Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Annals of Marketing

Posted on August 4, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Miami’s Daily Business Review is a good local paper with a finance/politics focus. I was quoted a few times in an article on the DeFede case (requires paid subscription) which ran on the front page of Wednesday’s edition. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t bother mentioning this — I speak to reporters from somewhere almost every week — were it not for the follow up: yesterday morning I got a second phone call from the DBR, and an email, both offering to sell me reproduction rights to the article, which indeed doesn’t seem to available online without a subscription.

Here’s what the email offered:

Plaque: Review article reproduced on 11″ x 13″, mahogany-tone plaque with gold, bevel edge, several colors available — $150 + $7 shipping.

Double Plaque: Review article(s) reproduced on 20″ x 13″, mahogany-tone plaque, several colors available (for articles longer than one page — $195 + $8 shipping.

Copyright Permission: Permission to copy Review article (does not include web rights or photo permission). Permission renewable annually — $550.

Copyright Permission/Photography: Permission to copy Review article and photo (does not include web rights). Permission renewable annually — $700.

Photography Permission: Unlimited reproduction use of Review photograph for one year — $150.

Web Rights and Photography Permission: Post Review article and photo (if applicable) on your website. Permission renewable annually — $645.

It’s an interesting business model. And I imagine some lawyers and businesses go for it even at those shockingly inflated prices ($645 per year to post an article online!?!).

Speaking of media, I was also interviewed by CNN this past week for a segment on privacy-destroying technologies such as backscatter scanners (which see through your clothes). The short segment is due to run today, Thursday, at 8pm on “Paul Zahn Now” although I have no idea if I’ll actually be in it. And as we still haven’t gotten around to buying a TV, I suppose I won’t get to see it to find out.

Posted in The Media | Comments Off on Annals of Marketing

Gorgeous George Galloway, Sub-Loony

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Via Crooked Timber, Gorgeous George, how are ya, part 2, a link to this extended clip of George Galloway saying wicked and stupid things.

It’s ok to be mad at Bush, Blair and Berlusconi. It’s ok to to accuse the US of imperial designs on the Middle East, although these days it’s probably shifting fast to tail-between-legs time.

But telling an Arab Muslim audience that Jerusalem and Baghdad are their beautiful daughters being raped by westerners? And that they and their governments should do more to protect those daughters? Inciting the audience with the suggestion that Western leaders (and one presumes, their soldiers?) are really just terrorists?

I called Galloway a raving loon back when he made mincemeat of Senator Coleman a few weeks ago, to some criticism. I wish now to apologize to the fine folks in the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, as I now appreciate that the Loony Party has standards; I accept that Galloway wouldn’t qualify.

Posted in Iraq, UK | 11 Comments

Today’s Essential Marty Lederman

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Marty Lederman gives a full, and quite sickening, analysis of the legal and political context of the Iraqi torture-murder story I noted below.

This administration is not only morally bankrupt, it has soiled the military, which had, I thought, rebuilt its honor after the then-nadir of Vietnam. Official torture and murder with the connivance or malign neglect of higher-ups is almost as bad as governments get, short of genocide.

Posted in Torture | Comments Off on Today’s Essential Marty Lederman

Details of How Soldiers and CIA Operative Tortured Captive to Death

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Documents Tell of Brutal Improvisation by GIs: they put an Iraqi Major General into a sleeping bag, wrapped him in electrical cord, and beat him until he died.

Two of the soldiers–enlisted men–are being tried for murder. (Their lawyer says that they shouldn’t be blamed as it was days of earlier torture–hitting the detainee with fists, a club and a length of rubber hose–that did him in.) The CIA’s role is being suppressed from the public accounts; there is no word as to whether the CIA’s operative will be prosecuted, although the “The CIA inspector general’s office has launched an investigation”.

An indicted soldier’s lawyer, not an unbiased source, is quoted by the Post as saying,

“The interrogation techniques were known and were approved of by the upper echelons of command of the 3rd ACR,” … “They believed, and still do, that they were appropriate and proper.”

Posted in Torture | 2 Comments

2000 Coalition Soldiers Dead in Iraq

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Iraq Coalition Casualties reports the 2000th uniformed victim. Not to mention the civilian deaths and infrastructure carnage. (And the monetary cost to the US taxpayers of the future.)

And to what benefit?

Posted in Iraq | 1 Comment

Ouch

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Painfully true jokes via Daily Kos:

The White House announced that the public would not be allowed to see the memos produced by John Roberts when he represented the United States government as a lawyer. They say this is because of the attorney-client privilege. Here’s the part I don’t understand: he represented the United States, we’re the client, he’s our lawyer. Shouldn’t we be allowed see our own notes?”
–Jay Leno

“North Korea is making several demands in exchange for giving up their nuclear program, including a promise from America not to attack them. Which is a little strange because for us to attack them we would have to have `slam dunk’ proof that they have weapons of mass destruction. I mean, for Gods sakes people, we’re not maniacs. It would have to be an air-tight case. We wouldn’t just come in there and start bombing you…”
–Jon Stewart

“It was so hot down in Florida Jeb Bush was rigging ice machines.”
–David Letterman

“The White House dropped the phrase `war on terror’ when polls showed no one thought we were winning it. They think they know how to make it more popular. They’re going to stop calling it `war on terror’ and start calling it `Shrek 3.'”
–Argus Hamilton, comedian and columnist (Via Time magazine)

Posted in Politics: US | Comments Off on Ouch