CIA Report

[derspiess]

I like Poland more now. 

[CountDeMoney]

I like Poland more now.

But Marti brought up a valid point earlier:  you know this stuff's going to make the US look ZOMG EVEN WORSER globally, but it also hangs our friends out to dry.  We can take this heat, but nations full of Martis and Jacobs may not be able to.

[derspiess]

Wit' us or agin' us.

[CountDeMoney]

Wit' us or agin' us.

No, no, no...plausible deniability, people! [/broadwaychoreographer]

[derspiess]

If everyone's dirty, then nobody's dirty.

[Martinus]

I'm pretty sure he was talking about soldiers, not torturers.

The bad guys pretty much rewrote the rules on game day.   Don't hate the player.

Get over it already.

[CountDeMoney]

I'm pretty sure he was talking about soldiers, not torturers.

The bad guys pretty much rewrote the rules on game day.   Don't hate the player.

Get over it already.

Playa's gotta play.

[The Brain]

One thing to keep in mind is that this is the stuff that America tells us about, indeed bragged about. Obviously I assume that the stuff they do behind closed doors is a lot nastier.

[Malthus]

I have no idea why the US doesn't put an end to this.  Quite aside from being grotesquely evil, is there even any allegation that it has actually proved useful?

Seems there are lots of negatives - the damage to reputation, discouraging friends and encouraging enemies, etc. - but have there been any "plusses" in the cost-benefit analysis?

[derspiess]

One thing to keep in mind is that this is the stuff that America tells us about, indeed bragged about. Obviously I assume that the stuff they do behind closed doors is a lot nastier.

Not just panties on the head, but Lena Dunham's panties.

[derspiess]

Seems there are lots of negatives - the damage to reputation, discouraging friends and encouraging enemies, etc. - but have there been any "plusses" in the cost-benefit analysis?

We'll probably find out in about 20 years.

[CountDeMoney]

I have no idea why the US doesn't put an end to this.  Quite aside from being grotesquely evil, is there even any allegation that it has actually proved useful?

It was put to an end.  All that is contained in this report occurred between 2002 and 2008, when it was finally kaboshed by President Obama on January 22, 2009.   

Now see, what people aren't getting is that this is the part of the American Story where we examine ourselves, bringing that which was hidden to light by our democratically elected representatives, and correct the course.  We did it after the Japanese internments with the Ringle Report, the boundaries overstepped during the Red Scare and the COINTELPRO reports with the Church Committee, and now this.  It's what we do.  Can't say that about a whole lot of governments.

Seems there are lots of negatives - the damage to reputation, discouraging friends and encouraging enemies, etc. - but have there been any "plusses" in the cost-benefit analysis?

Khalid Shaykh Mohammad got rectal hydration.  I say that's a win for Democracy.

[PJL]

I have no idea why the US doesn't put an end to this.  Quite aside from being grotesquely evil, is there even any allegation that it has actually proved useful?

It was put to an end.  All that is contained in this report occurred between 2002 and 2008, when it was finally kaboshed by President Obama on January 22, 2009.   

Now see, what people aren't getting is that this is the part of the American Story where we examine ourselves, bringing that which was hidden to light by our democratically elected representatives, and correct the course.  We did it after the Japanese internments with the Ringle Report, the boundaries overstepped during the Red Scare and the COINTELPRO reports with the Church Committee, and now this.  It's what we do.  Can't say that about a whole lot of governments.

Seems there are lots of negatives - the damage to reputation, discouraging friends and encouraging enemies, etc. - but have there been any "plusses" in the cost-benefit analysis?

Khalid Shaykh Mohammad got rectal hydration.  I say that's a win for Democracy.

I think the point is that it shouldn't have started in the first place.

[DGuller]

To be honest, I don't find the trolling of Europeans here amusing in the least.  This was a pretty disgusting and disturbing report.

[CountDeMoney]

I think the point is that it shouldn't have started in the first place.

Then let's keep trying to unring those bells.