Obama Launches Review of Secrecy Policy

UPDATED: June 4, 2009
UPDATED: June 6, 2009

This article in today's Washington Post seems to bear very good news. Only time will tell whether it goes beyond more pretty words and soundbytes.

In predictable Washington Post fashion, many of the comments exhibit a very anti-Obama, pro-W regime bias (in fact total dumbass archfixxxer actually says, “sometimes ignorance is bliss”).

UPDATE: In retrospect, I realize I unfairly charactized the Washington Post. While the MSM has almost universally failed miserably in offering any real journalism or critical thinking in quite some time, I can hardly be this harsh toward the Post when compared with the other Capital paper, the Moonie/Wingnut Washington Times.

UPDATE 2: For a fresh view of the utter wingnutery of the Washington Times, see this article by Wesley Pruden, editor emeritus. For all Pruden's railing about Obama's apologizing for America's "manifold sins against civilization," an apology was the largest glaring omission from Obama's speech (even as Secretary Clinton had the nerve to criticize China for human rights violations of the past). Mr. Pruden's example of the mote versus the beam seems terribly misdirected.

Like Lemmings to the Sea--Deadly Complacency

Led by Pied Piper Obama, encouraged almost universally by Congress, and endlessly cheered on by the MSM, we as a nation are becoming more and more intrinsically complicit in the atrocities of the Bush Administration. This excellent cartoon by Tom Tomorrow reminded me of several warnings which have been voiced over the past months and years.

In July of 2008, I wrote this article, The Precipice of Congressional Complicity.

For me, one of the truly disheartening things about witnessing the FISA debacle in both the House and Senate was seeing the sheer enormity of apparent complicity among members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

I also revisited this May 2008 article by the ever-prescient Glenn Greenwald, Growing Responsibility for the Bush Torture Regime.

The more time that goes by and the more we learn — particularly if we do nothing meaningful to stop it — the more the responsibility for these policies shifts from the administration to all of us collectively.

If that observation were true months ago (it was), then several torture memos, leaked photographs, interviews with numerous CIA, government, and legal sources, and quite a few nationally televised confessions by war criminal (and utterly creepy guy) Dick Cheney later, its truth is even more compelling.

We Are All Torturers Now By Mark Danner was published in the New York Times way back in January of 2005. In that article, Danner said:

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Americans began torturing prisoners, and they have never really stopped. However much these words have about them the ring of accusation, they must by now be accepted as fact. From Red Cross reports, Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba's inquiry, James R. Schlesinger's Pentagon-sanctioned commission and other government and independent investigations, we have in our possession hundreds of accounts of "cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment - to use a phrase of the Red Cross - "tantamount to torture."

Danner goes on to say, “By using torture, we Americans transform ourselves into the very caricature our enemies have sought to make of us.”

Over four years later, with a Democratic president, Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, and an undeniable mandate from the American electorate, we—as a nation—have still done essentially nothing (except to further entrench the extra-legal circumstances which led to these abuses). We don’t need any more debates. We don’t need any truth commissions. What we need is the immediate commencement of trials and prosecutions of those who committed these heinous war crimes in our names. Until we correct the egregious wrong turn in our national direction, “looking forward” will only serve to keep leading us down that same path—right over the cliff.

Talking out of Both Sides of Their Mouths

(Or is that “Buttering Both Sides of Their Bread”?. . . well, they have been doing a lot of teabagging lately!)

UPDATED 5-19-2009

The Republicans have stooped to new lows in the latest incarnation of the torture “debate.” Their current inconsistencies are so muddled, moronic, and absurd that it’s hard to believe they’re getting any play time in the media (OK, not too hard to believe considering the intellectual dishonesty of the MSM).

They want to insist that the United States has never tortured. Yet, not only did the torture work, if we don’t continue to torture the ubiquitous Scary Terrorists will annihilate us.

The Bush Administration broke no laws, but if they did, it was only to protect us, and they should absolutely not be investigated (and certainly not prosecuted). Yet, we definitely MUST investigate what Nancy Pelosi knew about torture and when she knew it.

Only the radical “Left” advocates investigations (though almost 75% of Americans are in favor—an awfully skewed left), and only for highly partisan reasons. Yet most of those calling for investigations believe in equal application of the law and want everyone who might have played a role in conspiring to create a system of torture—Republicans and Democrats alike—to be subject to investigation (many of us radical lefties have been calling for investigations of Reid, Pelosi, Rockefeller, et. al. for over two years).

The Republicans are the real Patriots, supporters of the troops, and true Americans. But they’re also the ones who are advocating total disregard for the defining characteristics of American Democracy: the Constitution and the Rule of Law. (Some, like the f*cking brilliant governor of my home state, are even suggesting secession, stupid asswipe!).

Those of us who think sending our troops into harm’s way based on brazen lies, violating their contracts with stop-loss, and bringing them home to inadequate health care and benefits is anything BUT supporting our troops (but as long as you put a bumper sticker on your car, it doesn’t really matter); those of us who think suspending habeas corpus, torturing and murdering prisoners (many of whom we know are completely innocent) expressly for the purpose of eliciting false confessions to justify our illegal wars of aggression, feloniously spying on our own citizens, ignoring Congressional subpoenas and court orders, and otherwise eviscerating the Constitution (that “god dammed piece of paper”) are things we should not be doing are labeled as “UnAmuhrkan.”

The cognitive dissonance of the right is astounding! Maybe any health care reform needs to include automatic psychotherapy for all registered Republicans?

Related to this post, it seemed appropriate to dredge up this lyric, posted quite some time ago.

UPDATE
This article by Matthew Yglesias on The Daily Beast, GOP's Torture Tricks Backfire, adds more perspective on this topic.

Torture and Hypocrisy

UPDATE BELOW
UPDATE II--July 26, 2009

The unlikely and incestuous relationship between the extreme right in American politics and fundamentalist/evangelical “Christianity” has been evident for several decades now. This alliance has led to full-throttled support by the “religious right” of political ideologies such as the favoring of CEOs and mega-corporations over the individual; plundering our air, water, and land for profit; cutting aid to the poor and the most vulnerable in our society; rampant colonialism, etc. This unholy marriage reached its peak during the Bush Jr. years. No matter how many times Dubya stood in front of the nation telling bald-faced lies; no matter how many times he negated legitimately drafted and ratified legislation with signing statements; no matter how egregiously he broke laws, violating the most basic civil rights; no matter how many soldiers died; no matter how many men, women, and children were killed by our bullets and bombs; no matter how often or how overtly he unilaterally set aside the Constitution; church-goers across the nation unblinkingly supported him—even going so far as to say he was doing “God’s work.”

A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Family Life confirmed what most of us already suspected: the “religious right” is full of charlatans and hypocrites. A large percentage (62%) of those who identify as white, evangelical Protestants believe torture is either “sometimes” or “often” justifiable. How someone who purports to be “Christian” can espouse that belief is completely beyond my comprehension.

Luke 6:31
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

1 John 2:4
The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Matthew 5:39b
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I seem to miss the part where Jesus said, “Blessed are the torturers.”

Prisoners, many of whom the government knew to be innocent, have been punched, kicked, and pummeled; had their bodies and heads slammed repeatedly against walls; been kept awake for days, even weeks, at a time; had their genitals sliced; been hung by their arms for prolonged periods; been electrocuted; been sexually molested and sodomized; endured forced nudity, humiliation, and degradation; been kept in cramped boxes, been made to experience near-drowning—one detainee an astounding 183 times; etc.

Read some of these descriptions of the “enhanced interrogation techniques” employed by our government:

. . . One detainee . . . alleged that: “I was punched and slapped in the face and on the back to the extent that I was bleeding. While having a rope around my neck and being tied to a pillar my head was banged against the pillar repeatedly.”
International Committee of the Red Cross

Another,

“I would be placed against a wall and subjected to punches and slaps in the body, head and face.”
International Committee of the Red Cross

These torture methods are identical to—in fact, were patterned after—those which have been used by despotic regimes against American soldiers. Those regimes without exception have been roundly condemned, tried, and prosecuted for these war crimes.

Dozens (we may never know how many more) of those tortured in our name have died—that is, have been murdered.

The killings, at least some of them, have hardly been kept secret. As early as May-June 2003, The New York Times and Washington Post reported on deaths of detainees in Afghanistan. Two detainees at Bagram air base died after extensive beatings by U.S. troops in December 2002—a case reported by The New York Times and that was also the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. Another death involved a man beaten to death by a CIA contractor at a base in Asadabad, in eastern Afghanistan, in June 2003.

In September 2004, the Crimes of War Project, working with investigative journalist Craig Pyes, uncovered a torture murder in Gardez, Afghanistan, in March 2003. Jamal Naseer, a soldier in the Afghan Army, died after he and seven other soldiers were mistakenly arrested. Those arrested with Naseer later said that during interrogations U.S. personnel punched and kicked them, hung them upside down, and hit them with sticks or cables. Some said they were doused with cold water and forced to lie in the snow. Nasser collapsed about two weeks after the arrest, complaining of stomach pain, probably an internal hemorrhage.
John Sifton, The Daily Beast

Anyone who still thinks torture has a place in civilized society needs to look at these photos and imagine the subjects are your sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, or parents.

Show me a Christian who supports torture, and I’ll show you a liar, an imposter, and a hypocrite!

UPDATE
This disgusting account by Jeremy Scahill of ongoing (and allegedly escalating) abuses by U.S. personnel should be required reading for every U.S. citizen. Everyone who has done this in our names--from the IRF goons to the guards and "medical" personnel who watched to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice, Yoo, Bybee, Addington, and Gonzales, to the members of the "news" media who have withheld information or openly cheered on these demented and depraved actions, and now to Holder and Obama and all their c0-conspirators in Congress--should be tried and locked away for life.

Fuzzy the Conciliation Caterpillar by Mark Fiore

This is a great animated cartoon at SFGate.com which shows how ludicrous the "I want to look forward, not backward" mantra is.

Deception and Lies: A Tragic Tale in Limerick Form (2009 Version)

A neocon think tank called P-NAC
Smokin’ stogies and sippin’ on cognac.
Laid out their fixation,
with world domination,
and said, “we’ll need bases in I-raq.”

They waited with much agitation
For pretense of justification.
Eleven September—That day we remember—
They used for their own exploitation.

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

“The terrorists,” it was made plain—
as Dubya and Dickie explain—
“were led by Bin Laden.”
But while still jihadin’
Bin Laden morped into Hussein.

“Sadaam is an imminent threat;
he’s got nuk-u-ler weapons, I’d bet.
Though some may dislike
Pre-emptive Strike.
Such doubt we could live to regret!”

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

And so we began a new era;
Dubya called it “The Great War on Terra.”
With Shock and with Awe,
We savored it all.
Watching CNN, drinking Madeira.

“The fighting will soon be completed.
As heroes we’re sure to be treated.
They’ll forget all the mortars.
Democratic importers!—
as Lib’rators we will be greeted!”

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

“Mission Accomplished” it read,
The banner that hung overhead.
O’er the crowd Dubya glanced,
In his costume he pranced.
“The battle is over,” he said.

IEDs, though, just kept on exploding.
For our soldiers a sense of foreboding.
From safe on his lawn
Dubya said, “Bring ‘Em On!”
And, alas, they just kept on reloading.

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

Now six years have passed since that day
On the Lincoln one evening in May.
While I hate to sound crass,
“Accomplished” my ass!
Start bringing our troops home today!

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

With their spying and lying and fable,
and torture—whatever the label,
It's become very clear,
Ms. Pelosi, my dear:
Impeachment belonged ON THE TABLE!

Their “high crimes” and “treason” aren’t vague.
Their contempt for the law is a plague.
If they dare leave this nation
to take a vacation,
their journey might end at The Hague!

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
The Bushies keep pushing their vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

Now Bush and his cronies are done—
Obama quite handily won.
But we feel so naive when
the “Change we believe in”
hasn’t yet really begun.

We’ve been told, “Looking back’s no solution.—
Never mind that old quaint Constitution."
Surely he understands
Now the blood’s on his hands—
“Moving Forward” demands prosecution!

(Refrain)
Lies, lies, deception and lies!
Still Washington pushes this vile enterprise.
The longer we dwell in a state so Orwellian
The closer democracy comes to demise.

Copyright 2009