The Dictator Can Now Torture

by soccerdad

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

CNN from 12/18/2000

Well the McCain pro-torture bill has passed. For me its official the American Myth is truly dead. That bright city on the hill has now slide down into the gutter with other 3rd world countries that have no respect for human dignity. President Bush now gets to decide who is an enemy combatant and what torture is, and there is no redress through the legal system. So once you are declared an enemy combatant you enter a brutal world from which there is no escape. The completely ambiguous term "material support" can be applied to American citizens as well as foreigners. And guess who gets to decide what "material support" is? The consolidation of central power in the president is of itself worrisome but in the hands of this set of criminals is truly disturbing. There was no compromise, Bush got all he wanted.

As Jack Balkin asked:

So let me get this straight: The Democrats give up the chance at filibustering one of the worst bills in recent memory because they were afraid that the President would paint them as soft on terrorism.

After the bill passes, the President plans to paint them as soft on terrorism.

He then accuses the Dems of being spineless. I think this is where he and others go wrong. They are not spineless, they just agree with the Repubs. I think the Dems would have preferred that Iraq not be invaded, but given that it has they are behind it. Their only complaint appears to be that it’s not being run well.

The Democrats time and time again have been handed clubs by the Repubs (torture being the largest) and instead of beating them over the head with them they just yawn and do nothing. The bottom line is that they are for the war and don't want to do anything to interfere with its progress. One only has to listen to H. Clinton or read the New Republic to see that this is true. The leadership of both parties support the right of the US to do anything it wants, to anyone it chooses, and should not incur any consequences. American Exceptionalism run way amok.

A real feeling of helplessness has settled in as there seems to be little anywhere someone who is against these wars of conquest can turn. The truth of the matter is that neither party cares. They would be happy if only 3 people in the entire country voted as long as their party got 2 of the votes.

Now its time to sit back and watch the war on Iran unfold just as scheduled with the US employing tactical nukes. The US and the world is changing and it certainly is not for the better. My children and their children will bear the brunt of the nasty consequences that are sure to come.

The time for dissent will be limited.

Go see this short video put out by David Neiwert on How Torture Works