The Good Faith Years: Revisited

[Solly Mack]

The Good Faith Years: A Metamorphosis
First posted: August 13, 2008


Good Faith

Legal explanation - Good Faith is the sincere effort and purpose of doing an action or activity with an aim or objective to achieve good results or outcomes.

Common usage - Honesty or lawfulness of purpose



In good faith, on November 7, 2000, America went to the polls.

In good faith, America waited as the votes were counted.






In good faith, America watched for 36 days as the drama unfolded in Florida.

5 weeks later the Supreme Court of the United States named George W. Bush President.


In good faith, people went about their business in the early morning hours of September 11, 2001.

In good faith, some people turned to their President to show leadership.

In good faith, some of the Americans who contested Bush's legitimacy as president put all their anger aside to stand with him on this day of all days.






On September 12, 2001, the "post-911 world" took over. Where rule by fear and secrecy replaced the rule of law. Where those who championed human rights were now traitors, un-American, and accused of aiding terrorists.

On September 20, 2001, Bush declares his "War on Terror"


In good faith, Americans looked to Congress.

Just 45 days after September 11, the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001", aka The Patriot Act, was passed by Congress and signed into law by Bush.


In good faith, Muslim Americans and immigrants practiced their religion. Comfortable in a country that prided itself on freedom of religion. Comfortable in a country where justice was bound by the rule of law and the rule of law was bound by the Bill of Rights. Comfortable in a country that prides itself on its diversity. A diversity made possible by its history of immigrants desiring a better life. A history enshrined in the Statue of Liberty.


Shortly after September 11, 2001, Michael Chertoff, then head of the DOJ's criminal division, with the blessings of then AG John Ashcroft and the Bush administration, began rounding up Arab, Asian, and Muslim immigrants. Holding them for months and months - without charge and without access to lawyers.

Much later, in 2005, Chertoff is nominated as Secretary of Homeland Security. He was confirmed by the Senate.

Shortly after September 11, 2001, violent attacks on Arab-Americans by their fellow Americans increased - and not just Arabs...any brown-skinned person would suffice to people whose only real motives are hate and opportunity.


On November 13, 2001, Bush issues orders for military tribunals in his "War on Terror."

On November 15, 2001, a list of concerns is presented by Human Rights Watch in a letter sent to President Bush.

The letter is also addressed to:

Vice President Richard Cheney
The Honorable Colin Powell, Secretary of State
The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
The Honorable John Ashcroft, Attorney General
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs







On January 10, 2002, detainees from Afghanistan are flown to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We're told, and expected to believe - in good faith - that since "The Red Cross and other organizations will monitor conditions" there is nothing illegal taking place.


On January 11, 2002, concerns are raised over treatment of detainees at GTMO.


On September 19, 2002,President Bush sends his Iraq Resolution to Congress


On October 7 , 2002, Bush claims a "common enemy" exist between Iraq and al-Qaeda. In doing so, Bush links together the attacks of September 11 with Saddam Hussein and Iraq in the minds of many Americans. In good faith, many Americans believed him.



An image of collusion that others in the Bush administration nurtured.





In good faith, Americans looked to Congress.


On October 11, 2002, both the House and the Senate approve the "Iraq war resolution"


In January of 2003, Bush spoke these 16 words - "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.

In good faith, many Americans believed him.







On March 19, 2003, the "Shock and Awe" invasion of Iraq begins.


In good faith, the troops went off to Iraq (and Afghanistan in 2001) with Bush's full support.


On January 13, 2004 Spc. Joseph Darby exposed the torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib.






With the publication of just some of the pictures of torture and abuse, Abu Ghraib's dark history now became a part of America's history.

"In his interviews, Bush maintained the actions at the Baghdad prison were an anomaly."

In good faith, the Arab world listened as the President of the United States stopped short of an apology.

On May 7, 2004, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld "takes full responsibility" - not for the torture and abuse but because the photographs became public and caused damage.

"If there's a failure, it's me. It's my failure for not understanding and knowing that there were hundreds -- or however many there are of these things -- that could eventually end up in the public and do the damage they've done,"


In December of 2004 we learn "A confidential Red Cross report detailing interrogation techniques "tantamount to torture" at the United States-run prisoner camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, offers the latest evidence that the Bush administration is systematically flouting international law as it battles the war on terrorism"


In good faith, outraged Americans turned to Congress

The Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 becomes law. The DTA exempted the CIA from the laws governing the treatment of detainees/prisoners.

"In defending enhanced interrogation tactics, President Bush has tried to have it both ways, avowing that “we do not torture” while exempting CIA interrogators from the Army Field Manual’s ban on waterboarding, sleep deprivation, extreme temperatures and other controversial techniques. To its discredit (understatement), Congress endorsed this loophole when it passed the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005. "




On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast.





In good faith, the people of the Gulf Coast, with death and massive devastation surrounding them, looked to their government for help . In good faith, Americans from all over the country just knew their government would help. In good faith, people from around the world offered aid even while they believed the U.S. government would, no doubt, help their own as well.





On August 29, 2005, Bush celebrated John McCain's birthday.





Bush also enjoyed a bit of guitar antics while he continued his vacation.


In 2005, it is reported that "Abu Ghraib Tactics Were First Used at Guantanamo."

In 2005, Rice to Go on Offense Over Secret Prisons

"Administration officials previously have said the United States has abided by U.S. laws and complied with "international obligations." The problem for the administration has been that many European officials have suggested the secret prisons violated European laws -- and intelligence officials agree with that, saying that is one reason the operations have been kept secret.

To rebut that concern, Rice will introduce a new concept, also suggested by McCormack, that the United States "respects the sovereignty" of its allies. Administration officials said this language is code for saying that these intelligence operations took place with the full knowledge of relevant European government or intelligence officials -- without actually confirming specific intelligence programs."


In 2005, Bush said "We don't torture.", and he expected America and the world to take that on good faith.


In 2005, CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described

"Harsh interrogation techniques authorized by top officials of the CIA have led to questionable confessions and the death of a detainee since the techniques were first authorized in mid-March 2002, ABC News has been told by former and current intelligence officers and supervisors."


In 2006, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled Bush's military tribunals/rendition illegal.

Justice department officials argued the court had pointed the way out of the legal morass by noting that Congress could pass laws specifically authorising military tribunals. "Nothing prevents the president from returning to Congress to seek the authority he believes necessary," Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in his opinion.


In good faith, both Bush and the people looked to Congress.


The Military Commissions Act of 2006 was passed into law. The MCA of 2006, among other things, "removes the Constitutional due process right of habeas corpus" and "permits convictions based on evidence that was literally beaten out of a witness, or obtained through other abuse by either the federal government or by other countries" and provides "Government officials who authorized or ordered illegal acts of torture and abuse would receive retroactive immunity for their crimes" and allows that "the president has the power to define what is — and what is not — torture and abuse, even though the Geneva Conventions already provide us with a guide."


In 2006, Bush acknowledges secret CIA prisons

"The announcement from Bush was the first time the administration had acknowledged the existence of CIA prisons..."

"Bush would not detail interrogation techniques used through the program, saying only that they are tough but do not constitute torture. He did use language that suggested its nature, saying the CIA turned to an “alternative set of procedures” that were successful after Zubaydah and others had stopped providing information."


Khalid Sheik Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah among those waterboarded by the CIA at one of their secret prisons.

"CIA director Michael Hayden confirmed in an open session of Congress Tuesday his agency's use of an interrogation technique many consider torture -- a technique at the center of a national debate on the treatment of U.S. detainees in the war on terror and in the war in Iraq.

In acknowledging that CIA officers and contractors used waterboarding on three "high-value" detainees, Hayden revealed information nearly identical to that shared by a former CIA officer last December with ABC News, which prompted the CIA to request a criminal prosecution.

Until Hayden's comments before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today, no senior U.S. intelligence official had publicly acknowledged the technique."


In the interview with ABC News Friday, Bush defended the waterboarding technique used against KSM.

"We had legal opinions that enabled us to do it," Bush said."


In good faith:

We got Bush's cabinet members

In good faith:

The 911 Commission included Lee Hamilton and Fred Fielding

In good faith:


We got (and this is by no means a complete list of the inexplicable things good faith has brought us)


Porter Goss as head of the CIA
John NegroPonte as Director of Intelligence
Samuel Alito as a justice on the Supreme Court
John Roberts as chief justice of the Supreme Court


and the Good Faith Faery himself - sprinkling good faith dust around to cover up all manner of crimes.

Michael Mukasey as Attorney General of the United States


In Good faith is a legal justification for engaging in torture.

In Good faith is an excuse for telecoms breaking the law.

In Good faith now means a crime isn't a crime as long as you acted in good faith because the Justice Department (no matter how corrupt they are) said you could.


Torture Memos - written for the sole purpose of providing legal cover for breaking both federal and international law are A-OK with a little good faith dust sprinkled on.



Written in "good faith", to "protect" America - regardless of how illegal.

So it's OK.


Start a war. Invade a country based on lies and trumped up evidence - from 2003 and 2008. Claim "mistakes were made" and that you did nothing wrong because you acted in good faith, based on the intelligence you had. (the same intelligence you trumped up and lied about) - and it's OK.

Sprinkle. Sprinkle. Sprinkle.

Clap if you believe. Clap - Clap - Clap for the Good Faith Faery.



Seems to me that good faith has morphed into nothing more than a bullshit protective umbrella for abuses of power and war crimes.




And if anyone still insists on defending the indefensible (or maybe they just don't know) - The torture came BEFORE the memos. Reconcile that.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. k+r, n/t

[Solly Mack]

2. Thanks. n/t

:)

[tblue37]

3. K&R

Great post!

[waiting for hope]

4. Amen - and K&R.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

...

[chill_wind]

5. Bravo Solly Mack!

:applause:

I believe, as another good DUer we both appreciate here put it today, "the 'good faith defense' is probably going to fold up fast like a cheap card table."

Torture began before the memos. They took out extra insurance policies because they knew the legal cover was crap.


To conceal their knowing guilt, they DESTROYED the tapes. They DESTROYED the tapes of their good faith deeds.

[Solly Mack]

6. I agree with you and the other poster ( that I do indeed appreciate!)

:)

I posted the original last year when the Bush administration was "good faithing" everything and it seemed timely again.


and chill_wind, I appreciate you too!!!

[chill_wind]

7. kick for the DU bookmarks. n/t