Comments (14)

Dee Illuminati wrote on August 21, 2007 10:15 AM:

There is no need to grab a Jr. officer and railroad his @ss if there is no serious inquiry into Cambones and Rumsfelds marching orders. After Janis Karpinski's testimony in Germany this is an unneeded prosecution that does not make for accountability or any meaningful outcome. If anything the endeavour in the absence of Cambone's and Rumsfeld's testimony, or being called as witnesses, furthers the stench.

Not that I condone the stupidity of Abhu Graib... just that tossing another Jr. officer into the volcano will accomplish nothing at this juncture and just re-hash this very bad policy decision and embarrasing episode of US history.

This is good for no-one except those actually responsible as it attempts to create a scapegoat and that isn't selling with those whom follow this sort of thing.

Anonymous wrote on August 21, 2007 10:38 AM:

Now we have selective imprisoning and selective prosecutions... we have long ago passed from democratic principles into the realm of oligarchy, military or dictatorial rule... or all three.

Good copout for not having a real rule of law. Can't have those folks who use tortture and murder as a way of law getting into trouble. Hitler would never have been able to begin WW ll or gas 6 million people if he had to worry about little things like his followers being punished for their deeds...

Nelly Bly wrote on August 21, 2007 10:40 AM:

Now I'm sure the Curt Weldon indictment is on its way.

In Part 2 of a 4-part series (link below), Jack Cashill at WorldNetDaily today explains how three DOJ senior attorneys held over from the Clinton administration covered for Sandy Berger, thereby helping him to revive his career.

According to Cashill, one of the three attorneys, Howard Sklamberg is now going after Weldon:

"The DOJ press release detailing Berger's wrist-slap cites the fine work, among others, of the aforementioned Sklamberg. Having helped revive Berger's career, Sklamberg has been handed an ironic new role in this ongoing charade, the prosecution of Berger's nemesis, Curt Weldon himself."

Jeez, we knew the DOJ was politicized but who knew it was the Dems running the show?

conniptionfit wrote on August 21, 2007 10:47 AM:

Why does >Dick< have those warrentless surveilance documents? Wouldn't those kind of documents normally have been in the custody of the DOJ?

Johann wrote on August 21, 2007 10:54 AM:

"The White House found the subpoenaed warrantless surveillance documents! They were in Cheney's office all the time (presumably in a man-sized safe). Of course, Cheney's made it clear he's not handing those docs over anytime soon."

Past time to cite Cheney for Inherent Contempt of congress and jail him until those documents are turned over to Congress.

Once again he is giving Congress the finger.

Anonymous wrote on August 21, 2007 10:56 AM:

Re: warrantless surveillance documents in Cheney's office.

Here's a line in the Washington Post article that jumped out at me:

"Although Cheney's office has copies of the memos, none of them "was rendered to the Office of the Vice President," Coffin wrote."

If none of the memos were rendered to Cheney's office, why does he have them all? What do you think the chances are of someone in the WH press corp asking that question?

This is yet another piece of the puzzle proving who the real "Decider" is when it comes to these warrantless surveillance programs.

Richard L. Adlof wrote on August 21, 2007 11:12 AM:

Call the press to send pphotographers and video folk over to the White House. Send the Capital Police over the White House. Have Cheney drug from the premises in cuffs. Hand Gonzalez a note that the White House can have Cheney's body back when Congress gets the docs. Park Cheney's flabby ass and his Secret Service Agent in the jail on the hill. The bonus is AG the AG has to argue that habeas corpus is a right

lysias wrote on August 21, 2007 11:53 AM:

If the documents were authored in the Office of the Vice President, then that office could have them without having been rendered to the office.

I can't think of any other plausible way the office could have copies of them (which include 43 separate authorizations from President Bush).

KestrleBrighteyes wrote on August 21, 2007 12:05 PM:

Cheney has declared AGAIN that his office is not part of the executive branch. So why is he still covered under executive privilege? And what other perks and privileges is he receiving as a member of the executive branch?

And why is he still receiving funding?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Roberta wrote on August 21, 2007 12:23 PM:

"After [Agriculture Undersecretary Mark] Rey blocked the first review of this information, a federal judge ordered Rey to complete a case review before October or face a contempt citation."

This is a no-brainer for Rey. He's part of the Executive Branch. And every single piece of paper in every Department falls under Executive Privilege, so he doesn't have to turn anything over, any more than Cheney has to.

Why can't we all understand this?

Hey, what are you trying to do, you unpatriotic federal judge, embolden the enemy?

BobbyD wrote on August 21, 2007 12:52 PM:

Cite Inherent Contempt and lock him up in that "man-sized safe" of his. We could drill a couple of holes in the top...for all of us to come by and piss through. This man is truly disgusting and needs to bluntly face the consequences for his treasonous, self serving actions. Hanging is too good for this prick.

dee illuminati wrote on August 21, 2007 1:42 PM:

TO: Date: August 21, 2007 10:38 AM

Unless there is a FULL SCALE investigation, and that would mean Cambone and Rumsfeld along with their immediate subordinates being questioned under oath, there is actually little reason to work from the bottom up. What you do is work from the top down and at the first documented objection by an officer, prosecute all the above.

There was an interesting documentary on HBO about the torture, http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/ghostsofabughraib/index.html

Watch this and note the part where videos and pictures were requested to be returned with 'amnesty' and 'no questions asked.'

And then ask yourself, was this standard operating procedures and if Janice is to be believed, and the Seymor Hersch report credible, you prosecute from the top down until there is a documented objection to the practice in writing.

The greater damage was done to US national security interests by these policy decisions, and the orders received, explicit or implicit in war theatre, is a mitigating issue in regard to Jr. Officer conduct.

Lets get the real culprits, those whom approved the policy. That is justice and let us not confuse that with some fable of 'rogue officers' misbehaving.

Where is the trash can with the photos? I suggest similar to the Tilghman case that at least the highest ranking general lose a pay grade, and not the 'other way' around.....

That prevents furture problems like this in the future.... toss a general or two in the volcano.

RWN wrote on August 21, 2007 2:09 PM:

This is getting better than a novel. Cheney is the VP and all his authority stems from the President. He has man size safe's. He not part of the executive branch but states he is part of the legislative branch. And yet he is in contempt in turning over executive branch papers to the legislative branch.

Impeach him...that is what he wants, he wants full out fight. He wants to tell the world (like Col what's his name in the movie that he ordered the code red).

This man is out of control....impeach him and isolate Bush....impeach Gonzo while you are at it.

Ila wrote on August 21, 2007 8:55 PM:

LET'S OFFER REWARDS AND SAFE HOUSES
(HERE'S WHERE QUAKERS AND 'MAD AS HELL' CITIZENS CAN COME IN HANDY)....TO ALL WHISTLEBLOWERS!
BOY, I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHICH INSURANCE COMPANIES GAVE ZILLIONS OR PROMISED JOBS TO BUSH CRIME FAMILY MEMBERS TO SHAFT THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH BILL TODAY!
WE NEED TO GET OUTTA OUR CHAIRS..START YELLING
'WE'RE MAD AS HELL!'
DEMAND..DON'T ASK! I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW 'NICE' WE'VE GOTTEN SINCE THE 60'S...WHAT A BUCH OF WUSSES!
IMPEACH
STOP THE WAR
SUPPORT HR 676-HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
THEN WE WOULDNT' EVEN NEED TO TALK ABOUT
INSURANCE COMPANIES OR CHILDRENS HEALT INITIATIVES, OR 'SICKNESS' CARTELS!
IMPEACH NOW...IF ONLY TO KEEP THEM BUSY ON THEMSELVES!