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Title: GOP Stands Up For U.S. Right to Torture
Source:
Common Dreams
URL Source: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1011-31.htm
Published: Oct 13, 2005
Author: Molly Ivins
Post Date: 2005-10-13 10:59:09 by Zoroaster
Keywords: Torture, Stands, Right
Views: 252
Comments: 29
Published on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 by WorkingForChange GOP Stands Up For U.S. Right to Torture by Molly Ivins On one of those television gong shows that passes for journalism, the panelists used to have to pick an Outrage of the Week. Then, each performer would wax indignant about his or choice for 60 seconds or so. If someone asked me to name the Outrage of the Week about now, I'd have a coronary. How could anyone possibly choose? I suppose the frontrunner is the anti-torture amendment. Sen. John McCain proposed an amendment to the military appropriations bill that would prohibit "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of prisoners in the custody of the U.S. military. This may strike you as a "goes without saying" proposition -- the amendment passed the Senate 90 to nine. The United States has been signing anti-torture treaties under Democrats and Republicans for at least 50 years. But the Bush administration actually managed to find some weasel words to create a loophole in this longstanding commitment to civilized behavior. According to the Bushies, if the United States is holding a prisoner on foreign soil, our soldiers can still subject him or her to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment -- the very forms of torture used by the soldiers who were later prosecuted for their conduct at Abu Ghraib. Does this make any sense, moral or common? So deeply does President Bush feel our country, despite all its treaty commitments, has a right to torture that he has threatened to veto the bill if it passes. This would the first time in five years he has ever vetoed anything. Think about it: Five years of stupefying pork, ideological nonsense, dumb administrative ideas, fiscal idiocy, misbegotten energy programs -- and the first thing the man vetoes is a bill to pay our soldiers because it carries an amendment saying, once again, that this country does not torture prisoners. This is the United States of America. It is our country, not George W. Bush's personal property. The United States of America still stands for the rights of man, for freedom, dignity and justice. We do not torture helpless prisoners. Our soldiers are not the SS, not the North Vietnamese who tortured McCain and others for years on end, not bestial Argentinean fascists, not the Khmer Rouge. Remember, we invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein was such a horrible brute that he tortured people. This is beyond disgusting. The House Republicans, which have no shame, will try to weaken McCain's amendment. They need to hear from decent Republicans all over this country. Don't leave this hideous stain on your party's name. This is NOT what America stands for. We've had more loathsome and more dangerous enemies than Al-Qaida and managed to defeat them without resorting to torture. And leading the charge in the House will be Tom DeLay, that pillar of moral rectitude and Christian mercy. Wait a minute: Didn't DeLay have to step down from his leadership position after he got indicted? Well, yes, but some step-downs are more down than others. There was The Hammer in full glory last Friday, twisting arms and working the floor on behalf of a real cutie of a bill to benefit the oil companies. Even Republicans revolted. As Rep. Sherwood Boehlert said, "We are enriching people, but we are not doing anything to give the little guy a break." This bill was so awful the leadership had to hold the vote open for 40 minutes, a clear violation of House rules -- there's a five-minute limit on votes of this kind -- while the Republican leaders roamed the floor, cajoling, bullying and threatening. I have become inured to Bush's idea of foreign policy, which is to tell the rest of the world, "Kiss my behind." But the policy does result in some lovely ironies. On Friday, Mohamed ElBaradei, the highly respected head of the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Quite apart from whether you support George Bush or not, ElBaradei and the IAEA deserve the honor -- they have been both diligent and effective. ElBaradei was right when he repeatedly warned the Bush administration Iraq did not have any weapons of mass destruction and has said the day the United States invaded "was the saddest in my life." But you know our boy George: not for him the gracious, "Gee, you were right, and we wrong after all." Nope, after ElBaradei was proved right, Bush tried to have him fired. And the man in charge of carrying out the campaign to have the guy fired for being right? John Bolton, now our ambassador to the United Nations. Liar of the week: George W. Bush said on his Saturday radio address a week and a half ago that Iraq has 100 battalions of battle-ready soldiers. By the time he got to his television address on Thursday, it was 80 battalions. (I guess it's worse to lie if they're taking pictures of you.) Unfortunately, the next day Gen. George Casey, who oversees U.S. forces in Iraq, said of those 80, the number of Iraqi battalions fit to fight independently of U.S. support had slipped from three to one. One, three, 80, 100 -- if this is Tuesday, it must be ... Molly Ivins is the former editor of the liberal monthly The Texas Observer. She is the bestselling author of several books including Who Let the Dogs In?
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#1. To: Zoroaster (#0)
Good job, Mollie.
We were just talking about this the other night.. Let him dust off the Veto Pen for this. They think Nominating Harriet was a Political mistake? It's nothing compared the shit storm that would follow a veto on this bill. I want him to sitck to his guns and do it, but I don't think uncle Karl will let him. Excellent article, btw.. Thanks.
"When the government FEARS the People, there is liberty, but when the People fear the government, there is tyranny."
This may strike you as a "goes without saying" proposition -- the amendment passed the Senate 90 to nine. Anyone know who the nine are? "Who Let the Dogs In?" - great title for her book.
Is there any doubt we are a rogue nation?
Wayne Allard (R-CO) "A functioning police state needs no police." - William S. Burroughs
In other words, the Bush administration lost the Republican leadership in the Senate of Frist, McConnell, and Santorum.
I couldn't help but notice most of the nine come from Bible Belt states.
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S. Burroughs
Whap him on the head again, Molly. Indeed, one of the latter excuses given for attacking a non-aggressive, sovereign nation was that the Our liar in chief was so pissed--not because of torture in and of itself but rather because it was Saddam and not he--being in charge. It's one thing for Saddam's regime to do it; and completely different if the 'r's are doing it. Decent Republicans? Sorry Molly gal.....you lose on that one. If they were decent, they would be horrified at what this sonofabitch (yes, folks, his momma is a bitch) has done to this nation and the world with his folly. Instead, there are brownnosers and knee- padders defending everything he does, or feebly trying to justify or make excuses for.
Madison said in Federalist No. 46 that the proposed new federal government would never dare encroach on the people's rights, since to any regular army "would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million citizens with arms in their hands." To which Madison's friend Tench Coxe added "Who are the militia? are they not ourselves? Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and EVERY OTHER TERRIBLE IMPLEMENT OF THE SOLDIER, are the birth-right of an American. ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." (Coxe's "Examination of the Constitution," 1788.)
Good rant, rowdee, America may not survive the Bush family.
Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think.
Thanks Dak. And your other post appears rather accurate too, they are all from the Bible belt, although a subset. That is not each and every Senator from the Bible belt voted this way.
Hey, they are AWOL from that list.
That was not meant a criticism of religion, but rather of religiousity. I realise there is a difference between TV preachers and the real thing, although the lines seem to blur as the percentage of rapture monkeys increases in any given area.
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S. Burroughs
No doubt most, if not all, of the nine are Christian Zionists doing what they believe is God's work, that is torture against Israel's enemies is okay.
Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think.
GW Bush invariably picks the biggest asshole he can find for the job at hand.
It was an astute observation. It isn't your fault if the facts point in one direction.
Sessions nose is so brown! There is nothing-zip-zilch=nada that the liar in chief does that is wrong in his eyes. It's so bad that the liar in chief could actually kill someone on national television in front of sessions.......and that bastard would find a way to justify the killing. I have never seen during years of watching cspan any demoncrap any worse than he in the kneepad department. I detest him.
I called my congressman's office (Republican) to voice my opinion and asked what his position was on the McCain amendment. I said that how can we as a country criticize other countries for human rights violations when the president said he'll veto the amendment? I also said that it was the height of hypocrisy and beyond my comprehension that Bush would consider a veto.
Isn't it a telling statement about the administration, though, that this particular issue is what he is threatening to dust off the veto pen for? He couldn't be bothered to veto McCain-Feingold, even though he thought that it was unconstitutional (can't let principle get in the way of politics, I guess), he couldn't be bothered to veto pork laden appropriations bills, but let anything have a whiff of trying to restrict his power, and that's worthy of a veto. It's not even really a restriction of his power, because he shouldn't be allowing it, or advocating torture anyway. I'll never forget when Graner said that he treated prisoners in the manner that he did because he didn't know what the Geneva Conventions said, and then said that in civilian life he was a prison guard of all things. I'd love to see what kind of treatment was going on in the prison where he worked!
"Rivers of blood were spilled out over land that, in normal times, not ever the poorest Arab would have worried his head over"--Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
It's plenty telling and I cannot get over the disconnect of the bots who continue to support the insanity. I wonder how much longer they will drag their feet in the release of the torture photos and videos? This is Bush and the military's worst nightmare.
I can't even envision a scenario during the Cold War that would have had any administration getting away with the contortions and perversion of language that is going on with these people. I guess it shows that many people don't care what goes on, as long as it's their guy doing it. I'm waiting for the other photos to go missing or for some executive privilege or some such being invoked to continue to prevent the American people from knowing the true extent of what is being done in their name abroad. I've got a pretty good idea of how bad things probably are after talking with soldiers in Iraq, and others who have been in similar situations during other times. They'll invoke the "it'll damage their perceptions of us" bullshit, but it would be truly difficult to make the Iraqi people in general dislike us any more than they already do. The real damage to the administration would be domestic, where the Bush uber alles types would have problems rationalizing it away.
"Rivers of blood were spilled out over land that, in normal times, not ever the poorest Arab would have worried his head over"--Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
That's something I hadn't considered.. and if Bush uses executive privilege no doubt because the pics haven't been seen by the general public, the Bush apologists will latch on to the BS .. and you're right, there isnt much more that could be done for the Iraqis to hate us more and the rest of the world particularly those in the mideast save one or maybe two countries.
Hi, I'm Hall E Lewiuah, Director of Bible & Torture Manual sales for the midwest.. We're having a special this week. Free thumbscrews with the purchase of $20.00 in sheet music. Remember, the Big Guy loves everyone, but he'll still let us jam a flashlight up your rear end! So get your mind right, and smile! Always smile!
"When the government FEARS the People, there is liberty, but when the People fear the government, there is tyranny."
THE U.S. BUSH KNOWS IS NOT THE POINT - Links "The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of law-abiding nations in prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all acts of torture and in undertaking to prevent other cruel and unusual punishment." "It's important for all nations, throughout the world, to treat any prisoners well. And that is something the United States always expects, and the United States always does."
laughing..
If there is any justice Ari and Smirk may get a taste of their own definition of acceptable treatement of prisoners someday.
I wish someone in the press corps had the 'nads to ask the Chimp or his mouthpiece Squealer ("tactics, comrades, tactics!") how this squares with the "moral values" they are supposed to represent.
October 14, 2005 Executive Order: 2005 Amendments to the Manual for Courts Martial, United States
The significance of a lot of those changes to the Manual for Courts Martial isn't obvious on a first reading. I was struck, however, by their making patronizing a prostitute a criminal offense. Aren't whorehouses common outside U.S. military bases abroad?
#2. To: Zoroaster (#0)
..he has threatened to veto the bill if it passes. This would the first time in five years he has ever vetoed anything. Think about it: Five years of stupefying pork, ideological nonsense, dumb administrative ideas, fiscal idiocy, misbegotten energy programs -- and the first thing the man vetoes is a bill to pay our soldiers because it carries an amendment saying, once again, that this country does not torture prisoners.
#3. To: Zoroaster, All (#0)
I suppose the frontrunner is the anti-torture amendment. Sen. John McCain proposed an amendment to the military appropriations bill that would prohibit "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of prisoners in the custody of the U.S. military.
One if by land, two if by sea...how many if they are already here?
#4. To: Zoroaster (#0)
#5. To: robin (#3)
Anyone know who the nine are?
Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
#6. To: Dakmar (#5)
#7. To: aristeides (#6)
#8. To: Zoroaster (#0)
Remember, we invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein was such a horrible brute that he tortured people. This is beyond disgusting. The House Republicans, which have no shame, will try to weaken McCain's amendment. They need to hear from decent Republicans
president of Iraq dictator of Iraq used torture against his people.
#9. To: Dakmar, everyone here (#7)
#10. To: rowdee (#8)
#11. To: Dakmar (#5)
Wayne Allard (R-CO)
Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Ted Stevens (R-AK) One if by land, two if by sea...how many if they are already here?
#12. To: aristeides (#6)
In other words, the Bush administration lost the Republican leadership in the Senate of Frist, McConnell, and Santorum.
One if by land, two if by sea...how many if they are already here?
#13. To: robin (#11)
#14. To: Dakmar, aristeides, robin (#7)
I couldn't help but notice most of the nine come from Bible Belt states.
#15. To: Zoroaster (#0)
But you know our boy George: not for him the gracious, "Gee, you were right, and we wrong after all." Nope, after ElBaradei was proved right, Bush tried to have him fired. And the man in charge of carrying out the campaign to have the guy fired for being right? John Bolton, now our ambassador to the United Nations.
#16. To: Dakmar (#13)
One if by land, two if by sea...how many if they are already here?
#17. To: robin (#11)
#18. To: Zoroaster (#0)
#19. To: Zipporah (#18)
I also said that it was the height of hypocrisy and beyond my comprehension that Bush would consider a veto
#20. To: historian1944 (#19)
#21. To: Zipporah (#20)
#22. To: historian1944 (#21)
I'm waiting for the other photos to go missing or for some executive privilege or some such being invoked to continue to prevent the American people from knowing the true extent of what is being done in their name abroad. I've got a pretty good idea of how bad things probably are after talking with soldiers in Iraq, and others who have been in similar situations during other times. They'll invoke the "it'll damage their perceptions of us" bullshit, but it would be truly difficult to make the Iraqi people in general dislike us any more than they already do. The real damage to the administration would be domestic, where the Bush uber alles types would have problems rationalizing it away.
#23. To: Dakmar (#13)
#24. To: Jhoffa_, Zipporah, christine, robin (#23)
George W. Bush
ARI FLEISCHER - May 7 , 2003. 
#25. To: Jhoffa_ (#23)
#26. To: Uncle Bill (#24)
One if by land, two if by sea...how many if they are already here?
#27. To: Zoroaster (#0)
#28. To: aristeides (#6)
#29. To: Uncle Bill (#28)
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