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12 Jul 2009 10:06

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U.S.: Bush’s intelligence and torture policies: Getting extra-scrutinized

  • The CIA’s friendship level with Congress just went way down. Apparently, former veep Dick Cheney ordered the organization to hide an intelligence program from legislators. This is after the whole lying-to-us fiasco earlier this week with current CIA director Leon Panetta. source
  • If that wasn’t enough bad PR for both the CIA and Bush administration, Obama Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly looking into investigating their torture policies. Obama doesn’t want the trouble, but Holder’s looking anyway and will decide in the next couple of weeks. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

09 Jul 2009 09:52

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Politics, U.S.: Dems to CIA Director Leon Panetta: Apologize for lying to us

Letter to Leon Panetta
  • Six members of Congress signed this letter. All of them Democrats. All on the House Intelligence Committee. A seventh is also on board. Panetta acknowledged this dishonesty, and word from the Huffington Post is that they’re talking about torture.source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

01 Jul 2009 22:24

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Politics: More NPR “torture” drama: Was Salon’s Glenn Greenwald ignored?

  • I played a large role in spawning the controversy in the first place. I think it was pretty cowardly and irresponsible for her not to being willing to address it.
  • Glenn Greenwald • Describing his conflict with NPR Ombudsman Alicia C. Shepard, who responded to his criticism of the radio network’s policy of using the phrase “harsh interrogation techniques” instead of “torture,” but didn’t mention him in the response. Greenwald goes further to say that he invited her on his radio show, but she declined because she apparently didn’t “want to get into a shouting match.” Greenwald just wants her to have a conversation with him about it. He promises no shouting. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2009 10:59

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U.S., World: Obama’s decision to block the Abu Ghraib photos was smart

  • The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.
  • Major General Antonio Taguba • Regarding the photos Obama chose not to release, which show scenes of “torture, abuse, rape and every indecency,” according to the general. We think the world is probably better off without them, kids. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 5 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2009 23:10

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U.S., World: Obama to world: You don’t need to see those torture photos

  • Apparently, he was afraid of rocking the boat a little too much. The photos, which document the abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan by U.S. military, could tick off the Muslim world at large, Obama was told by his military advisers. So rather than cause a buttload of fresh drama, Obama chose to keep the photos sealed. Probably a smart move on his part. We can live without seeing photos of waterboarding. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Apr 2009 10:45

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U.S., World: For those who don’t think waterboarding is torture, explain this

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Apr 2009 11:13

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U.S., World: Did Obama break international law on torture? A UN guy says yes.

  • They are party to the convention and the convention is very, very clear. The fact that you carried out an order doesn’t relieve you of your responsibility.
  • Manfred Nowak • The UN’s Special Rapporteur on torture, on whether, by not prosecuting CIA operatives accused of torture under the Bush administration, Obama is violating an international agreement to do just that. Oh boy. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

23 Jan 2009 09:58

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U.S.: Obama takes a firm stand against torture

  • I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture.
  • President Barack Obama • who plans to close Guantanamo Bay within a year • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Jan 2009 14:27

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U.S., World: A top Bush official says yes, torture was used at Gitmo

  • The techniques they used were all authorized, but the manner in which they applied them was overly aggressive and too persistent.
  • Susan J. Crawford • on the treatment of puported 9/11 conspirator Mohammed al-Qahtani at Guantanamo Bay. Crawford, a top Bush administration official, says that the treatment is equivalent to torture. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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