August 10, 2007

Just Following Orders

When the Cheney-Bush administration orders its minions to torture prisoners, prisoners from whom habeas has been stripped, prisoners thrown, essentially, into an oubliette, those actions place the United States squarely in the totalitarian tradition. Categorically, it is not the behavior of a democracy. Lest we despair to the point of acquiescence, the fulgent ideals of law do suggest both a correction and an ultimate accounting. To try to get at these issues I talk with Elisa Massimino, director of the Washington office of Human Rights First. She's whip-smart, she's got her priorities straight, and she's a leader in the behind-the-scenes fight to restore constitutional governance. I was delighted she took time to talk with me and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation despite the awful subject. Listen, and think! Total runtime an hour and ten minutes.