HomelandSecurityLeader.com

From U.K. Telegraph  by Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

American military intervention in Muslim countries has bred a generation of “angry young men” vulnerable to al-Qa’eda recruitment, a report from a leading security analysis group has said.

The Senlis Council, which has an extensive network of researchers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, said frustration with war and unemployment was underpinning the insurgency against western forces

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From IHT.com, by Scott Shane
In a makeshift prison in the north of Poland, Al Qaeda’s engineer of mass murder faced off against his Central Intelligence Agency interrogator. It was 18 months after the 9/11 attacks, and the invasion of Iraq was giving Muslim extremists new motives for havoc. If anyone knew about the next plot, it was Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

The interrogator, Deuce Martinez, a soft-spoken analyst who spoke no Arabic, had turned down a CIA offer to be trained in waterboarding. He chose to leave the infliction of pain and panic to others, the gung-ho paramilitary types whom the more cerebral interrogators called “knuckledraggers.”

Martinez came in after the rough stuff, the ultimate good cop with the classic skills: an unimposing presence, inexhaustible patience and a willingness to listen to the gripes and musings of a pitiless killer in rambling, imperfect English. He achieved a rapport with Mohammed that astonished his fellow CIA officers.

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From Blackwater Release, By Dana C. Richardson

The Blackwater Worldwide Defense of Liberty Medal recognizes employees and independent contractors of Blackwater Worldwide and other Prince Group companies who are killed, wounded or have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and courage in the service of their country.

On May 23rd 2008, Blackwater Worldwide held the first of a series of award ceremonies aimed to honor the dedication and service of Blackwater personnel wounded in action. 10 private security contractors received recognition during the ceremony at Blackwater Worldwide Headquarters in Moyock, North Carolina. Erik Prince, CEO and founder of Blackwater, presented medals and an award certificate to each contractor. More than 300 people attended this ceremony including Blackwater employees, special guests, community members, along with medal recipient’s friends and family members. The guest of honor was WWII veteran, Lt Col. Richard Suehr and his wife Ruth Suehr. The event was a quiet one as this was not a public recognition of sacrifice as the names of the recipients that were honored were not released to the media.

Erik Prince presented “The Blackwater Worldwide Defense of Liberty Medal” to each of the ten independent contractors. The front of the medal features the Blackwater logo, which exemplifies Blackwater’s core values and principles, surrounded by the inscription “Service in Defense of Liberty.” The back of the medal is a rendition of the central stained glass window of the Blackwater Chapel, depicting Michael the Archangel with the raised sword, stepping on the head of evil personified, with the inscription, “Sérviam,” which is Latin for “I will serve.” The Blackwater Worldwide Defense of Liberty Medal recognizes employees and independent contractors of Blackwater Worldwide and other Prince Group companies who are killed, wounded or have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and courage in the service of their country. The medal symbolizes the extraordinary fidelity and essential service of those employees and independent contractors who are an integral part of our nation’s “Total Force,” regardless of whether or not they serve under the Department of Defense and who otherwise contribute to the defense of liberty. “I thank each and every one of you for your many sacrifices and for your distinguished, selfless service,” Erik Prince stated.

These men exhibited extraordinary heroism and sustained serious injury while serving under contract to the United States government and Blackwater Worldwide. Part of their citation read, “Their gallantry, leadership and commitment to mission accomplishment greatly contributed to the success of America’s diplomatic and military efforts to defeat terrorism worldwide. Their services and sacrifices are in keeping with the finest traditions of national service and reflect distinct credit and honor upon their selves, their family, Blackwater Worldwide, The United States of America, and their fellow teammates.” After the ceremony, guests and employees talked and shook the hands of the men who were wounded, offering their words of thanks for their sacrifices. Several award recipients stated they felt honored to be able to come home alive, and served their country. Others stated that it was nice to receive recognition for their battle wounds, but they would rather be with their teams overseas and serve their country again.

Freedom and liberty are not innate rights; they are great gifts that have to be earned, protected and defended at all costs.” President Bush once stated, “….men who knew the cost of freedom and were willing to pay that cost so others could live free.” More than 750 contractors have been killed in Iraq, according to Department of Labor statistics, and almost 8,000 injured. The figures include Americans, Iraqis and other nationalities employed under U.S. government contracts. Many served side by side with American troops, lived in the same harsh conditions, and braved small arms and mortar fire along with roadside bombs. Wounded contractors and military soldiers have similar problems dealing with injuries that include searing grief, difficult recoveries and unanswered questions.

From Al Jazeera 

The Taliban has taken control of eight villages in Arghandab district in Afghanistan, and have said they plan to march towards Kandahar city.

About 500 fighters are said to be involved in the ongoing Taliban offensive, which got under way on Monday, Al Jazeera has learnt.

Arghandab district lies 30km north of Kandahar city.

Afghan and US-led forces in Afghanistan are said to be preparing to repulse the offensive.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Kandahar, said that hundreds of Taliban fighters are taking up positions in the area and taking over nearby villages.

“Sources from the Afghan army say that unless they get support from the Afghan national and international coalition forces, they won’t be able to launch any counterattack,” he said.

“If Arghandab is taken over by the Taliban, it will mean a significant shift in power, and people are concerned that this will be a step forward for the Taliban towards Kandahar.”

Full Report… 

ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

Washington, Jun 10 - Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio
In the United States House of Representatives
Monday, June 9th, 2008
A Resolution

INDEX

Article I
Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.

Article II
Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.

Article III
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.

Article IV
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Article V
Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.

Article VI
Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of H. J. Res114.

Article VII
Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII
Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.

Article IX
Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor.

Article X
Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes.

Article XI
Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq.

Article XII
Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation’s Natural Resources.

Article XIIII
Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries.

Article XIV
Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Article XV
Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq.

Article XVI
Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors.

Article XVII
Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives.

Article XVIII
Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy.

Article XIX
Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to “Black Sites” Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture.

Article XX
Imprisoning Children.

Article XXI
Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government.

Article XXII
Creating Secret Laws.

Article XXIII
Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Article XXIV
Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment.

Article XXV
Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens.

Article XXVI
Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements.

Article XXVII
Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply.

Article XXVIII
Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice.

Article XXIX
Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Article XXX
Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare.

Article XXXI
Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency.

Article XXXII
Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change.

Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001.

Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.

Full Content…

From DefenseNews.com, by Antonie Boessenkool (via Blackwater Newswletter)

Honeywell International is facing a lawsuit by the United States claiming that the company knew Zylon Shield, which Honeywell made and sold as the as the key ballistic material in bullet-proof vests, degraded in hot and humid conditions but didn’t tell the maker of the vests, Armor Holdings, or the United States.

However, a Justice Department spokesman said the vests weren’t used for the military, but for law enforcement only, mostly police and sheriffs’ departments.

The Justice Department said it is suing Honeywell under the False Claims Act, alleging Honeywell had scientific data showing that Zylon Shield quickly degraded over time, especially in hot and humid conditions, and that Honeywell knew that made vests made with Zylon unfit to use.

Full Story… 

From Military.com

WASHINGTON - The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are making such heavy use of the nation’s Green Berets and other elite warriors that they cannot fulfill their roles in other parts of the world, the military’s top commando told The Associated Press.

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From The Washington Post, by Dan Eggen and Josh White

The Justice Department sent a legal memorandum to the Pentagon in 2003 asserting that federal laws prohibiting assault, maiming and other crimes did not apply to military interrogators who questioned al-Qaeda captives because the president’s ultimate authority as commander in chief overrode such statutes.

The 81-page memo, which was declassified and released publicly yesterday, argues that poking, slapping or shoving detainees would not give rise to criminal liability. The document also appears to defend the use of mind-altering drugs that do not produce “an extreme effect” calculated to “cause a profound disruption of the senses or personality.”

Although the existence of the memo has long been known, its contents had not been previously disclosed.

Full Story…

From CBS.com 

Pictures obtained by CBS News from Pakistani sources are among the first public images ever to surface of a man U.S. intelligence officials call “one of the most dangerous people on the planet,” CBS News justice and homeland security correspondent Bob Orr reports.

He is Pakistani warlord Baitullah Mehsud, the accused mastermind of the Benazir Bhutto assassination. An emerging leader, sources say, who threatens to eclipse Osama bin Laden as the world’s top terrorist.

Terrorism analyst Christine Fair says Baitullah Mehsud is running a training camp for suicide bombers in Pakistan’s off-limits tribal region — a magnet for radical Islamic recruits from Europe and potentially the United States.’

Full Story…