The Bush Administration appears intent to go out on a low note. The United States has asked for as many as 15,000 Iraqi prisoners to be held without charge in Iraq even though the authority to hold the prisoners expired at the beginning of the New Year. I discussed the plan as well as the investigation of war crimes on Rachel Maddow in this segment.
The United States has been holding prisoners without charge under the authority of a U.N. Security Council resolution which expired on December 31. Under an international agreement taking effect on January 1st, the Bush Administration had agreed that all of its prisoners would be transfered to Iraqi custody for criminal charges or or freed “in a safe and orderly manner.”
U.S. military spokesman Major Neal Fisher now says that the Bush Administration wants the prisoners held without charge in violation of both the pact and Iraqi law. It appears that the Administration is seeking to shape its Iraqi government in its own image — asserting absolute
authority to disregard both international and domestic laws.
For the full story, click here.
Media bias? LOL! Read this interview with so called PBS’s “journalist” Tavis Smiley on Joe Scarborough:
SMILEY: These are exciting times. When I was last year, the day after, November 5th, the day after the election, really I was excited then about what had happened and transpired the night before. As an African-American male I revel in this moment. I revel in his humanity, I revel in this victory. I love all the talk about hope and change. Here’s what I fundamentally believe, and there have been a number of examples since the election, Joe, that underscore this for me. I want Barack Obama to be a great president. I want him to be a great president. I believe that he can be a great president. But only if we help make him a great president. It is not left to his own devices, it’s not going to happen. We have to help make him a great president. And that’s not casting aspersion on him. No president who was ever great wasn’t helped in that process. There is no Abraham Lincoln without Frederick Douglas. And we could do this all day long. Every great president had people pushing them, had people helping them and encouraging them, empowering them to become great presidents. So I believe Obama can be. I want him to be. But we have to help make this guy a great president.
And a bit later . . .
SMILEY: There’s so much hype. So much hope. So much expectation. I don’t want him to falter in stepping into his moment because the challenges–to your point–are so great. And that’s not just a black thing. That’s an American thing, and I’m concerned, and I’m not the only one obviously who feels this way, I’m concerned about the people around him about what the people allow him, all these Clintonites. There’s a difference between being visionary and being revisionist. And what I’m sensing is, that we got a lot of folk that want to take us back to where we were, that’s revisionist. Can we be visionary? Can we really step into what this moment is? And that’s why I say I want him to be a great president. But we got to help. We can’t abandon him now. We can’t abandon our posts. What are we going to do to help make him a great president?
SEEMS MR. TAVIS THINKS THE MEDIA NEEDS TO MAKE SURE OBAMA IS SUCCESSFUL….!!!
We frequently see the bias of the mainstream media, but never so boldly. Journalists claim they exist to shine a light on the halls of power, to stop abuses and to expose malfeasance regardless of which party controls Washington DC.: iszatso?
CNN stung by fake atrocity video
The story was supposedly that a freelance journalist in Gaza returned home to find his younger brother dead, the victim of a missile attack on a residential rooftop from an unmanned IDF drone. The video shows the supposed scene of the attack, and follows the Gaza family from the hospital to the burial, after a heroic attempt by doctors to revive the young child.
It is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9pRu-sRPb0&eurl=http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/08/cnn-stung-by-fake-atrocity-video/
Only, when you look at the supposedly heroic effort, it lacks one thing: any sense that the two doctors are actually performing CPR with any effort at all. They stop as though they’ve scripted out the moment. That’s when viewers questioned whether the scene could have been faked.
A little more investigation determined that one of the doctors in the video is notorious terrorist apologist Mads Gilbert. The older brother, meanwhile, is no mere “free-lance cameraman” but the owner of a business that hosts Internet web sites for Hamas. In other words, this is a pitiful attempt at propaganda that only the likes of CNN, with a pre-existing animus to Israel, would put on the air without any checking of sources.
CNN, caught cold, has pulled the video from its rotation and its web site. The public will see if they own up to their mistake, or simply hope no one notices.
What does any of burnout’s two comments have to do with this story?
I don’t know but I have avatar envy, Mr. Plow.
Mr. P,
These irrelevant posts might be removed as other similar have been the last 2 days.
In effect, what happens is burnout et al. start a new thread topic with their repeated posts and take that singular right away from Professor Turley.
This quote come from an article in Truthout. It talks of the beatings and other abuses in Iraqi prisons under US forces and the Iraqi govt. It mentions that we are not supposed to turn over prisoners to govt. that will abuse them, and I’m guessing this is the argument being presented by bush. This makes no sense as we have know of and approved these conditions from the beginning. I will link to the full article in the next block. The real story is just as in Gitmo, we have no real knowledge on why most of these people have even been detained.
“Now it appears, based on a November 23, 2008, report from the Associated Press (AP), that the vast majority of detainees are also being held without any hard evidence. The AP said that the US intends to release most of its detainees under SOFA, but that it is “rushing to build criminal cases against some 5,000 detainees it deems dangerous.” The report contained the remarkable admission attributed to Brig. Gen. David Quantock, commander of TF-134, that the US has evidence against “only a few hundred” of those detainees considered most dangerous.
http://www.truthout.org/120308J
This is all so numbingly familiar.
Jill
The truthout article is beyond numbing. The pain, we’ve produced in Iraq will return to us collectively. It has nowhere else to go.
I despise Mr. bush. He has ruined what this country stands for worldwide and at home and he destroyed my Republican Party.
I understand that international legal scholars say that bush/cheney will most unlikely never be held accountable during tribunals here or internationally for their war crimes and torture; however, perhaps some consortium of legal scholars will find a means to charge them criminally on other grounds or even through civil proceedings if that is justice as the last resort. I would gladly contribute to such a legal fund to help ensure that future presidents, including Mr. Obama, knew that they were never above the U.S. Constitution and the established rule of law.
Here is an excellent article encompassing an overview of G.W. bush’s failures and the results to this *once* great, proud, and prosperous Nation.
Entitled: ‘W. and the damage done’
“President Bush inherited a peaceful, prosperous America. As he exits, Salon consults experts in seven fields to try to assess the devastation”
salon.com/news/feature/2009/01/08/damage/index.html
HEY!
Hey Turley, nobody watches Rachael Maddow or haven’t you seen the ratings? HAVE FUN TALKING TO YOURSELF ON THE CAMERA! Well, at least she has a couple more viewers than Andy Cooper…but that isn’t very many at all is it.
Shame MSNBC wackos are so much in the tank for the party bankrupting America and our kids futures.
Hey Former Federal LEO,
How many blogs did you go to and post a link to the phony CNN video before you realized it was also fake, or don’t you care?
HEY! BURN,
There are sections on human rights violations, the Iraq war, torture and other topics very relevant to this thread.
Numerous embedded links give extensive in-depth details of many of the underlying points of discussion.
Burn in…err…Heaven:
Only this 1 blawg and none of the *liberals* here gave this conservative Republican the time of day regarding that video. They were much smarter than I.
You obviously know that Professor Turley is gone so you brave-up to post irrelevancies in this absence.
CCD,
I think you are correct. I contemplated why we even have 15,000 people still (or ever) in jail and I have no answer. With each person whom we unjustly hold we create 100′s more per person who will want revenge. The harm we have caused to ourselves and others is unspeakable. Our only hope is to make things right, which for me, at minimum, does mean holding all the top people accountable.
FFLEO,
I thought that your attempt to verify the video footage and tell of your findings showed you to be a person of very good character.
Burn
Do you have the intestinal fortitude to read this?
W. and the damage done
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/01/08/damage/print.html
It would be interesting if Burn would read something s/he disagrees with and had the courage to give a point by point argument as to why s/he disgrees with the points, using not invective, but thoughtful remarks based on actual research.
Thank you Jill, I never want to perpetuate a falsehood and I *never* mind admitting my mistakes. The carnage in Gaza is real and documented.
I think that several days ago, the person who posted the outdated video wanted the world to understand the death and destruction. However, since the Israelis will still not allow news correspondents inside Gaza—in violation of their *own* Supreme Court’s order—the person lied to show what the current carnage “could be like” to the rest of the world. He was wrong then; however, we are viewing the actual carnage displayed by trusted news sources and it is very real.
We all know death tolls in war are tentative, but so far according to Reuters:
“Israel insists it is doing its utmost to avoid civilian casualties and ensure sufficient food and other humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. More than 700 Palestinians have died since its assault began 13 days ago.”
Reports of children killed is over 200 (257 the highest count)
Widely noted in numerous news accounts:
“The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) accused the Israeli military on Thursday of failing, “to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuate the wounded.”
Burn
JT thru down the gauntlet tonight on Maddow, if the U.S. doesn’t step up and prosecute Bush Co for WAR CRIMES other nations will. Here is the prescriptive link for the pain you’re experiencing. Take your meds.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/01/08/damage/print.html
Interesting segment on the Rachel Maddow Show.
It is sadly beginning to look more and more as though the criminal conduct of the upper levels of the Bush Administration will be swept under the rug in the interest of “not dwelling on the past”.
It’s especially grotesque in light of the former Liberian official who was just sentenced in a US court to many, many years in prison for torturing people.
FFLeo:
I find that the only persons who make no errors are those that attempt nothing of importance.
BTW I really thought JT was fully engaged on the Maddow show tonight. Besides the legal analysis which was spot on per usual, he was passionate in his advocacy of investigating the current Administration for possible (likely?) war crimes. He is the lone voice on this topic in the MSM with the credibility and expertise to make it stick. We should all be on this bandwagon.
mespo,
I never saw Professor Turley give a more impassioned argument.
How great would it be to have Professor Turley and Professor Philippe Sands of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals lead a consortium of international legal scholars in the quest to *investigate* the Bush Administration’s possible war crimes.
I’ve known for sometime that I am a nobody… guess this proves it. I really like Maddows show. Thanks for helping her out Jonathan.
JT
Very powerful presentation on Rachel Maddow’s show last night. I found Burn’s comment that no one watches Rachel Maddow’s show—except everyone whose opinion I respect.
Rachel Maddow? Never heard of her.
mesmerize, she never heard of you.
JT,
That was an impassioned and powerful presentation last night. I was impressed with your willingness to speak so forcefully. I want to post a link to an interview of Mr. Sands mentioned by FFLEO above. I put it in a prior post but it is worth listening to. Although he differs from JT about cheneybush, if you listen to the very end you will hear him agree exactly with JT’s writings in Legal Times. 1. make certain the new AG will state waterboarding is a crime and 2.appoint a prosecutor and follow the evidence wherever it leads.
Terry Gross’ interview is with Mr. Sands who has participated in war crimes tribunals. It’s the first time I’ve heard that level of specificity both about the crimes and proceedures for accountability, both political and legal.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99061358
mesmerize
1, January 10, 2009 at 8:27 am
Rachel Maddow? Never heard of her.
Well, now, I guess that’s THE definitive statement on the subject. Such a pithy and so original a comment, too. Now we can all stop watching Rachel Maddow, ’cause mesmerize never heard of her. Whew! I’m sure glad that’s cleared up.
The only audience Rachael Maddow has is GLBT, and THEY aren’t watching her to get informed.
Anyone ever heard of mesmerize?
FFLEO
Thanks for the insightful link. Dubbya and the damage done
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/01/08/damage/print.html
Having read it again this morning it’s a chilling and comprehensive assessment of what we’ve experienced. Please permit me to continue prescribing it to people who drop in suffering from low awareness, closed mind and heart syndrome. Fundamentally the eye for an eye, bomb for a bomb types. It acts just like a dope slap to the back of the head. The suffering soul must have the courage to ingest said tonic in its entirety. Then process it. Known side effects are to numerous to list here. Clinical trials show results on the order of a 3-5 degree course correction in attitude and immediate heightened awareness. It’s that powerful.
I’m grateful too for the dynamic equilibrium you display.
Wow! I go away for a day for work issues and visiting my grandson and I see that we have some new trolls. Or least tgrolls with new names. Prof. Turley’s appearance on Rachel Maddow’s show was fantastic. This issue of the Bush Torture program is very disturbing and very scary. If people can ignore that our leaders ordered and authorized torture of people, who in most cases, have never been charged with a crime, what else can they ignore? If our new leaders can ignore criminal wrongdoing by the previous administration, what can we expect from them?
Finally, Mesmerize, do the facts confuse or scare you? Here is a link from a Newsweek article that informs people who actually read,that Maddow has done very well in the ratings. I know your mentor, Rush Limbaugh, doesn’t rely on facts or reality, but the rest of the world does. http://www.newsweek.com/id/170385
>The only audience Rachael Maddow has is GLBT, and THEY aren’t >watching her to get informed.
Hyberole much?
mesmerize
My being neither G, nor L, nor B nor T makes you simply wrong.
I believe the following has attracted trolls in the Det. post: Below is a quote from JT on the bio page.
“The war crime of torture applies to anyone. Otherwise, nations could torture civilians and claim to be exempt. If Bush ordered torture, it is a war crime. If it is a war crime, he is a war criminal.
…Let us have the trial. After the court instruct{s} the jury that as a legal matter waterboarding is torture, the jury will be asked if Bush ordered waterboarding. I am perfectly happy to leave that question up to a jury.
CCD,
Thank you. The Salon article is excellent and I never thought I would find such a well-written and comprehensive online account of Mr. Bush’s destruction. I think ‘W. and the damage done’ should be required reading for all of Congress, those in Obama’s Administration, and the Supreme Court to serve as a solemn reminder of what happens when the U.S. Constitution and rule of law are subjected to political ideologies based on theocratic irrationalities.
Great Salon article. Former Fed, great comment about returning to a nation of laws, rather than of men/women.
I don’t understand why we can’t keep Gitmo open for the outgoing administration.
Мог бы долго с вами спорить на эту тему
This is interesting and heartening: (from Alternet)
“A whopping 70,000 questions poured into Change.gov over the past week, in response to the Obama transition team’s call for citizen queries to the President-Elect. After votes from about 100,000 people, the top ranked question asks Obama whether he will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of torture and illegal surveillance by the U.S. government.”
That is good news Jill. Now let’s hope that a thorough investigation is done.
# mespo727272 1, January 10, 2009 at 12:28 am
‘We should all be on this bandwagon.’
# 25
—-
JT’s passion is no surprise to me. At one time we were the band circling the Constitutional wagon. It’s the reason I continue to show up here, even though the blog has lost focus since DW’s passing.
I still miss him very much.
http://jonathanturley.org/2008/01/27/commencement-address-for-the-john
Torture or Cruel Treatment… Professor Turley, you speak with clarity and purpose on the need to investigate the actions of the Bush Administrations. I agree but believe there can be a short circuit to the Vice President’s Office. “W” is simply too detached to have cared and would not have had either the imagination or the will power to have made Iraq happen or to have enforced “verschaerfte Vernehmung” where as Cheney had purpose, opportunity, and commitment. The bad apples of Abu Ghraib were innocent in comparison to those who set the “tone at the top”.