Monthly Archives: February 2005

YATA (JAG Heroics Dept.)

New York Daily News – World : Military lawyers at the Guantanamo Bay terrorist prison tried to stop inhumane interrogations, but were ignored by senior Pentagon officials, the Daily News has learned.

Judge advocates – uniformed legal advisers known as JAGs who were assigned to a secret war crimes task force – repeatedly objected to aggressive interrogations by a separate intelligence unit at Camp Delta, where Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects have been jailed since January 2002.

But Pentagon officials “didn't think this was a big deal, so they just ignored the JAGs,” a senior military source said.

The military lawyers' actions had never been disclosed and are the first known cases of lower-level officers resisting interrogations at the Cuban camp that might constitute torture. Some officials called them “unsung heroes” for risking their careers by crossing senior officials who approved the techniques.

(via Balkinization)

Continue reading

Posted in Guantanamo, Torture | 1 Comment

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day. Be grateful you don't live in Saudi Arabia:

Saudi law forces Valentines underground: Each year shortly before Feb. 14, the country's religious police mobilize, heading out to hunt for and confiscate – red roses, red teddy bears and any signs of a heart.

In a country where Valentine's Day is banned, ordinary Saudis find they must skirt the law to spoil their sweethearts.

The Valentine's Day holiday celebrating love and lovers is banned in Saudi Arabia, where religious authorities call it a Christian celebration that true Muslims should shun.

Our great allies in the fight for 'liberty'.

Posted in Politics: International | 1 Comment

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods

Fresh from demolishing Michelle Michel Malkin, Eric Muller of UNC Law School turns his attention to the problem of the author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History a hack named Thomas E. Woods.

Reading Muller's account, Woods is revealed as an incompetent historian (it's so bad that one has to suspect that its partly deliberate falsification) and retrograde partisan. Yet, he has become a darling of a chunk of the right-wing's media class and the book is a mid-rank bestseller. You'd think the TV types would know better, especially given what Eric reports about Thomas Woods' role as co-founder of the neo-Confederate and secessionist League of the South, and a number of his statements on race relations — statements of the sort that one usually expects people to camouflage behind a white pointy hood.

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods I

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods II

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods III

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods IV

Eric Muller on Thomas Woods V

Posted in Readings | 2 Comments

UM Law Seeks Technology Evangelist

Around the faculty, some of us call this new position the “technology evangalist”.

Assistant Director for Faculty Computing

Requisition Number: 002076 Location: CORAL GABLES, FL

The University of Miami is committed to educating and nurturing students, creating knowledge, and providing service to our community and beyond. We are leaders in the area of education, scholarship, intercollegiate athletics and service. Come join our team!

Master's JD or LLM Degree; five years professional experience in information technology user-support in a higher education environment, including two years experience in web site design and three years experience in the use of Lexis and Westlaw; and advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, required. Ability to design websites and the ability to design and develop software and database resources, required. Duties include: collaborating with faculty in developing, testing and implementing strategies for integrating innovative uses of technology into the faculty's classroom and scholarly activities. Providing training to law reviews on student computing and web issues; participating in strategic planning for technology facilities and services for the Law School community; and managing selected projects that emerge from that planning. Designing or coordinating training materials and programs for faculty and staff. Coordinating communication by the Law School Information Technology department with the law school community. Excellent English skills, verbal and written, required.

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on UM Law Seeks Technology Evangelist

Koufax Award Semi-Finalist

Discourse.net is a semi-finalist for the 2004 Koufax Award For Best Series for the various items I did on the Torture Memos.

Given how the voting went in the first round, it doesn't seem that likely I'll win, but it is nice to be in such good company.

You can vote for any one of the excellent candidates by leaving a comment at Wampum.

Posted in Discourse.net | 1 Comment

See Clarke’s Memo for Yourself

[revised] The National Security Archive has put Richard Clarke's prophetic memo about Al Qaeda and terrorism (January 25, 2001) (pdf) online. Also note the very important attachments.

The significance of these memos is that they contradict the claim made by Dr. Condoleezza Rice and others, that the Clinton administration did not leave a plan behind to confront Al Qaeda…although you do have to wonder why they waited so long themselves.

Note that the memo itself is addressed to….Condoleezza Rice.

Posted in 9/11 & Aftermath | 3 Comments