In The News - Jan. 24

US 'outsourced' torture: probe - 24 Jan 2006 at 6:32am - STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - A European human rights investigator said on Tuesday there was evidence the United States had "outsourced" torture to other countries and it was likely that European governments knew about it.

Documents Show Govt Forewarned on Katrina - 24 Jan 2006 at 7:54am - The government had advance warning of the danger and potential damage from Hurricane Katrina before the storm hit, newly released documents show.

Jury orders reprimand, no jail for soldier - 24 Jan 2006 at 6:56am - FORT CARSON, Colo. -- A military jury has recommended that an officer once facing up to life in prison for the interrogation death of an Iraqi general be given only a reprimand, a decision that drew applause from soldiers.

So the pResident is against torture, except when he's for it, and soldiers (and the military "justice" system) are evidently in favour not only of torture, but of murder as well. On the day after pResidentially-declared Sanctity Of Human Life Day. And on the day the pResident has the cheek to say, in a speech at Kansas State University, "They [the enemy] make decisions based upon their view of the world, which is the exact opposite of our view of the world."

Gonzales: Congress knew scope of spy program - 24 Jan 2006 at 9:34am - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales dismissed criticism of the National Security Agency's domestic spying program Tuesday, saying Congress was aware of its scope and approved it "under the authorization to use military force" against terrorism.

California Representative Jane Harman, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, presumably will be surprised to learn that she has been kept "fully and currently informed", as required by the National Security Act.

US military issues new execution regulations - 24 Jan 2006 at 9:47am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a little-noticed move, the U.S. Army has issued new regulations governing the death penalty, raising speculation that the military might be preparing for its first execution since 1961.