
 |
|
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Feb. 18, 2009
/ 24 Shevat 5769
Is Eric Holder change we can believe in?
By
Nat Hentoff
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
When Eric Holder was thumpingly confirmed as attorney general by the Senate, 75 to 21, on Jan. 25, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., described the vote as showing that "we all want to restore the integrity and competence of the Justice Department and to restore another critical component the American people's confidence in federal law enforcement." In view of Leahy's exemplary record as a passionate protector of the Bill of Rights, I was astonished at his exuberant praise of Holder. The New York Times exulted he will make the department "a powerful force for the fairness and the rule of law."
During our new chief law enforcer's testimony at his confirmation hearing, Holder was asked about the new expanded "Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations," rushed into place in December by then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey and still current FBI Director Robert Mueller. These guidelines for probing links to terrorism suspects echo those I reported on during the ceaseless surveillance time of J. Edgar Hoover.
The FBI in 2009 can open an investigation (a "threat assessment") on anyone without a judicial warrant and without any evidence not even in the rule of law, "an articulable suspicion of criminal activity." As Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU's Washington legislative office, says: "Since, under these guidelines, a generalized 'threat' is enough to begin an investigation, the FBI will be given carte blanche to begin surveillance."
These guidelines also allow the FBI to consider race and ethnicity in their "threat assessments." Asked by Russ Feingold, D-Wis., about this purging of our individual Fourth Amendment liberties in both national security and criminal investigations, Holder said: "The guidelines are necessary because the FBI is changing its mission ... from a pure investigative agency to one that deals with national security."
Holder did add in Joe Palazzolo's Legal Times report that he would "see how these guidelines work in operation." He didn't mention that they are warrantless and unbounded. Will he find out for us, as they are covertly in operation, which of us actually innocent Americans have been tracked in these "threat assessments" and secured in various intelligence agencies' databases?
In another exchange during Holder's confirmation hearing, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, reminded Holder of his speech last year castigating President George W. Bush: "I never thought that I would see that a president would act in direct defiance of federal law by authorizing warrantless NSA (National Security Agency) surveillance of American citizens."
Currently, there is some purported judicial supervision of the NSA and other intelligence agencies in last year's amended Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, enthusiastically signed by President George W. Bush, as well as supported by then-Sen. Barack Obama (who had at first said he would filibuster the bill). But, as I've previously reported, this law in real time in real life permits the omnivorous NSA to check on the phones and Internet use of suspected American "threats" without telling a judge whom it is targeting and why, as it adds these names to its bottomless files.
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., asked Holder about the range and depth of surveillance allowed under FISA present legislation: "Do you believe the new law is constitutional, and if confirmed, will you support its enforcement?"
"I believe," Holder answered "that the law is constitutional. ... It's a very essential tool for us in fighting terrorism. I think that what was unfortunate is that we could have had that tool congressionally sanctioned at a much ... is a very useful tool and one that we will make great use of."
While President Bush, before having this masked congressional authority to engage in warrantless wiretapping on us, was discarding the Fourth Amendment, our major telecommunications companies were lawlessly his helpers.
They have been immunized from prosecution from those past acts under the 2008 FISA legislation. Although President Obama and AG Holder both assure us that "no one is above the law," they make an exception of the telecommunications lawbreakers, and Mr. Bush.
Holder also appears to favor immunizing other violators of not only our laws but also international treaties, according to an exclusive Jan. 28 Washington Times story by Eli Lake, whose reliable reporting I learned from when he was with the late New York Sun. In an interview with Lake, Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Miss., said he'd support Holder for attorney general after "Mr. Holder assured him privately that Mr. Obama's Justice Department will not prosecute former Bush officials involved in the (enhanced) interrogations program."
A Holder aide disputed the story, but the next day, Eli Lake and Ben Conery reported in the Washington Times in a "little-noticed written response to questions from Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas. Mr. Holder wrote: But where it is clear that a government agent has acted in 'reasonable and good faith reliance on Justice Department legal opinions' authoritatively permitting his conduct, I would find it difficult to justify commencing a full-blown criminal investigation, let alone a prosecution."
Since certain CIA interrogators broke our own War Crimes Act and Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions in their interrogations, our new attorney general is invoking the Nuremberg Defense, of innocence for following orders. Is he also speaking for President Obama?
On Jan. 29, the Associated Press reported (Newsday) Leahy saying "he would vote against a nominee who made such a promise not to prosecute (such) U.S. agents without even examining the circumstances." But he voted for Holder. Next week: Obama and Holder startlingly adopt Bush's "state secrets" policy in a crucial case of torture and CIA renditions.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and author of several books, including his current work, "The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance". Comment by clicking here.
Nat Hentoff Archives
© 2006, NEA
| |

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Tony Blankley
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

Mr. Know-It-All
Dr. Peter Gott
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|