130^th in continuing blog series on the administration push to war. Politics and policy become even more tense in the new post-election year, with the ongoing conflict in Iraq, administration intransigence about getting out, and the ongoing revelations of prison abuses in Iraq. The administration continues to circle the wagons, with the highest level personnel appointments going to individuals directly tied to the president.
February, 2005:

Feb. 4, 2005 – Alberto Gonzales is confirmed as Attorney General of the United States.

Feb. 7, 2005 – Office of the Vice President emails from this day are missing. Violence in Iraq is also particularly deadly on this date, with separate bombings in different Iraqi cities claiming scores of lives.

Feb. 8, 2005 – Jeff Gannon/James Guckert resigns from conservative Talon News, losing his press credentials for the White House, and temporarily shuts down his web site.

Feb. 14, 2005 – Despite widespread criticism, President Bush urges Congress to re-authorize the Patriot Act. The legislation, passed immediately after the attacks of 9/11 by a Congress that largely did not read it, allows for heightened FBI surveillance and law-enforcement powers. Civil liberty groups and privacy advocates oppose the act, arguing that it infringes on individual civil liberty.

Feb. 14, 2005 -- President Bush asks Congress for $81.9 billion to fund the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. (“Bush Seeks $81.9 Billion More; Mostly for Forces in Iraq,” New York Times, Feb. 15)

Same day – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing about waste, fraud and abuse in contracts for Iraq reconstruction. Congressional opponents accuse the administration of losing billions of dollars in uncontrolled Iraq contracting.

Feb. 15, 2005 – The U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit denies Judith Miller’s appeal to quash the grand jury subpoena.

Feb. 15, 2005 – The State Department reveals that the administration has already obligated $13 billion for Iraq reconstruction, with more than $5 billion already disbursed.

Feb. 15, 2005 – Michael Chertoff, another administration loyalist, is unanimously confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security and is sworn in the same day.

Feb. 15, 2005 – Emails from the Office of the Vice President from this date are missing.

Feb. 16, 2005 – The United Nations Security Council releases a statement congratulating Iraq on its successful elections:

“The Security Council congratulates the people of Iraq on the successful elections of 30 January 2005. These elections represent a historic moment for Iraq and a positive step in its political transition. In turning out to the polls, Iraqis demonstrated their respect for the rule of law and non-violence. They voted for democracy and full ownership of their affairs. The Security Council commends the Iraqi people for having taken this step to exercise their right to freely determine their own political future and encourages them to continue to do so in moving ahead with their political transition. . .

The Security Council commends the Secretary-General and the United Nations for successfully assisting election preparations, including advice and support extended to the Iraqis by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Ashraf Qazi, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), particularly the lead electoral adviser Carlos Valenzuela, the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and its Director Carina Perelli. The Security Council also appreciates the assistance given by other international actors, including EU electoral experts.”

Carlos Valenzuela, whose courageous work with UNAMI in Iraq is appropriately praised by the Security Council, also led the UN team that organized the elections in East Timor.

Feb. 16, 2005 – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Richard Myers testify on Iraq before the House Armed Services Committee. Both put on their game face but acknowledge difficulties, with the number of ‘insurgents’ fluctuating and apparently unpredictable.

What is not frontally acknowledged is that Iraqis want foreigners out of their country, particularly westerners and particularly the U.S.

Feb. 16, 2005 – Emails from the Office of the Vice President for this date are missing.

Feb. 18, 2005 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) releases U.S. Army documents revealing further abuses of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Feb. 18, 2005 – Emails from the Office of the Vice President for this day are missing.

Feb. 18, 2005 – PNAC alumnus Robert B. Zoellick is confirmed as Deputy Secretary of State.

Feb. 22, 2005 – Richard L. Armitage’s term as Deputy Secretary of State ends. Armitage, a longtime source for Washington Post reporter and conduit Bob Woodward, will go to work in the private sector as a security consultant.