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Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh dropped a bombshell in a speech Monday night, saying that, under Bush, a special operations unit ran "an executive assassination ring" that circumvented Congress and answered directly to Cheney. "Under President Bush's authority," said Hersh, "they've been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That's been going on, in the name of all of us." Read the rest of Hersh's stunning remarks here. *** Last week the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the possibility of a Congressional "truth commission" to investigate the crimes of the Bush administration. As William Fisher of IPS News writes, "the hearing ... was the first held in Congress to explore the truth commission proposal." The results were mixed: While some witnesses argued that a commission was "profoundly bad idea," others called it "critically important." The hearing came following the release of damning memos from the Office of Legal Counsel, documents that gave Bush sweeping wartime powers, including authorizing indefinite detention, suspending the rights of free speech and press, and spying on Americans without a warrant. Republican Senator Arlen Specter called the OLC memos "shocking." Lots more on this in this week's newsletter, so check it out. And be sure to visit AlterNet's Rights & Liberties section for ongoing coverage. Thanks for reading, Liliana Segura Editor, Rights & Liberties Special Coverage |
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