zingers aimed at this administration

Ari Fleischer's last day yesterday, and the Washington Post delivers a few parting shots.

Meanwhile, the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity try to deliver a bit of sanity to Bush. Thanks for the link, Bill! The short version is below. See wcg's entry for a bit of commentary.

Recommendation #1

We recommend that you call an abrupt halt to attempts to prove Vice President Cheney "not guilty." His role has been so transparent that such attempts will only erode further your own credibility. Equally pernicious, from our perspective, is the likelihood that intelligence analysts will conclude that the way to success is to acquiesce in the cooking of their judgments, since those above them will not be held accountable. We strongly recommend that you ask for Cheney's immediate resignation.

Recommendation #2

We repeat, with an additional sense of urgency, the recommendation in our last memorandum to you (May 1) that you appoint Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Chair of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board to head up an independent investigation into the use/abuse of intelligence on Iraq.

Recommendation #3

We recommend that you immediately invite the UN inspectors back into Iraq. This would go a long way toward refurbishing your credibility. Equally important, it would help sort out the lessons learned for the intelligence community and be an invaluable help to an investigation of the kind we have suggested you direct Gen. Scowcroft to lead.

The cradl of liberty

Oh, someone I agree with came up with a good acronym for a good cause, for a change!

Please sign cradl's petition, "a place for ordinary Americans to register their concern and discontent about sacrificing freedom in the name of freedom". And please spread the word!

cradl was founded by Jesselyn Radack, formerly an internal-ethics advisor in the Department of Justice. Until the administration didn't like her call regarding whether the FBI could question John Walker Lindh without his attorney being present, and she didn't shut up on the subject. There are several articles about her linked from the petition page.

Thanks to riba_rambles for the link!