Lindsey Graham: Cheney Put People in Gitmo Who Weren’t Military Threat

[sabra]

Source: EmptyWheel Blog

Lindsey Graham spent much of the torture hearing trying to find a narrow ground from which he could condemn torture, yet prevent anyone from being held accountable for torture. But in an effort to admit past problems at Gitmo, he named names. One name--that of Dick Cheney.

My goal is to have a process, Mr. Zelikow, that would allow us as a nation to hold our head up high and say, "no one is in jail at Guantanamo Bay because Dick Cheney said so. The only people that are in jail at Guantanamo Bay are there because the evidence presented to an independent judiciary by our military passed muster with the judicial system--they're there because they're a military threat." And that when we try these people, they're tried not because we hate them, but because of what they did.

I guess the presidential determination that someone is an enemy combatant is another of those presidential-level decisions that Dick Cheney made in lieu of the actual President.

Read more: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/05/13/lindsey-graham-cheney-put-people-in-gitmo-who-werent-military-threat/

[Eric J in MN]

1. Lindsey Graham wants to continue military tribunals for people...

...who were never in the US military.

If he really believed in an "independent judiciary" then he would say shut down the military tribunals and try suspected terrorists in civilian courts.

[Politicalboi]

3. But then they would need evidence

And since they don't have any what else can they do? I don't believe any of these men were guilty of anything. Maybe only defending their families.

[DCKit]

9. "Maybe only defending their families." Well, yeah, two or three of 'em.

Most of the rest were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time with a pissed off father in law, an asshole neighbor or some greedy lowlife MoFo willing to sell another person into bondage for a few bucks. Those who were actually fighting... well, wouldn't you? I know I would if my city were invaded by hostile forces.

You don't need actual monsters when you're running a propaganda campaign, just props, lies, a convincing cast and a complicit media.

[sybylla]

2. I suspect the repugs are looking for a fall guy.

If they can make this all Cheney's fault, they may be able to save other repugs and (in their small minds) rescue the chimp's Presidency from the sewer pit where it's wallowing now.

Graham is a party shill, but he's also pragmatic.

[Cha]

4. I can't think of a more deserving

fall guy than dick cheney.

[UpInArms]

6. I hope every one of the Rs throw Crashcart Heartless Dick under the bus

a small bit of justice would then be apparent.

[tomm2thumbs]

5. they are being eaten up by their own arguments - it's legal but we...

they weren't prisoner's of war, so we don't have to follow the Geneva Convention - oh, but we happen to be following the Geneva Convention, but we just wanted you to know we checked and they are enemy combatants and so really we don't have to follow the law, but we still have followed the law, but wanted you to know we technically didn't have to in this case

oh, and it's completely legal what we DID to these people, but we did it out of the country in Gitmo because it isn't affected by U.S. law - which we supposedly are following anyway but letting you know we didn't really have to follow that law but are being all-around good people and following the letter of the law... at least the letter we had written by our people saying it was okay.

morons, every last one of the nuts

[No Elephants]

7. I don't read Graham's words the same way the blogger does. I don't think Graham is pinning anything

on Cheney. I think he's saying this is what others are saying and he wants a process so good that no one will be able to say something like that anymore.

[louis-t]

8. Maybe they'll all start blaming him.

You know how repigs love to pile on. Then watch for repig operatives to start jumping out at Cheney and yelling "BOO!!!" Problem solved.:eyes:

[AlphaCentauri]

10. come on Lyndsey we need another vote, joint the party n/t

[Egnever]

11. This fucker up for re-election or something?

Cause he was cheerleading like a pro throughout the last admin. His statements in hearings on the conduct of the war were a freaking joke.

Mybe if you had done your damn job in the first place you hack this crap wouldn't have happened.

[Egnever]

12. He is! I knew it!

This asshat is trying to pull the woool over peoples eyes.