American Civil Liberties Union

The memos were released with 'hardly any deletions' or redacting. Isn't this how it should be? Shouldn't it be a crime to mutilate, deface or violate a government communication. The argument is that state secrets would be revealed. But isn't it always apparent that the real reason for censoring is to avoid accountability, responsibility and identification of lawbreakers?

Finally we have transparency in goverment.

Peace,
Cosmic

Don't you mean President Bush. We are supposed to address former Presidents with the same title, correct?

BUSH TORTURE MEMOS OK'ED RADIATION WEAPON USE - ON AMERICANS, TOO

• "Torture matrix" not just a foreign affair

As a longtime investigative reporter for major newspapers and TV outlets, this columnist has gathered first-hand information indicating that what insiders refer to as “the torture matrix” involves the use of silent, classified microwave radiation weapons, and extends far beyond terror war “detainees” and into communities across the United States.

Still-secret U.S. Justice Department memoranda are said to have been used as legal cover for “hi-tech” torture techniques involving various forms of electromagnetic radiation — pulsed-beam microwave radiation “directed energy weapons” and devices capable of inducing a wide range of adverse physiological effects, including: severe pain; illnesses and ailments such as strokes, heart attacks and aneurysms; vision degradation; hearing loss; muscle paralysis; mood and behavior changes; cognitive impairment; and, over time, a “slow-kill” death.

(Military literature uses the term “slow-kill” to describe the lethality of weapons systems the government benignly terms “non-lethal” or, more recently, “less-lethal.”)

Victims of harassment and psychological and physical torture allegedly meted out by so-called "organized community gang stalker" units fronted by federally-funded community policing and public safety agencies insist that directed energy weapons assaults continue under the Obama administration.

Operatives of this citizen "army" are said to have infiltrated the U.S. health care system, including hospitals, doctors offices and extended care and nursing homes. Parents of "targeted individuals" are said to have been subject to mistreatment and physical abuse, including suspected irradiation, and psychological harassment, such as vandalism of property, clothing and personal effects.

Victims charge that these crimes against humanity are not simply the unfortunate byproduct of the "war on terror," but constitute a purposeful genocide-politicide targeting innocent persons by labeling them as "dissidents," "undesirables," "deviates" or "mental defectives."

Because microwave radiation "directed energy" weapons are silent and leave no traditional forensic evidence such as bullet casings, blood splatter, or powder burns, this form of torture is even more insidious, more potentially devastating, than anything described in the memos already released.

The Justice Department memos are said to justify as legal the domestic use of radiation weaponry on U.S. citizens under several novel legal theories, including a nexus to terrorism -- a possible rationale for the silent torture of persons tagged as political dissidents -- and the notion that weapons testing on non-consenting individuals is permissible if the subject is under federal investigation, or is deemed to be mentally infirm.

It is also likely that memos approving the use of radiation weapons will be kept secret, unless the American Civil Liberties Union -- whose lawsuit resulted in the Justice Department disclosures -- successfully subpoenas memos related to advanced weapons systems. "Directed energy" weapons have been developed by various government and private agencies, including the multi-agency Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP), the Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and units doing specialized weapons development work for agencies that include the Secret Service, the intelligence agencies, and the armed services.

In December 2008, the Bush Justice Department confirmed that directed energy weapons are being proliferated to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The announcement also confirmed the development of hand-held radiation energy weapons. Public demonstrations of an Army truck-mounted “Active Denial System” weapon, said to repel crowds by heating the outer layers of human flesh, have left the impression that miniaturization is years off.

Victims of community gang stalking and alleged radiation weapons torture have asked the FBI to launch a civil rights investigation. They say officials have told them they see nothing to investigate, and hint that victim accounts are delusional.

Victims maintain that marginalizing the persecuted as "unstable" or "mentally ill" is a tactic being used to cover up crimes against humanity.

Victims of these assaults also say their family finances are decimated an array of secret "programs of personal financial destruction" that involve the forced cooperation of private enterprise; surveillance and interception of mail and telecommunications; and the forging of billing, utility, banking and mortgage statements -- what they charge is a process of expropriation and theft by deception.

FOR THE FULL STORY ON "THE AMERICAN GESTAPO"...

http://nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded- vigilante-network-terrorizes-america

http://NowPublic.com/scriv ener

First, thank you to the ACLU and others who have worked tirelessly to obtain the release of the torture memos. It's an effort that will be remembered and celebrated. While there is some momentum, however, it is imperative to push forward, as "the editorial board states."

There is much that is still unknown about “Bush era” abuses that may include acts of domestic terrorism that continue to take place all across this country. If the government has no role, then someone in a position of power needs to take charge and figure out who is behind these criminal operations that involve the "targeting" of innocent, law-abiding Americans. The “targeting” involves surreptitious home entries, vandalism, thefts, and frequent surveillance. When one complains, one is labeled “crazy or delusional.”

While there are some “variations”, victims of these operations are describing what seems to be a fairly distinct pattern. These operations are rather brilliant in their conception, because those who complain are easily dismissed as “nuts” or “conspiracy theorists.” For this reason, no one pays any attention and these operations/crimes continue, often in “plain sight.”

It’s outrageous that this is happening here in America. Many don’t want to believe it and I “get it.” Tragically for its victims, however, these operations are a cruel fact. I implore the ACLU to get the attention of someone who might be able to get to the bottom of these truly Machiavellian, sadistic crimes. It’s shameful that these practices are allowed to continue.

I am sure you have heard this many, many times over the years, however I believe it is worth saying again... The ACLU is contributing to the break down of America.

Not everything in life is equal or fair. Not every cause needs a champian, certainly not a narrow, one sided liberal view.

These terrorist have not nor will they ever adhere to the rules of war. If the US uses tactics that do not cause physical disability then I say use it.

Islamic terrorist are fighting on a different level than any other combatant the U.S. had ever gaced. They do not fight army to army they hit the innocent.

Members of the ACLU need to take a look inside yourselves and ask this question, "Is what I'm doing helping the many or just a few? "By helping the few is life in the U.S. truely going to change for the better?

Okay its time to put the Emperor (Cheney) in jail or start a civil suit against him along with Feith, Wolfowitz, Rove, Hadley and Libby. Assemble a Grand Jury. Play them the numerous tapes of Cheney saying that "we know that Mohammad Atta was in Prague meeting with a known Iraqi Intelligence agent". Lock that in since it's a statement of belief and "truth" on his part as the Vice President and used to justify the invasion of Iraq. You may want to actually have Cheney in the Grand Jury when the tapes are played, and have him affirm his statements under oath. Remember, linking the 9/11 attacks by Bin Ladin to Saddam Hussein is the purpose of his statements. Many Americans believe sadly to this day that Saddam had a direct role in the 9/11 attacks, which is a total lie. Also, introduce into evidence the various speeches to the American public and the United Nations by Bush and Powell, about Iraq's WMD assemblage, which came from the flawed source "Curveball" whom Cheney and the aforementioned defendants, knew was false. Then put in the various intelligence agency analysts who were all saying the WMD intel was flawed and there was no connection between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. Then subpoena from the FBI the photographs of "Atta meeting with a known Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague" which were taken by the Czech Intelligence Service, provided to the CIA, and given to the FBI Agents assigned to the CIA's Alec Station (Doug Miller and Mark Rossini; as learned on the PBS NOVA show "The Spy Factory") for analysis by the FBI Laboratory. Subpeona these agents and those at the lab. Get the FBI Lab report which concludes that it is not Atta in the photographs. Then have Cheney review the lab report in front of the Grand Jury, under oath, to affirm that he read it BEFORE he uttered his lies publically. Then get your True Bill indicting him for False Statements, and perhaps Treason. Then the wounded and maimed in Iraq could perhaps sue this cabal for their errors. To sweep this injustice under the rug is an absolute aberration. If America won’t do it, perhaps that Spanish judge Balthazar Garzon will.

President Obama just said in the Oval Office today, while meeting with the King of Jordan, that the "lawyers" who devised the torture policies (incl. but not limited to OLC memos) MAY be prosecuted, if DOJ decides to do so. C-SPAN radio replayed Barack's comments at just after 1 PM Eastern (90.1 FM in Wash. DC).

Apologies if ACLU does not support live links here:

Obama Open to Prosecutions in Interrogation Abuse

Just in case, here’s the raw link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/politics/22intel.htm l

NYT reporting "Obama Open to Prosecutions in Interrogation Abuse."

I sure wish they would stop saying “abuse” and start saying “war crimes.”

Either way, this is HUGE. Super congratulations to ACLU & Jameel Jaffer for never quitting on this fight! I feel so vindicated by my donations to the ACLU Foundation last year and this.

See also, WashPo:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/?reload=true" rel="nofollow

Obama Open to Charges For Harsh Interrogations

Time to train the MSM to start calling the torture program "war crimes" rather than "harsh interrogation" or "interrogation abuse." I want to post links on as many blogs as I can think of to insert "war crimes" into the dialogue.

Either we are a nation of law or we are not. I keep hearing this, but I disagree.

Why can't we be a nation under non-embarrassing laws? Why can't we be a nation of convenient laws? Why can't we be a nation of two tiered law? You know the one where we punish the man that rapes and tortures someone, but after you reach a certain level in the Federal Government you are exempt from prosecution for torturing.

We could say we want to look forward so as not to get entangled in the past, but we would have to select what in the past we are going to ignore. For instance we would not want to forget the Constitution, well at least some of it we might like the Right to Privacy, and the part about habeas corpus and a few others. You know, those parts that according to our politicians make us unsafe and are a that are a nuisance.

What's wrong with the idea that we can all just pick and choose what laws we will follow? Perhaps we could set up a system where we tell the world what laws we will not follow and then proceed....

Oh I forgot we just did AND are doing that and its not very good government.

Any way...Oh well forget it.

Well here we go again. Four years of trials and the Government will do nothing. Just this back and forth bickering. I DO NOT believe any of this! Yes I will hear how it is good for the nation. I will hear about the microwave radiation and so on. I just hope that when the next attack comes you and your families will be safe. These gentlemen were picked up in a combat zone with guns in their hands. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. But we big bad Americans have to take the blame for all the ills of the world. I believe this will divide this country and I pray to God that he is watching over us.