For the very small minority of Americans who read the liberal blogsphere or watch Keith O. on MSNBC, the revelations last week that torture of detainees was specifically and in grumsome detail discussed and approved at the highest level of the Bush Administration are well-known.
For everyone else, not so much.
Typically, I read several newspapers a day and visit DailyKos and other politically oriented websites. I also watch Countdown and, occasionally, Hardball on MSNBC, as well as CNN news programming.
Friday or so of last week, it occurred to me that I had read not one word in any newspaper about the torture news. Not. One. Word.
Sunday, after completely reviewing my local newpaper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and continuing to be rather amazed, I decided to go googling and try to figure out what the hell was going on. This morning, I did the same. Specifically, I did news searches using the following key words: "torture bush".
The shocking results are below.
Certainly, "torture bush" should be good key words that reasonably could be expected to turn up almost all or, at least, most of the news articles and opinion-editoral pieces following ABC's reporting last Wednesday ("Top Bush aides approved interrogation tactics: report") and Friday ("Bush Aware of Advisers' Interrogation Talks")
U.S. President George W. Bush's most senior advisers approved "enhanced interrogation techniques" of top al Qaeda suspects by the Central Intelligence Agency, ABC News reported on Wednesday, citing sources it did not name.
ABC reported that the so-called "principals" discussed interrogation details in dozens of top-secret talks and meetings in the White House.
Then national security adviser Condoleezza Rice chaired the meetings, which took place in the White House Situation Room and were typically attended by a select group of senior officials or their deputies, ABC said.
"Highly placed sources said a handful of top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects -- whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding," ABC reported.
snip
ABC cited a top official as saying that Ashcroft asked aloud after one meeting: "Why are we talking about this in the White House? History will not judge this kindly."
President Bush says he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details about how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the Central Intelligence Agency, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News Friday.
"Well, we started to connect the dots in order to protect the American people." Bush told ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz. "And yes, I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved."
snip
Critics at home and abroad have harshly criticized the interrogation program, which pushed the limits of international law and, they say, condoned torture. Bush and his top aides have consistently defended the program. They say it is legal and did not constitute torture.
Insofar as our Liar in Chief, George W. Bush, has insisted for years that we do not torture, it would seem the news last week should have created at least as much media attention as, say, Barack Obama's comments about the possibility of economically oppressed citizens being somewhat bitter.
But Nooooo.
My little googling effort yielded exactly ONE corporate, MSM news items for Sunday, 4/13/08 -- from the Tuscaloosa News (subscription); and TWO for today -- from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the frackin' Salt Lake Tribune.
Very clearly, the fact of the matter is that the corrupt, fascist enabling corporate-controlled media is in blackout mode on this issue.
This cannot be considered anything other than a dispicable and truly unbelievable conspiracy of silence.