Judge On CIA Tapes: "It Boggles The Mind"

TPMmuckraker:

There are good days in court, and there are bad days in court. From The New York Times:

"I'm asked to believe that actual motion pictures, videotapes, of the relationship between interrogators and prisoners were of so little value" that was no record of them was kept in C.I.A. investigative files, Judge Hellerstein said during a hearing over a freedom of information request involving the tapes.

"I just can't accept it. If it came up in an ordinary case, it would not be credible," the judge said, adding, "It boggles the mind."

Read the whole story: TPMmuckraker

Comments

[randyw]

Boggles the mind? WTF ! Wake up this is the same guys that cherry picked intelligence to start a war , got caught torturing prisoners and exposed one of our own CIA agents during war time! There is nothing mind boggling about this, they are the same criminals they have been since day one! But do we really think anything will be done about it ? Now THAT boggles MY MIND !!

[BrickSykes]

It is fallacious for any American to buy the “Terrorist” idea simply because GB43 says they are dangerous, without digging deeper to learn WHY he thinks they are so. Most Americans have heard of the labels “Freedom Fighter” “Loyalist” “Patriots” Leftists” “Communists”, etc. Most Americans would have trouble distinguishing between them, and rightfully so. All those groups appear as some kind of grey otherworld that exists “out there” usually in the Third World.

All caring Americans would do well to get a copy of “Thy Will Be Done” by Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett. It was published in the mid-Nineties, but didn’t get much of a following, mainly because of its content. It was not flattering to the United States of America.

It was a cold look at what America’s Foreign Policy was actually doing in the Third World, and covered the period beginning at the close of WWII and ending in the early nineties. I didn’t enjoy reading the book myself; it was disturbing.

Most Americans have no idea the kind of illegal and immoral activities our country has been involved in since World War Two. The worst part? Nearly all of it came at the hands of mostly Republican government leadership, and operating under the general premise that spreading “Democracy” could only be good for “All” of us. The spread of Democracy, as it turned out, was conditioned on the coincident dissemination of Capitalism. That is, we were going to spread Democracy in the course of transacting “Business” with sovereign republics and countries. Well, we know that general premise is good; trouble is, most claimed “American” activity did NOT operate in the best interests of either the USA or any particular Third World entity at the time. As it turned out, spreading Democracy was just a cover for our main intent: exploiting natural resources of those republics and countries that would accrue financially to the interests of the private industries who were hungry for those natural resources. The American Government, mostly through its Military forces, would cover and run interference for the operations.

Brick Sykes

[BrickSykes]

(blew the below the fold bit, didn't I?)

The American Government has purposefully manhandled, strong-armed, beat-up, stomped on, trampled, and, yes, raped and pillaged nearly every small sovereign republic or country we have ever dealt with, all in the process of “spreading Democracy” through the transacting of “Capitalism.” That is, since WWII. I can’t honestly report on pre-WWII years mainly because I wasn’t alive, and, also because the media wasn’t the giant back then it is now. Plus, there were concerted efforts on the part of the commercial and industrial interests, in collusion with OUR Government, to keep those events under wraps. All those involved knew that the American Public would put an end to any such seamy and illicit activity, were they to learn of it. In that regard, much of the American Press is complicit in nearly all of the nefarious activity. Frankly, I do not enjoy admitting that I’m aware of these types of things; I truly wish I didn’t know.

One thing is certain, though. The Republicans, of any state, nation, or stripe, will continue with the "Terrorist Straw-Man" for the foreseeable future. It is their only cover; it is their throats that are on the line. Unfortunately, they have dragged the United States of America along with them and every man, woman, and child today is complicit by default. The sooner America begins making Peace with the World the better for all Humans on this Planet.

Brick Sykes

[NotWaldo]

The Bush administration has been a succession of MIND BOGGLING experiences.

My personal favorites are :

Gonzales : "I don't recall remembering".

Bush : "The Talibans are out of business forever"

Cheney : "Last throes".

Bush : "I don't think much about Bin Laden".

Bush : "Bring'em on!"

Rice : "The PDB does not say the United States IS going to be attacked. It says Bin Laden WOULD LIKE to attack the United States."

Cheney shooting a lawyer in the face.

Bush dancing with a Sheikh.

[Sundialsvc4]

"Rationale" or not, there is obvious probable cause to believe that some number of "Any Civil Officers" of this Government have engaged in crimes.

Therefore, pursuant to Article 2, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, et al, the United States Congress now has a POSITIVE LEGAL DUTY to initiate Impeachment proceedings against all of those Civil Officers.

The Congress DOES NOT have a "prerogative" nor a "choice," does not have the legal right to mutter, "oh, it's off the table." To do so would be to block prosecution of those crimes (for lack of an indictment) and thereby, to aid-and-abet those crimes.

Which is "against the Law." Period.

Let the trials begin. All of them. Now. YOU HAVE NO LEGAL ALTERNATIVE.

[NATIONALSECURITY4US]

AS USUAL THE TRUTH WAS SILENCED & SUPPRESSED BY

THE HUFF-PO STAFF -- THE SECRET SUPPRESSES OF

THE TRUTH...

I HAD 3 POSTS TAKEN DOWN OR DELETED BECAUSE OF

THE POWERFUL NATURE OF THE DAMNING EVIDENCE OF

CRIMES THAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT AMOUNT TO TREASON


SO ESSENTIALLY THE HUFF-PO & THEIR STAFF ARE

LINING THEMSELVES UP 2 SPEND ETERNITY WITH ALL

OF THE DEMONIC CAREER CRIMINALS WHO RUN OUR

NATION...


1 YOU FORGET ABOUT COPY/PASTE = IDIOTIC MORONS.

2 YOU WILL ANSWER 2 ME 4 THIS BECAUSE I NKOW

THE TRUTH & YOU SUPPRESSED IT FROM BEING TOLD &

THE TAPES WILL BE PLAYED 4 ALL 2 SEE THAT THE

POSTS WERE POSTED & YOU DELETED THEM OR TOOK

THEM DOWN...NO MERCY WILL BE SHOWN WHATSOEVER..


SO - SO MUCH 4 - "FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AMERICA"


PREPARE 2 SPEND ETERNITY WITH THOSE THAT YOU

SAY YOU LOATHE SO MUCH...

[ultomatt]

And just as a counterpoint to the mind boggling, this is from todays edition of Democracy Now...

Canada Puts U.S. on Torture Watch List

The Canadian government has put the United States on a watch list of countries that could practice torture. The mention is made on a secret Canadian government document not intended for public release. The document cites the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay and lists U.S. interrogation techniques including “forced nudity, isolation, and sleep deprivation.” Other countries on the list include Israel, Syria, China, Iran and Afghanistan.

[ultomatt]

There's nothing mind boggling about any of this. It's criminal behavior, plain and simple.

And just as a primer...

Politics 101

If you've broken laws, and you know it, you burn the tapes. Simple concept that anyone with a brain (Repignicans need not apply) can understand.

If you haven't broken any laws, you reveal the tapes and prove that what people are saying is not true. Easy solution...unless you're guilty of torture and murder, and are facing the death penalty for your crimes. That complicates matters, and involves burning the tapes.

And, for those who say we couldn't show the tapes because they would compromise agents identities, there's a new technology available...it involves black panels being put over the faces of those who want their identities protected, and, if necessary, voice synthesis to change their voices.

[BadChristian]

It's like this.
America doesn't torture.
Unless a CD or Tape or live television SHOWS us torturing... Then it's just a reality show, 'cause we'll put Bob Saget in there with corny jokes and some funny music.

Just a few more bad apples in one of the many bad Apple trees that georgie appleseed spresd all across the Mid-East.

[sugarmoes]

unless you're the criminals (cheney and bush)... then it makes perfect sense.

[Purple Girl]

It boggles the mind how many public officials and private industry knew and/or were involved with TORTURE!!
I amazed how easy the media is confuse. WE ARE NOT CONFUSED or stupid- it's the torture dumbass, not the destruction that is the crime, specificall a WAR CRIME!
Who was tortured
What methods were employed EXACTLY-to what extent
When did this type of torure actually begin to be used
and one more WHO....who was really the operative involved- Blackwater Employees?
Frankly any one being paid by Blackwater (et al) to work as mercenaries are TRAITORS!!
I have no problem letting our Enlisted off thehook for orders they must follow or be court marshalled.
However, An Employee (top to bottom) of a private co (and thus the enire Co) is liable for their Actions. THEY COULD REFUSE TO PERFORM THE TASK AND QUIT!! they could refuse the contract as a Co philosophy. Nobody will put them in jail for their choice. Thus every employee has CHOSEN TO WORK FOR A CO THAT CONDONES TORTURE. They should be in the International courts for their High Crimes against Humanity (War Crimes). then again their a few other countries that should be brought up on the same charges- yet nothing.

Quickest an dmost efficient way to bring down this Con Game- IMPEACH AND PROSECUTE CHENEY!!
STOP HIDING BEHIND OUR FLAG!!

[Tator]

I support the destruction of the tapes for no other reason that we have groups like the NYT that would be more than happy to tell all about an agent just to get them killed. They have done it before.

[Macready]

Thank you Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein . . .

[loki]

The people in our country boggles my mind. Why do we continue to vote in the same people who screw us and drive our country into the ground. How in the world can we keep doing this over and over and over again.

If someone is in office, and screws up and screws us, we reward them with another term, and another, and another, and then, maybe the presidency.

This is a strange land we live in. Its like electing abusive spouses over and over again.

[loki]

"boggles the mind" But we arent going to do a damn thing about it.