Got feedback on the new design? We're Listening! Send us Feedback

American Insouciance »

Posted by: jovial 3 weeks, 2 days ago

Salim Ahmed Hamdan appears in an undated handout photo from a defense counsel news release provided by Neal Katyal. Hamden will be the first of four suspected Al Qaeda associates charged by the U.S. with war crimes to appear at a preliminary hearing at Guantanamo Naval Base, August 24, 2004 in Guantanamo, Cuba. (Photo by Defense Counsel via Getty Images)

8.4

Scale of 1 to 10

Read: 1,400

Propped: 49

Comments: 16

Click Prop It to Raise Score

Prop it

Now that military officers selected by the Bush Pentagon have reached a split verdict convicting Salim Hamdan, a onetime driver for Osama bin Laden, of supporting terrorism, but innocent of terrorist conspiracy, do you feel safe?

Read Full Story at opednews.com

Story Tags ? complicity china rights terrorism us human

Join the Discussion

+ Add Comment

Comments So Far: 16

100%
jovial3 weeks, 2 days ago

FTA:
"But Americans, the salt of the earth, have neither beams nor motes. We are the virtuous few, ordained by God to impose our hegemony on the world. It is written, or so say the neocons."
Reply
1 Reply
- 0%
  donald513 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  "The Ugly American" by Lederer should be read by all as the mentality of the Ugly American is alive and well in the Republican Party!
  
  Ever notice that Repug Vietnam veterans will not read anything on the Veitnam war? It would invalidate their beliefs there too! "A Bright and Shinning Lie" and "Soldier" (by the most decorated soldier out of he Korean War) sure do validate the U.S. excessive use of power to prop a corrupt government which could not win the "hearts and minds" of the people!
  Reply
100%
Mdiar3 weeks, 2 days ago

I liked it. Nice quote too! The first thing that came to my mind when I I saw that was "Manifest Destiny". Yup, neoconservatism is just Manifest Destiny all over again.
Reply
2 Replies
- 0%
  donald513 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  ...a repug nominated Supreme Court in 1873 declared American Indians as "un-american and dependant" so we could assert that manifest destiny to take their lands, then issue big sole source, unaudited contracts to maintain them on poor, small reservations!
  Reply
  1 Reply
  - 0%
    Mdiar3 weeks, 1 day ago
    
    Andrew Jackson, the man who turned the Democratic-Republican Party into the Democratic Party ignored a Supreme Court order and thus we had the trail of tears. He essentially said "Where is your army?" when the Supreme Court ruled his act unconstitutional. Polk, another Democratic President, successfully took 1/3 of Mexico and the Oregon Territory. The fact of the matter is that idea of Manifest Destiny, historically, has transcended party lines. Its latest incarnation is, in fact, neoconservatism and is currently infecting the Republican Party and must be stopped. However, if you believe it will not be infecting the Democratic Party in the near future, I have a bridge I would like to sell you.
    Reply
100%
Spadecaller3 weeks, 2 days ago

Good story. If we turn the same logic on Bush and Cheney, we will have to elect a new Congress and arrest everyone on K street, the Carlyle Group, Haliburton, ... the list would be quite extensive, wouldn't you say?
Reply
3 Replies
- 100%
  tehranchik3 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  We'll be able to go after all of the secret service guys too! HA!
  Reply
- 100%
  jovial3 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  The whole lot would be in trouble.
  Reply
- 100%
  pongping3 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  Do you ever think that will happen? I can't see either of the main political parties ever involving (and pointing the finger at) themselves in the mess. As GHW Bush said, we'd be "chasing them (all) down the street."
  Reply
100%
allasam3 weeks, 1 day ago

This is the deal, let's charge this guy with 25 crimes, all of which go with life sentences, then aquit him of 24 of them, making us look fair and balanced, and then convict him of just one of them, and give him the life sentence!
That oughta fool all those people out there in non military land!
Reply
1 Reply
- 0%
  donald513 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  ...I think he got 5.5 years and he has already served 5! But, the CNN announcer said Dumya still has the right to detain him indefinately regardless!
  Reply
100%
pongping3 weeks, 1 day ago

It's funny that when I spent a lot of time in China I was asked questions similar to those the author pondered. Believe me others, and not just in China, are looking back at us with disbelief at how hypocritical we are.
Reply
100%
Natureboy3 weeks, 1 day ago

"Now that military officers selected by the Bush Pentagon have reached a split verdict convicting Salim Hamdan, a onetime driver for Osama bin Laden, of supporting terrorism, but innocent of terrorist conspiracy, do you feel safe?"

I don't feel safe from my government, that's for damned sure!
Reply
1 Reply
- 100%
  bill-smith3 weeks, 1 day ago
  
  --I don't feel safe from my government, that's for damned sure!--
  
  Ain't that the sad truth.
  Reply
0%
obiefrommuskogee3 weeks, 1 day ago

A victory for taxi drivers everywhere!
Reply
100%
donald513 weeks, 1 day ago

Hey, he could have been in that taxi in Yemen that we took out with a hellfire missile since the Bushies have authorized our military to do what only the CIA was allowed to do in the past - political asassination!
Reply

Submitted By:

jovial

Grew up In Brooklyn. Joined the Navy in 1976 stayed in 10 years. Aircraft Electronics tech. Worked for Major Govt. contractor then settled in California ...

Also submitted: