6.10.2004

TheStar.com - Justifying torture brings shame to U.S.: "Justifying torture brings shame to U.S.


The Bush administration assures the country, and the world, that it is complying with U.S. and international laws banning torture and maltreatment of prisoners.
But, breaking with a practice of openness that had lasted for decades, it has classified as secret and refused to disclose the techniques of interrogation it is using on foreign detainees at U.S. prisons at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This is a matter of grave concern because the use of some of the methods that have been reported in the press is regarded by independent experts as well as some of the Pentagon's legal professionals as illegal.
The administration has responded that its civilian lawyers have certified its methods as proper � but it has refused to disclose, or even provide to Congress, the justifying opinions and memos."

6.06.2004

President Reagan dies at 93: "WASHINGTON - Ronald Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was ``morning again in America,'' died Saturday after a long twilight struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.
He died at his home in California, according to a family friend, who initially disclosed the death on condition of anonymity. The friend said the family has turned to making funeral arrangements. A formal statement from the family was expected later."

Even as a staunch anti republican I must mourn the passing of a great man.