The Obama Administration has finally responded to the international outcry over the abuse of Bradley Manning. After State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley acknowledged the abuse, the Administration fired him with the apparent approval of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Now, everyone is in agreement: there is no problem in how Bradley Manning is being abused. That is particularly the case with former White House aide Mike Hammer who will replace Crowley. There’s a nice way to start a job — the replacement for the guy who dared to admit concerns over a human rights case.
International groups and civil libertarians have denounced the Obama Administration for the mistreatment of Manning, the Army private who is being held in solitary confinement in Quantico, Virginia.
In speaking to a group at MIT, Crowley said the treatment of Manning “is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” Notably, he also said that Manning is legitimately under arrest for the alleged commission of the serious offense of leaking classified information.
Crowley is reportedly personally offended by the mistreatment of Manning — a sentiment that is not welcomed in this Administration any more than the last Administration.
Obama has assured the public that he has determined that Manning is being treated well. How? By asking the Defense Department, of course. They say that Manning is being treated well and that some of the conditions of his confinement are there to help him.
For her part, Hillary Clinton accepted Crowley’s resignation “with regret,” but there is no evidence that she fought to protect him from being forced out by the Administration.
Source: CNN
The only way to “peacefully push” him out of office would be not to vote for him and vote for a republican instead. He has no primary opponent and there is no viable third party so the republican party at this point is the only alternative.
SwM,
You are correct about the torture issue and the general population. It saddens me to say it, but it is true.
Teabaggers use the issue to target liberals hoping it will keep them from voting for Obama … in reality, they don’t care about the issue either.
All that being said, those of us who genuinely do care must keep up the fight simply because it is the morally right thing to do.
rafflaw,
What is it about torture that is not black and white for you?
Obama had at his inauguration an enormous reservoir of good will. He still has a great deal of good will. He could have come out right then (or still now) and told people what was actually happening to him–how he was subtly being blackmailed into hiring all the people from industries who gave him money and how they were forcing him to kill civilians and order more war, protect financial and war criminals, say he had the right to kill American citizens if he declared they were terrorists etc.
If you research Obama’s background you will see the same man today as the man before he was elected. It was precisely because people would not do their research that they believed they were electing a different person than the one they actually did elect. That is not my opinion. That is research you can do on your own.
Finally, if you truly believe Obama is being blackmailed then the best course of action would be to peacefully push him safely out of office. That way he can blame leaving office on the people and no harm will come to him.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/conyers-obama-would-be-in-trouble-if-the-2012-gop-wasnt-so-weak.php?ref=fpi Tend to agree with Jon Conyers. Rafflaw, I am not saying that the American people don’t care about torture. I am just saying it does not seem to be high on their list of priorities.
OS,
put it on my tab! 🙂 I think your answer is the correct one.
SM,
You could be right, but that would be an indictment of the desensitizing of the country.
Raff, you owe me one keyboard and screen cleaning. Not to mention the coffee I snorted out my nose. Of course, the kindly banksters are as pure as the driven snow. As are the Koch crime family and their man-servants, Thomas, Alito, Walker and their wholly-owned media.
What do you see as the chances for a real Hobbs Act prosecution? Never mind. I know the answer.
rafflaw, I am not sure it is hurting Obama politically except with a small minority. Torture does not seem to be that important to the voting public, and he knows it. If Obama loses, it will be more than likely due to high gasoline prices.
Otteray Scribe,
Thank you for the links … fascinating stuff
OS,
I can’t imagine that the BOA leaks will show that the kindly Banksters did anytbing wrong..right??!
Jill,
The reason you never heard that “excuse” from me for Bush was because I expected more from Obama. These situations are not blackmail or extortion as you and I would know it. It is more subtle and probably dirtier. Besides, I never used the term “Any man of conscience and courage would die rather than allow another person to be tortured or to order soldiers into battle or to kill civilians with drones, etc.” to describe Obama and his lack of courage on this issue. I was attempting to describe my frustration at his perfomance, or lack of, on this issue. I have stated before that I don’t see things as black and white as you do. In my opinion we need to look at the politics involved because these people are political animals, no matter what we think of them. That is why it is even more frustrating because it is hurting him politically to take this head in the sand approach.
Speaking of dropping the hammer. The BoA document dump is starting. Some information has been released by the shadowy group Anonymous. Hard to access some of this because of high traffic, but I expect mirror sites to start popping up.
Here is one of the main links at Zero Hedge
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/operation-leaks-releases-initial-bofa-emails-indicating-premeditated-intent-deceive-governme
Story this morning on DKos.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/14/956169/-Naked-Capitalism:-Anonymous-Whistleblower-Charges-BofA-With-Large-Scale-Insurance-Scheme
Then again…if the Head Teabagger farted how many heads would bounce…we know they would be the head as they would be able to float away with all of the hot air…
Elaine M.
1, March 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm
All the fat cats on Wall Street got away with their crimes too. We rarely go after the rich and powerful. We do go after whistleblowers and the little guy.
=======================================================
Whistleblowers and little guys are easy. It takes guts to go after the fat cats and Washington is stocked to the rim with cowards who like to dress up in imaginary uniforms and brandish phony swords. They fool themselves; they don’t fool us.
I find it particularly entertaining when they award each other medals.
Blouise You are right again about “the closet teabagger”.
All the fat cats on Wall Street got away with their crimes too. We rarely go after the rich and powerful. We do go after whistleblowers and the little guy.
rafflaw,
I hear this excuse for Obama’s behavior all the time. Any man of conscience and courage would die rather than allow another person to be tortured or to order soldiers into battle or to kill civilians with drones, etc.
Further, Obama took money from the MIC and Wall Street, by the handful before he was elected. He could have refused to run at any time. Now if this were true, he could resign and tell the American people he is being threatened or blackmailed. Instead, he was playing golf this weekend.
I never heard you use that excuse for Bush when he tortured. Couldn’t that be said of him as well? Was Bush a victim of the MIC? Manning and many other men and women of our nation have risked their lives to tell the truth. If that were really the case with Obama he has no courage. Anyone should choose their own death over the killing and torture of others.
rafflaw,
Not naive … definitely scared. I would be.
SwM,
Impeachment is a closet teabagger’s wet dream. Bush got away with it big time … so will Obama.
I think if Obama were to be impeached as Jill suggests that there would be tremendous hurt and outrage among the african american community that is still very loyal to Obama. Their support in polls is at 91 percent.
rafflaw,
Is Obama being controlled by others–or is he one of them? I don’t think it’s morning in America any longer. In fact, I don’t think it has been for quite some time.
Elaine,
I realize that he knows what torture is, I am just beginning to think that he is being controlled by the CIA and DOD and he is too naive or scared of challenging his puppetmasters. How the hell can he listen to the same people accused of torturing the prisoner that they are handling Manning the same way they are handling everyone else in the Brig? I say call their bluff and remove the entire staff on duty and replace them with “my men” who report to Obama before their own superior officer. It is sad that he won’t challenge the system. He could “deputize” Kucinich to determine if the care is proper and if not, heads should roll. I know I am dreaming, but it is still morning, isn’t it?