Re: The Bigger, Badder, Even More Serious Thread [4]

[Pettytyrant101]

'At least five men in CIA detention received "rectal rehydration," a form of feeding through the rectum. Others received "ice baths" and death threats. At least three in captivity were told their families would suffer, with CIA officers threatening to harm their children, sexually abuse the mother of one man, and cut the throat of another man's mother....detainees were kept isolated and in darkness. Their cells reportedly had only a bucket for human waste....detainees were subjected to methods like waterboarding and sleep deprivation "in near nonstop fashion for days or weeks at a time."
In many cases, the most aggressive techniques were used immediately, in combination and nonstop," the report says. "Sleep deprivation involved keeping detainees awake for up to 180 hours, usually standing or in painful stress positions, at times with their hands shackled above their heads.
In one facility, a detainee was said to have died of hypothermia after being held "partially nude" and chained to a concrete floor, while at other times, naked prisoners were hooded and dragged up and down corridors while being slapped and punched. Multiple CIA detainees subjected to the techniques suffered from hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia and tried to mutilate themselves, the report says.
On one occasion, high-value al Qaeda suspect Abu Zubaydah became completely unresponsive after a period of intense waterboarding. He had "bubbles rising through his open full mouth," the report says.
Meanwhile, the confessed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, was subjected to a "series of near drownings. The report suggests that the controversial enhanced interrogation techniques did not produce information necessary to save lives that was not already available from other means.'

Got to love those wholesome American values!

[halfwise]

I read somewhere, I think it was Time, about the guy who got more information than anyone out of those he questioned. He read in a dossier that one of the high level detainees was diabetic. Sent him a plate of sugar free cookies and some tea, and within a few hours he was talking. All the guy needed to know was that his captors actually cared about him, and he opened right up. Happened time and again.

Why the numnuts in charge couldn't have just pulled in people who have a history of getting results right from the start is something I'll never understand. Though admittedly the plate of cookies may have been more effective after someone has been accustomed to torture.

[Pettytyrant101]

Thing thats been laughable is the Republican stance that its not torture- it was torture before they relabeled it, it was torture in international treaties the US not only signed up to , but often had a lead in writing. But no relabel it and suddenly its not torture anymore!

But fair play to John McCain, I thought his speech on the floor was excellent, probably the only Republican who can speak from personal experience of being a prisoner under the duress of torture.
Other members of his party would do well to heed him.

[halfwise]

So long as he's not running for president John McCain actually acts with prudence and wisdom mixed with proper audacity when needed.

[Pettytyrant101]

He is the only Republican I have ever liked. I dont tend to agree with him but he seems a very straight forward man who plays politics less and sticks to his beliefs more. He also seems a lot less dogmatic than most of the current Republican Party who seem more interested in political point scoring than anything else.
His main problem when running for President was not him, it was Palin shaped.

[halfwise]

No, he picked Palin because he was caving in to his party. The fault lay with him. It's a problem modern day Republicans are struggling with: if they run as themselves, they can't get nominated by their party; but the type who would get nominated can't win a general election.

John Huntsman is another sensible republican. If he could get nominated (never gonna happen) he's actually centrist and reasonable enough to get elected. He believes in evolution and climate change, either of which is enough to sink his chances of being accepted by his party.

The Republicans did this to themselves, I only shed a tear for those who deserve more prominence.

[Pettytyrant101]

All I know about how Palin got on the ticket is from the HBO drama Game Change - and I dont know how accurate that is. But from it it seemed his biggest mistake was not having enough to do with her vetting and leaving it in the hands of his election managers. He didn't seem to know what he had got until it was too late and then he was rather horrified at her rhetoric.

[David H]

When it comes to Palin, there's enough blame to go around.

[leelee]

When any group does what is not lawful and treats others NOT the way they would be treated, it makes it a nightmare for others when they are fallen into enemy hands. There is never a situation where things cannot be done with proper and humane techniques. Because enemies have long memories and will bide their time and step up their hideous agenda. We have to think into the future. Certain things have to be done during war and terrorism. But not insane inhuman totally wicked and cruel things.

[chris63]

A northern white rhinoceros has died at San Diego Zoo in California, leaving only five in the entire world. The news brings the species a step closer to extinction. Angalifu who was thought to be 44 years old, is said to have died of old age. http://bbc.in/16pnCFI

[Ringdrotten]

Well, however sad the news, I still think it's somewhat heartening to see a rhino die of old age rather than from having been molested by poachers.

[halfwise]

Speaking of things dying of old age, I saw the stuffed remains of "Lonesome George" from the Galapagos a couple weeks back. Unblemished; I thought it was a facsimile....but no, it was him. A rather horrid way to honor a global icon, I think. Good thing they didn't think of that with Maggie Thatcher.

As to how I happened upon him, well, it's New York. Shit like that just shows up in museums around here. I keep running across paintings you see in books, and in the strangest places. Perturbing at times.

[Mrs Figg]

[Pettytyrant101]

This made me smile- the Conservative Party launched their election billboard campaign with a road that goes off into the English countryside- only its not, its a stock picture of Germany!

Then the next day they held a press conference at podiums, and the BBC newsnight could not help but notice a similarity between the presentation and a certain German synth group, Kraftwerk -

[Forest Shepherd]

Ahem, Syphilis and Philosophy:

http://www.dead-philosophers.com/?p=924

[bungobaggins]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30710883?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central

Gunmen have attacked the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people and injuring seven in an apparent Islamist attack.

Three masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles in the office and exchanged shots with police in the street outside before escaping by car.

The gunmen shouted "we have avenged the Prophet Muhammad", witnesses say.

President Francois Hollande said there was no doubt it had been a terrorist attack "of exceptional barbarity".

A major police operation is under way in the Paris area to catch the killers. The number of gunmen was initially reported to be two, but French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve later said they were hunting three "criminals".

Four of the magazine's well-known cartoonists, including its editor-in-chief Stephane Charbonnier were reported among those killed, as well as two police officers.

Mr Charbonnier, 47, had received death threats in the past and was living under police protection.

French media have named the three other cartoonists killed in the attack as Cabu, Tignous and Wolinski. Reports say the attack took place during the magazine's daily editorial meeting.

Several of the wounded remain in a critical condition.

The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was fire-bombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.

The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo's account was a cartoon of the Islamic State militant group leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

People had been "murdered in a cowardly manner", President Hollande told reporters at the scene. "We are threatened because we are a country of liberty," he added, appealing for national unity.

US President Barack Obama has condemned the "horrific shooting", offering to provide any assistance needed "to help bring these terrorists to justice".

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said in a tweet: "The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press."

[Pettytyrant101]

I fear a snapping point is looming I saw there were large rallies in German pro and against the 'islamification of Europe'.
Things may boil over if this sort of atrocity keeps happening. People will only be tolerant for so long.

[Mrs Figg]

#jesuischarlie

[azriel]

I watched this on the News tonight. Its atrocious ! Whats next ? "Private Eye" by Ian Hislop ? I fear for the future of my kids & grandkids if this lunacy contracts like a plague.

[Mrs Figg]

I heard a good quote on news tonight. "laugh them back into the dustbin of history". good idea.

[Pettytyrant101]

Frankly I'd like to see all religion go. Enough is enough.
If religion had never existed anyone who went about claiming they were living their life according to a book they believed was written by an invisible unprovable super being who watched them all the time, judged them and whose authority was higher than any human moral or court and so allowed them to discriminate against people and kill them for not living by the same book, they'd be locked up in a padded cell.
Ive never really understood how religion gets away with not being.

[Mrs Figg]

well to be fair, Jesus was all about peace and love. so its our fault its all gone sicko. I don't think Mohammad would have condoned bombs and killing of innocents either. I don't mind religion as a set of moral codes for the good of mankind, its people who corrupt religion not the religion itself.

[Pettytyrant101]

I think it was corrupt at base- the first time someone realised they could eat some mushrooms go into a trance and make up declarations from the dead/gods ect and didn't have to go work or go out on the hunt or work in the fields like everyone else but got given food and shelter for being the Shaman it was corrupt.
And as soon as Leaders realised if they allied with these people they got extra power too.
I think it was always a corrupting force. And as a species we should have grown out of it by now.

[Mrs Figg]

we will never grow out of needing comfort in dark times, and sometimes god is all you got.

[bungobaggins]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/01/07/ahmed-merabet-cop-killed-in-paris-attacks-was-muslim/

Je suis Charlie. We are all French.