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God Bless Andrew Williams
Remember when people used to do things based on principle?
Well, that hallowed but seemingly moribund concept has gotten a boost with the resignation of Lieutenant Commander Andrew Williams, a U.S. Naval Reserve lawyer, over the Bush administration’s approval of the use of torture and the willful destruction of video tapes by the CIA that were said to show the torture of terrorism suspects.
Explaining his resignation in a letter to The Peninsula Gateway, a newspaper in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he lives, Williams said what finally prompted him to resign was the congressional testimony of Army Brigadier General Thomas W. Hartmann, the legal advisor of the Guantánamo Bay branch of the Rumsfeld Gulag, who refused to call the hypothetical waterboarding of an American pilot by the Iranian military torture.
Wrote Williams:
“The final straw for me was listening to General Hartmann, the highest-ranking military lawyer in charge of the military commissions, testify that he refused to say that waterboarding captured U.S. soldiers by Iranian operatives would be torture.
“His testimony had just sold all the soldiers and sailors at risk of capture and subsequent torture down the river. Indeed, he would not rule out waterboarding as torture when done by the United States and indeed felt evidence obtained by such methods could be used in future trials.
“Thank you, General Hartmann, for finally admitting the United States is now part of a long tradition of torturers going back to the Inquisition.”
And thank you Andrew Williams for standing up for what America is supposed to be all about.
More here.
11 Responses to “God Bless Andrew Williams”
Shaun – The last paragraph of the TP post is even more disturbing than the resignation of the JAG officer.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/29/andrew-williams-jag/
http://boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/19/military_lawyers_stay_unbridled/
The likes of Monika Goodling or Mr. Kate O’Beirn asking a loyalty oath from our military…
We are becoming the enemy we helped to defeat in 1991.
Rudi:
Yes, I read that but wanted to keep my post short and to the point. But thank you for providing the additional info that makes this whole ‘arama even more frightening.
I keep hoping that 2008 will be a little less crazy, but fear that it will not be. In any event, thank you for your many thoughtful comments in the year now almost past. May you have a happy and healthy New Year.
Shaun – Same here. On further reading I was floored to hear these idiots wanted to politicize even JAG promotions.
The Bush administration is dropping a plan to take control over the promotions of military lawyers
The system is working as intended. Next indignation please.
Next temper tantrum, please…
To somebody and DLS, what happens when Clinton does this in 2009? High level political appointees are one thing, but interfering with career military officers and DoS is another story.
This comment has been edited by Holly in Cincinnati to remove an obscene pun.
Rudi, please do not use that epithet for Sen. Clinton here at TMV – it insults women as a whole. This post is linked to Newsweek and they do not allow obscenities, so I am going to edit your comment.
To somebody and DLS, what happens when Clinton does this in 2009?
Rudi I understand you indignation. Has this country lost its understanding of how politics works because we are now so buried in hatreds and animosities.
Presidents put out feelers….the have a crony propose something and watch the reaction. If the reaction is mild, no existent or indifferent they proceed cautiously. If people throw a fit as the above points out then the president or administrations withdraws their feeler and all is well.
I am betting that when or if Hillary does the same thing, the right will throw a hissy fit and the feeler will equally be withdrawn.
Its how politics works. Its how politicians survive in DC.
Sorry Holly, just used as a little snark for CDS, won’t use again here.
Somebody, I won’t give Hillary any slack if she tries to stack JAG like FDR tried to stack the SCOTUS. May on the right are ignoring Cheney’s W’s overreach. The same happens at a local level with eminent domain and property seizures.
Her opponents will object.
* * *
As do presidential candates.
(candidates)