Still digging for truth

Marcy Wheeler notes that there might be a conflict of interest.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer's background has been a key topic of discussion in CREW's lawsuit to force DOJ to release Dick Cheney's interview with Patrick Fitzgerald. The problem is, DOJ forgot to reveal that Breuer had represented one of the people involved with issues directly related to Cheney's interview.

The allegedly qualified person informing the court of the "chilling effect" that releasing Cheney's interview with Fitzgerald might have in the future was involved in representing someone related to the case - something the Department of Justice failed to mention.

How many of you remember, by the way, that W asked Cheney to find him a good vice-presidential running mate and Cheney nominated himself? Dick Cheney is a self-appointed candidate placed in power by the Rehnquist Supreme Court. Don't you love democracy?

--the BB

Pourquoi n'est-il pas pendu? Je vous le demande.

Plus becqueté d'oiseaux que dés à coudre? Eh? Pourquoi?

Beneath what was once a rather sweet exterior I have always been one to bear grudges. Readers of this blog know that I'd like to see Dick Cheney swinging at the end of a rope, hanged for treason. I could compromise and accept life imprisonment for him after conviction of war crimes. But I'd really prefer hanging him for treason. When it comes to Dick Cheney, I am one vengeful mofo. I'd even pull the lever.

Am I an Ahab to his Moby Dick, destroying myself with my hatred? Boy, the thought of perishing with him is pretty disgusting. Guess I need to go work on my karma.

Meanwhile, however.....

Marcy discussed the DOJ's shameful refusal to accept CREW's FOIA request:

But DOJ is not, just, referring to "information that is not at all similar" to information in the public record. It is also trying to hide information that is "not identical to the public domain information."

In other words, the evidence presented at trial that Dick Cheney learned of Plame's identity, passed it on to Libby in the context of responses to journalists, apparently ordered Libby to leak it to a journalist, but didn't tell anyone else at the White House up to and including George Bush about that order--DOJ is stating that Cheney said some things in his interview that are "not identical" to those things revealed at trial.

And that, my friends, is what this heap of steaming stupid is designed to keep hidden.

So, does Cheney have pictures of Eric Holder in compromising positions with children of both sexes AND a goat? What are they protecting, and why?

--the BB

Can we say "impunity," boys and girls? - updated with h/t (2x)

Main Entry: im·pu·ni·ty
Pronunciation: \im-ˈpyü-nə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French impunité, from Latin impunitat-, impunitas, from impune without punishment, from in- + poena punishment — more at pain
Date: 1532
: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss

--Merriam-Webster OnLine

Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress. Impunity is especially common in countries that lack a tradition of the rule of law, suffer from corruption or that have entrenched systems of patronage, or where the judiciary is weak or members of the security forces are protected by special jurisdictions or immunities.

--Wikipedia

Opening paragraph from an article by Scott Shane in tomorrow's NYT:

The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.

Remember, the CIA is required by law to brief certain members of Congress.

Let's just highlight this little paragraph also:

The disclosure about Mr. Cheney’s role in the unidentified C.I.A. program comes a day after an inspector general’s report underscored the central role of the former vice president’s office in restricting to a small circle of officials knowledge of the National Security Agency’s program of eavesdropping without warrants, a degree of secrecy that the report concluded hurt the effectiveness of the counterterrorism surveillance effort.

He's a criminal on practically every level, professionally corrupt, guilty of war crimes, actively subversive of the United States Constitution, and a traitor.

So why should I worry about obeying any laws? Do I get a free pass?

Update: h/t to AmbroseBurnside

Update 2:
I am very glad to see this front and center in the Google headlines this morning.
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide plan'
BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎
Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney gave direct orders to the CIA to conceal an intelligence programme from Congress, US media reports say.
Cheney Ordered CIA to Hide Operation From Congress, NYT Reports Bloomberg
Cheney kept CIA program from Congress, source says CNN


--the BB

Do I believe in the demonic?

So long as Dick Cheney draws breath, I do.

Read Juan Cole's reflections / context / perspective on Dick the Dick's concerns about wasted sacrifice.

It starts like this:

Dick Cheney reacted to the cessation of unilateral US patrols of major cities in Iraq, saying that he had concerns that the "insurgents" might launch more attacks and that “I would not want to see the U.S. waste all the tremendous sacrifice that has gotten us to this point."

First of all, Cheney didn't make any sacrifices in Iraq. He deferred his own military service five times because he 'had other things to do.' The 'sacrifices' were caused because he purveyed falsehoods to the US public in order to get up that war, hinting around that Saddam was in bed with Usama Bin Laden and telling senators that Iraq was two years away from having a nuclear bomb. So the sacrifices were of other people's children, and his role was merely that of an Aztec high priest cutting the heart out of the victims.

For my money, Cole is too kind.

--the BB

I am a great fan of Bizarro

Today's cartoon is just perfect!

You may see Bizarro daily here.

--the BB

It would appear the threat of prosecution has unleashed his endless mendacious blathering

Vice President Dick Cheney decided to speak out after learning that President Barack Obama might open prosecutions of former Bush Administration officials, his daughter disclosed Thursday.

Elizabeth Cheney told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that her father decided to speak out after he learned there was a possibility of legal action.

--Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse


Cheney's speech ignored some inconvenient truths - McClatchy

--the BB

A mother's point of view

What might the mother of a Marine who went through SERE training have to say about waterboarding?

You can find out here. An excerpt:

This is why I'm writing to you: Yesterday on TV I saw some Republican mouthpiece, some ex-Cheney aide, who has never worn a uniform and has NO idea what the hell he is talking about, say that we never tortured anyone because we did it to our own troops and they volunteered to serve; therefore it isn't torture. His statement was allowed to stand unchallenged.

My son did NOT volunteer to be tortured. He was NOT told what would be done to him at SERE. He was told he would be taught to survive. Instead he was tortured, humiliated, degraded, shamed, and told to keep quiet about it. How in God's name would that prepare any of our troops to survive capture? It won't. It will only make them break quicker in the hopes of not having to go through more torture.

Who will speak up for my son and the others like him who joined the military to serve and who were subjected to sadistic torture, not by the enemy, but by the war criminals ostensibly on our side? These people, Cheney and his talking heads, everyone of them chicken hawks who avoided serving, should NOT be allowed to use torturing our troops as rationalization for their crimes.

As for Dick (may be burn in hell) Cheney, McClatchy has a new article up recording his past lies and pointing to the increasingly obvious reality that torture was NOT about saving American lives but about justifying the invasion and occupation of Iraq. In other words, an immoral illegality in service of another immoral illegality.

There. Is. No. Justification. For. What. They. Ordered. Done.

WASHINGTON — Then-Vice President Dick Cheney, defending the invasion of Iraq, asserted in 2004 that detainees interrogated at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp had revealed that Iraq had trained al Qaida operatives in chemical and biological warfare, an assertion that wasn't true.

Did I mention that the lying, sadistic bastard known as Dick Cheney should burn in hell? And that I violate my own theology to even postulate this, so deep is my loathing and indignation when that vile hellspawn is the topic?

h/t to mcjoan (again, bless her)

Let's round this out with a haiku in "honor" of Liz Cheney:

Daddy's Little Girl
Wuvs when the bad, bad mans are
Slammed against the wail . . .

La pomme ne tombe pas loin du pommier.

h/t t Joe Sudbay at Americablog and KarenMrsLloydRichards

--the BB

"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously"

From ABC News an interview by Martha Raddatz with the Dark Lord:

"I want to start with the milestone today of 4,000 dead in Iraq. Americans. And just what effect do you think it has on the country?" asked ABC News' White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz, who traveled with the vice president on a nine-day overseas trip to Iraq and other countries in the Middle East.

"It obviously brings home I think for a lot of people the cost that's involved in the global war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan," Cheney said in the interview, conducted in Turkey. "It places a special burden obviously on the families, and we recognize, I think — it's a reminder of the extent to which we are blessed with families who've sacrificed as they have."

"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously," Cheney said. "He's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us."

Raddatz rightfully points out that with the stop-loss policy they might not still be volunteering.

Huffington Post summarizes it this way:
The Dark Lord's compassion knows no bounds. What a guy!
--the BB

Dante put them at the bottom

The lowest rung of the Inferno, that is, where one encounters Cocytus, the lake of ice. There the bound, three-headed Satan gnaws on Brutus, Cassius, and Judas. I'm talking about traitors: those who betray the trust put in them.

Thursday constitution blogging is a day late this week. My apologies.

Article III.

Section. 3.

Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

--United States Constitution

U. S. Code § 2381. Treason

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

--United States Code


Back in October of 2005, when we thought it was Karl Rove (and not the OVP) at the center of leaking Valerie Wilson's identity, John Aravosis wrote of "the normalization of treason."

If a senior White House staffer had intentionally outed an American spy during World War II, he'd have been shot.

We're at war, George Bush keeps reminding us. We cannot continue with business as usual. A pre-9/11 mentality is deadly. Putting the lives of our troops at risk is treason.

Then why is the White House and the Republican party engaged in a concerted campaign to make treason acceptable during a time of war?

Remember, Mrs. Wilson was working to track development of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, specifically in Iraq and Iran. With her identity compromised, the entire operation and the network of anyone associate with it was at risk and no longer of any value to the United States.

In doing some reading on the understanding of treason in American jurisprudence I have learned that it is very difficult to prove, which is why it is often preferable to rely on the Espionage Act of 1917 in prosecuting those who betray the nation. There is no question that secret information was divulged in this whole affair.

While proving an act (not an attempt but an act) that confers tangible benefit to the enemy is a very high bar, there is some flexibility in the issue of the two witnesses.

However, the decisions defined with some flexibility favorable to the prosecution the boundaries of the act to which two witnesses must testify. Their testimony need not be identical or precise as to all aspects of the cited behavior, nor need it minutely cover every element into which an episode of behavior might be analyzed. The evidence was sufficient if it joined in identifying what reasonable jurors could regard as a connected, patterned transaction.

[Emphasis mine]

Well, these are just some musings. I doubt that one could successfully convict Richard Bruce Cheney of treason, though I believe he is guilty of it. That's my opinion, anyway.

--the BB