In an uncharacterstically strong and principled lead editorial Feb. 19, the NY Times says its "Time for an Accounting" on Abu Ghraib and the administration’s policy on torture and detainment generally. Maybe, finally, a sign that elite consciences are beginning… Read moreNYT: “Time for an Accounting” on torture, detainment
The NY Times’ Feb. 18 front-page profile of John Negroponte, Bush’s appointment as Director of National Intelligence, did at least mention—albeit towards the end, at the bottom of page 16—"allegations that he played down human rights violations in Honduras when… Read moreNegroponte and the death-squad connection
The American Civil Liberties Union has called for creation of an independent special counsel to investigate "torture policies" following the Senate’s confirmation Feb. 15 of Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary. (ACLU, Feb. 15) Chertoff headed the Justice Department’s criminal… Read moreACLU protests Chertoff confirmation
More horrific claims of rights violations in Uncle Sam’s military prison camps in Iraq and Afghanistan—including threatening detainees who dared to complain of beatings and torture. One Iraqi detainee who was apparently beaten and injured was forced to drop his… Read moreACLU: more torture in US prison camps
John Negroponte has been named by Bush to be the first Director of National Intelligence, a post created by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Act, recommended by the 9-11 Commission and signed into law in December. If confirmed by the… Read moreNegroponte fingered for intelligence czar
Madrid’s landmark Windsor office tower was gutted by fire the night of Feb. 12, and much of downtown Madrid remains closed off by authorities. The fire (apparently caused by a short-circuit) resulted in only seven injuries, none serious–but several of… Read moreMadrid office tower inferno: lessons for 9-11
A newly declassified report from the 9-11 Commission–released five months late and heavily censored, with several passges blotted out by thick black ink lines–reviews Federal Aviation Administration daily intelligence briefings to airport administrators in the months leading up to the… Read more9-11 Commish FAA revelations: more fodder for conspiranoia mill
Tom Wilner, attorney for 11 Kuwaiti men arrested by US forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan and now held at Guantanamo Bay, told the press his clients say they were beaten, tortured and subjected to electro-shock and sodomy to extract confessions…. Read moreKuwaiti GitMo detainees: We were tortured
Newly-confirmed US Atttorney General Alberto Gonzales may begin his term as an indicted war criminal. The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights filed new documents January 31 with the German Federal Prosecutor looking into war crimes charges against high-ranking US… Read moreGonzales may face war crimes charges in Germany
I generally like Hobsbawm, but there has always been a contradiction in hisworks between his enthusiasm for the ultra-democratic movements of theEnglish Civil War (Diggers, Levellers, etc.) and his allegiance to theBritish Marxist soft-on-Russia crowd. This piece reflects that ambivalence,and… Read moreHobsbawm on “exporting democracy”
Robert Scheer’s hyperventilating latest is getting much circulation in cyberspace (see below). A typical sample: "cabal of Machiavellian neoconservatives" A "cabal," no less! It is amazing the degree to which Scheer’s writing hasdeteriorated since he became an opinion columnist. He… Read moreIs al-Qaeda Just a Bush Bogeyman? (Well, no…)
