Mukasey promises greater DOJ independence: Leahy News
Mukasey promises greater DOJ independence: Leahy

[JURIST] Former federal judge and US Attorney General nominee Michael B. Mukasey [WH factsheet; PBWT profile] will forbid US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] employees from discussing sensitive cases with outside agencies if he is confirmed as attorney general, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) [official website] said Thursday. In a private meeting with Leahy, Mukasey reportedly assured Leahy that any DOJ employee reporting to outside sources, such as the White House or Congress, without Mukasey's authorization would be fired. Leahy said Thursday at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting that he was pleased with Mukasey's "attitude." Leahy has backed off earlier statements that he would hold up Mukasey's nomination until the Bush administration hands over key information about its domestic surveillance program [JURIST news archive].

President George W. Bush formally nominated [JURIST report] Mukasey to replace resigning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [JURIST news archive] Monday. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have generally reacted favorably [JURIST report] to the nomination, expressing tentative bi-partisan support for a quick confirmation process. AP has more.

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UN General Assembly approves Palestine partition plan

The UN General Assembly approved UN Resolution Resolution 181 (II) on November 29, 1947, recommending that the British Mandate for Palestine be split into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and an international zone for Jerusalem. The vote in the assembly was 33 for to 13 against, with 10 abstentions. The resolution sparked a war between Palestinian Arabs and Jews in 1947 and a wider war after Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded the new State of Israel in 1948. Read Resolution 181 (II).

UN divided Palestine between Arabs and Jews

On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab territories, leading to the establishment of a Jewish state the following year. Read UN General Assembly Resolution 181.

Defense Secretary Robert McNamara resigns during Vietnam Conflict

On November 29, 1967, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced that he was resigning from his office to accept an appointment as head of the World Bank. The announcement came as the Vietnam Conflict was becoming increasingly unpopular in the United States and abroad.