The Daily Muck

Former Bush administration deputy secretary of state and current adviser to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign Richard Armitage has parlayed his years of Washington experience into winning cherry contracts with private spy agencies profiting off America’s ongoing wars in the Middle East. Former administration officials George Tenet and Cofer Black are cashing in as well, according to Tim Shorrock’s book, “Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing.” (Salon)

Sen. John McCain’s position on granting immunity to telecom companies that willingly participated in the Bush administration’s wiretapping surveillance seems to have morphed over the course of his campaign for president. He voted for full immunity earlier this year, then his adviser Chuck Fish hinted at a need for a hearing before such immunity. Then last night at a campaign stop in Wisconsin, McCain described the need for a “careful balance” in protecting the companies and protecting Americans’ rights. (Wall St. Journal)

Alleged political motivations of the firing of some U.S. attorneys have prompted 20 former federal attorneys to file a brief in support of forcing members of the Bush administration to testify in the ongoing case. The White House has claimed executive privilege in refusing to allow the president’s close aide, Harriet Miers, and chief of staff Josh Bolten to speak to the court. (Associated Press)

Charlie Black, longtime Washington lobbyist, continues to sit on his perch as adviser to Sen. John McCain’s campaign despite his ties to dictatorships around the world. Where does he go to explain himself? Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. (CBN)

Lawyers defending al Qaeda member Khalid Sheik Mohammed are claiming Pentagon officials are rushing their client to trial in the name of political posturing. The planned trial date is Sept. 15, nestled between Sen. John McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the general election in November. (Miami Herald)

A court order has finally pried a climate report from the White House four years after its proposed release. The report, to the chagrin of the Bush administration, details the current threats the environment in America faces, the implications of changing natural systems and the various scenarios for the future of climate change. (Associated Press)

Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields was tabbed to investigate possible fraudulent activity in the funding of Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts. A reported nearly $23 billion has gone into the rebuilding thus far. (Washington Post)

Government regulators have announced an investigation into possible manipulation of the oil and energy markets as crude oil prices reach all-time highs. (Wall St. Journal sub. req.)

A Nevada casino claims Antonin “Tony” Rezko, a Barack Obama-fundraiser currently on trial for corruption charges in Illinois, owes them $472,275 in loan repayments. (Associated Press)

Charges of insider trading have been filed against a former executive of European Aeronautic Defense and Space. Noel Forgeard, and possibly several other officials of EADS and Airbus, dumped their shares just before Airbus profits declined. (New York Times)