"I HOPE IT'S YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DIE" - US Representative Dana Rohrabacker

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/21501

"I HOPE IT'S YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DIE" - US Representative Dana Rohrabacker
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-04-19 11:11. Congress | Nonviolent Resistance

By US Army Reserves Colonel (Retired) Ann Wright

"I HOPE IT'S YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DIE" said US Representative Dana Rohrabacker to American citizens who questioned the Bush Administration’s unlawful extraordinary rendition policies.

Congressional hearings provide a deep insight into the inner spirit of our elected representatives-and sometimes, the insight is not pretty.

On April 17, we witnessed Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) unleash his unbridled anger onto members of the European Parliament’s committee on Human rights who were invited guests and witnesses in the House Foreign Affairs European subcommittee hearing. The European Parliamentary human rights committee had issued a report in January, 2007 sharply critical of the Bush administration’s extraordinary rendition program in which persons from all over the world were detained by either CIA or local police and then flown by CIA jet (torture taxi) to other countries where they were imprisoned (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Libya, Djibouti, Morocco, Yemen. The report was equally critical of European governments for allowing the unlawful flights to take place.

From 2001 through 2005, the governments of fourteen countries in Europe allowed at least 1,245 CIA flights with illegally abducted terrorist suspects to be flown through their airspace or to land on their territory. Germany, Britain, Ireland and Portugal allowed the highest numbers of covert flights. As well as at least 1,245 flights operated by the CIA, there were an unspecified number of US military flights for the same purpose.

The European Parliament report differeniated between lawful extradition of criminal suspects for trial in another country and the unlawful abduction, sending to a third country usually noted for torture of prisoners and imprisoning for years without trial persons suspected of criminal terrorist acts.

The report acknowledged that terrorism is a threat to European countries as well as to the United States, but the European Parlimentary committee said that terrorist acts must be handled lawfully by both European countries and by the United States. The report said: "After 11 September 2001, the so-called 'war on terror' - in its excesses - has produced a serious and dangerous erosion of human rights and fundamental freedoms." The extraordinary rendidition program undercuts the exact liberties we are defending, the rule of law, the right for a fair and speedy trial, the right to know the evidence on which one is held and prosecuted.

more...

[damntexdem]

1. Dana was "my" rep when I lived in Long Beach.

He was an embarrassment even to many Orange-County Republicans because of his arts bashing -- whereas they liked to style themselves patrons of the arts.

[indepat]

2. I wonder it the fine 'puke congressman speaks for all 'pukes in hoping

the family members of all who question any W policy or action die for we already know such Americans who have the temerity to question any administration action or policy are regarded as a terrorist suspect, un-American, traitorous, el al when in reality it is those who undermine our Constitution and the rule of law who are all these.

[ninkasi]

3. A close look into the minds

and hearts of Republics is a very disturbing thing. Where do they get such bitterness, and hatred? How can they condemn so many people to unspeakable torture, even knowing that many caught up in their net of lies are innocent? My own feeling is if this manufactured "War on Terror" has to be fought using tactics like this, we lose either way.

I don't want to live in a country so obsessed with secrecy, belligerent attitudes toward other countries, and absolute suppression of any who disagree with their ideas. We are becoming a fascist country under Bush, and our Dems need to wake up, and begin impeachment proceedings ASAP.

The corruption of the government that has taken place over the last six years will take many more years to root out, and destroy. Just since we've been in power since January, every single investigation started by Dems has only unearthed even deeper, and more ominous problems than we had suspected. This is without question the worst, most corrupt administration in American history.

[ooglymoogly]

4. Repukes learn early to talk out of both sides of their face

because one side or the other always has a booted foot in it. They are born with foot in mouth disease.

[niyad]

5. I wonder how he would react to "ditto"--although we wouldn't ever be vile enough to ever think such

a thing, let alone verbalize it.

[katty]

6. disturbed, nasty minds travel in groups=GOP

[bonito]

7. OMG Must read the whole article Rec n/t

[tanyev]

8. Wow. And how many of his family members are over there right now risking death?

[Maraya1969]

9. This is where the MORAN part of these people comes from.

"Citing historic examples of other countries kidnapping persons, Rohrabacker said Israel had every right to kidnap Nazi official Adolph Eichmann from Argentina, bring him to Israel and execute him. Rohrabacher conveniently forgot to mention that the Israeli government did put Eichmann on trial, a trial which none of those who have been extraordinarily rendered have had. Rohrabacher then attacked and belittled the European Community for outlawing the death penalty saying that “You in the European community won’t stand up to evil people, you won’t execute them. Eichmann deserved to be executed, just like these terrorists must be executed."

I always think it is just ignorant people that say these things and the politicians behind them know the truth but need to support their party, (and their money) so they encourage it but it seems like this guy actually believes what he is saying!

And I'm thinking this guy actually has a college degree.

[Shaktimaan]

15. Also conveniently left out

is the fact that Eichmann is the only person to ever be sentenced to death under Israeli law. No other terrorist, no matter how vile, not Arafat, JUST that one man. The one who helped organize the most ruthlessly efficient genocide in known history. It is an affront to the level of evil that Eichmann attained to suggest that any of these terrorists are of the same league. If Israel does not see a need to execute them, why should we?

[Straight Shooter]

10. I get the feeling that Dana was the schoolyard bully in his younger years. n/t

[coda]

11. What's scary is he may have the wherewithall to "get'er done".

Terrorist Blackout:
Dailies give Rohrabacher a pass on al-Qaeda ties
By R. Scott Moxley
Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 12:00 am


Congressman Dana Rohrabacher tells voters he’s adamantly pro-life, but he accepted contributions from one of the nation’s most prolific abortion doctors. He describes himself as a fearless political warrior, but he avoided military service in Vietnam. He calls opponents weak on national defense, but he quietly lobbied the Clinton administration to ease export controls that allowed the People’s Republic of China to receive sensitive U.S. missile technology. He backed a six-year term limit for congressmen early in his career, but he now seeks his 17th and 18th years in Washington, D.C. He tells younger audiences he’s a hip, surfing libertarian with a wild history, including illegal drug use. To conservatives, he plays a Christian crusader hell-bent on protecting Boy Scout values.


But those inconsistencies aren’t as troubling as Rohrabacher’s mysterious relationship with three men arrested or under federal investigation for suspected ties to Osama bin Laden’s worldwide terrorist network.

<snip>

But Rohrabacher is speechless when it comes to explaining his friendships with Abdulwahab Alkebsi, Khaled Saffuri and Abduraham Alamoudi. On Jan. 16, an elated Rohrabacher entered a Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce mixer looking for easy votes. Bob Dornan—his March primary challenger—wasn’t invited. But Rohrabacher’s joy turned to dread. Attendees held copies of a Dec. 25 OC Weekly exposé that used federal ethics-disclosure reports, contribution files, criminal indictments and search warrants as well as conservative media sources to detail Rohrabacher’s longtime ties to the suspected terrorists. According to Yvonne Wachter, a district resident who attended the meeting, "Everybody was either holding or reading the article" and the congressman looked "frantic."

Rohrabacher may be able to explain why the terrorism suspects are his contributors, travel companions and dinner partners. But he’s not telling.


more >>>

http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/terrorist-blackout/20309/

[depakid]

12. I hope he and his AND his family experience 3 times the misfortunate

That he wishes and has wrought on others.

[MasonJar]

13. This is unconscionable! How truly devastating for our country to

invite educated testimony from an important group who support human rights and the apparently Bush/Gonzales designated "quaint" Geneva Conventions against torture and then embarrass the US citizens by allowing fools who represent a few of us to speak in such despicable terms at the hearing. I do NOT know if this piece of scum represents any DUers, but if so please, let us know in time to send his opponent in 08 donations galore.

[druidity33]

14. to be fair, he said...

"I hope it’s your family members that die when terrorists strike."

and in context:

Rohrabacher said if European countries did not cooperate with the United States and go along with whatever the Bush administration wanted, they were condemning their countrymen to death by not using extralegal methods to imprison terrorist suspects. When citizens attending the hearing, including members of Codepink Women for Peace and Veterans for Peace, heard Rohrabacher’s statement, they collectively groaned. Then, much to the shock and disbelief of everyone in the hearing room, Rorhbacker said to those who had expressed displeasure at his statements: "I hope it’s your family members that die when terrorists strike."


Just the ugliest of sentiments, from an obvious scoundrel...


Even though the statement is appalling either way, if you're putting those " marks on it... it should be accurate.

:shrug: