This issue has nothing to do with the being a democrate or republican. This has to do with whats right and wrong. Whats wrong is that the blame was put on the soldiers only. They had a moral authority to disobey the torture order. The top people who ordered the torture should be held accountable also.

It just makes me sick. Time and time again we see the Government sitting on evidence which proves peoples innocense while they are prosecuted. These soldiers were prosecuted while superiors sat on the classified torture orders. I remember the Bush administration labeling these guys as bad-apples. I think is the highest form of obstruction of justice!!!! The Bush administration should be prosecuted for this. They have ruined peoples lives and now are living comfortable and writing books and getting huge speaking fees while the lives of others are in shambles.

I am disgusted with your accusatory tone, naming each of the Bush officials in this witch-hunt as criminals. Torture? According to whom? The Obama idiots who don't know how to define torture? Ask a Vietnam POW what torture is, or a WWII, or Korean POW. Yours is truly the Communist News Network and is completely in bed with this Marxist president and his corrupt regime.

pandora's box has been opened ,some classified INFO should be left as so what's next missle codes on U-Tube?

Rick thankyou for coming out on behalf of the misjustice commited against the soldiers acussed of mistreating prisioners of war. Iam retired from tthe Army and I know that some orders you can refuse to follow but when the orders come from so high I dont see how anyone could have refuse them. I think the Justice Department should go after all involved in the descission making about the treatment of the priossioners. Thanyou again and please if you get invited to go hunting with Dick Chaney kindly refuse his invitation.

SFC Edwin rodriguez
USA Ret.
New Port Richey, Florida

The morning-after pill has been available in Canada since the 70's and it was a birth control pill that would bring on your period early. However, one had to go to a Birth Control Centre and be interviewed by a counsellor before you could get the pill, not from a pharmacy, but from the centre itself. Age was not a big issue as some females were raped and/or incested.

With regards to those horses who were overdosed, I have been monitoring the workforce for almost 20 years now. Is there anyone out there who know their jobs?? It's not just pharmacies, it's the medical profession as well and I would include vets as well.

Rick, I'm tried of the argument that Bush kept us safe. Diligent Americans on the front lines (Republican and Democrat) kept us and continue to keep us safe. All the Bush Administration did was make their job even harder.

Much as I sympathize with the demoted officer, She still had the consciouness to differentiate between right and wrong. I guess if she had decided to do the right thing at that time,she would have been demoted and when the chips were down, she still dot demoted.She should have known better.

"Rick said, "Do you know your man?" As I recall, the news was filled about the school teacher in California that committed unthinkable acts of abuse to a young girl. HOW ABOUT DO YOU KNOW YOUR WOMEN/?"

Colonel Karpinski should have her good name and rank restored, and all references to her demotion removed from her record. It is astonishing to me, not to mention apalling, that in this supposedly "moral" and "Christian" country so many have been so easily persuaded to abandon our principals in favor of the expediency of torture; how so many just want to look the other way and not examine and prosecute those responsible, including Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld because it will be unpleasant and inconvenient to do so. We either uphold out principals or we don't. Are we really going to leave it to Spain or some other country or the UN to do this for us? How bad will it make us look if we don't clean up our own mess and some other country has to do it for us?

I am having flashbacks to the MKULTRA hearings in the 70's can someone tell me, who developed the techniques by which the CIA/military tortures people. I have a hunch, US people were the test pilots for the Iraq's detainees.

what was done wasn't torture.If you couldn't handle those acts you must be a panzy liberal, grow a pair!!!!! the pill is just an extension of our enabling society. IRRESPONSABILITY

Take a step back, if Bush had taken an interest in national security from the start 9/11 might have been prevented. I just hope its the child of a conservative that believes in torture who gets captured and tortured in our wars, not the ones in to fight for america. Mabey when these idiots see what happens, they might change their mind, mabey. Torture begets stronger antiamericanism and problems in the future. As an ethnic greed my great great grandfathers family was all killed but one, in effort to prevent the greek revolution from the ottoman empire. Guess what to this day i wouldnt trust a turk and if i had the opportunity to kill one i would gladly from ancestoral rage. Look at wall freaking street if you dont understand that short term gains while temporarily profitable lead to long term troubles. You cant sell fhe future for the now, now becomes the past and the future becomes now, so if u sold it previously, heaven help you, heaven help the us. Dont you idiots realize an entire generation of war ravaged american hating iraqis are being born into the world? are you so clouded in your personal superiority you think they will fly american flags and thank them for force feeding them democracy and western capitalism? Fools you are all fools for you no not the consequences of your collective actions

Scooter Libby was a great example of how justice worked for Republican cronies when they were in control. Now that the Democrats are exposing what went on, people are concerned about fomer "leaders" (???) The blindfold is off Lady Justice. No one should be above the law, especially those who were elected into office to represent the American people.

Let's face it. liberals would define tickling with a feather as torture if it resulted in any kind of retribution against Bush & Cheney. If you hate Bush, everything the military does is torture. But waterboarding is not torture.

As a point of law, Democrats could quickly pass legistlation defining waterboarding as torture. They could detail the penalties that would apply to anyone convicted of waterboarding. So why are they doing nothing? Because they love to portray themselves as outraged and aggrieved parties, while supporting the Bush policies that they know worked for 8 years.

Kudos to Obama for sending more troops to Afghanistan and for not following thru on his promise to start drawing down the troops. He can do whaever he wants since Conservatives have lost power and Liberals will not stand up to hm for fear of being labeled racists. The man is bulletproof. More troops! Keep waterboarding as a legal form of interrogation. Way to go Democrats!

Sorry,

the torture story wasn't on the website when I wrote my comment, and wrote it in the Brazilian story section. Please refer to it there. thank you – Robert

Hello: Rich about that police officer that was way out of line. He should be fired. I am a Fire Fighter and have to work with the PD often. What he did want uncalled for all the way. Fire Him ASAP!

When will Americans just represent as Americans? Being a Republican or a Democrat does not in my view trump being an American, but too many talking heads (politicians, pundits) refuse to be analytical or objective about things that surface–like the memos authorizing torture. A full blown analysis–sans party rhetoric is in order regarding the torture accusations.

No one American is above the law; the people suggesting that President Obama is witch-hunting are crazy. Why not represent the shock and revulsion we all are representing and WAIT unitl more information comes forth?

Some of us want to live up to American ideals and values, not to politicians!

Morning after pill and 17 year olds. Are you kidding?! Yes ! Where is separation of Church and State gone ? Talk to Mummy and Daddy- wake-up, not on your life because it will be theirs if they do ! It's called being responsible.Their business, not ours. At 17, these are young adults, ADULTS.They turn 12 year olds into adults in our courts, so why do we consider them children when it comes to this ! .Talking out of both sides of mouth. Mom in Ohio

Rick, you mentioned 4 ppl connected with Abu Ghraib. To be fair and Rick you are always fair, Ha, Ha, Ha, who in congress knew and went along with the tactics at Abu Ghraib including both political parties and both houses of Congress. Read them all or none at all. Do Americans a favor and just report unbiased news or is that against CNN policy and you do as your superiors tell you.

You are as Pathetic as all the msnbc losers. I used to watch your show, but you now disgust me. Hope your show goes off the Air.

You want to see Torture, visit YouTube and put in Nick Berg's name, THIS IS TORTURE, YOU LIBERALS ALL MAKE ME SICK. HOPEFULLY ONLY YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES ARE AFFECTED DURING THE NEXT 9/11 ATTACK, YOU MAKE ME SICK. AND REMEMBER, DO NOT COMPLAIN WHEN WE ARE ATTACKED AGAIN, BECAUSE RICK SANCHEZ AND ALL LIBS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEXT MURDERS.

the soldiers only did what they were told to like they are supposed to do, the unlawful order came right from the top, and when I say the top I mean just that, Bush, Cheney, Rove should all be in jail for war crimes just as we held nazis back in the late 40`s, these guys would have fit right in Nazi Germany...... look at what all they have destroyed, economy, Iraq, muslim relations, food safety, toy safety, world opinion of the U.S.A., take these scum bags down now!

Hey Bob Powell, yeah go ask that Vietnam vet if torture is right or ok for any reason, I`ll bet you wont find one of them that agrees with you, when we torture we are no better than the VC or Nazi`s!

had we found a way to run our cars 20 years ago, there would have never been a 9/11, but we didnt and now we pay the price for our way of life!

sorry, had we found a way to run our cars on besides on oil 20 years ago we would have never had 9/11

Rick went a bit overboard when he tried to cast Linndy England and
her perverse, wife-beating boyfriend as innocent "scapegoats". England, her boyfriend and several other of those guardsmen were not interrogators. They were just prison guards, England admitted that what they did was not ordered by anyone. They did what they did, as she stated, for their own "amusement".

This little group of worthies also made pornographic home movies for their own amusement. They were unsupervised at night and did whatever they pleased. They were just trailer trash who found themselves in a position to get some weird sexual kicks by humiliating and abusing some of their prisoners. Of course, the officers in charge of that prison should've made frequent, uannounced checks of what was going on in the middle of the night, but they evidently neglected to do so.

One of England's pathetic defenses was that she was easily manipulated by her boyfriend because she had a very low, borderline IQ. Get some of your facts straight, Rick, before you try to make these low life perverts into heroes and innocent victims of Bush.

Rick,

Much has been said lately about the release of the "CIA memo's" and to rip you off "I want to know".
Fickle conservatives and reporters had for months called for the pardon of the border guards that were arrested for shooting the illegal immigrant/dealer for doing their duty “protecting the country”. Where is the same hue and cry for those in the military that were separated from, demoted by, or convicted by the military for doing what they were led to believe as sanctioned methods of interrogation. You say sanctioned?
The now released memos show clearly the time line and the exact same verbiage on interrogation methods being disseminated down to those in the field in TWO separate and unconnected branches of government, i.e. CIA and the military. How is that possible? Where did the authorization come from? The White House and those providing cover with the OLC’s for those in the White House writing or implementing the now sanctioned methods.
The conservatives and Republicans are saying you should not prosecute those in the administration that did their duty in creating the OLC memos because it will restrain and diminish advice. What is good for the goose is good for the “Bushies”, prosecute them also as their opinions are that, opinions. Opinions that everyone did not agree with, some even gave dissenting opinions that were ignored, black-holed, and recalled. Now they are adding the members of Congress to the list saying they agreed to the methods, that is false as this drastic change was not codified as a law as voted on by our representatives.

Janis Karpinski was in charge of the prison at Abu Ghraib. Those Soldiers were never authorized or given an order to torture anyone. Her lack of supervision led to the embarrassment of the Army, the United States and needlessly harmed people with no apparent gain or purpose. Torture techniques were only authorized on less than 30 high value targets of over 80,000 prisoners. These techniques for gaining information were conducted by experienced personnel who in most cases were non-military. To show the pictures of Abu Ghraib and associate it with those terrorist extremist that our government authorized the information extraction on, is misleading.

Who ever formulated the interrogation policy and knowingly pass down illegal orders to our soldiers are liable for the consequences of their actions. If inlisted by oath duty bond soldiers do not follow the orders givin them they are labled un-American or even treasonist post 9/11. They at war trying to preserve this country, careers, reputations and their lives. We live in a land held together by many things one of which is our common sense laws. Hence, We do not prosecute the instrument that is used in a crime but the one yeilds the weapon.

Why are we still talking about this War is War and it's ugly. The tax payer higher the lowest bidders and the least educated then holds them accountable for his or her actions do to positions. Well look at it this way if a soldier is a tool or weapon then the people we have in charge of those tools or weapons the officers that are appointed over them need to be held even more accountable then the Soldiers actions. Look at the convictions and escape goats in Abu Ghraib scandal. The amount of Officer doing hard time and the amount of enlisted doing time is quite different. I wish I could get away with pointing a loaded gun at a chosen target and blame the results on a bad gun then get a slap on the wrist and the gun go to jail not likely only if you are protected by politics and create political fear in the political arena. It is sad that poorly educated and under paid soldiers go down and pay the price when they are put in that environment then act in less the honorable ways and the people that put them there are not even accountable and are judged under separate rule with different result with no accountability but paid and given the prestige of their position. How about a slap on the wrist of the soldier and throw the key away on the official that was in charge you might get better soldiers and better educated soldiers not officials and officer living on the back of their soldier but soldier taken care of by their leadership and educated in what to do and how to act before they make those grave mistakes. The way thing are now are to just check a block and cover an officers ass and if there is time to make the policy understandable to the soldier.

Rick,
I believe our entire government is deceitful and hypocritical. Pelosi was not briefed on water boarding techniques in her briefings??!! I do not believe. This thought goes for both parties.
I believe the Obama administration is on trial as to whether it will pursue justice of the wrong doings of the Bush administration.
Rick, keep them honest, and all of CNN. I don't think any other news agency will.

Everyone in the government is dancing around trying to avoid talking about torture and if the word is mentioned, they keep shuffling blame about. Obviously, the ones most responsible are Bush, Cheney and his top officials. However, they will never be prosecuted because that would be treason according to the Republicans. They blame Obama for everything and say no to anything his administration proposes. Only Eric Holder can "out" the real blameworthy ones.

Rick, the international communities are watching. The debate in most part of Africa is all about TORTURE and what will happen to the lawyers that drafted these UNLAWFUL LAWS, they should take the worst in all of these because their duty is to interpret the law and not to cook a dirty law.
If those that crafted the kangaroo Interrogation law are allowed to go free Obama administration is “CULPABLE” to the crime. Where was Cheny and his daughter when some soldiers were prosecuted and jailed for these torture technics they are proud to defend on Television now? Why didn’t Cheny, his daughter and all those coming on Television today come to defend those military men that carried out their orders? The past administration allow few military officers to be prosecuted and sent to jail while they said nothing, is that not a crime? Why has no one asked Cheny and his daughter why the didn’t say anything when innocent men were on their way to jail for a crime they knew nothing about. Any one that took part in the making of these LAWLESS LAWS should be tried including CHENY AND BUSH

A true patriot must be prepared to defend himself even against his own country !!!

After listening to your rant yesterday, it became very evident that you have never read the referenced memos. To confuse authorizing waterboarding, with piling naked prisoners on top of each other for fun or trying to see who can make a prisoner deficate first, shows your ignorance of what really happened. Yes harsh methods were authorized (that congress knew about), but that does not allow for a few bad apples that truly abused prisoners. We will always have sick people that cannot handle power, and that is what we had. Anyone given authority over other human beings, usually leads to some bad activity. Colonel Karpinski led Abu Ghraib from Kuwait. Never wanting to dirty her hands by being in the war-zone. You should be ashamed of yourself for grandstanding on something you apparently have no knowledge of.

Call me crazy but I read in the Washington Post in 2007 that Pelosi and a number of other big hack lib pols were breifed (Completely) on the interrogation techniques back in '03 and no objections were raised at all. By anyone, period. Pelosi, possibly the dumbest SOTHOR in our nations history, even admitted that she knew of the program and gave them permission, but didn't really think they were doing it. Whatever, Nance! She is a political opportunist and this little lie of hers will come back to bite her in that lifted-stretched face of hers.

Pelosi knew about the interrogation techniques back in '03. She asked if they were harsh enough. She is lying!!! I want to know what Pelosi knew and when she knew it. Release all the memos or shut up.

I want to know what Nancy Pelosi knew and when she knew it. Release all the memos or pipe down, already.

I am a veteran, Bush was our Commander in Chief ... there is no doubt that he and the others that orchestrated these tactics should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There are numerous cases in the military where the highest in command is held responsible for their crews actions (IE: USS Coral SEA /Cuban Freighter years ago, just one example ... I don't believe the Captain was even on the helm at the time of the collision but he certainly did not walk away from that incident unscathed). Let's start at the top and work our way down, and no ... any of these soldiers were wrong in what they did but were more likely to be following direct orders, I can't say what should be done in this instance but it seems to me by the precedent being set forth, if no others are being held accountable then an appeal should be in order.

We as a nation, have not just only committed crimes against our own peoples, but I suspect that when people talk about "Global" anything ... I think this would certainly fit.

Hi Rick,
How can they say that the geneva convention only applies to war.
Didn't President Bush call this a "War on terrorists". All we hear is about America fighting two wars. A war is a war.
The Americans invaded a country without the backing of the UN.
The United States seems to do what ever it wants to, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks. Have they forgotten what the United Nations was made up for in the first place after a world war.
As far as i,m concerned Bush and his two wars is the cause of the downfall of the econemy. Just look at the money that has been put into his wars and even other countries are forced to be there now through the UN. The only ones following the UN is the others not President Bush. I also think it is time for Cheney to sit down shut up and stop trying to save his own ass. He is an evil man in my books.
One last thing, You finally have a president that wants to use deplomacy, so how can u use it by turning your back to other leaders at the G20. President Obama greeted others in the respectable way any one should. He wasn't there to snub others. America is in this mess because of republications. It's time for the asses in the republician party to get with it and stop putting all their energy into trying to discredit the best President they ever had, they are just making fools out of themselves to the rest of the world.
Time to start calling your president , President Obama not Mr Obama, where is the manners gone. No other president in the past has been called Mr. from the media.
Noreen

ah come on, if you torture, your guilty. I know, It wa wrong

I want to know who authorized MI to soften up prisoners in Iraq, Afganistan, and Gitmo, and who develped the techniques to do so, and I don't wnt an yBS about memo's that were constructed after the fact to look like a case plan in a mental hospital, complete with "spook" Airforce Intellegence Officer/psychiatrists supervising torture to justify Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. If we don't torture, why do we plan for torture as an offensive weapon. We haven't begun to hear the story here, who cares if we tortured the man who cut Daniel Pearls head off while he was alive. I can't find sympathy for him, but I am concerned when we start talking in memo's about programs where we perform torture techniques on our own soldier (who by the way can't sue the govement afterward) and call it "training." and sort of forget to mention that "intellegence information" on its "lasting effects" and "reliabilty" were gathered from the experiment on the Airforce/MI/Special Forces officers who we first develped the technique to impress.

How can the soldiers not be blames? They took pictures with the tortured prisoners and played games with them. How could Janice Karpinski not know of this typ of abuse in the pictures right under her nose? Was she ignorant or just didn't want to see it?

It was right to get these soldiers court martialed, and members of the Bush admin. should be blamed as well. What happend was wrong!

Hey,

GM, the US Auto Industry and Pontiac have enough problems without your use of the term "Killing the Brand" ... you can do better, let's emphasize the facts that we build good car products here in the US and offer a lot of product for the price!

Our President is doing such a great job at bringing us together in a positive way let's all focus on all the good and we will all benefit.

Your loyal viewer Robb

BTW say hello to Larry King for us ...

Tthe Craiglist killer is a remarkable case. When the soon to be wife still believes he's innocent after his victim 's articles have been found in his place and his computer has incriminating evidence is crazy. Love is one thing being an idiot is another. This is the guy I would want for my daughter to marry......Right

I understand Janis K. is retired as a Colonel now, but she should be cleared of everything and bumped back up to Brig. Gen. and retired at that pay-grade!!!

I am calling on Holder to investigate Nancy Pelosi, because she has publically said she had no knowledge of any waterboarding and if someone says she did then it is completey untrue.. The Washington Post in 07 reported that in 03 that Pelosi and at least 4 other members of congress were told of the Enhanced interrogation techniques. Pelosi knew and she approved of the techniques. Same with Harmon, Rockefeller and Grahm. They all knew. Now that the issue can be used to either distract he American people to the socialism that is taking hold in this country, or that it is easier for her to get her stretched mug on TV. The American people deserve to know what Pelosi and the others knew and when they knew it.

Yes, and she should have never been charged!Also these people dream at night of killing Americans, so I could really care less what happens to them.I bet they cried tears of joy when 911 happened and now we defend the treatment of these killers lets get real!

100% PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

You prosecution freaks are really itching for a fight, are you not? International courts? No way! Not in our sovereign America. Do you all want a future Republican administration and Congress to to bring charges and prosecution for "giving comfort and aid to the enemy in a time of war"? That is what happens when someone gives our nation's top secret information to the enemy. Look up the definition of treason in your dictionary. Do not start a fire storm of retribution and counter-retribution. You won't like the outcome.

I don't agree with this, a Soldier has the right to disregard an order they consider immoral, in doing such they are putting them self subject to the punishment of doing the wrong. Based on such all guilty parties are subject to the punishment set forth within the laws violated.

I am with Jeffery! If they are going to attempt to prosecute those that knew of and apporved "torture" then I insist that Pelosi be folded into the investigatiton. Rockerfeller, too. I am afraid that the Obama Administration (that I voted for) may have started a circular firing squad. I know that many in the congressional leadership (Majority and Minority) were told of these tactics.

I want any elected official that was briefed and did not stop, or approved the torture to be frog marched out of D.C. We must, must have an investigation.

Torture is what the THOUSANDS of World Trade Center victims experienced while they were on the phone with their families awaiting their horrific murders. Listen to the tapes of their phone calls and tell me how sorry you feel for Kahlid Sheik Mohammed.

To whom it may concern: That means all of us. Unless I've been on another planet we, meaning the west is at war for our survival against a terrorist entity. We use whatever means to save our lives from this threat. Yes torture is extreme, so are suicide bombers. By whatever means our priority is as always our security against terrorist. The interrogation of enemy combattants is crucial. Bottom line don't threaten us and we won't need to interrogate oyu

People do not torture animals because they are innocent creatures and not planning to eminently kill thousands of innocent American people, including my little girl. To compare water boarding, sleep depravation, load noise, rooms with fussy little caterpillars and other fraternity pranks with the horrors by the Nazis prosecuted at the Nuhenburg (SP?) trials is beyond ludicrous. By the way, our Special Forces personnel undergo water boarding during their training. Were they tortured? Are they now not extremely effective in protecting America? Nuts!

People do not torture animals because they are innocent creatures and not planning to eminently kill thousands of innocent American people, including my little girl.
To compare water boarding, sleep depravation, load noise, rooms with fussy little caterpillars and other fraternity pranks with the horrors by the Nazis prosecuted at the Nuhenburg (SP?) trials is beyond ludicrous. By the way, our Special Forces personnel undergo water boarding during their training. Were they tortured? Are they now not extremely effective in protecting american interest? Nuts!

Sure seem to be a lot of uninformed, ignorant posters here. Once you have been out in the world and see how things really work most of the pie in the sky, kumbaya idealism will disappear. Anyone who thinks that everyone on Capitol Hill didn't know about the waterboarding is a fool. I hope there is an investigation because it will show how many of our spineless want it both ways Congressmen and Senators are LIARS. If you think Pelosi, Reid, Clinton, Schumer, et al weren't fully briefed at the time and even approved of the course of action then you are in for a big surprise...if the media will report on it.

Torture for abuse...is still abuse. No matter what the reason. The pictures from Abu Ghraib showed much more than troops following orders. It's shameful. Before then, then only presidence for such abuse was found in the WWII pics of Nazi SS soldiers abusing prisoners.

9/11 was planned during the Clinton administration when that administration did not understand that war was being waged against us by the terrorists. Aggressive action by the Clinton administration, like that used by the Bush administration, probably would have prevented 9/11, just as it prevented the planned follow on attacks on America. You so called "progressives" are either extremely dishonest or ideologically blinded that you cannot see your hands in front of your faces.

Janis while not guilty of torture or giving orders to do so is is guilty of soldier umbecoming which carries the same penalty as she currently is recieving, demotion and retirement as a officer in the military. She should have known what was going on in her jail period. Sorry Janis, you know crap rolls down hill and the higher ups are hoping it stopped with you but I think they have another think coming! RJ out-

Hey Mario, would it be ok for the Taliban to kidnap your son and use torturous methods on him? Would it be ok? I think not, the only way to we are going to be free from these crazy religious lunatics is to get out of the middle east its that simple! Thats means making our transportation to run on something besides oil, its that simple!

Hey Deb, NEWSFLASH 9/11 would have never happened had our cars ran on something besides oil!

It's about time that the Bush administation was held responsible for the torture they put people through. Let's not forget that the government is allowed not only to come into our homes but also to hold us indeffinately for crimes that they think we might commit...it's called the PATROIT ACT...remember that? Let's deal with this before we go calling Democrats "socialists" because as far as i'm concerned what the Bush administration did was "COMMUNISTIC".

The only other "journalist/news reader" that is more obnoxious, dishonest, spazmodic, biased, and discreditied is Keith Overbite of PMSNBC.

Lets be real here. After WW 2 the Allies took the Germans and Japanese to task at war crimes tribunals and let justice take its course. Sixty-four years later, America is in the defendant's seat and now sings the same pathetic song the war criminals sang: "I was only following orders."
Why not find out who gave the orders? Why not turn over the rock and let the creeps that created this mess crawl out from under it? America is SICK of the last eight years and what it has done to this country. Wasn't the last election a clarion call to reality?

Colonel Karpinski was actually DEMOTED from General because of the "shoplifti9ng incident" that the government didn't appear to want to explain in any detail to the public. Obviously, the record of this offense was not in the Colonel's military records, but just where was this offense recorded?

I have always wondered why the government was so silent on this matter but I believe it is because they instituted a $200.00 Civil Rocovery Fee for Active Duty Personnel and Retired Personnel accused of shoplifting in the government retail stores in 2002, and they didn't want this new and "ugly" policy to get any publicity or public notice.

The DOD, in 2002, took active duty personnel out from under the purview of the the Uniform Code of Military Justice and sent them to the Federal Magistrate Courts in order to get the $200.00 for the Post Exchanges and for the Security and Collection Contractors, BUT they ALSO ticketed active duty personnel and sent them to the Federal Magistrate Courts to plea bargain against a charge of larceny under the Federal Statute for larceny.

I tried to get an IG investigation of this "unconstitutional fine" on the troops but to no avail. (See on Google Bad Business Bureau Rip Off Report -$200 AAFES Rip Off of Troops for Shoplifting)

I believe General Karpinski was unfairly targeted and scapegoated but the actual DEMOTION wasn't because of the "torture" issue, it was, according to the government, because she failed to report the shoplifting incident to the military authorities, If the General paid the $200 directly to the Base Exchange in Florida and then signed a plea bargain in the federal magistrate court, she wasn't, of course, found guilty of "larceny shoplifting."

Wish you would look into this!

With all the issues President Obama and Congress have in their face today, I can't understand why they are playing the "victim" of the Bush Administration. I voted for a leader not a victim. Obama if you continue to play the victim, you will lose my vote in the next election. I try to influence my children not to play the victim, but to take responsiblity. I'm disappointed. I want a leader for President, not a victim.

How dare you (some people here) compare the US (my country) to the nazis. Did we burn old people because they have no use for them? did we inject viruses to the prisoners to study the effects. Did we gathered all the women for selected sex slaves and gassed them with the children because these children will grow up to be like their parents? You must have forgotten how the hundreds of people who fell from the twin tower and splattered on the ground like tomatoes. How about the the dead soldier who was drag across town for the world to see. And now you are fighting mad because our soldiers used simulated drowning and embarrassed them by taking off their clothes to get information where their next murderous plan. You need to realize that sleeper cells are pretty much alive. It could be your neighbor, who knows. If you are an AMERICAN, you must think before you say anything bad about the country that you live in where you are enjoying your freedom. Otherwise leave....

I don't know why the government doesn't immediately issue travel restrictions to Mexico to try to put the brakes on the transmission of the swine flu virus. Why wait until thousands more people are exposed? The US government certainly acted quickly when one little Canadian cow was found to have Mad Cow Disease! Don't people deserve the same kind of precautions?

Apply the law the same to everyone, if you put soldier in prison, put everyone else who was part of these tortures.

Torture is against the law, meaning it is illegal, that means that AG Holder most put those individuals in prison who were and are a part of those evil acts!

Torture is what evil countries do!

Rick transit systems have a system that was invented to prevent viruses and bacteria from spreading on transit vehicles guess what they won't use them get the word out.

Rick there is an invention distributed by thermoking that was invented for potential pandemic situations like this, It was designed for public transit vehcles. There are transit agencies out there that have the system and won't use it. Get the word out about that.

Have not heard anyone ask about immigrants crossing into our country. How many a day is that now and how many of them are carrying the virus?

Napalitano didn't want to enforce the illegal immigration when she was Gov of Arizona. Obama wants open borders and have health care for everyone. Why not let all Mexicans with swine flu come to the states for health care. This will test our already over loaded health care system that provide care for illegal immigrates with tax payers footing the bill now. With Obama's spending whats a few more trillion. Remember we want to be everyone's friend at any cost.

If it's ok for the US to torture because it saves lives, then for my wife and I who have been out of work for over a year and a half and are four months from homelessness, is it ok for us to start robbing banks? That could save our lives. Does the end justify the means, or have we matured into a country that can stand up for what we beleive is right?

Better yet lets make Mexico the fifty first state. Then we can control all their problems as we receive the blame now for them. Don't you think its amazing considering how long Mexico has existed compared to the US.

It seems strange to me how quickly and easily these soldiers were scapegoated. Now we here such outrage from Republicans on the release of the memos and the idea of prosecuting the people who wrote them. Where was there outrage when these soldiers were being prosecuted UNJUSTLY!? The Republican party has lost all credibility except with the most weak minded ideologues. Maybe we should prosecute them for aiding and abetting after the fact.

Lets see here. Our country is falling apart, we have troops all over the place fighting, Iraq , Afganistan, looks like Pakistan might be next, Pirates and what else. These countries have failed in every aspect of trying to help themselves, yet we continue to use our military as cannon fodder. We now have a young pirate that we want to put on trial. Why & at what cost? Should have thrown him overboard and be done with it. I would bring home all of our troops put everything that we have, technology wise, to observe and then start to bomb everything that moves. Harsh you say, innocent people getting killed. To Bad. Why is it that these "terrorists" always have hoods on? Because they are the same people that, during the day shake your hand and at night try to kill you. Their neighbors know who they are. People who use children & women as suicide bombers are not rational and need to be put down like the animals they are.

Torture? The only mistake here is that the U.S. has lost its ability to keep anything secret. Do you really think Bush-Cheney will be put on trial? How many people, irregardless of party, knew this was going on and how many stood up and said no? Same can be said about those military members who, following orders, carried out their assigned mission. Personally I do not condone torture and would have not wasted the time & effort. A bullet is cheaper. If one rationalizes that these "enhanced interrogation techniques" provided valuable info, Cheney, then how come Bin Laden & his people continue to laugh at us and we cannot find him?

It is time these troops who were convicted receive a pardon or have their records expunged for the good of the country. I don't believe they were of high enough rank to just say "NO". Any Senior NCO would have said "NO", we are not going to torture people on the word of a civilian contractor!

Allowing the leaders of the bush administration immunity in the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity would impact the U.S global reputation. Many counties around the world have recognized the U.S use of torture long before the recent elections, torture and crimes against humanity are not a rare exception for the U.S military, but a systematic procedure of daily operations. Only now has the general public been shown the evidence.

The next thing President Obama need to do is give these Abu Ghraib soldiers clemency. They should be treated just like the CIA that was following order.

Different personalities simply consider themselves to be leaders, or above the law. i tend to think that this kind of personality is "natural", but it also has to be encouraged or cultured. Leader are like criminals with an understanding and an entourage.
Lower status tends to be the victim of higher status. The truth is status tends to stand with status, to make a criminal condition out of lower status. I know; it's not supposed to be that way, but it is. Maybe Wolfowitz will get "his due".

a 15 year old boy would not have been killed if the parents had a brain
1st He should not be (alone) past midnight
2nd they must new he was having problems
3rd It is Chicago man/////come on
It is a sad day

btw did anyone see the news about the UAE prince torturing a worker??

I know I'm not that naive, but are others? I remember my dad sitting me down when I was in elem. school and telling me that the teacher was, in fact wrong, when she stated that the USA would never use harsh torture. In fact, they have, and did, at least during WW2, per dad who was THERE.
The teacher at the time was saying we were too good a country and we would never resort to those tactics, even in a state of war.
I'm not saying I agree with it, but let's get real here.
Should we go back into all past history and check it out? I think not. Let's get going on the present problems and continue to do what we think is right to help America. The Gov't. cannot even handle it's own.
Sam

Rick, How many pounds of make up do you wear to cover your brown nose? I mean, your head is so far up 0bama's rear end that you can't see reality anymore. As a Cuban American I consider you a disgrace to journalism and to your roots, your family and your background.

Mario

why don't we stop sending our money to all those countries who don't even like us and put that money into our social security. how about some stimulis money also.

John Demjanjuk was convicted of being Ivan the terrible and sentenced to death in Israel. He was held in solitary confinement until proof that he in fact was not Ivan the terrible surfaced and he was released.
The US government investigator could not admit he had the wrong man continued to go after John Demjanjuk and is now charging him with being some one else. You keep referring to him as Ivan the terrible which he is not that was a different person. The government just wants to say they were right. I live in Cleveland and if you look into the case it stinks.

The general has been whining since her downgrade! She is a pathetic leader who didn't know what was going on in her prison and her night person did not apprise her. She didn't even seem to know the CIA practice of interrogation. They can't prosecute CIA employees so they made the soldiers and Karpinski the scape goats. I do think they were right in this matter but others in the chain of command should also have faced consequences. They didn't of course because torture and humiliation tactics were coming from the WH.\
Am I surprised that a WOMAN general was the scapegoat? No, the Army has a history of demeaning women so that was an easy decision. Someone's head should hav e rolled in the Justice Dept who didn't have the backbone to do their job!

Rick,
I watch CNN a great deal and read many of the blogs without comment. I feel compelled to comment on statements from military officials regarding the shooting that occurred at Camp Liberty. Military officials claim to offer help or support soldiers who need help. This support may come from SOME officers but not many. The problem I saw was from NCO's and Staff NCO's who tell you to get over it, or drive the debilitating fact into their men and women that they are a discrase and are looking for a free ride out of the service. I have been down this road and had i gotten help sooner my life would have been better sooner.

Watching any military official telling a camera they support counseling and always has, in my mind is trying to cover their back and save face. I still have many friends in the service and they need help. A few have gotten it, but still have to deal with the backlash from their chain of command.
This is my opinion on a serious matter , and the only people can can be trusted in the service are the privates and up as high a Corporals, they don't have anything to hide.

COry

Why are Catholics (I am Catholic) so upset with the President? Conservatives make no sense in their "pro-life" argument. We buy oil from Canada and purchase stuff made in China and have no concern about their policies regarding Abortion. Wasn't the Bush Administration supportive of trade?
Ride through any Wall Mart and look at the number of "pro life" bumper/window stickers and ask yourself are people really pro life?
Or are we only concerned about Abortion if it doesn't hurt "Our Pocketbook".

Elizabeth Edwards should not be criticized by women. We need to start supporting each other, this is a decision that she, and only she, could make. Until we walk in her shoes, we have no right to question her decisions. She needs us to be empathetic right now.

Rick
Regarding Elizabeth Edwards:
I have more respect and appreciation for her since she's come out with her book. The women who criticize her should be ashamed of themselves for being so egotistical, selfish and self centered.
I never really thought of Mrs. Edwards in the past; she was no one special. Big mistake! I see now that she is profound; very intelligent, compassionate and smart. Her thoughts and feelings are very valid. I agree and have empathy with her perspective and I respect her for it. Remember this is her world and no one else; so why would one criticize her world? Those critical people are callous and heartless.