The ’secret flights’ mostly came to light by accident when careless CIA/contractor flights were routinely logged by amateur plane-spotter hobbyists around the world. Somebody noticed the coincidence of tail numbers being switched, pro-sports team logo on one of the planes that was used and other odd details.

I hadn’t thought of this before, but it evoked an “of course!” response. Since this thread is old and by now quite stale, maybe nobody here will see this comment, but I find this very interesting. I first encountered the plane-spotter hobbyists at a large aviation convention. I like airplanes and aviation more than most, by my reaction to these folks was along the lines of “holy crap, you need to get a life!!!” Most of the folks I saw were into business jets; some are more focused on airliners. Regardless, they travel to airports and aviation conventions around the world to log sightings of aircraft … by “tail number” (registration: all US-registered aircraft have tail numbers beginning with the letter N). Some specialize in certain aircraft types or manufacturers, for example Lear jets, or the Cessna Citation series. They have an enormous amount of data, such as registration, ownership, home airport, etc., and they log sightings in much the same way that birders will log sightings of birds. It makes a lot of sense that these are the people who twigged to the CIA rendition flights: they definitely would notice the anomalies. CIA guys were most likely unaware that such people exist … never imagined that anyone would pay so much attention.

Mary @ 115

though I tend not to take them to heart anymore ?? Really? They seem to usually be links to other news service stories – is there something I missed there?

In any event, it was the Muckraker instead – sorry for the wrong sourcing.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002329.php

Cunningham Prosecutor Forced Out

They picked it up from this story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/…..12lam.html

The Bush administration has quietly asked San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, best known for her high-profile prosecutions of politicians and corporate executives, to resign her post, a law enforcement official said.
Lam, a Bush appointee who took the helm in 2002, was targeted because of job performance issues – in particular that she failed to make smuggling and gun cases a top priority, said the official, who declined to be identified because Lam has yet to step down.
Lam has had high-profile successes during her tenure, such as the Randy “Duke” Cunningham bribery case – but she alienated herself from bosses at the Justice Department because she is outspoken and independent, said local lawyers familiar with her policies.
…
Several prosecutors in Lam’s office and many defense lawyers said yesterday that they were unaware of her impending dismissal, and were universally shocked by it.
…
But even some of Lam’s legal opponents said the supposed reasons she is being forced out are perplexing.
“What do they want her to do, lock up Mexico?” said Mario Conte, former chief of Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc.
…
U.S. attorneys are usually appointed by the president and require Senate approval. They typically serve the same term as the president that appointed them, and are replaced when a new president is elected.

However, a provision in the Patriot Act that was revised last year allows the Attorney General to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys for indefinite terms when vacancies arise, without Senate confirmation. Filling interim vacancies had been the responsibility of the district court.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., criticized the Bush administration yesterday for “pushing out U.S. Attorneys from across the country under the cloak of secrecy.”

“We don’t know how many U.S. Attorneys have been asked to resign – it could be two, it could be ten, it could be more. No one knows,” she said in a statement.

In any event, the story made me think about your prior references to the difficulty keeping a corruption case once you start it.

looseheadprop @ 117

Mary @ 115

though I tend not to take them to heart anymore ?? Really? They seem to usually be links to other news service stories – is there something I missed there?

In any event, it was the Muckraker instead – sorry for the wrong sourcing.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002329.php

Cunningham Prosecutor Forced Out

They picked it up from this story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/…..12lam.html

The Bush administration has quietly asked San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, best known for her high-profile prosecutions of politicians and corporate executives, to resign her post, a law enforcement official said.
Lam, a Bush appointee who took the helm in 2002, was targeted because of job performance issues – in particular that she failed to make smuggling and gun cases a top priority, said the official, who declined to be identified because Lam has yet to step down.
Lam has had high-profile successes during her tenure, such as the Randy “Duke” Cunningham bribery case – but she alienated herself from bosses at the Justice Department because she is outspoken and independent, said local lawyers familiar with her policies.
…
Several prosecutors in Lam’s office and many defense lawyers said yesterday that they were unaware of her impending dismissal, and were universally shocked by it.
…
But even some of Lam’s legal opponents said the supposed reasons she is being forced out are perplexing.
“What do they want her to do, lock up Mexico?” said Mario Conte, former chief of Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc.
…
U.S. attorneys are usually appointed by the president and require Senate approval. They typically serve the same term as the president that appointed them, and are replaced when a new president is elected.

However, a provision in the Patriot Act that was revised last year allows the Attorney General to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys for indefinite terms when vacancies arise, without Senate confirmation. Filling interim vacancies had been the responsibility of the district court.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., criticized the Bush administration yesterday for “pushing out U.S. Attorneys from across the country under the cloak of secrecy.”

“We don’t know how many U.S. Attorneys have been asked to resign – it could be two, it could be ten, it could be more. No one knows,” she said in a statement.

In any event, the story made me think about your prior references to the difficulty keeping a corruption case once you start it.

OMG Mary, I had no idea this was even happening.

Let me go do some reading. This really is bolt out of the blue.

Well I picked all “one side” stuff out lhp – there is also some stuff about the fact that she worked such difficult corruption cases meant overall convictions dropped very far and a Repub. Congressperson in her district in a snit over not enough immigration enforcement.

Still, if you are going to go reading, don’t miss this Non-Us story

http://www.spiegel.de/internat…..21,00.html

Libby – meet Lady. Cheney – meet Pollari? Probably not I guess, but if so, that could get you to Bush – meet Berlusconi.

None of it will happen here IMO, but it’s nice to see the German Pros rooting for Spataro. And I liked the quote at the end, about it not mattering if a crime is a political crime – it’s still a crime.

I remember following that in real time in tinfoil territory. The ’secret flights’ mostly came to light by accident when careless CIA/contractor flights were routinely logged by amateur plane-spotter hobbyists around the world. Somebody noticed the coincidence of tail numbers being switched, pro-sports team logo on one of the planes that was used and other odd details.

The revelation of the rendition teams was almost too blatant to think they weren’t trying to get caught. I guess their arrogance put them above the law in their minds and removed the need for discretion.

If this gets swept under the rug it’ll be another stain on our legal system’s integrity.

Hi Mary, Even Senator Mark Pryor is upset about the very same patriot act provision you mentioned.

A notable use of that provision tried to derail the Abramoff investigation in the early stages.

from 2005
Bush removal ended Guam investigation
US attorney’s demotion halted probe of lobbyist

I found a quick half dozen reasons that BushCo would probably want to get Lam out of there. She was hitting some points hard. She secured guilty pleas from 2 executives of CA’s largest fence co for employing illegal immigrants…damn!

correction on the Black replacement. It happened as reported above but his replacement went through confirmation process….not the same as the PA issue, I think.

Thanks for the Italian story. Crossing more fingers..)

Still, if you are going to go reading, don’t miss this Non-Us story

http://www.spiegel.de/internat…..21,00.html

Libby – meet Lady. Cheney – meet Pollari? Probably not I guess, but if so, that could get you to Bush – meet Berlusconi.

None of it will happen here IMO, but it’s nice to see the German Pros rooting for Spataro. And I liked the quote at the end, about it not mattering if a crime is a political crime – it’s still a crime.

though I tend not to take them to heart anymore ?? Really? They seem to usually be links to other news service stories – is there something I missed there?

In any event, it was the Muckraker instead – sorry for the wrong sourcing.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002329.php

Cunningham Prosecutor Forced Out

They picked it up from this story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/…..12lam.html

The Bush administration has quietly asked San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, best known for her high-profile prosecutions of politicians and corporate executives, to resign her post, a law enforcement official said.
Lam, a Bush appointee who took the helm in 2002, was targeted because of job performance issues – in particular that she failed to make smuggling and gun cases a top priority, said the official, who declined to be identified because Lam has yet to step down.
Lam has had high-profile successes during her tenure, such as the Randy “Duke” Cunningham bribery case – but she alienated herself from bosses at the Justice Department because she is outspoken and independent, said local lawyers familiar with her policies.
…
Several prosecutors in Lam’s office and many defense lawyers said yesterday that they were unaware of her impending dismissal, and were universally shocked by it.
…
But even some of Lam’s legal opponents said the supposed reasons she is being forced out are perplexing.
“What do they want her to do, lock up Mexico?” said Mario Conte, former chief of Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc.
…
U.S. attorneys are usually appointed by the president and require Senate approval. They typically serve the same term as the president that appointed them, and are replaced when a new president is elected.

However, a provision in the Patriot Act that was revised last year allows the Attorney General to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys for indefinite terms when vacancies arise, without Senate confirmation. Filling interim vacancies had been the responsibility of the district court.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., criticized the Bush administration yesterday for “pushing out U.S. Attorneys from across the country under the cloak of secrecy.”

“We don’t know how many U.S. Attorneys have been asked to resign – it could be two, it could be ten, it could be more. No one knows,” she said in a statement.

In any event, the story made me think about your prior references to the difficulty keeping a corruption case once you start it.

OMG Mary, I had no idea this was even happening.

Let me go do some reading. This really is bolt out of the blue.