264 hours of sleep deprivation

MANIFESTO

In dribs and drabs the utter malevolence of the Bushies is coming to light. Viz., from a memo written by former Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee to interrogators of Abu Zubaydah, a high-ranking al Qaeda member:

Sleep deprivation may be used ... You have orally informed us that you would not deprive Zubaydah of sleep for more than eleven days at a time and that you have previously kept him awake for 72 hours, from which no mental or physical harm resulted.

Meanwhile, in talking about the release of the latest torture memos, President Popular essentially sanctions the practices by ignoring them:

This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions that these issues evoke. We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past. Our national greatness is embedded in America's ability to right its course in concert with our core values, and to move forward with confidence. That is why we must resist the forces that divide us, and instead come together on behalf of our common future.

While I suppose Obama's position isn't dramatically different from what he said during his campaign, this is nevertheless a shameless and irresponsible attitude.

UPDATE — Mark Benjamin has more.