Cheney defends 'terror' war policies

(Warmonger Cheney, laughing at you)

US Vice President Dick Cheney has defended controversial interrogation methods used in the US "war on terror".

He also said he was not sure if al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was still alive. ( So your Multi Billion Dollar Military campaigne cannot fine ONE person??? You should be DISMISSED!!!)

In an interview one month before his eight-year term in office ends, Cheney rejected accusations that the treatment of terror suspects amounted to torture and violated US law, saying the administration's policies helped prevent another terrorist strike on the country.

"Given the kind of conflict we're faced with today, we find ourselves in a situation where I believe you need strong executive leadership. What we did in this administration is to exert that kind of authority," Cheney told Fox News.

Cheney said the administration of President George W Bush had acted appropriately in its "war on terror" after the September 11, 2001 attacks and had followed legal precedent, citing previous presidents, including Abraham Lincoln during the US civil war and Franklin Roosevelt during World War II.

"There's ample precedent for it," he said, saying Bush had not gone as far as Lincoln and Roosevelt in using his wartime authority.

At a time of war, he said the president's responsibilities include collecting intelligence, "and therefore I think you're fully justified in setting up a terror surveillance program to be able to intercept the communications of people who are communicating with terrorists outside the United States".

"I think you can have a robust interrogation program with respect to high value detainees," Cheney said.

"Now, those are all steps we took that I believe the president was fully authorised in taking, and provided invaluable intelligence, which has been the key to our ability to defeat al-Qaeda over these last seven years."

The administration has been sharply criticised at home and abroad over its treatment of terror suspects, including the use of harsh interrogation techniques widely condemned as torture, detaining suspects without charge at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and running an unwarranted domestic surveillance programs.

Cheney also said he was unsure if bin Laden was still living.

"I don't know and I'm guessing he is," Cheney said when asked if the world's most wanted man was alive.

"We've had certain pieces of evidence become available from time to time, there'll be a photograph released or something that allows the intelligence community to judge that he is still alive."

Cheney said the administration had dealt major setbacks to bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and still hoped to capture him.

"He's been holed up in a way where he's not even been communicating. There are questions about whether he's even running the operation. But we have had major success against the organisation," Cheney said.

"Capturing Osama bin Laden is something clearly we'd love to do. There are 30 days left."

(What happens after that??? !!! ??? He (Osama) get a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD ???)

Bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks against New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people and prompted the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. US officials believe bin Laden is holed up near the rugged Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

(THE US has satellites that can read the numberplates of Trucks in the desert, but no one can find a 6ft 4" person on a camel ??? !!! ??? Looks like the American Public has been duped, yet again !!!

Maybe it is due to the Rooservelt Education System, that creates Lemmings with an average mental capacity of a 13 year old.)

Despite a massive manhunt and a $US25 million ($A36.62 million) bounty on his head, he has evaded capture and has regularly taunted the United States and its allies through warnings issued over the Internet.

Cheney also defended his view of sweeping presidential authority and the legal role of his own office, dismissing comments from his successor, vice president-elect Joseph Biden, who has said Cheney had overstepped his constitutional role.

"If he wants to diminish the office of the vice president, that's obviously his call," Cheney said.

"President-elect Obama will decide what he wants in a vice president and apparently, from the way they're talking about it, he does not expect him to have as consequential a role as I have had during my time."

Cheney also acknowledged that he had opposed Bush's decision to fire former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2006.

"I did disagree with the decision," Cheney said. "The president doesn't always take my advice."

Asked about the administration's dismal approval ratings, Cheney said history would vindicate him and Bush.

And regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, asked if he believed diplomacy could "solve this", Cheney answered: "Ah, that's the policy the administration. And I support the policy of the administration.

"I hope it can. That's clearly what we've tried."

ninemsn

Dick Cheney and HIS Cronies are responsible for INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY, and the SLAUGHTER of INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

There is NO World Court that will bring them to justice.

Bin Laden was in a hospital in Dubai under the Guard of the CIA, and he was NOT arrested.

This is one of the GREATEST FARCES of Modern Times, as America is a Waring Economy.

The contracts for "National Security" have been given to the Anglo-Masonic Boys in the Administration.

Qld pedophile swam with boy: police

A notorious pedophile has allegedly breached the conditions of his release by swimming in a waterhole with a 13-year-old boy.

Mark Anthony Foy, 47, was taken into custody on Thursday night after allegedly breaching his supervision order the previous day.

Documents filed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane allege Foy was swimming in a disused quarry at Chuwar, west of Brisbane, when he was spotted by police.

The documents show police had chanced upon him when they noticed his empty car at the entrance to the quarry.

A registration check revealed it was Foy's, who was flagged as a person of interest, the documents state.

It's alleged police walked down to the water where they found Foy swimming and chatting with two boys aged 16 and 13.

Under the conditions of his community-based supervision order, Foy is forbidden from having contact with children under 16.

He briefly appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday and was remanded in custody until a hearing into the alleged breach can take place.

No date has yet been set for the hearing.

It is the third time Foy has been returned to custody since he was released from prison on a Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act supervision order in January 2005.

He returned to jail in March 2007 after being caught selling morphine to an undercover police officer and then spitting in his face, and again in November that year for talking to two children aged 12 and 14.

Foy served four and a half years' jail for offences against nine children aged between six and 12.

His supervision order does not expire until January 2015.

AAP 19 Dec 2008

Another CLEAR EXAMPLE of how the Australian Law system Fails to protect children, and technically is in support of the CRIMINAL. It just let out a pedophile into the community.

Smacking a child will be against the law soon, but a letting out a sexual predator to molest children WILL / IS supported by the law.

IN THE GOVERNMENT WE TRUST OUR CHILDREN, JUST LIKE THE STOLEN GENERATIONS.

Bush shoe attacker to face court

The trial of Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi man who hurled his shoes at US President George W Bush, will start on December 31, the judge investigating his case says.

Zaidi could face up to 15 years in jail.

"The investigation phase is over and the case has been transferred to the Central Criminal Court," investigating judge Dhiya al-Kenani told AFP on Monday.

"The trial will start on Wednesday, December 31."

The journalist stands accused of "aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit," an offence that carries a prison term of between five and 15 years under Iraqi law.

But the court could convict him of the lesser charge of an "attempted aggression" which carries a prison term of one to five years.

His lawyer had asked that the case against Zaidi be transferred from the central criminal court, which handles terrorism cases, to an ordinary tribunal but the judge refused.

Zaidi, 29, became a hero to many when he threw his shoes at Bush during the US president's surprise visit to Iraq on December 14, an action considered a grave insult in the Arab world.

The journalist for private Iraqi television station Al-Baghdadia was wrestled to the ground by security guards and is planning to sue over injuries caused, his lawyer Dhiya al-Saadi said on Sunday.

"There are bruises on his body. He has lost a tooth in his upper jaw, and his left eye is bloodshot," the lawyer said, adding that the list of injuries is backed up by medical checks.

Zaidi's actions were hailed by many in the Arab world who considered it an ideal parting gift to a deeply unpopular Bush, who ordered the 2003 invasion of Iraq that triggered years of deadly insurgency and sectarian conflict.

His family has been demonstrating in a park near the central Baghdad government compound to demand his release from custody.

ninemsn 22 Dec 2008

One of the GREATEST COMEDIES of Modern Times is the Bush Administration, at the expense of the Liberties of Americans, later the Western World.

There was NO CRAZED GUNMAN as with John Fitzgerald Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln, just a Muppet throwing a shoe.

Bush, and his Nazi supporting grandfather, have committed more crimes against humanity than JFK or Abe, but there has been no 'retard' to assassinate him.

One of the reasons JFK was assassinated was because the wanted to bring back the "GREEN BACK", something the financiers could NOT let happen.

AFL player facing charges over 'rampage'

(Illustration: Another Footballer who qualifies for the Special Olympics).

Hawthorn ruckman Brent Renouf is expected to be charged with criminal damage offences after being arrested by police over the weekend.
The 20-year-old premiership player allegedly leapt onto the boot of a car parked on Burwood Rd, Hawthorn near the Geebung Polo Club, the Herald-Sun reports.
Police confirmed the man was apprehended by police on nearby Henry St at around 1am Sunday.
A spokeswoman told the Herald Sun the player would be charged on summons.
Renouf, who played seven games in his debut season in 2008 including the grand final victory over Geelong, has accepted full responsibility for the incident and will pay for all damages incurred.
A second Hawthorn player was a bystander to the incident and has been cleared of any involvement.
"Brent understands that he made some poor choices in relation to alcohol and social behaviour," Hawthorn football operations general manager Mark Evans said.
"Brent will personally meet the cost of damage to the vehicles.
"Hawthorn Football Club players and staff take their social and community responsibility very seriously and no-one is more disappointed than the player himself at his actions."
Renouf's likely to face further sanctions from the club after meeting with Hawthorn management and the leadership group.
The Geebung Polo Club is a favoured venue for AFL stars and was in the spotlight during the Collingwood drink-drive scandal earlier this year.
Heath Shaw ploughed into two cars after leaving the hotel with a .144 blood-alcohol limit and teammate Alan Didak was suspended by the 'Pies after lying about being in the car at the time of the accident.
This latest scandal will not be welcomed by the AFL, which has managed to generate some positive publicity about Ben Cousins' comeback after his headline-grabbing fall from grace.
Cousins returned to the spotlight last week to announce his signing with Richmond — and also to distance himself from alleged underworld figure Angelo Venditti.

ninemsn 22 Dec 2008

Australian Footballers are reknowned for their AntiSocial behaviour (which is now a crime in Australia) and their less than average I.Q. levels (hence their chosen professions of handling a ball with their hands and feet like Cro-Magnon.

Govt plans to halve homeless Australians

The federal government is aiming to halve the number of homeless Australians and accommodate all those sleeping rough under an ambitious new plan.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Sunday launched the government's White Paper in Sydney, which commits $1.2 billion over four years to building new housing and increasing services to prevent homelessness.
The funding is the first stage in a plan to halve homelessness and boost accommodation by 2020, and comes on top of the government's $6.1 billion affordable housing program.
The Commonwealth will fund $800 million of the new program, and the states $400 million.
"A country like this should not have this problem," Mr Rudd said at the launch.
"It's time we had a decent solution to this problem that has been around for a long time."
Every night in Australia, 105,000 people are homeless. About 16,000 of those sleep rough on the streets, Mr Rudd said.
"As a nation we can do a lot better than that," Mr Rudd said.

AAP 21 Dec 2008

Another empty promise (???) just like:
the Hawke Government's " No child shall live in poverty"
Keating's : "Australia the smart country"

Update: Crisis 'could impede homeless plan' : Might be just the ticket the Government was looking for to get out of this one.

PART SOLUTION: Mr. KRudd How about we do NOT import 1000 people per week into Victoria, as it is quite clear that we cannot afford to SUSTAIN these people with our current infrastructure with WATER, PUBLIC TRANSPORT and CURRENT ROADS.