Army General Adds Pregnancy to List of Reasons to be Court-Martialed

A U.S. Army general in northern Iraq has added pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier under his command could be court-martialed. The new policy, outlined last month by Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo and released Friday by the Army, would apply to both female soldiers who become pregnant on the battlefield and the male [...]

Rhode Island Officer Indicted on Beating Handcuffed Woman

PROVIDENCE, R.I. —  A Rhode Island police officer was indicted Friday on charges that he kicked a handcuffed woman in the head after removing her from a slot parlor for disorderly conduct, authorities said. Edward Krawetz, 40, has been suspended without pay from the Lincoln Police Department and also faces administrative charges, said police Capt. Raymond [...]

Another high-speed chase – will this help them learn?

PHOENIX —  An Arizona law officer was struck and killed by another officer’s patrol car while he was laying down spike strips to stop a vehicle during a high-speed freeway chase, authorities said Friday. The officer, Chris Marano, 28, of the Phoenix suburb of Surprise, was a father of four who worked for the Arizona Department [...]

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department selects the Crown Pointe Technologies FTO System

Crown Pointe Technologies, a leading technology firm focused on public safety training systems and based in Portland, Oregon, was selected to implement its FTO (Field Training Officer) System at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in San Bernardino County, California. The Crown Pointe FTO System was specifically designed to simplify the complex data entry, reporting, [...]

Locals not happy with Marines’ new plan

The U.S. Marine Corps’ latest alternative is a bit friendlier to off-roaders, but most of the Johnson Valley OHV area would still be off-limits to the public under the new plan. Alternative 6 is the Marines’ latest proposal to take over the country’s largest off-highway vehicle area and use it for training exercises. The plan, [...]

iepolitics: SB County: Update on Sheriff’s training records investigation

From left to right:  Sheriff Rodney Hoops, Captain Bart Gray, Captain Mark Marnati t came to my attention today that 3 additional people have been identified in that scandal involving San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Captain Bart Gray. Those named were Captain Mark Marnati, Lieutenant Jerry Davis and Sergeant Bill Zehms.  All are reported to [...]

TSA Stonewalls Congress About Screening Manual Security Breach

On Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration‘s (TSA) acting director insisted to Congress that the mistaken posting of secret airport screening procedures online posed no threat to holiday travelers because the procedures had changed, but refused to provide members of Congress with the newest version of the TSA’s screening manual to prove it.  And current and [...]

US man freed by DNA evidence after 35 years in prison

A US man has become the longest-serving prisoner to be freed after DNA evidence proved he was innocent of the crime he was convicted of three decades ago. James Bain spent 35 years in jail after being found guilty of kidnapping and raping a nine-year-old boy in 1974. On his release from prison in Florida [...]

Twitter Hacked by ‘Iranian Cyber Army’

Dec. 18: A screenshot of Twitter.com shows the site defaced by a group calling itself the ‘Iranian Cyber Army.’ Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service, was hacked early Friday morning by a group calling itself the “Iranian Cyber Army.” Users hoping to find their latest tweets were instead greeted by a black screen with a green [...]

Polish police say the iron sign over the gate to the Auschwitz memorial site with the cynical phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei” has been stolen

WARSAW (Reuters) – Thieves on Friday stole the notorious metal sign hanging over the entrance of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz that reads “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work makes free”), police said. Some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, perished in the Nazi death camp located in southern Poland during World War II. Prisoners arriving [...]

Ex-con congressman James A. Traficant, Jr., might run again

WARREN, Ohio, Dec. 17 (UPI) — Convicted ex-congressman James Anthony Traficant Jr. says he may run for Congress again, possibly in Ohio or Pennsylvania. Traficant, 68, held a news conference in Canfield, Ohio, to announce he was circulating nominating petitions, the Warren (Ohio) Tribune Chronicle reported Thursday. He isn’t saying which district he would run [...]

Fear of violence after killing of drug lord in Mexico

As Mexican and US officials have hailed the killing of top drug lord (Marcos) Arturo Beltrán Leyva, many are fearing further violence in the struggle to replace him. Arturo Beltran Leyva, nicknamed the “boss of bosses,” was killed in a shoot-out with the navy south of Mexico City late on Wednesday, along with six cartel [...]

Amendment to Israeli ‘Citizenship Law’ to Ministers on Sunday

On Sunday, the Ministerial Committee on Legislation will consider a bill alternately known as the “Human Respect and Freedom Law” and the “Amendment to the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law,” authored by Member of Knesset David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu). Rotem says the purpose of the bill is to make a law out of decisions [...]

UN ombudsman to review list of terrorist suspects

An ombudsman is now to consider the delisting of terrorist suspects from the United Nations list of Al Qaeda and Taliban members as the Security Council adopted a resolution intended to bring ‘fairness and transparency’ to its anti-terrorism efforts. The decision, driven by repeated criticism that non-suspects might be included in the 500-member list, was [...]

Colombia rebels ‘to join forces’

+ Colombia‘s two biggest rebel movements have said they will join forces after years of being pushed onto the defensive by the US-backed policies of Alvaro Uribe (Álvaro Uribe Vélez), the Colombian president. In a joint statement on Thursday the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC – Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia [...]

Major Political Reforms Proposed in Mexico

In the most dramatic proposal for political reform in decades, Mexican President Felipe Calderón announced yesterday a 10-point plan aimed at revamping Mexico’s political system. Among the many reforms, the proposal would allow independent candidates to run for office and relax term-limit rules for legislators, allowing lawmakers and mayors to hold office for up to [...]

Predator drones hacked in Iraq operations

Iraqi insurgents have reportedly intercepted live video feeds from the U.S. military’s Predator drones using a $25.95 Windows application that allows them to track the pilotless aircraft undetected. Hackers working with Iraqi militants were able to determine which areas of the country were under surveillance by the U.S. military, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, [...]

Starve the Iranians? No!

Before the House of Representatives: Statement Opposing the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, December 15, 2009 Congressman Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul – December 17, 2009 I rise in strongest opposition to this new round of sanctions on Iran, which is another significant step toward a US war on that country. I find it shocking that [...]

Retired Army Major Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery Scheme Involving DOD Contracts in Kuwait

A retired major in the U.S. Army today was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme related to Department of Defense (DOD) contracts awarded in Kuwait, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division Christine A. Varney. Christopher [...]

Estimated Nuclear Weapons Locations 2009

Source The world’s approximately 23,300 nuclear weapons are stored at an estimated 111 locations in 14 countries, according to an overview produced by Federation of American Scientists and Natural Resources Defense Council. Nearly half of the weapons are operationally deployed with delivery systems capable of launching on short notice. The overview is published in the [...]

House votes to turn down volume of noisy TV commercials

The House on Tuesday voted to level off the abrupt spikes in volume felt by television viewers during commercial breaks. The bill — approved by a voice vote — is aimed at stopping TV ads from playing noticeably louder than programs. “It’s very frustrating,” said Rep. Frederick Carlyle “Rick” Boucher, D-Va. “It’s an annoying experience, [...]

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Radioactive Longer Than Expected

Chernobyl, the worst nuclear accident in history, created an inadvertent laboratory to study the impacts of radiation — and more than twenty years later, the site still holds surprises. Re-inhabiting the large dead zone around the accident site may have to wait longer than expected. Radioactive Cesium isn’t disappearing from the environment as quickly as predicted, according [...]

Spy agencies closely monitoring climate change talks

I have written before about the increasing involvement of intelligence agencies in ongoing climate change negotiations between the world’s governments. In October, the Central Intelligence Agency announced the establishment of its Center on Climate Change and National Security, despite fierce opposition by Republican lawmakers. Earlier this month, it was alleged that the hackers who stole [...]

US forces helped assassinate top FARC commander in Ecuador

US military intelligence and combat troops helped Colombian forces assassinate a senior leftwing Colombian paramilitary commander on Ecuadoran soil last year, according to an Ecuadoran government report. As this blog reported last month, Colombia’s soon-to-be-dismantled Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad intelligence service admitted it paid “an informant in the Ecuadorean security forces” US$2.5 million to supply [...]

Drunken Narcotics Officer Kills Woman in Crash

FORT WORTH — The medical examiner says an off-duty Fort Worth Police Department officer’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he was involved in a crash that killed a woman. Results released Thursday indicate the blood-alcohol level for Jesus Cisneros was .17 at the time of the fatal collision Dec. 11. [...]

Intelligence Improperly Collected on U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON — In February, a Department of Homeland Security intelligence official wrote a “threat assessment” for the police in Wisconsin about a demonstration involving local pro- and anti-abortion rights groups. That report soon drew internal criticism because the groups “posed no threat to homeland security,” according to a department memorandum released on Wednesday in connection [...]

Millions of Bush-era e-mail messages to be recovered

Two groups announced Monday that they have settled a 2007 lawsuit against the government over millions of missing e-mail messages that were sent during the Bush administration, USA Today reported. Citizens for Professional Responsibility and the National Security Archive reached a deal with the Obama White House to have 22 million missing e-mail messages from [...]

‘Pure Intimidation’: Arpaio Deputies Question Judges’ Assistants In Their Homes

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has stepped up his brazen campaign to target the local judiciary. Deputies of the Maricopa County, Arizona sheriff went to the homes of assistants to several Arizona Superior Court judges, to try to interview them about what Sheriff Joe has asserted — with little evidence — is corruption on the part of [...]

Ex-Lawmaker Convicted of Raping his 2 Foster daughters: Name Is Copyrighted

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A former South Dakota lawmaker convicted of raping his two foster daughters has sent news organizations what he claims is a copyright notice that seeks to prevent the use of his name without his consent. A letter and an accompanying document labeled ”Common Law Copyright Notice” said former state Rep. Ted [...]

Report and Recommendations of the Presidental Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information

Report and Recommendations of the Presidental Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information The Presidential Task Force on Controlled Information headed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder recently released a report. This report provided findings and recommendations on current sensitive information sharing practices between federal, state, local and tribal [...]

Marine sergeant charged with sexual battery of a minor and indecent liberties with a child (3 yrs.) with the knowledge that the child was mentally disabled

A North Carolina-based noncommissioned officer faces charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 3-year-old. Sgt. Duane F. Bachesta, 26, of St. Clair, Illinois,, with 2nd Intelligence Battalion out of Camp Lejeune, was charged Monday with sexual battery of a minor and indecent liberties with a child with the knowledge that the child was mentally disabled, according [...]

D.C. officer charged with felony murder in shooting

A Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia police officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony murder in connection with a fatal shooting about two weeks ago in Southeast Washington, police officials said. In a case that appeared to be without recent precedent, police said Reginald Jones, who has been a member of [...]

Lithuanian leader ‘impeached’ for refusing CIA

Lithuania‘s former president says he was impeached because of his refusal to let the Central Intelligence Agency set up secret prisons in the country. Rolandas Paksas made the remark during a parliamentary hearing into claims that at least eight al-Qaeda terror suspects were held by the US Central Intelligence Agency at a facility just outside [...]

US silent on Taliban’s al-Qaeda offer

WASHINGTON – The Barack Obama administration is refusing to acknowledge an offer by the leadership of the Taliban in early December to give “legal guarantees” that they will not allow Afghanistan to be used for attacks on other countries. The administration’s silence on the offer, despite a public statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [...]

Vietnam orders submarines and warplanes from Russia

Vietnam has signed billion-dollar contracts to buy submarines and fighter jets from Russia, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng has announced in Moscow. The deals make Vietnam one of the key clients of the Russian arms industry. The weapons purchases come at a time when disputes over sovereignty are increasing in the South China Sea, which [...]

Ex-spy chief, Sir John Scarlett, accused of misleading Iraq Inquiry

Great Britain‘s former spy chief, Sir John McLeod Scarlett, misled the Iraq Inquiry by exaggerating the reliability of crucial claims about Saddam Hussein‘s ability to launch weapons of mass destruction, according to the leading Ministry of Defence expert who assessed the intelligence behind the decision to go to war. Scarlett who was responsible for drafting [...]

Republic of Lithuania’s spy chief quits after leak of CIA prison in Lithuania

The Republic of Lithuania‘s intelligence chief has resigned after news leaked out that the Central Intelligence Agency operated a secret prison in the country between 2004 and 2005. Povilas Malakauskas, director of the Lithuanian State Security Department (Valstybės saugumo departamento), quit his job after two years in the position “partly” because of government efforts to [...]

Israel Electric Company Begins Internet Infrastructure Test Projects

Communications minister Moshe Kahlon, on Tuesday, authorized the Israel Electric Corporation to set up two pilot programs that would enable the IEC to become an internet infrastructure provider. One project would have the IEC set up an infrastructure for Fiber to the x (FTTx) connections, providing far faster internet connections than are available today in [...]

Ohio Supreme Court bars warrantless cellphone searches

Cell phones are more like computers than containers, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled Tuesday, meaning police need a warrant to search them. The 4-3 decision came down on the side of a suspected drug dealer, Antwaun Smith, who was arrested in 2007 in Greene County in southwestern Ohio, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Smith argued [...]

Woman testifies judge sought relationship in return for favor

Harris County, Texas, Court-at-Law Judge Donald W. Jackson told a 28-year-old woman with a pending drunken driving case that he could get her a lawyer who could win her case if she became interested in him, but that if she did not, she would be convicted, the woman testified Tuesday. Jackson is on trial for [...]

Training Realistically

When a person’s actions are restricted to what can be defined as self-defense, the assailant controls many of the variables they face. Time; place; daylight; dark; cold or hot are many of the variables one must consider. Therefore, the variables that we can control must be mastered if we are to have a chance for [...]

Former Police Chief Norm Stamper: ‘Let’s Not Stop at Marijuana Legalization’

A new poll shows that most Americans are ready to legalize marijuana, but not drugs like cocaine or heroin. A 34-year police vet says it’s time to legalize them all. This article is by former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, Ph.D. Read about him here and here. These days, it seems like everyone is talking [...]

Drug money saved banks from collapse

While banks were enduring a severe financial downturn, they absorbed billions of dollars in drugs money, says Antonio Maria Costa, head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Costa told the Observer that drugs money “saved banks from collapse” at the height of the global financial crisis, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday. [...]

Interesting FBI Priorities

Recently, I waded through the fiscal year 2010 budget request/justification documents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which for the most part are about as unexciting as you might expect. A couple of things, however, stood out as kind of interesting and worthy of discussion, so I thought I’d go over them here. Part of [...]

Napolitano Unveils “Virtual USA” Information-Sharing Initiative

Secretary Napolitano Unveils “Virtual USA” Information-Sharing Initiative Today Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano officially launched Virtual USA, an information sharing initiative that will help federal, state, local, and tribal responders communicate more effectively during emergencies. According to Secretary Napolitano: “Virtual USA makes it possible for new and existing technologies to work together seamlessly [...]

Hearing set for US Coast Guard captain charged with 31 offenses, including indecent acts, sodomy, fraud and conduct unbecoming an officer

A hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday for Capt. Herbert “Mark” Hamilton III, who was charged Nov. 3 with multiple offenses, including indecent acts, sodomy, fraud and conduct unbecoming an officer. Hamilton, the former commander of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, Alaska, will have a chance to present evidence and question witnesses in an [...]

Former Riverside police officer convicted of sex-related charges

A former Riverside Police Department officer was convicted today of forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him so she could avoid being arrested. A seven-man, five-woman jury, however, acquitted 39-year-old Robert A. Forman of sexually assaulting another woman and deadlocked on whether he had assaulted a third. The panel announced its findings [...]

Recommended draft principles for whistleblowing legislation

Earlier this year, over 30 delegates from 17 countries (including Project on Government Oversight‘s own Danielle Brian) gathered in Prague to develop a list best practices for whistleblower legislation.  The results have just been made available by Transparency International (TI), the corruption-fighting group that organized the gathering, in the form of a document entitled “Recommended [...]

Deterrence and Counterterrorism

Understanding the Role of Deterrence in Counterterrorism Security The RAND Corporation just released this paper which examines terrorist decision-making and the role of deterrence in a counterterrorism strategy for homeland security. According to the paper, “Deterrence – a central feature of counterterrorism security systems and a major factor in the cost-effectiveness of many security programs [...]

UN Equipped Congolese Army That Carried Out Atrocities

United Nations peacekeeping officials were explicitly warned months ago by their legal advisers not to participate in combat operations with the Congolese Army if there were a risk that Congolese soldiers might abuse human rights, internal documents show. But the mission went forward — and the abuses took place as feared. According to United Nations [...]