Is There Anybody Still In Doubt That We Are A Nation That Tortures??

Physicians for Human Rights who examined 11 former detainees from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay say they "uncovered medical evidence of torture, including beatings, electric shock, sleep deprivation, sexual humiliation, sodomy and scores of other abuses."
The detainees were never charged with crimes.
"We found clear physical and psychological evidence of torture and abuse, often causing lasting suffering," said Dr. Allen Keller, a medical evaluator for the study.
The report is prefaced by retired U.S. Major Gen. Antonio Taguba, who led the Army's investigation into the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in 2003.

"There is no longer any doubt that the current administration committed war crimes," Taguba says. "The only question is whether those who ordered torture will be held to account."

Seems like the word of someone like Taguba should be good for something, but oh damn I forgot....Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table already. Oh well.....

Maybe The Mayor Could Donate Some Of His Salary?

06/16/08

My letter in today's paper:

I enjoyed reading your editorial on the little tiff between Judge Oliver Wanger and Mayor Alan Autry. However, on one count you were way off base. Specifically, there is no good reason for the American Civil Liberties Union to give up part of its attorney fees as a "good-faith gesture."

The ACLU is not a for-profit enterprise. It survives on dues, contributions and attorneys' fees from cases such as the one it was compelled to bring against the city of Fresno for its cavalier disregard of people's rights.

Bringing a case such as this is a crapshoot. There is no guarantee when the case is started that there will be any monetary recovery for the legal expenses of the ACLU.
As a society, we all need to do more to help the unfortunate among us. I think the ACLU is already doing its part.

Jeffrey W. Eisinger