WaPo: Documents Suggest CIA Mistakes In Torture Of Detainees, False Confessions
The Washington Post reports that new documents show that key Guantanamo detainees told the Combatant Status Review Tribunal that they either lied to the CIA in order to stop being tortured, or were later informed of mistakes in their capture. “They told me, ‘Sorry, we discover that you are not Number 3, not a partner, not even a fighter,'” said Abu Zubaida. And Khalid Sheikh Mohammed described his interrogation: “Where is he? I don’t know,” Mohammed said. “Then he torture me. Then I said yes, he is in this area.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will meet one-on-one with President Lee Myung-bak, of the Republic of Korea, at 10:30 a.m. ET. They will have an expanded meeting at 10:45 a.m. ET, and then a joint press availability at 11:35 a.m. ET, and a working lunch at 12 p.m. ET. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Sec. of Defense Robert Gates.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will join the 10:45 a.m. ET expanded meeting with President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea. He will also participate in the 12 p.m. ET working lunch. At 4 p.m. ET, he will administer the oath of office to Gary Gensler, Chair of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, and Fred Hochberg, Chair of the Export-Import Bank. Afterwards, he will meet with President Obama and Sec. of Defense Robert Gates at 4:30 p.m. ET. He will spend the remainder of the day in private meetings.
Obama: Iranians’ Voices Should Be Heard
President Obama spoke yesterday evening about the situation in Iran. “I want them to know that we in the United States do not want to make any decisions for the Iranians, but we do believe that the Iranian people and their voices should be heard and respected.” However, he also cautioned against too much U.S. involvement: “sometimes, the United States can be a handy political football.”
House GOP To Vote Against War Funding
The Hill reports that House Republicans are preparing to vote as a bloc against the $106 billion war-spending bill — an interesting turnaround for a party that previously attacked Democrats who opposed funding bills as voting against the troops. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) explained that they are voting No because the Democrats attached a $5 billion increase for the International Monetary Fund: “Once the American people learn that the Democrats are using a war-funding bill for a global bailout, they’ll know what to do.”
Obama Administration To Roll Out New Financial Regulations
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Obama Administration is set to propose tomorrow a new financial regulation package, the most significant since the Great Depression. The government would create a new watchdog agency, and would have the power to seize key firms, such as insurance companies, whose failure jeopardizes the financial system.
Arkansas Tea Party Organizer Running For Senate
Tom Cox, the founder and chairman of the Arkansas Tea Party organization, has announced that he is running for the Republican nomination to go up against Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010. “I’m sure I will be considered a long shot and a fringe candidate, but I can tell you, my family business has been in business for approximately 50 years,” said Cox. “We will outwork anybody from Washington, D.C., and we will beat them at the grassroots effort in this state.”
Letterman Apologizes For Joke About Palin’s Daughter
David Letterman apologized last night for the joke he made last week about an unspecified daughter of Sarah Palin. “So, I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke,” said Letterman. “I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future.”
