[godwulf]

Quite honestly, accounting and economics puts me right to sleep - but even I can see that the bottom line in this story is not who started what policy when, but the fact that the Bush administration - separate and apart from whether any previous administration may have done something similar - is intent on using the power of the U.S. Presidency and of the entire federal bureaucracy to reward its corporate backers, lie whenever, wherever, and to whomever it is necessary, and punish those who dare to shine the light on their true motives and behind-the-scenes activities.

When any government agent, office holder or contract employee is threatened with any sanction, however small, for simply telling the truth, it should be a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and a permanent ban on future government employment at any level.