Salim Hamdan, cooks, tailors and cobblers - enemies of the US

by: Bob Gentry

Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 16:25:15 PM MST

We can only trust that the next subjects ... will include cooks, tailors, and cobblers without whose support terrorist leaders would be left unfed, unclothed, and unshod, and therefore rendered incapable of planning or executing their attacks.

- Lt. Col. Stephen Abraham (see Appendix)

Salim Hamdan was convicted on five counts of supporting terrorism.  The msm articled linked here is careful not to describe the significance of his exoneration on three charges of conspiring with Al Qaeda against the US in the 9/11 bombings, with potential death sentence.  Of course he faces the possibility of life in prison on the convictions, will be held indefinitely as an "enemy combatant" (regardless of the outcome of the case), even though the military tribunal judge Capt. Keith Allred said the charges duplicated each other and ordered that he be sentenced only for one count, which he summarized as "driving Mr. bin Laden around Afghanistan."

Torture

by: Jay Stevens

Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 14:54:38 PM MST

Take torture. Once a condemned practice in this country, it's now being used by U.S. officials. The fact that I even have to write this post attacking torture is an indication of how President Bush has misused his office, contaminated the rule of law, and set an ugly precedent for executives that follow.

Unfortunately, torture has entered the national debate. It's no longer how do we stop torture worldwide, it's when can we use it? It's no longer done in secret or with shame, but shouted out on a national stage and met with raucous cheers.

Lately there's been some interesting articles and posts on the topic. It's as if the collective knowledge of our crimes has begun to bubble to the surface, like a splinter working its way from the flesh.

And still the case against torture is clear.