The Vote: 90 to 9

[tw]

Once upon a time, the United States was a land principled in Human Rights, the thoughtful incite of our forefathers, and basic Constitutional guarantees. Now that leaders elected by religious extremists use bibles to justify a Spanish Inquistition overseas, one would think our Congressman would demand these illegal and immoral activities be stopped. NO. Instead we must blame the messenger. From the Washington Post of 8 Nov 2005

Top Republican Leaders Demand Probe Into Prison Leak
A newspaper report that the Central Intelligence Agency had set up secret American prisons in Europe for the interrogation of terrorism suspects drew calls today for investigations into who leaked that information.

... on Capitol Hill, Republican Congressional leaders called for lawmakers to investigate the affair.

Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Senate majority leader, and Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois wrote in a letter to intelligence committee chairmen that leaking such information "could have long-term and far-reaching damaging and dangerous consequences" for the security of the United States.

The letter, to Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, and his House counterpart, Representative Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, both Republicans, complained that the leaking of classified information by government employees appeared to have increased, "establishing a dangerous trend that, if not addressed swiftly and firmly, likely will worsen."

Funny what happens when the devil runs the US government. Patriots must leak the truth in dark garages. Is George Jr really nothing more than the ghost of Richard Nixon? If so, then how will he top, "I am not a crook". Even Richard Nixon did not lie about torture.

Decent people would rise up to ask, "Why are Senators not investigating themslves for condoning such autrocities?" Oh. It means they must be honest rather than religious extremist. After all, nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition. So let's blame the honest messenger instead. Clearly god told George Jr that torture outside United Stated borders is Constitutional.

Note a trend. The president of the US is acting more like Pinochet, Milosevic, and Saddam with every year. Did they have god on their side?

Then this gem at the bottom:

Controversy over the overseas prison network coincides with a debate on Capitol Hill over a measure, sponsored by Senator John S. McCain, Republican of Arizona, that would prohibit cruel and degrading treatment of terrorism suspects.

The administration has complained that the bill is unwise and unnecessary because, as Mr. Bush put it in Panama City, "We do not torture."

And nobody expected the levees to be breached. I guess George Jr white lies are acceptable to god.

To think the Norwegian foreign minister so many years ago warned us that this president would only destroy the Oslo Accords.

[tw]

From the New York Times of 9 Nov 2005

Classified Report Warned on C.I.A.'s Tactics in Interrogation
A classified report issued last year by the Central Intelligence Agency's inspector general warned that interrogation procedures approved by the C.I.A. after the Sept. 11 attacks might violate some provisions of the international Convention Against Torture, current and former intelligence officials say.

... A list of 10 techniques authorized early in 2002 for use against terror suspects included one known as waterboarding, and went well beyond those authorized by the military for use on prisoners of war. ...

The report, by John L. Helgerson, the C.I.A.'s inspector general, did not conclude that the techniques constituted torture, which is also prohibited under American law, the officials said. But Mr. Helgerson did find, the officials said, that the techniques appeared to constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under the convention.

It meets the defintion of torture even per a UN Resolution approved by the US. And yet somehow it is not torture?

The report continues:

They said the report expressed skepticism about the Bush administration view that any ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under the treaty does not apply to C.I.A. interrogations because they take place overseas on people who are not citizens of the United States.

... Among the few known documents that address interrogation procedures and that have been made public is an August 2002 legal opinion by the Justice Department, which said that interrogation methods just short of those that might cause pain comparable to "organ failure, impairment of bodily function or even death" could be allowable without being considered torture.

It's not torture if we do it overseas. Therefore, we are not torturing people, according to George Jr in Panama. Reports of what constitutes torture and the existence of overseas interrogation bases are really nothing more than exercises? According to an honest president? Which part of that conclusion is not correct?

[Elspode]

TW...man, the really important issues are where one puts one's penis and where one is at when one is...um...putting it.

Also, anything else having to do with sex is bad, especially if people of the same sex put their stuff in proximity to each other's stuff. In fact, that is *really* important.

Also, killing embryos is bad. Killing children with bombs is merely unfortunate. And killing adults, especially those who are bad, is perfectly acceptable.

In fact, I believe things will go a lot easier for everyone if we'll all just agree with the Right that whatever they say is correct.

Why do you think its called The Right?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Right? Right! You're bloody well right.