Today is the 40th anniversary of America's War on Drugs. On June 17, 1971, then-President Richard Milhouse Nixon officially declared drug abuse as the nation's Public Enemy Number One. Here's his address to the country on June 17, 1971.

America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive.

I have asked the Congress to provide the legislative authority and the funds to fuel this kind of an offensive. This will be a worldwide offensive dealing with the problems of sources of supply, as well as Americans who may be stationed abroad, wherever they are in the world. It will be government wide, pulling together the nine different fragmented areas within the government in which this problem is now being handled, and it will be nationwide in terms of a new educational program that we trust will result from the discussions that we have had.

What an utter failure, just like Nixon.

Anyone here remember what they were doing in June, 1971? This is an open thread, all topics welcome

By the Constitution, Congress alone has the power to declare a national or foreign war. [. . .T]he President [. . .] has no power to initiate or declare a war either against a foreign nation or a domestic State. - The Prize Cases

One of the more bizarre aspects of the Obama Administration's arguments regarding the non-applicability of the War Powers Resolution to American involvement in the Libya conflict is the blithe dismissal of the fact that the Constitution does not authorize the President to engage the Nation in war at all. Consider Jack Goldsmith's reaction to the Administration's arguments:

The administration’s theory implies that the president can wage war with drones and all manner of offshore missiles without having to bother with the War Powers Resolution’s time limits[.]

How about without regard to the Constitution? Of course, this is not new, see (in recent history, see Panama, Grenada.) But it is sad that no seems to even give a passing thought about the Constitution on this issue. More . . .

How long did police hold Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the office of a detectives' unit before formally arresting him, Mirandizing him and bringing him before a Judge? Why wasn't he brought to a jail to await the judge? Why did they wait until late Sunday afternoon to bring the accuser in for a lineup -- so they could make sure she had enough time to see his face plastered all over TV (which she did?)

Here's the Disclosure Statement the District Attorney filed today.

May 14:

• 4:40 pm: Police remove him from jetway
• 5:00 pm: Arrive at JFK Port Authority Precinct. He's handcuffed (in custody, not free to leave.)
• 5:15 pm: En route to Manhattan Special Victims Squad
• 5:40 pm: At Manhattan Special Victims Squad, still hasn't been able to call the consulate or a lawyer
• 9:00 pm: Still at Manhattan Special Victims Squad and still hasn't been able to call a lawyer. He asks them if he needs a lawyer. They answer, it's his right in this country. They add they don't know if he has any kind of diplomatic status. He says:

  No, No, No, I'm not trying to use that. I just want to know if I need a lawyer

  Answer: That's up to you.

• 10:55 pm: Still at the Manhattan Special Victims Squad, has talked to his lawyer, they still are asking him if he wants to talk, he says no.
• 11:20 pm: Still at Manhattan Special Victims Squad, they offer him something to eat.

TalkLeft turned 9 years old yesterday. Independent bloggers seem to be fewer and far between these days. I'm not entirely convinced blogging remains relevant, but not everything can be said in 140 characters or less, and not everyone wants to carry on conversations on Facebook. So I think we'll soldier on a bit longer.

Thanks to every one of you who have read a page, posted a comment, given us a news tip, linked to TalkLeft, donated dollars and befriended us. You've made it all worthwhile.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

According to Forbes, and its new list of the world's top ten wanted fugitives, Pablo Escobar can roll over in his grave. The DEA says He's been surpassed by El Chapo, Joaquin Guzman, as the biggest drug lord ever.

Not only that, El Chapo is Number One on the list, surpassing even al Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri.

It's interesting that the U.S. considers a drug trafficker to be more dangerous than the leader of a terrorist group whose goal is to bring down America through violent means. Forbes full list of the most wanted is here.

The General Command of al-Qaeda announced today that Ayman al-Zawahiri will succeed Osama bin Laden. Via Site Monitoring Service (subscription required):

“[We] assure every oppressed [individual] in this world – and most of them are victims of the American Western criminality – that our religion is a religion of justice and equity. We sympathize with the sufferings of the oppressed. Our jihad against American arrogance will lead to the lifting of oppression from them, and it is an effort that will help them in getting rid of the American Western exploitation that enslaved them, robbed them of their wealth, and spoiled their environment and their lives.”

The U.S. believes the statement is genuine. The statement also said the appointment was made after “consultation” and that the selection of the new leader is the “best form of gratitude” for bin Laden."

He's finally giving up. Rep. Anthony Weiner will announce his resignation today.

In less weighty news, Mildred Baena, Arnold Schwarzenegger's former housekeeper and mother of their child together,has decided to tell her story and share a photo of 13 year old Joseph. She says Joseph was told a year ago that Arnold was his father. His response was, "Cool."

She hopes Arnold and Maria can patch things up.

Pakistan denies the allegation in the New York Times that an Army Major was one of those arrested with undercover CIA operatives suspected of providing the U.S. with information about the Osama bin Laden compound in Abboutabad.

Sen. Patrick Leahy today condemned the arrests.

Time Magazine reports a federal grand jury is investigating the 2003 torture and killing of Manadel al-Jamadi at Abu Ghraib as a potential war crime. Years ago, navy seals were charged over the death. At least one went to trial and was found not guilty.

TIME has obtained a copy of a subpoena signed by Durham that points to his grand jury's broader mandate, which could involve charging additional CIA officers and contract employees in other cases. The subpoena says "the grand jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal laws involving War Crimes (18 USC/2441), Torture (18 USC 243OA) and related federal offenses." [More...]

The Pitkin County Commissioners in Aspen met a few weeks ago and condemned the DEA's recent bust of a group of retirement-age drug suspects. More here.

Yesterday they wrote the DEA a letter, lambasting the agency for not telling local law enforcement what they were up to. The Commissioners urge the DEA to "“reconsider the directive you've given to your field agents and employees that places innocent people at risk.”

The letter has more details of the meeting between DEA and local law enforcement after the most recent bust.

Obama in Old San Juan.

NYTimes Editorial on SCOTUS' 5-4 decision (PDF) weakening the securities fraud law. I have not read the decision, but I will note that Congress can overturn this SCOTUS decision and political parties can at least talk about it. Maybe I missed it, but I have not seen any reactions from politicians on this case.

Open Thread.