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President Obama Praises "Patriotic" Torturers, Says USA "Greatest Force For Human Dignity The World Has Ever Seen"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The White House just released President Obama's response to the CIA Torture Report...

 

 

Statement by the President Report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Throughout our history, the United States of America has done more than any other nation to stand up for freedom, democracy, and the inherent dignity and human rights of people around the world.  As Americans, we owe a profound debt of gratitude to our fellow citizens who serve to keep us safe, among them the dedicated men and women of our intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency.  Since the horrific attacks of 9/11, these public servants have worked tirelessly to devastate core al Qaeda, deliver justice to Osama bin Laden, disrupt terrorist operations and thwart terrorist attacks.  Solemn rows of stars on the Memorial Wall at the CIA honor those who have given their lives to protect ours.  Our intelligence professionals are patriots, and we are safer because of their heroic service and sacrifices.

In the years after 9/11, with legitimate fears of further attacks and with the responsibility to prevent more catastrophic loss of life, the previous administration faced agonizing choices about how to pursue al Qaeda and prevent additional terrorist attacks against our country.  As I have said before, our nation did many things right in those difficult years.  At the same time, some of the actions that were taken were contrary to our values.  That is why I unequivocally banned torture when I took office, because one of our most effective tools in fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe is staying true to our ideals at home and abroad.

Today’s report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence details one element of our nation’s response to 9/11—the CIA’s detention and interrogation program, which I formally ended on one of my first days in office.  The report documents a troubling program involving enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects in secret facilities outside the United States, and it reinforces my long-held view that these harsh methods were not only inconsistent with our values as nation, they did not serve our broader counterterrorism efforts or our national security interests.  Moreover, these techniques did significant damage to America’s standing in the world and made it harder to pursue our interests with allies and partners.  That is why I will continue to use my authority as President to make sure we never resort to those methods again.

As Commander in Chief, I have no greater responsibility than the safety and security of the American people.  We will therefore continue to be relentless in our fight against al Qaeda, its affiliates and other violent extremists.  We will rely on all elements of our national power, including the power and example of our founding ideals.  That is why I have consistently supported the declassification of today’s report.  No nation is perfect.  But one of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past, face our imperfections, make changes and do better.  Rather than another reason to refight old arguments, I hope that today’s report can help us leave these techniques where they belong—in the past.  Today is also a reminder that upholding the values we profess doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us stronger and that the United States of America will remain the greatest force for freedom and human dignity that the world has ever known.

 

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Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:06 | 5533281 blabam
blabam's picture

Sieg Hope!!!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:06 | 5533288 zuuma
zuuma's picture

we forcibly dignified some folks.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:14 | 5533330 Gaius Frakkin' ...
Gaius Frakkin' Baltar's picture

"I was just doing my jurb, why do you hate me so much?" ~Any bureaucrat

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533368 DetectiveStern
DetectiveStern's picture

I wonder what Omaba's statement would say if it was found the FSB in Russia did this...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:19 | 5533379 saints51
saints51's picture

We pissed in some folks cheerios.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:23 | 5533394 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

We had to torture some folks to find out what's in them.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:26 | 5533416 pods
pods's picture

The HNIC speaks with a very forked tongue.

Torture bad, faking evidence to go to war bad. Err, except when we need to get that pipeline through Syria.

Overthrowing governments bad, except when it was done under his command. 

Arab Spring anyone?  Ukraine?

pods

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:27 | 5533432 svayambhu108
svayambhu108's picture

This fucking Nero (nigger in Italian and latin) should have been born in Caesars' Rome, to be worshiped as a divine fucking rules he is.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:32 | 5533449 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

We hurt some folks.       I liked it.

 

Obama

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:34 | 5533467 smlbizman
smlbizman's picture

yeah, we executed some japanese folks in the mid 40's for the same thing...i guess its different when the good guys do it...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:46 | 5533531 Liberal
Liberal's picture

As a staunch liberal, President Obama's statement is good enough for me.  But if a Republican president had said it, I'd be against it!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:53 | 5533561 CH1
CH1's picture

Patriotic torturers - is there any other kind?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:59 | 5533592 Thought Processor
Thought Processor's picture

 

 

And as evidence about who really has the power in D.C.-  

Nothing will come of these revelations, save perhaps a verbal wrist slap by certain congressional 'staffers.'

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:43 | 5534058 wintermute
wintermute's picture

So, the Senate discloses illegality, criminality.

Where are the PROSECUTIONS?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:48 | 5534692 BringOnTheAsteroid
BringOnTheAsteroid's picture

"Throughout our history, the United States of America has done more than any other nation to stand up for freedom, democracy, and the inherent dignity and human rights of people around the world."

Is this cunt totally and utterly deluded? Dignity and human rights of people? Has Obama not been watching the news. Ferguson, I can't breath, cops gunning down unarmed homeless men camping in the hills.

US is beyond fucked and this speech by Obama speaks volumes to the extent of the decay.

I wonder what happens when the country having the worlds reserve currency becomes a failed state? 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:50 | 5534698 BringOnTheAsteroid
BringOnTheAsteroid's picture

"In the years after 9/11, with legitimate fears of further attacks"

I know how to prevent further attacks. Pass a law disallowing jews from taking out insurance of big fucking buildings.

Kill the motivation for another 9/11 right there.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:53 | 5534707 BringOnTheAsteroid
BringOnTheAsteroid's picture

"That is why I unequivocally banned torture when I took office".

Does this apply to Kelly Thomas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGG0YkFecF4 you stupid black bastard.


Tue, 12/09/2014 - 20:01 | 5534744 BringOnTheAsteroid
BringOnTheAsteroid's picture

"No nation is perfect. But one of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past, face our imperfections, make changes and do better".

Yep, the US sures seems to be making changes for the better. Better drones. Better bombs. Better weapons. Better fighter jets. Better aircraft carriers. Better nuclear weapons. Better bilogical weapons. Better psychological warfare techniques. Better control over media. Better propoganda. 

Timeline of United States military operations

1910–1919[edit]

1910 – Nicaragua: From May 19 to September 4, Occupation of Nicaragua. U.S. forces protected American interests at Bluefields.[RL30172]

1911 – Honduras: On January 26, American naval detachments were landed to protect American lives and interests during a civil war in Honduras.[RL30172]

1911 – China: As the Tongmenghui-led Xinhai Revolution approached, in October an ensign and 10 men tried to enter Wuchang to rescue missionaries but retired on being warned away, and a small landing force guarded American private property and consulate at Hankow. Marines were deployed in November to guard the cable stations at Shanghai; landing forces were sent for protection in Nanking, Chinkiang, Taku and elsewhere.[RL30172]

1912 – Honduras: A small force landed to prevent seizure by the government of an American-owned railroad at Puerto Cortes. The forces were withdrawn after the United States disapproved the action.[RL30172]

1912 – Panama: Troops, on request of both political parties, supervised elections outside the Panama Canal Zone.[RL30172]

1912 – Cuba: From June 5 to August 5, U.S. forces protected American interests in Oriente Province and in Havana.[RL30172]

1912 – China: August 24–26, on Kentucky Island, and August 26–30 at Camp Nicholson. U.S. forces protected Americans and American interests during the Xinhai Revolution.[RL30172]

1912 – Turkey: From November 18 to December 3, U.S. forces guarded the American legation at Constantinople during the First Balkan War[RL30172]

1912–25 – Nicaragua: From August to November 1912, U.S. forces protected American interests during an attempted revolution. A small force, serving as a legation guard and seeking to promote peace and stability, remained until August 5, 1925.[RL30172]

1912–41 – China: The disorders which began with the overthrow of the dynasty during Kuomintang rebellion in 1912, which were redirected by the invasion of China by Japan, led to demonstrations and landing parties for the protection of U.S. interests in China continuously and at many points from 1912 on to 1941. The guard at Peking and along the route to the sea was maintained until 1941. In 1927, the United States had 5,670 troops ashore in China and 44 naval vessels in its waters. In 1933 the United States had 3,027 armed men ashore. The protective action was generally based on treaties with China concluded from 1858 to 1901.[RL30172]

1913 – Mexico: From September 5 to 7, a few marines landed at Ciaris Estero to aid in evacuating American citizens and others from the Yaqui Valley, made dangerous for foreigners by civil strife.[RL30172]

1914 – Haiti: January 29 to February 9, February 20 and 21, October 19. Intermittently, U.S. naval forces protected American nationals in a time of rioting and revolution.[RL30172] The specific order from the Secretary of the Navy to the invasion commander, Admiral William Deville Bundy, was to "protect American and foreign" interests.[citation needed]

1914 – Dominican Republic: In June and July, during a revolutionary movement, United States naval forces by gunfire stopped the bombardment of Puerto Plata, and by threat of force maintained Santo Domingo City as a neutral zone.[RL30172]

1914–17 – Mexico: Tampico Affair led to Occupation of Veracruz, Mexico. Undeclared Mexican–American hostilities followed the Tampico Affair and Villa's raids . Also Pancho Villa Expedition) – an abortive military operation conducted by the United States Army against the military forces of Francisco "Pancho" Villa from 1916 to 1917 and included capture of Veracruz. On March 19, 1915 on orders from President Woodrow Wilson, and with tacit consent by Venustiano Carranza General John J. Pershing led an invasion force of 10,000 men into Mexico to capture Villa.[RL30172]

1915–34 – Haiti: From July 28, 1915 to August 15, 1934, United States occupation of Haiti. US forces maintained order during a period of chronic political instability.[RL30172] During the initial entrance into Haiti, the specific order from the Secretary of the Navy to the invasion commander, Admiral William Deville Bundy, was to "protect American and foreign" interests.[citation needed]

1916 – China: American forces landed to quell a riot taking place on American property in Nanking.[RL30172]

1916–24 – Dominican Republic: From May 1916 to September 1924, Occupation of the Dominican Republic. American naval forces maintained order during a period of chronic and threatened insurrection.[RL30172]

1917 – China: American troops were landed at Chungking to protect American lives during a political crisis.[RL30172]

1917–18 – World War I: On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war with Germany and on December 7, 1917, with Austria-Hungary. Entrance of the United States into the war was precipitated by Germany's submarine warfare against neutral shipping and the Zimmermann Telegram.[RL30172]

1917–22 – Cuba: U.S. forces protected American interests during insurrection and subsequent unsettled conditions. Most of the United States armed forces left Cuba by August 1919, but two companies remained at Camaguey until February 1922.[RL30172]

1918–19 – Mexico: After withdrawal of the Pershing expedition, U.S. troops entered Mexico in pursuit of bandits at least three times in 1918 and six times in 1919. In August 1918, American and Mexican troops fought at Nogales, Battle of Ambos Nogales. The incident began when German spies plotted an attack with Mexican soldiers on Nogales Arizona. The fighting began when a Mexican officer shot and killed a U.S. soldier on American soil. A full-scale battle then ensued, ending with a Mexican surrender.[RL30172]

1918–20 – Panama: U.S. forces were used for police duty according to treaty stipulations, at Chiriqui, during election disturbances and subsequent unrest.[RL30172]

1918–20 – Russian SFSR: Marines were landed at and near Vladivostok in June and July to protect the American consulate and other points in the fighting between the Bolshevik troops and the Czech Army which had traversed Siberia from the western front. A joint proclamation of emergency government and neutrality was issued by the American, Japanese, British, French, and Czech commanders in July. In August 7,000 men were landed in Vladivostok and remained until January 1920, as part of an allied occupation force. In September 1918, 5,000 American troops joined the allied intervention force at Archangel and remained until June 1919. These operations were in response to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and were partly supported by Czarist or Kerensky elements. [RL30172] For details, see the American Expeditionary Force Siberia and the American Expeditionary Force North Russia.

1919 – Dalmatia (Croatia): U.S. forces were landed at Trau at the request of Italian authorities to police order between the Italians and Serbs.[RL30172]

1919 – Turkey: Marines from the USS Arizona were landed to guard the U.S. Consulate during the Greek occupation of Constantinople.[RL30172]

1919 – Honduras: From September 8 to 12, a landing force was sent ashore to maintain order in a neutral zone during an attempted revolution.[RL30172]

1920–1929[edit]

1920 – China: On March 14, a landing force was sent ashore for a few hours to protect lives during a disturbance at Kiukiang.[RL30172]

1920 – Guatemala: From April 9 to 27, U.S. forces protected the American Legation and other American interests, such as the cable station, during a period of fighting between Unionists and the Government of Guatemala.[RL30172]

1920–22 – Russia (Siberia): From February 16, 1920 to November 19, 1922, a Marine guard was sent to protect the United States radio station and property on Russian Island, Bay of Vladivostok.[RL30172]

1921 – Panama and Costa Rica: American naval squadrons demonstrated in April on both sides of the Isthmus to prevent war between the two countries over a boundary dispute.[RL30172]

1922 – Turkey: In September and October, a landing force was sent ashore with consent of both Greek and Turkish authorities, to protect American lives and property when the Turkish nationalistsentered ?zmir (Smyrna).[RL30172]

1922–23 – China: From April 1922 to November 1923, Marines were landed five times to protect Americans during periods of unrest.[RL30172]

1924 – Honduras: From February 28 to March 31, and from September 10 to 15, U.S. forces protected American lives and interests during election hostilities.[RL30172]

1924 – China: In September, Marines were landed to protect Americans and other foreigners in Shanghai during Chinese factional hostilities.[RL30172]

1925 – China: From January 15 to August 29, fighting of Chinese factions accompanied by riots and demonstrations in Shanghai brought the landing of American forces to protect lives and property in the International Settlement.[RL30172]

1925 – Honduras: From April 19 to 21, U.S. forces protected foreigners at La Ceiba during a political upheaval.[RL30172]

1925 – Panama: From October 12 to 23, strikes and rent riots led to the landing of about 600 American troops to keep order and protect American interests.[RL30172]

1926–33 – Nicaragua: From May 7 to June 5, 1926 and August 27, 1926 to January 3, 1933, the coup d'état of General Chamorro aroused revolutionary activities leading to the landing of American marines to protect the interests of the United States. United States forces came and went intermittently until January 3, 1933.[RL30172]

1926 – China: In August and September, the Nationalist attack on Hankow brought the landing of American naval forces to protect American citizens. A small guard was maintained at the consulate general even after September 16, when the rest of the forces were withdrawn. Likewise, when Nationalist forces captured Kiukiang, naval forces were landed for the protection of foreigners November 4 to 6.[RL30172]

1927 – China: In February, fighting at Shanghai caused presence American naval forces and marines to be increased. In March, a naval guard was stationed at American consulate at Nanking after Nationalist forces captured the city. American and British destroyers later used shell fire to protect Americans and other foreigners. Subsequently additional forces of Marines and naval forces were stationed in the vicinity of Shanghai and Tientsin.[RL30172]

1930–1939[edit]

1932 – China: American forces were landed to protect American interests during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.[RL30172]

1932 – United States: "Bonus Army" of 17,000 WWI veterans plus 20,000 family cleared from Washington and then Anacostia flats "Hooverville" by 3rd Cavalry and 12th Infantry Regiments under Gen. Douglas MacArthur, July 28.

1933 – Cuba: During a revolution against President Gerardo Machado naval forces demonstrated but no landing was made.[RL30172]

1934 – China: Marines landed at Foochow to protect the American Consulate.[RL30172]

1940–1944[edit]

1940 – Newfoundland, Bermuda, St. Lucia, – Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad, and British Guiana: Troops were sent to guard air and naval bases obtained under lease by negotiation with the United Kingdom. These were sometimes called lend-lease bases but were under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement.[RL30172]

1941 – Greenland: Greenland was taken under protection of the United States in April.[RL30172]

1941 – Netherlands (Dutch Guiana): In November, the President ordered American troops to occupy Dutch Guiana, but by agreement with the Netherlands government in exile, Brazil cooperated to protect aluminum ore supply from the bauxite mines in Suriname.[RL30172]

1941 – Iceland: Iceland was taken under the protection of the United States, with consent of its government replacing British troops, for strategic reasons.[RL30172]

1941 – Germany: Sometime in the spring, the President ordered the Navy to patrol ship lanes to Europe. By July, U.S. warships were convoying and by September were attacking German submarines. In November, in response to the October 31, 1941 sinking of the USS Reuben James, the Neutrality Act was partly repealed to protect U.S. military aid to Britain. [RL30172]

1941–45 – World War II: On December 7, 1941, the United States declared war against Japan in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On December 11, Germany declared war against the United States.[5]

1945–1949[edit]

1945 – China: In October 50,000 U.S. Marines were sent to North China to assist Chinese Nationalist authorities in disarming and repatriating the Japanese in China and in controlling ports, railroads, and airfields. This was in addition to approximately 60,000 U.S. forces remaining in China at the end of World War II.[RL30172]

1945–49 – Occupation of part of Germany.

1945–55 – Occupation of part of Austria.

1945–52 – Occupation of Japan.

1944–46 – Temporary reoccupation of the Philippines during World War II and in preparation for previously scheduled independence.[citation needed]

1945–47 – U.S. Marines garrisoned in mainland China to oversee the removal of Soviet and Japanese forces after World War II.[6]

1945–49 – Post-World War II occupation of South Korea; North Korean insurgency in Republic of Korea[7]

1946 – Trieste, (Italy): President Truman ordered the increase of US troops along the zonal occupation line and the reinforcement of air forces in northern Italy after Yugoslav forces shot down an unarmed US Army transport plane flying over Venezia Giulia..[citation needed] Earlier U.S. naval units had been sent to the scene.[RL30172] Later the Free Territory of Trieste, Zone A.

1948 – Jerusalem (British Mandate): A Marine consular guard was sent to Jerusalem to protect the U.S. Consul General.[RL30172]

1948 – Berlin: Berlin Airlift After the Soviet Union established a land blockade of the U.S., British, and French sectors of Berlin on June 24, 1948, the United States and its allies airlifted supplies to Berlin until after the blockade was lifted in May 1949.[RL30172]

1948–49 – China: Marines were dispatched to Nanking to protect the American Embassy when the city fell to Communist troops, and to Shanghai to aid in the protection and evacuation of Americans.[RL30172]

1950–1959[edit]

Map of military operations since 1950

1950–53 – Korean War: The United States responded to North Korean invasion of South Korea by going to its assistance, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions. US forces deployed in Korea exceeded 300,000 during the last year of the active conflict (1953). Over 36,600 US military were killed in action.[RL30172]

1950–55 – Formosa (Taiwan): In June 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War, President Truman ordered the U.S. Seventh Fleet to prevent Chinese Communist attacks upon Formosa and Chinese Nationalist operations against mainland China.[RL30172]

1954–55 – China: Naval units evacuated U.S. civilians and military personnel from the Tachen Islands.[RL30172]

1955–64 – Vietnam: First military advisors sent to Vietnam on 12 Feb 1955. By 1964, US troop levels had grown to 21,000. On 7 August 1964, US Congress approved Gulf of Tonkin resolution affirming "All necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. . .to prevent further aggression. . . (and) assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty (SEATO) requesting assistance. . ."[Vietnam timeline]

1956 – Egypt: A marine battalion evacuated US nationals and other persons from Alexandria during the Suez Crisis.[RL30172]

1958 – Lebanon: 1958 Lebanon crisis, Marines were landed in Lebanon at the invitation of President Camille Chamoun to help protect against threatened insurrection supported from the outside. The President's action was supported by a Congressional resolution passed in 1957 that authorized such actions in that area of the world.[RL30172]

1959–60 – The Caribbean: Second Marine Ground Task Force was deployed to protect U.S. nationals following the Cuban Revolution.[RL30172]

1959–75 – Vietnam War: U.S. military advisers had been in South Vietnam for a decade, and their numbers had been increased as the military position of the Saigon government became weaker. After citing what he falsely termed were attacks on U.S. destroyers, in what came to be known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, President Johnson asked in August 1964 for a resolution expressing U.S. determination to support "freedom and protect peace in Southeast Asia." Congress responded with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson authorization, without a formal declaration of war by Congress, for the use of conventional military force in Southeast Asia. Following this resolution, and following a communist attack on a U.S. installation in central Vietnam, the United States escalated its participation in the war to a peak of 543,000 military personnel by April 1969.[RL30172]

1960–1969[edit]

1961 – Cuba: The Bay of Pigs Invasion, known in Hispanic America as Invasión de Bahía de Cochinos (or Invasión de Playa Girón or Batalla de Girón), was an unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the CIA-sponsored paramilitary group Brigade 2506 on 17 April 1961.

1962 – Thailand: The Third Marine Expeditionary Unit landed on May 17, 1962 to support that country during the threat of Communist pressure from outside; by July 30, the 5,000 marines had been withdrawn.[RL30172]

1962 – Cuba: Cuban missile crisis, On October 22, President Kennedy instituted a "quarantine" on the shipment of offensive missiles to Cuba from the Soviet Union. He also warned Soviet Union that the launching of any missile from Cuba against nations in the Western Hemisphere would bring about U.S. nuclear retaliation on the Soviet Union. A negotiated settlement was achieved in a few days.[RL30172]

1962–75 – Laos: From October 1962 until 1975, the United States played an important role in military support of anti-Communist forces in Laos.[RL30172]

1964 – Congo (Zaïre): The United States sent four transport planes to provide airlift for Congolese troops during a rebellion and to transport Belgian paratroopers to rescue foreigners.[RL30172]

1965 – Invasion of Dominican Republic: Operation Power Pack, The United States intervened to protect lives and property during a Dominican revolt and sent 20,000 U.S. troops as fears grew that the revolutionary forces were coming increasingly under Communist control.[RL30172] A popular rebellion breaks out, promising to reinstall Juan Bosch as the country's elected leader. The revolution is crushed when U.S. Marines land to uphold the military regime by force. The CIA directs everything behind the scenes.

1967 – Israel: The USS Liberty incident, whereupon a United States Navy Technical Research Ship was attacked June 8, 1967 by Israeli armed forces, killing 34 and wounding more than 170 U.S. crew members.

1967 – Congo (Zaïre): The United States sent three military transport aircraft with crews to provide the Congo central government with logistical support during a revolt.[RL30172]

1968 – Laos & Cambodia: U.S. starts secret bombing campaign against targets along the Ho Chi Minh trail in the sovereign nations of Cambodia and Laos. The bombings last at least two years. (SeeOperation Commando Hunt)

1970–1979[edit]

1970 – Cambodian Campaign: U.S. troops were ordered into Cambodia to clean out Communist sanctuaries from which Viet Cong and North Vietnamese attacked U.S. and South Vietnamese forces in Vietnam. The object of this attack, which lasted from April 30 to June 30, was to ensure the continuing safe withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam and to assist the program ofVietnamization.[RL30172]

1972 – North Vietnam: Christmas bombing Operation Linebacker II (not mentioned in RL30172, but an operation leading to peace negotiations). The operation was conducted from 18–29 December 1972. It was a bombing of the cities Hanoi and Haiphong by B-52 bombers.

1973 – Operation Nickel Grass, a strategic airlift operation conducted by the United States to deliver weapons and supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

1974 – Evacuation from Cyprus: United States naval forces evacuated U.S. civilians during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.[RL30172]

1975 – Evacuation from Vietnam: Operation Frequent Wind, On April 3, 1975, President Ford reported U.S. naval vessels, helicopters, and Marines had been sent to assist in evacuation of refugees and US nationals from Vietnam.[RL30172]

1975 – Evacuation from Cambodia: Operation Eagle Pull, On April 12, 1975, President Ford reported that he had ordered U.S. military forces to proceed with the planned evacuation of U.S. citizens from Cambodia.[RL30172]

1975 – South Vietnam: On April 30, 1975, President Ford reported that a force of 70 evacuation helicopters and 865 Marines had evacuated about 1,400 U.S. citizens and 5,500 third country nationals and South Vietnamese from landing zones in and around the U.S. Embassy, Saigon and Tan Son Nhut Airport.[RL30172]

1975 – Cambodia: Mayaguez incident, On May 15, 1975, President Ford reported he had ordered military forces to retake the SS Mayaguez, a merchant vessel which was seized from Cambodian naval patrol boats in international waters and forced to proceed to a nearby island.[RL30172]

1976 – Lebanon: On July 22 and 23, 1976, helicopters from five U.S. naval vessels evacuated approximately 250 Americans and Europeans from Lebanon during fighting between Lebanese factions after an overland convoy evacuation had been blocked by hostilities.[RL30172]

1976 – Korea: Additional forces were sent to Korea after two American soldiers were killed by North Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea while cutting down a tree.[RL30172]

1978 – Zaïre (Congo): From May 19 through June, the United States utilized military transport aircraft to provide logistical support to Belgian and French rescue operations in Zaïre.[RL30172]

1980–1989[edit]

1980 – Iran: Operation Eagle Claw, on April 26, 1980, President Carter reported the use of six U.S. transport planes and eight helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the American hostages in Iran.

1980 – U.S. Army and Air Force units arrive in the Sinai in September as part of "Operation Bright Star". They are there to train with Egyptians armed forces as part of the Camp David peace accords signed in 1979. Elements of the 101st Airborne Division, (1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry) and Air Force MAC (Military Airlift Command) units are in theater for four months & are the first U.S. military forces in the region since World War II.

1981 – El Salvador: After a guerrilla offensive against the government of El Salvador, additional U.S. military advisers were sent to El Salvador, bringing the total to approximately 55, to assist in training government forces in counterinsurgency.[RL30172]

1981 – Libya: First Gulf of Sidra incident, on August 19, 1981, U.S. planes based on the carrier USS Nimitz shot down two Libyan jets over the Gulf of Sidra after one of the Libyan jets had fired a heat-seeking missile. The United States periodically held freedom of navigation exercises in the Gulf of Sidra, claimed by Libya as territorial waters but considered international waters by the United States.[RL30172]

1982 – Sinai: On March 19, 1982, President Reagan reported the deployment of military personnel and equipment to participate in the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. Participation had been authorized by the Multinational Force and Observers Resolution, Public Law 97-132.[RL30172]

1982 – Lebanon: Multinational Force in Lebanon, on August 21, 1982, President Reagan reported the dispatch of 800 Marines to serve in the multinational force to assist in the withdrawal of members of the Palestine Liberation force from Beirut. The Marines left September 20, 1982.[RL30172]

1982–83 – Lebanon: On September 29, 1982, President Reagan reported the deployment of 1200 marines to serve in a temporary multinational force to facilitate the restoration of Lebanese government sovereignty. On September 29, 1983, Congress passed the Multinational Force in Lebanon Resolution (P.L. 98-119) authorizing the continued participation for eighteen months.[RL30172]

1983 – Egypt: After a Libyan plane bombed a city in Sudan on March 18, 1983, and Sudan and Egypt appealed for assistance, the United States dispatched an AWACS electronic surveillance plane to Egypt.[RL30172]

1983 – Grenada: Operation Urgent Fury, citing the increased threat of Soviet and Cuban influence and noting the development of an international airport following a coup d'état and alignment with the Soviet Union and Cuba, the U.S. invades the island nation of Grenada.[RL30172]

1983–89 – Honduras: In July 1983, the United States undertook a series of exercises in Honduras that some believed might lead to conflict with Nicaragua. On March 25, 1986, unarmed U.S. military helicopters and crewmen ferried Honduran troops to the Nicaraguan border to repel Nicaraguan troops.[RL30172]

1983 – Chad: On August 8, 1983, President Reagan reported the deployment of two AWACS electronic surveillance planes and eight F-15 fighter planes and ground logistical support forces to assist Chad against Libyan and rebel forces.[RL30172]

1984 – Persian Gulf: On June 5, 1984, Saudi Arabian jet fighter planes, aided by intelligence from a U.S. AWACS electronic surveillance aircraft and fueled by a U.S. KC-10 tanker, shot down two Iranian fighter planes over an area of the Persian Gulf proclaimed as a protected zone for shipping.[RL30172]

1985 – Italy: On October 10, 1985, U.S. Navy pilots intercepted an Egyptian airliner and forced it to land in Sicily. The airliner was carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro who had killed an American citizen during the hijacking.[RL30172]

1986 – Libya: Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986), on March 26, 1986, President Reagan reported on March 24 and 25, U.S. forces, while engaged in freedom of navigation exercises around the Gulf of Sidra, had been attacked by Libyan missiles and the United States had responded with missiles.[RL30172]

1986 – Libya: Operation El Dorado Canyon, on April 16, 1986, President Reagan reported that U.S. air and naval forces had conducted bombing strikes on terrorist facilities and military installations in the Libyan capitol of Tripoli, claiming that Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi was responsible for a bomb attack at a German disco that killed two U.S. soldiers.[RL30172]

1986 – Bolivia: U.S. Army personnel and aircraft assisted Bolivia in anti-drug operations.[RL30172]

1987 – Persian Gulf: USS Stark was struck on May 17 by two Exocet antiship missiles fired from a Dassault Mirage F1 of the Iraqi Air Force during the Iran–Iraq War, killing 37 U.S. Navy sailors.

1987 – Persian Gulf: Operation Nimble Archer. Attacks on two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf by United States Navy forces on October 19. The attack was a response to Iran's October 16, 1987 attack on the MV Sea Isle City, a reflagged Kuwaiti oil tanker at anchor off Kuwait, with a Silkworm missile.

1987–88 – Persian Gulf: Operation Earnest Will. After the Iran–Iraq War (the Tanker War phase) resulted in several military incidents in the Persian Gulf, the United States increased U.S. joint military forces operations in the Persian Gulf and adopted a policy of reflagging and escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Persian Gulf to protect them from Iraqi and Iranian attacks. President Reagan reported that U.S. ships had been fired upon or struck mines or taken other military action on September 21 (Iran Ajr), October 8, and October 19, 1987 and April 18 (Operation Praying Mantis), July 3, and July 14, 1988. The United States gradually reduced its forces after a cease-fire between Iran and Iraq on August 20, 1988.[RL30172] It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.[8]

1987–88 – Persian Gulf: Operation Prime Chance was a United States Special Operations Command operation intended to protect U.S.-flagged oil tankers from Iranian attack during the Iran–Iraq War. The operation took place roughly at the same time as Operation Earnest Will.

1988 – Persian Gulf: Operation Praying Mantis was the April 18, 1988 action waged by U.S. naval forces in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf and the subsequent damage to an American warship.

1988 – Honduras: Operation Golden Pheasant was an emergency deployment of U.S. troops to Honduras in 1988, as a result of threatening actions by the forces of the (then socialist) Nicaraguans.

1988 – USS Vincennes shoot-down of Iran Air Flight 655.

1988 – Panama: In mid-March and April 1988, during a period of instability in Panama and as the United States increased pressure on Panamanian head of state General Manuel Noriega to resign, the United States sent 1,000 troops to Panama, to "further safeguard the canal, US lives, property and interests in the area." The forces supplemented 10,000 U.S. military personnel already in the Panama Canal Zone.[RL30172]

1989 – Libya: Second Gulf of Sidra incident. On January 4, 1989, two U.S. Navy F-14 aircraft based on the USS John F. Kennedy shot down two Libyan jet fighters over the Mediterranean Sea about 70 miles north of Libya. The U.S. pilots said the Libyan planes had demonstrated hostile intentions.[RL30172]

1989 – Panama: On May 11, 1989, in response to General Noriega's disregard of the results of the Panamanian election, President Bush ordered a brigade-sized force of approximately 1,900 troops to augment the estimated 1,000 U.S. forces already in the area.[RL30172]

1989 – Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru: Andean Initiative in War on Drugs, On September 15, 1989, President Bush announced that military and law enforcement assistance would be sent to help the Andean nations of Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru combat illicit drug producers and traffickers. By mid-September there were 50–100 U.S. military advisers in Colombia in connection with transport and training in the use of military equipment, plus seven Special Forces teams of 2–12 persons to train troops in the three countries.[RL30172]

1989 – Philippines: Operation Classic Resolve, On December 2, 1989, President Bush reported that on December 1, Air Force fighters from Clark Air Base in Luzon had assisted the Aquino government to repel a coup attempt. In addition, 100 marines were sent from U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay to protect the United States Embassy in Manila.[RL30172]

1989–90 – Panama: United States invasion of Panama and Operation Just Cause, On December 21, 1989, President Bush reported that he had ordered U.S. military forces to Panama to protect the lives of American citizens and bring General Noriega to justice. By February 13, 1990, all the invasion forces had been withdrawn.[RL30172] Around 200 Panamanian civilians were reported killed. The Panamanian head of state, General Manuel Noriega, was captured and brought to the U.S.

1990–1999[edit]

1990 – Liberia: On August 6, 1990, President Bush reported that a reinforced rifle company had been sent to provide additional security to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, and that helicopter teams had evacuated U.S. citizens from Liberia.[RL30172]

1990 – Saudi Arabia: On August 9, 1990, President Bush reported that he launched Operation Desert Shield by ordering the forward deployment of substantial elements of the U.S. armed forces into the Persian Gulf region to help defend Saudi Arabia after the August 2 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. On November 16, 1990, he reported the continued buildup of the forces to ensure an adequate offensive military option.[RL30172]American hostages being held in Iran.[RL30172] Staging point for the troops was primarily Bagram air field.

1991 – Iraq and Kuwait: Gulf War, On January 16, 1991, in response to the refusal by Iraq to leave Kuwait, U.S. and Coalition aircraft attacked Iraqi forces and military targets in Iraq and Kuwait in conjunction with a coalition of allies and under United Nations Security Council resolutions. On February 24, 1991, U.S.-led United Nation (UN) forces launched a ground offensive that finally drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait within 100 hours. Combat operations ended on February 28, 1991, when President Bush declared a ceasefire.[RL30172]

1991–96 – Iraq: Operation Provide Comfort, Delivery of humanitarian relief and military protection for Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq during the 1991 uprising, by a small Allied ground force based in Turkey which began in April 1991.

1991 – Iraq: On May 17, 1991, President Bush stated that the Iraqi repression of the Kurdish people had necessitated a limited introduction of U.S. forces into northern Iraq for emergency relief purposes.[RL30172]

1991 – Zaire: On September 25–27, 1991, after widespread looting and rioting broke out in Kinshasa, Air Force C-141s transported 100 Belgian troops and equipment into Kinshasa. American planes also carried 300 French troops into the Central African Republic and hauled evacuated American citizens.[RL30172]

1992 – Sierra Leone: Operation Silver Anvil, Following the April 29 coup that overthrew President Joseph Saidu Momoh, a United States European Command (USEUCOM) Joint Special Operations Task Force evacuated 438 people (including 42 Third Country nationals) on May 3. Two Air Mobility Command (AMC) C-141s flew 136 people from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to the Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany and nine C-130 sorties carried another 302 people to DakarSenegal.[RL30172]

1992–96 – Bosnia and Herzegovina: Operation Provide Promise was a humanitarian relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars, from July 2, 1992, to January 9, 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian airlift in history.[9]

1992 – Kuwait: On August 3, 1992, the United States began a series of military exercises in Kuwait, following Iraqi refusal to recognize a new border drawn up by the United Nations and refusal to cooperate with UN inspection teams.[RL30172]

1992–2003 – Iraq: Iraqi no-fly zones, The U.S., United Kingdom, and its Gulf War allies declared and enforced "no-fly zones" over the majority of sovereign Iraqi airspace, prohibiting Iraqi flights in zones in southern Iraq and northern Iraq, and conducting aerial reconnaissance and bombings. Often, Iraqi forces continued throughout a decade by firing on U.S. and British aircraft patrolling no-fly zones.(See also Operation Northern WatchOperation Southern Watch) [RL30172]

1992–95 – Somalia: Operation Restore Hope, Somali Civil War: On December 10, 1992, President Bush reported that he had deployed U.S. armed forces to Somalia in response to a humanitarian crisis and a UN Security Council Resolution in support for UNITAF. The operation came to an end on May 4, 1993. U.S. forces continued to participate in the successor United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II).(See also Battle of Mogadishu)[RL30172]

1993–95 – Bosnia: Operation Deny Flight, On April 12, 1993, in response to a United Nations Security Council passage of Resolution 816, U.S. and NATO enforced the no-fly zone over the Bosnian airspace, prohibited all unauthorized flights and allowed to "take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with [the no-fly zone restrictions]."

1993 – Macedonia: On July 9, 1993, President Clinton reported the deployment of 350 U.S. soldiers to the Republic of Macedonia to participate in the UN Protection Force to help maintain stability in the area of former Yugoslavia.[RL30172]

1994 – Bosnia: Banja Luka incident, NATO become involved in the first combat situation when NATO U.S. Air Force F-16 jets shot down four of the six Bosnian Serb J-21 Jastreb single-seat light attack jets for violating UN-mandated no-fly zone.

1994–95 – Haiti: Operation Uphold Democracy, U.S. ships had begun embargo against Haiti. Up to 20,000 U.S. military troops were later deployed to Haiti to restore democratically-elected Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from a military regime which came into power in 1991 after a major coup.[RL30172]

1994 – Macedonia: On April 19, 1994, President Clinton reported that the U.S. contingent in Macedonia had been increased by a reinforced company of 200 personnel.[RL30172]

1995 – Bosnia: Operation Deliberate Force, On August 30, 1995, U.S. and NATO aircraft began a major bombing campaign of Bosnian Serb Army in response to a Bosnian Serb mortar attack on a Sarajevo market that killed 37 people on August 28, 1995. This operation lasted until September 20, 1995. The air campaign along with a combined allied ground force of Muslim and Croatian Army against Serb positions led to a Dayton Agreement in December 1995 with the signing of warring factions of the war. As part of Operation Joint Endeavor, U.S. and NATO dispatched the Implementation Force (IFOR) peacekeepers to Bosnia to uphold the Dayton agreement.[RL30172]

1996 – Liberia: Operation Assured Response, On April 11, 1996, President Clinton reported that on April 9, 1996 due to the :"deterioration of the security situation and the resulting threat to American citizens" in Liberia he had ordered U.S. military forces to evacuate from that country "private U.S. citizens and certain third-country nationals who had taken refuge in the U.S. Embassy compound...."[RL30172]

1996 – Central African Republic, Operation Quick Response: On May 23, 1996, President Clinton reported the deployment of U.S. military personnel to BanguiCentral African Republic, to conduct the evacuation from that country of "private U.S. citizens and certain U.S. government employees", and to provide "enhanced security for the American Embassy in Bangui."[RL30172] United States Marine Corps elements of Joint Task Force Assured Response, responding in nearby Liberia, provided security to the embassy and evacuated 448 people, including between 190 and 208 Americans. The last Marines left Bangui on June 22.

1996 – Kuwait: Operation Desert Strike, American Air Strikes in the north to protect the Kurdish population against the Iraqi Army attacks. U.S. deploys 5,000 soldiers from the 1ST Cavalry Division at Ft Hood Texas in response to Iraqi attacks on the Kurdish people.[citation needed]

1996 – Bosnia: Operation Joint Guard, On December 21, 1996, U.S. and NATO established the SFOR peacekeepers to replace the IFOR in enforcing the peace under the Dayton agreement.

1997 – Albania: Operation Silver Wake, On March 13, 1997, U.S. military forces were used to evacuate certain U.S. government employees and private U.S. citizens from Tirana, Albania.[RL30172]

1997 – Congo and Gabon: On March 27, 1997, President Clinton reported on March 25, 1997, a standby evacuation force of U.S. military personnel had been deployed to Congo and Gabon to provide enhanced security and to be available for any necessary evacuation operation.[RL30172]

1997 – Sierra Leone: On May 29 and May 30, 1997, U.S. military personnel were deployed to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to prepare for and undertake the evacuation of certain U.S. government employees and private U.S. citizens.[RL30172]

1997 – Cambodia: On July 11, 1997, In an effort to ensure the security of American citizens in Cambodia during a period of domestic conflict there, a Task Force of about 550 U.S. military personnel were deployed at Utapao Air Base in Thailand for possible evacuations. [RL30172]

1998 – Iraq: Operation Desert Fox, U.S. and British forces conduct a major four-day bombing campaign from December 16–19, 1998 on Iraqi targets.[RL30172]

1998 – Guinea-Bissau: Operation Shepherd Venture, On June 10, 1998, in response to an army mutiny in Guinea-Bissau endangering the U.S. Embassy, President Clinton deployed a standby evacuation force of U.S. military personnel to Dakar, Senegal, to evacuate from the city of Bissau.[RL30172]

1998–99 – Kenya and Tanzania: U.S. military personnel were deployed to Nairobi, Kenya, to coordinate the medical and disaster assistance related to the bombing of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.[RL30172]

1998 – Afghanistan and Sudan: Operation Infinite Reach, On August 20, President Clinton ordered a cruise missile attack against two suspected terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical factory in Sudan.[RL30172]

1998 – Liberia: On September 27, 1998, America deployed a stand-by response and evacuation force of 30 U.S. military personnel to increase the security force at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Icons-mini-file_acrob...); padding-right: 18px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" rel="nofollow" href="http://ftp.resource.org/gpo.gov/documents/105/hd318.pdf">[1] [RL30172]

1999–2001 – East Timor: Limited number of U.S. military forces deployed with the United Nations-mandated International Force for East Timor restore peace to East Timor.[RL30172]

1999 – Serbia: Operation Allied Force: U.S. and NATO aircraft began a major bombing of Serbia and Serb positions in Kosovo on March 24, 1999, during the Kosovo War due to the refusal by Serbian President Slobodan Miloševi? to end repression against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. This operation ended in June 10, 1999, when Miloševi? agreed to pull out his troops out of Kosovo. In response to the situation in Kosovo, NATO dispatched the KFOR peacekeepers to secure the peace under UNSC Resolution 1244.[RL30172]

2000–2009[edit]
  • 2000 – Sierra Leone: On May 12, 2000, a U.S. Navy patrol craft deployed to Sierra Leone to support evacuation operations from that country if needed.[RL30172]
  • 2000 – Nigeria: Special Forces troops are sent to Nigeria to lead a training mission in the county.[10]
  • 2000 – Yemen: On October 12, 2000, after the USS Cole attack in the port of Aden, Yemen, military personnel were deployed to Aden.[RL30172]
  • 2000 – East Timor: On February 25, 2000, a small number of U.S. military personnel were deployed to support the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). [RL30172]
  • 2001 – On April 1, 2001, a mid-air collision between a United States Navy EP-3E ARIES II signals surveillance aircraft and a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-8II interceptor fighter jet resulted in an international dispute between the United States and the People's Republic of China called the Hainan Island incident.
  • 2002 – Philippines: OEF-Philippines, As of January, U.S. "combat-equipped and combat support forces" have been deployed to the Philippines to train with, assist and advise the Philippines' Armed Forces in enhancing their "counterterrorist capabilities."[RL30172]
  • 2002 – Côte d'Ivoire: On September 25, 2002, in response to a rebellion in Côte d'Ivoire, U.S. military personnel went into Côte d'Ivoire to assist in the evacuation of American citizens fromBouaké.[11]

[RL30172]

  • 2003–2011 – War in IraqOperation Iraqi Freedom, March 20, 2003, The United States leads a coalition that includes the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland to invade Iraq with the stated goal being "to disarm Iraq in pursuit of peace, stability, and security both in the Gulf region and in the United States."[RL30172]
  • 2003 – Liberia: Second Liberian Civil War, On June 9, 2003, President Bush reported that on June 8 he had sent about 35 U.S. Marines into Monrovia, Liberia, to help secure the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania, and to aid in any necessary evacuation from either Liberia or Mauritania.[RL30172]
  • 2003 – Georgia and Djibouti: "US combat equipped and support forces" had been deployed to Georgia and Djibouti to help in enhancing their "counterterrorist capabilities."[12]
  • 2004 – Haiti: 2004 Haitian coup d'état occurs, The US first sent 55 combat equipped military personnel to augment the U.S. Embassy security forces there and to protect American citizens and property in light. Later 200 additional US combat-equipped, military personnel were sent to prepare the way for a UN Multinational Interim Force, MINUSTAH.[RL30172]
  • 2004 – War on Terror: U.S. anti-terror related activities were underway in Georgia, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Eritrea.[13]
  • 2005–06 – Pakistan: President Bush deploys troops from US Army Air Cav Brigades to provide Humanitarian relief to far remote villages in the Kashmir mountain ranges of Pakistan stricken by a massive earthquake.
  • 2007 - The Mogadishu Encounter, on November 4, 2007, Somali Pirate's boarded and attacked a North Korean merchant vessel. Passing U.S Navy Ships and a helicopter that were patrolling at the time responded to the attack. Once the ship was freed from the pirates, the American forces were given permission to board and assist the wounded crew and handle surviving pirates.
  • 2007 – Somalia: Battle of Ras Kamboni, On January 8, 2007, while the conflict between the Islamic Courts Union and the Transitional Federal Government continues, an AC-130 gunship conducts an aerial strike on a suspected al-Qaeda operative, along with other Islamist fighters, on Badmadow Island near Ras Kamboni in southern Somalia.[16]
  • 2008 – South Ossetia, Georgia: Helped Georgia humanitarian aid,[17] helped to transport Georgian forces from Iraq during the conflict. In the past, the US has provided training and weapons to Georgia.
2010–present[edit]
  • 2010-present - al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen: The U.S has been launching a series of drone strikes on suspected al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab positions in Yemen.
  • 2010–11 – Operation New Dawn, On February 17, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that as of September 1, 2010, the name "Operation Iraqi Freedom" would be replaced by "Operation New Dawn". This coincides with the reduction of American troops to 50,000.
  • 2011 – 2011 military intervention in LibyaOperation Odyssey Dawn, United States and coalition enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 with bombings of Libyan forces.
  • 2011 – Osama Bin Laden is killed by U.S. military forces in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear.
  • 2011 – Drone strikes on al-Shabab militants begin in Somalia.[18] This marks the 6th nation in which such strikes have been carried out,[19] including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen[20] and Libya.
  • 2011-present – Uganda: U.S. Combat troops sent in as advisers to Uganda.[21]
  • 2012 – Jordan: 150 U.S. troops deployed to Jordan to help it contain the Syrian Civil War within Syria's borders.
  • 2012 – Turkey: 400 troops and two batteries of Patriot missiles sent to Turkey to prevent any missile strikes from Syria.
  • 2012 – Chad: 50 U.S. troops have deployed to the African country of Chad to help evacuate U.S. citizens and embassy personnel from the neighboring Central African Republic's capital ofBangui in the face of rebel advances toward the city.
  • 2013 – Mali: U.S. forces assisted the French in Operation Serval with air refueling and transport aircraft.
  • 2013 – Somalia: U.S. Air Force planes supported the French in the Bulo Marer hostage rescue attempt. However, they did not use any weapons.
  • 2013 – 2013 Korean crisis
  • 2013 – Navy SEALs conducted a raid in Somalia and possibly killed a senior Al-Shabaab official, simultaneously another raid took place in Tripoli, Libya, where Special Operations Forces captured Abu Anas al Libi (also known as Anas al-Libi)[22]
  • 2014-present – Uganda: V-22 OspreysMC-130sKC-135s and additional U.S. soldiers are sent to Uganda to continue to help African forces search for Joseph Kony.[23]
  • 2014-present - American intervention in Iraq: Hundreds of U.S. troops deployed to protect American assets in Iraq and to advise Iraqi and Kurdish fighters.[24] In August the U.S. Air Forceconducted a humanitarian air drop and the U.S. Navy began a series of airstrikes against Islamic State-aligned forces throughout northern Iraq.[25][26]
  • 2014-present - American-led intervention in Syria: American aircraft bomb an Islamic State base in Uqayrishah, Syria known as "Osama bin Laden." In conjunction with this, two dozen American commandos are deployed to raid the village in order to rescue James Foley. The operation was unsuccessful, with one American soldier being wounded.[27]
  • 2014-present - Intervention on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: Syrian locals forces and American-led coalition forces launch a series of arial attacks on ISIL and al-Nusra Frontpositions in Iraq and Syria.
  • 2014 - 2014 Yemen hostage rescue operations against al-Qaeda: On November 25th, U.S Navy SEAL's and Yemeni Special Forces launched an operations in Yemen in attempt to rescue eight hostages that were being held by al-Qaeda. Although the operation was successful, no American hostages were secured. In the first attempt, six Yemenis, one Saudi Arabian, and one Ethiopian were rescued. On December 4, 2014, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) threatened to execute the Somers if the U.S failed to the unspecified commands. AQAP also sated that they would be executed if the U.S attempted another rescue operation. On December 6th, a second operation was launched. 40 U.S SEALs and 30 Yemeni troops were deployed to the compound. A 10 minute fire fight occurred before before the American troops could enter where the remaining hostages (Somers and Korkie) were being held. They were alive, but fatally wounded. Surgery was done in mid air when flying away from the sight. Korkie died while in flight, and Somers died once landed on the USS Makin Island. No American troop was killed/injured, however a Yemenis soldier was wounded.
Wed, 12/10/2014 - 08:11 | 5535823 U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D
U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D's picture

We all appreciate the enthusiasm, but the US has done nothing wrong, mkay?  Next time just explain how Putin fits into this...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 20:54 | 5534900 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

Report to your nearest FEMA Camp for waterboarding. You think too much.

 

Those were PATRIOTS that tortured other people.

 

Whatever you decide just do not dress like Santa Claus, go to your local mall, and take a piss on the Pool Shock.

 

We do not need another Furries incident.

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 18:42 | 5534486 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

There is Overtime for that

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:56 | 5533577 James_Cole
James_Cole's picture

Rather than another reason to refight old arguments, I hope that today’s report can help us leave these techniques where they belong—in the past.  

If anyone in US&A gave two shits about people in government sanctioning war crimes they'd be putting folkz on trial. 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:56 | 5534719 Trogdor
Trogdor's picture

Problem is: the same folks you'd be reporting those criminals to ... are criminals - *especially* the alphabet agencies - and The Parliament of Whores is packed with degenerate, corrupt, cowardly pussies.... so .... who ya gonna call? (Ghost Busters! - CROSS THOSE STREAMS OVER THE DISTRICT OF CRIMINALS! lol)

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:28 | 5533437 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

As Commander in Chief, I have no greater responsibility than the safety and security of the American people. 

Great.  Start with the damn borders.

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:32 | 5533447 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

The guy's an idiot. The only debate left is whether he is of the useful, or the useless kind...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:17 | 5533969 James-Morrison
James-Morrison's picture

I thought that cow already left the barn.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:36 | 5533473 Stoploss
Stoploss's picture

We like torturing folks.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:15 | 5533672 General Decline
General Decline's picture

Can't prove it but I suspect they get some kind of sick, evil evergy from torture.

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 08:07 | 5535818 U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D
U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D's picture

We enhanced some denuded folks into pyramidcal arrangements.  

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:03 | 5534546 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

I wonder what Omaba's statement would say if it was found the FSB in Russia did this...

You know he will eventually say they did, irrespective of any action or inaction on the part of the FSB.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:14 | 5533345 Greenskeeper_Carl
Greenskeeper_Carl's picture

Thpse aren't bombs we're dropping, they are bundles of democracy and human dignity, and freedumb falling on your heads... Enjoy

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:26 | 5533426 pods
pods's picture

Shockwaves of Freedom only kill the unworthy.

pods

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:30 | 5533439 SofaPapa
SofaPapa's picture

Because we all know democracy is one of the most explosive ideas in human history...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:17 | 5534595 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

Because we all know democracy is one of the most explosive ideas in human history...

As AnAnonymous noted, correctly, it's a lot easier to sell when 'americans' are the ones that get to decide who is human and who is not.

Here, watch:

America has done more than any other nation to stand up for freedom, democracy, and the inherent dignity and human rights of people around the world.

See how easy it is? Those who reaped benefits from the 'american' stand for freedom, democracy, dignity, and human rights are truly human. Those who didn't reap benefits were reaped. But hey, crops must be harvested for the benefit of humanity. You know, the real humans.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:46 | 5534686 SofaPapa
SofaPapa's picture

That Orwell... he was ahead of all of us:

Some animals are more equal than others

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533292 SheepRevolution
SheepRevolution's picture

We... uuhmm.. we just... uhmmm... tortured... some folks, you know... Oh you did know?!?!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:44 | 5533947 rwe2late
rwe2late's picture

well, according to Obama

no crimes were committed,

or at least none that were serious enough to deserve legal prosecution.

 

[They were, according to Obama, just "patriots" doing what "patriots" do.

And Obama, in his mind, is therefore also a "patriot" by providing cover for other "patriots".]

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533343 junction
junction's picture

The CIA paid two psychologists/torturers $1,000/day tax free as consultants to administer the torture program.  Their research consisted solely of running the SERE program, where they had trained service members to resist torturers while the two were government employees.  For the CIA, they claimed whatever torture techniques were used on captured American soldiers by foreign inquisitors, those techniques were not torture.  Huh?  These two guys got paid $81 million for their services, much higher then their former government salaries at the DoD, where they worked before becoming freelance torturers for the CIA. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/cia-torture-report/cia-paid-torture-tea...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:27 | 5533729 General Decline
General Decline's picture

This is yet another reason why the printing press must be destroyed.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:55 | 5533878 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

That's what happens when you hire psychopathic potato farmers with dissertations on family therapy to run your torture program. But everyone should already know this - Mitchell, Jessen and Mengele. Inc. are SO 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/us/12psychs.html?pagewanted=all

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:14 | 5534576 Idaho potato head
Idaho potato head's picture

Hey! Stop dissin potato farmers....

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 04:48 | 5535684 Earl Slaughter-...
Earl Slaughter-- Truck Driver.'s picture

Well, not the overall and shitkicker-wearing dirt-under-the-fingernails type. But who's that guy with the hilltop palace overlooking Boise? The one with worthless and prissy corporate offspring (a drunken waste of seed (and many of us have had those nights!), I figure) but who is kind enough to let the local kids sled down his hill without calling the cops? I recall that he made his fortune selling potatos to McDonalds, but I don't recall his name. What I do keep in mind is that even a potato farmer can be a threat to the Republic and should be handled as such.

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 21:45 | 5538939 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

Not all potato farmers, Idaho - just that ol' Jessen boy. Kinda of an odd type if ya know what I mean.

He was never 'right' after he got his head caught in the harvester when he was a kid. It woudn't have got all jammed up with vines to start with if he had the damn proper crop wheels on the tractor like he was suppose to and wasn't harvestin all crazy-like with a six-row. It took them darn near four hours to pry his gourd out from between the spade and the tines. What the hell was he doing back there when it was runnin' anyway? Looking for worms?

That was four good daylight hours during a short harvest because of the rain, mind you. Ol' man Jessen was madder than hell - he wasn't NEVER gettin' those hours back. I figured he was just going to finish the field with that damn fool kid's feet stickin out of the front of the harvester. Could have had the wife pry the little bastard out back in the barn AFTER harvest.

Well next thing ya know - instead of honest work for a living - he's off to the fancy Air Corps designin' the a-rab torture program for those Cee Ah Ay boys. It just ain't right. He ain't no Idaho spud hunter like I ever heard of. Shoot, Ol' man Jessen won't even talk to him no more. Kinda sad even so.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 17:22 | 5534218 Thom_333
Thom_333's picture

Freelance torturer - that´s a killer (sorry) line at cocktail parties in suburbia.

"There´s someone I would like you to meet... Jim - he works as a freelance torturer"

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:18 | 5533370 rwe2late
rwe2late's picture

we murdered some folks

 

[Yes, we tortured some to death ...

many more if one includes those handed over to our overseas 'partners' ]

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:30 | 5533438 Perimetr
Perimetr's picture

Yes We Can TORTURE

TORTURE We Can Believe In

Stand for TORTURE

A Leader who can deliver TORTURE

Eight years is TOO LONG, get this f*cker out NOW

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:41 | 5533503 pods
pods's picture

He is the errand boy delivering a message.

He has zero clue as to what number of extraordinary rendition camps still are being used throughout the world under our banner.

The next puppet will be exactly the same way. Give them a speech and afterwords let them enjoy the vice that allowed them to get that high of a spot in the show.

pods

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:29 | 5533738 General Decline
General Decline's picture

"He is the errand boy delivering a message"

 

Follow the puppet string.  There you will find the puppet master.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:27 | 5533725 rwe2late
rwe2late's picture

 Obama knew the full extent of crimes and possible crimes when he took office.

Iraq was illegally invaded by purposeful deceit, and Iraq's leaders and citizens were subjected to tortures and murders.

Despite his oath to uphold the Constitution,

Obama chose to evasively "look forward, not back",

and suppress information, avoid further investigation, and refuse to begin any legal due process of enforcement.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 17:04 | 5534131 Earl Slaughter-...
Earl Slaughter-- Truck Driver.'s picture

Crimes were committed, and, at least in legal terms, Obama is an accessory after-the-fact to these crimes.

But, as my favorite Siscilian proverb goes...

Laws are for the Rich,

Jails are for the Poor,

 And Justice is for Fools.

Although oft thought a fool, I think it's wise to hedge accordingly. 

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:54 | 5533578 sgt_doom
sgt_doom's picture

The Doom Report

           -------- On --------

 

The CIA Torture Report

Well . . . . well . . . . well . . . . the release of the Senate report on CIA torture (cost: $43 million, status: withheld from the public by the Obama Administration for 1.5 years) complete refutes the movie, Zero Dark Thirty (no great surprise), validates CIA whistleblower, John Kiriakou, who now resides in jail for his patriotic deed, and is a deja vu of Gen. Alexander's testimony before the US Senate, when that former NSA director claimed that 54 terrorist attacks had been thwarted due to NSA surveillance, then when pressed upon for evidence, finally admitted that no attacks had been circumvented due to their surveillance (although it certainly tripped up legal hypocrite, Eliot Spitzer, who sent people to jail for the very same crime he was guilty of).

Likewise, the report proves then-CIA director Gen. Michael Hayden lied before congress.

What a land of lawlessness!

What CorporateMedia is not reporting on accurately is the number of innocents who were captured and tortured, and who knows what else, under this program.

We do know, thanks to European courts and American courts, that a number of innocents were both extreme renditioned and sent to countries such as Egypt, Syria and Libya for torture.

Two Arab-Swedes were extreme renditioned by the CIA back to Egypt, with the consent of the then-Swedish Justice Minister (similar to our attorney general), Thomas Bodström, the very same fellow who would later be the attorney going after the extradition of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange, said Attorney Thomas Bodström representing Anna Ardin, formerly affiliated with Swedish military intelligence!

The report erroneously gives the impression that extreme rendition began under the vile Bush Administration --- although it exploded under that administration, it first began (officially, that is) under the Clinton Administration, when the CIA helped extreme rendition a pro-democracy, anti-Ghadaffi activist from China to Libya, for torture and worse!

What a land of lawlessness!

The super-crooks on Wall Street get away with everthing, and so do their lackeys at the CIA, NSA and DIA. Surprise . . . . surprise!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:51 | 5534080 Maxter
Maxter's picture

Can't upvote due to your first sentence beign bold.

+1

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 18:55 | 5534516 steelhead23
steelhead23's picture

Having read several reports on this executive summary of the report I am sick to my stomach and mad as hell.  Here are a few salient facts.  U.S. Government personnel may have tortured some folks, but the principal interrogators were private employees of a company set up by two psychiatrists: James E. Mitchell and Bruce Jessen.  Over two years, this company raked in over $80 million.  Hence, they outsourced torture and in so doing badly damaged the profession of psychiatry.  Then to top it off, the CIA paid foreign nationals to influence their governments into allowing the US-paid interrogators to establish torture camps in their countries.  Let's put a bow on this - this government went after Stone & Webster hammer and tong for bribing Suharto family members to influence decisions regarding an ethylene plant in Indonesia.http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/03/15/the_bribe_memo_and_co....  Good ol' S&W wasn't alone and a number of US corps have paid heavy fines for contributing to foreign corruption.  So, while one arm of Uncle Sam was throttling the life out of its detainees in Poland and Romania after gaining approval to do so by bribing officials, its other arm is throttling the life out of US companies for bribing foreign officials.  And yet, no one gets punished.  And why was no one punished?  Because Barack Obama wished to look forward, not back.  What a country.  Mad yet?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:06 | 5533282 spinone
spinone's picture

If we sacrifice the values of the Republic in order to save it, what did we save?

If we sacrifice free market capitalism in order to save it, what did we save?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533313 Renewable Life
Renewable Life's picture

Probably meant to be retorical, but I couldnt help myself.....answer

NOTHING & NOTHING

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:06 | 5533283 BandGap
BandGap's picture

You just can't make this stuff up.

Don't drone me, bro.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:13 | 5533335 Never One Roach
Never One Roach's picture

I don’t know why Barry wastes his time ‘splaining this stuff ‘cause super-sized, diabetic Americans are too Grubered down to understand much of anything.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:21 | 5533386 seek
seek's picture

It's so over the top you'd think it's a parody of 1984, but sadly this is all too real.

Tortured people knowing they were innocent and the President defends it. Think about that when the SHTF event finally happens and how "they" will handle it.

Wed, 12/10/2014 - 18:41 | 5538297 spinone
spinone's picture

They will happily kill us all.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:06 | 5533286 Fun Facts
Fun Facts's picture

ZWO Protocol #6

Appoint puppet leaders who can be controlled by blackmail

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:57 | 5533569 noben
noben's picture

If not by blackmail, then appoint a malleable IDIOT.  E.g. Bush Jr, or the guy who replaced Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

Compromised or idiotic leaders seem to to be equally effective in ruining a country:  Either with too much militarism (guns) or too much socialism (butter), as both are out of balance.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:32 | 5533755 General Decline
General Decline's picture

They may or may not be idiots but I assure you there is always some form of black mail attached to their portfolios

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533290 Freedom In Your...
Freedom In Your Lifetime's picture

A statist trying to convince you an piece of shit is a five coarse meal. Completely unheard of.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533365 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

This isn't anything. Have you had the privelage to read H.R. 758, yet? Now that is a true masterwork of propaganda.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:26 | 5533424 Freedom In Your...
Freedom In Your Lifetime's picture

Oh yes. It's all leading to another world war, that much should be obvious to anyone with more than a handful of brain cells. Once one gets to the point where they can identify the bullshit propganda the world truly seems to be getting more and more insane.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533291 Kantbelieveit
Kantbelieveit's picture

Obama's "end" to torture can be immediately reversed by another Bush. The public doesn't seem to understand or care about torture. 9/11 hysteria has turned us into barbarians.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533293 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:12 | 5533323 Renewable Life
Renewable Life's picture

So send me the link, where i can high res print a couple thousand of these bitchez and spread the love on the street!!!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:18 | 5533682 Bollixed
Bollixed's picture

Lordy, reading parts of that is ghostly similar to what is transpiring with Russian sanctions today. Methinks history is trying to rhyme.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:31 | 5533724 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Mein Kampf II

DUMMKOPF

For the economically destitute and delusional superpower on it's way down unlike Mein Kampf I before it was taken from them!...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:08 | 5533294 The Duke of New...
The Duke of New York A No.1's picture

Gee .... I wonder why the Russians and Chinese are stealthily abandoning the US Dollar ..... it could be because of ?, no thats not it, it's gotta be something else.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:08 | 5533297 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

Hollow words from hollow men.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:34 | 5533412 Kaiser Sousa
Kaiser Sousa's picture

keep paying ur tributes to the MoneyChangers who r ur real government and on whos behalf all this has been done...

and for gods sake whatever u do, dont withdraw from their debt based currency paradigm by accumulating REAL MONEY - GOLD AND SILVER - thereby stripping them of their power...

slave onward......

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:17 | 5533678 Squiddly Diddly
Squiddly Diddly's picture

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.”

C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:08 | 5533298 AwkwardReader
AwkwardReader's picture

John "I don't want to torture them, I want to kill them" McCain  even had harsh words for the CIA. What kind of clownfuckery is up in Washington?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:12 | 5533334 Renewable Life
Renewable Life's picture

+100 for "Clownfuckery"

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:24 | 5533402 seek
seek's picture

Probably the sole topic McCain is actually qualified to judge. Hit him a little too close to home I suspect, scaring his conscience out of the shadows for a rare appearance.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 21:10 | 5534960 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

McCain says "torture doesn't work", yet he is living, breathing proof that torture can work exactly as intended.

But since he is a blood thirty psychopath that puts the Neocons to shame... perhaps the lie is just an intentional diversion...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533300 carbonmutant
carbonmutant's picture

Merry Christmas Bitchez...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533301 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

What a bunch of shit.  When can we just switch to a pure, hard-core authoritarian system without all the insulting propaganda?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:12 | 5533327 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

Did you notice how the statement author mentioned 9/11 in every paragraph but the last? That fucker should be fired for missing one. 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:24 | 5533415 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

'Since 9/11 we and our heros in the secret police, DHS, TSA, NSA, and other agencies you don't even know about have worked tirelessly with our corporate masters to strip all of you of the last semblences of personal freedom, privacy, and civil rights'.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:07 | 5533302 ZeroPoint
ZeroPoint's picture

When are the allied forces coming to take down the American Nazi party?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:13 | 5533337 1stepcloser
1stepcloser's picture

We're it Zeropoint.. where is the rally point

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:21 | 5533344 Renewable Life
Renewable Life's picture

Will they be carrying a German flag, that would be irony on a cosmic level!!!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533360 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

I hope the trials, sentencing and punishments are all televised.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:36 | 5533474 Sub MOA
Sub MOA's picture

If we had a "NAZI Party"  we wouldn't have these asshole zio scum puppets now would we ????

 

Here you finance fucking wizards go read this learn something ok

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/09/13/hitler-and-the-banksters-the-abo...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:40 | 5533800 seataka
seataka's picture

I believe when Eisenhower was trying to warn us about the Military Industrial Complex, he wanted to say PAPERCLIP but could not because it was classified.  www.lermanet.com/image/moreimage/Document-1.rtf

 

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:09 | 5533304 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

"The ends justify the means."

Where have I heard that before?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:08 | 5533305 sleigher
sleigher's picture

Look at me when I am talking to you.  Don't you fucking look at me.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533314 sandman.s
sandman.s's picture

You shut your mouth when you're talking to me....

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:21 | 5533392 Greenskeeper_Carl
Greenskeeper_Carl's picture

'Choke yourself!'
'With my hand not your hand! Don't touch me!'

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533315 sandman.s
sandman.s's picture

You shut your mouth when you're talking to me....

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:57 | 5534099 Shaznardickleze...
Shaznardickleze the Doon's picture

License and registration now! Get out of that glove box *BLAM* *BLAM* *BLAM* Hands up!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533307 Eeyores Enigma
Eeyores Enigma's picture

I say we waterboard him to see what he REALLY thinks.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533309 Johnbrown
Johnbrown's picture

"Supporters of the state possess an advantage. They use force to take people’s money, and use that money to bribe many millions to act in a coordinated manner in enforcing their theft. They rule through fear of violence. Fear is a powerful motivator. But humans possess another instinct, which is even more powerful than fear. It is the religious instinct. The religious instinct is an amazing evolutionary adaptation. It is the means by which humans can be convinced to sacrifice themselves, their time, their labor, even their lives, for an abstraction. Why not make the ideas of liberty the focus of this instinct? Why not create a “Church of Liberty”, a sort of voluntary counter-state? Such an organization should be able to leverage the religious instinct and use it as a tool against the state. I believe as the “clergy” of such a church we could proselytize and convert millions of “acolytes” to our side. As religious converts they would be willing to voluntarily fund the organization and voluntarily submit to its “law”. We could incite a sort of intellectual “jihad” against the state. I have written more about the logic behind this organization here."

http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/18956-how-the-best-could-get-on-to...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533374 Renewable Life
Renewable Life's picture

Anything might be worth a try at this point, where do I sign up? A church that doesn't have an opinion on booze, women, and gambling JUST Tyranny would be a good start:)

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:05 | 5533620 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

Because no one sees Thomas Jefferson when they have an Near Death Experience.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 20:03 | 5534747 Real Estate Geek
Real Estate Geek's picture

Nice tax implications too!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:09 | 5533310 sandman.s
sandman.s's picture

Reading Yahoo comments is shameful.  You should hear the idiots trying to rationalize why it is alright to torture people.  Bunch of fucking sheep.  They make me sick.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533350 SmallerGovNow2
SmallerGovNow2's picture

They mean it is only alright to torture people when their guy is the president.  Anyone on Yahoo is a brain dead ignorant libtard progressive socialist...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:21 | 5533387 ILLILLILLI
ILLILLILLI's picture

You could have stopped at 'brain dead'...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:32 | 5533451 pods
pods's picture

I like to read comments on mainstream message boards from time to time to check in on the Matrix.

Scary shit.

pods

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:33 | 5533759 ljag
ljag's picture

Sound tedious pods. Why not just click onto my sister-in-laws Facebook page and you'll get full frontal Matrix.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 17:38 | 5534268 Meat Hammer
Meat Hammer's picture

I had to listen to Michael Savage to see how he would spin it.  He's going with the This is going to endanger our CIA assets all over the world!! meme.  Good!

The man claims to not be a Neocon then spews Neocon nonsense that would make any Neocon listening pull over and fap.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 21:11 | 5534959 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

Yahoo Comments just filled me with homicidal thoughts of retaliation.

 

Those fuckers deserve the Economic Collapse.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:10 | 5533311 CaptainMoonlight
CaptainMoonlight's picture

Classic Obama pattern #1: Do a super-underhanded thing to help further sabotage the USA (release this report), and then say something completely the oppostite so the sheeple won't come looking to separate his head from his shoulders. 

 

Why is this guy still standing?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:34 | 5533468 SofaPapa
SofaPapa's picture

Because this country is now run according to the fascist model.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:32 | 5533757 RallyRoundTheFamily
RallyRoundTheFamily's picture

And consensus is manufactured with the help of "persona management" software

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 18:17 | 5534425 Prober
Prober's picture

"Why is this guy still standing?"

cuz the CIA & Pentagon are led by bought-out ass-kissers

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533318 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

President Obama Praises "Patriotic" Torturers,

Says USA "Greatest Force For Human Dignity The World Has Ever Seen"

Lyin' sack of shit.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533324 sdmjake
sdmjake's picture

 "Today is also a reminder that upholding the values we profess doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us stronger and that the United States of America will remain the greatest force for freedom and human dignity that the world has ever known." -Obama

 

Is Guantanomo Bay Detention center still housing folks illegally? Then shut the fuck up.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 19:49 | 5534689 Idaho potato head
Idaho potato head's picture

We housed some folks......

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533325 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

The United States hasn't been 'the greatest force for freedom and human dignity that the world has ever known' for a long fucking time.

 

Please, cut the fucking propaganda, no body fucking believes you.  Or go all out, get the flags and the goosestepping marches and the fucking zieg heils and lets just go full bore nazi and get it the fuck over with.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533362 ncdirtdigger
ncdirtdigger's picture

Because nothing says freedom quite like a good old fashioned outdoor rally with bonfires and lots and lots of flags!

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:21 | 5533388 sandman.s
sandman.s's picture

The problem with your statement is EVERYBODY believes it.  These fucking idiots think we are somehow morally superior to everyone.  It fucking amazes and sickens me.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:25 | 5533422 Greenskeeper_Carl
Greenskeeper_Carl's picture

Yep. Just see the other thread from the Glenn greenwald article for a number of examples. Regime apologists. Too many people come here over a link to a negative Obama article and seem to expect that that's all this place is, and republicans and the rest of what our govt has done throughout its history somehow gets a pass. We are not exceptional, we are certainly not very smart, and our foreign policy has done irreparable damage to our reputation. Only Americans believe all this nonsense, most of the rest of the world sees right through it. The difference between Americans perception of what their govt does and what their govt actually does has got to be the greatest propaganda victory of all time.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:28 | 5533431 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"The United States hasn't been 'the greatest force for freedom and human dignity that the world has ever known' for a long fucking time. Please, cut the fucking propaganda, no body fucking believes you. "

I know many a sheeple that will eat that up with a straw.

An American, not US subject.

 

"The enemy just can't, can't, possibly wear an American flag on his lapel. Just not possible."

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:45 | 5533518 Sub MOA
Sub MOA's picture

once again with the nazisms  you people don't know what the fuck you are even repeating anymore do you? 

 

kill the bankers stop the free shit army free markets barter and trade LMFAO  UH ever heard of national socialists?  well maybe ya wanna re-think your dumb ass capitalist money changer ideas you've been duped fools all of you DUPED. Glad to see the zio indoctrnation is still working to the T on you boys. Keep up the good work enslaving yourselves now go read the article I left below for ya...For Christ's sake get a real fucking education Critical thinking on alot of these posts is below lacking...it's non-existant.  Have a nice day

 

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/09/13/hitler-and-the-banksters-the-abo...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:14 | 5533664 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

What the FUCK is your point?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533328 ncdirtdigger
ncdirtdigger's picture

Nothing says dignity quite like a human pyramid of naked arabs

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:15 | 5533346 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

Don't you feel safer for that?  They did that to protect us, god bless them.  Cocksuckers.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 21:17 | 5534973 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

They raped the children in front of their parents in order to make them talk.

 

The CIA and NSA are pedophiles.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533331 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"President Obama Praises "Patriotic" Torturers, Says USA"

Well, now we know what "Patriot" in "Patriot Act" really means.

"Greatest Force For Human Dignity The World Has Ever Seen""

Is that before or after bombing a school or wedding party?

An American, not US subject.

 

"Set the guillotines on torture."

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 17:52 | 5534318 Meat Hammer
Meat Hammer's picture

Make the blades nice and dull so you have to drop each one twice.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 21:21 | 5534986 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

We are no better than those whom torture if we adopt their behaviors.

 

I understand your sentiments..you can trust me on that one...

 

I have been filled with ghastly, distorted and bent homicidal thinking all afternoon as a result. Even my poor next door neighbor was disturbed by my screaming about this to the Pawnbroker below.

 

Humane executions are what is demanded for these War Crimes.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:11 | 5533332 Tortfeasor
Tortfeasor's picture

We tortured some definitions.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:13 | 5533333 SmallerGovNow2
SmallerGovNow2's picture

Today is also a reminder that upholding the values we profess doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us stronger and that the United States of America will remain the greatest force for freedom and human dignity that the world has ever known.

Even as we continue to drone some folks around the world...

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:13 | 5533340 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:16 | 5533364 The man with po...
The man with pointy horns's picture

The xenomorph qualities of president butthead here make this picture all the more disturbing.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:19 | 5533378 fauxhammer
fauxhammer's picture

when her prom?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:25 | 5533410 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said he was surprised the Obama administration supported CIA leadership and tried to delay the release of a report on detention and torture programs.

“I came to feel the White House’s strong deference to the CIA has worked at times in cross purposes of being the most transparent administration,” Rockefeller said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “Significant parts of his story remain behind black ink.”

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:38 | 5533495 SickDollar
SickDollar's picture

question to banzai7 for somereason I am never able to post a pic ( I am using firefox)

what r ur steps ?

thanks

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:39 | 5533795 RallyRoundTheFamily
RallyRoundTheFamily's picture

you need to be a contributing author to post pics

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:45 | 5533838 SickDollar
SickDollar's picture

thank you

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:44 | 5533512 Hamm Jamm
Hamm Jamm's picture

can u make his mouth more toothless...  like a real sphincter !   would be a a tad more realistic

 

good job by the way !   bravo

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:14 | 5533347 ncdirtdigger
ncdirtdigger's picture

Someone check his belt buckle and see if it has "Gott mit uns" inscribed on it.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:14 | 5533349 franzpick
franzpick's picture

"Greatest Farce For Human Dignity The World Has Ever Seen".  Fixed.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:15 | 5533353 capltd
capltd's picture

Torture - it's not about gathering information, it's about terrorization.  What good is torture if no one knows they will use torture?

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533355 MrButtoMcFarty
MrButtoMcFarty's picture

I must admit....I am enjoying listening to the muffled popping of liberal progressive melonheads across the nation.

Their Messiah has no clothes.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:26 | 5533420 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

I must admit...us real liberal progressive melonheads figured this douchebag out quite some time ago. Some of us just voted for him to allow those who *think* they are liberal progressive melonheads to see just how much he isn't liberal or progressive.

Anyway, I couldn't stand looking at or hearing John McCain or Magic Underwearman as president. So, what the hell, I thought.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533357 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Finger nails for freedom!

An American, not US subject.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533361 pragmatic hobo
pragmatic hobo's picture

sometimes silence is golden.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:17 | 5533371 holgerdanske
holgerdanske's picture

And you voted for this, TWICE!

 

 

 

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 14:36 | 5533483 Seal
Seal's picture

The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president.” Prager Zeitung, Czech newspaper. 2010 http://www.theburningplatform.com/2014/10/20/the-seven-sins-of-obama/

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 15:23 | 5533705 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"“The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency."

Who says the American people "selected" him, or even "elected" him?

An American, not US subject.

Tue, 12/09/2014 - 16:38 | 5534037 SofaPapa
SofaPapa's picture

For me, the point of the word selected is that it is a way of distinguishing which people are making these decisions. The power brokers (the .01%) select their acceptable candidates (all of whom will agree on what TPTB consider important, while disagreeing on relatively trivial issues which can be presented as "friction"). They then present their selection to the people, and the people feel like they are empowered.  It's a beautiful scam, and it's worked for 200+ years.

What has changed over the years is that in the beginning of the American experiment, even TPTB genuinely believed that a system with as little central power as possible was the most efficient for creating a functional society.  They strayed from their ideals sometimes (Jefferson made some remarkable moves, given his writings), but in the back of their minds, those were the ideals.  Now the ideal has shifted, and the current crop of power brokers believes that a strong, active central power will best suit their needs.  In other words, the memories of the fact that this country was founded by expelling just such a cetral power have been fully culturally forgotten.  So now, this country lies on the dustbin of history, rapidly decaying into what we all see around us.  Where will this good idea (keep power away from ANY group of people) pop up again next?  No idea...

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