Leahy threatens contempt citations and presto -- Bin Laden tape appears

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22025702/

Leahy: Bush not involved in attorney firings
Ruling clears way for Senate Judiciary to vote on contempt citations

WASHINGTON - A powerful Senate chairman acknowledged explicitly on Thursday that President Bush was not involved in the firings of U.S. attorneys last winter and therefore ruled illegal the president's executive privilege claims protecting his chief of staff and former adviser Karl Rove.

The ruling by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is a formality that clears the way for his panel to vote on contempt citations if Josh Bolten, Rove and others do not immediately comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and information about the White House's role in the firings.

The executive privilege claim "is surprising in light of the significant and uncontroverted evidence that the president had no involvement in these firings," Leahy, D-Vt., wrote in his ruling. "The president's lack of involvement in these firings - by his own account and that of many others - calls into question any claim of executive privilege."

Leahy directed chief of staff Bolten, Rove, former political director Sara Taylor and her deputy, J. Scott Jennings, to comply "immediately," but did not set a deadline.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22026744/

CAIRO, Egypt - An audiotape purporting to be the voice of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was aired on Al-Jazeera television Thursday, with the speaker urging European nations to end military cooperation with the United States in its war in Afghanistan.

"The American tide is ebbing, so it is best for you to press your leaders to change their policies," the tape said, addressing Europeans and referring to their countries' military contributions in Afghanistan.

The tape said al-Qaida's Taliban allies in Afghanistan had no knowledge of plans for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that led to the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, where al-Qaida was based.

Al-Jazeera aired two brief excerpts of a few seconds each of the audiotape, which al-Qaida had announced several days ago that it would release soon.

stuff a few days ago, but they couldn't manufacture the tape quick enough, so they missed all the excitement.

not to hold Bush accountable should be replaced by those who have back bone.