Dem Now! today: "The CIA's Torture Teachers" and Rocky Anderson:

[babylonsister]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/25/1421214

The CIA's Torture Teachers: Psychologists Helped the CIA Exploit a Secret Military Program to Develop Brutal Interrogation Tactics

Last month, the Pentagon Inspector General declassified a report that provided concrete evidence that methods developed by the US military for withstanding torture were being used to develop interrogation techniques against prisoners. Investigative journalist Mark Benjamin reveals that two psychologists who worked as contractors for the CIA since 9/11 were at the center of the program. Last month, the Pentagon Inspector General declassified a report that provided concrete evidence that methods developed by the US military for withstanding torture were being used to develop interrogation techniques against prisoners.

Investigative journalist Mark Benjamin uncovers a new twist to this story -- the CIA"s use of similar tactics as the military interrogators. He also points to the high-level coordination between the CIA and the US military in developing the interrogation methods.

Benjamin also reveals that two psychologists who worked as contractors for the CIA since 9/11 were at the center of the program. Both men are currently under investigation.

* Mark Benjamin, national correspondent for Salon.com. His latest article is "The CIA's Torture Teachers."



http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/25/1421228

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson Slams His Friend Mitt Romney For "Flip-Flopping" on Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Torture In Attempt to Win GOP Presidential Nomination

Anderson and Romney became "great friends" after they closely worked together on the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake. They have campaigned for each other despite their party different but now Anderson says Mitt Romney's support for the Iraq war, torture and the doubling of the size of Guantanamo is "unconscionable." "I am very surprised that somebody like Mitt Romney who I always felt had such great integrity and was so reasonable would have caved into his handlers and flip-flopped on so many issues," Anderson said. Rocky Anderson - the mayor of Salt Lake City - is one of the most outspoken critics of the Bush administration and the Iraq war. Earlier this year he called for the impeachment of President Bush calling him a “war criminal” who has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Rocky Anderson is also well regarded for his local politics. Last year the Nation magazine praised him for instituting "some of the most creative, thoughtful and radical urban policies anywhere in America."

Today, Rocky Anderson is in New York to participate at an event calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. He will be speaking at the New York Society for Ethical Culture at 6.30 pm this evening.

We talk to him about impeachment and his friend Mitt Romney, Republican presidential candidate.

Rocky Anderson joins me now in the firehouse studio. Welcome to Democracy Now!

* Rocky Anderson, The Mayor of Salt Lake City. He is a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq and has repeatedly called for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

[helderheid]

1. rec 1

[babylonsister]

2. LOL! There's that Rocky fan!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

6. Here's another. He is so right on so many things. n/t

[babylonsister]

3. This is heartbreaking; Sister Dianna Ortiz,

a torture victim, is on their and can't stop crying. She also can hardly talk; sounds like someone tortured her vocal chords. :(

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/25/1421222

Sister Dianna Ortiz and Torture Survivors Hold 24-Hour Vigil Outside White House

Torture survivors from all over the world on Saturday gathered in front of the White House to mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors. The survivors were are all members of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition - or TASSC - the only organization in the United States made up of survivors of torture.

TASSC chose to do this year's vigil at the White House to officially launch its campaign to Repeal the Military Commissions Act, which survivors of torture have renamed the Torture Law.

Sister Dianna Ortiz is the founder of TASCC. In 1989, she was abducted by security forces while working as a missionary among indigenous people in Guatemala. She was taken to a secret prison in the capital center and brutally tortured. She was burned with cigarettes, raped, beaten and forced to torture a woman who was already near death. Sister Ortiz was the main organizer of this weekend's 24-hour vigil in front of the White House. Sister Dianna Ortiz joins me now from Washington DC.

* Sister Dianna Ortiz, a Catholic nun who was abducted and tortured by security forces while working as a missionary in Guatemala. She is the founder of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International.


Mark Benjamin's report about psychologists involved in training torture techniques to military, CIA, and Blackwater, that go well above and beyond the Geneva Conventions, was pretty disturbing.

[cascadiance]

11. I was brushing back tears when I saw her on this morning too...

It must be very difficult also for Amy Goodman to conduct interviews such as these, not sounding too persistent and uncaring and still trying to ask meaningful questions. She did the right thing by ending the interview early. That woman was definitely going through a lot hearing about that new article on what those like Cheney have gotten Congress to approve some methods of torture on the air like that. Damn, seeing her break up like that makes me wonder how everyone else in this world who's dealt with conflict must be feeling seeing news like this! Bushco has GOT TO GO! And they NEED to be put on trial! That's the only way that the rest of the world won't hate all of us in our lifetimes!

[NNN0LHI]

4. doubling of the size of Guantanamo? Holy Jesus

These Republican freaks have all lost their minds. This is really starting to look like the 1930's Germany I was taught about in school.

:scared:

Don

[EFerrari]

5. Amy played the clip where Pelosi says impeachment is

off the table and a waste of time. :mad:

Rocky is saying the Dems want to cash in on Bush's incompetency and that he believes that is wrong.

[babylonsister]

7. He's making A LOT of sense and making me more angry

at the Dems. We need to post this transcript/video when they're available. :grr:

[EFerrari]

8. Yep. He's calm, clear and strong. Very effective.

[babylonsister]

9. I'D vote for him! nt

[helderheid]

10. Rocky speaks for me.