The increasing erosion of our constitutions, civil rights and democracies as they are being gradually subjugated by Authoritarian Security Surveillance States. The bloating no-fly lists and terrorist watch-lists. The continuing inhumane and barbaric renditions, "enhanced interrogations" and indefinite detentions - of children, teenagers and adults alike. The continuing standing of Military Commissions, which are nothing more than politically-driven, rigged, kangaroo courts. The seemingly unending wars of choice and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq - both based on lies to justify a vengeance operation for 9/11 and the securing of foreign oil resources. The ever mounting toll of civilian deaths, displaced refugees and soldier casualties.

This is the overall state of things today with regards to our so-called "Western civilization" - especially with regards to the U.S.A., the U.K. and Canada.

McClatchy has started a series today on our 'War on Terror'.

McClatchy tracked down 66 men released from Guantanamo in the most systematic survey to date of prisoners held there. Many had no connection to terrorism, but their experience turned them against America.

For many of us, right from the beginning, this 'War on Terror' was seen as not the attempt to bring to justice those who commit 'Criminal Terror' but to increase the ranks of those labeled as 'Terrorists', while creating our own brand of Terror on others, creating a Perpetual War Fear to replace the old 'Cold War' Scare, praticing the failed policies of this countries power and wealth for more of the same, and going against All that we as a Nation are supposed to stand for, instead of a Worldwide Criminal investigation to bring justice for Criminal Terrorists Acts!

Watch The Opening Video of the Series

Sometimes I wonder why Congressional Democrats and the leading Presidential contenders never mention Mohammed Hagi Fiz, who was arrested on the basis of an "al Qaeda card" that turned out to be a bus pass for Oraguz, tortured for 8 months in Guantanamo, and released without being charged with any crime.

A simple Google image search for "Mohammed Hagi Fiz" reveals the answer to this puzzle. Democrats aren't indifferent, they're just confused.

(Updated below)

No - the title is not a mistake, nor a typographical error of the term "No man's land". This is about real human beings who find themselves without a land to call their own for the sole crime of having been wrongly imprisoned at Gitmo.

As of this month of August, 2007, some 80 Guatanamo Bay detainees have been cleared of all charges with regards to terrorism, as well as having been definitely established as constituting no threat whatsoever to the security of the U.S.A.

Yet they remain Gitmo detainees.

West Point today released a report meant to show us all just how dangerous all the prisoners really are. I find this troubling on so many levels it's hard to know where to start. West Point, our countrys number 1 Military College should never of been used for propaganda like this. To Politicize WP like this, and in so doing, making our Army a branch of the Executive is beyond the pale.

In the continuing saga being played out at Gitmo, the  military judges threw another roadblock back to the Bush Administrations plan to try these held in captivity there under the new Military Commissions Act.

On Meet the Press a few minutes ago, he stated bluntly  he would not close it tomorrow, he would do it right now, move the prisoners into the federal court system and let them have lawyers, this is what America is about, we have been prosecuting people for 2 centuries, the legal system is part of what makes America the nation it is.

On one of those News sites I browse for news I haven't run across elsewhere is a short burb announcing that Sen. Feinstein had filed a bill to close Gitmo. Anyone hear about this yesterday ? I sure didn't and I don't miss a whole lot.

Cross-posted at My Left Wing 
Of course, Omar Khadr is not Osama bin-Laden. Nor is he a relative of bin-Laden, as far as we know. But apparently, the boy tried to emulate the al-Qaeda founder when he allegedly murdered a U.S. serviceman. Khadr was captured in an Afghan al-Qaeda compound in July 2002 after allegedly throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. Green Beret.
At the time, Khadr was 15-years old.

VP Cheney today addressed the Heritage Foundation:

It looks like the Duke Lacrosse Players will be vindicated, I for one am glad. From the get go it looked like all there was against them was an accusation made

Prosecutors have decided to drop all charges against three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper at a team party, a person close to the case told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

I mentioned this in a post in the past, but I’ll repeat it; an accusation is not proof. To accuse is not synonymous with to prove.

I hope the Duke Lacrosse players will be able to continue their lives as though none of this had ever happened. We all know that won’t be the case. There will be books, and speaking invites. They will become the recent most prominent example of injustice, to be cited by those trying to discredit those who seek justice.

On this day 33AD:

Today is a day to remember
when they tortured and executed an innocent man.

Put him on trial... what did he do?? Probably no more than Socrates who was charged with "corrupting the youth of Athens." He pissed off a lot of powerful people in high places. However, it was the justice system itself that was corrupt.

Take responsibility... "Not me," said Pilate, "Not me," said Herod...

Throw him to the crowd... let them decide.
What happened next is the mystery... it's all politics.

From Never In Our Names.

Just as the heart beats in the darkness of the body,
so I, despite this cage, continue to beat with life.
Those who have no courage or honor consider themselves free,
but they are slaves.
I am flying on the wings of thought, and so,
even in this cage, I know a greater freedom.