Court Dismisses a Case Asserting Torture by C.I.A.

Court Dismisses a Case Asserting Torture by C.I.A.

www.nytimes.com

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that former prisoners of the C.I.A. could not sue over their alleged torture in overseas prisons because such a lawsuit might expose secret government information.
The sharply divided ruling was a major victory for the Obama administration’s efforts to advance a sweeping view of executive secrecy powers. It strengthens the White House’s hand as it has pushed an array of assertive counterterrorism policies, while raising an opportunity for t

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The President has proclaimed that "America doesn't torture," but allegations continue to surface repeatedly. Obama is apparently asserting his executive privilege in preventing the disclosure of torture in open courts.

I am disappointed in the President. He promised a radical change from the way the Bush Administration handled prisoners but now it looks like the same old same old.

Maybe presidents know details that would justify extraordinary measures beyond what we are made aware of. I am still of the opinion that torture should be used sparingly, if at all. Preferably we should never use it.


www.nytimes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I don't think that you can blame the President for this because the executive branch works outside of the executive branch. I think that what this shows as with the ruling that mobile communication devices can now be tapped without a warrant (they could before under the patriot act- now it's just legal to do so) that the people in the federal courts of appeals are very authoritarian and for the most part they'll work with the government. We're a Democracy right? We're supposed to be a Republic form of government but most branches of our government seem to operate like a dictatorship. It's a sad thing.

I totally agree, I could not be more disappointed in Obama.

Since Obama took office and there has been a never ending string of
"promise one thing, do the exact opposite". Ohh yes, then, pretend it is in our best interest.

We knew right off the bat when he had promised government transparancey, honest accounting of activities,
end of lobbying practice, blah, blah blah.
First he sealed off all of his own records.
Then he stated that he would not appoint anyone with ethical breach history,
but immediately made exception for Timmy Geithner.
Currently they have a focus on criminalizing whistleblowers.
Government can steal, vandalize, kill, whatever crime you think of, and just hide it or blatantly lie about it.
The crime that has become favorite punishable offense is exposing truth.

Instead of restoring infringed civil liberties, Obama has been even more aggressive than Bush at violating our constitutional rights. More Homeland Security and more Patriot Act. More monitoring and restrictions.

The only things the federal government is supposed to be doing is:
protecting our birthright liberties - opposite occuring ;
securing our borders, includes deporting illegal aliens - opposite occuring ;
refrain from any infringement on our freedoms or daily activities -
name ONE activity or ONE thing that is not regulated and/or taxed.

Again, I could not be more disappointed. Or more angry.
Spineless jerk.

reply to post by Frankidealist35

I just wish I knew why the President has to cover up for the C.I.A. I realize it is shrouded in secrecy because there are some confidential matters that really would jeopardize the safety of the U.S. Then there are some that we don't want to admit to, like the fact that the U.S. secretly had a hand in overthrowing the popular president Allende and installing the dictator Pinochet in Chile.

But it seems here that what is being covered up is the fact that these prisoners have been tortured, when we say we don't torture. I say why can't we let these defendants have their day in court?

I dont think blaming a man who is at the very most a voice box, and who has no REAL power of his own, is very fair. Im sure if Obama had the option, he would put sanctions on all sorts of things that happen, and that the secret service does behind his back. However, I would have thought those would be the exact things that people say things like "Sir, this information is on a need to know basis, and my superiors (read YOUR superiors) do not believe you need to know." about.
Lets face it, Obama is not the head of the CIA or any such organisation . Hes a pencil pushing, soft handed bloody politician, just like almost every other bugger in the senate, and anyplace else in politics across the western world ( I say across the western world, because east of that you only get into office if you have soaked yourself in the blood of some innocent protestor) so having a crack at him, is somewhat like a marine shouting at a parking attendant for getting grenade types mixed up. He has no say.
Now, there is something which must be accepted, not debated and discussed but accepted. If you want a government under your control, which does as it is told by the people, then you need to live somewhere other than America. I dont know where you could go , but it aint there.

reply to post by TrueBrit

You make your point well.

I know a president cannot rule by royal decree and so has to have the approval of hundreds of people -- in Congress, in the Justice Department, in the FBI, in the CIA and many other bureaus and bureaucrats. And then he also believes he has to bow to popular opinion if he wants to get re-elected. So in many ways his hands are tied.

I would just like to see him exert more moral leadership.

Come on people lets face FACTS! The government lies to us on a daily basis and covers all of it up that they can get away with. THEY DONT CARE! They have the power we dont sure we can vote but i doubt that it has really done any good at all in the most recent elections. Just accept the fact that short of full revolt were employs of the US corporation so get out there and make money.

Me however im out revolt or broke. Any one comein with me?

reply to post by getinout?

If there was a revolution it would quickly break down into warring smaller factions: those who want a class war vs. those who want a totalitarian state vs. those who want to establish a Christian theocracy vs. those who want an enlightened monarchy vs. those who want an oligarchy vs. those who want a socialist state etc. etc. People might agree they want a revolution, but the truth is they want to fight for very different things.

In unstable times anarchy often reigns and the most brutal, ruthless, uncivilized elements take over by force. Remember what happened to the Russian revolution and the French revolution and the German Weimar Republic.

The American revolution was something of an anomaly among revolutions. There was already a strong alliance between the colonies so there was a cohesion and the framework of a government already in place. There was unity of purpose and goals -- becoming independent from England. I do not see that much cohesion among the various factions calling for a revolt in America today. Then I remind you there was the American civil war, but nobody in their right mind would want a bloodbath like that again, which left both the north but especially the south in shatters. In the end we were one nation as before.

I would prefer to see change through the slow processes of a democracy than the chaos of a revolution.

reply to post by Sestias


IF you still believe Obama was for change, say I.. I wanna see who it is that still hasn't woken up ..

Hang Obama and Bush + Blair, just like Saddam.. They are all war criminals..

reply to post by oozyism


F the puppets. I don't care about the in-actors i care about the decision makers. Killing the in-actors does nothing.

reply to post by Sestias

I dont want i mindless revolt of the uneducated sheeple of the world i want a revolt of the the truth! The people that know where lied to know the corruptness of our government the ridiculousness of the monetary system and want for the good of all people a total change in the way the world functions. I want a society of unconditional love and i believe there is a large group of people out the that would like to see the whole of society succeed together. I don't want religions diversions from the current corrupt system to pollute the minds of the global population. Religion has been established and is being used to control the masses! so f that. I personally don't give a rip what u look like what you talk like i care about what you believe in and how you want to live and interact with others.

In a society of unconditional love for all people we can all work as one and prosper accordingly no singular government needed we can maintain a preferable way of life in our own states. And let the who ever do whatever as long as they don't infringe on the rights of others. Which includes physical and intellectual rights.

Disputes in a society of unconditional love will always be learning experience for both party's because at the end of the day you don't haft to fight them u just go home! and your ideas are your own and theirs are theirs u never know u just might change your opinion.

Do u see a flaw in my plan? I'm sure they're there but no plans perfect but what we have now is insufferable.