The National Religious Campaign to End Torture (an inter-faith movement) is asking for prayers from now until the day after the inauguration for the U.S. to end torture. They have lots of materials to download and distribute, as well as a petition to sign, and a proposed Executive Order which would outline the new U.S. position on torture which they are asking Obama to implement.

http://www.nrcat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=250&Itemid=185

It also includes a countdown clock:

President Obama can halt U.S.-sponsored torture on his first day in office by issuing an executive order based on the Declaration of Principles. Every hour that passes without President Obama issuing the Executive Order is another hour the world will have to wait to confirm this Administration's rejection of the torture policies of the past.

The countdown clock above was started on the morning of January 11th, the seventh anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo. It is counting down the hours until President Obama's first workday in office, when we hope and expect he will sign an executive order ending torture. If President Obama does not issue an executive order by 9:00 am (EST) on January 21st, the clock will begin "counting up," marking the hours that have passed without an executive order ending torture...

my government is a greater threat to my life and liberty than any terrorist. I fear the phony cops at the airport in their little phony cop costumes checking my liquid carry-ons way more than I fear that some asshole might concoct some comic book explosive in the economy class bathroom. Why? Because it is far more likely that I'll be carted off to blackholeistan to be tortured to death for no reason whatsoever than it is I'll be blown out of the sky for no reason whatsoever. Or my wife. Or my kids. A candidate for president (purportedly some kind of constitutional expert) who votes himself the power to spy on and imprison me for no discernible reason (e.g. OS's FISA vote) is a real and actual danger. This person is a threat. OBL and his cohorts may be a threat. The founders of the country understood this absolutely critical distinction, and created every obstacle they could think of to neutralize that potential threat. It's a pity and a shame that we've lost that ability. Instead (before Bush) we've steadily chipped away at those obstacles, and then in the past 8 years more like jack-hammered away at them. All for the sake of some fantasy of "security." This is the place we come to.

Did you read the 1935 case, where the Supreme Court overturned murder convictions of African-American defendants because the confessions were obtained through beatings? Was justice served in that case?

I just finished reading Brown, and yes, I agree with its holding and I think justice was done.

And I freely admit that I'm not eager to distinguish that case from the problem Obama has, lest it be mistaken that I think torture is ever right. It's not. It wasn't in Brown and it's not today.

But the cases are distinguishable - the confessions in Brown were the only state eviednce and it appears on the merits that the defendants were innocent. Obama appears to be talking about confessions that were coerced, but nonetheless true - and I would add, probably would have been freely given without coercion, which only makes the Bush decision to torture that much more galling and incomprehensible.

(Again, I'm not saying that's the case for all Gitmo detainees, it seems many may in fact be innocent, my concern is for the really bad actors, as we need a solution that works for all cases.)

Also, in Brown there is not the problem Obama's DOJ will face of investigations begun outside this country in a military setting under the assumption that they were extra-constitutional suddenly, after 7 years, being shifted to US court and the attendant windfall for the defense, and extreme disadvantage to the prosecution.

But I think I understand your position, that all those cases should be tried in regular US court and damn the consequences, even if it means people responsible for over 3000 homicides walk free. It's principled, and I admire it, but I think the idea of setting KSM free at this point is outrageous, and would not serve the interests of justice.

We just disagree on this, and I don't think we are going to change each other's minds.

Why did Obama say yesterday that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons?

Because AIPAC owns him and Congress.

You poor deluded fools who voted for Obama thinking he was for peace.

Idiots.

-- something stinks

You know, I read that, and given my recent post, and it's reaction, I just started laughing.

It's like all of you are standing in front of a sky-scraper, and we're pointing to it, and your saying "Where? I don't see anything? What building?"

Maybe because the sky-scraper takes up the entire view? Is that why? The same reason it took 2,000 years of science to discover "air?"

anyway, here ya go Mr. Greenwald, to save you the trouble: a snapshot of Israel's and Judaism's views on goyim:

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/palestinians.html?q=palestinians.html

Mr. Greenwald, if Israel is going to claim itself as a Jewish State, then it is implicitly asserted that their policies are based in Judaism. Therefore, it is completely legitamite to understand Israel's policies and actions as an expression and manifestation of Judaic beliefs.

Since I have your attention, let me just say I think you are doing a great job, and and I am glad you are writing these articles and saying what you are. You are one fo the few brave and bold and intelligent enough to do so. I am not kissing your ass, hoping to gain your favour or for fear of being banned or deleted, if you think I am an idiot that is fine.

May an Islamic suicide bomber collect his 70 virgins at your expense.I nominate you for Glens prize today of a free Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poster for your home or office.Keep up the good humor!!