The Daily MuckNot a record to be proud of. The federal governmentâs crackdown on corrupt contracts for Iraq reconstruction has resulted in a record number of criminal and administrative cases last month, including the $10 million bribery case involving Army Maj. Gen. John Cockerman. Out of the 29 people convicted so far on shady Iraq contracts, seven were convicted in July. Pentagon auditors have questioned at least $4 billion worth of contracts thus far. (USA Today)
The U.S. is preparing to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization due to its support of Iraqi insurgents. True, the U.S. has already labeled Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, but this new step is certainly an escalation in the heated rhetoric that has been fired between the two nations over the past few months. (NY Times)
A student, not a terrorist. That’s what Jose Padilla’s lawyer spent yesterday afternoon impressing upon the jury during closing arguments. The case against Padilla is wrapping up, with jury deliberations to begin today. The prosecution’s case has largely become one of intent, with the final arguments coming down to the issue of whether or not the man arrested on allegations of plotting a “dirty bomb” attack had demonstratable intentions to attack American citizens. (Boston Globe)
Taxpayers for Common Sense has compiled a list of special project appropriations in Alaska. The entire list is worth a look, but some gems include an Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board $500,000 grant that was used partly to paint a Chinook salmon on a Boeing 737 and a $450,000 grant to the University of Alaska to formulate baby food with salmon in it. (AP)
Another organization of concerned professionals is speaking out against Bush’s recent executive order on enhanced interrogation. On Monday, the American Bar Association objected to the practice of sensory deprivation and waterboarding. Now the American Psychological Association is expected to issue a formal condemnation this weekend of the same practices used by CIA interrogators. (Salon)
Meet the newest thing for American airport security: Behavior Detection Officers. Already, a dozen airports have scattered individuals throughout the terminal; it is their job to identify potentially dangerous passengers based on their facial expressions and body movements. So the next time you fly, smile! It’s for your own safety. (McClatchy Newspapers)
Gen. George Casey suggested yesterday that it would be unwise to extend the length of soldiers’ tours beyond the current fifteen months, but he also has no idea when the military would be able to return to their traditional schedule of twelve-month deployments. (Associated Press)
A Delaware judge will not dismiss a shareholder lawsuit against the CEO of data company InfoUSA, Inc. for improperly spending millions of dollars of corporate money, some of which went to Bill and Hillary Clinton. (AP)
