Yeah, I saw the Arar story. It's absolutely horrib...

2006-09-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I saw the Arar story. It's absolutely horrible. I became acquainted with the Arar case when he was testifying before the EU council in March/April.

I don't have a really good grip on this whole White House vs. McCain, Warner, Graham fight. I just can't seem to get the politics of it, so take what I'm about to say in that context.

Although the Arar case is the ultimate proof of the rule on torture, I don't think it'll even factor into the debate. The media has been covering this story as a conflict between the parties completely separate from any external realities. They're not covering the issue, they're covering the debate.

So, unless some high profile politician injects the Arar case into the coverage, I don't think it's going to factor in.

It should. It's the greatest proven abuse yet to come to light, but in the way the coverage has gone, the actual men on the sharp end of the torturer's efforts are just a subtext.

Perhaps that's the greatest tragedy of all this. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong.

Happy Constitution Week.

Mike

This judicial report out of Ottawa that says the U...

2006-09-18T22:08:00.000-05:00

This judicial report out of Ottawa that says the U.S. rendered an innocent man to Syria to be beaten, tortured, forced to admit to bullshit accusations about terrorism ties, and kept in a coffin-sized dungeon for 10 months may undercut whatever resistance the WH has left to having this fight in public. I know the rendition program is different than the detainee rights issue, but it's close enough to make Bush look very, very bad.

The story about the rendered man is just horrbile btw. it makes my blood boil.

Comments on Born at the Crest of the Empire: White House backs down on torture/detainee bill

Yeah, I saw the Arar story. It's absolutely horrib...

This judicial report out of Ottawa that says the U...