Obama Decision: Bipartisanship vs. Excessive and Unlawful?

This should be the cover of Time and Newsweek!

Newsweek's Michael Isikoff has pinned an article entitled "Obama and Torture" this week describing the hesitation of the President-elect's transition team to seek prosecution of US citizens alleged to have been involved in 'war crimes.'

FEAR strikes again within the president-elect's transition leadership circle. Some of the President-elect's men propose a 9/11-like commission to study the issue of unlawful human torture to boost so-called Congressional "bipartisanship!?" This comes despite the striking words of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder's description of the Bush Administration's torture policy as "excessive and unlawful."

HOPEfully, President-elect Obama is committed to justice and values. The new President should not trade the rule of law for mere bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

Ginny Hill, over at Slate.com, also writes: "Obama's Next Arab Headache: What to do with Guantanamo's Yemeni detainees?" By the way, how many foreign nationals are being held by the United States in Cuba today?

Special National Security Courts?

The Washington Independent published a story Thursday entitled "Gitmo Prisoners Pose Thorny Problem for Obama" describing how President-elect Obama's advisors may be suggesting special national-security courts to try high-level Guantanamo detainees. But an Obama spokesperson seemed to back away from the suggestion saying there was “absolutely no truth to reports that a decision has been made about how and where to try the detainees and there is no process in place to make that decision until [Obama’s] national security and legal teams are assembled.” MORE.

Taxi to The Dark Side is a MUST VIEW!

A recent documentary of the war atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan is a must-see for any American of conscience and humanity. Katie Couric recommends the Oscar winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. See it - Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5. Together American citizens will end the practice and violation of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.

The violation of international law and the U.S. Constitution may end but it will be in the hands of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder and Homeland Security-designate Janet Napolitano to end the unseemly and unlawful practice as the United States goes into regime change 20 January 2009.

Stand-Up for Human Rights Now!

The widespeard use of torture in the fight against terrorism has taken bizzare turns over the past few years resulting in human rights vioations and a loss of basic rights to judicial review. The cost to freedom is high and must be brought to an immediate halt by President-elect Barack Obama in the first days of the new administration. Join those who are standing up against such inhumane torture and the loss of the basic principals of humanity. Watch this VIDEO.

Habeas Corpus

Latin: "you have the body." Prisoners often seek release by filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate to a prison official ordering that an inmate be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he should be released from custody.

A habeas corpus petition is a petition filed with a court by a person who objects to his own or another's detention or imprisonment. The petition must show that the court ordering the detention or imprisonment made a legal or factual error. Habeas corpus petitions are usually filed by persons serving prison sentences. Also, a party may file a habeas corpus petition if a judge declares her in contempt of court and jails or threatens to jail her.

Now is the time to ensure that American citizens ensure the rights of habeas corpus.

Pesident-Elects Words

Let's hold the President-elect to his words; and, make sure that he follows through with closing Gitmo and stopping scanctioned torture.

pssst .... Do Something!

The American Civil Liberties Union is advancing a petition to close the Guantánamo detention facilities and shut down the military commissions by President Barack Obama.

In The Beginning

There is but one way to stop torture in the world: Be The Change!

Today I have become The Change Agent. I am starting with this blog so as to enable on-line networking and collaboration with other like-minded Americans to stop torture.

The effort to halt American sanctioned torture is too work to ensure passage and enactment of U.S. laws to stop torture.

Let us begin.