New Yorker Magazine Buries Major Abu Ghraib Abuse On Page 6 Of CIA Story
I'd love to tell you that I'm so erudite and cosmopolitan that I eagerly gobble up The New Yorker cover to cover every month. But it would be a lie. The honest truth is that I read The New Yorker occasionally when articles come up through keyword searches for research for the site and when other bloggers I respect recommend an article.
But this article on Leon Panetta at the CIA was sent to me by one of my Iranian friends (living abroad) who has been filling my inbox with reports of protests and the rumors flying around Tehran. This article has filled her with dread of American interference in Iran.
In fairness, it's a reasonably balanced article; it fairly states the delicate balance that Panetta must tread between the all-too-often opposing forces in the Agency and the Executive Branch. But this section, buried deep on page 6 of the 8 page article, hit me (like my friend) right in the gut:
No criminal charges have ever been brought against any C.I.A. officer involved in the torture program, despite the fact that at least three prisoners interrogated by agency personnel died as the result of mistreatment. In the first case, an unnamed detainee under C.I.A. supervision in Afghanistan froze to death after having been chained, naked, to a concrete floor overnight. The body was buried in an unmarked grave. In the second case, an Iraqi prisoner named Manadel al-Jamadi died on November 4, 2003, while being interrogated by the C.I.A. at Abu Ghraib prison, outside Baghdad. A forensic examiner found that he had essentially been crucified; he died from asphyxiation after having been hung by his arms, in a hood, and suffering broken ribs. Military pathologists classified the case a homicide. A third prisoner died after an interrogation in which a C.I.A. officer participated, though the officer evidently did not cause the death. (Several other detainees have disappeared and remain unaccounted for, according to Human Rights Watch.)
During his tenure at the C.I.A., John Helgerson, the former inspector general, forwarded the crucifixion case, along with an estimated half-dozen other incidents, to the Justice Department, for possible prosecution. But the case files have languished. An official familiar with the cases told me that the agency has deflected inquiries by the Senate Intelligence Committee seeking information about any internal disciplinary action. (Helgerson told me, “Some individuals have been disciplined. And others no longer work at the agency.”)
Panetta acknowledges that there are some people still at the C.I.A. who may be tainted by the torture program. Nevertheless, he says, “I really respect the people who say we shouldn’t have gotten involved in the interrogation business but we had to do our jobs. I don’t think I should penalize people who were doing their duty. If you have a President who exercises bad judgment, the C.I.A. pays the price.”
Excuse me? We're literally crucifying detainees (who have not had the right to even know what they're charged with, much less any other legal right) and there's been NO accountability, NO investigation and Panetta's worried about the CIA paying the price?
Methinks they have the wrong priorities.
Obama does not want further abuse photos released.
Jeremy Scahill at Rebel Reports
read on here
---
And, more than three people died in the '
interrogation'TORTURE program.10/24/05 - ACLU describes 21 'homicides' here
12/02/05 - Peter Phillips in Counterpunch follows up the 10/24/05 ACLU report here
12/05/08 - Amy Goodman: Former U.S. Interrogator: Torture Policy Has Led to More Deaths than 9/11 Attacks here
06/29/09 - ACLU FOIA documents to date here
---
Disband the CIA, prosecute the war crimes.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
and with this attitude, why should any American
ever be held accountable for any crime. our govt representatives
sure holds themselves above the laws and the Constitution.
Unaccountability is the road to ruin, and they know it. So does the MSM, but they hope to remain unaccountable too.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
on the line? It's bad enough in Iraq right now with the troops moving out of the cities. That is a difficult operation. Releasing those photos would make it infinitely worse. Not only for the troops themselves but anybody who had any dealings at all with coalition forces would probably be targeted. I'll take it as read that the photos are probably worse that my imagination could conceive but I don't need to see them anymore than I need to rubberneck at an accident scene. Does anybody seriously believe releasing them would improve the chances of prosecuting anyone as a war criminal? I very much doubt that. If there were any intention of doing that the photos would already be marked as exhibits at trial.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
When all the war criminals are dead? 50 years in the future?, 100? When? Until they are released, either to the general public or in a court of law, we the people of the United States, are all guilty of war crimes. We have an obligation to our own laws and international agreements to persue the war criminals; no shades of gray, no holding back, rule of law.
Oh wait, we're Americans, can't hold us accountable. Shoot, if it was Hitler's third reich, that's a different story, we're better than that. Yeah, better, the third reich executed 6 million Jews; we only killed 100,000 Iraqis, displaced millions, tortured its citizens, killed a few doing it so I can easily see how much better we are than they were.
WE CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS -- either the people prosecute the war criminals and release the photos OR be considered war criminals themselves. I will not VOTE for a war criminal in 2012-time to "man-up" Mr. Obama! Put the guilty behind bars and end the national nightmare. Oh yeah, putting the guilty behind bars might wipe the smile off OBL's face by actually holding fast to our principles and morals. Until then, how much worse could it be?
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Keeping America Safe, one crucifixion at a time?? Nice: good ole USA.
far left loon >.<
"We're literally crucifying detainees (who have not had the right to even know what they're charged with, much less any other legal right) and there's been NO accountability, NO investigation and Panetta's worried about the CIA paying the price?"
That photo says it all.
It is eerily "Christ-like" and a powerfully iconic indictment of this whole wrong headed and hateful misadventure in the Middle East.
"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "
-Jack Handy
Bad C&L. Bad, bad. You can get arrested for showing a photo, but not for torturing people to death? WTF? I guess I am just too simple to unerstand the complexities of good government.
That was an excellent comment. I am sending that question to the white house contact site!!
TY!!
Boy, these Christians sure are having trouble with this whole "being Christian" thing, aren't they. They seem to be terribly confused about their role. Perhaps a little hint is in order:
Basically, the torturers, money lenders and crucifiers are the "bad guys". They're the ones you aren't supposed to be like.
Hope that helps.
Yep...
SAME ole USA...
There were reports of CIA murders of insurgents right from the start of the unpleasantries.
Remember the Murkin Talib? When he was captured, there was a report of some "rogue" CIA monster who was overcome by his captives and killed, in revenge for his several murderous abuses, including freezing some afghanis in a storage container...Spann?
they tried to convict indh of Spann's murder because Lindh had been held in the same prison where Spann had committed atrocities and where he was subsequently executed, by his captives.
Aren't "just deserts" just yummy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGKICiHgAZs
And people ask why I'm cynical.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Excuse me, those guys are MURDERERS. What the everliving fuck do their JOBS have to do with it?
How can anyone have either the ignorance, the gullibility, or the straight-out BALLS to say they respect someone who commits crimes while "just doing their jobs"? What is wrong with this guy? Can't he hear himself talk?
Does working in the federal government slowly drive everyone insane? Because it's really beginning to look that way.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
lack of competence resulted in the death of a co-worker, you'd be arrested almost immediately. But if you are a government employee just doing your job, you're ok.
doesn't work if you're a Nazi, but it's a-okay if you're an American.
You are new at your job, you do as you're told. Soon, you realize that you are participating in some sleazy behavior, but you think it's a fluke and you need your job. So you go along with it. Later you realize that you have become an accomplice, and as you are guilty too, you cannot do anything about it without implicating yourself. Once you reach this stage, you get promoted.
done "in your name" is truly disgusting. Yet politicians from both sides of the political spectrum refuse to do anything about it. How sad. What a world we live in.
It boggles the mind. It infuriates me that nothing is being done to punish those monsters. Disgraceful.
think how pissed off I am as an American veteran. I'm so disgusted that the guilty haven't been arrested and held without bail for trial that although I am a peacable man I would right now like to take my Senators and Rep and drive their frigging teeth down thie frigging throats for not dragging Eric Holder to Congress to explain why he lets the worst criminals in America's history remain at large. Until those criminals are tried, convicted and sent to prison or the gallows this country isn't worth a plug nickel!
Next time, will you guys vote for a progressive candidate instead of the charismatic good looking guy!
When there's a progressive with a snowball's chance in hell, I'll vote for him.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
What determines a candidates "electability" to you?
their ability to receive enough votes. Unfortunately in this country that means having enough money to fool or confuse the voters through the use of MSM propaganda.
has been my invariant habit since 1972.
I voted for Nixon, in '68 believing he'd end the war, not trusting the Hump to escape LBJ's influence.
I have never voted for any major party candidate for President since...
“I really respect the people who say we shouldn’t have gotten involved in the interrogation business but we had to do our jobs. I don’t think I should penalize people who were doing their duty. If you have a President who exercises bad judgment, the C.I.A. pays the price.”
***
Actually Mr. Panetta, it was their duty to NOT obey actions they KNEW to be illegal.
And if anyone is going to pay a price, let's make sure it lands on the administration, then, and not on the CIA. BTW, it's more than "bad judgment".
jeez.
x
Ve vere only obeyink orderz!
U.S. Troops are withdrawing and leaving Iraqi Cities today as agreed.
I can understand why Iraqi's are celebrating with fireworks and a National Holiday tomorrow.
Guess it's on to Afghanistan.
They are not leaving Iraq, silly rabbit.
See my comment here
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
Stage one is leaving Iraqi cities per agreement.
that's baked in the bread already.
I wonder that you'd think so...
. . or at minimum had some kind of hand in.
Stage two is the opening of Iraqi oil to foreign companies (US) and that is the OTHER agreement.
We have 131,000 troops and 190,000 private contractors STILL there.
They will be there as long as there is oil.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?contex...
just outside of town.
I just hope KBR didn't do the wiring...
Bushie was the one to set that date, huh?
In reversal, Bush to accept Iraq withdrawal timetable
Aug 22, 2008
CRAWFORD, Texas (AFP) — From "surrender date" to "aspirational time horizon," US President George W. Bush seemed poised Friday to seal a reversal in Iraq policy by accepting a target withdrawal date.
But the White House poured cold water on Iraqi claims that Washington and Baghdad had reached a deal that would see all US combat troops out of Iraqi cities by next June http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvY_Ug0eO-Dbwsrq2xpeNbjGqPZQ
and get the oil flowing. And malls and McDonalds springing up.
Submit your bid.
KFC clones, would that do yet?
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/200...
the brown areas
http://www.wtnrradio.com/images/recessionmap.jpg
No, really.
There's supposed to be this RAD fucking skate pad...
I wanna sell pepsi and BEef...
they'll have a rollercoaster called the Green Zone Monster?
call it "Hangin' Saddam"
before Disney announces Disney Baghdad.
by knocking over three bush heads with a shoe
Just look forward .
And are you looking forward , if you are walking backwards ?
up is down
black is white
onwards thru the fog .
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
Look at the weekly In Memoriam. Lists the names of all the brave US soldiers and where they are from. Iraqis are just a number. "10 Brave GI's died this week....oh and 300 Iraqis, but who cares"
well, imagine if the CIA had tortured an 'accused' domestic (American) terrorist, to get more 'info'. Think about it.
Meanwhile, no one here really cares about some poor slob who got picked up on suspicion in Iraq & who got tortured & oops, died because of said torture...just bury him & move along.
That guy had a life & a story just like all of us...
If only there was one tenth of the outrage as voiced by the 'victims' of Bernie Madoff in relation to these horrific crimes.
Nicole, like me, i'm sure you would have no problem getting through the New Yorker if it were actually a monthly. But it's a weekly, and halfway through the Talk of the Town there's always another issue. It is, and has always been, a good problem to have.
Anyway I'm trying to figure out your point. Are you (tepidly) attacking the New Yorker for "burying" news that other traditional sources don't cover at all?
What if you had changed the headline by one word -- entitling this post "New Yorker Magazine REVEALS Major Abu Ghraib Abuse On Page 6 Of CIA Story" ?
The article is by Jane Mayer. I would be surprised if you did not know how much we owe her in terms of clarity and understanding of the U.S. role in the middle east. She lays it out, and lets the rest of us disseminate it beyond the folds of the New Yorker.
Be glad that she does.
the rabbit hole that bush and cheney and their administration took
us down, is the same hole they need to be shoved as deep as we
can. bush and cheney and their whole administration MUST BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE for these crimes. not to do so makes ALL Americans
culpable in these crimes.
. . . all ears
..and is spot on. There's little we can do. We can speak out, petition, rise up in protest on the steps of the Capitol or DOJ or White House. Where is the public's outrage? Not with this minority of folks; 64 Posts about the subject and some of those from the same Poster. WE can try to raise consciousness by being vocal. We can use the vote. But we live in a democracy and its the "greatest good for the greatest number" and it ain't any better anywhere else. A courageous politician may stand up and voice his objections or his support for a Special Prosecutor but the people and others in power MUST listen, see his point-of-view and act. Its frustrating and sad that our country has come to this point where we provide endless laughs to our enemies with our apathy toward these crimes.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
When the United States is gone -- whether it is by economic collapse, war, or if it is absored into a global government many many years from now -- it will be noted that the CIA was the most corrupt, self-centered, and dangerous organization ever created in American government. It is the source of many, if not most, of our foreign-relation problems and exists mainly to expand its own power and influence.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-...
I like the CIA's mini-description of itself: "The CIA is an independent U.S. Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior U.S. policymakers."
It says nothing about assassinations, disappearing, toppling foreign heads of state, or tampering with another country's democratic process. Is this the family friendly Web site?
Hey Leon, how about telling president Cheney to just fuck off. "Sorry Dick, go fuck yourself if you want me to torture these guys." See how easy it is. Hopefully you will try it if president Obama every tells you to torture somebody.
Dick is such a dick!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3SemYQH-8o
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
" If you have a President who exercises bad judgment, the C.I.A. pays the price.”
He's right, and it's important to see his point here. The CIA is in the executive branch, and there's no checks of the kind that will prevent a president abusing his powers by using the CIA. This is exactly what happened. It's a structural defect of our system. If you want accountability, prosecute Bush and Cheney.
I tried to say that above, but I'll give ya a big fat
DING!!!
Sorry, should have replied to you. Ding right back at you...
in protest over the commands of their bosses to do criminal deeds, even in the name of national security, their underlings could find courage to refuse =, too, if they wanted to.
nobody in the CIA has ever, afaik, resigned in protest to any treatment or operation or plot/plan/conspiracy, ever.
that includes Operation Northwoods, in which the cIA was deeply implicated. Has ANY top official of the CIA ever faced sanctions of ANY kind?
a "proposal" that Kennedy didnt sign off on. ...?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northw...
I dont think the existance of such an "unconstitutional proposal" is "illegal"...
Although I do wonder how such a proposal made it all the way to Kennedy's desk.
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
Great and sicking post. I don't think the pictures could be worse then my imagination. Seems to me more and more is starting to seep out and hopefully something will finally give. The criminals responsible need to be held accountable, don't care who your daddy is.
"If you have a President who exercises bad judgment, the C.I.A. pays the price.”
In the real world (ain't it a bitch! All those messy ethical issues) . . .
"bad judgment" = "premeditated murder of civilians" = war crimes
Clear, unambiguous language (not spin, not ideological turns of phrase, not image, not bullshit) is a sine qua non in a democracy. Without it, the citizen is marginalized and impotent.
"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.
".....Nevertheless, he says, “I really respect the people who say we shouldn’t have gotten involved in the interrogation business but we had to do our jobs. I don’t think I should penalize people who were doing their duty. If you have a President who exercises bad judgment, the C.I.A. pays the price.”
Hey Panetta, let me try that reasoning out; How's this sound:
We really shouldn't have gotten into this "final solution" business, but we had to do our jobs. I don't think you should penalize people who were just doing their duty. If you have a Fuehrer who exercises bad judgment, the Gestapo pays the price.
Nope, Leon, your logic doesn't cut it. What you said is a steaming pile of American exceptionalism bullshit.
If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders.
George Carlin
Is this post about the New Yorker or the abuse? We've known about this for sometime now I thought, so are you upset that the New Yorker didn't mention it more prevalently? The title of the post acts like the New Yorker is hiding things, the content of the post acts like you are just mad at what you just found out.... from the New Yorker.
why bag on the NYorker like this? they have some of the best journalism in the country and actually print long articles with lots of information. something has to be on page six OF THE SAME ARTICLE if it is long. thats not burying the story. what was the rest of the article about cotton candy? you're right, you obviously don't read the nyolrker. if you read the whole article, then nothing is "buried". this isn't the new york post where the article is just an excuse for the headline and first paragraph. its meant to be read through. its a shame the rest of the media is so shoddy that good journalism looks like "burying" things to you. I work hand to mouth and I'm sorry you don't like ads for expensive watches, but that doesn't mean your criticism makes any sense. get a grip.
The only conclusion one can draw from reading this piece in the New Yorker is that Obama has betrayed the progressive movement: where the CIA. is concerned, Obama is Bush Lite. He has ordered sustained detentions and has kept the rendition policy. He has nixed the idea of punishing CIA operatives who tortured, claiming that they were only taking orders. Duh! That was the excuse offered by the Nazis at Nuremberg. Once again, as we now know, we voted for the lesser of two evils. I doubt McCain would have been any worse. though it might be argued that Biden is a bit better than Palin (if only he would keep his mouth shut).
"Respect for the rights of others is peace." --Benito Juarez
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