US drops charges against 9/11 suspect detained at Guantánamo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/14/usa.guantanamo

The Pentagon official in charge of military tribunals at Guantánamo Bay dropped the death penalty case against Mohammed al-Qahtani without explanation. Lawyers for al-Qahtani attributed the move to clear evidence that the detainee was tortured while in US custody.

"Mr al-Qahtani never made a single statement that was not extracted through torture or the threat of torture," the Centre for Constitutional Rights, which represented al-Qahtani, said.

"The unconscionable techniques used on him are well-documented and were authorised directly by the White House."

The Saudi-born al-Qahtani was brutally interrogated for 48 straight days at Guantánamo in 2002 using a plan approved by former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Charges against him were dismissed "without prejudice", but the Pentagon claims the right to reinstate them at any time and to keep holding him at Guantánamo. ...

I clearly don't have time to read widely enough. So it's an advantage to have items which merit attention pointed out.

But as I have suggested a few times before in various ways, I think you should do more background work before prancing about with these squicky notes. I'm convinced that you are capable of more.

Like all great civilizations, it appears what the Chinese have against them is the weight of history and their own passions. For you to focus on these two articles where the subjects are not addressing the essential depth of the problem is shortsighted. Clearly the environmental issue is not approachable via the blinding vision of short term insight.

I was impressed a few years ago by the current sinking of Shanghai, brought about by massive overbuilding on the flood plain:

Skyscrapers 'sinking' Shanghai

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3105948.stm

Several American architects I know thought it a good spot to pursue more business.

That Shanghai flood plain which only arose about the 13th century would not have naturally existed had it not been for the massive deforestation which took place 1,000 years ago in the mountains far upstream on the Yangzi.

To suggest that this communistic regime in it's rush to embrace capitalism will manage to reverse their ancient flow of history, is akin to proposing they will begin to replace the river borne mountain soil where it should have remained long ago under their forest trees.

We might wish to light a prayer candle to assist them with this effort. As their poetry suggests that otherwise it's doomed to fail.

While I think this is an interesting idea to compete with Democracy Now,

I myself prefer to read articles not listen to radio because it's a more efficient use of my time.

You might still be able to convince me to listen at some point, but I'd usually rather not. (I read DN rather than listen to it too.)

However moving with the spirit of the idea - when I did try to locate this podcast in iTunes using the power search, I failed miserably. The heck with those wonky URL's that are posted - one of which is more direct than the others.

My iTunes power search fails because I don't know which term is which AND because the podcast isn't I think well titled. So looking at the get info for these, this is what I've discerned:

Name(s) ->

Interview with ACLU re: constitutional challenge to new FISA law

Debut of Salon Radio with Glenn Greenwald: An interview with Dan Ellsberg

Artist / Author ->

Salon.com

Album ->

Salon.com: Glenn Greenwald Radio

Genre ->

News & Politics

In order for the Power Search to work, I suspect one has to have the terms exactly right, so the best I came up with was to search for 'Salon.com' in the Author Field. That works.

I suspect too that once the title names are more appropriately consistent we may find that there's at least a Podcast Directory listing for Salon.com IF not Glenn Greenwald.

Laptop seizures at customs raise outcry

Complaints from travelers and privacy advocates have spurred lawmakers to challenge the policy of random inspections.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-laptops26-2008jun26%2c0%2c4415017.story

Opening Statement of US Senator Russ Feingold

Hearing on 'Laptop Searches and Other Violations of Privacy Faced by Americans Returning From Overseas Travel'

http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0625-01.htm

Protecting Yourself From Suspicionless Searches While Traveling

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/protecting-yourself-suspicionless-searches-while-t