It Hurts Just as Much Posted by Heather Hurlburt

I haven't posted lately because of a painful nerve problem in one arm.  Even with Vicodin, ibuprofen, muscle relaxants and the occasional naughty glass of wine in my system, the Bush national security policy, progressive infighting, and the decline of our global standing hurt just as much, I'm sorry to say.  And so does the darn arm!

Herewith a themed post of links, "Things that Make Me Wince (more)"

In 2001, the Bush NSA went to telecoms company Qwest and asked them to build a private version of Echelon, the super-secret government system of international computer surveillance, and report back.  (From National Journal via Steve Clemons, who also uses the piece to salute my sometime boss Rep. Jane Harman's lonely stand on FISA protections.)

The US has told the International Commission on Torture that " Every act of torture within the meaning of the Convention is illegal under existing federal and state law,"and passed laws in 1996 and 2000 (nb. Repbulican Congresses) providing for the trial and punishment of Americans who commit torture.  The State Department 2003 Human Rights Report condemned Brazil and Tunisia for waterboarding. The US has prosecuted people for committing torture by waterboarding.  Now, I didn't go to law school, but how hard can this be? OF COURSE WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE, MICHAEL MUKASEY, CHUCK SCHUMER, AND ALL THE REST OF YOU. 

Ilan's Will Marshall quote makes me wince, too, but for a different reason:  define "broad support in the Islamic world," Will.  Public opinion surveys from the last two years actually show declining and minority support for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda across the Arab world, including Iran and Iraq.  Progressives' job, whatever stripe of progressive you are, is to offer Americans a vision of the world that is fact-based, particularly the fact that we are interconnected with the rest of the world.  Reinforcing the "let's pull up the drawbridge before they arrive" meme is tempting and fun, but it's not gonna get us where we need to go. 

Comments

[Don Bacon]

I can't focus on your issues, thinking about your pain. I hope that you recover soon. Snow shoveling season is coming! Have you tried a vacation in the desert? Hot and dry--it works for me.

[StopTorture]

Speaking of waterboarding in Brazil, here is our history lesson dedicated to Schumer and Feinstein: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/stoptorture/2007/11/04/waterboarding-in-history-a-lesson-dedicated-to-schumer-and-feinstein/

[Neil]

Heather Hurlburt,

I loved your bloggingheads.tv vlog with David Frum. If you were doped up on vicodin when you aped it, I'd love to hear you take other conservatives w/o the handicap.

Get well. Try physical therapy. It helped me heal my rotator cuff impingement.

[twelve sky Gold]

Welcome to our game world, my friend asks me to buy some 12sky gold . I do not know how to use the twelvesky Gold ; my friend tells me how to use. I will thank for my friends bringing me in this world. I am not regret to buy 12Sky Silver Coins . We all love game, if you want to play it, please buy 12 sky gold and join us. Please do not hesitate to have game.

[cheap aoc gold]

When you have aoc gold, you will become strong. With conan gold, you can upgrade and admire by others. You can use age of conan gold to start the journey of the world. So, do not hesitate, let us move to buy cheap aoc gold

[Hellgate London gold]

At one time or another, I do not have the Hellgate London Palladium ; at the first time, I am not willing to buy Hellgate London gold
.

[Atlantica online money]

You can also save your Atlantica online money in the game. But Atlantica online Gold, MM were able to enjoy apart from other turn-based online games bring the fun; there are a lot of experience unprecedented MM awaits you to explore.

[cheap 9Dragons gold]

With cheap 9Dragons gold, you can get everything you want in this game. So I like to buy 9 Dragons gold.

[ugg boots sale]

UGG Boots is your best ugg boots sale online Outlet where you can buy the cheapest
Ugg Boots.

[hikaye]

Hi. Just wanted to say cool blog and nice article in the paper this weekend!

[zhouhailei]

Authentic Products uggsline.co.uk provides all kinds of UGG Boots in high quality but lowest prices possible from UK. We frequently update the styles of uggsline Boots so please check back to choose your favourite Boots.
UGG boots sale

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[Impotence causes]

Thanks! Very helpful information. Here's a great tip from women who did it and worked too: Exercise, eat healthy, and take a long hot bath or shower. Also, write in your journal to relieve stress - These are one of the many effective ways to relieve PMS problems. If this does not work, visit my site to have great relief.

[Cheap viagra]

I hope that each and every person reading this article feel the same appreciation I felt when I read it, I am very grateful for the fact that they shared this information with everyone, I congratulate you wholeheartedly, I would like to continue sending more articles to the network, it would be helpful for many people as I love reading.

[Generic Cialis]

I would like to appreciate the great work done by You

Please continue posting like this