Comments on: The Torturous Servility of Washington Think Tanks http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/ Author James Bovard Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:58:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9529 Jim Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:20:57 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9529 Mr. Wilson - thanks for the comment. I will start an entry on the TAC torture piece as soon as they get the URL up - or maybe I will just launch it tomorrow. How many of the atrocities by the Union forces 1861+ were authorized by specific acts of Congress? Mr. Wilson - thanks for the comment.

I will start an entry on the TAC torture piece as soon as they get the URL up - or maybe I will just launch it tomorrow.

How many of the atrocities by the Union forces 1861+ were authorized by specific acts of Congress?

]]> By: Clyde N. Wilson http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9514 Clyde N. Wilson Sun, 03 Dec 2006 19:13:11 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9514 Mr. Bovard, I am a great admirer of your books and other writings but want to politely take acception to your aticle in the Dec. 28 TAC on torture. You refer to the horrid MCA as the most disgraceful act since the Fugitive Slave Law. Like most Americans, you overlook the use of military commissions (including unjustified and indefinite imprisonment and execution) by the U.S. Government against Southern civilians in the period 1861--1876. Everything done and proposed by Bush was done under Lincoln and Grant, except that it was used against American civilians and not foreign soldiers. Mr. Bovard, I am a great admirer of your books and other writings but want to politely take acception to your aticle in the Dec. 28 TAC on torture. You refer to the horrid MCA as the most disgraceful act since the Fugitive Slave Law. Like most Americans, you overlook the use of military commissions (including unjustified and indefinite imprisonment and execution) by the U.S. Government against Southern civilians in the period 1861–1876. Everything done and proposed by Bush was done under Lincoln and Grant, except that it was used against American civilians and not foreign soldiers.

]]> By: fm4 radio http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9209 fm4 radio Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:26:43 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9209 Hi. I am a journalist from austrian national radio working on a special think tanks. If you would be prepared to share your views for a pre-recorded telephone interview for broadcast, please reply to the email address provided. Best wishes C Hi. I am a journalist from austrian national radio working on a special think tanks. If you would be prepared to share your views for a pre-recorded telephone interview for broadcast, please reply to the email address provided. Best wishes C

]]> By: Isis http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9178 Isis Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:15:57 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9178 Screw the wonks! Look what is happening to those of us who get our hands dirty on the streets! http://isisimagery.blogspot.com/2005/12/freedom-of-press-my-spicey-arse.html Screw the wonks!

Look what is happening to those of us who get our hands dirty on the streets!

http://isisimagery.blogspot.com/2005/12/freedom-of-press-my-spicey-arse.html

]]> By: Todd Boyle http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9067 Todd Boyle Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:06:03 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-9067 Don't throw the baby with the bathwater. Without government, sociopaths and despots face no constraints at all-- other than other, warring despots. We really have no choice but hard work, to clean house in Washington DC. There is so much at stake-- our entire commons, our environment, our social security and old age, survivors and disability coverage at the national level. But you all know there's even more at stake, lest, the power-holders continue their architecture of monopolies and protections throughout the US economy. Put down your illusions of decentralization, etc. At some point you have to cross the street, and oppose them, and take them out of power, Don’t throw the baby with the bathwater. Without government, sociopaths and despots face no constraints at all– other than other, warring despots. We really have no choice but hard work, to clean house in Washington DC. There is so much at stake– our entire commons, our environment, our social security and old age, survivors and disability coverage at the national level. But you all know there’s even more at stake, lest, the power-holders continue their architecture of monopolies and protections throughout the US economy.

Put down your illusions of decentralization, etc. At some point you have to cross the street, and oppose them, and take them out of power,

]]> By: Mr. Robert Elia I http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8936 Mr. Robert Elia I Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:13:14 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8936 Cut the tax breaks on the think tanks. Put all those thinkers back into the work force instead of allowing them to mmoch on our taxpayer welfare.This will insure a greater degree of peace and quiet for all of us. Cut the tax breaks on the think tanks. Put all those thinkers back into the work force instead of allowing them to mmoch on our taxpayer welfare.This will insure a greater degree of peace and quiet for all of us.

]]> By: Marc Swanson http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8543 Marc Swanson Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:57:19 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8543 As far as I know Germany in the 1930's didn't nurture professional "think tanks" but did, however, call upon the services of numerous intellectuals to perform essentially the same function. Isn't it a curious that many of them suddenly discovered the unquestionable truth of racial purity and the urgent need for territorial "growing room"? As far as I know Germany in the 1930’s didn’t nurture professional “think tanks” but did, however, call upon the services of numerous intellectuals to perform essentially the same function. Isn’t it a curious that many of them suddenly discovered the unquestionable truth of racial purity and the urgent need for territorial “growing room”?

]]> By: Peter http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8479 Peter Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:10:42 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8479 look at that - another terrorist no-knock raid: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164193748225&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724 look at that - another terrorist no-knock raid:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164193748225&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

]]> By: Peter http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8402 Peter Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:47:45 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8402 Cato is horrible, supporting Bush's crimes all over the place, the illegal war (firing their anti-war guy), trumping up fake digits for the social security fraud, etc. But, as Jim mentioned, they did some good 'No Knock' work - they did a map of the orgy of violence that the federales use on unsuspecting victims: http://www.cato.org/raidmap/ Jim's comment reminded me of that raid map, and reminded me of my favorite police brutality show: http://www.badcopnodonut.fm/ Cato is horrible, supporting Bush’s crimes all over the place, the illegal war (firing their anti-war guy), trumping up fake digits for the social security fraud, etc. But, as Jim mentioned, they did some good ‘No Knock’ work - they did a map of the orgy of violence that the federales use on unsuspecting victims:

http://www.cato.org/raidmap/

Jim’s comment reminded me of that raid map, and reminded me of my favorite police brutality show:

http://www.badcopnodonut.fm/

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8375 Jim Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:35:17 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/11/17/the-torturous-servility-of-washington-think-tanks/#comment-8375 I disagree. There are some individuals at DC think tanks that have done fine work. Cato has done some good work on the Fourth Amendment and on No Knock Raids, as well as filing strong briefs on the enemy combatant issue. Heritage has hit some issues well over the years. My point in the piece is not that all DC think tanks are alike. AEI is definitely the pacesetter for cheerleading for Leviathan. Yoo, the Torture Meister, is one of their dignitaries - but he has been welcomed to speak at other DC think tanks, including Cato & Heritage. Yoo is a pariah in much of the United States - actually, much of the world - for his endorsement of policies such as permitting presidents to order the crushing of testicles (See my American Conservative<a href="http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_10_09/review.html" rel="nofollow"> review of his book</a>). Yet, Beltway libertarians and conservatives are more likely to treat Yoo like an eminence than a pox. I disagree. There are some individuals at DC think tanks that have done fine work. Cato has done some good work on the Fourth Amendment and on No Knock Raids, as well as filing strong briefs on the enemy combatant issue. Heritage has hit some issues well over the years.

My point in the piece is not that all DC think tanks are alike. AEI is definitely the pacesetter for cheerleading for Leviathan. Yoo, the Torture Meister, is one of their dignitaries - but he has been welcomed to speak at other DC think tanks, including Cato & Heritage. Yoo is a pariah in much of the United States - actually, much of the world - for his endorsement of policies such as permitting presidents to order the crushing of testicles (See my American Conservative review of his book).

Yet, Beltway libertarians and conservatives are more likely to treat Yoo like an eminence than a pox.

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