February 13th, 2009. Circuit City is gone, Starbucks is laying off workers right and left, President Obama has just scored his first major victory in Congress — and I have a blog. Who knew? Life does change, don't it?
But let's rewind back less than 2 years ago. June 7, 2007, to be exact — and the group of brave independent-minded folks at The Center for Constitutional Rights, in collaboration with Amnesty International USA and Washington Square Legal Services who had gone against Bush-Cheney executive privilege screen and filed a Ghost Detention and Extraordinary Detention suit under the Freedom of Information Act. And yesterday, I was privileged to be among the first few to learn the details of what their victory against the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Central Intelligence Agency actually entails.
Now, let's backtrack a little more, to April 2004 when 60 minutes broke for television audiences a New Yorker story, revealing some truly horrendous torture and prisoner abuse that has been going on in a little piece of heaven called Abu Ghraib. Turns out that this is just the tip of the iceberg - people have been disappearing abroad, being tortured and held without a trial or even being charged with a crime, with no access to their families or legal counsel, for an indefinite amount of time. No, this wasn't the Soviet Union - this was good old US of A.
In those "Mission Accomplished" days, when waterboarding — no it's not a fun thing to do at the beach — was an accepted interrogation technique, along with being stripped naked and assaulted with angry guard dogs, the only means of combating such abuse - which was always shrouded in secrecy and under the guise of 'securing the homeland' - was to bring it to light. And the good people at CCR and Amnesty did just that.
During a conference call held on February 12, 2009, representatives from the plaintiff groups involved in this case spoke to journalists regarding the case and their findings. It had been revealed that the documents obtained via the favorable court ruling confirm the existence of secret prisons; affirm the Department of Defense's cooperation with the CIA’s ghost detention program; and show one case where the DOD sought to delay the release of Guantánamo prisoners who were scheduled to be sent home by almost two months so as to avoid the bad press.
“These newly released documents confirm our suspicion that the tentacles of the CIA’s abusive program reached across agency lines,” said Margaret Satterhwaite, Director of NYU International Human Rights Clinic. “In fact, it is increasingly obvious that defense officials engaged in legal gymnastics to find ways to cooperate with the CIA’s activities. A full accounting of all agencies must now take place to ensure that future abuses don’t continue under a different guise.”
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Cindy
ASiCat,
Thank you for this article bringing attention to this. But you also need to hear what Obama is doing:
Obama continues Bush-era "state secrets" argument in Gitmo torture case
During the campaign, Mr. Obama harshly criticized the Bush administration’s treatment of detainees, and he has broken with that administration on questions like whether to keep open the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. But a government lawyer, Douglas N. Letter, made the same state-secrets argument on Monday, startling several judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
(snip)
"This is not change," he [Anthony D. Romero, ACLU] said in a statement. "This is definitely more of the same. Candidate Obama ran on a platform that would reform the abuse of state secrets, but President Obama's Justice Department has disappointingly reneged on that important civil liberties issue. If this is a harbinger of things to come, it will be a long and arduous road to give us back an America we can be proud of again."
2 - Roger Nowosielski
Maybe this will convince AsiCat to drop an "Obama groupie" identification from her BC profile.
3 - ASiCat
Cindy, thank you for your kind words -- and for bringing this to my attention, much as I might not have wanted to see it.
As you can see from my blog entry here, I responded. Hope to hear more from you -- whether I will like what I am hearing or no.
4 - ASiCat
Not quite yet, Roger. :-) And what about you? Have you ever been one?
5 - Roger Nowosielski
A groupie, no! In fact, I hoped Hillary would win; but I do support him now - shows more than I expected. Still, should have been able to do more with these entrenched bureaucracies and break away from the old policies. So Cindy's link is kind of disturbing - business as usual.
6 - ASiCat
I am just hoping he really doesn't know -- pathetic as it is. Because if he does, what the h... have I been voting for?
7 - Dave Nalle
You've been voting for an Illinois machine Democrat, Asi.
Dave
8 - ASiCat
Touche, Dave! But he HAS been on Blagojevich s...list for a while, so, I was telling myself (still am, with a bit less conviction) that he's gotta be different
9 - Cindy
ASiCat,
You know, I saw your blog last night and meant to ask if you designed that. It is visually stunning.
I read your reply on your blog a little while ago. It is never to early in the morning to cry--the link to Binyam Mohamed's diary information... Thanks for that link.
I voted for Obama. I am surprised and relieved at your response. Just taking information and looking at it, no defensiveness. I think that is a first in my experience with political supporters.
I hope you write more articles. More than that I hope you participate in the comments sections. What a welcome thing that would be.
10 - Cindy
ASiCat,
On a lighter note. I am doing a bit of research here. I need a female opinion, if only just to break a tie. It's one question, if you are game.
11 - Cindy
Obama's state secrets mistake
The Binyam Mohamed case isn't just making waves in Britain. Obama's state secrets claim is causing a backlash in the US
Guantánamo's secrets
The US's hostility to publishing details of Binyam Mohamed's treatment suggests the stakes are higher than we may realise
This second article has more to say. But it was linked from the first one.
12 - ASiCat
Cindy, I am sorry I made you cry -- but thank you, on the other hand, for sharing my own sentiments.
And yes, I did see these articles. Made me sick to my stomach -- yet, it is also making me think, mostly because I spoke to someone else who had read them and my own posts, and they are saying, that there's some logic to the administration's trying to sweep it all under the rug.
No, I don't agree, but let me tell you what they are saying. That sure, Gitmo ought to be closed forever and ever, amen, and the detainees apologized to, counseled, and monetarily compensated, but what is the point of bringing the atrocities to light when that can only result in contributing to the current volatility existing between the Western and Muslim world? Is there a point of giving any one more ideas -- either to die over, kill, or even, God forbid, copycat these actions, just to make a point?
I don't know, there's some logic in that, though conscience says (just like the author in your second article echoes), no democracy can exist without the true and absolute transparency. It is the government that is accountable to us instead of the other way around, right?
Your thoughts?
As far as your comment on my blog, yes, jumping off from a basic template include the similar leaf motif, the rest I designed myself -- or rather, my husband and I have. He is my biggest fan, you know, and no, if you ask him, he is not biased at all. :-)
Finally, I will definitely do my best to participate in discussions. Not sure how many, though, considering I try to daily or at least, 4 times a week do my own blog (most of which doesn't appear on BC, so, please, stop by, Cindy?), getting my novel published, participate in the writing of a new TV show, currently in pre-production (an interesting concept, I can send you a link if you are interested) -- and well, just as you suggested we do in your own post, work on my maintaining my marriage. And that's not to mention RAISING MY ONE-YEAR OLD SON, which is obviously my first priority!!! Thank God for my husband and my mother is all I can say!
13 - ASiCat
OOPS! I stepped into it, didn't I? I am a twit, Dr. Love -- and Cindy.
From you saying you are conducting your own research, Cindy, I just thought you guys were the same person. MEA CULPA!!!!!!
But I still thought the article well-presented and smart. And I still appreciate CINDY referring me to it.
SOWWY. :-)
14 - Hope and Change?
[Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
AsCat... Wake up and smell the coffee (or in your case the chai latte with skim milk and low fat whip cream on top)
King Barry lied to you and all Americans about Gitmo, Iraq, torture, the economy and his agenda. Where are all you left wing loons who cried "Bush lied. Bush lied" every five minutes? King Barry and "his merry band of tax cheats and morons" havent been in office more than a few weeks and every press conference, cabinet appointee or scamulus bill reveals more lies and incompetence.
AsCat when will you start leading the chorus of "Barry lied. Barry lied!"
[Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
15 - Hope and Change?
To use the most popular line from the left...but reworked for our current choke...gasp...empty suit of a president...
BARRY LIED!! BARRY LIED!!
Funny but during the presidential campaign, Barry promised something he called “Sunlight Before Signing.” Barry complained that “too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them.”
Barry promised that, as president, he would “not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.”
This so called emergency bill has been sitting for days" What was the rush? The public or congress didnt even get a chance to see whats in the LARGEST BILL IN US HISTORY???
Oh no...what happened? THE BIGGEST BILL IN THE HISTORY OF THE US doesnt get KING BARRY'S SUNSHINE??
Ok everybody lets all pitch in for a non-partisam chorus of...BARRY LIED!! BARRY LIED!!
16 - ASiCat
This is in response to "Hope and Change?":
I'll ignore the ad-homs in your message, and just comment on this:
"This so called emergency bill has been sitting for days" What was the rush? The public or congress didnt even get a chance to see whats in the LARGEST BILL IN US HISTORY???"
I don't know about you, but I, being a member of the public, was very well informed about what was in the bill. There were quite a few townhall meetings, including one in Indiana just recently, discussing this - so believe me, the public is quite well informed. At least, those who want to be informed.
And if our congressmen voted on a bill without reading it or knowing what's in it (which, admittedly, is not far fetched) - then perhaps its time to elect new representatives? What has that to do with Obama?
17 - Hope and Change?
"being a member of the public, was very well informed about what was in the bill"
"the public is quite well informed. At least, those who want to be informed."
[Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
Even the most blinded followers in the "Cult of Barry", The NYT, Wall Street Journal. ABC,CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, King Barry and even those in Congress that voted for it....admit that they DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS IN THE BILL!
In rereading your origianl post and #16 it seems they could have been written by either Barry's propoganda department or someone blinded by the glare from Barrys smile.
I find it odd that you ignored blantant facts concerning the admininstrations policies (as Cindy pointed out and were reported in every major US news outlet)and your somewhat humorus claim that "YOU" know more about the "scamulus" bill than any living person in the universe!
Hope and change...only fools beleive!
18 - ASiCat
I am sorry to say, i am neither of the two possibilities you mentioned.
And as for your message, well, I would love to see you site your sources, links and all, as I have. Moreover, I believe the original discussion had nothing to do with the benighted stimulus bill and everything with the proved torture and illegal detention presented in the recent findings.
Is there anything you have to contribute on this particular topic?
19 - Hope and Change?
Like I said a loon "blinded by the glare from Barrys smile" This is from your own website ...
"Democrat and Obama groupie"
Definition of groupie - A person who seeks intimacy (most often physical, sometimes emotional) with a famous person,
And please get your facts straight..it is your personal opinion and NOT a fact that there was "torture and illegal detention".
The point is I am questioning your sources and facts and truthfullness of your post..
1. You are publically a self proclaimed King Barry worshipper.
H&C Says - BIASED
2. Stated that you are more knowlegeable on the stimulus plan than every major news outlet - left and right,
H&C Says - Um...er..you will believe anything Barry says...Town meetings???.LOL...er...you know!
3. Use the biased "findings" of plantif attorneys as a source of fact,
H&C Says - What happened to the defendants findings? How come there not fact??
H&C - Can all those who voted and still support King Barry really be...um...er...you know...that foolish!
20 - Roger Nowosielski
H&C, she's dropping that epithet from her job description. Take it easy on her.
21 - Hope and Change?
Roger..I dont think that will cure the "syndrome"
22 - Roger Nowosielski
I don't expect any miracles, H&C. One step at a time. We all should be disenchanted. Nothing turns out as it promises to be. And that's a goddamn truth.
23 - Hope and Change?
Speaking of broken promises..there is new $8 billion financial fraud case breaking the Stanford Financial Group in Houston.
The real story is that the officers of Stamford are all big Obama and Dem donors. Even bigger is that this company is directly connected to Tom Dashle..maybe this is why he resigned...
Hope amd change...yes we need it, but Barry aint gonna do it!
24 - handyguy
Roger, you engage him as though you believe there is an actual human brain and consciousness inside the hateful rhetoric. Just a personal opinion, but I think it's a waste of your valuable time.
25 - handyguy
AsiCat --
Thanks for bringing your very graceful prose to the Blogcritics politics pages....the site can use some grace.
Sorry that you have been a target of the site's most venomous troll. And that the politics editor saw fit only to give you a dumb drive-by one-liner.
Please don't let that stop you from writing more articles.