Politics

Torture: America v. America

islamoyankeeMay 13, 2009

Mona tells an Egyptian view of American torture: I think of that hooded demonstrator in the orange jumpsuit often. The occupant of the White House might have changed but America still hasn’t had the necessary conversation about torture that he insisted on starting. Instead, it avoids engaging and prefers to walk away like the girl’s chaperone. The continuing love affair with President Barack Obama must not blindfold America to the reckoning it must have. Which is why I hope that hooded demonstrator is still there outside the White House with his board saying “End Torture Now.” Only now, with a…

Politics Religion

Torture is Terror

islamoyankeeMay 13, 2009

The passage below is a problem I have been struggling to articulate. From Aziz: What is needed is a generalized principle under which both opposition to terrorism and opposition to torture can be articulated. From a religious perspective, muslims have been arguing (usually defensively) that terrorism (ie, hirabah) goes against Islamic teachings for quite some time – see my own ongoing articles on hirabah here on beliefnet and my earlier hirabah posts. Recently, several muslim organizations issued a joint statement against torture (to which I also signed). Many of the same religious arguments that are made can be applied equally…

Politics

Deep Thought

islamoyankeeMay 13, 2009

JMM on torture: It was the right thing to do. But by all means let’s keep it secret. [From Deep Thought]

Politics

A Very Small Man

islamoyankeeMay 13, 2009

Many people are clearly and understandably incensed by Vice President Cheney’s on-going media campaign advocating state-sponsored torture and his making what appear to be all sorts of false claims about how effective his torture policies were. But though it’s maddening and offensive, I’m more on the side of being heartened or at least glad to see the exposure he’s getting — not so much because it’s politically damaging to the Republicans, which is probably true, but because he’s (as is his puppet daughter) showing and can’t help but show more and more about who he is. [From A Very Small…

Politics

Bring Out Your Dead

islamoyankeeMay 12, 2009

Killing the Buddha points to this piece that talks about the number of work-related deaths in this country verse combat deaths over the same periods. The numbers are astounding. This is how we mark progress: death on the job, just not so much of it. An average 15 corpses and 10,950 maimed or hurting workers at day’s end; could be worse. It probably is worse, actually. Because of under-reporting, the number of injured workers every year is likely closer to 12 million than the official 4 million.

Inter-faith Politics

Iran’s Jewish Rorschach Test

islamoyankeeApril 30, 2009

This kind of complexity, so second-nature to Iranian Jews, always eludes the outsiders looking in. Thus, the Jews of Iran — lately a bitterly contested talking point for pundits of all stripes — have become a looking glass in which all find what they wish to see. Hawks hear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and see another Holocaust in the making. Doves cite the existence of Hebrew schools and synagogues in Iran, and see no reason for alarm. Who is right? Everyone and no one at once. Full story here via here.

Politics

Taxi to the Dark Side

islamoyankeeApril 25, 2009

A documentary about the torture of one man. See the trailer. Apple – Movie Trailers – Taxi To the Dark Side.

Politics

Deep Thought – Atrios

islamoyankeeApril 24, 2009

Indeed The United States doesn’t torture, but anyone who opposes torture is un-American. [From Deep Thought]

Politics

Torturers For Hire

islamoyankeeApril 23, 2009

But didn’t CIA officers have to approve the request? Former FBI supervisory special agent Ali Soufan, writing in an op-ed in the New York Times today, makes this parenthetical point regarding CIA torture: (It’s worth noting that when reading between the lines of the newly released memos, it seems clear that it was contractors, not C.I.A. officers, who requested the use of these techniques.) I’m not sure if that puts a different gloss on Obama’s decision not to prosecute CIA officers, but it’s a point worth noting. [From Torturers For Hire]

Politics

obama’s judicial nominee is a secret muslim (not!)

islamoyankeeApril 21, 2009

Sen. Inhofe is a walking argument for a literacy test at voting stations. Huffington Post: Inhofe: Obama’s Judicial Nominee is a Secret Muslim [From obama’s judicial nominee is a secret muslim (not!)]