Crossing Interests
Pre-War Claims Continue to Unravel

A Vote Against the Computerized Ballot
One recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University and Rice University found that the high-tech voting machines made by Diebold Election Systems allowed voters and poll workers to cast extra votes, and also that cryptographic keys, the basic element of system security, were not properly managed. The governor of Maryland has called for an investigation to determine whether the state's $54 million purchase of these so-called direct recording electronic (or DRE) systems was a wise move.

Inside A U.S. Election Vote Counting Program
For both optical scans and touch screens operating using Diebold election systems, the voting system works like this:

Creature Thought Extinct Found in Cuba
A living example of an insectivore native to Cuba — but believed for years to extinct — has been found in the island's eastern mountains, a Cuban news agency reported.

Broward rethinks $17 million electronic voting system
The ATM-style touch screens replaced the punch-card ballots banned in Florida after the 2000 presidential election recount. But critics complain electronic voting could be prone to tampering and also is impossible to recount during a disputed election.

Administrative Subpoenas for the FBI: A Grab for Unchecked Executive Power
The Administration recently renewed its effort to obtain administrative subpoena authority for the FBI in criminal terrorism cases. The President called for it in his speech marking the second anniversary of 9/11. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) has introduced H.R. 3037, which would grant the FBI administrative subpoena power. An administrative subpoena is essentially a piece of paper signed by an FBI agent that requires any recipient to disclose any documents (or any other tangible things). The proposed administrative subpoena would also compel a person to give testimony, essentially forcing anyone to talk to the FBI. Administrative subpoenas are issued with no prior judicial, prosecutorial or grand jury approval. Under the current proposals, failure to comply with an administrative subpoena could result in civil and criminal penalties, and the subpoenas would be executed in complete secrecy. In fact, under one of the proposals, anyone who disclosed the existence of an administrative subpoena could be subject to up to five years in prison.

Halliburton Creating Iraqi Secret Police At Your Expense

Voting system found to have fraud risk
An independent review of Maryland's proposed touch-screen voting system released Wednesday found a "high risk of compromise" by malicious outsiders who might want to tamper with election results.