From here The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, issued a classified order last November directing military guards to hide a prisoner, later dubbed "Triple X" by soldiers, from Red Cross inspectors and keep his name off official rosters. The disclosure, by military sources, is the first indication that Sanchez was directly involved in efforts to hide … Read More
Huge Non-endorsement Of Bush
From the Associated Press, as printed here: WASHINGTON — Angered by Bush administration policies they contend endanger national security, 26 retired U.S. diplomats and military officers are urging Americans to vote President Bush out of office in November. The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, does not explicitly endorse Democrat John Kerry for president in its … Read More
Why W Isn’t Reagan – Part III
Again, this one is courtesy of Ron Reagan, Jr. again. His eulogy for his father on June 11 included this shot-across-the-bow of the Bush Administration: Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage. True, after he was shot and … Read More
Andrew Sullivan Tells It Like It Is
Conservative-Except-When-It-Comes-To-Gay-Issues, Brit-American, and Bush-Excusing pundit Andrew Sullivan is getting more ornery these days . . . and about Iraq. Here’s what he recently wrote: Take the case of Specialist Sean Baker. He was permanently wounded by other U.S. soldiers in a simulated exercize [sic] where his fellow soldiers assumed he was an Iraqi or a terrorist. Here’s what happened: "They … Read More
DOJ To Face Defeats In Supreme Court
This Newsweek article lays it on the line: it looks like Bush and the DOJ are about to get bitch-slapped by the U.S. Supreme Court, and they know it. The overall administration argument of the Padilla case, as well as the GITMO cases, is that "we are in a time of war, and because of that, we — as a … Read More
Torture Training
From the NY Times LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 8 — Reversing itself, the Army said Tuesday that a G.I. was discharged partly because of a head injury he suffered while posing as an uncooperative detainee during a training exercise at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The Army had previously said Specialist Sean Baker’s medical discharge in April was unrelated to the injury he … Read More
The Torture Memo – A First Stab
I’ll throw my hat into the legal analysis ring, although you can (or will) find good analyses here and here as well. UPDATE: A very fine first draft critique by University of Miami law professor Michael Froomkin can be found here. I say "very fine" because it mirrors my comments, plus a few more . . . and is better … Read More
Why W Isn’t Reagan – Part II
"[Reagan] had decades of experience in public life. He was president of his union, he campaigned for presidential candidates, he served two terms as governor of California — and that was not a ceremonial office as it is in Texas. And he had already run for president, against Ford in ’76, nearly unseating the sitting president in his own party. … Read More
Why Is Everyone Calling This Woman A Nazi Bitch?
Her name is Mary L. Walker. You can read about her here. [UPDATE: No, you can’t. They took her down a coupla days after I posted this. But you can read the same interview here] She’s the General Counsel of the U.S. Air Force. A woman devoted to God, she offers such advice: To live your life in that context … Read More
Fahrenheit 9/11 Trailer
Check out the trailer here. Oh. And here’s another good movie trailer — this movie is probably not coming to your area, but it’ll be out on DVD one of these days. It would make a good double bill with Fahrenheit 9/11, would it not?
More W and Reagan Comparisons
This time, a stupid one from James K. Glassman at Tech Central Station. Let’s pick it apart, shall we? First, like Reagan, the current president adopted a simple, straightforward program and is resolutely pursuing it: 1) cutting taxes, 2) bringing the fight against terrorism directly to the enemy, 3) building democracy in parts of the world where it has been … Read More
Why W Isn’t Reagan
Nick Confessore at Tapped as an excellent post on the subject of "Reagan’s Other Legacy". In it, he refers to an article by New Republic contributor Jonathan Chait (posted at the Reagan legacy website). The Chait article is prescient, being dated before 9/11 — indeed, being dated before George W. Bush was "elected". He summarizes the Reagan mystique in this … Read More
Ronald Reagan
It seems fitting to say a few words in honor of "The Great Communicator" at the time of his passing. It seems more fitting that I not be the one to give such a eulogy. Ronald Reagan had skills as a politician which were undeniable. And his message was welcome to many. But not to me, and it would hypocritical … Read More
Way To Go, Kid!
Frankly, I think anyone who can spell "autochthonous" deserves far more than $18,000. He deserves a Congressional Medal of Honor or something. And now I am stuck trying to think of any other English word which has "-chth-" in it (in a row, of course). Anyone?