In the News: Apr-16

Stevens declares opposition to death penalty - 16 Apr 2008 at 3:08pm - WASHINGTON -- Justice John Paul Stevens, a key vote in upholding the death penalty 30 years ago, now says he believes capital punishment is unconstitutional.

Sole surviving son denied health benefits post-Iraq - 16 Apr 2008 at 3:00pm - Forced to leave the combat zone after his two brothers died in the Iraq war, Army Spc. Jason Hubbard faced another battle once he returned home: The military cut off his family's health care, stopped his G.I. educational subsidies and wanted him to repay his sign-up bonus. It wasn't until Hubbard, who had served in Iraq with his unit from Hawaii, petitioned his local congressman that he was able to restore some of his benefits.

Deadlocked jury forces 2nd mistrial in Miami terrorism case - 16 Apr 2008 at 12:04pm - MIAMI -- A federal judge declared another mistrial Wednesday against six men accused of plotting to spark an anti-government war by toppling Chicago's Sears Tower and bombing FBI offices.

White House vows to block add-ons to war funding bill - 16 Apr 2008 at 11:15am - WASHINGTON -- The White House promised again Wednesday it will block attempts by Democrats controlling Congress to add billions of dollars for domestic programs to a must-pass war funding bill.

Supreme court clears way for executions to resume - 16 Apr 2008 at 11:13am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the lethal three-drug cocktail used in most U.S. executions, clearing the way for a resumption of executions halted since last September.

FBI says no new law needed for secret letters - April 15, 2008 - 5:07 PM - WASHINGTON - The FBI is resisting legislation that would put more restrictions on domestic surveillance of Americans' private records, saying the agency already has tightened its rules to crack down on wrongful use of national security letters.

U.S. military frees AP photographer - 16 Apr 2008 at 9:54am - The U.S. military has released Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein after holding him for more than two years.

FBI Lied To Support Need For PATRIOT Act Expansion - April 16, 2008 08:05:00 AM - I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "It probably won't surprise you, but in 2005, the FBI manufactured evidence to get the power to issue National Security Letters under the PATRIOT Act. Unlike normal subpoenas, NSLs do not require probable cause and you're never allowed to talk about having received one, leading to a lack of accountability that caused them to be widely abused. The EFF has discovered via FOIA requests that an FBI field agent was forced by superiors to return papers he got via a lawful subpoena, then demand them again via an NSL (which was rejected for being unlawful at the time), and re-file the original subpoena to get them back. This delay in a supposedly critical anti-terror investigation then became a talking point used by FBI Director Robert Mueller when the FBI wanted to justify their need for the power to issue National Security Letters."

Thought for the day:
It is easier to stay out than get out. -Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)