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Michelle Malkin has HOW THE NYTIMES IS RINGING IN 2006

Yes, it’s New Year’s Eve. And since there’s no rest for the NYTimes, I’m not taking it easy tonight either.

You see, NYTimes’ reporter James Risen has been a busy bee over the holidays. The co-author of the infamous Chicken Little opus exposing the NSA special collection program to monitor international communications between suspected al Qaeda operatives and their contacts will be launching his new book, State of War, on January 3.

Flap covered the original story, NSA Surveillance Watch: President Bush defends Spying as “A Necessary Part of My Job to Protect” Americans from Attack and asked the question why this story was leaked at this time, after a year long agreed upon hold.

Was it because of the vote on the re-authorization of the Patriot ACt? Or was it, as it is NOW revealed, because James Risen, the New York Times co-author of the expose wanted to “break” the story prior to the release of his book?

U.S. President George W. Bush answers a question during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington December 19, 2005. Bush vowed on Monday to authorize more eavesdropping on Americans suspected of ties to terrorists and said he believed a probe was underway into who committed ‘the shameful act’ of revealing the covert program.

Turns out the publisher of Risen’s new book, which includes a discussion of NSA eavesdropping, has moved up the publication date to this coming Tuesday. (It was originally scheduled for release in mid-January.)

NYT ombudsman Byron Calame lets us all know that he’s having trouble getting any information out of his bosses and colleagues.

From Byron Calame:

THE New York Times’s explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate. And I have had unusual difficulty getting a better explanation for readers, despite the paper’s repeated pledges of greater transparency.

For the first time since I became public editor, the executive editor and the publisher have declined to respond to my requests for information about news-related decision-making. My queries concerned the timing of the exclusive Dec. 16 article about President Bush’s secret decision in the months after 9/11 to authorize the warrantless eavesdropping on Americans in the United States.

I e-mailed a list of 28 questions to Bill Keller, the executive editor, on Dec. 19, three days after the article appeared. He promptly declined to respond to them. I then sent the same questions to Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher, who also declined to respond. They held out no hope for a fuller explanation in the future…

…On the larger question of why the eavesdropping article finally appeared when it did, a couple of possibilities intrigue me.

One is that Times editors said they discovered there was more concern inside the government about the eavesdropping than they had initially been told. Mr. Keller’s prepared statements said that “a year ago,” officials “assured senior editors of The Times that a variety of legal checks had been imposed that satisfied everyone involved that the program raised no legal questions.” So the paper “agreed not to publish at that time” and continued reporting.

But in the months that followed, Mr. Keller said, “we developed a fuller picture of the concerns and misgivings that had been expressed during the life of the program” and “it became clear those questions loomed larger within the government than we had previously understood.”

The impact of a new book about intelligence by Mr. Risen on the timing of the article is difficult to gauge. The book, “State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration,” was not mentioned in the Dec. 16 article. Mr. Keller asserted in the shorter of his two statements that the article wasn’t timed to the forthcoming book, and that “its origins and publication are completely independent of Jim’s book.”

The publication of Mr. Risen’s book, with its discussion of the eavesdropping operation, was scheduled for mid-January – but has now been moved up to Tuesday. Despite Mr. Keller’s distancing of The Times from “State of War,” Mr. Risen’s publisher told me on Dec. 21 that the paper’s Washington bureau chief had talked to her twice in the previous 30 days about the book.

So it seems to me the paper was quite aware that it faced the possibility of being scooped by its own reporter’s book in about four weeks. But the key question remains: To what extent did the book cause top editors to shrug off the concerns that had kept them from publishing the eavesdropping article for months?

A final note: If Mr. Risen’s book or anything else of substance should open any cracks in the stone wall surrounding the handling of the eavesdropping article, I will have my list of 28 questions (35 now, actually) ready to e-mail again to Mr. Keller…

This response is unacceptable and a “cop-out.” Flap looks forward to Mr. Keller’s responses to the questions and more importantly the sworn testimony he gives to the Department of Justice when they throw his craven ass into federal prison for failing to release the name of his government sources for the story.

Nahhhhh he will probably give them up…….like Judith Miller. A cold prison cell works well on an individual’s disposition to revealing state secrets.

Michelle asks for Calame to publish his questions……. and presumably Keller’s answers.

Yeah! Fat Chance!

Hey, speaking of transparency, why doesn’t Mr. Calame publish his 35 questions so the rest of us can see what his bosses refuse to answer?

Contact Calame:

• E-mail: public@nytimes.com
• Phone: (212) 556-7652
• Address: Public Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036-3959

Flap will be awaiting the answers………

Previous:

NSA Leak Case Watch: Justice Deptartment Probing Domestic Spying Leak

NSA Surveillance Watch: President Had Legal Authority to OK Taps

NSA Surveillance Watch: Carter and Clinton Executive Orders Authorizing Secret Searches Without a Warrant

NSA Surveillance Watch: Calls for Congressional Hearings

NSA Surveillance Watch: President Bush defends Spying as “A Necessary Part of My Job to Protect” Americans from Attack

Technorati Tags: NationalSecurityAgency, NSA, NSALeakCase, NewYorkTimes, PatrickFitzgerald, CIA, CIALeakCase, ValeriePlame, JudithMiller, AlbertoGonzales, BillKeller, ByronCalame, MichelleMalkin

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Update:

Pope uses message to attack hardline Iran

THE Pope has used his inaugural new year message to launch a veiled attack on Iran’s hardline leadership.

Pope Benedict’s comments follow calls by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Israel to be “wiped off” the global map and his recent dismissal of the Holocaust.

The Pope said: “Authorities who incite their citizens to hostility to other countries bear a heavy responsibility and make the future of humanity more uncertain and anonymous.”

The message, issued by the Vatican yesterday, pointed to “signs of hope” and highlighted “a decrease in the number of armed conflicts” around the world.

However, the Pope condemned the growth in arms expenditure and, in another apparent swipe at Iran, mocked governments who relied on, or aspired to obtaining, a nuclear arsenal.

“In nuclear war there will be no victors, only victims,” he said.

“The truth of peace requires that all — whether those governments which openly or secretly possess nuclear arms or those planning to acquire them — agree to change by clear and firm decisions and strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament.”

Iran’s President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to journalists at a news conference in Tehran June 26, 2005. Ahmadinejad said his government would be one of “peace and moderation” but insisted Iran would continue to develop nuclear technology, which the United States says is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons.

The Drudge Report is now linking to a piece in the Jerusalem Post, ‘United States planning a military strike against Iran’

The United States government reportedly began coordinating with NATO its plans for a possible military attack against Iran.

The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel collected various reports from the German media indicating that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are examining the prospects of such a strike.

According to the report, CIA chief Porter Gus, in his last visit to Turkey on December 12, requested Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to provide military bases to the United States in 2006 from where they would be able to launch an assault.

The German news agency DDP also noted that countries neighboring Iran, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, and Pakistan were also updated regarding the supposed plan. American sources sent to those countries apparently mentioned an aerial attack as a possibility, but did not provide a time frame for the operation.

Although Der Spiegel could not say that these plans were concrete, they did note that according to a January 2005 New Yorker report American forces had entered Iran in 2005 in order to mark possible targets for an aerial assault.

Previously from Flap, Iran Nuclear Watch: Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to lawmakers as he arrives at parliament to attend an open session to debate his Oil Minister nominee, in Tehran, Iran, in this file photo from Dec. 11, 2005. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, the Holocaust is a ‘myth’ that Europeans have used to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

Speigel Online has Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

It’s hardly news that US President George Bush refuses to rule out possible military action against Iran if Tehran continues to pursue its controversial nuclear ambitions. But in Germany, speculation is mounting that Washington is preparing to carry out air strikes against suspected Iranian nuclear sites perhaps even as soon as early 2006

This is NOT bluster to scare the Iranians. The United States in concert with Israel will prevent the Iranians from achieving nuclear capability.

German diplomats began speaking of the prospect two years ago — long before the Bush administration decided to give the European Union more time to convince Iran to abandon its ambitions, or at the very least put its civilian nuclear program under international controls. But the growing likelihood of the military option is back in the headlines in Germany thanks to a slew of stories that have run in the national media here over the holidays.

The most talked about story is a Dec. 23 piece by the German news agency DDP from journalist and intelligence expert Udo Ulfkotte. The story has generated controversy not only because of its material, but also because of the reporter’s past. Critics allege that Ulfkotte in his previous reporting got too close to sources at Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND. But Ulfkotte has himself noted that he has been under investigation by the government in the past (indeed, his home and offices have been searched multiple times) for allegations that he published state secrets — a charge that he claims would underscore rather than undermine the veracity of his work.

According to Ulfkotte’s report, “western security sources” claim that during CIA Director Porter Goss’ Dec. 12 visit to Ankara, he asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to provide support for a possibile 2006 air strike against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. More specifically, Goss is said to have asked Turkey to provide unfettered exchange of intelligence that could help with a mission.

DDP also reported that the governments of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Pakistan have been informed in recent weeks of Washington’s military plans. The countries, apparently, were told that air strikes were a “possible option,” but they were given no specific timeframe for the operations.

If the Russians and Iranians miscalculate Washington’s resolve they will be sadly mistaken. The United States will NOT allow Iran to proceed any further in their nuclear program.

According to DDP, during his trip to Turkey, CIA chief Goss reportedly handed over three dossiers to Turkish security officials that purportedly contained evidence that Tehran is cooperating with Islamic terror network al-Qaida. A further dossier is said to contain information about the current status of Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. Sources in German security circles told the DDP reporter that Goss had ensured Ankara that the Turkish government would be informed of any possible air strikes against Iran a few hours before they happened. The Turkish government has also been given the “green light” to strike camps of the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iran on the day in question.

And Iran is stalling so that they can install better anti-missle defenses of their nuclear facilitites.

The DDP report attributes the possible escalation to the recent anti-Semitic rants by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose belligerent verbal attacks on Israel (he described the Holocaust as a “myth” and called for Israel to be “wiped off the map”) have strengthened the view of the American government that, in the case of the nuclear dispute, there’s little likelihood Tehran will back down and that the mullahs are just attempting to buy time by continuing talks with the Europeans.

The German wire service also quotes a high-ranking German military official saying: “I would be very surprised if the Americans, in the mid-term, didn’t take advantage of the opportunity delivered by Tehran. The Americans have to attack Iran before the country can develop nuclear weapons. After that would be too late.”

Indeed, it would be too late and in concert with their allies in North Korea could blackmail the United States and Israel into a corner.

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Other Blogs:

Flopping Aces has Will We Attack Iran?

Protein Wisdom, “Report: U.S. preparing NATO for possible attack on Iran”

Ace of Spades HQ, Update On Iran-Strke Preparations

Captain’s Quarters, Iran In The Crosshairs?

Starboard!!!, CIA Warns Ankara of Possible Air Ops Against Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, Javad Vaeedi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Peter Goss, Turkey

Michelle Malkin has her blogosphere year in review for 2005: THE WAR ON BLOGS.

READ IT ALL.

Flap’s Favorite is #6:

Far-left cartoonist/columnist Ted Rall’s sneering, elitist attack on Ed Morrissey, whom Rall regards as unqualified to engage in journalism. A few weeks later, Morrissey published documents that led to the collapse of the Canadian government.

Runner-up #5:

The late LATimes media critic David Shaw’s critique of blogs, including his now-famous claim that Times articles are vetted by at “least four experienced Times editors,” who check for “accuracy, fairness, grammar, taste and libel.” We all know how well that works.

Flap certainly knows about the Los Angeles Times. And so does Patterico.

Judging from the thoroughly unhinged tone of the old media, I’d say bloggers had a fabulous year.

Indeed……LOL………

Technorati Tags: Patterico, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Dog Trainer, Media Bias, Michelle Malkin, Ed Morrissey, Ted Rall, Captain’s Quarters

Bear Flag League Member Patterico has his third annual Los Angeles Times Review of the year.

READ IT ALL

But……..

IN CONCLUSION

The paper did a better job at combating bias this year than it has in past years, especially as the year went on. However, as this post shows, the paper still has an institutional problem of liberal bias, which is unlikely to end any time soon.

Agreed……..

Technorati Tags: Patterico, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Dog Trainer, Media Bias, Bear Flag League

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to lawmakers as he arrives at parliament to attend an open session to debate his Oil Minister nominee, in Tehran, Iran, in this file photo from Dec. 11, 2005. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, the Holocaust is a ‘myth’ that Europeans have used to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

Speigel Online has Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

It’s hardly news that US President George Bush refuses to rule out possible military action against Iran if Tehran continues to pursue its controversial nuclear ambitions. But in Germany, speculation is mounting that Washington is preparing to carry out air strikes against suspected Iranian nuclear sites perhaps even as soon as early 2006

This is NOT bluster to scare the Iranians. The United States in concert with Israel will prevent the Iranians from achieving nuclear capability.

German diplomats began speaking of the prospect two years ago — long before the Bush administration decided to give the European Union more time to convince Iran to abandon its ambitions, or at the very least put its civilian nuclear program under international controls. But the growing likelihood of the military option is back in the headlines in Germany thanks to a slew of stories that have run in the national media here over the holidays.

The most talked about story is a Dec. 23 piece by the German news agency DDP from journalist and intelligence expert Udo Ulfkotte. The story has generated controversy not only because of its material, but also because of the reporter’s past. Critics allege that Ulfkotte in his previous reporting got too close to sources at Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND. But Ulfkotte has himself noted that he has been under investigation by the government in the past (indeed, his home and offices have been searched multiple times) for allegations that he published state secrets — a charge that he claims would underscore rather than undermine the veracity of his work.

According to Ulfkotte’s report, “western security sources” claim that during CIA Director Porter Goss’ Dec. 12 visit to Ankara, he asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to provide support for a possibile 2006 air strike against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. More specifically, Goss is said to have asked Turkey to provide unfettered exchange of intelligence that could help with a mission.

DDP also reported that the governments of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Pakistan have been informed in recent weeks of Washington’s military plans. The countries, apparently, were told that air strikes were a “possible option,” but they were given no specific timeframe for the operations.

If the Russians and Iranians miscalculate Washington’s resolve they will be sadly mistaken. The United States will NOT allow Iran to proceed any further in their nuclear program.

According to DDP, during his trip to Turkey, CIA chief Goss reportedly handed over three dossiers to Turkish security officials that purportedly contained evidence that Tehran is cooperating with Islamic terror network al-Qaida. A further dossier is said to contain information about the current status of Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. Sources in German security circles told the DDP reporter that Goss had ensured Ankara that the Turkish government would be informed of any possible air strikes against Iran a few hours before they happened. The Turkish government has also been given the “green light” to strike camps of the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iran on the day in question.

And Iran is stalling so that they can install better anti-missle defenses of their nuclear facilitites.

The DDP report attributes the possible escalation to the recent anti-Semitic rants by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose belligerent verbal attacks on Israel (he described the Holocaust as a “myth” and called for Israel to be “wiped off the map”) have strengthened the view of the American government that, in the case of the nuclear dispute, there’s little likelihood Tehran will back down and that the mullahs are just attempting to buy time by continuing talks with the Europeans.

The German wire service also quotes a high-ranking German military official saying: “I would be very surprised if the Americans, in the mid-term, didn’t take advantage of the opportunity delivered by Tehran. The Americans have to attack Iran before the country can develop nuclear weapons. After that would be too late.”

Indeed, it would be too late and in concert with their allies in North Korea could blackmail the United States and Israel into a corner.

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Other Blogs:

Flopping Aces has Will We Attack Iran?

Protein Wisdom, “Report: U.S. preparing NATO for possible attack on Iran”

Ace of Spades HQ, Update On Iran-Strke Preparations

Captain’s Quarters, Iran In The Crosshairs?

Starboard!!!, CIA Warns Ankara of Possible Air Ops Against Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, Javad Vaeedi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Peter Goss, Turkey

The Los Angeles Daily News has 101 speeds ramped up since busway opened

The popular Metro Orange Line busway across the San Fernando Valley might be helping to ease traffic congestion on the Ventura Freeway during the morning commute.

The first attempt to gauge the busway’s impact on freeway volume found a slight improvement in the morning commute.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley studied commutes since the 14-mile Orange Line opened Oct. 29 and determined that traffic between 7 and 10 a.m. had sped up about 7 percent – from an average of 43 mph to 46 mph.

The study also found that the amount of time that morning commuters waste being stuck in congestion – defined as traffic slower than 35 mph – declined about 14 percent.

“The freeway is operating more efficiently,” said Hamed Benouar, director of the California Center for Innovative Transportation at Berkeley, which is primarily funded by the California Department of Transportation and conducts research for other government organizations.

Flap has always preferred to see a light rail system parallel to the 101. Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Baxter Ward’s plan to place monorail trains above the freeways comes to mind.

But, any improvement in commute times will be much appreciated.

The busway now handles about 16,400 passenger boardings a day, much higher than the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s initial estimates of 5,000 to 7,000 daily boardings. Officials don’t know how many of the Orange Line riders used to drive the freeway.

Now, do something about widening the freeways, making the HOV lanes available to all drivers during non-peak hours and inproving efficiency of freeway interchanges………

Technorati Tags: Orange Line, California, The Transit Coalition