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On the Radar: Bush memoir, oil spill, Myanmar, Olbermann
President George W. Bush's 481-page memoir comes out Tuesday.
Bush memoir release
After staying largely mum on the political scene since leaving office almost two years ago, President George W. Bush will reveal his thoughts on the most historic - and controversial - parts of his presidency with the release of his memoir Tuesday.
In the 481-page book, Decision Points, Bush shares his thoughts on the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and what he calls the "worst moment" of his presidency.
The 43rd president also takes responsibility for giving the go-ahead for waterboarding terror suspects, which has touched off a new round of criticism of Bush and calls for his prosecution. He says that he decided not to use two more extreme interrogation methods, but he does not disclose what those were.
Gulf oil disaster probe
As a presidential commission continues its investigation Tuesday into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and ensuing oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, the rig's work schedule will be a top concern.
"There seemed to be a compulsion to get this rig completed in that April 19-April 20 time period," said Bob Graham, the commission's co-chairman.
The commission opened two days of new hearings on the disaster on Monday. Graham questioned why the timing was "so central" to managers that they did not examine the well's cementing job more closely.
"I would hope that tomorrow (Tuesday) we get down to the question of just what was driving for a decision on that particular narrow 24 hours," said Graham, a former U.S. senator and Florida governor.
Votes and violence in Myanmar
Word started leaking out Tuesday about the results of Myanmar's controversial weekend elections, though the country's military regime had yet to announce any numbers.
"I believe that the [military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party] could win between 80 to 90 percent of the whole parliament. And each smaller party would get a few seats in order to make the parliament look like a true multiparty parliament," said an independent candidate who competed in the Yangon area.
President Obama on Tuesday denounced the recent elections in Myanmar, saying they were neither free nor fair.
He also said all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released from Myanmar's prisons.
Meanwhile, thousands of refugees have begun voluntarily returning to Myanmar from Thailand after learning that fighting between Myanmarese government forces and a splinter rebel group has wound down, the Thai military said Tuesday.
Keith Olbermann set to return
MSNBC primetime host Keith Olbermann will be back on the air Tuesday night after missing a couple of nights of work for violating the ethics policy of the cable network.
Olbermann was suspended Friday after Politico reported that he had donated to three Democrats seeking federal office.
The contributions violated an NBC policy that requires employees of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest.
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Bush did nothing wrong in authorizing the waterboarding technique for thugs. No one has a right to prosecute him for that. But who knows, there are chucklebutts who disagree, like maybe TOMCAT.
As a President, Bush was obligated to do whatever it took to protect the United States. For this reason, 'Waterboarding' prisoners may have been justified. On the other hand, if American soldiers had been captured in Iraq or Afghkanistan, and they had been subjected to 'waterboarding' wouldn't there be an outcdry?
You can torture if you think that is morally right but you really have to understand the technique does not work most of the time. Or the fact that less severe techniques are typically more effective.
@Yoda.The objective is not to torture. The idea is to obtain information to avoid another 9/11;to save lives. I guess maybe your one of the Americans with a short memory. Remember 9/11. @Tomcat. Here Kity Kity Kity Kity.
I believe waterboarding is considered torture. Obtaining info. or getting what you want to hear? How did this save lives, the lives of the 9/11 souls were already lost. How did Outting Valerie Plame save our country? Her husband was telling Bush there was no proof of WMD. Then she was exposed. A threat to shut him up. The victor always writes history? Was this victorious for America? Maybe not in this day and age. He sees himself for his protection, a bad decision, I think so.
So i guess the only way of obtaining information is to torture is that what you are saying? Because i am saying you don't have to go that far to get information. And in History , for those who think i have a short memory, other humane techniques have proven to be more effective. Did it occur to you that anyone will say anything, truth or lie, to get you to stop drowning them. Maybe the same intel procedures were used to make the bogus claim of WMDs?
I am a New Yorker, I remember 911 pal. Not to mention no one in Iraq was going to give us information on the next terrorist attack from Al-Queda.
Define these 'morals' of which you speak, and upon what religion or philosophy you base them.
Our troops are introduced and subjected to waterboarding during basic training. If it saved lives, and it did, it should be used in some instances. For those who say, now the enemy will do the same to our troops.....no they won't do anything so petty. They behead them. The Geneva Convention doesn't apply to individual terrorist. Just armies of a particular nation.
Not all just special ops? Ancient, are you George W. Bush. How did it save lives? Saying it does not make it so. Is there proof intel was waterboarded from them to know Al Queda intel?
If waterboarding is okay then why can't we waterboard,
Bush,you,wolfowitz,and ol' cheney??
I mean if it's investigation season now that the repubs have some power,then they should waterboard bush's whole friends and family list for information on their crimes!!
Lets be clear , not going to tell you doing it is right or wrong. What I am saying is it doesn't work. Just about anyone other than the geniuses in the Bush War Team will tell you so.
@yoda. OK, You just want a less brutal way to get info. But I'm saying, these man are associated with the animals that beheaded Daniel Pearl. He was only doing his job as a reporter. Waterboarding as a picnic compared to being beheaded. So do me a favor, stop your liberal belly aching over treatment of those criminals. OK?
How do you torture someone willing to strap a bomb to their chest or underwear or shoes.
America used to hold trials and execute our enemies for torture. I guess we are now catching up with our enemies philosophy. But i guess as dick cheney might say, its only torture when the other guy does it.
481 pages? Think about having to edit *that* mess for grammar and spelling.
LOL... that is a classic!
Waterboarding is ok because of 9/11 arguement is just silly. 9/11 was a criminal act committed fanatical extremists. Waterboarding is torture and a criminal act.