Justices… how in earth could you refuse to HEAR the case of a German Citizen who was wrongly “retained” and tortured by the CIA for FOUR MONTHS. Mr. Masri’s horrible experienced ended when he was dropped off on an Albanian hill top after months of interrogation and an initial stripped, beat, shackled, diapered, drugged and chained flight to Afghanistan… All of this pain and outrageousness caused because Mr. Masri was a victim of “mistaken identity” apparently the CIA confused him with a “terrorism suspect” of a similar name… uggg

The Arguments from the side happy with this rejection proclaim that by allowing a court hearing to progress “state secrets” would be revealed… what a simple distraction tactic! Claim our security will be bruised and suddenly its OK not to hear a case about torture and American abuses abroad… its suddenly ok for Bush to take liberties with our own liberty and to run the American image through the mud even more…

I realize that sometimes there ARE state secrets that are important, and I also admit that I do not know all of the “secrets” that may or may not have come out from such a trial but I do strongly feel that there still MUST be a way for justice to be served and for those responsible for allowing and the instruction of such horrible operating procedures to face the consequences. Its far to easy to claim the national security trump card, especially when there is no end in sight to this “war” we are supposedly in and no end in sight of the outrageous over step of power this Admin feels its entitled to. The debate over freedom vs security will rage on for sometime and I hate to use an over drawn quote but its quite relevant…

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

In fact, by giving up Liberty you lose both it and your own safety… some have realized this, many more need to…

On a side note…
What would happen if you disappeared for 4 months with no contact with your friends and family? Many would suspect you dead, you’d lose your job and would probably return to a financially ruined life… all because someone in the Bush Admin decided that equal protection and due process do not apply to those they see as being involved with this “war” on terror. It saddens me that the CIA ruined this mans life. I don’t have any first hand knowledge but have little faith that any type of restitution or even an apology was given to this man.

Please, heaven forbid I resemble someone the CIA wants to talk to… I’d probably never be heard from again.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/09/dobbs.Oct10/index.html

I like Mr. Dobbs, I agree with many of his views but it seems that hes gone a bit overboard on his latest commentary article about politicians and American Flag pins.

He states “…Moyers and Obama explanations of their discomfort with wearing the American flag should give us all pause”

Um excuse Mr. Dobbs but Obama never uttered the worlds or gave any impression that he was had any type of “discomfort” with the lapel pins. He made it very clear that he chooses not to wear the pin not because it makes him uncomfortable but because he sees the pin as an object some people use as a cloak, they use it to make others feel they are patriotic when their true actions and their words paint a different picture. Obama is quoted as saying…

“My attitude is that I’m less concerned about what you’re wearing on your lapel than what’s in your heart.”

and went on to say…

such symbols “become a substitute for, I think, true patriotism,”

I also take issue with Dobbs because it seems almost as if he and others have “invented” something to get upset about. Whats next…. a few people decide to wear an American Eagle pin and then suddenly condemn others for not wearing it as well?

As Mrs. Clinton said, there are many ways to show patriotism and an American Flag on your label does not a true patriot it make.