Regarding writing to Guantanamo prisoners: it might be best to get an assessment of legal ramifications. I should have done more homework before posting. Apologies.

Are there any lawyers in the house who could address this? Is writing to someone who has been designated an "enemy combatant" considered giving aid and comfort to the enemy?

For other action (like petitions) see Amnesty International's web site. [AmnestyUSA.org]

- The next President convenes a special panel to study how we got into Iraq and where it has led us.

- The panel compiles documentation of all torture conducted by the US and turns the information over to the appropriate parties in The Hague.

- After a trial that is rigorous in providing the kind of legal protections that were denied to detainees in Gitmo and elsewhere, cowards like Col. Davis are found guilty of crimes against humanity.

- You Tube eventually posts video of the whole lot of them at the end of a rope just like Saddam.

Only then will America have recovered it's moral standing in the world and - more importantly - it's soul.

What continues to make me recoil in horror over this whole bit of madness is the cheerleading for torture on the right. They have been ranting about the uncivilized extremists that we are fighting, but fail to see that that is what they have become.

The greatest loss that the United States has suffered at the hands of the right-wing, Cheney-led parade of fools, is our ability to make the argument that we are proceeding into the brave new world with our moral compass in tact. We are supposed to be better than the fundamentalist extremists. We are supposed to believe in and act acording to the rule of law. What happened to that ideal?

Why is that the Cheney's of the world are so quick to jettison our ideals? Especially in the light of the fact that we are not safer. Not by a long shot.

We are living in a nightmare realm wherein the foundations of our civilizational reality are coming apart at the seams, aided by our President, who is gleefully hacking at the threads. To what end? That is what I still don't really see. Are they trying to hasten the end of this grand experiment?

And lastly, what will it take for media to see this disaster for what it is?

Many questions. No good answers.

Splendid.

another rehash of how all of America is despicably depraved.

-- shooter242

Not "all of America," darling. Just you and your despicably depraved brethren of the 28 ... 27 ... 26 and falling per cent.

They can give Murdoch a run for his money in playing ball with repressive regimes. They are proficient at allowing themselves to be used in the propaganda of governments that lie and torture people. I'm sure the Chinese can get their prisoners to sign statements that state they were not mistreated. That should take care of those pesky human rights violations the United States is always accusing the Chinese of.

The NY Times has much to be ashamed of in its enabling of the Bush administration's dismantling of America's reputation. Who do they think they're kidding with this shit?

It's time for some of the moralistic scolds who yammer at us from the Times' Op-Ed page to resign in disgust. How do you feel about working for a propaganda outlet, Maureen Dowd? How about you, Mr. Kristof? Wanna tell us some more about Darfur? Does this give you a clue why we don't listen?

My concern for him stops there.

-- shooter242

Shooter? Concern? Ever? At any point? For any human being? For any questionable governmental decision, action or overreach? I don't think so.

If you want to be taken at your word, Shooter, you'll need to go to some blog where they have never heard of you. Please, take my advice on that. And, please, stay there for as long as you are welcome...and then some, if that's what it takes, (which it will).

"You don't have to go home but you can't stay here", said the 'sick to death of you bartender'. She or he has a point, Shooter.

Just to be sure, why not cut off their limbs, or poke out their eyeballs? That will really set the kind of example you want to create.

Ok glenn, I'll play extremes with you.

Why capture them at all? Let's set a real example of tolerance and compasion and just not bring anyone to justice. Then no one will be able to trump our high moral character.

Where's all your outrage about the Americans currently being held by Iran? It doesn't exist because Iran of course couldn't really do anything wrong. They're the victims aren't they.

Why do we try so hard to emulate them? What happened to the "shining city on a hill"? Why do we try to become that which we are fighting?

While we're at it, why did Bush really cut and run when he had Osama bin Laden surrounded?

And why did the Bush Administration allow Osama bin Laden to charter a plane to get his family out of the U.S. in the weeks after 9/11?

And why did Bush sign an executive order taking onto himself all governmental authority in event of a national emergency, said emergency to be determined by Bush himself?

And what cocktail party are our lapdog press too busy attending to pay attention to these questions?

Where's all your outrage about the Americans currently being held by Iran? It doesn't exist because Iran of course couldn't really do anything wrong. They're the victims aren't they.

-- tiberius

Do you get some kind of pleasure by coming off as stupid, on top of actually being stupid? Or this all an act? For your sake, I hope it's an act.

Unfortunately, though, you are most likely really as stupid as you proudly claim to be.

Eichmann was a Colonel.

Don't you think the mastermind of 9/11 should be caught and punished? Why aren't you up in arms over the administration's inaction on this front? I mean, Bush has made it as clear as he ever makes anything that he doesn't think bin Laden is a priority; but to me, his crime was pretty heinous.-- orbitboy

It certainly was, but he isn't a priority at the moment unless of course, he goes to Iraq. Besides, the reality is, that if he were actually captured and brought to the US, a smart lawyer like John Edwards could get him off with time served. Then he would probably go on the lecture circuit and make a pile of money like Clinton did. Only Republicans go to jail.