"Waterboarding Is Torture."

Three words. Three simple, plain, English words. That was all it took. No dithering. No beating around the Bush. No ummm's, or uhhh's. Just three words to declare what most of the human race has known all along. "Waterboarding is torture."

Nazi's and Japanese were hung for it. It has always been part of the Geneva Convention rules. It is taught to every military recruit in the US military. There is no doubt in any reasonable human mind that "waterboarding is torture."

Yet, for the past several years, under the Bush Administration, it has been clear to all that indeed it was being used on prisoners. We heard of it from Gitmo. We heard of it from Abu Ghraib. It was rumored that it was being used on folks being held under special rendition.

Mr. Cheney and several others, including Mr. Hayden, inside the Administration poo poo'd it for quite some time. Finally saying that it was an excellent tool that should be kept in the arsenal of those who interrogate. That it was actually benign. That people couldn't/wouldn't be killed if subjected to it. That it had given authorities valuable information and had saved lives.

All of that is bullshit, of course. Experts say that it didn't/hasn't given us anything like valuable information, and is a useless tool that does nothing for anyone. Except sadists.

Mr. Holder, the AG designee, provided the three word reply to a question asked by Senator Leahy. He left no doubt in anyone's mind what he thought of waterboarding. What was not asked, and what bothers me at this moment is: what happens next? Will you take this conclusion forward. If those inside the Bush Administration ordered torture, which is a war crime, will they be brought to trial? Will justice be served?

"Waterboarding Is Torture." I hope that the end of this nasty proposition is that the rest of the world is shown that we are indeed a country, once again, ruled by law.

Israel, right or wrong?

The Government of the United States has, since Israel came into existence, backed them right or wrong. Sometime in the next eight years, I am hoping that our new Administration takes a hard, long look at this policy. And, more than that, takes the necessary action to correct this idiotic stance.

There are reasons to back Israel, when right. We must, when necessary, back them with whatever diplomatic or military power is needed. However, in every case, they are not right. And, this moment seems to me to be one of those times when they are not right.

Their right to peace is no different than anyone else's. They have to be free from constant missile attack by the Palestinians. But, to bomb innocents, for whatever reason, is unacceptable. And, they have indeed bombed innocents.

Today it is reported that they have not only bombed a UN facility. But, also a hospital. In what delusional world, and under what possible circumstances can this action be justified? Of course, it can't. There is no excuse for bombing a UN site known to house civilians. And, there is no way in hell that bombing a hospital can be found to have justification.

When asked about the bombing of the UN site, the Israeli's stated "we were fired on first." That, to me, sounds like the crap one would expect to hear on a childhood playground. Except that this is no playground. People are being killed. And, being killed indiscriminately. That is war crime area. And, the US Government decided inside the UN to fore go condemnation. That is cowardice. And not taking responsibility for what is clearly something that in the least, should be condemned by every country in the UN.

This is the backing, right or wrong, which began this diary. It is my conclusion that the US Government is wrong to back Israel on this matter. They are guilty of complicity in the killing of innocent Palestinians