A running total of the U.S. taxpayer cost of the Iraq War is provided by the National Priorities Project, using data from Congressional appropriations. The war in Iraq costs, to date, are in excess of $230 billion. Iraq coalition casualties now number 2,178. Bush says 30,000 Iraqis dead since invasion began.
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Monthly Archives: December 2005
UK Magistrates’ Court Test Text Messaging To Collect Fines
The Staffordshire magistrates’ court recently tested the use of a “pay up or get locked up” text message to offenders, with a surprising level of success. Evidently, the technology may be more widely embraced in future by courts as an additional mechanism to collect outstanding fines: “Everyone’s got a mobile phone and as one of… Continue Reading
White House Website Will Continue Using Web Bugs
New information related to yesterday’s posting, NSA Website Discontinues Tracking Users After Objections, and in reference to U.S. to Investigate Contractor’s Use of Internet Tracking Technologies on White House Web Site. This evening, AP reported that David Almacy, White House Internet and E-Communications Director, announced that the government website is not in violation of privacy… Continue Reading
Five Week Patriot Act Extension Signed By President
Follow-up to my December 22 posting, House Approves 5 Week Extension for Patriot Act, news from AP that Bush Signs Patriot Act Extension at Ranch. From the NJ Madison Eagle: Librarians sounding off on Patriot Act – ‘Chilling Effect’ ‘Ask For Subpoena’ – “As the House, the Senate and the White House wrangled last week… Continue Reading
Annual Energy Outlook 2006 (Early Release)
“The Annual Energy Outlook presents a midterm forecast and analysis of US energy supply, demand, and prices through 2030. The projections are based on results from the Energy Information Administration’s National Energy Modeling System. The AEO2006 Early Release includes the reference case. The full publication, to be released in early 2006, will include complete documentation… Continue Reading
DOJ Launches Investigation Into Leak About Domestic Surveillance Program
As a result of the New York Times article published on December 15 of this year, as reported by CNN and AP: “The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush’s secret domestic spying program.” Related references: White House spokesman Trent Duffy: “The leaking of classified information is… Continue Reading
Pentagon Overseas Website PR Program Under Scrutiny
LA Times (reg. req’d), Pentagon Calls Its Pro-U.S. Websites Legal: “U.S. military websites that pay journalists to write articles and commentary supporting military activities in Europe and Africa do not violate U.S. law or Pentagon policies, a review by the Pentagon’s chief investigator has concluded. But a senior Defense Department official said this week that… Continue Reading
Discussion on Warrantless Wiretapping of Americans Inside the U.S.
From the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, a Domestic Surveillance Discussion, between two Federalist Society members, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Robert Levy (10 pages, PDF). Title 50 > Chapter 36 > Subchapter I – Electronic Surveillance Continue Reading
National Conference of State Legislatures Identify Key Issues for 2006
Press release: NCSL’s Top Ten Legislative Issues Forecast For 2006. Continue Reading
Humane Society Top 12 Animal Stories of 2005
Press release: HSUS Top 12 Animal Stories of 2005. Continue Reading
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2006 Now Available
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2006, 125th edition (link to table of contents, with text available in PDF). Continue Reading
Compendium of Collective OIG’s Activities in Oversight of Hurricane Disaster Response and Recovery
President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency Compendium of OIG Hurricane Oversight in the Gulf States, published 12/12/05 (18 pages, PDF). PCIE Bi-Weekly Interagency Homeland Security Roundtable Report on Hurricane Katrina Oversight, December 16, 2005. The report, and a separate Memorandum for the Record clarifying GSA’s role in providing… Continue Reading
