White-House Overwrote E-Mail

E-mail messages sent and received by White-House personnel during the first three years of the Bush-administration were routinely "recycled,". During the period in question, the Bush presidency faced some of its biggest controversies, including the Iraq-war. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said he has no reason to believe any E-mails were deliberately destroyed. The court filing said tapes were recycled before October 2003, and at that point, the White House "began preserving and storing all backup tapes."

Two federal statutes require presidential-communications, including e-mails involving senior White House aides, to be preserved for the nation's historical record. Some historians responded to the court disclosure yesterday by urging that the White House's actions be thoroughly probed. "There certainly could have been hugely important-materials there . . . and of course they're not owned by President Bush or anybody in the administration, they're owned by the public," said presidential historian Robert-Dallek.

Via Washington-Post

RIP - Bobby Fischer

Former world chess champion Bobby-Fischer, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, has died at the age of 64. American-born Fischer was the US's first and only world chess champion, winning the title in the classic Cold War showdown against Russian Boris Spassky in 1972.

Fischer - the youngest international grandmaster ever at 15 - settled in Iceland in 2005 having been granted citizenship after detention in Japan.

Via In2Peace

US strikes Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Seen on: YouTube

It's one of the biggest air-strikes in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. The US military says it carried out a 10-minute bombardment of suspected Al-Qaeda safehavens.

Iraq-Offensive: Clear out militants

US forces are solidifying control over some of the most persistent militant strongholds of Al-Qaeda in Iraq northeast of Baghdad, drawing on a new counterinsurgency model.

In Kuwait, President-Bush conceded that until last year, "our strategy simply wasn't working," with Iraq riven by sectarian violence and Sunni and Shiite militants strengthening their grip.

"Al-Qaeda ... will continue to target the innocent with violence," Mr. Bush said. "But we've dealt Al Qaeda in Iraq heavy blows, and it now faces a growing uprising of ordinary Iraqis who want to live peaceful lives."

Via CS-Monitor

Bush lands in search for peace

President-Bush opened his first presidential trip to Israel, seeking to build momentum for stalled Mid-east peace talks.

"We see a new opportunity for peace here in the holy land and for freedom across the region," Bush said at Ben-Gurion International Airport just before noon.

> Extensive coverage of George Bush's visit in Israel

Via AP

Iowa-Picking

Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards fought in Iowa's presidential caucus, a multimillion-dollar exercise. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee vied for the Republicans.

With President Bush constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, both parties had wide-open, costly campaigns. Obama, Clinton and Edwards spent at least $19 million on television advertising among them.

Obama, a first-term Illinois senator, stressed a need for change as he campaigned to become the first black president in history.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson were also on the ballot, although their aides made no claim they were in the running for a first-place finish. So, too, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who largely abandoned the state in the campaign's final days.

Via In2Peace

The YouTube Interview: Ron Paul

Seen on: YouTube

Watch presidential candidate Ron Paul answer your-questions via YouTube.

CIA Torture-Tapes

Seen on: YouTube

Michael Ratner: What the tapes represent is essentially The US torturing people.

World Aids Day 2007

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday stressed the role of faith-based groups in the fight against AIDS. Bush was speaking at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Maryland, after meeting religious-groups.

Image Day: Nagasaki Peace Memorial

Halls for the Atomic Bomb Victims are located in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima, cities which suffered bombings.

They were built in order to stress-upon people, of the sacrifices made by those who died after exposure to the bombings.

> Image of Nagasaki Peace Memorial

In Time: Atom bomb hits Nagasaki

American forces have dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki - the second such attack on Japan in three days. About 30% of Nagasaki, including almost all the industrial district was destroyed by the bomb and nearly 74,000 were killed and a similar number injured.

> Kayoko Iwanaga tells her family's story

The Cold War

The term "Cold War" was introduced in 1947 by Americans Bernard Baruch and Walter Lippmann to describe emerging tensions between two former-allies.

It was the period of conflict, tension and competition between the United States and Soviet-Union and their respective allies from the mid-40s till early-90s.

Link > CNN Special: Cold War

Books for Africa

"A book is a gift that you can open again and again."

Our media always focuses on bad and ugly.

We don't hear stories about organizations like the Rafiki-Foundation and their work in Africa. What if we woke up one morning and heard only the good deeds done?

Excerpts from Generosity

Department of Fear-Ministry!

Lame? Awe-inspiring? Too Web 2.0-ish? Does it suck? If you’re not sure, why not compare it to this sampling of logos.


Post via Boing Boing

Allen Ginsberg's America

Seen on: YouTube

America
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.

America when will we end the human war?

- Allen Ginsberg

Catholic Church avoids abuse-deal

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said on Sunday it would pay people who were sexually abused by priests as children a record $660 million, although some victims regretted it meant church leaders would not face questioning in court.

"I have a mixed reaction," said Steve Sanchez, 47, one of 12 victims who had been scheduled to go to trial.

The deal was the latest chapter in a clergy abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide, damaging its moral standing and forcing five U.S. diocese to seek bankruptcy protection.

Related Link: Mahony apologizes to plaintiff

Via Reuters

The American Constitution: The Avalon Project

The Avalon Project is an index of sites/documents that contribute to understanding the roots of the American Constitution.

Lewis 'Scooter' Libby

Lewis "Scooter" Libby was one of the highest-ranking White House officials ever to stand criminal trial.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, two years of probation and a fine of $250,000 (£125,000) in June.

But in July, President George W Bush intervened to commute Libby's sentence, describing it as "excessive". As chief aide to Vice-President Dick Cheney, Libby had been involved in almost every major decision made by the Bush administration. He was convicted of all but one of the charges in March 2007.

Via BBC News

Face to Face with Allen Ginsberg

Seen on: Google Video

Allen Ginsberg talks about writing private-poetry. He saw his generation fade away in madness, and started writing unpublishable poems.

Explicit and vivid interview, by Jeremy Isaacs. Still some-how relevant today.

The CNN/YouTube Debates

Seen on: YouTube

Citizens question politicians through YouTube, on issues affecting everyday life.