Looks like Dick Cheney Stars in ‘Torture Club’ (A Production of 14th Century FOX)

What the mainstream media doesn’t want to contemplate: war crimes.

They’d rather sheepishly prop up war criminals than make a stink.

Some people don’t take that attitude, thankfully.

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD CALLS ON BOALT HALL TO DISMISS LAW PROFESSOR JOHN YOO, WHOSE TORTURE MEMOS LED TO COMMISSION OF WAR CRIMES
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 08:31 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2008

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD CALLS ON BOALT HALL TO DISMISS LAW PROFESSOR JOHN YOO, WHOSE TORTURE MEMOS LED TO COMMISSION OF WAR CRIMES

New York. In a memorandum written the same month George W. Bush invaded Iraq, Boalt Hall law professor John Yoo said the Department of Justice would construe US criminal laws not to apply to the President’s detention and interrogation of enemy combatants. According to Yoo, the federal statutes against torture, assault, maiming and stalking do not apply to the military in the conduct of the war.

The federal maiming statute, for example, makes it a crime for someone “with the intent to torture, maim, or disfigure” to “cut, bite, or slit the nose, ear or lip, or cut out or disable the tongue, or put out or destroy an eye, or cut off or disable a limb or any member of another person.” It further prohibits individuals from “throwing or pouring upon another person any scalding water, corrosive acid, or caustic substance” with like intent.

Yoo also narrowed the definition of torture so the victim must experience intense pain or suffering equivalent to pain associated with serious physical injury so severe that death, organ failure or permanent damage resulting in loss of significant body functions will likely result; Yoo’s definition contravenes the definition in the Convention Against Torture, a treaty the US has ratified which is thus part of the US law under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Yoo said self-defense or necessity could be used as a defense to war crimes prosecutions for torture, notwithstanding the Torture Convention’s absolute prohibition against torture in all circumstances, even in wartime. This memo and another Yoo wrote with Jay Bybee in August 2002 provided the basis for the Administration’s torture of prisoners.

“John Yoo’s complicity in establishing the policy that led to the torture of prisoners constitutes a war crime under the US War Crimes Act,” said National Lawyers Guild President Marjorie Cohn.

Congress should repeal the provision of the Military Commissions Act that would give Yoo immunity from prosecution for torture committed from September 11, 2001 to December 30, 2005. John Yoo should be disbarred and he should not be retained as a professor of law at one of the country’s premier law schools. John Yoo should be dismissed from Boalt Hall and tried as a war criminal.

The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 as an alternative to the American Bar Association, which did not admit people of color, the National Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.

This is a double edged sword. Many people hear of these atrocities. Many people laugh.

How will the future view us, if there is much of a future.

The economy is screwed, the environment is gettin’ screwed, and the torturers are leading the government. Is this what makes the United States so great?

If a nation doesn’t adhere to its own principles, than what does it believe in?

The same logic used by this Administration is the same logic the Nazis applied to justify The Final Solution.

The Administration just has better liars lawyers.

Earlier this morning I was watching a group of law professors speaking on the law and national security. This was on C-span2 and filmed April 10 of this year. One of the professors said that if each person detained at Gitmo were given a fair legal trial, not one of them would be convicted. None of the other professors disagreed with him.

If anyone gets a chance to see this or if you find the video at c-span, it’s very interesting and well worth watching. There was a lady on the panel and she said the UK was not eager to work with the US on covert intelligence missions because they were afraid the US would torture anyone they might capture.

haven’t these torturers forfeited their own right to life and liberty?

where, oh where, is the justice?

it’s very depressing that the audience laughs at these segments.

Thank you Jon for picking up the torch where so many news agencies have wimped out.

john @ 8:

haven’t these torturers forfeited their own right to life and liberty?

where, oh where, is the justice?

Justice is being held in an undisclosed location.

Why are we talking about this? Come on, people. Obama said something that might be considered elitist if you look at it from a certain point of view–that’s what should be first and foremost on our minds! And once we’re done discussing that, try to determine if Hillary told the truth about diamonds or pearls.

linda @ 9:

it’s very depressing that the audience laughs at these segments.

Some times you have to laugh, because the only other thought in your mind is an illegal act out of anger.

I’m just wondering how Nancy Pelosi sleeps at night.

We now know for sure that the invasion of Iraq and the slaughter of it’s citizens was based entirely on LIES, and that all of the high-level adminsitration officials crafted and enacted TORTURE in contravention of the Geneva accords and the moral values of the US. In fact, it is evident more and more that this whole bunch of Bushies are nothing but liars and criminals > Your basic Crooks & Liars.

IMPEACH - TRY - CONVICT - INCARCERATE!

Guess I’ll be writing to her again.

Slaw @ 12:

Why are we talking about this? Come on, people. Obama said something that might be considered elitist if you look at it from a certain point of view–that’s what should be first and foremost on our minds! And once we’re done discussing that, try to determine if Hillary told the truth about diamonds or pearls.

Because these are elitist torturers

pissed off patricia @ 7:

Earlier this morning I was watching a group of law professors speaking on the law and national security. This was on C-span2 and filmed April 10 of this year. One of the professors said that if each person detained at Gitmo were given a fair legal trial, not one of them would be convicted. None of the other professors disagreed with him.

If anyone gets a chance to see this or if you find the video at c-span, it’s very interesting and well worth watching. There was a lady on the panel and she said the UK was not eager to work with the US on covert intelligence missions because they were afraid the US would torture anyone they might capture.

Thanks, Pop.

And I know the trolls are lined up after reading the above to scream that freeing them would put us ALLL in danger, and that we are betraying the country.

My response is simply…our system of government has defined us, protected us and in no way EVER hindered our ability to protect the nation for over 200 years.

If it is the decision of history that our country should fall in defense of our principles…then so be it. If you betray your principles and become no better than those who are your enemies, if you lose your very soul, then what has really been gained.

Slaw @ 12:

Why are we talking about this? Come on, people. Obama said something that might be considered elitist if you look at it from a certain point of view–that’s what should be first and foremost on our minds! And once we’re done discussing that, try to determine if Hillary told the truth about diamonds or pearls.

If this is a snark, you need to refine your approach.

If not, then I feel sorry for you.

Have these right wingers ever read any history?
Any nation that tries to rationalize the use of torture on it’s enemies will eventually find excuses to torture its own citizens.

Liberal AND Proud @ 16:

pissed off patricia @ 7:

Earlier this morning I was watching a group of law professors speaking on the law and national security. This was on C-span2 and filmed April 10 of this year. One of the professors said that if each person detained at Gitmo were given a fair legal trial, not one of them would be convicted. None of the other professors disagreed with him.

If anyone gets a chance to see this or if you find the video at c-span, it’s very interesting and well worth watching. There was a lady on the panel and she said the UK was not eager to work with the US on covert intelligence missions because they were afraid the US would torture anyone they might capture.

Thanks, Pop.

And I know the trolls are lined up after reading the above to scream that freeing them would put us ALLL in danger, and that we are betraying the country.

My response is that maybe we should have thought of that before resorting to the illegal interrogation techniques that will make convictions impossible to attain.

Alice Hussein (the Bitter are for Obama) @ 17:

Slaw @ 12:

Why are we talking about this? Come on, people. Obama said something that might be considered elitist if you look at it from a certain point of view–that’s what should be first and foremost on our minds! And once we’re done discussing that, try to determine if Hillary told the truth about diamonds or pearls.

If this is a snark, you need to refine your approach.

If not, then I feel sorry for you.

Seriously? Please read it again and remember what site we’re on.

And McCain, having been tortured himself, votes against banning such practices. For what? Power.
It’s one of the most recurrent human behaviors: renouncing principles for power. But never has it been so stark.

Good Morning

What multiple snowball disasters has our Government given us this morning?

How the hell could Condi smile and sort of laugh when she was asked that question? If you are asked about that sort of thing and you are totally innocent, you would be appalled and want to make it clear that you had no involvement in such actions. We know she was involved so how could she just smile?

I guess there go her chances as well as Colin Powell’s when it comes to the being on the ticket with McCain. Or hell, maybe it would help his chances with some segment of Americans.

The endiig “Ha ha ha…A piece of me inside is dying” was some very incredibly dark comedy. Bravo, Jon!

Just before Condi answered that question did you notice how she seemed almost giddy? Methinks that was evil shimmying up her back.

Death By Corn

Thats our future

Stewart and Colbert can cut to the chase better than anyone else. MSM cannot bear to even talk about this. It gets too complicated for them. Real issues is much too complicated. They feel better talking about what Obama said and meant and feels. Better still maybe Paris or Lindsey or Brittany will do something outrageous and they won’t even have to deal with politics at all.

SassySandy @ 26:

Paris or Lindsey or Brittany will do something outrageous and they won’t even have to deal with politics at all.

Garden of Earthly Delights

No wonder the US of A does not want any of the so-called terrorists tried in an open court…

Take the Khadr case.

Arrested when he was 15 (I think) - which makes him a child soldier by the UN definition.
Charged with killing a medic.

Facts that have come out -
1) No one saw him do the killing
2) There was another fighter in the room - who was killed.
3) American forces entered the premises throwing grenades.
4) Medic killed.

Must have been the 15 year old, and to quickly guarantee a conviction in a kangaroo court - deny access to lawyers, then access to witnesses, then access to an impartial court.

And you wonder why you are hated throughout the world. Hypocrisy breeds its own contempt.

Of course we have to deal with Stephen Harper who doesn’t understand that to most citizens, it is the government’s responsibility to go to bat for our legal rights when a foreign nation is trampling on them. EVEN if it is our closest ally.

Time that we all looked in the mirror and came to our senses. We are destroying the best parts of our society by our single-minded belief that our governments are completely trustworthy and infallible.

Hillary Outlines Agenda for First 100 Days:

…promised to “shut down Guantanamo” and “disavow torture,” as well as sign bills Bush has vetoed to expand federal embryonic stem-cell research and broaden government-supported health care to millions of lower-income children who now go without.

No. 44 @ 2:

What the mainstream media doesn’t want to contemplate: war crimes.

They’d rather sheepishly prop up war criminals than make a stink.

Some people don’t take that attitude, thankfully.

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD CALLS ON BOALT HALL TO DISMISS LAW PROFESSOR JOHN YOO, WHOSE TORTURE MEMOS LED TO COMMISSION OF WAR CRIMES

I am surprised that he hasn’t been disbarred by whatever state bar association he belongs to.

The law professors in that program that I mentioned up thread, said the bush administration has stretched the definition of who may be detained and why, way beyond reasonable.

The primary emotion I felt during watching that program and this video was fear. I felt fearful for our country, for the future and fear of our own government. Coming in second was the overpowering feeling of shame.

Then-presidential counsel Alberto R. Gonzales, then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, then-Defense Department general counsel William J. Haynes II, then-National Security Council legal adviser John B. Bellinger III, CIA counsel John A. Rizzo, and David S. Addington, then-counsel to Cheney

discussed AND approved

open-handed slapping, the threat of live burial and waterboarding.
(Oh sorry, apparently the threat of live burial was rejected (me thinks that it was too time consuming and too elaborate a torture device, while punching somebody and drowning them take no time at all).

The Soviet Union lives again, AD 2008

At first I thought the Itty Bitty Torture Committee said

Itty T**y Torture Committee.

VegasRage @ 13:

linda @ 9:

it’s very depressing that the audience laughs at these segments.

Some times you have to laugh, because the only other thought in your mind is an illegal act out of anger.

I watched most of this show last night, and I didn’t hear alot of uproarious laughter…it was more like nervous laughter…my bro asked “didn’t this use to be a comedy show?” Well I guess with all the criminal activity being perpetrated by this administration, and the MSM covering very little if any of it…not much to laugh at these days.
Stewart, Colbert are the only ones I know of, outside of the MSM with the balls to call this administration out on their crimes.

linda @ 9:

it’s very depressing that the audience laughs at these segments.

Well as it has been said a few times before, in medieval times, it was usually the court jester who was the one who told the truth in the form of a joke. People would laugh, but once they thought about it, it wasn’t so funny.

Same as the case here.

So what are YOUR choices? The administration’s choice has been made.
You can make jokes and laugh about it (like the Daily Show), but it won’t go away.
You can be pissed off and blog about it, complain to congress etc. (like us), but it won’t go away.
You can ignore it (like most people), but it won’t go away.
You can vote against it, but it probably still won’t go away.
You can accept it, or
You can actually do something about it (something more than the above options, for which we have the second amendment - not pretty).
I think most people lean toward ignorance or acceptance.

YourMom @ 36:

So what are YOUR choices?

Corn, corn, more corn, and corn.

L.A. Confidential @ 37:

YourMom @ 36:

So what are YOUR choices?

Corn, corn, more corn, and corn.

Maybe my brain isn’t awake yet, but I’m not getting what this “corn” thing is that you are talking about.

Bush lawyers said “enhanced interrogation” is not torture unless someone dies. If anyone has died under intense interrogations ordered by Bush, that then constitutes torture. It would also be murder, and that would make George Bush a confessed murderer without even having to have the confession beat out of him.

pissed off patricia @ 38:

L.A. Confidential @ 37:

YourMom @ 36:

So what are YOUR choices?

Corn, corn, more corn, and corn.

Maybe my brain isn’t awake yet, but I’m not getting what this “corn” thing is that you are talking about.

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/

It’s enough to make ya sick.

We just moved two hours away to an area which is predominantly Republican (the only bad thing about it!)
But yesterday I was at the hardware store and I saw a bumper sticker (on a truck filled with hay, no less) that said in huge letters:
BUSH SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS

Gives me hope.
Also, we just registered here so add two more Dems to dilute the red-ness!

L.A. Confidential @ 40:

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/

It’s enough to make ya sick.

Think about it. One “burger” is 63% pure unhealthy fat. Even a steak. And thats just the tip of the iceberg.

On a much lighter note, Michelle Obama was funny last night when she sat down with Colbert. The part about the spoons was great.

There is no way in hell that I could imagine seeing her husband give the nod to torturing human beings. I just can’t see it happening.

Thanks LA for the explanation link.

valleta @ 41:

Gives me hope.
Also, we just registered here so add two more Dems to dilute the red-ness!

The masses are to confused and too disorganized. If they were focused and organized Bush would have been booted in 2004. If not sooner.

pissed off patricia @ 43:

Thanks LA for the explanation link.

Your welcome. Better to be aware the Corps are killing us then not I suppose.