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342
Letters
Friday, November 2, 2007 12:00 AM

Mukasey's nomination and the sudden opposition to "waterboarding"

The same Congress that allowed and enabled Bush's excesses for years now claims to find Mukasey's support for those abuses intolerable.

The letters thread is now closed.

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Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:00 PM

Oh no- no read. no respond. open drooping windows. barf. no respond. No! Ignore! Pure evil.

stinky240- mucky.

run out back door.

run to Orlando, Ah!

Jordan- Hark! green slime.

apologies. 242's a snot-mucous.

stinky240- his hack-cough spit drowns Mukasey.

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:04 PM

Pakistan's Emergency Measures unfortunately not OT

Pakistan has declared an Emergency. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and seven other justices, together with the head of the lawyer protests are in custody.

Unfortunately, this is not OT. While coverage in the U.S. has focussed almost exclusively on the battle over whether Musharraf may run in upcoming elections (now postponed), another battle has been going on between the Court and Musharraf + ISI, about "disappeared prisoners". These are people taken into custody by the ISI for "terrorism", some of whom have been delivered to the Americans for monetary reward. Many of the 39 prisoners that Human Rights groups are demanding the CIA account for in regards to the Black Sites were arrested in Pakistan. The issue is of great importance since this is the first time in it's history that the Supreme Court in Pakistan has ever stood up to, and demanded action from, the ISI.

Why is this relevant to the Mukasey hearings?

I managed to secure an interview with one such man, but only after Janjua convinced him that meeting with me would be safe. He was small and trim and soft spoken in a way that was oddly juxtaposed against his gritty ordeal in prison. Held illegally by the ISI for two years, the man told me that he'd been tortured and warned not to speak about his detention. When I asked him if Americans had ever interrogated him, he said he did not want to answer. In interviews with the international print media, several Pakistanis have said they were interrogated by Americans and other foreigners.

David Montero, for Frontline, Sept. 6, 2007,
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/09/pakistan_the_di.html

Now that the Emergency is in effect (equivalent in all but name to martial law) an important source of information on what our President has done with his "enhanced interrogation" may have become too dangerous to pursue. And Mukasey doesn't seem like one who would pursue it, anyway, treaty be damned.

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:25 PM

waterboarding?

well , why notjust electrocute americans? fry a brain, bake a toe, get 'em to cry..

the question is cry what?

yes, i ote for you! yes, i'll vote for you?

or is it just sheer 'fun' for someone just way to voerboard on the sado-masho body trip?

consent between adults?

if iwas in a kitchen and folding cake dough?

cake?

who's consent?

what majority?

kill the minority?

the dclaration of indepence stipulated what?

but that's OKAY~~

The Heir to the Kingdom,"hellfire" and bullets be glorified!

Quick 'exit"? Impress the media? PRAY!

Katrina!Katrina, your wayward breahth!

Oh show a favor,

make quick my death!

Bless You!

Tusumi?

If a Bush shakes and says new job!

just stand and wait for marching orders!

why Jebus reincarnated as a Bush!

etc,etc,etc,etc,....

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:27 PM

@Jim White, Reply from granny

My e-mail

We had some fun today on Glenn Greenwald's blog on Salon.com with some Yankee Doodle lyrics. I saw the Raging Grannies from Wisocnsin at the Chicago Oct 27 anti-war march and ralley and thought we would offer them to you if they would be of any use in your wonderful efforts to stop wars and bring us peace.

Reply

Thank you for sending this to us. It is through humor that we maintain our sanity during these depressing times. Thanks for contributing to that cause.

Marcia,

the web granny

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:28 PM

preventing from accumulating too much power in one person

guess again, dirk

Dubya is abusing the Legislative and Judicial branches of this government

until the populace wakes up starts the impeachment process on this arrogant little rich kid who's thinks his shit doesn't stink, we, the American people are are goin' the way of a has been civilization

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:35 PM

@shooter242

But that does not make it correct.
Yes it does. Certainly in fact, if not in theory.

Laws cannot be "correct in fact" but not "in theory." That's not what laws are. Shooting somebody with a gun is illegal; it doesn't become legal if I do it and get away with it. You're using "Dirty Harry" logic.

Let me also remind you that 9/11 was conceived, planned and staged during the tenure of the most popular President in the World. Obviously, good will didn't help us out at all.

Of course that's correct, but making things much worse (by, say, murdering a million Iraqi civilians) doesn't help things. The fact (for example) that a previous CEO was disliked by stockholders and employees doesn't excuse the actions of a subsequent CEO who acts in such a way that the dislike grows to outright strike-level and divestment-level contempt and loathing.

Such as? I don't get this grave concern for the world to like us. What difference would it make exactly? What is this need for approval from people you don't know? I'm not getting it.

I'm not talking about "liking us" in some touchy-feely warm-fuzzy sense. I'm talking about the specific economic and security-related results of them trusting and respecting us as trade partners, business partners, and military allies. When the current United States intervenes in a world crisis and states a "human rights abuse" as its rationale, it's a little like an visibly drunk highway patrolman attempting to perform a DUI. He's got the gun, so he can do it; but the open, contemptuous hypocricy foments anti-police sentiment that can lead to civil unrest.

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:38 PM

About Shooter

Shooter

Yes it does [make it correct]. Certainly in fact, if not in theory. The shape of the Governmental landscape is being negotiated between the President and the Congress, with the Supreme Court as referee. When all three branches agree on something, it's a done deal until reshaped by other agreements.

So all liberal legislation ruled constitutional by the SC, and all other "liberal" decisions by the Supreme Court are "correct," according to Shooter.

Saturday, November 3, 2007 02:46 PM

ondelette. Thanks

It's been such a beautiful day. My friend Michele and the community girls attended a baby shower. ondelette- has 2 t's. Michele- has one l. No hell in her, I tease. Thanks for precious friendship, far and near. Precious jewels.

I come to see if there is a new-post and what doi I see? stinko240. 2 o's has shooter. yuck. a real oo. A boss with two 's' for shitter242? Ooh, boo. boohoo. goo. poo. I did stooped again.

I do enjoy to receive much from stable minds like your etc., in the post-contributions, and if I blurt out, it's a normal reaction to having experienced horrible things outside the real of normal human experience. We all have, I believe that. We get numb to protect us from more and more unnecessary pain and real 'good' grief.

That's (ptsd) the 'raw' diagnostics definition of tragic and bad trauma events. As William has expressed, the life style and the human anatomy is programed. We are wired differently but also the same-same and within all of us, much beauty and potential joy. I see 'rich' benevolence. I'm not against deserved wealth. It's blessed folk who are stewards. No pockets in a cloak, notion. Gops are disgusting greed abominations and very ill. That;s why I use the word, 'perdition' lately. I've seen the ruin that geed does. And we are all hurt by the Nero-con's pure untextured slime baloney-spiels, daily. It's almost impossible for me to watch a news broadcast, and here, one can remain informed and touched, alive. You rant beautifully, imho. okay.

You ever browse the medical book, Greys Anatomy?

We are amazingly 'built' or programed and this beautiful human body frame records within every living cell a stored memory, I bee-told. I behold.

I'm saying: You AOL's sure inform, instruct, forewarn, and give me much hope. Honest.

I'll go back and talk to the guys while the girls are at a baby shower. I see good.

I wish boys were invited to take showers with the girls? It's not fair to be discriminated against. ondelette- top bunk or the bottom?

Michele will be a good grandmother. That's hope for me too. I'm so appreciative. ~*~

Let's never be too dismayed.

O, and never, never give up.

No upchuck on the keyboard.

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