PRESIDENT OBAMAS DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE THOSE WHO TORTURED

The President’s release of memos detailing torture or what was deemed, at the time, “so-called” acceptable forms of torture, mean nothing because most of the techniques were exposed years ago. So any talk that remains, is, should those who violated U.S. statutory law be prosecuted? The President has made his decision and he is wrong.

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We must not forget that the President is a politician and an intelligence outsider. He has made his decision so as not to alienate the intelligence community and I fear, to appease those right-wingers who hold fast to some false notion that torture is lawful under certain (or any) circumstances. He also clearly doesn’t want Cheney or Mr. Bush (especially Bush) to answer for their deeds. I’m going to ask you to read the following and make an informed decision regarding prosecution of those who authorized torture and those who performed it.
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UPDATE: 6/3/2010

Bush's Glib Waterboarding Admission Sparks Outrage

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The movie: “The Deer Hunter” (article 1979, edited 2003) [note objectionable language]
http://www.jackfritscher.com/Drummer/Issues/028/Deer%20Hunter.html

Does Torture Work? (June 21, 2004) [there may be a promo before article, skip promo]
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2004/06/21/torture_algiers/index.html

Does Torture Really Work? (June 13, 2005)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7516880/

“24” Versus the Real World (9/20/2006)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/45788

Five Myths about Torture and Truth (12/16/2007)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/13/AR2007121301303.html

The Torture Garden (article 2/6/2008)
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/movies/torture_garden/Content?oid=637385

Torture & Human Rights: A Guide (6/19/2008)
http://www.uusc.org/programs/STOP/index.html

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President Obama's Statement on The Memos

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/us/politics/16text-obama.html

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Bush Torture Memos Released By Obama: See The Complete Documents

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/bush-torture-memos-releas_n_187867.html

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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Was Waterboarded 183 Times in One Month

Emptywheel (April 18, 2009)

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/04/18/khalid-sheikh-mohammed-was-waterboarded-183-times-in-one-month/

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Chuck Todd Depicts Support For Torture Investigations As Outside-The-Mainstream Phenomenon (April 21, 2009)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/chuck-todd-depicts-suppor_n_189647.html

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Love what "Bono Vox" said in his comments 4/22/2009, at the above link: [READ]

"A state-sanctioned torture policy is about as un-American as you can get. Washington wouldn't torture, even though the Brits were torturing thousands (including boys) on ships docked off Brooklyn. Lincoln wouldn't torture, even though his life was endangered. FRD didn't institutionalize torture, and Ike didn't have torture as his policy in the field, even though the free world was at risk. So Chuck Todd not only has the will of the people wrong, he doesn't understand the historic magnitude of what the Bushies did under our flag. Todd's ignorance is despicable.

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After the horrors of WW II, Americans took a hard look at what made us different than the Nazis and the Russians. One of the big AUTHENTIC differences (not just lofty ideology) is that we don't torture. Thousands of German soldiers at the end of the war scrambled to surrender to us and not the Russians because the Russians would torture and kill, while we wouldn't. Torture isn't a minor issue. Frankly, I think it's a lot more important than the economy, as this defines who we are as a nation wheres the economy is cyclical in nature. Do we really want to be on the Hitler-Stalin-Pol Pot side of the torture issue?"

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Regarding SERE and eliciting “false confessions” in order to justify
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[John Yoo-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture_memos#torture_memo]

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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GEORGE BUSH - FAREWELL SPEECH CRITIQUED

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PLEASE PAUSE/STOP MUSIC PLAYER TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE BEFORE STARTING VIDEO

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#28683371

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PRESIDENT BUSH ON FOREIGN POLICY

Sorry guys, yes we’re back to commenting on topics talked about on “Morning Joe” again. President Bush has spoken regarding his foreign policy.

It’s amazing to me that these "so called leaders" have such a lack of creativity and can only envision one way of engaging or dealing with a crisis. It boggles the mind!

I’m sure there have been many points of view on foreign policy and many differing views that don’t involve torture or trampling on the Constitution that would have been just as effective in our efforts to keep this Nation safe.

It is unfortunate that often, stubborn ideology gets in the way almost every time.

Whenever there is crisis, cool heads must prevail and every effort must be made to look for peaceful and effective means to deal with it.

Once that happens, and a consensus is formed, their case must then be made to the American people.

THE BIG LIE -BUSH SAYS RESPONSE TO KATRINA NOT SLOW

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In addition to Bush's many creative, but nonetheless untrue, recounts of his years in office, we add one of his most horrendous,

KATRINA

We, here in Cleveland, will not allow his recount about his actions surrounding Katrina to go unchecked. In a previous post, we heard about the shootings at Algiers Point and we know that inaction, racism, poverty and corruption still exist in Katrina's aftermath.

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We hope that President-elect Obama's Stimulus Recovery Plan will help rebuild, revive and bring jobs to New Orleans.

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So that you know the truth, listen to Rachel Maddow's special segment today.

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Please stop/pause music player on the right hand side of this page.

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