Frank Rich spells it out.
NY Times: The Banality of Bush White House Evil
Yet we still shrink from the hardest truths and the bigger picture: that torture was a premeditated policy approved at our government’s highest levels; that it was carried out in scenarios that had no resemblance to “24”; that psychologists and physicians were enlisted as collaborators in inflicting pain; and that, in the assessment of reliable sources like the F.B.I. director Robert Mueller, it did not help disrupt any terrorist attacks.
As soon as Bybee gave the green light, torture followed...
...the ticking time bomb was not another potential Qaeda attack on America but the Bush administration’s ticking timetable for selling a war in Iraq...
4 comments:
I got news for America ..torture is as American as Apple pie. It was only after WW2 that this became an issue. Before that period you could do as you liked to perceived enemies. Certainly, in the 18th and 19th we used massive amounts of torture against our slaves, prisoners and war captives, as did everyone else I might add. BV$H and his gang are regressives, we saw that in almost all of their policies and so whose surprised that they tapped into a recently buried dark streak in the Nat'l character. To these people torturing ones enemies is ok, even one's political enemies. It's what you get for simply not agreeing with them. It's interesting to note that this is also the crowd that is always all about LAW & ORDER for everyone but themselves. Again, they're ABOVE the common person's laws and codes because they get their power and authority from GOD. It's a pattern. Watching their sycophants and flunkies try and defend this behavior after the case is interesting as well. It's IMHO just like the bankers they want to be absolved and even rewarded for their criminal actions. It's to be seen if Obama has the nuggets to really go after these thugs?
This is the bitter fruit of doing nothing to Nixon or Reagan for their crimes. But, the GOP had no problem if you recall IMPEACHING a sitting President for a BJ and lying about it. I had to add that because it gives us some perspective on what the two sides view as crimes. No wonder things are so fucked up!
Well said.
There isn't much I can add except that some of this behavior gets lumped into the authoritarian personality. From a psychological point of view, its a very ugly thing. I think its based on a fundamental ignorance. These guys equate thoughts and thinking with divinity. So if you get angry, god is telling you you're anger is righteous. Its a very strange club. There is virtually no self awareness. I think Colin Powell for example, fell out of the pack because he actually has a modicum of self awareness. Just a tiny bit that makes him guilty and embarrassed by his Bush association and lying. These guys are not interested in hearing what you have to say, all they want is for you to agree with them or they will gladly kill you or destroy you. Can you imagine what Bush is like without his public persona - very dark critter.
I agree. This is why enforcing the law against them is so important. They're essentially criminals in that they don't really accept societies laws. It's almost funny how they rant on and on about the law in respect to others , but son't seem to understand that these same laws also apply to them. They have a blind spot , I guess? In any event they're extremely dangerous and we failed the last few times to really whack them. Here's another opportunity.
I intend to call my elected officials in DC and say go after these guys. Other than expressing my opinion here, all I can do about it is be a squeaky gear.
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