Intelligence officials claim that releasing the Senate’s torture report will cost American lives.
This is simply an attempt at CYA … no different from the NSA’s claim that revealing the extent of its mass surveillance would hurt national security.
Trying to Cover Up the Crime
American law – and top government officials – have said that the type of torture the U.S. engaged in is a crime.
People speaking out against releasing the torture report are simply trying to cover up the crime …
Matthew Alexander – a former top Air Force interrogator who led the team that tracked down Abu Musab al-Zarqawi – notes that government officials knew they are vulnerable for war crime prosecution:
They have, from the beginning, been trying to prevent an investigation into war crimes.
Why Releasing the Torture Report Will SAVE American Lives
Releasing the Senate torture report will actually save American lives.
Specifically, a top American counter-terrorism expert – former Chairman of the Department of International Studies at the National War College, number 2 counter-terror official at the State Department, and author of numerous books on terrorism (Terry Arnold) – told Washington’s Blog that prosecuting those who created the American torture program will REDUCE attacks against the U.S. and American troops.
How could this be? Well, top experts say that torture doesn’t produce any actionable intelligence … the only thing it produces is more terrorists.
Arnold explains that terrorists already know all about the torture. So it’s the American people – not the terrorists – who will be shocked by what’s in the torture report.
But publishing the report will demonstrate that America is actually backing away from its previous torture policy … which will have a huge impact on reducing terrorism. (Similarly, Arnold says that closing Guantanamo and releasing the majority of detainees who American government officials say are completely innocent would help reduce terrorism).
Similarly, Darrel Vandeveld – former prosecutor in the Guantanamo military commissions, and current Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve – wrote:
Torture is a crime and the United States engaged in it. Those are two indisputable facts…
The process of self-examination and accountability has been, and remains, the only way to move forward and regain our moral and legal grounding…
We have a Department of Justice for a reason, and now it’s up to Attorney General Holder, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, to do his job and appoint an independent prosecutor to follow the evidence where it may lead…
It is critical that we hold accountable those who authorized, those who legally sanctioned and those who implemented the torture policies of one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history. What is at stake is nothing less than our democracy.
General Ricardo Sanchez, the former top coalition commander in Iraq, called for a Truth Commission so we might fully understand the failure of the military and civilian command to honor the pledge of our constitution.
Sanchez . . .stressed that the outcome must embrace a variety of solutions, including prosecution.
Sanchez stated, “When the president made the declaration that the Geneva Conventions no longer apply, we unleashed the hounds of hell and eliminated all the foundations for the training, ethics and structure we had built into our soldiers and our leaders for how to conduct these kinds of operations.”
Sanchez stated many problems could be traced to loyalties to individuals and political parties.
Former President Jimmy Carter is also calling for a truth commission with the possibility of prosecution:
“[I] like to see is a complete examination of what did happen, the identification of any perpetrators of crimes against our own laws or against international law,” said Carter. “And then after all that’s done, decide whether or not there should be any prosecutions.”
So – while the folks involved in the torture program are trying to stay out of jail – the reality is that releasing the report will save American lives.
I guess that 2 week Top gun school didn't work out for ISIS.
Maybe they should take another airfield (with airworthy aircraft).
Thanks George for revealing the true identities of the ISIS members; Zionists spreading the faith. You're getting more hysterical with each propaganda piece.
Nice number 1 ...
man the hasbara trolls are quick off the mark with the downvoting.
>> man the hasbara trolls are quick off the mark with the downvoting.
They act like a down arrow means something, when what really matters are documentable facts. You don't see the hasbara posting refuting historical facts, or anything else factual for that matter.
The arrow thingy...Pffft.
Piece work motivates, potato man.
If the Republic is ever restored a South African style Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be an excellent idea..
regarding war crimes: it is highly likely that in the future former US military and civilian contractors might very well face a Pinochet type arrest.
In recent years Kissinger,Rumsfeld and Bush II have been forced to curtail visits or actually flee from arrest warrants while abroad
“It was wrong to say from the beginning that Assad must go -- although it is a desirable ultimate goal,” Kissinger said in an interview with the German weekly Der Spiegel, Press TV reported.
“I don't agree that the Syrian crisis can be interpreted as a ruthless dictator against a helpless population and that the population will become democratic if you remove the dictator,” he pointed out.
The veteran American politician noted that from the outset of the Syrian crisis the US “should have had a dialogue with Russia and asked what outcome we want in Syria, and formulate a strategy together.”
Since late September, the US and some of its Arab allies -- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates -- have been conducting airstrikes against ISIL inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.
Some analysts have maintained that the United States and its allies have seized on the ISIL threat to target the Syrian government.
Washington and its allies have long been accused of funding and arming the militancy in Syria since the outbreak of the crisis in the Arab country in early 2011.
On October 14, US President Barack Obama called for more support for militants fighting the Syrian government and asked the US-led coalition to be prepared for a long military campaign against the ISIL terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria.
Obama has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and more recently the Pentagon to arm and equip what he called moderate Syrian militants out of bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey ostensibly to battle ISIL terrorists.
Many of these so-called moderate militants, however, have pledged allegiance to the ISIL group that has been committing heinous crimes in Iraq and Syria.
http://www.iran-daily.com/resource/images/item-print.png) no-repeat;"> http://www.iran-daily.com/resource/images/item-save.png) no-repeat;"> KeyWords Kissinger US was wrong Resource: Press TV CommentsPutin does nothing and will not act. The mutual defense agreement with Iran is worthless. Syria will fall and Iran is next. There is no value in friendship with Russia in a military sense other than a source for ammunition. Putin hopes the endless wars will wear down support in the US and so he keeps the bloodbath going and will not intervene. Iraq, Libya, Serbia, Kosovo, Syria, Ukraine.
Why not stop this? Putin does not want to burn bridges with the west for himself and Russian elites. They want to force a compromise in the end in which the west gets to exploit Russian natural resources but Putin and the elite can either remain in power and profit also - or Putin and the elite can take their riches out of Russia and live in another country if Russia gets too dangerous for them.
Putin sells gas to WUk at a nice discount, that is not in Russia's interest but is in the interest of profits for the elite. Stopping Iraq2, Libya, Serbia would have been easily done and in Russia's interest but would have burned bridges and resulted in the Russia elites being executed when/if Russia falls.
Now you know why Putin cancelled the signed agreement to sell anti air systems to Syria and Iran. If they were used against Israel or Nato bridges get burned. Putin will allow them to be destroyed and will again use the blood of Russia's "friends" in a hope to wear out the US public's taste for war. (Will not happen.) China see's Putin and the actions of it's elites clearly and will not expose China in support of Russia.
...hope to wear out the US public's taste for war. (Will not happen.)...
I fear you are correct. As long as our Dear Leader stokes the fires of racial tension and the US economy flounders to the point the only viable alternative for the crop of youth exiting our co-opted and pitiful government education systems see military enlistment as the way to advance in society, place your bets on the status quo.
Long gone are the hopes of anything resembling a fourth estate and the duties to freedom they were meant to secure. Icrap and Gates' MS silicon solution have failed miserably to provide the Tomorrowland of "Information".
Nuke the Fed.
jmo.
Ofcourse since the S300 and for that matter S400 have never been tested against a real foe - it is very likely they don't work. After all would you give your defence tech to another nation who will almost certainly use it and then find out it does not work only later then to realise it doesn't work for you either when NATO or a like come knocking at your door? no. OK Ukraine isn't there door but it's close.
You talk of blood but that is also the pact that holds Shia Iranian and Shia Syria together. They will go down together. Who else goes with them is another debate.
That is a new thoght on the S300 and S400. If they proved not to be as scary and effective as Russia claims then other Russian defenses would be in question also. That also might tie into why those systems are not in EUk, as there is little threat of them being captured without Russia being able to destroy them before or after capture. (Other than burning bridges with the West for the elites.)
If Iran is going to effectively support Syria they need to get to it. Syria is getting destroyed now. Just like Iraq 1 many say Iran will be different. I think the destruction of Iran's culture will be much more dramatic but just as easily done if direct US involvement takes place.
or maybe you don't put out your best to countries that will use it because it then opens up the tech to the opposition and allows them to create counter measures.
so even if they work exactly like they are supposed to, their very use would allow the US/NATO, etc. to study and counter them, thus degrading Russia's own air defence.
If ISIL takes control of Syria the US will likely intervene creating another giant clusterfuck in the region. Israel is just setting the US up to do it's dirty work.
At least Iran is our friend again.
Which loon coined “Bomb, bomb, bomb…Iran?”
That would be Hillary Clinton, while John McCain was doing back-up vocals.
As far as Israel bombing Syria, I don't agree with the aggression of this bombing by Israel but let's face it, if Syria can not control it's skies, it's in big trouble. I would think some of that advanced Russian gear should be able to blow those fighters out of the sky. If not, you can't control Jew's acting badly (even if it's really just the Zionist bastards)
"by way of deception thou shalt do war" - Mossad Motto
See also - "By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky [former Mossad Officer]
Print Length: 372 pages
Publisher: Wilshire Press (October 1, 2009)
ASIN: B002RL9NL2
And dat ain't all folks!
http://pocketsandshasha.blogspot.com/2014/12/top-putin-aide-mossad-train...
Moar?
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.630461
Conspiracy Fact: UN reports confirm Israel aiding ‘rebels’, Al-Qaeda groups fighting in Syria
Must-Know Facts about the Chokehold Killing of Eric Garner
Must Know Facts? Really?
GW, you seem to have excluded the Must-Know Fact that Garner was a 400-pound morbidly-obese asthmatic that died of a heart attack and not choking, while resisting arrest.
You also exclude the Must-Know Fact that anyone saying, "I can't breathe," clearly can breath.
You also exclude the Must-Know Fact that the autopsy showed no throat damage.
Why did you exclude these facts GW? They seem far more important, to me, than the Must-Know Fact you did include in your article.
thanks for the tip
i'll never protest their choke holds again
Or, since it is so pervasive, let's protest all of their choke hold deaths where the person isn't 200 pounds overweight and actually dies from asphyxiation.
Help me to list those victims:
1. _________________________________
all I can say hedgeless is that I have practised criminal law for 23 years, was a prosector for ten, trained officers in investigation and suspect engagement, have taught criminal procedure and evidence at a major univeristy and served as an expert witness in US criminal procedure in a canadian murder trial
In my humble opinion, and like everything else, the quality and transparency of police work is dropping and the violence is increasing. So too is their immunity.
Threadjacking to "USA's Police Brutality Cases" so close to the Article makes you look like a Exteme_Zionist/Xian-Cult_Israelism Shill, Hedgeless.
Threadjacking?
George's teaser at the top of this page reads:
I see it on the very bottom Today - after the Article, under the "Also:" links to other articles.
I didn't see any links to chokeholds in the Main Body of the Article when I scanned it a few times when I posted this.
Maybe the Tylers are editing the page layout.
EDIT
With all due respect, this Thread "is" about ISIS and ISR - whose IDF apparrently is acting as an Air Force for them. Your posting near the Top diverted the readership to talk about the chokeholds rather than ISIL' and their "Benefactor of Conicidence".
Who knows - ISIL may sign a Peace Treaty with ISR so it can focus on pushing back IRN while taking on SYR(Access Med), IRQ(Gulf), and maybe LEB(Access Med), KWT(Gulf), and KSA(both Gulfs and the Moneyshot for the Holy Sites and wresting its Oil and OPEC Pole Position - unless USA jumps in with boot (unlikely - especially if ISIL claims that it will resume oil sales from that territory ASAP w/a discount for the troubles)). That may give ISR some breathing room, too, with SYR and LEB neutralized.
If I compress your chest so that you cannot inflate your lungs then you cannot breathe. I hate hate hate stupid. If you can exhale enough to vibrate your vocal cords then you can speak, exhalation is mostly CO2. So an obesse man can die from lack of O2 by chest compression and still speak just not well. Heart can be slowed as well leading to Heart attack, ie lack of O2 to heart.
In order to arrest someone there must be a presumption of a crime that exists. Do they sit on our chests for traffic stops ? or only on Cigarette tax avoidance ?
Wow! You packed quite a few red herrings into that little post. Here is my favorite:
That is truly fascinating stuff.
However, we are discussing George Washington's Must-Know Facts about the Chokehold Killing of Eric Garner.
Consider, down arrows:
When George says “must know facts,” much more is now coming out than the quotes from Bush, Napolitano, Krauthammer, with Red State, the NY Post, and even the Southern Baptist Convention.
To all of George’s facts, let’s also debate the chokehold…as police forces throughout the country are now identifying the officer’s action as a headlock, used in thousands of arrests a year. A chokehold, they say, would have brought constant pressure on the person’s neck, compressing the windpipe or cutting the flow of blood to the carotid artery, rendering the person unconscious.
As well, the medical examiner’s press release on the cause of death is premature as the final autopsy report has not been released.
The point is, as you say Hedge, he was not unconscious, he was still saying, “I can’t breathe.”
"You also exclude the Must-Know Fact that anyone saying, "I can't breathe," clearly can breath."
That's silly. I can say "I can't breath" without inhaling or exhaling. Not for long and it doesn't sound right but I can do it.
What's up with the crusade to defend cops? You have fallen into the divide and conquer trap.
Silly? Any anesthesiologist or ENT specialist will tell you that if a person can speak, then he can breath.
Seems to me that maybe it is you that is baiting the divide and conquer trap.
HH, I see this as a 2-sided coin, so for shits&grins, maybe you can help me understand (from the link below) how 15 heart attack cop deaths are listed as "Line of Duty" and not just fat-slob-doughnut-clogged arteries? Sincere thanks, BT
http://www.odmp.org/search/year
That's just non-sense. I'm disappointed that so many make excuses for bad acts by cops. In this instance it seems to be because this guy is black. YOu posted a picture of apes yourself the other day showing your hand.
I think Scott Olson here eventually got a big award from the tax coffers but "they" could never find out who did this. The kid didn't die but he got hurt pretty fucking bad. Ther3e were a lot of voices ot there condemning this kid as an occupy agitator with no job who loved to shit on the sidewalk. Result: nobody got in trouble. He desrverved it...if only he hadn't been doing this or that it wouldn't have happened. That's what you're doing. He's too fat, etc. he deserved it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61lQUaLknPc
sorry for crapping on your thread GW
Ahh.
The racist card.
Well, we can only play the cards we are dealt.
You played the race car mother-fucker not me. You're still doing it while trying to take the high road and pretend you're not.
That's right!
Forget intelligent discourse or debate.
Burn this bitch down mother-fucker!
When somebody's ignorant, he's ignorant, hedgeless.
Use your contributor account and write your own thing to straighten everybody out.
"Cops Not Guilty Again" by HH...don't forget to include the ape pictures, doctor expert witnesses, and the rest of the video that only you apparently have seen.
It could be a good lesson...never resist the cops for any reason whatsoever because death.
Never resist the poleece less u are ready to go 100%, MG was not rdy.
Now I am with you the cops are outta hand but this case ...idk
Being able to say "I can't breathe" does not necessitate the taking of a fresh breath. He used his last remaining breath to say those words, then died.
Since you love that thug cop so much, why dontcha marry him. I kid, but you get my point.
You are wrong on the physiology. Any anesthesiologist or ENT specialist will tell you that if a person can speak, then he can breath. In addition, Garner speaks more than just three words on the video.
i know it's late to the postings but this is beyond stupid. Breathing and not being able to breathe is not an on or off. Your analysis is stupid. Ask any anesthesiologist or ENT specialist if breathing capacity affects whether a person lives or dies and can they still die while still being able to breathe but if their capacity is severely restricted.
How many have heard a patient person, friend, coworker say 'i can't breathe' when they clearly can. Maybe what they meant as they gasp for air, is that they can't breathe normally and it is affecting their ability to function. Maybe when you are in a situation where your breathing is severely restricted, you are just trying to get your point across and say ' I can't breathe' rather than 'I can still breathe, but my breathing is being severely restricted due to the choking and compression, so can you please stop so that I can get my breathe back'
That you are so stupid to argue that he could breathe beause he could say it shows how superficial and shallow your thought process is. Just a decrease in the amount of oxygen getting into the body can cause irreparable harm and death.
So, yes, maybe he could breathe a little, enough to not suffocate immeditately and enough to say 'I can't breathe' but maybe not enough to stay alive.
Your point about him being able to breathe is really just stupid.
Breathing Cycle = Inhalation + Exhalation
Sound = Vocal Exhalation + Vocal Cord Deflections
Production of sound does not necessitate inhalation, but does necessitate a supply of air being present to exhale. That supply, used to make the final sounds, was his last breath.
Thank you, Dr. Skateboarder, for sharing your expert opinion on this matter. You and Dr. Beans should go into practice together. Anesthesiologists and ENT surgeons are still doing ok, even with today's reimbursements.
You are welcome, Mr. Horseman. Please do visit the SkateBeans Center For People Who Have Been Choked by the Po-Po and Can't Breathe Good sometime.
Do you take Obamacare?
If so, then are you going to collect the huge deductibles and 30% co-insurance amounts before you treat, or will you just bill the patients after rendering treatment and hope for the best?
Unpaid med interns, as far as the eye can see, volunteer their time to care for these wounded souls. They and their parents, brainwashed to pay for college no matter what, find it perfectly acceptable to pay to volunteer at a revered establishment such as The SBCFPWHBCbtPaCBG. Management is distributed among the interns to keep things truly non-profit - a dedicated adminitration and administrative salaries do not exist. Cash donations are welcome, bitchez.
Thanks for the laughs both of you.
Dr. F. N. Beans
to speak, you need air flowing outward from the lungs past the vocal cords. you do not need to inhale in order to speak, in fact it's very difficult to speak while inhaling.