Room 216

It happened in the Senate Hart Office Building Room 216.

I've been monitoring the websites of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International USA, awaiting press releases issuing strong statements of disapproval and calls to organize protests and letter-writing campaigns.

So far, there have been no comments from these organizations on American abuses that took place in Room 216 this week.

I haven't seen the New York Times, the Washington Post, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, or Al Jazeera condemn the cruel methods used by some of the Americans in that infamous torture chamber.

We've seen photos. We've seen taped footage. Some of us viewed live video of the abuse as it was in progress. It was clearly documented.

Where is the condemnation from the Leftist organizations and liberals over this torture?

Human Rights Watch has been very vocal about torture techniques employed by the U.S., charging the Bush Administration with encouraging the widespread implementation of abuse during the interrogation of detainees in the War on Terror. The group opines that "torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading practices should be as unthinkable as slavery."

Here's a press release from Amnesty International, recognizing the "4th Anniversary of First Arrivals to Guantánamo," January 11, 2006.

It says, "There are approximately 500 men who have been treated with complete and utter disdain -- the antipathy of the American value of recognizing the basic human dignity of all people."

The release includes testimony from Guantánamo detainee Jumah al-Dossari.

Al-Dossari writes:
I am writing these lines about the part of my life that has come to pass, and which is still continuing, in American detention camps; lines about humiliation, indignity, oppression, deprivation and attacks on my religion, my person, my dignity and my humanity. From here, from the depths of the degradation that debase a person’s dignity, attack his religion, his person, his honour, his dignity and his humanity, all in the name of fighting terror.

Ah, yes -- "the antipathy of the American value of recognizing the basic human dignity of all people."
I guess the Senate Judiciary Committee Dems checked that precious "American value of recognizing the basic human dignity of all people" at the door of Room 216.

True, Samuel Alito did not spend this past week in a detention camp. He certainly never feared for his life, nor did he endure extreme physical pain. Nevertheless, the treatment he suffered at the hands of Americans in Room 216 is strikingly similar in SOME WAYS to that experienced by the "freedom fighters" being held at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo.

(Note: I said "SOME WAYS.")

Judge Alito and al-Dossari both had to withstand humiliation, indignity, and attacks on their religion, their person, their dignity and their humanity. In Judge Alito's case, his wife and children were in the room and had to witness the hours of abuse and bullying.

It's ironic that some of the Senators that have expressed the most indignation over American torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay became psychological torturers themselves.

They abused Alito by attempting to strip this honorable man of his dignity through humiliation and baseless attacks.

Senator Dick Durbin, the man who likened our military personnel to "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime—Pol Pot or others —that had no concern for human beings," took on that role of torturer himself.

Senator Kennedy, too.

The man who has been so outspoken about water boarding, stayed silent for hours in 1969, failing to report that he drove off the Dike Bridge in Chappaquiddick, resulting in the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Interesting that Kennedy was a ring leader of the torture in Room 216, isn't it?

They are hypocrites -- callous, politically opportunistic hypocrites, beholden to their fringe Leftist base.

Now, did Kennedy use water boarding on Judge Alito?

No.

Did Leahy force Judge Alito to wear women's underwear?

No.

Did Feingold put underwear on Judge Alito's head while he was badgering him?

No.

Did Schumer put Judge Alito on a leash while he was under "interrogation"?

No.

Did Feinstein perch on Judge Alito's lap?

No.

Did Biden demand that Judge Alito sit naked?

No.

Did Kohl pour cold water on Judge Alito?

No.

Did Durbin force Judge Alito to stand on a box?

No.

Did the aforementioned American Senators all take part in a despicable and groundless attack on the character of Judge Alito?

Oh, yes. They most certainly did.

With the world watching, did they call Judge Alito a racist and a misogynist?

Yes.

Did they call Judge Alito unethical and immoral?

Yes.

Did they humiliate Judge Alito as his family members sat by helpless to stop it, bringing Mrs. Alito to tears?

Yes.

Did they impugn Judge Alito's integrity and his good name?

Yes.

What these Dems on the Senate Judiciary Committee subjected Judge Alito AND his loved ones to was absolutely inexcusable. The reprehensible behavior of these Senators should be condemned by every American, regardless of political affiliation.

The Dems have turned the process of judicial confirmation in the United States into an utterly disgraceful exercise. That sickens me.

What do you think?

Should there be a Congressional investigation into what happened in Room 216?

Should John McCain introduce legislation to put an end to the torture of judicial nominees?

Should Room 216 be shut down and sealed off immediately, as a monument to what is wrong with American Democrats, the bullies of our country?

Does Room 216 really exemplify the state of our nation? Sadly, I think it does.