I'm eternally surprised when I realize that there are people out there who know nothing about MKULTRA...

Here's a quick summary from wikipedia...

Project MKULTRA:

Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a CIA mind-control research program that began in 1950, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence.[1][2][3]. There is much published evidence that the project involved the use of many types of drugs, as well as other methodology, to manipulate individual mental states and to alter brain function.[4]

I should have mentioned this earlier, but I've been a bit down about personal stuff makes it a little hard to keep up with my bloggerly duties.

No excuse I know...

But anyway, it seems that under pressure, America has been removed from the Canadian list of countries that torture.

Interestingly the editorial board of the Toronto Star thinks that's a good thing...

Full disclosure:

I've got an old injury in my left leg. Specifically the ankle, knee, and hip joints. Probably a sports injury. It's a constant ache. Not enough to justify medication. I can cope with it, but there's never a moment in my life that I'm free of pain. I guess you could say that pain is an old friend of mine.

Anyway...

To recap... If you only read one thing today, read this: THE CIA OFFICIAL WHO OVERSAW TORTURE: Cofer Black by leveymg

Anyway,

Groundhog Day for Bush on CIA Tapes, Iran NIE (dkos version here)

Asked Thursday about his previous knowledge of and support for the 2005 destruction of secret CIA detainee interrogation tapes, President Bush did what comes naturally - he played dumb:

"The first recollection is when Mike Hayden briefed me. That's pretty clear. Secondly, I am confident that the preliminary inquiry conducted by the AG and the IG of the CIA, coupled with the oversight provided by the Congress, will end up enabling us all to find out what exactly happened. And therefore, over the course of these inquiries and oversight hearings, I'm going to reserve judgment until I find out the full facts."

...

I have heard it said, many times, that it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees as if it means something. I hear high minded calls for liberty and justice, but never do I see it. I see people talking of justice when they mean vengeance and talk of liberty?

Hah!

Reading the indomitable Pharyngula I came across this: A Jew, a Muslim, and 10 Christians walk onto a train...

Now I'm a man of few means who can't afford to give presents, but it occurred to me that this story makes an excellent Christmas story and writing stories is one thing that I can do. So I'm going to write that story. Anyway, right now if I don't write I'm going to cry but I'll try not to let that affect my tone.

To anyone who's not signed in to comment... Over at NION we have haloscan comments so anyone can comment there...

http://www.neverinournames.com/...

I'll try to update this as things come in...

http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/

Telephone conversation with a members of public

Er... they shot... people got killed.  Er...but it seems like it wasn't as
bad as yesterday in terms of number of deaths, however we will know
the accurate picture tomorrow.  Er... la  another disturbing news is
that er... I would like to know if you would inform BBC and CNN about?
(sob!!!) They burned the injured protesters/civilian people in the
YaeWay Crematorium la la .  Er... the staff from crematorium told this,
crying, to the people who went to the funeral service.  Please let
this known to CNN and BBC. Thank you!!

More below...

(Cross-posted from Political Fleshfeast)

Back in January 2003, over 4 years ago, some random blogger uncritically, and without any  real evidence, accepted these statements from some random boviating blowhards.

So...

Mike Stark goes and... Pays a visit to O'Reilly's house...

How dare he?

I mean... We Are Better Than This right?...

Confused? Frightened? Don't understand what's going on? Or how, or why? Scared of where the future leads? Losing hope? Lost hope already?

Wondering why on earth O'Reilly accused dkos of plotting "the violent overthrow of the government"?

Having trouble understanding how your country seems to be going to hell in a handbasket?

Fear Not!

Scientist and best-Selling Author David Brin explains all!

In... Bill O'Reilly Referred to Me?

So hit that link above... Swing your mouse over to the right margin of the page... AND HIT THAT RECOMMEND BUTTON MAGGOTS! THAT IS AN ORDER!

(Cross-posted from NION)

It's all over the news by now... Just released... The fourth of the Mental Health Reports (OIF).

Specifically Mental Health Advisory Team IV Information

So lets take a look through the report... (pdf)

I can barely believe this actually needs to be stated or explained, but as that great man Einstein once said:

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.

Believe it or not, recently some people claiming the mantle of objectivity and science for themselves have been claiming Circumcision Fetishist Sites as an "unbiased" "objective" source. Even more amazingly; When challenged on this, they refuse to look at the evidence, but rather prefer to engage in almost disingenuous claims of ignorance, ad hominim, and mockery.

Incredible, but true! Follow me below the fold for a case study, a most fascinating exposition, on this bizarre case....

(Cross-Posted from NION)

By now news of the indictment of Christopher Paul, 43 will be plastered across news outlets across the world. Most mentioning the phrase "Weapon of Mass Destruction".

From the Associated Press (Alt Source):

Paul, who was arrested Wednesday outside his apartment, is charged with providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. The weapon of mass destruction charge carries the most serious penalty, up to life in prison.

PHEAR!

The Sheikh and the Torture Senator (truthout) By Ann Wright:

(Article also available at scoop.co.nz)

  I was in the audience February 12, 2007 during the Washington, DC, screening of the new HBO documentary, "The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib." After watching the documentary, panelists Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) discussed prisoner abuse and torture at Abu Ghraib.

  To the amazement of the audience, Graham said with a twinkle in his eye that "Americans don't mind torture; they really don't." Then he smiled broadly, almost gleefully, and said that the US had used certain interrogation techniques on "Sheikh Mohammed, one of the 'high-value' targets" - techniques that "you really don't want to know about, but they got really good results."

III.

12. There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army:--

13. (1) By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.

14. (2) By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds.

15. (3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

16. But when the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army, and flinging victory away.

There is a diary...

In fact it is a very important diary...

I am shocked and dismayed that this diary is not on the reclist.

I am disappointed and saddened that this diary is not on the reclist...

Let me tell you a story...

Forgive me any errors in my telling. For it was told to me in another language when I was a small child.

Once upon a time. There was a man. A liar, a rogue, a thief, a murderer...

Who had never done a good thing in his life.

But, one day as he was walking along a path he came upon a crowd of children teasing a spider.

Surrounding it, poking it with sticks as it scuttled hither and thither.

Finally it curled into a tiny ball, and as the children bored of batting it around one of them raised his stick above his head ready to bring it down and deal the spider a deathblow.

Take a Deep Breath!...
Breath out...
Pause...
Breath in...
Pause...
Breath out...
Pause...
Breath in...
Pause...
Breath out...
Pause...
Breath in...
Pause...

Ok that should have headed the Panic Response off at the pass... So follow me below the fold...