While we’re on the theme of impunity for torture, and with particular relevance to Jeff’s post: So far impunity has proven just as total for medical professionals who torture as for other actors.

We know that the courts have been closed to the victims of U.S. torture. But beyond the legal system, there is another avenue of accountability for doctors and psychologists who use their skills to direct or participate in torture. Ongoing efforts to get licensing and professional organizations to use sanctions, disbarment, or other form of professional accountability have not yet had success.

But there’s no chance it will ever happen without persistence and focus — qualities that Jeff and Kevin have in admirable amounts. Thank you both.

The near-complete closing of professional ranks against accountability suggests to me that Jeff is correct to remind that torture is ongoing, by way of Appendix M of the Army Field Manual, and doctors and psychologists are continuing to participate.

Maybe I’m just getting too cynical to live, but I read this piece by Jared Bernstein as an effort to bring progressives along in the “consensus” to come up with a deal that fvcks the people. He’s now on staff at the historically progressive Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Am I reading him wrong? David, how do you interpret his positioning here?

How Not to Govern

Thank you for this and virtually all your posts at FDL, David. You’re a bright spot.

Thanks, phred, for the most insightful comment on this thread, already rich in excellent commentary.

Thanks very much for that point and the supporting link.

@mzchief: Thank you very much for the link to the FDL pieces on the new stage of militarization of the reservation(s). I’ve been following closely the horrific repression in Bahrain by the vile royals and their Saudi co-enforcers. This is beyond chilling.

The tail is all that remains. The rest was blowed up real good, per special op procedure. I’m sure that the US mil would prefer no one else get it, but only so much knowledge will come out of it. Open source informed speculation about the modifications to the Black Hawk is available at NPR’s Science Friday (the May 6 or 13 show).

This account also seems to reinforce the view that the mission was a hit from the beginning, that there was never the slightest intention to arrest OBL — as does Obama’s response to criticism on the legality front.

Another data point to support the ‘keep the bounce going’ assumption: Note the effort to undo the damage of using ‘Geronimo’:

Back at the White House Situation Room, word was relayed that bin Laden had been found, signaled by the code word “Geronimo.” That was not bin Laden’s code name, but rather a representation of the letter “G.” Each step of the mission was labeled alphabetically, and “Geronimo” meant that the raiders had reached step “G,” the killing or capture of bin Laden, two officials said.

I call b.s. Why wouldn’t steps in the op be labeled with the standard mil alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie…) in which G = golf? Because it’s not SEAL-y enough? Because assassination teams use their own, Injun-fighting alphabet?

You win the thread, melior!

@EW: Best wishes on your move; hope the packing and unpacking goes smoothly. Guard those pens…

Per a Forbes blog, Scott Walker is planning to introduce the same “financial martial law” legislation in Wisconsin, apparently. If true, means he’s committed to giving the Koches full value for their $$ between now and recall. Legislation now being drafted (but I’m sure the ALEC template makes that a speedier process).

Here is an argument for the legality of the U.S. participation in the UN intervention in Libya without express Congressional authorization.

I’m not making that argument, just putting this out there for discussion and information. It does not seem to be the basis of the administration’d defense of the legality, such as it is so far.

I assume you’re talking about commenters? Because Josh Marshall has been upfront about why he considers this intervention just a bad, bad idea.

I meant attempted murder of a member of Congress and the murder of a federal judge.

I appreciate NMVoiceofReason’s contributions, but still not seeing even the tactical advantage of preempting the state prosecution for the crimes committed against the other victims.

And EW’s point in #5 makes it even harder to see an advantage; wouldn’t the Feds want to avoid pissing off the local law enforcement/justice system in this? Or is their thinking, in for a penny in for a pound — that is, we’re going to have to bigfoot on immigration law anyway (with a stronger legal basis) and piss them off, so let’s get it over with and reap the national political benefits?

They could use some good publicity on a huge legal case, that is a sure fire conviction

But that’s what makes it so bizarre; conviction for the murder of a member of Congress and a federal judge would seem to be almost gimmes. Why isn’t that enough? How will they get better publicity for taking the cases of the Arizona residents out of state hands?

Good point.

I have asked Sen. Webb to request a visit with Manning. He’s a former Marine, Quantico is in our state, he’s on the Armed Services committee, and he’s got more free time than members of Congress and Senators who are going to run for re-election. I told him I’m glad my mother, who was a Marine lieutenant in 1944-45, is not alive to see the way the branch is disgracing itself at the behest of those higher up.

He won’t, of course, but if he did I know he’d get a faster response than Rep. Kucinich. I made it clear that a visit would not show support for Manning or his alleged actions but for the rule of law.

Apologies if this has been covered – I’m rushing and haven’t read the comments – but:

It’s all criminal, outrageous, etc. But the biggest outrage to me in this is the Justice Dept’s role in hooking up the aggrieved corporation with the goons in the first place. Stephen Colbert put the clearest focus on that aspect of anyone who’s writing or talking about this (the clip is at Greenwald’s site). We need to get his language out there “I know a guy who knows a guy who can take care of your problem…”

Last week in Arabia, ruled for now by the house of Saud, some citizens bravely called for the formation of a political party (parties are illegal there). They have been arrested and told they won’t be released unless they recant.

The new party had called on its website for holding elections, more transparency of government decisions and an independent judiciary.

There have been previous attempts to form parties but the group was the first to announce it publicly, analysts said. Its members include Islamist intellectuals, lecturers, human rights activists and lawyers.

In 2007, Saudi Arabia arrested a group calling for a constitutional monarchy and most are still in detention, according to activists.

The regime is holding four members of the new group. Demand that the U.S. government press for their unconditional release.