Fear and Loathing of Change

I was woken by a phone call on the morning of September 11th, 2001. It was an unbearable day. I cried my eyes out while I watched the nightmare unfold on television. I felt disconnected walking outside, knowing the horror and wondering how my pop was doing on his moose hunt. He wouldn't know of the attacks for two weeks. It didn't matter. Just because he was in the wilds of Alaska, didn't make the horror less real.

Sitting with Christy Harvey of the Center for American Politics, drinking wine and reading torture memos Friday night, I had the same thought. Where was I? What was I doing when a man was water boarded six times a day for a month-183 times in 30 days; drowned and resuscitated? Scraping ice off my car windows? Making dinner? Laughing? It doesn't matter. Just because I was unaware of the torture didn't make the horror less real.

I'm not a lawyer. I can't see a law school from my house. But I know the dark, twisted, sick, fetish language in the torture memos is not what America stands for.

But apparently it's what America will sit for.

The treatment of "terrorists" is touchy. I wondered if Timothy McVeigh had been water boarded or sleep deprived for 11 days. Had he been placed in a kennel with stinging bugs? He was a terrorist who hurt America. Were there more of him? Oh, that's right, he was American, so he was protected. Was it just a wacked reaction to Waco? McVeigh once told a reporter, "it's 168 to 1", making a macabre reference to his personal score card.

Timothy McVeigh 168 victims
The US Government 001 victims

A torture memo gave kudos to interrogators for using "potable saline" instead of fresh water for their sessions; the saline reduced the odds of subsequent pneumonia. It reminded me of the resuscitation of death row inmates after they've attempted suicide, or the sanitary alcohol swabbed on Timothy McVeigh's arm before his lethal injection.

As Americans, we put McVeigh on trial, proved his guilt, and put him to death; we didn't kill and resurrect him 183 times in a month.

The Rule of Law isn't just for the accused, it defines who we are.

Timothy McVeigh was an example of our response to the crime of terror.

I've read Justice Robert H. Jackson's opening and closing statements of the Nuremberg Trials. His representation of the United States and the World against the Nazis was unwavering. "Civilization can afford no compromise with the social forces which would gain renewed strength if we deal ambiguously or indecisively with the men in whom those forces now precariously survive."

The excuse of "following orders" was inexcusable. Ignorance of the law is never an excuse for breaking it. Tell the state patrol officer, the next time you're pulled over for speeding, that you didn't know the speed limit. See how far that gets you.

My pop gave a sermon when I was twelve. He said the difference between grace and mercy was simple; grace is when you get something good you don't deserve; mercy is when you weren't given something bad that you did deserve. I'm not suggesting that we have "Grace and Mercy Camps" for terrorists. It's not about THEM, it's about who WE are; what we will do and what we won't.

Who we are is defined by how we treat those under our charge.

Torture was done in our name. Authorized by Americans. Executed by contractors. All under the protection of the American flag. The same flag I pledge allegiance to.

The flag isn't a lapel pin made in China. The flag is not something you frost on the top of a birthday cake. The pathetic manipulation of a piece of cloth has distracted, quite intentionally, what it is truly symbolic of: The Constitution.

Thomas Paine said, "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right." Torture hasn't saved Americans, it has killed us. We have spent millions of dollars chasing false confessions. We have given up part of our soul in compromising our Constitution.

Mr. President, I want my flag back. Prosecute war criminals.

Comments

[samlu1]

Shannyn....there were no commercial planes on 911. The military on the morning of 911 owned and controlled the news stations that brought you the images of 911. These same companies have made 100's of Billions of dollars through TARP payments, "Iraqi Reconstruction", money laundering, and increased spending because of 911. These should be the last people for you to get your facts from regarding 911. There were no commercial planes on 911.

[Emerald1943]

Chris Matthews just asked Jonathan Turley, the law professor, why the country was silent about torture for all those Bush years.

I was not exactly silent, but I will admit that for the first time in my life, I was afraid of my government. I knew that those wiretaps were not just for foreign terrorists, but that they were listening in to all our conversations, probably emails too. I had seen information about "extraordinary renditions". I didn't want to "disappear" like other people have. I did not want to be under surveillance, not that I was doing anything to worry about. But it was obvious that this cabal had a choke-hold on the country. Any criticism of them was branded as "anti-American" or "unpatriotic". They wanted us to be afraid....and I was.....of them.

Now, we can bring this sorry chapter in our history out into the light. I say let's have it all! Time to air the dirty laundry. This is the only way we can heal the deep wounds left by Bush!

[Joad Pederson]

Excellent excellent article. I am a veteran and firmly in the no-torture camp. These laws, the anti-torture agreements were put in place to protect all of us. We promise not to torture their prisoners and deface their dead, in return the same courtesy is extended to our service men and women. This is about not only what is morally right but also about honoring the agreements we made and thinking long-term about the consequences of our actions and the effects it will have on our nation and our service personnel down the road. Unfortunately the previous administration did not appear to look far beyond what it wanted and what it wanted now.

[Akat1973]

Great work Shannyn!!! I agree with you so much,as usual! I am also always looking forward to one of your new posts!!! Keep it up♥

[Eres]

Ms. Moore, we bear the same sentiments. I find it extremely discouraging that we live in a country in which war crimes go completely ignored if not excused. In what I now realize was a foolish naive effort to extend the proverbial olive branch and engage open dialogue regarding where this country stands, I recently joined a CA 'Tea Party" list. When I brought up the subject of torture, war crimes, and desecration of our Constitution at the hands of Bush, suggesting that perhaps we should address the issues, this is part of a horrifying response I received:

" When you wrote "habeus corpus" was suspended, you didn't mention the specific and limited
circumstances underwhich it was applied, and under specific powers the Constitution grants any President. When you mentioned wiretapping, you didn't mention these "wiretaps" only applied to overseas phone calls with suspected terrorists. The purpose of rendition was not torture,
even though torture was permitted in some of the states to which suspects were renditioned, and some of them experienced documented cases of torture; within the United States, however, it only applied to suspected terrorists who were here illegally...I for one, disagree that the recently released torture memos were despicable. The stuff they mentioned is about what I went through to join a fraternity 30 years ago - and that was fun."

Its a sad state we're in. I hope the AG will remember his law school lessons and conscience and fight to make it right.

[garbagehead]

Well put, Ms. Moore.

I'm getting to the point where I look forward to your posts hre on HP.

[RunninL8]

Coming into the light of day...wisdom and tolerance is NEVER letting this happen by our government again... and rightly, justly trying and punishing (just like McVeigh) those involved.

Someone tell me...What are Obama's REASONS for not taking action, other then Let's move on?!?!? There is something deeper here. What GIVES?!??!

[philistine]

If I were forced to guess, I'd say that Obama's trying to find middle ground between the ones that didn't want the memos released for any reason and those who wanted to see everything. I believe that Obama is pragmatic to a fault. Some things shouldn't be compromised.

[SageFire]

Honestly, it isn't his job. It is the job of the Justice Department, and other agencies specifically in existance for this exact purpose. It is his job to look ahead as our leader. There are regulations regarding how involved he can be and as I understand it, it is almost zero. It takes more time to get together a really good case against a car thief than the time this administration has had to pull together the documentation to bring to justice some of the most crafty, well placed, wealthy and entrenched people on the Earth! All in the middle of a horrible economic crisis, a literal global meltdown, and the right wing running amok at an unbelievable and terrifying way. Personally, I would rather they wait years and have the perfect case than run the chance these people get away because some part of the case wasn't air tight. It is all working exactly as it should, he knows what he is doing, and the people who have been legally empowered to carry this forward are doing so. Please, give them time to do their jobs right. Keep an eye on the process but don't assume that because it isn't happening in the same way it would in the private sector that nothing is being done.

[philistine]

I share your sentiment 100%. I cannot tolerate the apologists that excuse appalling behavior and suggest that we harm America when we expose it. Their attitude is insufferable. I feel soiled.

[rodiogal]

When a law abiding citizen is afraid of their own country , what does that say about their government ? That is how I have felt for the last eight years. So now, here we are coming out into the light of day. I can hear clearly what you are saying. If President Obama said, " OK let's prosecute all, of them, from Cheney all the way down the line ", I would be the first to line up to throw the stones.
Instead President Obama, in his wisdom, is showing us tolerance. On the world stage he shines! Forget how jealous the right-wing is of him. This is not just some 'slobbering love affair with the new president, and the honeymoon will be over soon.
This truly is the greatest presidency of my lifetime.
America is back for me, and my flag, left folded in our office, after Bush took the second term, flies unfurled today.

[Shannyn Moore - Huffpost Blogger]

REALLY?

If a teacher was known to have molested children in their class, would you call me tolerant for not investigating or prosecuting the crime? What if that teacher did it 6 times a day for a month?

What if the perpetrating teacher just retired? Is that when to be tolerant?

What if the replacement teacher is a real great guy? Does that make the kiddy fidler teacher better?

If it's known a teacher was molesting kids, the drop out rate might go up...right? Shhhh, don't tell.

Since I don't want people to think school is bad...I should just let it go?

IS THAT TOLERANCE? NO, it's aiding and abetting a crime. Before you freak out that I am comparing terrorists to child victims...I'M NOT. I'm comparing the perpetrators, because the President shouldn't get to pick what crimes to prosecute.

[BusGreg]

Nice reply, Shannyn. MSNBC just reported that while Pres. O. might not want to make waves, Atty Gen Holder seems to keep his options open. If Bush-Co don't get held accountable it will be a very sad part of our history. War crimes are inexcusable, no matter who commited them.

[kwalters]

I second the motion!

Given the new revelations that we water boarded another human being 183 times in a month, we must prosecute and punish, to the full extent of the law, those that were "only following orders". Ignorance of the law is no excuse. This is so beyond comprehension and reprehension. I'm disgusted.

Prosecute the war criminals Mr. President, lest you become one.

[BusGreg]

Amen!