Imperial Hubris

British prisoner: ‘People are dying’ in Guantanamo Bay from systemic torture

"Aamer has never been charged or faced trial. Moreover he was cleared for release by the Bush administration in June 2007, a decision that was re-affirmed three years later. The British government has lobbied Washington on his behalf, stating on Sunday: 'we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency'. The UK Foreign Office said it continued to monitor Aamer’s condition but stressed any decision to release him remained in the hands of the US government. In the meantime, the father of three continues to languish in a cell. He has never seen his youngest son, Faris, born while Aamer was in captivity, now living with family in London." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish prisoner: ‘People are dying’ in Guantanamo Bay from systemic torture

Gitmo inmate who was deemed no threat on hunger strikes and force feedings

"'Two times a day they tie me to a chair in my cell. My arms, legs and head are strapped down. I never know when they will come. Sometimes they come during the night, as late as 11 pm, when I’m sleeping. There are so many of us on hunger strike now that there aren’t enough qualified medical staff members to carry out the force-feedings… They are feeding people around the clock just to keep up. ' Like most of the striking inmates, he has never been charged with a crime or put on trial, and is not viewed as a threat to US national security." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGitmo inmate who was deemed no threat on hunger strikes and force feedings

Guantanamo Gulag and the Human Rights Lie

"The US military running the Guantanamo Bay prison have cracked down hard on the dozens of prisoners who have, in desperation, engaged in secret hunger strikes so that they may die in peace making their point about the American gulag without being force-fed by US authorities. Of the 166 who remain in indefinite detention, without charge or trial, 86 have been 'cleared for release.' But they will not be released. They will most likely be held until they die. Many have likely already gone insane, as they were captured with no evidence, given no trials, tortured, and forced to live in a tropical Siberia. Yet the US has the gall to hector and lecture [other countries] about 'human rights.'" Continue reading →

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Libertarianism and The Congressional Vote on Attacking Syria

"MSM tends to offer up the explanation of 'war weariness,' but it is much deeper than this. After, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bengazi, the U.S. people see the USG and its military as bunglers with likely hidden agendas. It still remains unclear why some of these military efforts, and the mysterious operations at Benghazi, were really launched (Or the real reason the USG desires to launch an attack against Syria.) MSM acts as a pretty good propaganda machine for the military that promotes the idea of a spit and polish operation, more powerful than any other on earth, but when it comes to real world confrontations, as we see, the US military has problems against even a rag tag bunch of mountain men." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLibertarianism and The Congressional Vote on Attacking Syria

Syria opposition ‘disappointed’ but thinks Congress will OK strike

"Syria’s main opposition bloc said Sunday it was disappointed with US President Barack Obama’s decision to seek approval from Congress for action against the regime, but said it believed lawmakers would OK a strike. 'We had a feeling of disappointment. We were expecting things to be quicker, that a strike would be imminent… But we believe Congress will approve a strike,' said Samir Nashar, a top official at the Syrian National Coalition. To general surprise, Obama on Saturday postponed threatened missile strikes against Syria that the world had thought were imminent, opting instead for the risky gamble of getting Congress approval." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria opposition ‘disappointed’ but thinks Congress will OK strike

Nine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

"If the U.S. unilaterally bombs Syria, it can’t possibly be an act of neutral justice in response to a chemical attack. Why not? Several reasons. (1) The U.S. has supported anti-Assad (anti-Syrian) rebel forces against Assad for several years. (2) The U.S. has not been a neutral presence in that region since 1919. [..] (3) The U.S. has selected immediate violence as a response without taking the time to pursue other remedies. (4) The U.S. is threatening to act on incomplete information. (5) The existing framework of international law doesn’t allow for unilateral bombing by the U.S. or any other state. (6) Any attack may kill and wound innocent Syrians. [..] " Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

Experts: Syria attack could escalate violence and further destabilize region

"According to an article at the top of the New York Times website, even a well-executed strategic strike against the nation could aggravate tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia — both nations that seek to dominate the region politically and militarily — and actually have the effect of buoying up Syria’s beleaguered President Bashar al-Assad. Middle East watchers say that the only truly predictable thing about the highly unstable region is that any actions will produce unintended consequences. They warn of a possible Assad-bolstering surge of anti-Americanism or even a spreading of hostilities to other countries in the region, including Turkey and Israel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingExperts: Syria attack could escalate violence and further destabilize region

Mark Steyn Correctly Worries about Obama’s Looming Syrian Adventure

"The problem with the American way of war is that, technologically, it can’t lose, but, in every other sense, it can’t win. No one in his right mind wants to get into a tank battle or a naval bombardment with the guys responsible for over 40 percent of the planet’s military expenditures. Which is why these days there aren’t a lot of tank battles. The consummate interventionist Robert Kagan wrote in his recent book that the American military 'remains unmatched.' It’s unmatched in the sense that the only guy in town with a tennis racket isn’t going to be playing a lot of tennis matches." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMark Steyn Correctly Worries about Obama’s Looming Syrian Adventure

11 Reasons Why We Should Not Attack Syria

"As U.S. political and media leaders prepare for military strikes against Syria, the parallels to the lead-up to the war with Iraq should give us pause. Weapons of mass destruction, we are told, are being used by a cruel Middle Eastern despot against his own people. A military strike is inevitable, media voices say; we must respond with missiles and bombs. The arguments sound all too familiar. There are a great many differences between circumstances in Syria and Iraq, of course. Nonetheless, critics warn that, much as it did in Iraq, a military incursion here could have disastrous consequences. Here are 11 reasons the United States should stay clear of military action." Continue reading →

Continue Reading11 Reasons Why We Should Not Attack Syria

Who Benefits From A War Between The United States And Syria?

"The party that stands to benefit the most is Saudi Arabia, and they won't even be doing any of the fighting. They have been pouring billions of dollars into the conflict in Syria, but so far they have not been successful in their attempts to overthrow the Assad regime. Now the Saudis are trying to play their trump card - the U.S. military. If the Saudis are successful, they will get to pit the two greatest long-term strategic enemies of Sunni Islam against each other - the U.S. and Israel on one side and Shia Islam on the other. In such a scenario, the more damage that both sides do to each other the happier the Sunnis will be. There would be other winners from a U.S. war with Syria as well." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWho Benefits From A War Between The United States And Syria?