( – promoted by buhdydharma )
So annoying when the mundane things of living life get in the way or sidetrack, derail, blindside or just plain wipe you out. Sigh. I’m decidedly uninspired for writing an Action Diary this week, but there are a few things that are rattling around that I’d like to toss out there.
Start with this for background music. Chick Corea and Return to Forever – Spain (Light as a Feather)
We all need some down time once in a while, take time to re-group, re-charge, maybe re-think. Then come back swingin.
Action Items below…
A C T I O N
Item #1: from the DK Rec List yesterday:
UPDATED-Justice’s OPR is a Sham: No Prosecution, Uncertain Bar Referrals for Torture Lawyers
by Jesselyn Radack Wed May 06, 2009
As an initial matter, PLEASE URGE SENATORS Dick DURBIN (D-Ill.) and Sheldon WHITEHOUSE (D-R.I.) TO INVITE ME (J.RADACK) TO TESTIFY when they hold a HEARING ON THIS REPORT on May 13.
Toll free Capitol Switchboard: 1-800-828-0498
Whitehouse: (202) 224-2921
Durbin: (202) 224-2152
Wow… she updates with news of this write up yesterday evening: nice. Whistleblowers article in wasington independent
*
Item #2: see PDNC’s recent rec listed diary, comments are ablaze with some new brainstorming for working up a database….
Just Say No to Torture Immunity
by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, Wed May 06, 2009
PD’s comment:
a treasure trove! thanks. edger is working on
setting something up. i think we’re on our way to data base. 🙂 just love how everyone pulls together on working for justice. gets my eyes all watery. 🙂
*
Item #3: March, ride, skate, fly…
A major March For Accountability is in the gestation stages now, primarily by Heather/Chacounne, and we will be hearing more from her about this soon. Meanwhile, I’m just wondering out loud how this will go. I’d love to hear from everybody what your thoughts and ideas are or if you’ve thought about it at all. So, will you participate and maybe help organize a March for your area? Any great ideas out there for slogans, signs, music… ? Let’s hear them. Have we settled on a date yet?
Heather’s comment:
“come to light”
We MUST push for three things:
1. An independent, open and thorough process that gives all adult Americans all of the facts about what was done in your name.
2. An independent, open and thorough accounting of all those detained by the United States, all those renditioned and all those disappeared since January 21, 2001.
3. An independent process of prosecuting those responsible, regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on.
Standing for justice and accountability,
For Dan,
Heather
Planning the March for Accountability. Email if you’d like to brainstorm. chacounne AT gmail DOT com, by Chacounne on Tue May 05, 2009
Special Torture Diaries
This week’s Sunday Digest is a goldmine of info from Meteor Blades. Dont skip this one.
Torture News Roundup: Evidence & Excuses
by Meteor Blades Sun May 03, 2009
Letter Campaign, Something the Dog Said, every MONDAY
Follow the Monday’s Letter Campaign Diary Series and send one yourself!
Weekly Torture Action Letter 9 – China And Rule Of Law
by Something the Dog Said Mon May 04, 2009
“Why I Fight Against Torture” by chacounne
*
Quote of the Week
“Don’t say, when the tiger is laying down, that the tiger is sleeping.” Cambodian proverb
*
By The Numbers
h/t tahoe: Through 2005, 108 detainee deaths, 98% due to torture.
As you will note, those records cannot be quibbled with. And what about all that happened since 2005? There is much, much, that we do not know and records, as we have learned, were less than adequate, according to the International Red Cross. So, as we have so often learned, the extent of the efforts of torture, renditions and “ghost detainees” still is to be learned. There are so many that were renditioned that are unaccounted for. Again, against all International laws. The International Red Cross and other International laws require us to log, track and give accounting to and for all detained in times of “war.” (~Tahoebasha)
*
Rescues
None dare call it murder……… by bobdevo, Wed, May 06, 2009
“His (John Sifton, HRW) report says as many as 100 detainees may have died during interrogations, some who were clearly tortured to death. Justice Department officials refused to investigate and prosecute when CIA inspector general referred a case.”
Cheney tried to revive torture after Hamdan decision
by indiemcemopants, Sun, May 03, 2009
“So, I’m trying to understand this. We tortured because we needed to and it produced great results and stopped planned attacks, according to Cheney. The New York Times says we stopped waterboarding in 2003. March 2003. That’s when we invaded Iraq, right? We caught terrorists after we invaded Iraq didn’t we?”
CIA, FBI, DoD, DoJ, Army, Air Force: ‘Torture doesn’t work.’ also by indiemcemopants, Fri, May 01, 2009
“Here I’ve compiled a lengthy list on the ongoing discussion (read: illegal implementation and defense) of torture.”
*
Website of the Week
Torturing Democracy
watch the documentary online
“Torturing Democracy” relies on the documentary record to connect the dots in an investigation of harsh interrogations of prisoners in U.S. custody – and points straight to the top. Timely and powerful, at its heart the film is about the rule of law – and how the government pushed it aside despite the fierce resistance of many on the inside.
*
Resource of the Week
The Torture Timeline from Foreign Policy, excellent and up to date (April 2009). h/t to MB.
*
What’s Next?
We’re still waiting for the new PICS: ACLU says Pentagon agrees to release ‘substantial number’ of photos of abuse of prisoners
pentagon to release new photos
The photos will be made available by May 28, the ACLU said, citing a letter dated Thursday from the Justice Department to a federal judge in New York. The photos’ release is in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the ACLU in 2004 and will include images from prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan at locations other than Abu Ghraib, the ACLU said.
“These photographs provide visual proof that prisoner abuse by U.S. personnel was not aberrational but widespread, reaching far beyond the walls of Abu Ghraib,” Amrit Singh, staff attorney with the ACLU, said in a statement. “Their disclosure is critical for helping the public understand the scope and scale of prisoner abuse as well as for holding senior officials accountable for authorizing or permitting such abuse.”
Man, Im tired, you guys. I’ll be back later to plug in the other rescues and stuff I have in the queue. ~LL
Have some Cat Stevens…
9 comments
Skip to comment form
Author
I will definitely have to take off from this over summer… DH was home, off work, the past two days, so I didn’t have much chance to work on it. lo siento, amigos.
for torture evidence. we have a few volunteers already and edger is working on setting up at his site. 🙂
Great job as usual.
I found this information on OPR’s policies and procedures helpful. The options open to them, according to these guidelines are:
10. Formal Disciplinary Action (within DOJ)
11. Referral of Findings of Professional Misconduct to Bar Disciplinary Authorities
12. Public Disclosure of OPR Findings
So it looks like they’re taking the most drastic options available to them.
Author
will see if I can get back on, just now on emergency power! i.e. laptop on roving mystery wireless
Author
nice to see that after battling with comcast and my machines all afternoon!
so, didja like my “down time” photo? lol
I did not make it to GOS with this today, might just post it there tomorrow.
Author
uhm… It was a metaphor, not FOR REAL! “down time” . . .lol.
Okay, looks like Im having major fucking computer malfunction on my PC.
I have one of my local, real life, tech angel friends coming over tonight or tomorrow to fix.
Meanwhile I will limp along on this laptop, reading mostly.
Have a good weekend, everybody, see ya on the flip side!