"Torture Team" on Fresh Air

Been catching up on my favorite NPR shows. Here is one from 6/19 about Guantanamo.

Here are two things that are most jaw-dropping for me:

(1) the guy who is said to be the "20th" hijacker, in the face of the recent Supreme Court ruling stating that detainees had a right to access to the courts, has had all charges against him dropped, so that the government would not have to reveal in court how they tortured him.

(2) in the first year, the guards at Guantanamo realized that most of the detainees there are useless individuals--people who were simply swept up in the chaos, sold for money by Saudis and others, and have no military value and are not threats to the U.S. The guards went to the Pentagon to tell them that they need to release these detainees to free up resources for the real criminals. The Pentagon told them that to free them would mean admitting a mistake, and that the guards could go take a hike.

And that is where we remain to this day, with some 600+ detainees in Guantanamo, most of whom have nothing to do with this war so that the administration can save face, and the people who DID have something to do with this war, will soon be let go, so that the administration can save face.

Un. be. lievable. This sums up the Bush Administration for me. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER admit a mistake, NEVER back down, ALWAYS strike first. On an enneagram, I think he's a classic 8. Others think he's a 6. I could see it go either way. Here are two articles:

http://www.9types.com/writeup/enneagram_bush.html
http://www.lessons4living.com/enneagram6.htm

Here's the summary of an 8.

The Gut Center: Moves against others - Over Does Anger
Original Loss: "I was too weak."
Problem Emotion: Anger
Basic Decision: Being strong and in control allows you to survive and be loved.
False Claim: "I am always powerful and in charge."
Four Adjectives: Self-confident and decisive, but aggressive and combative.

Self-image: I am invincible.
Compulsion: To always be powerful and in charge.
Avoidance: Weakness.
Sin: Lust - Take what you want.
Gift: Strength, protection, and leadership
Seven Wing: More extroverted, enterprising, energetic, quick, and egocentric..
Nine Wing: More mild-mannered, gentle, receptive, and quietly strong.
Stress Point: 5 - Withdraws, avoids people, observes and thinks, consolidates plans.
Security Point: 2 -Protector of the weak, generous, helpful, charming .

God save us from this nightmare.