911 Commission Report Card shows poor grades

Final Commission Report Details Deficiencies

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On December 5, 2005, the 9/11 Commission, composed of four Republicans and four Democrats, issued its final report, accompanied by a summarized report card, on the status federal government implementation of its 41 basic recommendations to deter another catastrophic attack on the US homeland.

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Homeland Security and Emergency Response
-- Radio Spectrum for first responders -- F (C+ if pending legislation passes)
-- Incident Command System -- C
-- Risk-based allocation of homeland security funds -- F (A if pending legislation passes)
-- Critical infrastructure assessment -- D
-- Private sector preparedness -- C
-- National Strategy for Transportation Security -- C-
-- Airline passenger pre-screening -- F
-- Airline passenger explosive screening -- C
-- Checked bag and cargo screening -- D
-- Terrorist travel strategy -- I
-- Comprehensive screening system -- C
-- Biometric entry-exit screening system -- B
-- International collaboration on borders and document security -- [ B
-- Standardize secure identifications -- B-
Intelligence and Congressional Reform
-- Director of National Intelligence -- B
-- National Counterterrorism Center -- B
-- FBI national security workforce -- C
-- New missions for CIA Director -- I
-- Incentives for information sharing -- D
-- Government-wide information sharing -- D
-- Northern Command planning for homeland defense -- B-
-- Full debate on PATRIOT ACT -- B
-- Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Boards -- D
-- Guidelines for government-sharing of personal information -- D
-- Intelligence oversight reform -- D
-- Homeland Security Committees -- B
-- Unclassified top-line intelligence budget -- F
-- Security clearance reform -- B
Foreign Policy and Nonproliferation
-- Maximum effort to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD -- D
-- Afghanistan -- B
-- Pakistan -- C+
-- Saudi Arabia -- D
-- Terrorist sanctuaries -- B
-- Coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism -- C
-- Coalition detention standards -- F
-- Economic policies -- B+
-- Terrorist financing -- A-
-- Clear US message abroad -- C
-- International broadcasting -- B
-- Scholarship, exchange, and library programs -- D
-- Secular education in Muslin countries -- D

This is how they "respect our military"

Dead heroes are supposed to come home with their coffins draped with the American flag -- greeted by a color guard.
But in reality, many are arriving as freight on commercial airliners -- stuffed in the belly of a plane with suitcases and other cargo. John Holley and his wife, Stacey, were stunned when they found out the body of their only child, Matthew, who died in Iraq, would be arriving at Lindbergh Field as freight.

Snowy Day in New York City

FORECAST:Heavy snow will cause travel problems by morning rush hour in southern New York, including New York City.
Lows from near 0 in northern New Hampshire to the upper 20s on Long Island. A snowy day for much of the region Friday. Over 6 inches will accumulate in parts of southeastern New York and central New England with amounts decreasing to the north. The snow will mix with or change to rain along the coast, resulting in lower accumulations there as well.

Is this why they support torture?

By DOUGLAS JEHL
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -The Bush administration based a crucial prewar assertion about ties betweenIraq and Al Qaeda on detailed statements made by a prisoner while in Egyptian custody who later said he had fabricated them to escape harsh treatment, according to current and former government officials.
The officials said the captive, Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, provided his most specific and elaborate accounts about ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda only after he was secretly handed over to Egypt by the United States in January 2002, in a process known as rendition.
The new disclosure provides the first public evidence that bad intelligence on Iraq may have resulted partly from the administration's
heavy reliance on third countries to carry out interrogations of Qaeda members and others detained as part of American counterterrorism efforts. The Bush administration used Mr. Libi's accounts as the basis for its prewar claims, now discredited, that ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda included training in explosives and chemical weapons.
The fact that Mr. Libi recanted after the American invasion of Iraq and that intelligence based on his remarks was withdrawn by the C.I.A. in March 2004 has been public for more than a year. But American officials had not previously acknowledged either that Mr. Libi made the false statements in foreign custody or that Mr. Libi contended that his
statements had been coerced.

25 YEARS LATER

Bush administration says it will 'flip flop' on detainee policy

KIEV (Reuters) - The United States, seeking to defuse criticism of reports of abuse of prisoners, has changed its policy on interrogating detainees, officials said on Wednesday, but human rights groups were skeptical there was a real shift.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza on a trip to Ukraine, said U.S. personnel would be banned worldwide from subjecting prisoners to cruelty.

But London-based Amnesty International said Rice's remarks were "not a major concession." It still wanted serious action by Washington over what it called cases of torture in U.S. bases.

Las Vegas residents furious over changes in airport flight path changes

As many as 125 flights per day could be flying over a wide swath of the west Las Vegas Valley and downtown under a proposal to change the flight path out of McCarran International Airport under consideration by the Federal Aviation Administration.

click on map to see full sized view

Guest Blog : "From My Side of the Room"

WHO'S COUNTING?

Two thousand plus killed in Iraq. Eighty killed in November. Killed in Iraq! How many of the wounded sent to hospitals in Germany: England: France: The United States and elsewhere have died from wounds suffered in Iraq? Who's counting? Someone should be but they are not telling the American People and we know that they wouldn't lie to us, right! The media must and should be asking for these figures but then again. Who's Counting?

How many Service personnel are there who will have permanent mental and physical disabilities? The media should be asking. Who's Counting? The President and his staff told us stories like the rescue of Jessica. A heavily armed team breaking into a hospital for the rescue. In reality, an Iraq doctor realizes the hospital he works in has a wounded soldier. He notifies the American Embassy then leads them to her. The hospital releases her to the military. There we no enemy troops holding her hostage. Where is she now and what is her story Where is the media now. Another story not covered. Who's Counting.The Tillman story. Killed in action engaging the enemy. The poor parents, so used by the Military, The NFL using The fallen serviceman. American people believing "a story". Then the truth comes out. Killed by "Friendly Fire" there is no such thing as friendly fire. I have never seen anyone being friendly while firing at some one else. Have you? Where was the apology that should have come from these lies? Like so many other things. Who's Counting?

The media should be covering stories on wounded personnel being rehabilitated. The physical therapy the maimed must be taught. The cries of pain, the tears of being afraid of the future. How to use artificial limbs to walk or hold on to a loved one. To speak again and be able to say I love you to a dear one. Knowing now that you must use someone else's eyes to see the world that is now dark for you.. Showing flag draped coffins that represents a person. That person had family but I guess nobody cares. Who's Counting?. Brave young men and women who believed that they were right, who believed the lies who are great Americans.Not supporting the war is not saying that we don't support our troops, we do. We just want our government to tell us the truth. The media should be asking for the truth and reporting it. How many times must we ask. Who's Counting?

Only twenty three suicide attacks in Iraq in November. Only twenty three. How many car bombings did we have before Re-patriarchs? Who's Counting? The media should be.Fox network reported that we are winning the war. Two Thousand plus KILLED FOR OIL and spite. I'm better than you Daddy! Winning the war? I think it's called sacrificing innocent people, ours and theirs. We have become occupiers, not Liberators. That's what I see FROM MY SIDE OF THE ROOM

NYC Update

SNOW IN HARLEM

Well the snow has fallen both Sunday night and Monday night. As I type this there is about 2 inches of the the white stuff on the ground here in Harlem. Last night in Brooklyn, where I work, it began snowing about 7pm. Everyone thought it was quite amusing to see me get excited about it.

Over the weekend I decided to order home delivery of the New York Times. I always imagined going downstairs from my New York apartment and getting the Times from my snow covered stoop. Well all the pieces are in place - except the paper. For the second morning in a row it has not arrived. They called me yesterday to check on it and said they would find out why it didn't get here. I guess I will have the same conversation today.

Dressing in the cold weather is also proving to be a learning experience. The other day I had a long sleeved shirt, sweater, scarf and heavy coat and was still cold. The wind went right through it all! So the next day I added a hoody and was just fine. The hood is also an effective devise to keep falling snow out of the hair.

And hatwear in the winter is a another topic. I could wear a stocking cap outside all the time, they are comfortable, warm and look pretty good. But when it comes time to work inside it is too hot. If I wear a stocking cap for any lenghth of time I get a horrible case of "hat head". There is no removing it once it goes on. So while the stocking caps are perfect a lot of the times, what about when I need to go topless afterward?

First I tried these wraparound things. They are like a thick headband that cover your forehead, ears (important) without messing up the hair. Those are good. Another devise I found is my favorite right now. They are ear muffs that cover the ears and wrap around the back of the neck. I saw everyone wearing them Saturday and was mystified. What were these things people had on and did they really help against the cold. Person after person were wearing them but I could not find them in any store! Finally Sarah tld me that if everyone has something here it means they got it from street vendors. Sure enough the next street vendor did have them and for $4 I got myself a pair. They keep the ears warm, don't mess up the hair and I even convinced Sarah (for about a half hour) that they block out sounds (she's a talker!). In truth they do muffle the sound a bit. Best of all even though if only one person wore one it would look stupid, when millions do they look fine.

Dolphins win in final seconds!

MIAMI (AP) -- Even in the late-afternoon shadows covering the end zone, Chris
Chambers was easy to spot, leaping to make the reception that capped the best day of his NFL career and the Miami Dolphins' biggest comeback victory since 1974.

Chambers caught a lobbed 4-yard pass from Sage Rosenfels on fourth down with six seconds left, the last of three touchdowns Miami scored in the final 11:35 Sunday to beat the Buffalo Bills 24-23.

Happy Sunday!
I am writing this very early Sunday morning. When I wake up it will be snowing. The first snow of the year. I wouldn't be surprised to come to hate snow by the end of winter, but the first time here in New York I will enjoy! Sunday is my "Monday" as far as works goes but with two days just off and the promise of snow overnight, I feel as if tomorrow will be a good day. I hope for you too.