Breaking news on torture issue.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Here is a Rachel Maddow segment on a document that is to be released tomorrow (at least partially released, partially redacted).

I know it seems rather lame to say that threatening someone with a gun or a power drill constitutes torture, but it can be a harrowing experience. The thing I find quite interesting is the obstruction of justice issue on the part of the CIA. The organization seems to cost our nation more than it gains us.

BTW, I like the line of traffic off of Isikoff's right shoulder. It brings back memories of Manhattan.

Comments

[reality-hammer.livejournal.com]

I'll wait until I actually see the document myself.

I don't trust MSNBC or Newsweek to provide reliable accounts, especially with unknown "sources".

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I'll be looking for the news monday.

[root-fu.livejournal.com]

What about the CIA's hellfire missile laden, predator drones -- which have taken out entire villages of women and children?

Yet another...

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

... example of atrocity that militarists will see as righteous.

Re: Yet another...

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

But it wouldn't be necessary if we had a real life Mitch Rapp.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Given that the FBI gave us J. Edgar Hoover, who was the closest the USA ever produced to a Beria or a Himmler.....I would agree that intelligencers do not tend to be good for a society. But if you want a society without them, go shoot the Byzantine Emperor that invented the Bureau of Barbarians in the head.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can just blanket the FBI wholesale for that. I mean we don't demonize Germany because of Hitler anymore right? We understand that a specific set of circumstances both in and out of Germany enabled him right?

Same with Hoover. Circumstances both in the FBI and especially in the U.S. in general.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

We don't? Seems to me like the Germans = Nazi stereotype is alive and well.

And after all, the association of Germans with Nazis has by no means faded in the former Communist Bloc, and nor will it while the generation that Hitler's armies did their best to wipe from the face of the Earth is still living.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Seems to me like the Germans = Nazi stereotype is alive and well.

Not for anyone that matters. ;) The fact that you know it's only a stereotype though enforces we shouldn't stereotype the FBI wholesale in the same way.

All Germans are Nazis

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

That sleight of hand probably first came about as rationalization for Butch Harris' handiwork during the war. At the time, the Japanese were portrayed as savage beasts with pointy teeth. Same Bat Lie, same Bat Channel.

Hoover's personal mission.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

It's interesting that Hoover made an explicit pledge that he would not use the FBI for political investigation purposes. He violated that vow throughout his stint at the Agency.

The FBI has not been called on the carpet over the torture issue, though. They have a different protocol for conducting investigations because they depend on convictions.

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

On a related note, what's up with MSNBC not posting transcripts for the past couple weeks?

I guess...

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

... you'll have to take that up with them. I'd assume budget constraints are involved.