"Addington, Yoo Offer Little In House Torture Hearing

On Capitol Hill, a House subcommittee heard the testimony of Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff David Addington and former Justice Department attorney John Yoo. Addington and Yoo are said to have been instrumental in developing the administration’s torture policy. We play highlights of the hearing and get analysis with attorney Scott Horton.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Lawyers Guild are calling on the U.S. government to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate the military and CIA’s use of torture.

The calls were made yesterday on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill a House subcommittee heard the testimony of Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff David Addington and former Justice Department attorney John Yoo. Addington and Yoo are said to have been instrumental in developing the administration’s torture policy.

To talk more about the torture hearings Scott Horton joins us in the Firehouse studio. He is New York attorney specializing in international law and human rights. He is also a legal affairs contributor to Harper’s magazine, where he writes the blog No Comment. Scott Horton served as chair of the Committee on International Law at the New York City Bar Association.

Scott Horton, New York attorney specializing in international law and human rights. He is also a legal affairs contributor to Harper’s magazine, where he writes the blog No Comment. He served as chair of the Committee on International Law at the New York City Bar Association."

further info @;

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/27/addington_yoo_offer_little_in_house



John Yoo & David Addington evade House questions on CIA torture memos

Was legal advice in torture memo "implemented"?

Yesterday John Yoo was questioned by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) about his 2002/3 memos authorizing torture. Several times Mr. Yoo evaded questions by misunderstanding definitions of words like "implement" with uncertainty of whether the word had the same meaning for Mr. Ellison as it did to him.

"Yoo is so determined to distance himself from interrogation-related policymaking that he pulls Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., into a tug-of-war over the meaning of the word implemented. Ellison wants to know whether the legal advice was implemented that reduced the definition of torture to acts that damage a suspect's internal organs. By which he means, Did interrogators use the tactics allowed by Yoo's theory of the law? The answer to this, of course, is yes, and to know that answer, all Yoo would have to admit is that he reads the newspaper. But he won't go there. "The memo was signed," he offers after much demurral. This exchange peters out, as do the next few, leading a further questioner, Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to grimly mutter, "You guys sure are good at beating out the clock." To which Yoo replies, with an innocent shrug, "I don't play basketball." Too busy being captain of the debate team."

read on @;

http://www.slate.com/id/2194326/

Maybe we need to obtain a standard dictionary for Mr. Yoo to have present at any future hearings so that the definitions of words are not subject to personal opinions. There is nothing wrong with Mr. Yoo's english language skills, his attempts to redifine words are obviously a tactic of evasion of the truth, so much like his employers in the GW Bush regime, they've all really turned deception into an art form!!



Maybe Mr. Yoo thought Mr. Ellison was referring to implement as a garden tool??



"im·ple·ment (mpl-mnt)

n.

1. A tool or instrument used in doing work: a gardening implement. See Synonyms at tool.

2. An article used to outfit or equip.

3. A means of achieving an end; an instrument or agent.

tr.v. (-mnt) im·ple·ment·ed, im·ple·ment·ing, im·ple·ments

1. To put into practical effect; carry out: implement the new procedures.

2. To supply with implements."

found @;

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/implement