Comments on: HJC Testimony: Mr. Unitary Executive and Mr. Yoo

By: Synoia

Synoia — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:10:00 +0000

Completly irrelevant in Iraq.

By: timbo

timbo — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:41:11 +0000

Here is a link at cspan to the hearing if you want to view it…the first 30 minutes is opening statements. (I watched but recommend that most people skip the beginning as it doesn’t provide much useful info if you already know the context of the hearing.)

Title: House Judiciary Subcmte. Hearing on Guantanamo Bay Interrogation Rules
Author: C-SPAN
Copyright: (C) 2008 National Cable Satellite Corporation

URL: rtsp://video1.c-span.org/project/ter/ter062608_gitmo.rm

By: timbo

timbo — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:04:45 +0000

Page 4-5, last and top para, Yoo’s opening written statement:

Yoo argues that because Al Qaeda was not a signatory to Geneva Conventions that the U.S. does not have to abide by Geneva Conventions?! Prima facie evidence of intention to neglect obligations under Geneva…

Page 6, second complete para: Yoo seeks to defend inclusion of arguments in support of his opinions conclusions and possible legal defenses should it become iffy that his opinion was, you know, actually not a sound legal opinion. Evidence of uncertainty in own legal opinion requiring fall back legal defense should someone be indicted for violations of federal statute? Why would DOJ issue such a defense position if they believed their reasoning was sound on “harsh interrogation” in 2002?

Last para, page 6: Yoo reiterates false meme that the DOD “working group” carefully vetted interrogation techiques…in fact, they did not get any direct input into the actual decisions on what techniques to use in theatre…that “working group” appears to have simply been a beauracratic parking place for folks who opposed most of the harshest techniques used…and opposed it on a basis that did take the laws of the U.S. into account…instead of trying to find ways around them…like Yoo has done.

By: rwcole

rwcole — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:00:43 +0000

Fuck YOO!

By: siri

siri — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:09:57 +0000

i cannot believe this.
My neighbor is getting a new porch, and today is “jackhammer” day.
and my whole isp, cable and internet keeps going down.

i.e. the live blogging of this hearing is something I’ll be coming back to to read, THANK GOD.
i’ve been WAITING for THIS hearing for forever, it seems.
Thanks to everyone, and especially to Marci for doing this!

By: Bluetoe2

Bluetoe2 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:52:11 +0000

and this fascist functionary is now a professor of law? With lawyers like this is it any wonder the country is in a world of hurt?

By: readerOfTeaLeaves

readerOfTeaLeaves — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:46:57 +0000

Nadler: ’No, Mr Yoo, that is not a wall before you. Disabuse yourself of an optical illusion that suits your convenience.”

Mr Yoo, ”…okay…” (gulp)

By: jackie

jackie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:40:33 +0000

Do a google search for Amdocs Ltd contracts…lots of stuff out there..

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:32:21 +0000

Yoo is also very careful to state again and again about his “current” view. I would like to know if it was ever his view that torture was OK.

By: klynn

klynn — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:32:14 +0000

Gosh,

I would be tearing into to this asking, “On what grounds?”