As I am not an attorney, I almost hesitate on posting about this article in today's S. F. Chronicle. However, it also seems that anyone with even slightly-above-average intelligence can follow the logic of Professor John Yoo's legal brief concerning the status of Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners held by the United States at Guantamo Bay:
"As a Justice Department aide, John Yoo wrote a legal brief in January 2002 arguing that fighters captured by U.S. troops in Afghanistan are not covered by the Geneva conventions -- the treaties that embody the laws of war. "
His detractors (I know that it is hard to imagine that Mr. Yoo has any at UC Berkeley, a bastion of open-mindedness and critical thinking) are now insisting that Mr. Yoo's brief led directly to the prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib. I find it hard to believe that such a stretch of the imagination could come from college-educated persons, but these same people are calling for Yoo's resignation by circulating a petition and signing it "Osama Bin Laden" and "Saddam Hussein". I don't think Professor Yoo need worry about losing his position anytime soon.
You're probably right that Yoo's job is safe. Nevertheless, it would be nice if more people would sign the online counter-petition telling Bob Berring, Michael Anderson and their ilk to pound sand.
Posted by: Xrlq at June 7, 2004 01:40 PM (Permalink)Actually, I suspect that those signing the petition with those names are not those who want it to be taken seriously.
Sabotaging stupid petitions (especially online ones) is an ancient artform. One, I suspect, pioneered by the very Leftists it's commonly used against today.
Sweet, delicious irony.
Posted by: Sigivald at June 7, 2004 01:48 PM (Permalink)XRLQ - Thanks for the tip. I'd love to tell them to pound salt, as well as where tp pound it.
Posted by: Mark D. Firestone at June 7, 2004 03:26 PM (Permalink)Yes, unfortunately some have done that to the counter-petition, too. As much as I'd like to believe Bob Berring actually confessed to being a buffoon, I rather doubt that he did. I'm not sure John Kerry's signature is genuine, either.
OTOH, I did recognize a few names from my old classmates.
Posted by: Xrlq at June 7, 2004 03:30 PM (Permalink)