To receive the issue in email magazine format, subscribe above for free.
Browse the issue below or
Published Thursday, March 16, 2007
Balanced power requires equal force on all sides. So as news came out this week about the White House's unusual involvement in the firing of federal prosecutors, it was disheartening to watch the US system of checks and balances show cracks, particularly between Executive and Judicial branches. In Zimbabwe, President Mugabe clung to power and again used forceful measures to quell brewing opposition as his countrymen sense that his 30-year reign may be nearing its end. Meanwhile, Russia skillfully maneuvered its way out of the West's firing line on Iran by delaying shipments of uranium to Ahmadinejad’s nearly completed reactor.
Sometimes, however, heading into the mess is exactly what's intended. Viacom and Google entered the legal ring in a copyright-law dispute that could go the full 12 rounds. And in Austin, Texas, while rock 'n roll hopefuls courted the suits, robots and the dorks who love them convened to talk shop.
The US Justice Department is under scrutiny over its recent firing of eight federal attorneys. While the department maintains that performance issues were the cause, critics believe that the lawyers were let go because they showed insufficient loyalty to the current administration. Documents revealed that the White House green-lighted the dismissals as early as two years ago.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales admitted that "mistakes were made" in the handling of the dismissals, though he resisted calls to step down. However, Kyle Sampson, Gonzales' chief of staff who carried out the termination plan, resigned on Tuesday. President Bush condemned the confusion surrounding the incident, but maintained that the firings were justified.
