Central Intelligence Agency Director Michael Hayden told employees in a letter that the videotapes were made in 2002 as part of a secret detention and interrogation program that began with the arrest of suspected al Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah.
The Security Risk, according to Hayden was that it would inflame Al-Qaeda. It could reveal the identity of CIA operatives. It was a very interesting coincidence that these tapes were destroyed the same time we learned about Abu Garib. By this time we already knew the identity of Valerie Plame --- who was indeed a CIA operative. She actually worked for the CIA where as those that did commit torture we still are not sure of. Some people went to jail, and others escaped prosecution --- Why? they were "private contractors" WE are still waiting on the release of the rest of those photograph's from the pentagon. I hope they have not been destroyed as well.
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183 comments(Latest Comment: 12/11/2007 03:07:58 by Mondobubba)
In this season of holidays and commemorations, there's one day we don't want to forget. Everyone is aware of December 15, right?
A very important U.S. civic holiday is coming up -- one that far too many Americans are not aware of.
Perhaps you can help bring it to their attention. It's never been more important than today.
December 15 is "Bill of Rights Day" -- a day to celebrate, honor and renew support for our precious Bill of Rights.
It was on December 15, 1791 that the Bill of Rights -- the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution -- went into effect.
One hundred and fifty years later, in 1941, "Bill of Rights Day" was officially recognized as a national civic holiday.
The Bill of Rights is, of course, the great protector of American liberties. It boldly declares that people have certain inalienable rights that government cannot abridge -- fundamental rights like freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, and more. It also provides procedures for defending those rights -- such as fair trials and limits on federal power.
The Bill of Rights doesn't just belong to America. It has inspired freedom fighters around the world. The Founders viewed their Revolution as the first blow in a struggle to win liberty for *all* the people of the world. So the Bill of Rights is truly a document for everyone.
That's why I hope libertarians and other freedom lovers will use this upcoming Bill of Rights Day as an opportunity to teach their families, friends, neighbors and others about our precious heritage.
It's a *great* time for a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, discussing the vital importance of our Bill of Rights freedoms and calling for reflection on our heritage -- and urging citizens to speak out against current calls to sacrifice liberty for (alleged) security.
With our fundamental Bill of Rights freedom under unprecedented assault in recent years, this has never been more important.
To help with that, here's a short summary of the Bill of Rights, prepared by students at Liberty Middle School in Ashley, Virginia. (I've added just a few words.) While this condensed version doesn't have the majesty, depth and detail of the entire document, it is short and easy to understand, and may be useful to you in discussions and letters:
THE BILL OF RIGHTS: First Ten Amendments to the Constitution
1. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble peaceably, right to petition the government about grievances. 2. Right to keep and bear arms. 3. Citizens do not have to quarter soldiers during peacetime. 4. No unreasonable searches and seizures. 5. Rights of the accused. 6. Right to a fair trial. 7. Right to a trial by jury in civil cases also. 8. No cruel and unusual punishments. 9. Unenumerated rights go to the people. 10. Reserves all powers not given to the national government to the states or the people.
All Americans should be familiar with their Bill of Rights freedoms. Sadly, numerous surveys indicate most are not. A 1991 poll commissioned by the American Bar Association found that only 33% of Americans surveyed even knew what the Bill of Rights was!
Those of us who love liberty should do our best to correct that.
It seems like deja vu all over again. A news report makes us ask the question: Is Bush a liar or just grossly incompetent?... and which one is worse?
The big news of course is that a recently declassified NIE reports that Iran abandoned its nuclear program 4 years ago. This raises a lot of questions: What did the president know and when did he know it? Why is he just now talking about this? Let's take a look at both of these...
he was informed of the intelligence report last week, but said U.S. intelligence chief Mike McConnell told him in August there was new information on Iran.
"He didn't tell me what the information was. He did tell me it was going to take a while to analyze," Bush said.
So he was told in August, but... did the President of the United States ask what the information was? It would seem that new information on one of the "axis of evil" would arouse his curiousity. If it didn't, does he deserve to be president? Did he run away with his fingers in his ears yelling "la la la - I can't hear you!"?
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223 comments(Latest Comment: 12/08/2007 05:16:09 by MMB)
I am coming! Author: RaineDate:12/06/2007 13:25:33
ok... the blog is coming. ====================================================== The blog came.
This morning I woke up to write the blog. I found myself lying in a warm comfortable bed, and I did not want to get up. I did not want to look at the headlines. I did not want to get outraged. I did not want to become overwhelmed with the headlines du Jour. I did not want to justify everything that is going on in this world today. I wanted to lie in bed, where everything was perfect.
But I didn't lie in bed. I got up. Then I found myself not knowing what to write about. Romney and the speech he will be giving today about faith? Huckabee and his newest explanations about creationism and whatever drama will be happening with his campain? Hillary and her latest let-down? The hope of Kucinich? The bizarre facination of Ron Paul? Rudy... oh dear, what can I say about that train wreck...
I still don't know. I suppose I am suffering from overload today. So, I sit here and I think. I sip my coffee, I enjoy the sun shining in on the studio, I wave hello to a neighbor walking his dog. I take stock of this life. I listen to my partner clicking away on his keyboard in the other room. It's soothing. The slow hum of the heat coming thru the grates is almost hypnotic. There is so much richness in the silence.
So I thought what to write about. The political realm is so vast and complicated these days. I love it and I hate it all at once. And then it hits me. I have been writing my blog all along... And here it is:
It's a good life. I have friends. I have love. I have passion. I don't really want everything to be perfect, I simply want to be a part of this life, working in the great collective to make things better, just and equal. That is the power of love as activism, I suppose.
I am so grateful that all of you reading this are part of this life.
:peace: and :heart: Raine.
P.S. Now get inside and kick some Republican ® ass! 242 comments(Latest Comment: 12/07/2007 04:04:50 by livingonli)
I posted this story on the board, but I think it's important enough to bear repeating here. I apologize in advance for all the cut & paste...
Although Darfur gets a lot of press and lip service, there is a little-known genocide going on in the Congo (little known in the U.S. anyway). From this article:
... By rights, Ombeni should be nearing the end of her university life, perhaps fending off marriage requests or applying for teaching posts in the city. But her schooling, and her life's journey, were brutally interrupted almost five years earlier.
Back then she was a typical 15-year-old with dreams of university and a better life. Her home was a village in the countryside, where, when she wasn't studying, she helped in the fields. It was while out working one evening that rebel forces captured her carefree innocence. For months she became their slave, both sexual and physical, as they lived in various wooded compounds along the Rwandan border. Heavily pregnant, and near death from lack of food, the rebels returned her to her village so her parents could watch her die...
---snip---
Schuler Deschryver's anger is also felt a few kilometres away, on the outskirts of Bukavu, where Dr Denis Mukwege, an obstetrician for more than 20 years, tries to deal with the aftermath of sexual violence. He runs Panzi Hospital, set up in 1999 in response to the emergency crisis after the so-called African war; it houses more than 350 patients. Each day, 10 new cases are admitted, some as young as nine, so badly damaged that reconstructive surgery is often required. The victims sit on benches, lining urine-soaked corridors, alone and frightened. On eye contact, there is nothing. No expression, no acknowledgement, no smiles - just a fleeting confirmation that behind their eyes, a pained suffering lies deep...
We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures, courtesy of Antiwar.com:
American Deaths Since war began (3/19/03): 3882 Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 3743 Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3421 Since Handover (6/29/04): 3023 Since Election (1/31/05): 2445
Other Coalition Troops: 306 US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 469
91 comments(Latest Comment: 12/04/2007 21:41:33 by Mondobubba)
The Crucible Author: RaineDate:12/03/2007 13:18:45
Also known as the end of free speech in America. This must be stopped, NOW. We can't stop this war if we aren't allowed to think organize and speak out.
Mc-Car-thy-ism: (mæ-kär'thç-ìz'æm) pronunciation n. 1. The practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence. 2. The use of unfair investigatory or accusatory methods in order to suppress opposition.
It could be on it's way back friends. This is no fearmongering. A bill has passed in the house, by a vote of 405-6, called the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. It has been referred to the senate and you can read the bill here. From the bill:
...ideologically based violence’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs...
So, gee, up here is an opening for Saturday. No big topic, just coffee tawk. No Big whoop. 45 comments(Latest Comment: 12/03/2007 04:55:33 by livingonli)
Everything old is new again. Clothing styles, hair styles, car styles... Apparently a drop in housing prices too. From this article:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The biggest plunge in new home prices in 37 years was not enough to revive October sales, according to the government's latest reading on the battered housing and home building markets.
The sales pace for October was well short of economists' forecasts. The Census Bureau's latest report also sharply cut back on its earlier estimates for sales in August and September, when a meltdown in mortgage markets kept many potential buyers from getting the financing they needed.
Also depressing sales and prices was a record 191,000 completed new homes on the market that have not yet been sold.
Like that same time period in the 70's we also have an economy heading toward inflation and recession, both of which will likely be blamed on the president's successor. This got me thinking about Bush and Nixon. What other similarities do we have?
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232 comments(Latest Comment: 12/01/2007 13:48:16 by TriSec)
