Two-thirds of Americans believe “there should be investigations into allegations that the Bush team

[kpete]

Poll: Most want inquiry into anti-terror tactics

By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Even as Americans struggle with two wars and an economy in tatters, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds majorities in favor of investigating some of the thorniest unfinished business from the Bush administration: Whether its tactics in the "war on terror" broke the law.

Close to two-thirds of those surveyed said there should be investigations into allegations that the Bush team used torture to interrogate terrorism suspects and its program of wiretapping U.S. citizens without getting warrants. Almost four in 10 favor criminal investigations and about a quarter want investigations without criminal charges. One-third said they want nothing to be done.

Even more people want action on alleged attempts by the Bush team to use the Justice Department for political purposes. Four in 10 favored a criminal probe, three in 10 an independent panel, and 25% neither.

The ACLU and other groups are pressing for inquiries into whether the Bush administration violated U.S. and international bans on torture and the constitutional right to privacy. House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and his Senate counterpart, Patrick Leahy, have proposed commissions to investigate.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-11-investigation-poll_N.htm

[yurbud]

1. this tracks with polling done on impeachment:

http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2007/10/poll-numbers-on-impeaching-bush-like.html

[driver8]

2. Sadly, it doesn't matter what 2/3 of Americans want.

Congress will do whatever the fuck they please.

I am glad that the investigation of Shrub and Co. is getting some exposure in the media but I, for one, am not holding my breath that anything will become of it.

[D-Lee]

3. GITMO nasal feeding tubes -- no lubrication nor anesthetic for insertion - YUK

read this article: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202428216101

This description of the process seems to be not contradicted:

"In their motion, the lawyers described the feedings as a 'needlessly painful' process, in which inmates were tightly strapped down to the chair by the forehead, limbs and torso, before having a feeding tube inserted into their stomach through their nose without the use of anesthesia or lubricant.

"They added that since August, 'riot squad personnel began to administer force-feedings in place of medical personnel, acting in a wantonly violent and medically unsound manner that has left detainees shackled to restraint chairs for hours on end covered in their own blood and vomit. This process was curbed only after detainees smeared themselves with their own excrement in protest.'"

There is no indication in the article that this form of feeding tube administration has continued under the Obama administration -- remember that litigation takes a while from the time it begins until an opinion is issued, so this conduct likely was under Bush.

If you wish to contact Representative Conyers, he has a direct email address:

[e-mail]

[lurky]

4. Toss this into the pile of "politically impossible" things

that everybody wants. Like single-payer health.