Hypocracy abounds 2007-01-31 09:34:50 - By: Dan
I have shared my distrust of our government here before. Heck, they don't trust me, why should I trust them? However, spying on it's own citizens, secretly kidnapping people for interrogation purposes, etc. is not an activity exclusive to our government. The influential European nations engage in their own as well as assist in our covert intelligence gathering activities. So, although it bothers me that our government does some of the things it does, it bothers me more when European governments call us out on this stuff, ignoring the plank in their own eye. For people to believe that "We" do these things in their country without "Their" help or knowledge is ridiculous. I don't doubt that members of their parliament are ignorant of what is happening, just as members of our own congress are ignorant of what our spies do, but for them to act so naive and self-righteous is insulting. Granted, no one really likes the current US Administration, but this Administration isn't doing anything that other Administrations here or elsewhere haven't done for a long time.
The problem I am having with it is although I don't like what "We" or "They" do (e.g. kidnapping, secret prisons, spying, etc.) I understand it. However, if the US and our European counterparts are going to police the world looking for the bad guys, and be a beacon of hope, liberty, and freedom for the world, I think they need to approach things differently. Where did the idea that it is okay to beat information out of people who might not even have the information you are looking for come from? We don't do that here to our people. Our detectives and police don't jump out of the shadows, throw a black bag over your head, and beat the crap out of you to find out if you did something... at least not that I know of. They (theoretically) gather actual evidence that you are doing something before they capture you.
Anyway, I am rambling now. I just get tired of hearing about these European nations going after our spies for things that their spies help us do or do on their own, and that their governments knowingly authorize, and then play it up as some big shocking surprise that this stuff is going on.
Yep Yep By: Garrett On: 2007-02-03 11:17:47.581663
If anyone wants a real look at a nasty jail cell or interrogation rooms (not to mention methods), look no further than the UK or Italy. Especially in England, where jail cells are barely the size of water closets...which, btw, I have no problem with at all. If a criminal chooses crime and makes that decision, then he should reap the wonderful benefits...a cramped life in a tiny cell with nothing but work & inmate abuse to look forward to until he dies. No problems here, just don't come complaining to the US, all mighty Europe & BBC, when our jail cells and system of law is nearly the cleanest of the bunch...right on, you crazy atomic baboon, you!! Right on!!
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