Really caught up. After he had his ego handed to him at midterms he jumped on the big plane and said Fly now. And leave the bottle.
He slugged down a few scotches and made a few calls, I imagine. He even called President Karzai, and drunkenly offered to have a sincere talk about the whole shit-a-ree. You know, just two guys. Karzai told him, 'Sleep it off, I'm a dealer, you're a narc', I fondly imagine.
Obama then called up John Boehner and asked him how much he needed. After six Scotches on Air Force One at 40 k ft after a bad day, and you're the type who really detests conflict, you want to get it out of the way. Hell, be generous. Done.
He really believes in Empire, as did his godfather Ronnie. To preserve the power at the teetering top is all, I guess, he wants to do, and it's understandable how it went to his head.
He's all about global military control, yet within that slimy greater good, he allows the torture of an non-convicted suspect, even endorses the brutal twisted protocols that some jarheads dreamed up. (I've been in a Navy brig run by Marines but they were okay guys. So What, if one tropical night I drunkenly meandered down the middle of Duval Street, stomping hedge apples.)
If you mind-fuck too many recruits at boot camp, and if the Corps allows steroids or speed to help the lads keep that edge, and if you dehumanize enough of them with hate talk, you'll get an element of slobbering Dobermans, a lot of them, many of them people who found their dream job being what they already were: assholes.
Barack of course hasn't seen the military world. He passively told the Quantico brig rats overseeing Manning, 'You just do what 's right, within the procedures. Gotta run.'
No one questions the procedures. Why not? They're codified torture. Awaken a prisoner on a suicide watch every five minutes to be sure he's okay? It is a technique used for driving men mad by depriving them of REM sleep, and nothing less.
Manning has been refused visitors unless a snoop is there to record every word. Sounds like a litigation bear trap.
UPDATE: 4-19-11 Manning will be transferred to Ft Leavenworth. Yes!
This recent drone attack upon a peaceful community meeting needs more exposure.