A Footnote On Torture And the Village

Just to add to my post on the lack of accountability among the DC establishment for torture, the right banks on this, by the way. At yesterday's torture hearing with the Stupidest Fucking Guy On The Planet, Doug Feith, Republicans repeatedly brought up the fact that Nancy Pelosi, among other Democrats, were "fully briefed" on the program in secret. Whether or not those briefings were full is questionable, but clearly the very point was to implicate Democrats so that they could never speak out or risk their own prosecution. And Democrats obliged with little resistance. Practically no effort was made on the part of the "Gang of Eight" to stop this madness. Darrell Issa and all the little torture addicts were sure to bring up Pelosi's name over and over again. They know they have their opponents over a barrel.

There are heroes in this. CREW has labeled 30 of them in a report about "Those Who Dared" to stand up for our country and its ideals. But their courage is tarnished by a Village culture that is self-protective and contemptuous of the rule of law.