Keith Olbermann pointed this out on Countdown last night. This is from yesterday’s White House press briefing by Dana Perino. She was commenting on the situation in Burma.
Q And the protests, themselves, seem to have been stilled. What do you make of that?
MS. PERINO: Well, unfortunately, intimidation and force can chill peaceful demonstrations. And reports about very innocent people being thrown into detention, where they could be held for years without any representation or charges, is distressing; and we understand that some of the monasteries have been sealed. Now, obviously, this has, again, a chilling effect on protestors, but we would ask that everyone show restraint and allow those who want to express themselves to be able to do so in Burma.
Yes, very distressing.
Take off the last two words “in Burma” and Ms. Perino could be threatening Americans.
As you say, without irony, we have to take these things with a bit of actual concern, that this administration would do whatever it could get away with seems evident, as far as silencing dissent in this country.
yeah, sure…we wouldn’t want the junta to be denied the ability to express themselves, would we? The whole situation in Burma highlights the Bush administrations deceits and hypocrisies with its claims to cherishing freedom. Bush’s rhetoric of freedom is as empty and anchor-less as a Rudy Giuliani wedding vow.
I don’t think you understand. There is a difference when godless people who do not know Jesus put people in detension, it is done without God’s love. When Christian men do it, God’s love is there (somewhere), and that makes it okay.
Olbermann made the point here that we have our very own American detention center(s) where people can be held for years without representation or charges
Dana did say “very innocent people”. Here, of course, we are not locking up very innocent people. We’re locking up terrorists. Just ask The Wonderous Leader.
Has Bush not called these protesters “a focus group”?
Pity.
Dana,
Let me ask a question: Where’s the line between innocent and “very innocent?”
Where is it in this country?
Are you saying that we can do what we want to the innocent, but have to leave the “very innocent” alone?
Can I assume from that that the rest of us are the “very innocent” that you’ve left alone, while rendering the innocent?
Dana, look around and see if you can tell which of your colleague’s are guilty, or very guilty. Which are evil, or very evil.
Maha,
The president only believes in detaining terrorists without representation or trial.
The Burmese monks aren’t terrorists.
Wheres the irony? 🙂
Irony is Dead…
Long Live Irony!
does innocence or very innocence, guilt or very guilt matter if there are no charges to be innocent or guilty of?
“we would ask that everyone show restraint and allow those who want to express themselves to be able to do so in Burma”
No irony at all if read carefully. Ms. Perino was obviously advising Bush admin supporters on the proper handling of domestic protesters and suggesting a new approach to “designated protest areas.”
– Charles
#9 libarbarian,
You first premise is false. Bush is only arguing that people that the president CLAIMS are terrorists can be locked up without charges. Obviously, they don’t actually have to BE terrorists because with no charges, no evidence of terrorism or any other crime is necessary. In fact, Bush could easily lock YOU up tomorrow and hold you for years, and you’re not a terrorist.
Regarding your second premise, how do you know that the Burmese Junta does not have secret evidence that the monks are terrorists? You don’t, because with no charges any such evidence would remain…secret.
libarbarian:
“The president only believes in detaining terrorists without representation or trial.”
What Bush actually said yesterday:
“”When we find somebody who MAY have information regarding a POTENTIAL attack on America, you bet we’re going to detain them and you bet we’re going to question them.” (emphasis mine)
With this statement, Bush has made it clear that he not only detains terrorists and persons connected to actual terrorist acts. He feels justified in detaining anyone he thinks might possibly have any sort of information on any attack that might potentially occur at any time in the future. In other words, anyone, anytime, anywhere.
And with the recent revelations we now have evidence that Bush’s “detainee interogation program” includes physical assault, simulated drowning (waterboarding), and exposure to frigid temperatures. In other words, torture.
What Bush actually said yesterday:
“”When we find somebody who MAY have information regarding a POTENTIAL attack on America, you bet we’re going to detain them and you bet we’re going to question them.” (emphasis mine)
There may be an attack on Denver next Thursday using cyanide gas.
There you go – anyone reading this now MAY have information about a POTENTIAL attack on America. And is now liable to be indefinetly detained at the President’s whim.
Tell us again about America The Free…
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If MEMRI mistranslations can go unchallenged this long, with the stakes so high, then what passes for a free press in the US?
Libarbarian was being ironic.
You guys definitely didn’t pick up on that, so I guess irony really is dead.
A better title for this article would be “Hypocrisy is alive and well.”