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Bull roar from CoE investigator

Investigator: CIA Ran Secret Prisons

So, the Council of Europe tasked a Swiss Senator, Dick Marty, to investigate alleged secret prisons allegedly run by the CIA allegedly in Poland and Romania. Here is what Marty is saying:

"While it is likely that very few people in the countries concerned, including in the governments themselves, knew of the existence of the centers, we have sufficient grounds to declare that the highest state authorities were aware of the CIA's illegal activities on their territories," it [Marty's report] said.

"The secret detention facilities in Europe were run directly and exclusively by the CIA," it said.

That's nice. What is the basis for these charges?

Marty did not identify his sources, saying they were people "who had worked or still worked for the relevant authorities, in particular intelligence agencies."

Oh, well then, where were the prisons located?

The report did not name or locate the prisons where the abuses allegedly occured. It said testimony came from former or current detainees, human rights advocates, or people who worked in setting up or operating CIA secret prisons.

Well, Herr Marty, it seems to me you are asking the CoE and the rest of the world to take you at your word. Nice try but that just doesn't wash. May I suggest you return to Switzerland and mind your Senate business.

Tag: Secret CIA prisons
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Now, about those Z visas...

Feds to Suspend Border Passport Rule

The suspension in the rules is aimed at clearing a massive backlog of passport applications at the State Department that has slowed processing to a crawl, they said. Some officials said the change would last several months; others said as long as six months.

As I was saying below about sufficient resources....

Tag: immigration reform
Trackposted to Pirate's Cove, Webloggin, The Virtuous Republic, Dumb Ox Daily News, stikNstein... has no mercy, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe and OTA Week.

Immigration Reform

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R, TX) said the immigration reform bill currently before the Senate is not ready for cloture. [1] The Senator is correct given some of the essential features that are being added to the draft bill through ammendment. Two examples:

The bill must allow for weeding out antisocial types from obtaining a Z visa:

Still, several changes proposed by conservatives prevailed, including one by Cornyn that would make it easier to locate and deport illegal immigrants whose visa applications are rejected.

The bill would have barred law enforcement agencies from seeing applications for so-called Z visas that allow illegal immigrants to gain legal status. Cornyn said authorities should know if applicants have criminal records that would warrant their deportation. [2]

Opponents claim this provision will discourage applications. This, of course, is not a reasonable objection because the only people that would not come forward would be those with something to hide and they should be deported anyway.

The bill must allow for shutting off illegal immigration across our border:

Congress could block the legalization of millions of unlawful immigrants if it deemed the border too porous under a Republican proposal also slated for a vote on Thursday. [2]

Also an essential provision. Why? Because there is the nagging doubt about whether the Executive will apply the resources necessary to effectively close our borders. Without this step, we will never gain control over immigration. So, there must be a mechanism for pulling the plug and not allowing the legalization process to go forward.

The concern over resources also extends to the Z visa program. Already long lines are forming at U.S. postal facilities as citizens apply for passports. [3] What will happen when an estimated 10 to 20 million immigrants also show up to apply for visas?

Tag: immigration reform
Trackposted to Pirate's Cove, Webloggin, The Virtuous Republic, and stikNstein... has no mercy, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe and OTA Week.