

The Honduran military offered no public explanation for its actions but the Supreme Court issued a statement saying that the military had acted to defend the law against “those who had publicly spoken out and acted against the Constitution’s provisions.”

Now, admittedly, I'm no expert on the Honduran constitution. But, it seems like the document would have a way of dealing this in a way short of arresting, deporting and replacing the president. Bad precedent. Read More......

Pirate brought to US, will face criminal charges

So, remember how Newt and other right wingers were trashing Obama and betting against the US when the pirates were holding the Captain of the Maersk Alabama hostage? Jed got it on video:

Betting against America is, well, pretty un-American.

Now, the surviving pirate is now in the US. And, he's going to be tried for his crimes, via press release from the Department of Justice:

Muse, who is over 18 years old, was presented in U.S. Magistrate Court and ordered detained. Muse is charged with: (1) piracy under the law of nations; (2) conspiracy to seize a ship by force; (3) discharging a firearm, and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm, during and in relation to the conspiracy to seize a ship by force; (4) conspiracy to commit hostage taking; and (5) brandishing a firearm, and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm, during and in relation to the conspiracy to commit hostage taking. The first count carries a mandatory term of life imprisonment; the second count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; the third count carries a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment; the fourth count carries a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment; and the fifth count carries a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment.

Kinda shows that Gingrich and his ilk are even bigger idiots than we thought a couple weeks ago. Read More......

New video shows "stern" Obama, apparently lecturing Hugo Chavez

I really hate when right-wing lies are exposed. From ABC's Jake Tapper.

Chavez Obama
by noticias24

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Obama issues new policy on travel and cash remittances for Americans with family in Cuba

Keeping a campaign promise:

President Barack Obama on Monday will ease limits on family travel and cash gifts from the United States to Cuba and allow U.S. telecommunications firms to bid for licenses on the communist-ruled island, a U.S. official said.

The decision does not lift Washington's trade embargo with Cuba though it does open a crack in the bulwark set up more than four decades ago and maintained by successive U.S. administrations.

The move also fulfills one of Obama's campaign promises to allow Cuban Americans to travel more freely to Cuba and increase financial help to family members there, and could herald improved ties between the two longtime foes.

Supporters of easing U.S. sanctions against Cuba welcomed the move, which will affect an estimated 1.5 million Americans who have family members in Cuba, as "ground breaking".

Good move. And, it is a big step in the right direction.

From the White House Fact Sheet:

Specifically, the President has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to take the needed steps to:

· Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.

· Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.

· Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba.

· License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.

· License U.S. satellite radio and satellite television service providers to engage in transactions necessary to provide services to customers in Cuba.

· License persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba.

· Authorize the donation of certain consumer telecommunication devices without a license.

· Add certain humanitarian items to the list of items eligible for export through licensing exceptions.

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Obama beats first national security test

As Chris and Joe have both mentioned, in freeing the US hostage held by the Somali pirates, and capturing a pirate, Obama has passed his first national security test with flying colors.

Obama's handling of the crisis showed a president who was comfortable in relying on the U.S. military, much as his predecessor, George W. Bush, did.

But it also showed a new commander in chief who was willing to use all the tools at his disposal, bringing in federal law enforcement officials to handle the judicial elements of the crisis.

The rescue appeared to vindicate Obama's muted but determined handling of the incident.

Let's not forget Obama's Republican predecessor's first national security test. You remember, when George Bush capitulated to China and apologized after they took our airmen hostage. Then there was Bush's second national security test, stopping bin Laden from striking America. That one didn't go so well either. And in eight years, Bush never did catch bin Laden, nor did he give any indication that he cared to. Read More......

Turkish TV anchor dresses in black-face to honor, or mock, Obama

It's not terribly clear. ThinkProgress has more.

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MSNBC tries to equate foreign policy credentials of Biden and Palin

Okay, I've seen a lot of absurdities during the election, but this latest effort by MSNBC's Contessa Brewer to somehow equate Biden and Palin on foreign policy takes the cake. The MSNBC anchor actually said that both Biden and Palin will "try to bolster their foreign policy credentials." Biden doesn't have to bolster his foreign policy cred. He's chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for christ sakes. Palin got her passport last year....photo ops with foreign leaders doesn't bolster her cred, it makes her look more unprepared and unqualified. All of this coming right when we learn McCain doesn't know where Spain is. Watch this, it's classic. Absurdly classic:



Yeah, you might say Biden has "the edge" on experience -- by a 2 to 1 margin. Even if the traditional media is doing contortions to equate the experience of Biden and Palin, the American people get it:
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Call her General Palin

Weird new talking point from the McCain campaign. They're now saying that Sarah Palin, or perhaps we should now be calling her General Palin, is "Commander in Chief" of the Alaska National Guard that is fighting in Iraq. I'm sure the governor is the de jure chief of the state's national guard, but to imply that she's somehow the equivalent of the Commander in Chief of the US military, directing Alaska's forces in the fight against Al Qaeda, running through war plans and launching rocket attacks, is just laughable. Don't take it from me. Take it from the general who runs the Alaska National Guard:

Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard... said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.

Oops.

This interview, below, is simply astounding. CNN's Campbell Brown just obliterates McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds who simply refuses to answer, is unable to answer, the simple question as to what foreign policy experience Palin has. He couldn't name one decision she made as commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard. Watch the video below or via this link.

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Does Sarah Palin count duty-free shopping as foreign policy experience?

UPDATE: Yep, it's confirmed. Palin counted a refueling stop-over in Ireland - 30 minutes? 60 minute? - as an in-depth visit to the country. Amazing.

Irish blogger Maman Poulet notes:

So the Republican’s Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin has visited Ireland - this is listed as part of her foreign travel experience. She only got a passport last year and visited US troops (Alaskan National Guard) in Kuwait and Germany.

Two words to describe that visit to Ireland I think.

SHANNON STOPOVER! *

I could of course be wrong and Governor Palin was over to find her roots?? More as I get it.

*For US readers the Shannon Stopover refers to planes landing at Shannon Airport to refuel when on their way to and from parts of Europe/Middle East. Shannon Airport sees many US Military and contractor flights arrive there each month for refueling - passengers get off the plane for a while and then get back on again. Hardly a visit to Ireland?

If true, that would be one-third of Palin's entire national security/foreign policy experience. A 30 minute shopping trip at the Shannon airport. (It would also be an outright lie from the Bush-Palin campaign about our possible future wartime president.) I think we deserve to know the details of Palin's extensive foreign policy adventure in Ireland.

(I bought a cute shamrock mug in Shannon on a stopover, can I be VP too?) Read More......