"The Bush administration's Torture 13. They authorized it, they decided how to implement it, and they crafted the legal fig leaf to justify it."
Yet, ultimately, Bush and whatever approval he gave the program is at the center of the administration's embrace of torture. Condoleezza Rice recently said, "By definition, if it was authorized by the president, it did not violate our obligations in the Convention Against Torture." While Rice has tried to reframe her statement, it uses the same logic used by John Yoo and David Addington to justify the program, the shocking claim that international and domestic laws cannot bind the president in times of war. Bush's close allies still insist if he authorized it, it couldn't be torture."
by Marcy Wheeler at Salon.com,May 18,2009
Issues for your consideration:
Marcy Wheeler -Naming Names- the Torture 13 see below-
13 heads for the Guillotine as it were-
Systematic Torture & abuse of "Detainees" aka enemy combatants
The C.I.A.s notorious & infamous history of criminal & immoral activities
C.I.A.s interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations
The overarching Excuse of "NATIONAL SECURITY"
Obama defends the C.I.A. unconditionally- murder, torture , kidnapping- no big deal
Pro-Bushites & Pro-Torture Lobby & Cheney Deadenders( we hope) try to make the issues not torture by Pelosie's Veracity
Obama becoming a Neocon
To those who know a little about U.S. history over the last 50 years it sounds rather unremarkable that the Pro-Bush Lobby and the Pro-Torture Lobby would now be out front and center defending the C.I.A and other members of the US intelligence community.
Even Obama has defended the C.I.A. claiming they acted under orders from the president and so acted in "GOOD FAITH" What a pile of horse manure.
The C.I.A. for decades has been operating outside the law as a Rogue Agency over which there is little or no oversight or accountability. The only time the C.I.A. has any problems is when investigative journalists uncover some shocking covert operation & make it public then those with some conscience ask for accountability while others display Fake Outrage when they couldn't care less. Since its very conception the C.I.A. has been involved in covert operations which violate U.S. law & the U.S. Constitution all in the name of that most ominous term which even Obama now uses "National Security". Using that term as a cover for one's activities no matter how immoral or illegal seems to Americans to make those activities acceptable.
The whole history of the C.I.A. is one of criminal activities and a lack of concern for the Rule of Law. The C.I.A. acts as a rogue agency with little or no oversight. It sees itself as having to do unpleasant things ie to torture; to murder; to ignore the sovereignty of other countries and to even oust governments which it dislikes or by order of this president or that or by some powerful corporate lobby. It is difficult at times to figure out or discern for whom the C.I.A. is working.
The rest of the world has over the decades taken note of the illegal and criminal & immoral activities of the C.I.A. which is why some countries distrust the United States and some even hate the U.S. not because of its superior values which is laughable but because they go into countries and ignore the wishes, the desire and the needs of the people of that country in favor of America's interests or the Interests of the oppressive ruling class of those countries. When a country attempts to take control of its own natural resources America shows up to prevent them from doing so ie Iran, Iraq , Guatemala, Chile , El Salvador , Nicaragua, Cuba, Indonesia, the Philippines, Panama, Congo etc.
For the most part the C.I.A. in order to accomplish what it believes to be its goals or agenda will do so " by any and all means necessary". The C.I.A. believes it is on a mission to keep American interests secure. Those interests are often more to do with protecting American corporations than with America's security. The C.I.A. to maintain its independence will also sometimes do the bidding of a particular president .
Under orders from President Bush & vice president Dick Cheney the C.I.A. agreed to do what the FBI refused to do. So the C.I.A. took part in the systematic abuse and torture of " detainees" & cooking up fabricated Intelligence to provide the Bush/Cheney Regime with an excuse to invade Iraq & later to fabricate more lies to provide excuses for the continuing occupation of Iraq.
Of course it should be noted that the C.I.A. is not the only agency at fault in the use of torture since we know a significant number of high ranking military commanders also took part in the systematic abuse and torture of hundreds if not thousands of detainees many of whom were not terrorists or a danger to America's security. Some were innocent people turned in for the bounty others were caught up during a sweep in which hundreds of civilians were rounded up in the hope of capturing some real terrorists or those who could provide the military or C.I.A. or private contractors with some useful intel or just a fabricated confession which might appease their superiors.
During Reagan's presidency the C.I.A. & others took money from Iran by illegally selling Iran weapons and the money was used to help support the Contra terrorists who wanted to oust the legitimate government of Nicaragua. This became known as the Iran/Contra affair.
Unfortunately in that case as in others many Americans saw nothing wrong with what was done . For instance it was the C.I.A. & the U.S. military for instance who through a violent coup overthrew the democratically elected government of Chile replacing Allende with the brutal dictator Pinochet. So thousands of innocent people were tortured and killed or sent to internment camps because they spoke out against the government. But most Americans only believe in free-speech & other freedoms for Americans but not necessarily for anyone else. Of course most Americans don't know their own history especially if it paints a rather dark side to America . The mainstream media in America keeps telling the American people that America never does anything wrong. They also reinforce the attitude that International Laws or notions like Human Rights are for the weak-willed and evil liberals.
Former Sen. Bob Graham Discusses the Accuracy of C.I.A. Account of Torture Briefing
Bob Graham insists there should be an impartial & complete investigation of the CIA's actions
On The Rachel Maddow Show: "Senator Bob Graham's Journal To Back Up Pelosi" 5-15-09
The Ed Show - Ed's OpEd Calls for Full Disclosure By CIA, Republicans & Democrats
On The Ed Show, Ed Schultz's OpEd calling for full disclosure by the government, CIA, Bush and Cheney, Republicans and Democrats on torture, who knew what and when. 5/15/09
Patriotism versus the Rule of Law- Oliver North the hero of the Neocons & the Religious Right claims that what he did was for America's interest ; its security and for fighting against what he believes to be Godless Communism. North also argues as do many American conservatives that if you don't agree with all of their policies then you are not a good American or a good Christian.Again Ollie North seems to see himself as involved in a Cosmic Battle between Good & Evil- America is the Good & much of the rest of the World is on the side of Evil-ie secularism, liberalism, secular humanism, socialism, communism- Like Ronald Reagan and Bush & Cheney they prefer Fascist dictators or right-wing authoritarian regimes over even democratic regimes which may have some so called socialist policies ie universal health-care or a well regulated banking system or one which they believe gives too many rights to the average worker etc.
Senator George Mitchell's closing remarks to Oliver North. Have we lost our way?
Meanwhile Marcy Wheeler is naming names as she argues that there are at least sixteen members of the former Bush Regime who could be indicted & prosecuted because they are not covered by Obama's blanket pardon of those who acted in "Good Faith ".
"The 13 People Who Made Torture Possible
The Bush administration's Torture 13. They authorized it, they decided how to implement it, and they crafted the legal fig leaf to justify it." by Marcy Wheeler at Salon.com,May 18,2009
Yet, ultimately, Bush and whatever approval he gave the program is at the center of the administration's embrace of torture. Condoleezza Rice recently said, "By definition, if it was authorized by the president, it did not violate our obligations in the Convention Against Torture." While Rice has tried to reframe her statement, it uses the same logic used by John Yoo and David Addington to justify the program, the shocking claim that international and domestic laws cannot bind the president in times of war. Bush's close allies still insist if he authorized it, it couldn't be torture.
1. Dick Cheney, vice president (2001-2009)
2. David Addington, counsel to the vice president (2001-2005), chief of staff to the vice president (2005-2009)
3. Alberto Gonzales, White House counsel (2001-2005), and attorney general (2005-2008)
4. James Mitchell, consultant
5. George Tenet, director of Central Intelligence (1997-2004)
6. Condoleezza Rice, national security advisor (2001-2005), secretary of state (2005-2008)
7. John Yoo, deputy assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Counsel (2001-2003)
8. Jay Bybee, assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Counsel (2001-2003)
9. William "Jim" Haynes, Defense Department general counsel (2001-2008)
10. Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of defense (2001-2006)
11. John Rizzo, CIA deputy general counsel (2002-2004), acting general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (2001-2002, 2004-present)
12. Steven Bradbury, principal deputy assistant attorney general, OLC (2004), acting assistant attorney general, OLC (2005-2009)
13. George W. Bush, president (2001-2009)
and so it go,
GORD.
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