Deputy Inspector General Harold Geisel gives the State Department a clean bill of health over its handling of the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline affair today [PDF]. The release of his report has inspired numerous “well, that’s that” articles, as well as a nod to its legitimacy by Bernie Sanders.

A few things remain to be said about the report, however.

The Obama Administration officially denied the Keystone Pipeline permit pending before the State Department. The White House statement supporting the decision blamed it on the unreasonable time restriction imposed by Congress and the GOP, while leaving the door open for a renewed application.

Before Congress even passed its two-month stopgap payroll tax/UI legislation, the State Department had a warning. The bill included a mandate that the Administration give an up-or-down approval or rejection on a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. The State Department said flatly that this would force them to reject the permit, because it would not give them enough time to complete their environmental review. Today they announced they’ll do what they promised.

It’s not like there is no evidence suggesting at the very least targeted assassinations, regardless of who is directing them. So why do media outlets resist the label of terrorism for these acts?

OK, they’re not outwardly advocating this. But that’s the practical effect of demanding that the provision on Keystone XL get included in any end of the year deal to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance.

The House will vote on their payroll tax cut bill today, legislation loaded with ideological measures and poison pills. It’s legislation Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, has already said cannot pass the upper chamber. Like so many times before, the House believes that they can pass message legislation as long as it contains something Democrats want and gain the advantage on the final product.

These folks are so concerned with demonizing homosexuality that the victims of anti-gay persecution are merely an afterthought to them.

The State Department has responded to a six months-old FOIA request filed by the ACLU to compel the release of twenty-three US State Embassy cables by releasing eleven of the cables. However, the eleven cables released contain redactions leading the ACLU to conclude this latest development “reveals” the State Department’s “penchant for excessive secrecy in defiance of all reason.”

The world is better off because the contents of the cables are known, but the United States policy is not. Its recoil and refusal to confront and apologize for the majority of what became known has put it on a path of further disgrace and shame. It remains committed to prosecuting accused whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning, even though he may have played a role in exposing Tunisians, Egyptians and others to details on corruption in their countries.

The Obama administration will likely soon announce that the State Department will consider an alternative route for the Keystone XL Pipeline. If that happens, it will likely delay any decision on the pipeline until after the 2012 election.