Political Pressure, Whodathunkit?

Which kind of endorses the adage, no matter who you vote for, it's always the government that gets in.

What happened to all that hope people invested in you Mister President?

But not for one minute would I have expected anything different. If successive administrations prosecuted the previous one for crimes against humanity, by gum there'd be a lot of folk in gaol.

Obama and GOPers Worked Together to Kill Bush Torture Probe

A WikiLeaks cable shows that when Spain considered a criminal case against ex-Bush officials, the Obama White House and Republicans got really bipartisan.
By David Corn

Wed Dec. 1, 2010 2:47 PM PST

In its first months in office, the Obama administration sought to protect Bush administration officials facing criminal investigation overseas for their involvement in establishing policies the that governed interrogations of detained terrorist suspects. A "confidential" April 17, 2009, cable sent from the US embassy in Madrid to the State Department—one of the 251,287 cables obtained by WikiLeaks—details how the Obama administration, working with Republicans, leaned on Spain to derail this potential prosecution.


The previous month, a Spanish human rights group called the Association for the Dignity of Spanish Prisoners had requested that Spain's National Court indict six former Bush officials for, as the cable describes it, "creating a legal framework that allegedly permitted torture." The six were former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales; David Addington, former chief of staff and legal adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney; William Haynes, the Pentagon's former general counsel; Douglas Feith, former undersecretary of defense for policy; Jay Bybee, former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel; and John Yoo, a former official in the Office of Legal Counsel. The human rights group contended that Spain had a duty to open an investigation under the nation's "universal jurisdiction" law, which permits its legal system to prosecute overseas human rights crimes involving Spanish citizens and residents. Five Guantanamo detainees, the group maintained, fit that criteria.

Soon after the request was made, the US embassy in Madrid began tracking the matter. On April 1, embassy officials spoke with chief prosecutor Javier Zaragoza, who indicated that he was not pleased to have been handed this case, but he believed that the complaint appeared to be well-documented and he'd have to pursue it. Around that time, the acting deputy chief of the US embassy talked to the chief of staff for Spain's foreign minister and a senior official in the Spanish Ministry of Justice to convey, as the cable says, "that this was a very serious matter for the USG." The two Spaniards "expressed their concern at the case but stressed the independence of the Spanish judiciary."

Two weeks later, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and the embassy's charge d'affaires "raised the issue" with another official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The next day, Zaragoza informed the US embassy that the complaint might not be legally sound. He noted he would ask Cándido Conde-Pumpido, Spain's attorney general, to review whether Spain had jurisdiction.


On April 15, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), who'd recently been chairman of the Republican Party, and the US embassy's charge d'affaires met with the acting Spanish foreign minister, Angel Lossada. The Americans, according to this cable, "underscored that the prosecutions would not be understood or accepted in the US and would have an enormous impact on the bilateral relationship" between Spain and the United States. Here was a former head of the GOP and a representative of a new Democratic administration (headed by a president who had decried the Bush-Cheney administration's use of torture) jointly applying pressure on Spain to kill the investigation of the former Bush officials. Lossada replied that the independence of the Spanish judiciary had to be respected, but he added that the government would send a message to the attorney general that it did not favor prosecuting this case.

The next day, April 16, 2009, Attorney General Conde-Pumpido publicly declared that he would not support the criminal complaint, calling it "fraudulent" and political. If the Bush officials had acted criminally, he said, then a case should be filed in the United States. On April 17, the prosecutors of the National Court filed a report asking that complaint be discontinued. In the April 17 cable, the American embassy in Madrid claimed some credit for Conde-Pumpido's opposition, noting that "Conde-Pumpido's public announcement follows outreach to [Government of Spain] officials to raise USG deep concerns on the implications of this case."

Still, this did not end the matter.......more

Words From The Grave: Aldous Huxley

It would be a rare day indeed when something comes along, the significance of which makes me watch the thing over, and back to back at that.

This 1958 interview between Mike Wallace and Aldous Huxley is one of those rare things.

I honestly don't know which I would find the most frightening; listening to Huxley's near oracle like predictions as a contemporary, or, as I sit now, with the luxury of hindsight, half a century later.

The number and the accuracy of Huxley's talking points, given that same luxury of the aforementioned hindsight, is quite remarkable and not least a testament to the man's foresight and intellect.

Given where we sit today, in the shadow of the concerted attacks by disproportionate forces against one man, Julian Assage, makes the interview all the more compelling.

From over-population to propaganda, from technology, its growth and use, to controlling people by administered drugs, * to the carnival surrounding the election of personalities rather than policies, Huxley covers them all.

As an aside, Mike Wallace was the father of despicable Republican shill, Chris Wallace.


*I wanted to mention this, but I've never had an appropriate vehicle to do so since discovering some fresh data.

I had written previously about the quality of evidence extracted from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed under torture, but what I never knew until very recently was the amount of times that the man subjected to being water-boarded. It amounts to a staggering one hundred and eighty three times.

Now a spook or an inquisitor I ain't, but a hundred and eighty three times! what's with this lot, ain't they got no bleedin' television in Guantanamo Bay?

It's The Hypocrisy See - Assange - Lieberman

Update: What was that you said? Scroll down a tad.
H/t Anon.

Joe Lieberman yesterday, still recovering from the trauma of being surgically removed from George Bush's arse, had this to say:

Lieberman said Assange, who was arrested Tuesday in England, should be charged with treason in the United States. (see link in main text)

Perhaps I have it wrong, but doesn't one have to be citizen of a country before one can be charged with treason? But that's not the cracker in this story, it's from whose mouth it came.

Joe "Benedict" Lieberman, the greasiest, the most disloyal, the most treacherous scumbag ever to take a seat in the Senate in all its history.

I don't follow American politics to the same degree that I used to, but for a man in whom there was so much hope, who looked so dignified and more presidential than all the Presidents of the last fifty years put together, Obama's first failure was not kicking Lieberman's treacherous arse from Washington to wilderness; the political one.

For a Democrat, and a black man at that, to have come so far and to have risen so high, exhibited a naive understanding of Republican party politics. Bridge building and olive leaves, and weakness more than anything, have no place in Republican politics; strength, that's the only game in town.

And whilst on the subject, I'm sure I can't be alone in looking at Sweden and thinking, what a shabby persona it seems to have taken on so very recently, Liebermanesque almost.

As for the story, well....

WikiLeaks' Assange to be indicted for spying 'soon'

'Serious, active' criminal investigation


US prosecutors plan to file spying charges against Julian Assange soon in connection with the publishing of secret diplomatic memos on the WikiLeaks website.

Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson told ABC News that charges would be brought “soon” under the US Espionage Act. The law makes it a felony to receive national defense material if it's known to be obtained illegally and could be used to harm United States interests.

If brought, charges against Assange would reflect a watershed event in the US, which has never successfully prosecuted a news organization for publishing classified information. Indeed, a report released this week by the Congressional Research Service, and published here (PDF) by Secrecy News, acknowledged that federal prosecutors would have a hard time making charges stick against the whistle-blower website, which operates almost entirely abroad.

“There may be First Amendment implications that would make such a prosecution difficult, not to mention political ramifications based on concerns about government censorship,” the report states. “To the extent that the investigation implicates any foreign nationals whose conduct occurred entirely overseas, any resulting prosecution may carry foreign policy implications related to the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction and whether suspected persons may be extradited to the United States under applicable treaty provisions.”

Justice Department officials have declined to comment on their plans, but Attorney General Eric Holder said earlier this week that his agency is doing everything it can to take Assange down.

“We have a very serious, active, ongoing investigation that is criminal in nature,” ABC News quoted him as saying. “I authorized just last week a number of things to be done so that we can hopefully get to the bottom of this and hold people accountable, as they should be.”

Robinson maintains that any attempt to prosecute Assange will fail.

“Our position of course is that we don't believe it applies to Mr. Assange and that in any event he's entitled to First Amendment protection as publisher of WikiLeaks and any prosecution under the Espionage Act would in my view be unconstitutional and puts at risk all media organizations in the US,” she said.

As big a stretch as it sounds to prosecute news agencies for publishing classified documents, US Senator Joe Lieberman has proposed doing just that.

“To me, The New York Times has committed at least an act of bad citizenship,” he said on the right-leaning Fox News network. “And whether they've committed a crime, I think that bears very intensive inquiry by the Justice Department.”

Assange remains in custody in London on sexual assault charges filed by prosecutors in Sweden. The WikiLeaks founder has maintained his innocence, and has said the charges are part of a smear campaign. A lawyer representing the two women Assange is accused of assaulting has insisted his clients are being truthful.

Assange is being held in solitary confinement with restricted access to a phone and lawyers.Via The Register

A couple from way back.

Go On, You Know You Want To

Pander to your shallow side, have a little gloat, go on you've earned it.

The majority featured in this two minute vid.

Buh bye Brown; yesterday's man.

All together now, ahhhhhh.

On polling only slightly greater numbers than the BNP, said that she wasn't disappointed, just worried. Yes dear.

Heartbreaking that it is, buh bye Nick Griffin. A big ahhh for Nick? alright, another time then.

Phillipa Stroud, not featured in the vid, but failed to get elected, ahh. Tip: Try the Republican Party, you're just the kinda gal they're looking for.

And lastly, Lembit Opik, who, when asked: "Are you being punished for the Cheeky Girls and all the rest of it?" managed to reply graciously, and with that so rarely found in a pol, dignity and honesty.
"How superficial and patronising an assumption, not least for the Tory who beat me fair and square, and so you can do that analysis if you want to, I'll just say, I feel really quite disappointed that I lost."

Well said Sir, well said.

Update: Opik bravely appeared on the post election edition of
Have I Got News For You. UK only.

~

Just an odd one born out of the comments section.

You Just Could Not Make It Up

He said: "It's not right that an innocent, vulnerable British citizen is essentially given up on.

"And I don't think it's right that as parents, that we have to drive the search.

Priceless, absolutely priceless.

And how he loves to take the piss.

"I mean logically I can't say, I mean none of us can say for definite other than the people involved.......

And the "Comprehensive Review" I think that's a euphemism for his muckers doing a snow job.
I can see it now, on the notepaper of some dodgy police authority, co-signed at the bottom by McCann's new best best friend Jim Gamble, "This boy really did loose his homework"

Only he didn't, and it wasn't his homework.


Oh to be in England now that Spring is here.

McCanns: UK Officials 'Given Up On Madeleine'

Madeleine McCann's father has accused the British authorities of "essentially giving up" on finding her.

During a television interview days before the third anniversary of her disappearance, Gerry McCann urged the Government to carry out a "comprehensive review" of the case.

He said: "It's not right that an innocent, vulnerable British citizen is essentially given up on.

"And I don't think it's right that as parents, that we have to drive the search.

"Of course we will, but not everyone has had the same resources and support that we have had to be able to do that. And I think it's pretty cruel."




Mr McCann said it was "incredibly frustrating" that police in Portugal and the UK were not doing more to find the missing youngster.

At the time of her disappearance, the couple were criticised for leaving their three children alone in a holiday apartment as they went for dinner nearby.

Mr McCann said: "If we could turn back the clock and change what happened, obviously we wouldn't have done it.

"We can't. And what I would say is, you know, people have got to put themselves into our position. What would you do if it was your daughter? After this, what would you do?"

The parents still believe Madeleine, who went missing when she was three, is alive and are releasing a pack for people to take abroad and put up posters featuring her picture.

Kate McCann said: "Certainly in my heart I feel she is out there.

"I mean I know there is nothing to say that she isn't, so we have to carry on working and thinking like that.

"I mean logically I can't say, I mean none of us can say for definite other than the people involved. But I know we can't give up because there is no evidence to say that she is not."

Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007.

The pre-recorded GMTV interview will be broadcast later. Sky

Vote Conservative. Vote Clarence Mitchell. Vote Corruption

Would you vote for a party that employed Clarence Mitchell?

I would burn in hell first.







To be fair I should write a few more words, but I can't for the life of tonight. There are enough up top for Google to log, so mission accomplished for today.

David Cameron Ready For Change

If only.







There will be a bit more later on, machine and I both need a reboot.

David Cameron Flying With The Crows

This first five are re-ups, as much to show how this theme has evolved as much as anything.







I can't recall the exact reason for this above, but I guess it doesn't take much figuring out.



Today's offering.

Mitchell Joins Tories.

This has just fallen into my inbox, I don't know if this is common knowledge, but I shall throw it up. Now there's a choice phrase for you. No comment, I'm heading out for a spell.

Update: This may be of greater interest than that below, conservativehome.blogs, with comments that I have yet to read myself.

Update: PRWeek Tell me about it!

McCann Spokesman Gets Tory Election Job

5:56pm UK, Thursday March 04, 2010

Ruth Barnett, Sky News Online
A spokesman for Madeleine McCann's parents is to become a senior member of the Conservatives' election team, the party has confirmed.

Clarence Mitchell will begin his new role as head of media monitoring next week.

The former BBC journalist is not expected to speak publicly on behalf of the Tories.

He will report to communications chief Andy Coulson.

Mr Mitchell began representing Kate and Gerry McCann in 2007 after their daughter Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal.

Before that, he spent two years as the head of the Government's media monitoring team.

He is also a consultant for Freud Communications, specialising in crisis management.

Other families he has advised include the parents of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen and Fiona MacKeown, who's daughter Scarlett Keeling was killed in Goa. Sky

A few lines from Anorak.