90% Congress-Will Vote For Torture - NOT - Knowing What They're Voting For

[kpete]

Congress in dark on terror program
Few briefed on CIA interrogation
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | September 23, 2006

WASHINGTON -- As lawmakers prepare to debate the CIA's special interrogation program for terrorism suspects, fewer than 10 percent of the members of Congress have been told which interrogation techniques have been used in the past, and none of them know which ones would be permissible under proposed changes to the War Crimes Act.

Only about 40 of the 535 senators and representatives -- the top members of leadership in both parties, members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, and a small handful of others -- have been briefed on the past practices of the CIA program, which permits more aggressive interrogation tactics than those used by other agencies.

The lack of consultation means that senators and representatives will be voting next week to authorize a program that most know little about, raising questions about Congress's oft-repeated vow to increase its oversight of the war on terrorism.

more at:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/09/23/congress_in_dark_on_terror_program/

[helderheid]

1. unacceptable.

[ThomWV]

2. Have You Called Your Congressman and Senators To Inform Them?

I did on thursday and I'm thinking about going to Washington monday to tell them in person.

[Skidmore]

3. Then it is time to demand that they don't vote not having read the

bill. We need to demand that something this blatantly criminal not be passed and certainly not be passed without having been read. Then we need to let them know that payback will be a bitch when it comes. How soon is the vote? I called them last week and kept kicking a thread encouraging people to call and which was apparently ignored.

[Land Shark]

4. 90% vote for kpete's threads knowing full well she's great!

[Disturbed]

6. "I don't know what the CIA has been doing,

nor should I know," said Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican.

That is the attitude that most in Congress have.

Know nothing.

Do nothing.

Say nothing.

[Skidmore]

8. You forgot....

Excuse everything.

[helderheid]

12. DING DING DING DING!!!

[Clarkie1]

5. The interogation techniques permitted in the agreement need to be clearly

defined and made public, as well as past practices. Anything less than full disclosure is unacceptable.

[sutz12]

7. Nothing new...they hardly ever really know what they're voting on.

One can presume that anything in the bill has already been the working practices they've been using all along. Otherwise, they wouldn't need the protection clause that shields them from prosecution.

Of course that's an ex post facto law that is in clear violation of the Constitution, but that's a minor point, you know.

[sam sarrha]

9. here is what they are voting for... LINK>

note warning on bottom of page before you scroll down, it is photos of people who have had body parts burned by boiling torture.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3943.htm

i wasn't able to play this video..sorry crappy computer. so i dont know what it is about..
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3944.htm

http://polizeros.com/category/uzbekistan-torture/

this has been going on for years, and the Wet Brain Alcoholic Drug Addict Psychotic Narcissist born again of privilege pResident.. is trying to get the law passed retro actively of when he started his crimes against humanity spree.. doesn't the constitution prohibit laws being passed ex post facto ..??

the fool is obviously mentally ill and on a spree of sadistic butchery

[sam sarrha]

10. the IRAQ WAR WAS STARTED ON TORTURE INFORMATION..all bad info it does not

produce good information..

they tortured someone who told them what we wanted to hear, and then used that info to justify the war. i forgot what his name was they were talking about it on Mistress Randi Rhodes show.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. "Plausible deniability"?

"Gee, I didn't know that they were gonna do THAT when I voted for it."

Kinda like:

"I thought the Jews were going to nice resettlement camps."

[magellan]

24. "Ignorance of the law excuses no man..."

"Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law; but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to confute him." - John Selden (1584-1654)

Particularly those who MAKE and then APPROVE the law by voting 'yea'. It's their duty to be more than just acquainted with the legislation they're enacting.

[leveymg]

25. A vote for this Bill is complicity in war crimes

Complicity after the fact is also a violation of the Nuremberg Principle VII, the UN Convention Against Torture, and the Common Convention 3 of the Geneva Accords.

What in the Hell do any Democrats who anticipate voting for this think they're doing?

See, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/21/125733/035

[elehhhhna]

28. Admission OF and Complicity IN.

[leveymg]

30. Should make the job of war crimes prosecutions easier,

particularly Congressmen. Step right up for your all expense paid junkets to the Netherlands, gentlemen.B-)

[DeepModem Mom]

13. K&R

[Arkham House]

14. You know--for the first time in my life--

--I find myself wondering what's the use of all this crap of Congresses, constitutions, and "democracy". Look where we've ended up...and look at our "rulers"--executive and legislative, everyone...there are a couple of dozen legislators worth respecting. The rest? God help us...

[goforit]

15. The same tactics ussed when they passed the Patriot act.

[Nikki Stone 1]

29. That's exactly what went through my mind

All the important stuff is hidden....

[gully]

16. They should consult with Jonathan Turley if they're confused.

http://www.law.gwu.edu/Faculty/profile.aspx?id=1738

He laid it out on Countdown the other night, and it's beyond comprehension that because Bush decided to go on vacation instead of protect America, we're now considering legalizing torture.

[pat_k]

17. (b) RIGHTS NOT JUDICIALLY ENFORCEABLE.—

Why is this abominable provision being ignored? (from page 79 of http://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/nkk/documents/MilitaryCommissions.pdf">Bush's version)

(b) RIGHTS NOT JUDICIALLY ENFORCEABLE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—No person in any habeas action or any other action may invoke the Geneva Conventions or any protocols thereto as a source of rights, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose in any court of the United or its States or territories.

So, now it's:

. . .We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable, UNENFORCEABLE, Rights.

The War Criminals Protection Act of 2006 has ONE goal -- to protect the War Criminals in the Executive Branch from prosecution for the the war crimes they have committed (and continue to commit).

To that end, the bill seeks to gut U.S. Code of any avenue through which they could be prosecuted, even going so far as to strip our courts of the ability to enforce the most fundemental human rights for ANY OF US. It is a transparent attempt to escape the consequences that their actions would demand in any civilized society. Their attempt to escape prosecution demonstrates their consciousness of guilt.

Anyone who votes for this becomes an accessory after the fact.

Do they really want to be complicit with the War Criminals in the Executive Branch.

[annm4peace]

18. Is your Senator standing up to Bush

It would be great to know which Senators are standing up to Bush and not goign to vote for this Bill.
I called my Senator Mark Dayton, who's office said he wouldn't vote for this Bill.

I also would like to know which Representative would also oppose this bill.

I tried looking on the Thomas but I couldn't figure it out.

[pat_k]

31. I would call the ACLU or Amnesty International -- they are likely to be

. . . tracking the committed yeas and nays as they lobby against the bill.

Regarding my own Senators (Lautenberg and Menendez) I will be confirming their stance tomorrow. And will be seeking to talk to a couple of the Legislative Assistants to make the case that voting against is not enough. They need to be vocal in their unequivocal opposition (and if they aren't willing, I want to find out why not. We only have a week before they head home, so if I have to keep calling and make a nuisance of myself to get answers, I will.)

[Solly Mack]

19. Then they shouldn't vote

You don't get to plead ignorance to torture

[doctor_garth]

20. they DO know what they're voting for

these criminals in congress know it too well, that's just the trouble. They are serial killers just like the one whose ass they kiss, The Chimp.

[donheld]

21. We no longer have a legislative branch of government

As long as they vote for bills they've never read, and have no idea what's in them, how can we really call them Legislators. God, If your anywhere listening, help us.

[deacon]

22. GOP Detainee Bill- Turning Back the Clock on Rape

In recent decades, women’s advocates and human rights activists have made huge progress on the issues of rape and sexual assault — in the United States and globally. Both crimes are now more powerfully defined in state and federal laws. In international law, where rape and sexual assault have long been classified as torture and war crimes, the world has begun to accept the importance of enforcement.

You’d think this was a settled issue. But it’s been opened up again in the bill on jailing, interrogating and trying terror suspects that President Bush is trying to ram through Congress in a pre-election rush. Both the White House and Senate versions contain provisions on rape and sexual assault that turn back the clock alarmingly. They are among the many flaws that must be fixed before Congress can responsibly pass this legislation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/23/opinion/23sat1.html?_...

[EFerrari]

23. They know enough to cash their checks.

:puke:

[mmonk]

26. They know. They are the worst kind of people only

thinking about their political futures. These people will sell this country and its soul down the hole of darkness if they think it will get them elected.

[elehhhhna]

27. k&r