Hmmm...that sure sounds familiar. Haven't I seen that somewhere else before?

Oh, right! This -

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,350834,00.jpg

bears at least a passing resemblance to the circumstances of the 2nd Empire in France just before the Franco-Prussian war. Obviously there is no Bismarck to outmanoever us on the battlefield our press certainly has an equivalent sense of delusion when it comes to reporting on the war. I don't suppose we really need a Bismarck to sap our strength. If we shoot are selves in the foot enough times it is enevitable the we eventually fall down.

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. ...

It is so easy to get lost in the glee of ridiculing Klein, Kristol, Friedman, Pantload, et al, that what gets obscured is the provenance of their one-note diatribe. Namely, they are spewing the sour gas of hatred against Muslims, worldwide, by attacking everything about them, including the Muslim kitchen sink. This serves several purposes, the ultimate goal being to remove any impediments to Zionist goals. The confluence of hatred towards Arabs and hatred toward Muslims over the last 60 years is not coincidental. Dehumanize, then cleanse. Destroy, rinse, repeat.

One of the better rules of journalism -- vett your source. Is it any wonder that all of the monkeys mentioned above seem to type out the same story? It is not just stenography for the Administration these "journalists" are practicing, it is stenography for a couple of Administrations. Any provocation that arises from their junk is a bonus, because it means their words are reaching viral mode.

Throw shit at a wall, and you know some of it's gonna stick.

You ask why Americans aren't enraged by torture to do something about it? I'll answer, because it's not happening to them. It's happening to others, to the "terrorists". Those people who the gov't says have done something to deserve it. Since most Americans don't know any of the people being tortured, it doesn't affect them. Also that it's happening in far away places like Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan. So it's out of sight, out of mind. Also for some Americans they think it's keeping us safe. I have an Aunt that is a wonderful person but said something I couldn't believe. She said the gov't should torture those "terrorists" all they want, just keep us safe. I don't care what happens to them. So not only is she afraid and thinks the ends justify the means. But she's not seeing actual human beings being tortured. She's seeing a label. They have stopped being people and just become the label of "terrorist". When someone stops being a person and becomes an object, it's much easier to do unspeakable things to them and to justify it as well.

All roads lead to Zionism

There are plenty of American warmongers who couldn't care less about "Zionism." Ever heard of Dick Cheney?

And there are plenty of "Zionists" who aren't warmongers and racists.

The centrality of Israel is, without question, a key motivating factor for some of the people you describe -- as I just wrote about yesterday. But to say "All roads lead to Zionism" is to exude exactly the type of simplistic, overly-generalized hostility you purport to criticize.

Years ago I actually bought a book by this dense turd.

Min security at that. I can tell you it’s no picnic. People who judge the comfort level by whether one is given “three square meals”, or try to gauge the severity by cell dimensions, or whether one has latitude to pray, are talking out their asses. They have no clue, and I would bet that every last one of them would be crying like a baby within 24 hours.

It’s hell; a never ending game of mutual hostility. You against your captors, them against you. The dynamic is self-feeding, self perpetuating. They do not understand, really understand, boredom, hate, hostility and revenge, inhuman discomfort.

And the thing is; it goes on all the time 24/7, there’s no getting away from it. Loud bells, noise, bright lights, constant harassment, disorientation. Fear baby, all the time. I remember, I mistakenly asked for some milk for my cereal. Started a whole chain of events, which became do-or-die fighting words very quickly.

I know our society is a million miles away from ever really thinking about what we do with our prisoners, but anyone who suggests that our penal system is about rehabilitation or even, deterrence, does not know what they’re talking about.

If you were not a true criminal when you went in, you will certainly entertain some criminal notions when you get out. And that's what we're doing to these guys.

I want to believe in the higher aspirations of America, So DO many of these detainees (and guards) I would bet. These blasé media bloviators, fake macho-men make me sick. Both as someone who cares about human dignity, and as someone who cares about American prestige.

In his blog, 'How Actual Journalism Works', Klein wrote:

"A year ago, I reported that real progress had been made in al-Anbar province--but that our intelligence community was extremely pessimistic about the Shi'ites and Sunnis getting their act together to actually govern the country. (Greenwald and others ridiculed that column.)"

On the face of it, this statement appears irrelevant to the discussion - it's simply a speculation that he made a year ago (which many others were also wishfully making) that arguably has turned out, with substantial caveats, to be partially vindicated.

Glenn, do you have the reference to his original 'report', and to your reply in which he says you ridiculed him? I would like to the context of his claims and your response. Also, do you think there is any vindication for him with respect to that particular topic?

Thanks, as always, for your work.