Ian S. Thompson – 5/24/07

This page was last updated on May 24, 2007.

Altmire’s vote disappointing; Ian S. Thompson; Beaver County Times; May 24, 2007.

As background, Mr. Thompson began writing letters as a Penn State student. His fields of study were English and international politics and he graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in International Politics. In letters to the Penn State Daily Collegian, Mr. Thompson identified himself as the political director of Allies, a PSU organization now known as SpeakOut. The mission statement of SpeakOut reads, “Works to organize the family, friends, supporters and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally (LGBTA) community at PSU and is committed to a safe and social network open to all students, political and social education, and to increasing visibility and fostering a positive climate for LGBTA students at PSU.” When he “signed” an anti-landmine “treaty” on the web, Mr. Thompson indicated he was a member of Amnesty International.

If you’ve read Mr. Thompson’s letters since at least mid-2004, you know he’s a full-blown socialist (“a proud progressive” in his own words from 2003) who tends to resort to name-calling and unsupported talking points.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I was very disappointed in a recent vote by freshman U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire.

“During consideration of the defense bill, an amendment was offered to require the videotaping of interrogations of detainees being held by the Department of Defense (a.k.a. Guantanamo Bay).

“Additionally, the amendment would have mandated that human rights officials be allowed access to detainees.”

[RWC] The specific amendment was H.AMDT.198 and its purpose was, “An amendment numbered 32 printed in House Report 110-151 to require the videotaping of interrogations and other pertinent interactions between U.S. military personnel and/or contractors and detainees arrested and held. Directs the Judge Advocates General of the respective military services to develop uniform guidelines for such videotaping. Provides access to detainees for representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture for independent monitoring of detainee conditions and treatment.”

I guess the videotaping demand may be unnecessary since our enemies occasionally release videos showing the execution (sometimes by beheading) of their prisoners.

“After many horrifying reports of torture and abuse of detainees over the past six years, in addition to the still shocking images from Abu Ghraib, this common sense amendment would have seemed like a no-brainer.”

[RWC] Yep, those pictures of a naked pyramid and a guy with panties on his head were so “horrifying” and “shocking” I lost sleep – not.

Note there’s no mention of the treatment of prisoners held by the enemy. I guess acknowledging beheadings, hangings, torture, body mutilation, et cetera by the enemy doesn’t fit in the picture Mr. Thompson wants to paint.

In the most recent example of prisoner treatment by the enemy, his captors dumped the body of Pfc. Joseph Anzack, Jr., in the Euphrates River after his apparent execution. Except that there were no reports of body mutilation, Pfc. Anzack met the same fate as most (all?) American prisoners captured by the enemy. Does anyone believe Americans held prisoner by the enemy are treated according to the Geneva Conventions before their execution?

While it’s fine to expect reasonable treatment of captured enemy prisoners regardless of how our enemy behaves – and prisoners we hold get far better treatment than the law requires, I think something is amiss when such requests don’t acknowledge the treatment of Americans held prisoner by our enemies.

“Sadly, Altmire could not seem to find it within himself to support this very important first step in restoring accountability and the rule of law to the government’s interrogation and detention policies.

“The people of western Pennsylvania defeated two loyal Bush rubberstamps last November in U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart. The current administration has waged a steady battle against our Constitution and Bill of Rights since the day it swore to uphold and defend both.

“Now is not the time for lukewarm and tepid responses to the many assaults on our civil liberties. We need leaders who are willing to boldly challenge the abuses of power that have marked the Bush years.”

[RWC] Does anyone care to guess why Mr. Thompson didn’t provide details about “the many assaults on our civil liberties” and “the abuses of power that have marked the Bush years?” I believe Mr. Thompson can’t provide any legitimate examples, but I suspect he would claim there were too many examples from which to choose.

Anyway, when did enemy combatants captured on the battlefield gain “civil liberties?” Historically, enemy combatants caught out of uniform (none of our terrorist enemies wear a uniform) were summarily shot as spies.

“It would seem that it is still uncertain whether Altmire is such a leader.”

[RWC] Far be it from me to defend a Democrat’s action, but I believe Mr. Altmire voted correctly on this amendment. I should note Mr. Altmire was one of only 44 Democrats that voted against the amendment. 187 Democrats voted for the amendment.