nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:24 PM
Original message
So was seating at the dealership today waiting for my car to get serviced
Edited on Thu Apr-23-09 04:26 PM by nadinbrzezinski
and CNN was playing in the background
This older gentleman started to get visibly angry at the "lib'rul media and the torture story."\
So he kept ranting on and on and on, over how them lib'ruls would never serve and are damaging the country
So I asked him... anybody in your family CURRENTLY serving?
Yeah, so? Nephew...
You will not mind then if he is captured and water-boarded then. It is not torture, you say.
He got red in the face... "they would not do that, we are the US of A.. even suggesting it..."
Ask your nephew about SERE training and the reasons for it, now answer the damn question... you will not mind it then.
Well, you damn lberals never serve...
Try again buddy, and engaging in torture is not only against US law, but also an ilegal order under the UCMJ.. now ask your nephew next time he comes home on leave, about SERE and why and look him in the eyes and dare to tell him that you will not mind it, if he is waterboarded, beyond training that is... or has his nails removed, or quite frankly is raped... after all that is what we are doing.
The other people in the waiting room started to applaud, a little social shaming I guess.
Then there was this Navy Commander waiting for his car too. The only thing he said was... glad somebody actually gets it...
SERE training was started to prepare certain of our troops for what your people would do to them, Nadine. You call waterboarding torture, in fact you call anything that isn't bowing and groveling before our enemies for having the nerve to exist. The enemy, your erstwhile allies, does far worse to more people on a daily basis.
CaliforniaPeggy (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:27 PM
Response to Original message
1. What a GREAT smackdown!
You seriously rock, girl!
You not only have the courage of your convictions, but you have the smarts to speak them!
I am proud!
Big K&
Says one liar to another.
Name removed (0 posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:35 PM
Response to Reply #1
11. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
Oops, someone tried to inject sanity.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:36 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Why SERE exists
and do enlighten me, when did the guerrillas in Mogadishu exactly sign the Geneva Convention?
We have
I have twenty million rubles that say you never read the Geneva convention. It doens't say what you think, comrade.
galloglas (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:50 PM
Response to Reply #11
21. "they were set on fire and dragged through the streets." ??
You sure you are not thinking of Fallujah ?? Regardless, whether it is Somalia or Fallujah, we were not aligned against signatories to the Geneva Convention.
And, BTW, what you refer to was not torture. It was the desecration of bodies after they were killed. Probably borrowed a page from the US Military's book on either Dresden or the napalm firebombing of innocents in Vietnam.
Well, I guess we can figure out how the dearly departed earned a tombstone. By the way DUmmies, desecrating remains goes against the geneva convention and the Koran, I know you didn't know that. Saudi troops risked their lives trying to stop the Somalis from what they did.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:51 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. And at Fallujah, these were Mercenaries
who are NOT protected under the conventions, not that most people know that
Usrename (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #22
35. EVERYBODY is protected under the conventions.
Where is this fictitious carve-out in the conventions that excludes ANY human being from being covered?
It's a myth. It doesn't even exist. Non-signatories cannot get POW status, but the conventions still apply to them, just like they apply to ALL humans.
Where do you get this crap from? Why are you STILL mouthing the Bush/Cheney/Addington/Rumsfield/Wolfowitz/Gonzales talking points?
Haven't you figured it out yet that each and every one of those folks are ALL criminals and they just made all this bullshit up about the Geneva Conventions not being applicable?
Further evidence indicating the DUmmies have never read nor understood the Geneva Conventions.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:52 PM
Response to Reply #35
37. Mercenaries are treated in the same category as spies
you know that RIGHT?
No you don't
Go to the ICRC site and read them
That by the way was done on purpose by the by
eomer (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-24-09 06:06 AM
Response to Reply #37
85. Common Article 3 protections apply to everybody.
Common Article 3:
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed 'hors de combat' by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.
(2) The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/AP-Guantanamo-Geneva-Conv...
The essential first paragraph, when read correctly, covers everyone not covered under the other articles. The correct reading is like this:
In the case of armed conflict not (of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties)
The incorrect reading, the one used by the Bush administration, is like this:
In the case of armed conflict (not of an international character) (occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties)
I don't see any exception based on whether the person is a mercenary. It says "Persons", not "Persons other than mercenaries".
14thColony (753 posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:31 PM
Response to Reply #11
34. ...
1. That was Fallujah. The Somalis didn't burn any of the bodies of US dead.
2. They were 'security contractors' - mercs don't get to be called 'our guys.'
3. Defiling a dead body is not torture, since the person is, well...dead.
4. We already had a looooong period of 'tit for tat' in warfare; thousands of years of massacres and atrocities. With the Geneva Conventions all the great powers agreed that they would impose rules on the conduct of war EVEN IF THE OTHER SIDE DIDN'T.
More evidence indicating DU has not read the Geneva Conventions. A lot of evidence that this DUmmie paid no attention at all to Somalia, those were most certainly troops.
tabasco (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 07:55 PM
Response to Reply #11
50. I led men in combat in Mogadishu.
Let me be the first to tell you. If I found that any of those men had tortured a prisoner, I personally would have assured they made it to Leavenworth prison.
I did discover that some of my troops had stolen money from locals. Gave the assholes a field grade article 15 and took a stripe. No more stealing.
Republicans worship draft dodgers like Rush Limbaugh and have no concept of honor or decency.
Nations and people that support torture are rotten and evil.
I didn't fight for a country that allows torture.
Does anyone know whether tobasco has ever indicated his service before? Further, what is torture? We aren't exactly going to get information from them by saying pretty please.
MadMaddie (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 09:26 PM
Response to Reply #50
55. Thanks Tabasco!
You are correct Republicans worship draft dodgers like Rush Limbaugh and Cheney and they have no concept of honor or decency.
Says a person that unequivocally supports horrific murder and torture done to people, so long as they haven't been born yet. What's with this meme that you now have to have served to have honor and decency? What does this say for Dear Leader?
MineralMan (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:29 PM
Response to Original message
3. Good job. I have started calling people who spout unsolicited
crap in public places on their words, too. Since they initiate the discussion, I have no qualms.
My latest one was some guy in his 70s who was decrying "socialized medicine" in a bar near me. I asked him if he had a Medicare card. "Yeah," he said. I said, "I rest my case." He got it. I didn't have to remind him about his Social Security payments. Since I'm a white-haired old geezer on Social Security, I can beard these guys on their own crap.
For the keyboard warriors, I just ask them what branch they served in. I would not do that unless I could answer that I had served. Usually, they hem and haw and explain that they had a deferment or some such crap.
A bouncy and a zulu in one thread. I hope there is a stretchy further down.
haele (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:10 PM
Response to Reply #9
25. Last week, I was in the hallway at work (military base) talking to a new, young co-worker -
He had just been transferred from his first job with the government (he had worked at a rather small shop habituated by Randriods) and was asking me about the stickers he saw on my car, asking me if it was okay to drive on base with the "anti-government" bumper stickers I had ("Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry" "Obama Biden" "Retired Navy Chief" and "No on Prop 8" are Anti-government?).
I replied that so long as there were no indecent words or incitements to kill or damage, it didn't matter what was on my bumper, and that it wasn't illegal to be a liberal in the military.
A Navy Commander coming up behind me, loudly commented that "Thank god it isn't illegal to be a liberal" and gave me a thumbs up as he walked passed.
Lots of liberals are serving in the military - and I've noticed that Faux Noise is no longer one of the standard "go to" satellite feeds for TV's in military waiting spaces, on ship or shore. It seems to be CNN, Discovery, National Geographic, The Military or the History Channels now.
Haele
Two bouncies and a zulu, still looking for a stretchy....
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:35 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. Live in a navy town
have been talking down to these idiots for more than a few years now
The loud mouths who belong to the 101st keyboard brigade are loud because nobody faces them.
There just ain't no place with more loudmouths than DU anywhere on the internets.
MineralMan (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 04:41 PM
Response to Reply #10
16. Well, they rarely actually voice their filthy opinions
in places where they're likely to be confronted with them. They post on places like Free Republic and Stormfront.
These days, they're finding that speaking out gets serious disagreement. We won. I try not to let them forget it when they spew garbage.
Still, you have to pick your opportunities. There are places where it's unsafe to beard these twits.
Not judging by the amount of bouncies, stretchies, and zulus ya'll post.
calimary (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #10
28. That's it, exactly! They spew because nobody's out there checking it, challenging it,
Edited on Thu Apr-23-09 05:16 PM by calimary
rebutting it with - um - these ridiculous and inconvenient things called "facts."
They're used to just being able to spew without consequences. Well, times are different now, and we've seen too much and we know too much and EVERYTHING we all were trying so hard to say to stop all the madness turned out to be true, and we won't be suppressed anymore!!!
You only beat a bully by getting in his or her face and hitting back. And hitting back HARD. Because basically, bullies are cowards.
BTW - GREAT JOB! These people need to be put in their places.
Says the people that shout down and try to silence anyone who doesn't agree with them.
barbtries (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 05:29 PM
Response to Original message
33. these are my favorite stories to read on DU!
the best part is that it sounds as if you had the support of most of the people in that room. and it sounds as if they all knew what was being discussed!
justice may happen after all
Well now, there is a reason for that........
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 10:29 PM
Response to Reply #44
60. I love it too
between having actually served (in somebody else's military, my job was to partly enforce them silly conventions) and having married a US sailor who went to war...
Yep, I love it every time...
Now I almost expected the I was at (insert conflict here you *(*&^&**) but I guess this older gentleman was also a draft dodger.
Yeah, you were enforcing convention all right. Did Nadine just admit that she was one of the ones for keeping thos Soviet troops in line?
ejpoeta (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 06:10 PM
Response to Original message
46. that is my thoughts exactly. anyone who supports torture also supports
the torture of american soldiers. torture is ok, then it is ok for others to do it to OUR soldiers. it's amazing how many would go ballistic if that were done to any american soldier. good response to the guy. good response!!
Nadine's people had a lot of practice torturing American soldiers. During World War 2, when they were supposed to be our allies. During Korea. During Vietnam. And a hundred other little grassfires where we faced off against the Russian communists and their local lackeys. Hey Nadine, you guys still lost, suck on it.
Codeine (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 08:02 PM
Response to Reply #48
51. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape
It's a training regime that teaches soldiers how to deal with capture. Participants are waterboarded so they can experience how utterly debilitating it is, among other things.
A great bit on NPR's "All Things Considered" program dealt with it today.
And yet our troops come through unharmed. Sound like a useful technique. That is probably why you don't want it being used.
flyarm (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 09:18 PM
Response to Original message
53. OH DEAR DEAR NADIN..I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE WITH YOU!!!!!!!
Edited on Thu Apr-23-09 09:19 PM by flyarm
DEAR NADIN.. How freaking long have we been at this bullshit??????
But we have come a long way lady, have we not???????
I thought i was the only loud one in waiting rooms!!
Except now instead of us getting the rolling eys ..we get the applause!! Long time coming..
And hey if i haven't told you lately..thanks for serving .you and yours..if you get my meaning!!
Seems to me it was only last week that you and I were getting our brains beat out even here on DU about prosecutions..seems the tide has turned..or would that be the ASPENS???????????
GOOD ON YOU GAL!!
The one benefit I find now from being loud in waiting rooms for Doctors..now they put me in a room right away..and they don't have me wait in the waiting room..for fear, i believe, that they think i will start a revolt in their waiting rooms!! Lol..
Here's to you dear Nadin!!!!
fly
Sure, in other words you go in public looking for a fight and hoping to humiliate somebody. Ever wonder why other people tend to avoid you? It's the truth, your an asshole.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-23-09 10:31 PM
Response to Reply #53
61. In spirit fly, in spirt
and the silent applause to open applause has happened, the switch that is, over the last two months or so
Seems the swearing in and looking at two very scared excuses for human beings at the inaguration have done something to the national consciousness
And as to revelations of what we have done... expect this to be the damn tip of the damn iceberg
People lack imagination as to what folks are capable of doing.
Comrade, one would only suppose at what you have done. Why don't you tell us, what are people are capable of doing to each other? I'm sure your experience enforcing convention provided some insight.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-24-09 12:35 AM
Response to Reply #71
74. Well given that 1% of our population has actually served
and only 5% has direct contact with the armed forces, chances are in these contacts they have not served.
Of course in a navy town the percentages do go up, of both active, reserve and retired... but hey... this does not mean the idiots keep quiet
I have had a few interesting contacts with the idiots... and a few times with active duty personnel involved.
So, comrade, how does one go about silencing them? Oh, and quit saying our country. It ain't yours. You've never truly adopted it.
defendandprotect (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-24-09 12:36 AM
Response to Original message
75. Glad to hear this story for a number of reasons . . . for one,
Americans being more politically open -- I love to pass by people now and hear
them talking about politics. Never used to be!
Also -- when we do, we are obviously clearly more liberal/progressives.
And happy to hear that you had support for your comments!
Thank you!
Saying they can't believe Obama is President does not a "progressive" make.
Alas, no stretchy. But two bouncies and a zulu aren't bad.
DUmmies on the Geneva convention