The case, which we covered in detail (for us, anyway) a couple of weeks ago, was a brutal killing of a family in Iraq and and a rape of a 14-year-old girl. *shudder* source
Steven Green, who was arrested after his discharge from the Army, was sentenced by a civilian jury to life, though he could’ve gotten the death penalty. source
The defense argued successfully that Green was a “broken soldier” and product of a bad childhood who was mentally damaged by the effects of the Iraq war. source
In one swift move, Obama both backtracks on a major campaign promise to change the way the United States fights terrorism and undermines the nation’s core respect for the rule of law.
Amnesty International executive director Larry Cox • On one of Obama’s most unpopular decisions thus far, after, you know, getting a dog. Seriously, it seems like very few liberal-leaning groups dig this decision. LIBERAL RAGE! ROAR! • source
Background Bush got the drama police on his back because of the harsh interrogation techniques his administration used on Guantanamo Bay detainees. Obama said he would kill them off as a campaign promise. Liberal-leaning groups supported him. source
Background Bush got the drama police on his back because of the harsh interrogation techniques his administration used on Guantanamo Bay detainees. Obama said he would kill them off as a campaign promise. Liberal-leaning groups supported him.
What’s next? Today Obama announced that his administration would revive the tribunals – with significant changes. Harsh interrogation techniques wouldn’t be used, they’d be only used for the 13 Sept. 11 suspects in custody, but with more rigid legal protections in place. source
Background Bush got the drama police on his back because of the harsh interrogation techniques his administration used on Guantanamo Bay detainees. Obama said he would kill them off as a campaign promise. Liberal-leaning groups supported him.
What’s next? Today Obama announced that his administration would revive the tribunals – with significant changes. Harsh interrogation techniques wouldn’t be used, they’d be only used for the 13 Sept. 11 suspects in custody, but with more rigid legal protections in place.
But why? The likely root cause for the backtrack is the need for congressional support. Obama hopes to have legislation signed by the time a freeze on the cases expires. D.C. legislators like this just a wee bit more than Amnesty International. source
The outright refusal of any of these ‘news organizations’ even to mention what Barstow uncovered about the Pentagon’s propaganda program and the way it infected their coverage is one of the most illuminating events revealing how they operate.
Glenn Greenwald • Discussing the media’s ignoring of a major investigative journalism piece by NYT reporter David Barstow on the television media’s use of talking heads to disseminate propaganda in favor of the military on cable news networks. • source
The military has spent all this money on research and development of technology to use in the field, and Apple’s device has nearly equaled it – and at $230 a pop, it costs a lot less than the $600-$700 devices they usually carry around. And, admit it, it looks cool. Wouldn’t you want to carry around an iPod Touch in Iraq? source
Among military uses involve translation software for soldiers in the field, especially in Iraq. Soldiers can also take photos and annotate maps out of the box. The military is also working on its own facial-recognition app to spot terrorism suspects. (No word on if it’s coming to the app store, though we’re guessing no.) source
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says it’s further down the list. Gates says that while he and President Obama have started talking about it, they have “a lot on our plates right now” and are early in the discussion phase. The policy against gays in the military has been in place since 1993 and has long been controversial. source
