State Secrets

Dear Ronald Reagan: Thanks for Wrecking America

Bill Moyers Makes Newt Gingrich Look Like an Idiot

Right's Stupidity Spreads, Enabled by Too-Polite Left

FOCUS | Madonna, Like a Man, and Hated for It

FOCUS: The Cancer in Occupy

Jane Mayer begins: "In speeches, President Obama likes to quote something that Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say: that 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.' Yesterday, after the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruled that people claiming to be torture victims of a US-run intelligence program could get no day in court, it was hard not to feel that the short arc of the Obama Administration has bent, in this instance, toward injustice."

File photo, generic detention facility, 06/15/06. (photo: Sean Duggan)

Comments

+17 # Guest 2010-09-09 20:45

Obama is, in many ways, just another spoke in the wheel of empire. He will not betray Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, Wolfowitz, Ashcroft and the rest of the former Ministry of War who have sullied America's reputation beyond repair. The fact that we are even "debating" the merits and secrets of torture in this country is as sure an indicator as one needs to see the direction we are headed. If President Obama will not stand up and do the right thing concerning this subject you can pretty much bet what the next Republican President will do. And given the state of both the country and the increasingly dumbed downed voting electorate I think its reasonably safe to say a Republican will be our next Commander-in-Chief. At least in terms of military strategy, national security, the upholding of Geneva rights and the alleged "American" concept of justice for all, it appears it doesn't matter whether we get a Republican or a Democrat. Dark, dark days lie ahead.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 03:09

What you say has been true for a while but never focused like it is in this instant. We are being ruled by Corprocrats do awful things in our name and giving us the contractor's bill inflated 5000 times. One can argue that Obama doesn't want to get distracted but the threatto prosecute is ammunition to get uncompromised legislation through...which all means that the crappy, compromised, ineffectual bills Obama has passed are exactly what he has wanted. Where is Ralph Nader when you need him!

+12 # Guest 2010-09-09 21:04

Of course, the current administration acted to suppress these trial proceedings. To have allowed them to become public would have meant this administration and its Justice Department would have to investigate--and, ultimately, indict--Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz for treason. Obama already has stated that is the past, and he wants to only look forward. Thus, one of the most dangerous precedents in our history has been confirmed.

It also reminds us of Nixon's attempted suppression of the Pentagon Papers. Americans were surprised that a Republican President would protect a Democratic President (LBJ), but it was the principle--such as it was--of protecting executive privilege. It didn't work then, almost 40 years ago, but, God help us, it's working today.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:05

What President Obama will get for his refusal to prosecute Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz for treason, is investigations by a Republican Congress, starting next January, into his every trivial act, with the aim of trying to impeach him on some trumped-up charge.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 12:53

It's hard for me to see why the real masters of the Republican Party would impeach Obama when he is serving their interests so well.

+4 # Guest 2010-09-10 16:29

Quoting

It's hard for me to see why the real masters of the Republican Party would impeach Obama when he is serving their interests so well.

Republican? Democrat? The only difference is whether you'd rather sleep with Satan or Lucifer.

Both parties serve the same master.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 18:15

it is not a republican system of govt....Obama cannot wildly depart from precedent set under the prior adm.....what however has happened to the other branches- judicial and legislature...therein lies the problem...there is no counter vailing force

+9 # Guest 2010-09-10 00:46

In response to DaveW. and Kay Lockridge, I would say that we can now put a date on the death of American justice. The precedent being set is so heinous, so dangerous, and call me stupid...but so incomprehensibl e that the implications are completely frightening to me. This is the ultimate statement that government officials at the Federal level, at least, are completely above the law. This is American exceptionalism at its' worst. Its official now. The U.S. does not respect international law, it's own laws no less, and is not trustworthy. The world can now see that we are the enemy of justice and freedom and a threat sufficient to justify every terrorist act comitted against us.
Apparently Obama is completely ignorant of King's famous statement, that an injustice anywhere was an injustice everywhere. No circumstance can justify the crimes our government is willing to commit or cover up. I could not possibly be more ashamed of our government than I am now. Our moral authority is dead.

-1 # Guest 2010-09-10 07:04

Dan: the President is the chief law enforcement officer--at the top of the chain (and is of course ABOVE the Attorney-General)when it comes to the execution of the laws. When the President decides to simply disregard serious violations of law, I would think THAT would qualify as a "high crime and misdemeanor." Let's you and I and everyone who thinks this is the case [looks like just about everyone commenting here on this article] start presenting this notion at every opportunity. Let's try to get this enabler of evil-doings impeached. I don't know that Biden would do a better job; but I can't imagine him doing worse.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:33

You're at risk of a thrashing for saying what you are Tom, but ya' know? You're right! As the President is and the Executive Branch is ultimately responsible for enforcing the laws of the land, covering up for their violations constitute inexcusable complicity...and this is the least of the matter at that. There is a criminal conspiracy afoot and the people better wake up to that. Nixon was brought down for merely trying to do what the prior and current administration has accomplished doing. May they rot for the traitors they are.

-1 # Guest 2010-09-10 00:50

Much ink has been wasted trying to prove Obama is a closet Muslim who forged his birth certificate when he was a baby. In the midst of all this nonsense, a far more relevant observation has gone unnoted: whatever Obama is, he is not a Christian. One wonders how Obama ever wandered into the Christian church of Jeremiah Wright, and one has to be glad if he is no longer in attendance--since he has no sympathy with the kind of concern and compassion that go on in a Christian church. Obama has not gathered with the believers at the well, but with the moneychangers in the Temple. He is among the people Jesus whipped and sent home--the Geithners, the Paulsons, the econo-MISERS on safety-standards and government standards like Ken Salazar and BP, those who have no respect for human rights, and allow themselves manslaughter through criminal negligence, and those who destroy whole gulfs of Mexico, and who build ridiculus walls that make all Americans look stupid.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 07:24

Tom,I agree with you on the absurdity of Obama being a "closet Muslim" and all of the Birther nonsense.I also agree the Geithners and Paulsons,and Salazars of the world along with multi-nationals such as BP have no respect for either human or environmental rights.And that building walls on our border merely make U.S. look stupid.The "Christian Church" on the other hand is not looking so good nowadays.I am NOT seeing prominent members of the Christian theology step forth and condemn the type of racial, illegal,and immoral actions our government and many of our people are currently and,as mentioned with the Bush Adm.,previously involved in. Christian's,in particular,shou ld be stepping forward condemning this type of behavior.Mega-churches in Colorado, California,Texa s,Florida and a host of Bible Belt institutions are, every Sunday, preaching much of the intolerance and hatred that is needed to bolster decisions like the one we're commenting on here.Read "The Family" by author Jeff Sharlett!

+5 # Guest 2010-09-10 08:17

Dave: Somehow I'm sure that you realize that those who esteem themselves as "the Christian Right" pride themselves on having nothing to do with that bleeding-heart-liberal-Jesus who said: "Whatever you do unto one of these--the least of my little ones--you do unto me." The Christian Right hates Jesus; and has invented a religion that has nothing to do with him, but has everything to do with themselves. We're talking of people who seem embroiled in a difficult puberty, who are role-playing "Onward Christian Soldiers," and who are quite sure THEY OWN GOD.

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:55

Tom, You're correct about "the Christian Right" and how they've basically "kidnapped God" for their own nefarious purposes. I realize they're are "good Christian people" out there. It just seems to me that they are often cowed by their louder and more obnoxious pseudo Christian counterparts. "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Christianity, in our country, needs a good "house cleaning." The book I spoke of "The Family", tells of a far flung operation predicated on the concept of "Jesus plus Nothing." That's basically what these people, and you might be surprised to learn just who some of these people are, are expounding. Jesus, to them, is nothing but an iconic "tool" used to further both corporate and political control over large masses of people. It's scary stuff when you read of how deeply they are embedded in our government and in other governments around the world. You sound like a good man and a "good" Christian. We need more like you to speak out and help with the cleansing.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:35

keep telling the truth Tom, no matter what...and vote Democratic in November. Strange to say, things like this become necessary when navigating through this monstrously immoral swamp we find ourselves in.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 04:32

We must observe that we now have state-sponsored murder as well as torture, both formally defended by administrations representing both political parties. There must be a fierce and persistent public outcry planned and pursued by the community of non-governmental organization in the interest of restoring respect for law and human rights in the US and globally. The issue is not specialized or to be compartmentaliz ed. It is the duty of ALLcitizens and all have to join. The plan might oome from a small group, but the mission is clear and urgent and the noise must start now! It could start with the ACLU or the NRDC or .....but START!

+4 # Guest 2010-09-10 04:35

A reminder: According to the Constitution of the United States of America the president does not have control over the Courts. What was not acknowledged is that all parts of our governments, State and Federal, are now under the total control of the Industrial Mafia which is a world wide operation today. Even Hitler would have to take orders from them were he still the leader of Germany. The motto "Obey or Fail/Die if necessary" controls.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-10 05:13

The nation's security evaporates the moment the courts determine that gros misbehavoir by the government must not ever be made public. This protects the individuals who committed the crimes but in disernable fashion does it enhance this nation's security its sense of self or its image in this world.

The court ruling is about as catastrophic as the well known felonies were and remain. The coverup is always more damaging than the crimes because it breeds the sort of conspiracism that runs rampant and degrades our sense of security.

+4 # Guest 2010-09-10 08:31

We the people are no longer in control of the government and we haven't been since the day JFK was murdered. I am not talking conspiracy, I am talking fact. Look at what has happened to this country since his killing, constent war and illegal covert activities. The term illegal in this case is exceedingly subjective because the CIA believes it is above any law national or international. They are the ones that are running our government along with the military industrial complex and big oil. AKA the biggest money makers. Obama is only a pawn in their game and it breaks my heart. He would literally have to put his life on the line if he wanted to take control. He has two young girls so I doubt he is willing to do this, but we need to elect someone who is!

+3 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:35

Jamie: You're right! Obama is daily putting the lives of thousands of Americans on the line as their commander-in-chief. If his own life is so precious to him that he is unwilling to risk it in the performance of his duties, he should never have run. If he now finds that he is a coward, and does not wish the responsibilitie s he holds, he should resign. Read JFK AND THE UNSPEAKABLE. Jack had kids, and loving them dearly, put his life at risk for their future. That's what a President does! As for this man now holding the White House, who can say who he is or what he thinks he's doing?

-2 # Guest 2010-09-10 11:18

Lets have some sense of perspective, please! Since JFK's time, blacks have managed to move to the front of the bus, even to the presidency, women have moved into higher echelons of management, including the supreme court, and gays no longer have to hide in a closet, except in the military. These are no small accomplishments and would not have happened if we weren't exercising control of the government at least some of the time.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:47

Quoting

Lets have some sense of perspective, please! Since JFK's time, blacks have managed to move to the front of the bus, even to the presidency, women have moved into higher echelons of management, including the supreme court, and gays no longer have to hide in a closet, except in the military. These are no small accomplishments and would not have happened if we weren't exercising control of the government at least some of the time.

"Perspective". I get it Sukumar. Well the successes you name pale in comparison to what has been lost. These successes could as easily have been appeasement...concessions made because the fight involved wasn't worth the cost to powers that simply had bigger fish to fry...such as world domination. Too bad that these remarkable achievements have failed to produce a just society. Equality in justice is better than equality in injustice. We have a long way to go.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-10 13:42

Note to Obama: If you weren't prepared to lead at the risk of even your life, you should not have run. Of course Martin Luther King DID lead, and he died with young children to support. See, it's called leadership. Lead, follow or get out of the way comes to mind.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-10 09:17

What bothers me so much about the denial of justice in this case is not only the prevention of plaintiffs' potential reparations but the fact that the court refused to do its job. Judges are required to dispense justice and to refuse to do so is gross misfeasance. Those six judges should be impeached and removed from the bench for obstructing justice. No justice, no job!

+5 # Guest 2010-09-10 10:59

It should be obvious to all, by now, that President Obama and his White House inner circle, have come to love the powers of the Unitary Executive as much as the former occupants of those sacred quarters. The greater danger, now, is that the abuses of Bush and Cheney, which were to have been corrected by the Obama electoral victory, are now being institutionaliz ed by the fact that consecutive Presidents have promoted the identical national security state doctrine. This concept derives from the words and deeds of Hitler's own Crown Jurist, Carl Schmitt, so the larger implications of this patently un-Constitutional and anti-American dogma gaining such sway in the Executive Branch of our Federal government is truly a danger to all.

0 # Guest 2010-09-11 22:41

BOO!
"essentially claimed that protecting state secrets is more important than protecting human rights"
and Boo-hoo to you!

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