gpatt0n

We didn't win in Vietnam because we were fighting a war of occupation. Few, very few wars of occupation can be won. Ask the Brits in Ireland, India or even the USA. As far as torture, why not ask someone who knows something about it. pubby

Yes, absolutely. Indeed, the person doing the deed - conducting the torture - if they felt it was the right thing to do at the time, ought to do it regardless of the consequences and throw themselves on the mercy of the court and jury. If they had succeeded in discovering the location of the dirty bombs (or how to stop them from being set off) in time, I suspect the jury and court would be merciful. If, on the other hand, they tortured the terrorist and he told them to go to the West End when the bombs were actually at Cumberland Mall and the authorities, by following the false lead,

The universal declaration of human rights is part of international law that has made it into US law through the primacy of treaties over even the constitution. It states: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Not the UDHR is nothing but a declaration akin to our Declaration of Independence. However we are a signatory to the UN Convention against torture, which is a formal treaty. We however, have not ratified the treaty (we have signed) that recognized the UN's International criminal courts and, during the Bush Administration, the U

Your "24" scenario didn't happen. The idea that causing someone pain in a crisis moment to compel cooperation is the type of thing a jury would find justified. What I don't think any of you are grasping is that the acts of depravity were repeated daily, weekly, for months and years. That single instance was not and is not the reality. If it was, it would happen, you'd get the information and life would go on. Indeed, if torture were such a great tool, then the victim would spill the beans after the first infliction of pain. What we see in this documentation is that the 'torture' went

The information obtained was routinely deceptive. People will say anything - even make sheeze up or tell you what you want to hear - to stop the infliction of pain. The report makes clear that the enhanced interrogation techniques did not 'save' a soul and the information obtained was so unreliable as to be counterproductive. why counter-productive? Because resources were spent running down lies. Torture is nothing but a form of rape and the perpetrators are rapists. Defending them is as morally bankrupt as a Catholic bishop covering up the pedophiles in the church's clergy. Bottom

I take it you and Porter Goss just want to ignore the eighth amendment to the constitution ... you know pick and choose? Presumably the 'enhanced interrogation methods' were controversial at the time and were far from accepted by many in the clandestine services as well as formal law enforcement (FBI) according to the report. Further that must make you a class-A hypocrite if you complain about the alleged 'unconstitutional' excesses of the present president but give a pass to those of the previous administration. And of course, you support official shooting, choking and otherwise

Street theater ... First, theater is always for the wealthy ... they've got the money and they're the ones' being entertained. Second, there was obviously someone willing to pay his bail and play the role of 'patron' ... because obviously someone thinks this stuff is funny, relevant, or something else. Think about it, if you were a billionaire and the folks at the Art Basel art show somehow didn't do what you want and you don't have a case where you can really sue them (it was a minor insult or such) you may engage a known street artist like the fellow noted to come and disrupt th

Amazing how misguided that student is. The prohibition against prayer in school is limited solely to official prayer ... the kind led by the teacher. If you or your kid can stand the ACLU and will share the monetary award they might win (it won't be much), I'm sure that if your progeny bows their head at school and admits to praying they will not face the first sanction. Where they may get in to trouble is if they do so in such a way and with a plan to disrupt the school - you know like a 24 person prayer pyramid blocking traffic in the key hall designed enforce their beliefs on the b

I think most of us are aware of the nature of 'moral hazard' ... i.e. the practice of letting really atrocious acts, whether it is the bankrupting of the financial system or the torture of prisoners, go without punishment for the perpetrators. So now that the facts of the down right eagerness to torture has been documented, do we ignore the moral hazard? Some suggest we 'do nothing' ... which would open the door for future torture. Others suggest we prosecute members of the CIA or even administration officials. Still others suggest that we perform that power vested in the pres

Do know that one of the main reasons that these types of companies get big bucks from the so-called 'job creators' is because of their ability to generate data on the masses of folks so the folks with big bucks can more easily pilfer you last dime. pubby

Twiggs County Deputy ArrestsPossible Kidnapping Suspect From Paulding County (Paulding County, GA) On Sunday December 7, 2014 thePaulding County Sheriff’s Office took a report from aconcerned family regarding the possible kidnapping of their13 year old daughter. The family explainedthat their daughter had befriended an 18 year old white malename Keith Alan Dubel who was from Fort Pierce, Florida. Thefamily knew the two had communicated in the past (via theinternet), but were unaware of the seriousness of theirrelationship. The family stated that they believed theirdaughter might be with Dubel

Twiggs County Deputy ArrestsPossible Kidnapping Suspect From Paulding County (Paulding County, GA) On Sunday December 7, 2014 thePaulding County Sheriff’s Office took a report from aconcerned family regarding the possible kidnapping of their13 year old daughter. The family explainedthat their daughter had befriended an 18 year old white malename Keith Alan Dubel who was from Fort Pierce, Florida. Thefamily knew the two had communicated in the past (via theinternet), but were unaware of the seriousness of theirrelationship. The family stated that they believed theirdaughter might be with Dubel

An oped in the NYTimes today had that little tid bit that shows just how big companies like uber and, if you read the article, Facebook are slicing and dicing their way to obscene profits by dissecting your life. Sci-fi shows like The Outer limits used to occasionally employ the device of an omniscient entity - sometimes a computer - that knew what you did, when you did it, freaking the poor mortal humans who were in this dystopian world way the hell out. A former facebook data scientist reports that during the time he was with the company, they ran over 1000 experiments a day and that

Amy's flowers and gifts. If you mention pcom - I'm looking at their ad here - you'll get 10% off. pubby

I saw SNL Saturday night and it appears they cut the funniest skit of the night. They claim it was because of time but I think it was either because it was too edgy or figured it might go viral. Anyway, you got to see it to believe it. pubby

Cmorg: You sound like a third grader who doesn't get fractions and calls the teacher stupid. pubby

Here is an article in policechief magazine that establishes that what you're doing is the same thing that bad cops do to justify their immoral behavior ... you are "dehumanizing" the victim of the crime. Might I suggest some ethics education stradial so that you will cease enabling the aberrant, immoral behaviors that obviously you believe, in your warped vision of right and wrong, is justified? pubby

I didn't mean to imply that there is formal process of providing notice. I simply happened to have read about 15 years ago one of the training pieces that former Post commissioner Mike Pope had in hand that told all newly elected commissioners that not only should they avoid conflicts of interest, but even the mere appearance of a conflict. Certainly if that advice is good for a county commissioner, it is good for a judge. You're posting of the ethical standards is just the specific acknowledgment. pubby

Several years ago when I was trying to quit smoking, I often would buy a single cigarette from folks ranging from strangers to c-store clerks ... I offered anywhere from a quarter to a dollar for a single smoke because ... well ... I felt I was ahead of the game if I didn't buy 20 of the suckers. That said, I was appalled that the cops cared about single cigarette sales ... I mean I consider such sales a public service. But the real reason I responded to your post Zorro is that as a white guy your comment that race had nothing to do with this and you'd back cops killing me for selling

While Dr. Dan Papp, president of Kennesaw State College, emphasized in his remarks the rapid and amazing growth coming to Kennesaw State University as it completes it merger with Southern Tech, he was not leaving the stage without discussing the emerging top-50 University's new football program.Dr. Papp was asked about and also asked for local support for funding for the University's renovation of the Henry Winn Building at the Paulding Campus before talking about the Owl football program.The luncheon address lasts just under 30 minutes. Click for RECENT TOPICS clic

Here's a joke: What is the difference between Obamacare and a dozen cops surrounding an unarmed black person? pubby

Thanks for the link. 76,000+ live viewers from my reading of the statistics. This is part of the path. pubby

On December 10, 2014, the American Legion Post 111 “Legion Riders” will donate to the Cops for Kids program. The money they donate comes from donations, fund raisers, and revenues that they collected throughout the year. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Cops for Kids program began in 1998 and took 25 kids shopping. Last year, as a result of generous donations from local businesses, citizens, and charities; the Sheriff’s Office was able to take over 250 children shopping. “Without the support of organizations like the American Legion Post 111, the Cops for Kids pro

The idea that a renter might subsequently withhold rents - violate their contract - or that a judge might increase rents as form of compensation for consideration in legal actions - are all among the reasons that the landlord-lessee relationship is fraught with potential conflicts of interest. This is not to say that this judge in this situation acted in any improper way but that the situation is one that raises the appearance of a conflict of interest. Those in public office are cautioned to avoid actions that give the appearance of a conflict whether one exists or not. Indeed, avo