In a long overdue action, the Serbian government has finally arrested accused war criminal Ratko Mladic, the highest-ranking war crimes suspect still at large from the Balkan wars of the 1990s. Mladic, 69, is accused of genocide, extermination and murder, including the deaths of over 8000 men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995.
He is the former Chief of Staff of the Army of the Republika Srpska (the Bosnian Serb Army) and allegedly committed the atrocities during the Bosnian War 1992–1995.
The world is a far better place this morning with Mladic behind bars. It will be an even better place when he is held accountable for these atrocities.
Serbian President Boris Tadic made the announcement which will help remove a stain of complicity of Serbia in the hiding of Mladic or at least the failure to aggressively pursue the accused war criminal after the war. Tadic simply said “All war criminals must face justice.” Amen, brother, amen.
Source: CNN
Anon nurse,
You are on fire! The Patriot Act is one more way for the government to keep the “professional Left” under control.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/us/27patriot.html
from the article:
During the debate, Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat and a member of the Intelligence Committee, said that the executive branch had come up with a secret legal theory about what it could collect under a provision of the Patriot Act that did not seem to dovetail with a plain reading of the text. “I want to deliver a warning this afternoon: When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry,” Mr. Wyden said. He invoked the public’s reaction to the illegal domestic spying that came to light in the mid-1970s, the Iran-contra affair, and the Bush administration’s program of surveillance without warrants.
Another member of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Udall, Democrat of Colorado, backed Mr. Wyden’s account, saying, “Americans would be alarmed if they knew how this law is being carried out.” (end excerpt)
Senators Say Patriot Act Is Being Misinterpreted
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: May 26, 2011
WASHINGTON — Two senators claimed on Thursday that the Justice Department had secretly interpreted the so-called Patriot Act in a twisted way, enabling domestic surveillance activities that many members of Congress do not understand.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/us/27patriot.html
frank, on May 26, 2011 at 10:10 pm
AN – it may be worse than l’il ol eyeore me thought it was:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/
it seems there may be secret parts of the “Patriot Act”, which already is newspeak for ignorance is knowledge etc. etc., that make it even more patrioty then we have been told.
———————–
frank,
🙂 Thanks for the sorely needed humor…
“Patrioty”, indeed. Very “patrioty”…that old Patriot Act…
Thanks for reposting that link, as well.
As expected,
MAY 26, 2011, 8:04 P.M. ET
US House Votes 250-153 To Approve Patriot Act Extensions
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110526-716892.html
AN – it may be worse than l’il ol eyeore me thought it was:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/
it seems there may be secret parts of the “Patriot Act”, which already is newspeak for ignorance is knowledge etc. etc., that make it even more patrioty then we have been told.
call me when the headline is “Justice catches up to Ratco Cheney”
Lottakatz,
I appreciate your insights on Clapper…
America is sleepwalking its way off a cliff. There are some truly terrible things going on domestically that have yet to come to light… If the truth were to leak out, I think we’d see Congressional hearings, a review of the Patriot Act, and who-knows-what-else but, for now, the truth remains tightly contained. I fear for those that we’ll be leaving behind…
I posted the following to another thread a few days ago:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/coleen-rowley/worldwide-war-provision-m_b_863416.html
From the article:
“A wide-ranging congressional investigation of the sort conducted by the Church Committee is long overdue. And while Congress musters the will to do its job, it should consider the Justice Act as an alternative to Patriot reauthorization.”
(And I know that you would never denigrate real sheep — those of the quadrupedal sort… 🙂 )
Anon Nurse- so they trot out Clapper (spit). I worked for him way down the chain of command, met him and watched him in action over about 3-4 years. He is exactly the kind of man with exactly the kind of mindset you would expect to see rise to that position. He did evil things and deserves no respect. That he gets it and powerful people act on it and what he tells them tells me way more about his audience than can be considered in any way flattering. Sheep. (Though I know that characterization denigrates sheep everywhere.)
As to the Patriot Act- I won’t see it’s repeal in my lifetime IMO, no political entity would give it up willingly and the Congress is lacking in the scruples and spine to take it away. I said that soon after it was put in place and so far there is no reason for me to change my projection. Bah! Humbug!
Of course, our own American war criminals did not match the ‘direct’ human atrocities that occurred under Mladic; however, war criminals of all levels must receive justice. Perhaps one of these days—if justice prevails—we will rejoicingly sing these new words to the tune of an old hymnal on our way to get our main man war criminal that is hiding out openly in a place called Texas.
We Marching to Dallas
Ugly, ugly, Dallas
We’re marching onward to Dallas
To dewater (board) a shrub called bush
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/patriot-act-extension-white-house_n_867608.html
White House Patriot Act Extension: Obama Puts The Screws To Congress by Sam Stein
Anon nurse, thanks for the link right back atcha’. Secrets within secrets within secrets- it’s starting to feel like we all live in “The Village”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eUKogPF7s
Meanwhile in Wisconsin the first level of judicial review has kicked Walker’s collective bargaining stripping law and Walker signs a new law making it more difficult to vote. I’m glad that Walker and his merry band of corporate bootlicks are being reminded that even the powerful are supposed to follow simple, clearly written laws. Also that their democracy-hating policies are again the stuff of news, just to remind the voters what the upcoming special elections are all about. There are going to be some pissed off citizens when they find out they can no longer vote.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/26/judge-voids-controversial-wisconsin-anti-union-law/
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/26/wisconsin-gov-walker-signs-new-voter-restrictions-into-law/
Thanks for the rawstory link, Lottakatz.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/
There’s a Secret Patriot Act, Senator Says
By Spencer Ackerman
May 25, 2011
Excerpt:
You may think you understand how the Patriot Act allows the government to spy on its citizens. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) says it’s worse than you’ve heard.
…story continues…
It’s worth noting that Wyden is pushing a bill providing greater privacy protections for geolocation info.
For now, Wyden’s considering his options ahead of the Patriot Act vote on Thursday. He wants to compel as much disclosure as he can on the secret interpretation, arguing that a shadow broadening of the Patriot Act sets a dangerous precedent.
“I’m talking about instances where the government is relying on secret interpretations of what the law says without telling the public what those interpretations are,” Wyden says, “and the reliance on secret interpretations of the law is growing.”
Site: Oregon.gov
I’m glad Mladic was arrested and look forward to his conviction. I got to know a Croatian refugee from the Bosnian war and the likes of Mladic need to be hunted down, given a fair trial and hung. He and the murderous militias he commanded (or unleashed) all need to be brought to justice.
OTOH I wouldn’t hold my breath until our war criminals are brought to justice. People that oppose lack of oversight of the Patriot Act are still being accused of siding with the terrorists. That’s not exactly a climate in which justice will flourish:
” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Paul introduced an amendment to the PATRIOT Act on Monday that attempts to safeguard American’s civil liberties by increasing oversight of government surveillance powers.
“He’s fighting for an amendment to protect the right – not of average citizens, but of terrorists – to cover up their gun” purchases, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said on the Senate floor, according to the Los Angeles Times. “If he thinks that it’s going to be a badge of courage on his side to have held this up for a few hours, he’s made a mistake.” ”
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/sen-rand-paul-responds-to-accusations-of-supporting-terrorists/
Buddha,
That was not Freudian was it…..
BIL – NP, franks is much better than what I am used to being called 8-{D
WOW he had been at large for some time. Now, onto Dallas!
“1, May 26, 2011 at 8:43 am
I hope, some day soon, there will be an American President that can also make the statement, “All war criminals must face justice.” with a straight face.”
That is the problem…..they can and do…..
Pardon, Frank, no “s”. Uncooperative fingers this morning.
What Franks said.
That and I’m very glad this particular monster has been pulled out from under the bed by the nape of his neck.
I hope, some day soon, there will be an American President that can also make the statement, “All war criminals must face justice.” with a straight face.