I'd like to try to generate some discussion about the use of torture by the United States, the current status under the presidency of Barack Obama.
The subject can sometimes get a little heated. It's a naturally divisive subject.
My main intent is to bring out the range of opinion about it, where we are, what people know, what people think should be done.
I've got a list of subjects for discussion, but please bring up whatever else you want.
Please be respectful of anyone with different views than your own, here.
- The "Black Jail" at Bagram in Afghanistan. The BBC and other consistent reports about it.
- Appendix M as the interrogation standard. Does it allow torture still? Is torture still happening?
- The fact that Guantanamo is still open, and Congressional opposition to closing it. Is closing Guantanamo important, or just symbolic? As caselaw, not as personal opinion, does the Constitution apply at Guantanamo? The Thomson Illinois facility as proposed new prison.
- The fact that we know very little about what goes on at Guantanamo, or any other prison, now. Secrecy in general.
- The fundamentally fucked up mess that George W. Bush created about torture, and how to get out of it now. Barack Obama's policy of indefinite detention, which is response to previous torture. Barack Obama's policy of looking forward, which is nonresponse to previous torture. The way military commission rules of evidence are constructed to avoid the previous torture problem.
- At least one Republican candidate for Congress, and one Republican legislative aide, have ties to torture. Impunity for torture under Bush extends to the halls of Congress. How fucked up is that?
- Activism and pressure as needed to put an end to the systematic and institutionalized use of torture by the United States.
- If you don't think we still have systematic and institutionalized use of torture here, say so, and why you think that. What is the range of opinion and knowledge about this, among Kossaks, among Democrats, and with voters in general?
- I'd like to be able to cast my vote for the re-election of Barack Obama, in 2012, with the pride and strength of conviction he deserves, not with a great big reservation and feeling of conflict. I don't personally require prosecution of past torture, to be able to do this, just stopping torture going forward.
What are your opinions about all of this?