Bush torture compromise: "Media got it wrong"

Huffington Post:

"Today, for two separate reasons, has been an incredible day in America. First, the United States has legitimized torture and secondly, the President has admitted to an impeachable offense.

"First, the media has been totally misled on the alleged Bush-McCain agreement on torture. McCain capitulated. It is not a defeat for Bush. It is a win for Cheney.

"Torture is not banned or in any way impeded.

"Under the compromise, anyone charged with torture can defend himself if a 'reasonable' person could have concluded they were following a lawful order ...

"The Bush-McCain torture compromise legitimizes torture. It is the first time that has happened in this country. Not in the two World Wars, Korea, the Cold War or Vietnam did the government ever seek or get the power this bill gives them.

"The worst part of it is that most of the media missed it and got it wrong.

"Secondly, the President in authorizing surveillance without seeking a court order has committed a crime. The Federal Communications Act criminalizes surveillance without a warrant. It is an impeachable offense. This was also totally missed by the media."

[Martin Garbus is a partner in the law firm of Davis & Gilbert LLP and one of the country's leading trial lawyers.]

Information Clearing House via Extra!Extra!

Torture
"Apart from being ethically and legally repugnant, these revelations are also disastrous for America’s moral standing in the world. For the US, as for other democracies confronted with the threat of terrorism, the question of torture has become a crucial political dilemma."
Le Monde

Torture's long shadow
"One nasty morning Comrade Stalin discovered that his favorite pipe was missing. Naturally, he called in his henchman, Lavrenti Beria, and instructed him to find the pipe. A few hours later, Stalin found it in his desk and called off the search. 'But, Comrade Stalin,' stammered Beria, 'five suspects have already confessed to stealing it.' ..."
Washington Post

Tagged: bush, dubya, nsa, torture, cia, rendition, america, 9/11, impeach, impeachment