Word: civilization
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...didn't see it that way. "Torture is a crime, and we are hopeful that President Obama's comments signal a new acknowledgment of the need for criminal investigations of those who authorized, legally justified and carried out these unlawful acts," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Accountability is not retribution; it is justice." Republicans professed to be perplexed. "We're sort of interested to know what is the policy or the position of the Administration," said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, "because now it seems to be somewhat confusing...
...Some civil rights lobbyists remain optimistic that the positions Justice Department lawyers have taken are little more than courtroom maneuvers that don't necessarily reflect the policy plans of the Administration. "The lawyers tend to approach every issue in terms of preserving maximum flexibility for the President," explained Elisa Massimino, a lobbyist at Human Rights First, who has been deeply involved in detainee issues. Nonetheless, she says she remains concerned. "Every Administration believes it is immune to the phenomenon of executive power creep," she added...
...stands, the Obama Administration policies on these matters are still very much a work in progress. Several key policy posts at the Justice Department, including the crucial top position at the Office of Legal Counsel, have yet to be confirmed. The Obama Administration also continues to meet with civil libertarians to discuss these issues. The latest, a private gathering that took place on Friday, involved several civil-liberties groups that had spoken with the Obama transition office about the state-secrets issue late last year...
...same time, the Department will soon face an entirely new array of issues that could create tensions with civil libertarians. Three key provisions of the controversial Patriot Act are set to expire at the end of this year, dealing with the government's ability to monitor the movements of so-called "lone wolves" (suspects who are not tied to a particular organization), handle roving wiretaps and obtain records with minimum court supervision. Congressional Democrats are also likely to push for a review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's use of so-called "national security letters," which allow the bureau...
...April 23, it will be 60 years to the day that nine warships and 17 other boats defected from Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomingtang during China's civil war, becoming the first vessels in what would become the Chinese Communist government's Navy. To commemorate the occasion, China's military is hosting four days of pomp and ceremony, to recall its meager beginnings, and to celebrate how far it has come. (See pictures of China's economic expansion into Africa...