DOWNLOADS: (2006)

PLAYS: (599)

Embed

This Week with George Stephanopoulos notes the passings of photographer Irving Penn, anti-war activist Peg Mullen and restaurateur Ben Ali. In addition, the Pentagon has released the names of 16 soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army SGT Roberto D Sanchez, 24 of Satellite Beach, FL

Army SGT Aaron M Smith, 25, of Manhattan, KS

Army SPC Brandon A Owens, 21, of Memphis, TN

Army SSG Thomas D Rabjohn, 39, of Litchfield Park, AZ

Army SPC Paul E Andersen, 49, of Dowagiac, MI

Army CPT Benjamin A Sklaver, 32, of Medford, MA

Army PFC Alan H Newton Jr, 26, of Asheboro, NC

Army MAJ Tad T Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, MN

Army SGT Justin T Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, AZ

Army SGT Joshua M Hardt, 24, of Applegate, CA

Army SGT Joshua J Kirk, 30, of South Portland, ME

Army SGT Michael P Scusa, 22, of Villas, NJ

Army SPC Christopher T Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, MI

Army SPC Stephan L Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, VA

Army PFC Kevin C Thomson, 22, of Reno, NV

Army SPC Kevin O Hill, 23, of Brooklyn, NY

This brings the total number of allied servicemembers killed in Iraq to 4,667, in Afghanistan, 1,453. During this same week, Iraq Body Count has listed 63 Iraqi civilian deaths and violence in Afghanistan has contributed to at least 17 Afghani civilian deaths.

Not only is this illegal, it's immoral and just plain crazy. Keeping someone awake that long induces psychosis, and how does that give you useful information? Sounds like the Bush Administration was getting some kind of sick gratification from torturing people.

But of course, the Cowboy Administration was more interested in starring in their own action movie than in following our laws:

A year after the Bush administration abandoned its harshest interrogation methods, CIA operatives used severe sleep deprivation tactics against a terror detainee in late 2007, keeping him awake for six straight days with permission from government lawyers.

Interrogators kept the unidentified detainee awake by chaining him to the walls and floor of a cell, according to government officials and memos issued with an internal CIA report. The Obama administration released the internal report this week.

Though the detainee's name and critical details are blacked out in the memos, there is only one detainee known to have been in CIA custody at that time: Mohammed Rahim al-Afghani, an alleged al-Qaida operator and translator for Osama bin Laden.

The documents show that even as the Bush administration was scaling back its use of severe interrogation techniques, the CIA was still pushing the boundaries of what the administration's own legal counsel considered acceptable treatment.

The documents describe two instances in 2007 in which the CIA was allowed to exceed the guidelines set by Bush administration lawyers allowing prisoners to be kept awake for up to four days.

The first episode occurred in August 2007, when interrogators were given permission from the Office of Legal Counsel to keep an unidentified detainee awake for five days, a U.S. government official confirmed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the report's details.

According to the documents, the sleep-deprived prisoner was kept awake by being forced to stand with his arms chained above heart level. He wore diapers, allowing interrogators to keep him chained continuously without bathroom breaks.

The second incident occurred in November 2007. After again asking permission from Justice lawyers to keep a detainee awake an extra day, interrogators pressed to extend the treatment for another 24 hours, depriving the prisoner of sleep for six straight days.

It is unclear from the documents whether the two incidents involved the same detainee. CIA spokesman George Little would not provide the identity of the prisoner referred to in the document.

It's astounding how little attention Afghanistan gets.

A roadside bomb killed three service members and a local-national interpreter in a coalition convoy in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said.

With the deaths, the number of foreign forces in Afghanistan killed in June has reached 39, the highest monthly toll of the war, according to a CNN count of official figures.

The bombing occurred Thursday in the Sayed Abad District in Wardak province during a combat patrol.

The comes after a breathtaking piece in th LA Times this week:

Insurgent activity is increasing sharply in Afghanistan and has spread into once stable areas, with attacks up almost 40% in the eastern provinces alone, according to new American military data that have prompted alarm among senior Pentagon officials.

Rising attacks against Afghan and NATO troops in the east represent the latest in a series of troubling developments that have led to markedly higher U.S. casualties and have prompted the military's top leadership to order a review of its strategy in Afghanistan, including how to make do with limited numbers of American troops.

I know they're making it harder for vets to get disability, but this is outrageous:

The VA rejected an Afghanistan veteran's disability claim for PTSD last month, citing his membership in VoteVets.org as a reason for the denial.

Staff Sergeant Will King retired from the Army in late 2003, after serving in both the first Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan. As one of the first troops into the Afghan theater after 9/11, Will had been awarded a Bronze Star after participating in fierce fighting in the Shah-e-Kot Valley in March 2002. I know, because I was there with him.

As the months turned to years after his retirement, however, Will started having problems as the Iraq War dragged on. Depressed and unable to sleep, he thought it might be PTSD. Because, as those who study PTSD know, this is perfectly normal: The symptoms of PTSD frequently have a delayed onset that can take months or years to fully materialize. That's why, in April 2007, Will filed a claim with the VA for combat-related PTSD. The VA eventually agreed with Will and diagnosed him with mild PTSD. But Will felt like his condition was worse than that. And to boot, he thought it was getting worse. So Will appealed, and filed another disability claim with the VA in November 2007: He felt his symptoms were serious enough to warrant an increase in his disability rating from "mild" to "moderate."*

Unfortunately for Will, the VA denied his claim six months later, in May 2008. And while I won't challenge the VA's ultimate decision (I'm not a doctor), I find it repulsive that they cited Will's membership in VoteVets.org as a reason to deny his claim.

This is what the VA told Will in his denial letter:

The examiner states your PTSD symptoms are still present but you do not report symptoms at a degree or level which appears to suggest more severity. The examiner concurred with the previous diagnosis and assigned Global Assessment of Functioning Score of 52, stating you have occasional suicidal ideation but are able to cope with these symptoms and continue to function. The treatment reports from Memphis show you are currently involved with VoteVets.org, an advocacy group for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. You indicated involvement with this advocacy group makes you feel coping with your symptoms is worthwhile. The treatment note of March 10, 2008, indicates no homicidal or suicidal ideation and no thought disorder.

The consequences of neglecting Afghanistan and the resurgent Taliban are apparent.

NYTimes:

A well-coordinated assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai by suspected Taliban insurgents at the Afghan national day military parade in central Kabul has turned into a moment of national embarrassment for the government, which has been pressing to take over responsibility for Kabul’s security from foreign troops.

Three people were killed Sunday in the brazen assault, ruining what was supposed to have been a proud moment for Afghan security forces. The ability of the attackers to get so close to Mr. Karzai, who escaped unhurt, suggested they had inside help.

Considering President Bush recently admitted that it's "probably true" the next attack will come from Afghanistan, this really doesn't surprise me. But it does worry me.

Add this to the pile of monumental screw-ups committed by the Bush administration.

Raw Story:

A lengthy investigation published Thursday reveals that the Pentagon gave an inexperienced 22-year-old a $300 million contract to provide ammunition to Afghanistan. The shady deal resulted in decades old, substandard munitions being delivered to US and Afghan troops fighting on the front lines of the war on terror.

So to recap: During the free-cash-giveaway that is defense contracting, the Pentagon awards $300 million to the company of a clueless 22 year old, resulting in our soldiers having to use substandard weaponry.

The bright side? According to his MySpace page, he's a "super nice guy." That's nice to know, at least.

Thank God Waxman is on the case. We'll definitely be following this one.

GuardianUK: (h/t Gregory)

Tension between British and American commanders in southern Afghanistan erupted into the open yesterday as a senior UK military officer said he had asked the US to withdraw its special forces from a volatile area that was crucial in the battle against the Taliban.

British and Nato defence officials have consistently expressed concern about US tactics, notably air strikes, which kill civilians, sabotaging the battle for "hearts and minds" and infuriating Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president.

The coalition of the "We're willing, but not with you here"? Why does there seem to be so much more common sense and thoughtfulness on the part of British military tactics? I'd like to see our brass adopt some of the British forces' techniques. Sadly, this is likely the only guideline they will likely imitate:

Sweeping new guidelines barring military personnel from speaking about their service publicly have been quietly introduced by the Ministry of Defence, the Guardian has learned.

Soldiers, sailors and airforce personnel will not be able to blog, take part in surveys, speak in public, post on bulletin boards, play in multi-player computer games or send text messages or photographs without the permission of a superior if the information they use concerns matters of defence.

Shakesville: Bush trys to re-ignite the Cold War

Rising Hegemon: Like a "Smokeless" Klan rally.

TPMCafe: The Associated Press' crappy reporting makes Obama's remarks sound really threatening  Here's some more shoddy newspaper work

The New Editor: Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's wife, is barred from Canada

Feministing: Feminists want to have sex without getting pregnant and therefore are murdering whores.  Scott has more...

Boozhy: American soldiers patrol Afghani marijuana fields (sound track gets an X rating)

If, like me, you're having trouble keeping track, go over to Lies from the Bush-Cheney administration

The final installment of Declan Walsh's brilliant audio/visual reports for the Guardian UK about the other war. (h/t Gregory)

Helmand province, Afghanistan: There have been four attempts to forge a strong, central Afghan army since the 18th century. Each has failed, frustrated by war, invasions or stubborn conservative tribesmen.

YahooNews: (h/t NonnyMouse)

Denmark is considering boosting its contingent in Afghanistan by 200 troops to 600, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday.

Earlier, the government presented plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. Fogh Rasmussen said no firm decision had been taken on the Danish troops serving under NATO command in Afghanistan, "but we cannot exclude that we will go from the present 400 to 600."

The prime minister said Wednesday that his country will withdraw its 460-member contingent from southern Iraq by August and transfer security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, and that the decision had been made in conjunction with the Iraqi government and Britain, under whose command the Danish forces are serving near Basra.

Fogh Rasmussen said Denmark would replace the troops with surveillance helicopters and civilian advisers to help the Iraqi government's reconstruction efforts.

"The Danish battalion will be brought home by August," Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Copenhagen. "We expect that the Iraqis during 2007 will take over security in southern Iraq."

And the coalition dwindles further. Italy's whole government is tottering, largely from their participation in the Afghan war and ties to the US military and even Lithuania is considering pulling their 53 troops.

UPDATE: The Italian premier has announced he is resigning in the face of overwhelming public dissent against his keeping troops in Afghanistan.

You're doing a heckuva job, Bushie!