Dennis at Psychology, Dogs, Politics and Wine has asked bloggers to link to this story of a miscarriage of justice and a subsequent attempt to cover up mistakes by the FBI, using national security as an excuse, as described at Psychosound.
As I told Dennis in his comments, I think that most folks in the US won't care about this sort of thing, because they think that it could not happen to them, but that's not necessarily so under the Bush maladministration's Dept. of Injustice. Besides, this is so very wrong.
Dennis is correct to say that we can do our small part to shine light on at least some of the dark deeds taking place under our present leadership.
thank you
ReplyDeleteThis is important Mimi. I emailed it to a bunch of people... those who don't find a compelling reason to hie on over to The Sukka. I really want everyone to know about it.
ReplyDeleteLindy
Dear Grandmère, This is the the same kind of thing that drove me crazy during the whole Jose Padilla situation and that no one seemed the least bit disturbed by any of it. I found it truly horrifying. He may have been truly reprehensible but he was entitle to due process, as is everyone else. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteNo "due process" for the enemies of the American people! In wartime, you have to do what you need to do....bleeding hearts notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteBeentheredonethat, due process is for everyone, including me and thee. We might need it one day.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Grandmere. (BTW, go here.)
ReplyDeleteThat you are--but the name you typed wasn't mine.
ReplyDelete:)
Kirstin, I hope that I made a suitable apology for my slip. Go see.
ReplyDeleteOf course forgiven. No worries.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding? I adore you. :-)
What is especially frightening to me, in addition to the selection and treatment of detainees, is the extent to which court officials were cowed by the kind of folks one hopes only really exist in books and movies like the Bourne series. Here we are, how many days and hours away from the end of the Bush Administration, which, last I heard, had the lowest approval rating ever from opinion polls, and most U.S. citizens now finally realize that the war in Iraq was a tragic mistake that must end soon (yesterday!), and that it was ostensibly triggered by defective intelligence on WMD's, yet the Democrats, in a majority, seem powerless in Congress, demonstrations and protesters are still cordoned off into "safe" zones where Bush officials and the press cannot see them, and now court officials stand down over a page or two in a 44-page court opinion that speaks the truth about how this particular "confession" was coerced. It's either overwhelming inertia (as if the country is sound asleep), or it's knee-jerk responses, still in fear and still willing to march lock-step with the Administration on issues of so-called national security, never mind the fact that for all the long lines at airports, there are well publicized huge holes in the security network (especially with regard to ship cargo and protection of utilities, water supplies, etc.) and the proof positive of the Dept. of Homeland Security's (was there ever such an Orwellian name?) inepitude during and after Hurricane Katrina.
ReplyDeleteI wonder sometimes. You, Mimi, for one have spoken about how this country is not what you thought it was or used to be. I've said the same thing about our judicial system, and like many of my generation (e.g. Tom Brokaw) was brought up with romantic notions about WWII and FDR. Yet, there were shenanigans going on even during the best of times (and go back and look more critically at Abraham Lincoln, who still may deserved much respect, but was not the simple, straightforward opponent of slavery -- at least not racism -- as many of us were taught and his actions impinging against constitutional liberties were among the greatest until now -- although the government's actions against labor unions and so-called socialists in the early party of the 20th century rank up there, along with McCarthyism in the 1950's, and some of the actions of the Nixon Whitehouse... oh yes, and I forgot Reagan and the Contras, etc., etc.). Maybe these things are always with us (oh, who can forget the power plays in Rome -- civil empire and later the Church). Yet generation after generation we must stay alert and work to turn back the worst abuses.
Anyway, I wonder for myself whether I spend too much time in shock and outrage and whether this is shared, at times, to produce a collective response that is sometimes so demoralized that it doesn't know what more to do other than wring hands.
Anyway, where's Paul(a)? I would think he might know folks at the Second Circuit (or folks who know folks) who might have some insight as to what the frack happened in what is probably the most liberal federal circuit court in the nation. The larger problem, of course, is the Administration, itself. Anyone have any idea what organizations are working hardest at bringing lawsuits or otherwise challenging the Administration on its abandonment of civil liberties? No doubt the ACLU, but I wonder if there others, as well -- perhaps more mainstream organizations supporting political candidates and/or lobbying current representatives and officials.
(end of a.m. rant)
Beautiful rant, Klady. I don't know what's wrong with us - why we sit back and take it. It's as though someone has slipped a drug into our food or drink.
ReplyDeleteI, too, live in shock and outrage much of the time, but what does that accomplish? I screen out from memory large chunks of ugliness from our history and remember past times as better than they actually were. I forget that Lincoln freed only the slaves in the Confederacy and made racist comments.
I know the ACLU is working on this, and I believe other organizations are, too, but I don't know their names.
With me, part of the inertia is due to my belief that not enough folks care to get the attention of even the Democrats to prod them to stand against this kind of abuse of law enforcement and the judicial system.
When I told Dennis that I would post a link, I told him that I didn't think most people would give a shit, and I don't think they do.
But I thought it was the right thing to do to post it anyway. We have to do the small things, as we can.
Grandmère, this is appalling. Thank you for posting the link. But I have to say... not surprising in the least. Sadly. Heartbreakingly.
ReplyDeleteI do care. But I also feel powerless.
Mags
Thanks for the heads-upon this. I posted the story on Now Public.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nowpublic.com/crime/tale-two-decisions-or-how-fbi-gets-you-confess
Found you on my google alerts for the Times-Picayune
Sorry the link doesn't show up
ReplyDeleteNow Public
Mags, sadly, not surprising at all.
ReplyDeleteRené, welcome. Thanks for adding another voice to get the story out. And you're part of a group blog. That's great.
I see that you live in New Orleans. I'm a native of the poor, ruined city, but I have lived in Thibodaux for many years. We do get to visit often, and it is still the home of my heart.
I'll be checking back at your blog site. Thanks for visiting.
And this today on Episcopal Cafe Daily Episcopalian. Where has my country gone?
ReplyDeleteAnn, that story is horrifying. No wonder tourism from visitors from other countries is way down. Folks are afraid to come here.
ReplyDelete