TO TORTURE OR NOT TO TORTURE, THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Let's start of by looking at a few definitions.

TORTURE – the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.

Now let's define:

WATER BOARDING – a form of torture that consists of immobilizing a person on his or her back, with the head inclined downward, and pouring water over the face and into the breathing passages. Through forced suffocation and inhalation of water, the subject experiences the process of drowning in a controlled environment and is made to believe that death is imminent.

Now that we have those items defined, lets ask the President what he thinks about the U.S., torturing prisoners of war, excuse me I meant to call them "detainees".

President Bush strongly defended U.S. interrogation practices for detainees held in the war on terrorism Monday, insisting, We do not torture."

Thank you Mr. President for clarifying that issue. I know that the United States would follow the guidelines of the Geneva convention when it comes to the ethical treatment of prisoners of war, excuse me again, I meant to call them "detainees".

Oh I'm sorry Mr. Cheney you had something to add to what the President was saying.

The Bush administration has proposed exempting employees of the Central Intelligence Agency from a legislative measure endorsed earlier this month by 90 members of the Senate that would bar cruel and degrading treatment of any prisoners in U.S. custody.

The proposal, which two sources said Vice President Cheney handed last Thursday to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the company of CIA Director Porter J. Goss, states that the measure barring inhumane treatment shall not apply to counterterrorism operations conducted abroad or to operations conducted by "an element of the United States government" other than the Defense Department.

Now I am confused...according to the President we don't torture but the Vice-President wants exemptions for members of the CIA.

Wait a minute, I am sorry it looks like CIA director Michael Hayden would like to chime in.

The CIA has for the first time publicly admitted using the controversial method of "waterboarding" on terror suspects.

CIA head Michael Hayden told Congress it had only been used on three people, and not for the past five years.

He said the technique had been used on high-profile al-Qaeda detainees including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Waterboarding, condemned as torture by rights groups and many governments, is an interrogation method that puts the the detainee in fear of drowning.

Wait this can't be. We are the United States...we are a super power, spreading democracy, liberating Iraqis and setting a great example for others.

DICK you wanted to chime in again on the use of torture.

Cheney said that he supported President Bush's national security decisions, which included the approval of waterboarding along with other harsh interrogation tactics. "I've been proud to stand by [Bush], by the decisions he's made," said Cheney, who then asked aloud, "Would I support those decisions today?"

"You're damn right I would," he answered.

Finally we will go to CIA Director Michael Hayden one more time for some clarity on this issue.

Mr. Hayden what are your thoughts on torturing prisoners of war (oops…again I meant to call them by their politically correct name "detainees") using the technique that was banned by the CIA known as water boarding

Waterboarding is necessary though probably not legal, CIA Director Michael Hayden told Congress Thursday as Attorney General Michael Mukasey said he would not open a criminal investigation into the CIA's use of the technique.

Strapping a person to a surface, covering their face with cloth and pouring water on their face to imitate the sensation of drowning could be used if "an unlawful combatant is possessing information that would help us prevent catastrophic loss of life of Americans or their allies," said Hayden.

"In my own view, the view of my lawyers and the Department of Justice, it is not certain that that technique would be considered lawful under current statute," he told the House Intelligence Committee after publicly disclosing that the CIA had used waterboarding on three of the enemy combatants.

Well now that I am officially confused and my brain feels like it is going to explode I can summarize by saying that Yes the United States has tortured using water boarding and supposedly the CIA has banned it but would like to use it even though it may be illegal. Also our President who says the U.S. does not torture, authorized the use of torture according to the V.P. And the V.P. wants exemptions for those who do torture.

So there you have it. Draw your own conclusions from it and just be thankful you aren't in Gitmo!

BUSH & CHENEY: INVASION OF VERMONT IMMINENT!

Are you angry about the war in Iraq? Do you feel betrayed by your own government? Do you want to see change? Well if so you may enjoy reading this piece about how a town in Vermont has taken action.

A town petition making President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney subject to arrest for crimes against the Constitution has triggered a barrage of criticism from people who say residents are "wackjobs" and "nuts."

In e-mail messages, voicemail messages and telephone calls, outraged people are calling the measure the equivalent of treason and vowing never to visit Vermont.

"Has everyone up there been out in the cold too long?" said one.

"I would like to know how I could get some water from your town," said another. "It's obvious that there is something special in it."

The petition — with more than 436 signatures, or at least the 5 percent of voters necessary to be considered — was submitted Thursday and the town Select Board voted 3-2 Friday to put it on the ballot. It goes to a town-wide vote March 4.

It reads: "Shall the Selectboard instruct the Town Attorney to draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution, and publish said indictments for consideration by other authorities and shall it be the law of the Town of Brattleboro that the Brattleboro Police, pursuant to the above-mentioned indictments, arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro if they are not duly impeached, and prosecute or extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them?"

If you agree or disagree with what the people in Vermont have done is your own opinion but the true beauty of what has been accomplished is the fact that they did it. That is one of the great things about this country. I have to admit I got a chuckle out of this story. The petition wont hold water but it is good to see people using their civil liberties to take action for a cause they believe in.