Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Morally Adrift

Daniel Boone was born on this day in 1734. Known for his patriotism, courage and woodsmanship, he was an icon of the early frontier. When asked how many times he had been lost in the vast forested expanses of Kentucky and West Virginia, he declared that he never was lost, but was once bewildered for a few days. Too bad our current leaders can't say as much when it comes to keeping their moral sense of direction.

The Washington Post reported today on the CIA's secret prison system for "terror suspects" around the world. While they declined to discuss the specific countries that have been involved in detention and interrogation of CIA detainees, those who care more about truth and justice than the public face of the CIA have long since identified several of them, most notably the former Soviet "republic" of Uzbekistan. According to The New American, the British ambassador to Uzbekistan was recalled not long ago for openly protesting the transfer of terror suspects from CIA custody to the Uzbek Secret Police. He claimed that Air America planes arrived in Tashkent on almost a daily basis with "cases" for the former KGB gentlemen to speak with. For those who don't know, these good people have long been considered by the intelligence community to be the ultimate in brutality, cruelty, and ingenuity when it comes to interrogation, torture and murder techniques.

According to the WP, Vice President Cheyney and CIA Director Porter Goss requested last month that the agency be exempted from legislation being considered that would bar "cruel and degrading treatment of prisoners in US custody."

Any guesses why that would be a problem for the good folks at "The Company?"

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