COMMENTS: 70
Political Fireworks Over Torture Prosecutor: Report Reveals Threats to Kill Children, CIA Director in 'Screaming Match'
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The New York Times reports: "The Justice Department released a long-secret report Monday chronicling abuses inside the Central Intelligence Agency’s overseas prisons, showing how interrogators choked a prisoner repeatedly and threatened to kill another detainee’s children. In response to the findings, Attorney General Eric H Holder Jr. chose John H. Durham, a veteran prosecutor from Connecticut who has been investigating the C.I.A.’s destruction of interrogation videotapes, to determine whether a full criminal investigation of the conduct of agency employees or contractors was warranted. The review will be the most politically explosive inquiry since Mr. Holder took over the Justice Department in February."
It has already been an explosive issue for CIA director Leon Panetta, who got in a "profanity-laced screaming match" at the White House about the investigation, according to ABC news: "Amid reports that Panetta had threatened to quit just seven months after taking over at the spy agency, ... insiders tell ABCNews.com that senior White House staff members are already discussing a possible shake-up of top national security officials. According to intelligence officials, Panetta erupted in a tirade last month during a meeting with a senior White House staff member. Panetta was reportedly upset over plans by Attorney General Eric Holder to open a criminal investigation of allegations that CIA officers broke the law in carrying out certain interrogation techniques that President Obama has termed 'torture.'"
The Washington Post reports that Holder selected Durham for the inquiry "in part because of his role as prosecutor in an ongoing investigation of the destruction of CIA videotapes in late 2005, expanding his mandate to cover additional agency conduct." The Post also reports that "Durham's mandate ... will be relatively narrow: to look at whether there is enough evidence to launch a full-scale criminal investigation of current and former CIA personnel who may have broken the law in their dealings with detainees."
There is the potential that the investigation could expand, as the Post reports:
"Legal analysts said [Durham's] review, while preliminary, could expand beyond its relatively narrow mandate and ensnare a wider cast of characters. They cited U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald's investigation of the leak of a CIA operative's identity, which culminated with the criminal conviction of then-Vice President Richard B. Cheney's chief of staff. ... [T]he attorney general and his national security team appear to be staking out a middle ground -- rejecting a broad inquiry that could result in possible prosecutions of Justice Department lawyers in the Bush years as well as cabinet officers who developed counterterrorism policy; but giving civil liberties advocates at least part of what they wanted without supporting a full, independent truth commission to examine a host of Bush national security practices."
But elected officials and civil liberties advocates aren't satisfied. As TalkingPointsMemo reports, "Some top Democrats are expressing disappointment with Eric Holder's announcement of a probe into Bush-era torture, and specifically with Holder's apparent decision to ensure the probe doesn't look at the Bush officials who authorized the policy." Senators in opposition include Russ Feingold and Patrick Leahy. And human rights groups were quick on the offensive after Holder's plan emerged. Ari Melber writes for The Nation,
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: foreverhope on Aug 25, 2009 1:32 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is something seriously wrong here!
PLEASE BE CAREFUL DEAR DARLING MR. PRESIDENT!!!
This is wrong, wrong, wrong!
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» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: progressive-life
» It's incredible...
Posted by: Tweck9
» RE: It's incredible...
Posted by: progressive-life
» Aaah, and the light is beginning to dawn on foreverhope.
Posted by: CynicI
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: cmaciain
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: Squarehead
Comments are closed-
Posted by: morgan1 on Aug 25, 2009 4:18 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: morgan1
Posted by: nobuko
» The reason he is losing it, is it will expose the "Domestic Assassination squad" currently still in
Posted by: CynicI
» Oh, I forgot to mention 9-11... here come the trolls.... lol
Posted by: CynicI
» If you want to find a troll, "prophit(0)", look in the mirror.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» What's the matter "prophit(0)"? Cat got your tongue?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» "Domestic Assassination squad"? Where's your link?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE:Git-yerBUll "Domestic Assassination squad"?
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Hairy one, show me the quotes that support her assertions, please.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Hersh
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Wrong.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» In addition, Sy Hersh is often criticized for his use of anonymous sources.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Time will tell.
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» No, what we have here is another instance of Sy Hersh resorting to anonymous sources
Posted by: GuitarBill
» It sure is a lucky thing ...........
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Hairy one, when will you show me the quotes that support "prophit(0)'s" assertions?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» In one of George Bush's early State of the Union speeches (either 2002 or 2003) he made a reference
Posted by: sasquuatch55
Comments are closed-
Posted by: Dak on Aug 25, 2009 4:20 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So, poor pansy-Panetta wants to resign. And??? Your point is? Don't let the door hit you....
Dakotahgeo
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Posted by: surfreality on Aug 25, 2009 5:47 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here's my e-mail:
"The Bush administration "enhanced interrogation" policies were illegal from the get go. Those who subverted American and international law under the dubious guise of "unitary executive theory" need to be repudiated and held accountable.
Thank you,"
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Posted by: maxpayne on Aug 25, 2009 6:25 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» I am sure JFK's assassination peers through Obama's conscious mind on occasion....
Posted by: CynicI
» True but still...
Posted by: maxpayne
» ABOLISH THE CIA FBI DHS DEA ATF... the GRAFT is palpable!
Posted by: Bearzerker
Comments are closed-
Posted by: nobuko on Aug 25, 2009 6:26 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Remember, when Bill & Hillary left the White House they were BROKE, in legal fees spilling out of every hole in their bodies! Yet, Cheney and Bush leave Multi-BILLIONAIRES, and NO LEGAL issues following them! Makes you want to PUKE all over Obama and Holder!
Do we need to mention, the money they wasted on Bill Clinton to PROVE women was HOUNDING him down, and he finally gave in to Monica? Heck, they wasted MORE MONEY INVESTIGATING Bill's blow job, than they did on the Committee for 9/11!
This is what has me sooooo PISSED OFF with Obama and Holder!
I know there is much work to be done to clean up 8 years of corruption in the Bush White House, but damn it, Obama can work on the mess, all while Holder is getting his Dept. together to LEAP, with ALL FOURS, to bring the Bush Admin. to JUSTICE! NO WAY SHOULD THEY GET AWAY WITH THE LIES, HARM, DEVASTATION, GRAND THIEF, MURDER, MAIMING, & the ECONOMIC MELTDOWN of our country! NO FREAKING WAY!
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» Like dems, it would depend on which repugs your talking about...
Posted by: CynicI
Comments are closed-
Posted by: TarryFaster on Aug 25, 2009 6:43 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
On its website, the company boasts more than a few such cases, in which it worked for Bush et al. In nearly every one, and while Holder was happily a partner in the firm, C&B defended GOP operatives --and also the financial industry and Big Pharma. These, of course, are all the very players responsible for the immense corruption of the US public sphere.
Check out the litany of litigation that C&B has been involved in, mostly on the RNC side. Remember, these are the company's own proud claims.
Must we, then, still wonder why Eric Holder is a no-show on GOP election-rigging and selective prosecutions?"
Click here for more ...
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Posted by: progressive-life on Aug 25, 2009 7:33 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It would be so much fun watching the democrats "eating their young" and "self destructing" if it weren't destroying our nation. Lets hope we can last another 3 years until we get these nuts out!
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» Well...
Posted by: Tweck9
» RE: Well...
Posted by: progressive-life
» RE: Well...
Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card?? More regressive -lies!
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card??
Posted by: madmac10
» The only enemy of Our Liberty is YOU!
Posted by: je5752
» RE: The only enemy of Our Liberty is YOU!
Posted by: progressive-life
» RE: The only enemy of Our Liberty is YOU!
Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card??
Posted by: Hans
Comments are closed-
Posted by: dlsoops on Aug 25, 2009 7:40 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 25, 2009 7:44 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let the investigations begin and the chips fall where they may.
Sure, they got a lot of information via torture - such as Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. They could have gotten a hell of a lot more useful info by means of traditional, tried and true interrogation methods. The ultimate irony is the fact that not one person in that disgusting administration was smart enough to figure this out. Assholes.
Hush! Hush! Sweet Sarah!
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
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Posted by: leafsong1 on Aug 25, 2009 7:50 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: The truth and nothing but the truth
Posted by: solrev
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Posted by: JohnTruth2001 on Aug 25, 2009 8:08 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Those who committed torture under our flag must be punished severely!!!
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Posted by: chrysalis124812 on Aug 25, 2009 8:09 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: VZEQICVA on Aug 25, 2009 8:26 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: QQOblivion on Aug 25, 2009 8:40 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 25, 2009 9:03 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Whaddaya say - any takers?
Cheers!
Tom Degan
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» RE: "Bull Durham"
Posted by: Brb007
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Posted by: Archie1954 on Aug 25, 2009 9:49 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: maxsmart on Aug 25, 2009 10:46 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: chetdude on Aug 25, 2009 11:06 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama has done a REALLY ROTTEN job with the major cabinet appointments; republicans, appeasers or "part of the problem not the solution" characters for most of the important posts.
Even though I knew he was a corporate tool, I didn't think he was THIS co-opted by the forces of EVIL...
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Posted by: barefeet on Aug 25, 2009 12:46 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When the hopelessly unprepared few were landed in a swamp on the SW of Cuba and were quickly taken into custody by the Cubans a public demand for a "retaliatory" US invasion came from the CIA, forcing JFK to publicly refuse and take the expected political heat for it from the right, which was massive and relentless.
He instantly knew that he has been back stabbed and was quoted as saying: "I'm going to cut the CIA into so many pieces that no one will ever be able to put it together again."
For starters he then fired the top three CIA executives. Unfortunately he did not fire George Bush senior, the covert CIA agent that put the operation together and that which had as its only purpose either the takeover of Cuba if JFK backed down from him and invaded Cuba or the political sinking of the even then hated JFK. Either outcome would have pleased him and his like.
Some few years later Nixon was quoted as having said (as then president) "George Bush is the one man the Republican party cannot get along without as HE WILL DO ANYTHING for us."
those who quoted him also stated that the above emphasis was exactly as stated.
JFK then steamrollered right through the Cuban Bay Of Pigs event in his characteristically courageous fashion and came out even stronger not just here in the USA but worldwide and and even more so amongst the Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East where he was greatly respected for his even handed treatment of Jews flooding into Palestine.
He then carried on with the peoples business by informing the Jews in Palestine that he had observed their building of an atomic bomb factory in Dimona, and that he was not going to permit them to complete it. No one doubted his intention to do just that but he was not allowed to carry out that plan, nor was it ever mentioned again by his successors even to this day.
When soon after he made a campaign stop in Dallas he was "back-stabbed" again and by the same actors. Again Bush I directed it with the help of another one of those CIA monsters that he had terminated for his part in the Cuban "invasion" fiasco WHO WAS THE ONE THAT AT THE LAST MOMENT CHANGED THE PARADE ROUTE TO GO THROUGH THE DEALY PLAZA OPEN AREA AT THE LAST MOMENT WHERE HE WAS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY THOSE CIA PATRIOT/HEROES TO BE BLOWN TO BITS BEFORE THE ENTIRE WORLD.
One of those heroes has a son who now lives in virtual house arrest in Dallas because of the world wide hatred of him. The political right still reveres him for some reason and will even likely move enough money around to elect his brother into office as his president in the near future.
Nixon was seen boarding a plane out of Dallas as the last hurrah of JFK got underway.
Voting got us into this mess and will clearly not get us out - at least as long as we accept rule by a chief executive which simply makes a mockery out of the idea of democracy.
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Posted by: Benn_Miller on Aug 25, 2009 1:05 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: je5752 on Aug 25, 2009 1:46 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"The policeman raped me again. Then I was lowered into a pit full of bodies— bodies of children, men, and women, some decapitated, all caked with blood. A few were still alive. I could hear them moaning. Someone was weeping. I didn’t know if it was me or somebody else. A stench of decay rose from the pit. Rats swarmed over the bodies and were dropped onto me as I hung suspended over the pit by the wrists. I passed out and when I came to I was lying on the ground beside the pit, rats all over me."
As I posted in reply to GuitarBill above this has been going on for DECADES. The CIA is EVIL, it is CORRUPT, and it MUST BE DISMANTLED!
END THE AMERICAN EMPIRE
AND
END THE FEDERAL RESERVE
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Posted by: willymack on Aug 25, 2009 2:31 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama must have had his head in the sand (or worse) when he decided to retain Panetta's "services".
The REAL issue at hand is the criminal bush regime, and whether we're going to do right by our people by going after them.
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Posted by: LeonBNJ on Aug 25, 2009 8:03 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
For President Obama and his administration, they know that they can't go after GWB, Cheney and others for torture. They know if they try to reverse such a policy or go after those that ordered it or did it, it would tick off many independent and moderate voters. That is why we will get a bunch of phony investigations, to make it look like something is being done.
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Posted by: Fish on Aug 25, 2009 8:04 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
But once the investigation establishes the criminality which it seems it will be impossible not to do so the flood gates shall open.
"I was only following orders" shall be quoted with frightening repetition. Whose orders? Thus the charges shall eventually have to go to the originator. It shall be interesting
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Posted by: peopletech on Aug 26, 2009 6:22 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In order not to repeat this cycle of gross errors, we need to have the actual truth of what President Eisenhower in his '61 farewell address, referred to as "the Military-Industrial Complex". Let us look at everything unless it would immediately impact the security of the United States, but most of it concerns what happened last century leading up to current mistakes. Perhaps Mr. Limbaugh would like a seat on this would-be esteemed committee.
A person earlier brought up Lt. Calley and after all these years, am still curious to know why nothing is said about how the bodies were posed in a sordid manner. It is the absurdity of mankind that needs to be examined. Finding these answers and doing something about it would be an “evolutionary” progression.
It has been said that the "Truth shall set you free"; first let us take the truth, reflect on it (prosecution for "going astray" will be up to the people in a democratic vote), learn and become a better nation for it.
This start would be a "grand entrance" into the 21st Century and beyond…
Continued excellent work to the people at Alternet and hopefully, people one day will react with curiosity, a sense of reflection, learning and implement change for the betterment of all humankind; people, the clock is ticking...
All the best,
iRa
Tampa, FL
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Posted by: boay on Aug 27, 2009 1:08 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Posted by: lee123 on Aug 27, 2009 1:36 PM
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Posted by: reelman on Aug 30, 2009 4:33 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
1. Shoving isn't torture. Slapping isn't torture. Sleep deprivation isn't torture. Waterboarding isn't torture. And so on.
2. KSM masterminded the butchering of nearly 3,000 innocent people simply because they weren't like him.
3. IIRC, only three -- three! -- detainees were waterboarded.
So -- do we have some kind of major perspective problem going on here? KSM set up 9/11, and only he and 2 others were waterboarded, and it's set off all this idiotic over-gush of phony "torture" claims, hearings, investigations, articles, editorials, and so on. Oh, not to mention all the hate fomented by our enemies thanks to the dupes here only too glad to supply the tinder!
Too bad we can't parade the people so eager to show the US as evil past several hundred burned 9/11 corpses, past a number of the smashed, unrecognizable bodies of those who jumped rather than burn, while they listen to tapes of last cell-calls to family and 911 emergency chatter....
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» RE: A SUMMARY OF REALITY 4 THIS ARTICLE
Posted by: 3rdI
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Posted by: JohnHKennedy Denver CO on Aug 31, 2009 6:29 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Prosecute all those that tortured in our name, then go after all the other violations of Federal Crimes and our Constitution committed by Bush and Cheney.
KEEP ASKING ALL POLITICIANS AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS
"WHY DO YOU SUPPORT TORTURE?"
If they aren't actively calling for enforcement of our Federal Torture Laws,
They ARE Supporting Torture.
SIGN THE PETITIONS
Demanding
both a Commission of Inquiry
and prosecution for all those leaders
in Bush's Administration that
Conspired to Torture at ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Only Prosecution Stops Torture!
Only Prosecution Stops Violations of Our Constitution and Rule Of Law.
.
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Posted by: foreverhope on Aug 25, 2009 1:32 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is something seriously wrong here!
PLEASE BE CAREFUL DEAR DARLING MR. PRESIDENT!!!
This is wrong, wrong, wrong!
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» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: progressive-life
» It's incredible...
Posted by: Tweck9
» RE: It's incredible...
Posted by: progressive-life
» Aaah, and the light is beginning to dawn on foreverhope.
Posted by: CynicI
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: cmaciain
» RE: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT!
Posted by: Squarehead
Comments are closed-
Posted by: morgan1 on Aug 25, 2009 4:18 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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» RE: morgan1
Posted by: nobuko
» The reason he is losing it, is it will expose the "Domestic Assassination squad" currently still in
Posted by: CynicI
» Oh, I forgot to mention 9-11... here come the trolls.... lol
Posted by: CynicI
» If you want to find a troll, "prophit(0)", look in the mirror.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» What's the matter "prophit(0)"? Cat got your tongue?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» "Domestic Assassination squad"? Where's your link?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE:Git-yerBUll "Domestic Assassination squad"?
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Hairy one, show me the quotes that support her assertions, please.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Hersh
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Wrong.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» In addition, Sy Hersh is often criticized for his use of anonymous sources.
Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Time will tell.
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» No, what we have here is another instance of Sy Hersh resorting to anonymous sources
Posted by: GuitarBill
» It sure is a lucky thing ...........
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Hairy one, when will you show me the quotes that support "prophit(0)'s" assertions?
Posted by: GuitarBill
» In one of George Bush's early State of the Union speeches (either 2002 or 2003) he made a reference
Posted by: sasquuatch55
Comments are closed-
Posted by: Dak on Aug 25, 2009 4:20 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So, poor pansy-Panetta wants to resign. And??? Your point is? Don't let the door hit you....
Dakotahgeo
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Posted by: surfreality on Aug 25, 2009 5:47 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here's my e-mail:
"The Bush administration "enhanced interrogation" policies were illegal from the get go. Those who subverted American and international law under the dubious guise of "unitary executive theory" need to be repudiated and held accountable.
Thank you,"
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
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Posted by: maxpayne on Aug 25, 2009 6:25 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» I am sure JFK's assassination peers through Obama's conscious mind on occasion....
Posted by: CynicI
» True but still...
Posted by: maxpayne
» ABOLISH THE CIA FBI DHS DEA ATF... the GRAFT is palpable!
Posted by: Bearzerker
Comments are closed-
Posted by: nobuko on Aug 25, 2009 6:26 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Remember, when Bill & Hillary left the White House they were BROKE, in legal fees spilling out of every hole in their bodies! Yet, Cheney and Bush leave Multi-BILLIONAIRES, and NO LEGAL issues following them! Makes you want to PUKE all over Obama and Holder!
Do we need to mention, the money they wasted on Bill Clinton to PROVE women was HOUNDING him down, and he finally gave in to Monica? Heck, they wasted MORE MONEY INVESTIGATING Bill's blow job, than they did on the Committee for 9/11!
This is what has me sooooo PISSED OFF with Obama and Holder!
I know there is much work to be done to clean up 8 years of corruption in the Bush White House, but damn it, Obama can work on the mess, all while Holder is getting his Dept. together to LEAP, with ALL FOURS, to bring the Bush Admin. to JUSTICE! NO WAY SHOULD THEY GET AWAY WITH THE LIES, HARM, DEVASTATION, GRAND THIEF, MURDER, MAIMING, & the ECONOMIC MELTDOWN of our country! NO FREAKING WAY!
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» Like dems, it would depend on which repugs your talking about...
Posted by: CynicI
Comments are closed-
Posted by: TarryFaster on Aug 25, 2009 6:43 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
On its website, the company boasts more than a few such cases, in which it worked for Bush et al. In nearly every one, and while Holder was happily a partner in the firm, C&B defended GOP operatives --and also the financial industry and Big Pharma. These, of course, are all the very players responsible for the immense corruption of the US public sphere.
Check out the litany of litigation that C&B has been involved in, mostly on the RNC side. Remember, these are the company's own proud claims.
Must we, then, still wonder why Eric Holder is a no-show on GOP election-rigging and selective prosecutions?"
Click here for more ...
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Posted by: progressive-life on Aug 25, 2009 7:33 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It would be so much fun watching the democrats "eating their young" and "self destructing" if it weren't destroying our nation. Lets hope we can last another 3 years until we get these nuts out!
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» Well...
Posted by: Tweck9
» RE: Well...
Posted by: progressive-life
» RE: Well...
Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card?? More regressive -lies!
Posted by: sasquuatch55
» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card??
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» The only enemy of Our Liberty is YOU!
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» RE: The only enemy of Our Liberty is YOU!
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» RE: Did YOU get your birthday card??
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Posted by: dlsoops on Aug 25, 2009 7:40 AM
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 25, 2009 7:44 AM
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Let the investigations begin and the chips fall where they may.
Sure, they got a lot of information via torture - such as Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. They could have gotten a hell of a lot more useful info by means of traditional, tried and true interrogation methods. The ultimate irony is the fact that not one person in that disgusting administration was smart enough to figure this out. Assholes.
Hush! Hush! Sweet Sarah!
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
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Posted by: leafsong1 on Aug 25, 2009 7:50 AM
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» RE: The truth and nothing but the truth
Posted by: solrev
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Posted by: JohnTruth2001 on Aug 25, 2009 8:08 AM
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Those who committed torture under our flag must be punished severely!!!
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Posted by: chrysalis124812 on Aug 25, 2009 8:09 AM
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Posted by: VZEQICVA on Aug 25, 2009 8:26 AM
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Posted by: QQOblivion on Aug 25, 2009 8:40 AM
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Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 25, 2009 9:03 AM
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Whaddaya say - any takers?
Cheers!
Tom Degan
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» RE: "Bull Durham"
Posted by: Brb007
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Posted by: Archie1954 on Aug 25, 2009 9:49 AM
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Posted by: maxsmart on Aug 25, 2009 10:46 AM
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Posted by: chetdude on Aug 25, 2009 11:06 AM
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Obama has done a REALLY ROTTEN job with the major cabinet appointments; republicans, appeasers or "part of the problem not the solution" characters for most of the important posts.
Even though I knew he was a corporate tool, I didn't think he was THIS co-opted by the forces of EVIL...
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Posted by: barefeet on Aug 25, 2009 12:46 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When the hopelessly unprepared few were landed in a swamp on the SW of Cuba and were quickly taken into custody by the Cubans a public demand for a "retaliatory" US invasion came from the CIA, forcing JFK to publicly refuse and take the expected political heat for it from the right, which was massive and relentless.
He instantly knew that he has been back stabbed and was quoted as saying: "I'm going to cut the CIA into so many pieces that no one will ever be able to put it together again."
For starters he then fired the top three CIA executives. Unfortunately he did not fire George Bush senior, the covert CIA agent that put the operation together and that which had as its only purpose either the takeover of Cuba if JFK backed down from him and invaded Cuba or the political sinking of the even then hated JFK. Either outcome would have pleased him and his like.
Some few years later Nixon was quoted as having said (as then president) "George Bush is the one man the Republican party cannot get along without as HE WILL DO ANYTHING for us."
those who quoted him also stated that the above emphasis was exactly as stated.
JFK then steamrollered right through the Cuban Bay Of Pigs event in his characteristically courageous fashion and came out even stronger not just here in the USA but worldwide and and even more so amongst the Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East where he was greatly respected for his even handed treatment of Jews flooding into Palestine.
He then carried on with the peoples business by informing the Jews in Palestine that he had observed their building of an atomic bomb factory in Dimona, and that he was not going to permit them to complete it. No one doubted his intention to do just that but he was not allowed to carry out that plan, nor was it ever mentioned again by his successors even to this day.
When soon after he made a campaign stop in Dallas he was "back-stabbed" again and by the same actors. Again Bush I directed it with the help of another one of those CIA monsters that he had terminated for his part in the Cuban "invasion" fiasco WHO WAS THE ONE THAT AT THE LAST MOMENT CHANGED THE PARADE ROUTE TO GO THROUGH THE DEALY PLAZA OPEN AREA AT THE LAST MOMENT WHERE HE WAS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY THOSE CIA PATRIOT/HEROES TO BE BLOWN TO BITS BEFORE THE ENTIRE WORLD.
One of those heroes has a son who now lives in virtual house arrest in Dallas because of the world wide hatred of him. The political right still reveres him for some reason and will even likely move enough money around to elect his brother into office as his president in the near future.
Nixon was seen boarding a plane out of Dallas as the last hurrah of JFK got underway.
Voting got us into this mess and will clearly not get us out - at least as long as we accept rule by a chief executive which simply makes a mockery out of the idea of democracy.
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Posted by: Benn_Miller on Aug 25, 2009 1:05 PM
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Posted by: je5752 on Aug 25, 2009 1:46 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"The policeman raped me again. Then I was lowered into a pit full of bodies— bodies of children, men, and women, some decapitated, all caked with blood. A few were still alive. I could hear them moaning. Someone was weeping. I didn’t know if it was me or somebody else. A stench of decay rose from the pit. Rats swarmed over the bodies and were dropped onto me as I hung suspended over the pit by the wrists. I passed out and when I came to I was lying on the ground beside the pit, rats all over me."
As I posted in reply to GuitarBill above this has been going on for DECADES. The CIA is EVIL, it is CORRUPT, and it MUST BE DISMANTLED!
END THE AMERICAN EMPIRE
AND
END THE FEDERAL RESERVE
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Posted by: willymack on Aug 25, 2009 2:31 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama must have had his head in the sand (or worse) when he decided to retain Panetta's "services".
The REAL issue at hand is the criminal bush regime, and whether we're going to do right by our people by going after them.
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Posted by: LeonBNJ on Aug 25, 2009 8:03 PM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
For President Obama and his administration, they know that they can't go after GWB, Cheney and others for torture. They know if they try to reverse such a policy or go after those that ordered it or did it, it would tick off many independent and moderate voters. That is why we will get a bunch of phony investigations, to make it look like something is being done.
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Posted by: Fish on Aug 25, 2009 8:04 PM
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But once the investigation establishes the criminality which it seems it will be impossible not to do so the flood gates shall open.
"I was only following orders" shall be quoted with frightening repetition. Whose orders? Thus the charges shall eventually have to go to the originator. It shall be interesting
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Posted by: peopletech on Aug 26, 2009 6:22 PM
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In order not to repeat this cycle of gross errors, we need to have the actual truth of what President Eisenhower in his '61 farewell address, referred to as "the Military-Industrial Complex". Let us look at everything unless it would immediately impact the security of the United States, but most of it concerns what happened last century leading up to current mistakes. Perhaps Mr. Limbaugh would like a seat on this would-be esteemed committee.
A person earlier brought up Lt. Calley and after all these years, am still curious to know why nothing is said about how the bodies were posed in a sordid manner. It is the absurdity of mankind that needs to be examined. Finding these answers and doing something about it would be an “evolutionary” progression.
It has been said that the "Truth shall set you free"; first let us take the truth, reflect on it (prosecution for "going astray" will be up to the people in a democratic vote), learn and become a better nation for it.
This start would be a "grand entrance" into the 21st Century and beyond…
Continued excellent work to the people at Alternet and hopefully, people one day will react with curiosity, a sense of reflection, learning and implement change for the betterment of all humankind; people, the clock is ticking...
All the best,
iRa
Tampa, FL
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Posted by: boay on Aug 27, 2009 1:08 AM
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Posted by: lee123 on Aug 27, 2009 1:36 PM
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Posted by: reelman on Aug 30, 2009 4:33 PM
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1. Shoving isn't torture. Slapping isn't torture. Sleep deprivation isn't torture. Waterboarding isn't torture. And so on.
2. KSM masterminded the butchering of nearly 3,000 innocent people simply because they weren't like him.
3. IIRC, only three -- three! -- detainees were waterboarded.
So -- do we have some kind of major perspective problem going on here? KSM set up 9/11, and only he and 2 others were waterboarded, and it's set off all this idiotic over-gush of phony "torture" claims, hearings, investigations, articles, editorials, and so on. Oh, not to mention all the hate fomented by our enemies thanks to the dupes here only too glad to supply the tinder!
Too bad we can't parade the people so eager to show the US as evil past several hundred burned 9/11 corpses, past a number of the smashed, unrecognizable bodies of those who jumped rather than burn, while they listen to tapes of last cell-calls to family and 911 emergency chatter....
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» RE: A SUMMARY OF REALITY 4 THIS ARTICLE
Posted by: 3rdI
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Posted by: JohnHKennedy Denver CO on Aug 31, 2009 6:29 AM
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Prosecute all those that tortured in our name, then go after all the other violations of Federal Crimes and our Constitution committed by Bush and Cheney.
KEEP ASKING ALL POLITICIANS AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS
"WHY DO YOU SUPPORT TORTURE?"
If they aren't actively calling for enforcement of our Federal Torture Laws,
They ARE Supporting Torture.
SIGN THE PETITIONS
Demanding
both a Commission of Inquiry
and prosecution for all those leaders
in Bush's Administration that
Conspired to Torture at ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Only Prosecution Stops Torture!
Only Prosecution Stops Violations of Our Constitution and Rule Of Law.
.
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