I have yet to hear from Mr. Vance. I will be writing soon about developments in U.S./Cuban relations. ("Fidel Castro's 'History Will Absolve Me.'")
Concerning developments in U.S./Cuba relations, Senator Menendez commented, allegedly from a strip club in D.C., that the embargo should be maintained. ("Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks.")
Mr. Menendez is reportedly furious about the reconciliation between the two countries and (even more) that he was kept out of the loop on this matter. ("Menendez Blames Castro For His Prostitution Habit" and "Another FBI Investigation of Menendez.")
Mr. Menendez has been linked, romantically, with erotic actress Ms. Aliyah Love. Senator Menendez denies the relationship (presumably) and there is no evidence for or against the existence of such a relationship at this time. Happily, Ms. Love is an adult. ("Menendez Consorts With Underage Prostitutes" and "Wedding Bells Ring For Menendez!")
" ... constant [harsh] lighting; loud music and an all-white room. ... The set-up would cause 'psychological disorientation,' and reduced psychological wherewithal [breakdown] ..."
James Risen & Matt Apuzzo, "C.I.A., On Path to Torture, Chose Haste Over Analysis: Harsh Interrogation of Terrorism Suspects Is Traced to Desperation After 9/11," The New York Times, December 16, 2014, p. A1. (Detailed discussion of "psychological protocols" developed over decades to bring about the mental assassination of victims.)
Was Marilyn Straus a victim of such methods? ("Marilyn Straus Was Right!" and "Diana's Friend Goes to Prison!")
December 15, 2014 at 2:34 P.M. No response has been received from Mr. Vance at this time. ("An Open Letter to Cyrus Vance, Jr., Esq.")
A list of sources will be added to this essay in the days ahead. It will take some time for me to list these sources due to the fact that my home Internet connection is blocked, illegally, from my laptop. I only have 45 minutes per day to write at NYPL computers. No images can be posted with these essays.
Scott Shane, "Defending C.I.A., Cheney Revisits Bush-Era Debate: Rejects Torture Label," The New York Times, December 15, 2014, p. A1. ("I would do it again in a minute!" Mr. Cheney proclaimed his commitment to torture, shamelessly and shockingly. "Terry Tuchin, Diana Lisa Riccioli, and New Jersey's Agency of Torture" and "What is it like to be tortured?")
Mark Landler & Peter Baker, "White House and the G.O.P. Clash Over Torture Report," The New York Times, December 9, 2014, p. A1. (Polarizing reaction by the pro-torture G.O.P. insisting on the need for more lies and cover-ups against the U.S. Senate's and White House's efforts to make full disclosures. Senator Udall may include the entire report in the Congressional record.)
"A Crisis of Confidence in Prosecutors," (Editorial) The New York Times, December 9, 2014, p. A30. (Will Mr. Vance discharge his ethical and legal responsibilities by acting on the evidence brought to his attention concerning my "situation"? Or will Mr. Vance protect Stuart Rabner, Mr. Christie, and Mr. Menendez? Thus far, there is only silence from Manhattan's District Attorney. "Prosecutorial Misconduct.")
Peter Baker & Mark Mazetti, "C.I.A. Chief and President Walk Fine Line," The New York Times, December 15, 2014, p. A1. (Mr. Brennan may have had a role in the formulation of the torture policy that is now embarrassing to America; Mr. Obama should have prosecuted the torturers in his first term. "Obama Says Torture is a Secret.")
Mark Mazetti, "Senate Panel Faults C.I.A. Over Brutality and DECEIT in Terrorism Interrogations: Failure of Oversight Is Outlined -- Agency Defends Program," The New York Times, December 10, 2014, p. A1. (The disgusting spectacle of C.I.A. -- or OAE -- tortures, together with the unwillingness to admit the unspeakable atrocities committed against innocent persons, have sullied the United States of America and continue to astonish the world. The emphasis in this title is mine. "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics" and "John McGill, Esq., the OAE, and N.J. Corruption.")
Charlie Savage & James Risen, "Rejecting the Claim That Tactic Led to Bin Laden," The New York Times, December 10, 2014, p. A1. (Mr. Cheney, shamefully, asserted that he "authorized" -- his word -- the tortures, that they "worked," and that he would do the same today. Failure to recognize that torture is ALWAYS a "crime against humanity" under international law, that "enhanced interrogation" qualifies as torture under domestic and international laws, and that, like slavery, torture is beyond the pale in every civilized legal system in the world. These tortures of detainees will only lead to the tortures and more beheadings of Americans, sadly.)
Jonathan Mahler & Ravi Somaija, "Revolt at 'The New Republic': An Owner Promised Preservation, but Two Years Later Change Has Crippled His Magazine," The New York Times, December 8, 2014, p. B1. (Efforts are being made both at The New Republic and Times to oust the attempted Right-wing control of the publications in favor of more objective reporting. "Manohla Dargis Strikes Again!")
Kate Zernike [Kim Guardagno?] "Christie's Chief of Staff Quits for a Hospital Job," The New York Times, November 15, 2014, p. A18. (Mr. Christie and loyal minions -- like Milton's Lucifer and his demons -- continues to rule in hell [N.J.] but will only serve in heaven [D.C.]. Jeb Bush may crush Mr. Christie's hopes.)
Alan Feuer, "On the Edge of Disgrace," The New York Times, Sunday Metropolitan, December 14, 2014, p. 1. (Sanford Rubenstein, Esq. may have been targeted by "off-duty cops" for his defense of African-Americans whose civil rights were violated. "Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Crooked Cop Lies to Convict People.")
Michael Wilson & J. David Goodman, "Heroin Takes Over a House, and Mom," The New York Times, November 30, 2014, p. A1. (Laura Spurring is white, middle class, and a mom as well as a heroin addict. This is what heroin -- much of it enters the city from New Jersey -- does to people. How strange that TONS of illegal drugs and guns comes across the G.W. bridge, every day, without difficulty, but that traffic jams occur only at the request of Republican politicians for no particular reason. "Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics" and "Christie's Bridge of Sighs.")
"A Record of Torture and Lies," (Editorial) The New York Times, December 10, 2014, p. A34.
"The world has long known that the United States government illegally detained and tortured prisoners after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and LIED about it to Congress and the world. But the summary of a report released Tuesday of the Senate investigation of these tortures, even after being sanitized by the Central Intelligence Agency itself, is a portrait of depravity [emphasis added] that is hard to comprehend and even harder to stomach." ("New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics" and "John McGill, Esq., the OAE, and New Jersey Corruption" then "Is America's Legal Ethics a Lie?" and "Psychological Torture in the American Legal System.")
It now seems pretty clear that the C.I.A.'s tortures were far worse than anyone admitted at the time that they occurred, as many of us warned and anticipated in public writings that were ignored when they appeared, but that are now quoted internationally. ("Nihilists in Disneyworld.")
It is also obvious that top Bush-era officials "authorized" these terrible crimes, LIED under oath to Congress and the world -- many of these officials who lied, blatantly, happen to be attorneys! -- and that there have been no significant (or "insignificant" for that matter) legal consequences for these officials. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics" and "New Jersey Lawyers' Ethics Farce.")
Indeed, Bush administration lawyers providing legal cover for torture, including Mr. Yoo and Circuit Judge Bybee, have gone on to distinguished careers as "ethical" members of the profession, or so we are led to believe. ("Stuart Rabner's Selective Sense of Justice" and "Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner?")
No attorney with the Bush presidential counsel's office has been sanctioned, no torture lawyers have been disbarred, and no one (including the actual C.I.A. torturers and murderers "on the ground") has been (or will be) prosecuted for any of these heinous crimes. ("American Hypocrisy and Luis Posada Carriles.")
Rather, it appears that many officials, including the former Vice President of the United States of America, Mr. Cheney, and the current head of the C.I.A., Mr. Brennan, are simply "outraged" that the Senate's report has been published to the world and/or that the C.I.A. is being criticized at all for placing the US, allegedly, below the level of most nations (roughly on the same level with North Korea) in terms of human rights violations, according to UN experts now calling for prosecutions of all U.S. torturers. (Again: "Nihilists in Disneyworld" and "American Lawyers and Torture" then "Legal Ethics Today" and "American Doctors and Torture.")
Having experienced many techniques of psychological torture at the hands, presumably, of persons affiliated with New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE), the loathsome crimes detailed in the Senate report are all-too familiar to me. For example, torture victims were made to experience:
" ... 'sleep deprivation for up to 180 hours, usually standing or in stress positions, at times with their hands shackled over their heads.' ..."
Victims subjected to this practice were made to stand in their own bodily filth:
"Detainees were walked around naked and shackled, and at other times naked detainees were 'hooded and dragged up and down a long corridor while being slapped and punched.' ... " ("Is Senator Menendez 'For' Human Rights?" and "The C.I.A. and Torture.")
Besides waterboarding and beatings, starvation, drugging, and hypnosis were used in the so-called "dark sites." Sexual assaults and even rapes were not uncommon:
Besides waterboarding and beatings, starvation, drugging, and hypnosis were used in the so-called "dark sites." Sexual assaults and even rapes were not uncommon:
"Some detainees were subjected to nightmarish pseudo-medical procedures, referred to as 'rectal feeding.' ..."
The lies disseminated by the C.I.A. in the P.R. effort that preceded the release of this report may be called the "rectal feeding" of America and the world with more lies. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "An Open Letter to My Torturers in New Jersey, Terry Tuchin and Diana Lisa Riccioli.")
The lies disseminated by the C.I.A. in the P.R. effort that preceded the release of this report may be called the "rectal feeding" of America and the world with more lies. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "An Open Letter to My Torturers in New Jersey, Terry Tuchin and Diana Lisa Riccioli.")
At least 26 of the 119 persons held by the C.I.A. were kept by "mistake." As many as 50% of detainees may have done nothing criminal, nor participated in any way in terrorist actions against the U.S. government, or coalition forces.
Nothing is more evil and insane than, knowingly, torturing innocents and failing to apologize for it.
Nothing is more evil and insane than, knowingly, torturing innocents and failing to apologize for it.
This is the sort of thing (false or "mistaken" charges) that is usually detected when detainees are granted due process of law as required by the U.S. Constitution.
Shamefully, the U.S. denied all due process to these victims. Many have yet to be accused or convicted of any crimes.
It is doubtful that these tortures "worked" -- as Mr. Cheney proclaimed -- or that they were in keeping with basic principles of American and international law, as Mr. Cheney also assured us, while advising the C.I.A. to make the same claim in public statements.
Mr. Cheney has made it clear, however, that he "authorized" harsh interrogation methods (torture) and would do the same today.
Is this what is called "contrition and repentance" by Mr. Cheney who claims to be a Christian?
Is this what is called "contrition and repentance" by Mr. Cheney who claims to be a Christian?
Whether torture "works" is irrelevant, incidentally, to the legal validity (or ethics) involved in the use of torture.
Torture remains a crime against humanity in all civilized nations as a matter of international law and treaties or conventions to which the United States of America is a signatory that are also part of domestic American law.
Torture remains a crime against humanity in all civilized nations as a matter of international law and treaties or conventions to which the United States of America is a signatory that are also part of domestic American law.
Torture and, say, slavery, or the burning of women as witches are practices that humanity has left behind, except for Mr. Bush's C.I.A. and the sanctioned torture of detainees.
Especially disgraceful is the role of professionals, like lawyers and psychologists who have committed these atrocities, happily, while refraining (as of today) from offering apologies to their fellow citizens or the global community.
Do you speak to me of "ethics," Mr. Rabner? ("What did you know, Mr. Rabner, and when did you know it?")
Many of these hateful tactics have been used, secretly, for years in America's prisons. ("Foucault, Rose, Davis and the Meaning(s) of Prison" and "Justice For Mumia Abu-Jamal.")
Do you speak to me of "ethics," Mr. Rabner? ("What did you know, Mr. Rabner, and when did you know it?")
Many of these hateful tactics have been used, secretly, for years in America's prisons. ("Foucault, Rose, Davis and the Meaning(s) of Prison" and "Justice For Mumia Abu-Jamal.")
Not only have the culprits waltzed away from legal consequences for their criminal actions, but they continue to express pride in their despicable conduct as well as lying about what they have done. ("Marilyn Straus Was Right!" and "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" then "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")
"Maybe George Tenet, who ran the C.I.A. during this IGNOBLE period, [emphasis added] could make a tiny amends by returning the Presidential Medal of Freedom that President Bush gave him [which has certainly been disgraced] upon his retirement."
