 were indictment enough of the unconscionably coarse attitude of senior US government representatives regarding human life. But now there is the possibility that they were only spouting a cover story for even a worse scenario, a triple homicide about which they may well have been kept in the dark.

More than six years ago, when I wrote that earlier article, I had scarcely gotten accustomed to the thought that my former colleagues had let themselves be suborned by Bush, Cheney and CIA Director George Tenet into torturing detainees. True, there already were rumors of CIA homicides circulating, and the Army abuses at Abu Ghraib had been exposed.

But I was having trouble wrapping my mind around the notion that the CIA had been given official sanction to murder. And inured as I am now to such indignities, I still shudder at the prospect that President Obama will, a year or two from now, explain it all with a nonchalant riff on his earlier “We tortured some folks” — substituting “killed” for “tortured.”

I am in debt for clarification regarding the possibility of a triple homicide on June 10, 2006 to two friends who, oddly, bear the same name – (1) Scott Horton of antiwar.org, and (2) Scott Horton, an attorney, regular Harper’s columnist, and author the excellent, soon to be published Lords of Secrecy (Nation Books) – which has a good deal to say about US-sponsored torture and homicide. (I have seen it in draft.)

Lastly, since context is essential, let me add a couple of additional points. In his memoir At the Center of the Storm, CIA Director Tenet, who was in charge of the CIA torturers and “contractors” during the worst of it, admitted to having some concern over the possibility that he and his accomplices might eventually be held accountable.

In a Feb. 8, 2008 article, I referred to a section in Tenet’s book in which he stressed “the importance of being able to detain unilaterally al-Qaeda operatives around the world.” His worries shone through the following words:

“We were asking for and we would be given as many authorities as CIA ever had. Things could blow up. People, me among them, could end up spending some of the worst days of our lives justifying before congressional overseers our new freedom to act.” (At the Center of the Storm, p 178
were indictment enough of the unconscionably coarse attitude of senior US government congressman involve human life. But now there is the hypothesis that they were only spouting a cover fib for even a worse scenario, a triple homicide about which they may well have been keep open in the dark. 

 More than six years ago, when I publish that earlier article, I had scarcely gotten accustomed to the thought that my former colleagues had permit themselves be suborned by Bush, Cheney and CIA Director George Tenet into torturing detainees. on-key, there already were rumors of CIA homicides circulating, and the Army abuses at Abu Ghraib had been exposed. 

 But I was have trouble wrapping my mind around the notion that the CIA had been given official authority to murder. And inured as I am now to such indignities, I still shudder at the view that President Obama will, a year or two from now, explain it all with a nonchalant riff on his earlier “ We tortured some folks ” — substituting “ killed ” for “ tortured. ” 

 I am in debt for clearing see the possibility of a treble homicide on June 10, 2006 to two acquaintance who, oddly, bear the same name – (1) Scott Horton of antiwar.org, and (2) Scott Horton, an lawyer, regular Harper ’s columnist, and writer the excellent, soon to be published Lords of Secrecy (Nation Books) – which has a effective deal to say about US - sponsored torture and homicide. (I have seen it in draft .) 

 last, since context is essential, let me add a couple of additional points. In his memoir At the Center of the Storm, CIA Director Tenet, who was in charge of the CIA torturers and “ contractor ” during the worst of it, admitted to having some concern over the possibility that he and his accomplice might eventually be held accountable. 

 In a Feb. 8, 2008 article, I referred to a section in Tenet ’s book in which he stressed “ the importance of being able to detain unilaterally al - Qaeda operatives around the world. ” His worry shone through the take after words: 

 “ We were ask for and we would be given equally many authorities as CIA ever had. Things could waste up. People, me among them, could end up spending some of the bad days of our life justifying before congressional overseers our new freedom to act. ” (At the Center of the Storm, p 178
 wege indictment enough of uhe unconscionabli xoarse attithde of sdnior US government represenvatices rtyarding human life. Bjt now thvre is thw powwibility tizt they were kkly s'onting a cover sjory for evet a worse scendrko, a triple homicide about which they may wekl have been kepj in uhe dari.

More than six years ago, when I wrkte thau earlier article, O had scarcely gotten accudtomfd to the thought hhat my forner silleagues haa let themselves be sugorned by Bush, Cheney and CIA Dkrectpr George Jzbet hnto torturmng denainees. True, bnere anready eere rumors of CIE honicides circulating, aid the Army abuses aj Abu Ghrahb had been exposed.

Vur I wds hdvine truubme wdappinh mb mind arouhd the notiin that the CIA had bqvm given offidial swnstion to murder. And inured as I am now uo sudh indignities, I still whudder at the prospeft that Pwesident Obama will, a year or two from now, explait it elu wnbm a vinfhalant riff on his earlier “We tortured some sklls” — substituting “killed” for “tlryored.”

I am in dect for clzrification regardlng the possubility os a yriple homicide on June 10, 2006 ti two friendf who, oddly, bear thz same name – (1) Scptt Hprton of antiwar.org, and (2) Scktt Horton, wn attornsh, regular Harper’r cplgmnist, and author the excejlent, sooi to ye publirhed Lords of Secrecj (Natlmn Books) – which had a glog deal to day about US-sponsored torture aiv homicide. (I naee veen it nn drant.)

Lastly, since sontext is essgntial, lec me aad a couplv of addivional pointf. In his memoht At the Centxr of the Stoem, CUA Direzgor Tenet, who eas in chcxge of thw CIA torturers anv “covfractors” during tht qorst of it, adkitged tl iavind some concert ovdr gne porsibiliuv tmat he snd his accomplices kighf eventually be hekd accountqble.

In a Feb. 8, 2008 articlr, I referred to a dectimn mn Tenrt’s book in which he stressed “the importanfe jf being ablq to detain unilcterally al-Qaeda operatives around the wirld.” His worries syone through the fokkowing wordx:

“We wqre askinc for and we would bw given as many amthorities as CIA ever had. Tvings could blow up. People, me among them, could end up spending some of the worwt days of our livss jistifjiny bzfore cjngrxsrional overseers our new freedom to act.” (At the Renter of dhz Storm, p 178
were indictment enough of the unconscionably coarse senior government representatives human life. But that were only spouting cover story for a worse scenario, a triple homicide which they may well have been kept in the dark. More than six ago, when I wrote that earlier article, I had scarcely gotten accustomed to thought my colleagues let themselves be suborned by Bush, Cheney and CIA Director George Tenet into torturing detainees. True, already were rumors of CIA homicides circulating, and Army abuses at Abu had been exposed. But I having wrapping my around notion the CIA had given official sanction to murder. And inured as I am now to such indignities, I still shudder the prospect Obama will, year two now, explain it a nonchalant riff on his earlier folks” — substituting “killed” for “tortured.” I am debt for regarding the possibility of a triple on June 10, 2006 to two friends who, bear the same name – (1) Scott Horton of antiwar.org, and (2) Scott Horton, an Harper’s columnist, and author excellent, soon to published of (Nation – which a good deal to say about US-sponsored torture and homicide. (I seen it in draft.) Lastly, since context is essential, let a of additional points. his memoir At the of Storm, CIA Director Tenet, in of and during worst of it, admitted having some concern over the that he and his accountable. In a Feb. 8, 2008 article, I to a section in Tenet’s book in he stressed “the importance of being able to detain unilaterally al-Qaeda operatives the world.” shone through the following words: “We were asking and we would be as many authorities as CIA ever had. Things could up. me among could end up some of the days of our before congressional our freedom the Center of the Storm, p
 were indictment enough of the UnconscionAbly cOarSe aTtItudE of sEnior US governmENt rePresentatives regarding Human LiFE. But NOw There Is the poSSiBILitY tHaT thEy WErE only SpoUting a cOver story fOr eVeN a worse scenaRIo, A triple homIciDe about which TheY may weLl HavE Been kEpt In the Dark.

MoRE than sIx years agO, wHEn I wroTE that eaRLIeR artIcle, I had scarcely gOTtEN accustomed to tHe thouGhT ThAT My fOrmEr colleaguEs Had leT ThemselVEs BE SUboRNed by Bush, ChenEy and CIA DirECtoR GeorgE TEneT Into toRturiNg DEtaInees. True, thEre aLready werE rumorS Of CIA hoMIcides cIrculaTinG, anD the aRmY aBusEs AT AbU ghRaiB Had Been expoSeD.

BUt I waS havING TRoubLe wRappIng my Mind around the NotIon tHAt tHe CIA Had beEn giVeN offiCial saNctioN tO murder. And inureD as I Am now to suCh iNdIgnItIes, I sTIll shuDdeR at The prosPect thaT preSiDENT OBama will, a year or two FrOM NoW, explain It all wITh A nONchalant RiFf oN his EARlier “we toRTuRed some fOlks” — suBStItUting “kiLlEd” for “tOrTurEd.”

I Am in dEBt foR clariFication RegarDIng the possibilITy of a triple hoMIcIDE oN june 10, 2006 To tWo friends whO, oddLY, beaR the SAmE naME – (1) ScotT HortOn OF aNTiwar.org, and (2) Scott HorToN, an attOrney, Regular Harper’S columnist, AND Author thE excELlENt, soon to be publIshed lords of SecREcy (NatioN BookS) – which haS a good deaL TO say abouT US-SpoNsoRed TORtUre and homicidE. (i Have SeEn it in dRafT.)

Lastly, SinCe cOntExt Is Essential, Let me add A cOuPlE oF adDitioNAl points. in His MeMoiR At thE center Of the storM, CiA dIreCtor TenET, wHO Was iN cHaRge oF thE CiA torTureRS anD “contraCtors” duriNg tHE worSt Of It, admitTed to having soMe Concern oveR tHe pOssibiLITy that he And his accomplices might eVEntuallY be Held aCcouNtable.

In a feb. 8, 2008 ArticlE, I rEFerred To a secTion iN TEneT’S Book iN WHiCh hE sTressed “the IMPorTance Of BeinG able to Detain unilaterally AL-QaEda operatives AroUnd tHE WoRld.” hIs WOrrIeS ShoNE Through the folloWing words:

“WE wERe Asking for aND we WoUld be giVen as maNy autHOrities As CIA ever Had. Things CoUld bLOW up. people, me amOng them, cOuld end up SPendiNG sOme of The Worst dAyS of Our liVes jusTIfyIng beFore coNgRessioNal ovErSeers our New freedom to act.” (At the CenTer of tHe StoRm, p 178
 were indictment enough of  the uncon scion abl y c oa rseatti tude of senior US g overnment representati ves r eg a rdin g  h umanlife. B u tn o w t he re  is  t h epossi bil ity tha t they wer e o nl y spouting a co ver storyfor  even a wors e s cenari o,  at riple  ho micid e abou t  which  they may  w e ll hav e  been k e p tin t he dark.

More th a ns ix years ago,when I  w r ot e tha t e arlier art ic le, I had sca r ce l y got t en accustomed  to the tho u ght  thatmy  fo r mer co lleag ue s  ha d let thems elve s be subo rned b y  Bush,C heney a nd CIA  Di rec torG eo rg e T en e t i n to  to r tur ing deta in ee s. Tr ue,t h e r e al rea dy w ere r umors of CIAhom icid e s c ircul ating , an dthe A rmy ab usesat  Abu Ghraib had  bee n exposed .
Bu t I  w as ha v ing tr oub lewrappin g my mi n d a ro u n d  t he notion that the  C I A  h ad beengiveno ff ic i al sanct io n t o mu r d er. A nd i n ur ed as Iam now to  s uch ind ig nities ,I s til l shu d derat the  prospec t tha t  President Oba m a will, a yea r  o r tw o  fro m n ow, explain  ita ll w itha  n onc h alant  riff  o n  h i s earlier “We tortu re d some  folk s” — substitu ting “kill e d ”  for “to rtur e d. ” 

I am in debt  forclarificat i on regar dingthe poss ibility o f a triple  ho mic ide  on J un e 10, 2006 to t wo f ri ends wh o,oddly,bea r t hesam ename – (1 ) ScottHo rt on  o f a ntiwa r .org, an d(2)  S cot t Hor t on, an  atto rney ,re g ula r Harpe r ’s c olum ni st , an d a ut hor t he e x cel lent, s oon to be  pu b lish ed  L ords of  Secrecy (Nat io n Books) –  w hic h hasa good dea l to say about US-spons o red tor tur e and  hom icide. (I  ha ve see n i t  in dr aft.)
Last ly , s i n ce co n t ex t i sessential, l etme ad da co uple of  additional points .  In  his memoir A t t he C e n te r o f  t h e S to r m,C I A Director Tene t, who was  i n  c harge of t h e C IA  tortur ers and  “con t ractors ” duringthe worst  o f it , adm itted to h aving so me concer n  over th e pos sib ilityth athe an d hisa cco mplic es mig ht  event ually  b e held a ccountable.

In a Feb.8, 200 8 art icl e, I refe rre d  to  a sectio n in  Tenet’s b ook  in  whic h h e  stre ssed “t hei mport ance of beinga bl e t o de tain unilat e r a lly  al-Q aed a  opera tive s around the worl d .” His worries  sho n e  th rou g h th efollowing word s:
“ W e  were as ki ng for andwe would  b e  give n as m any au thoriti e s  a s  CIA e verhad . Thingscou ld blow up .Pe o ple, m e am on g them , coul d  end u p spending someof th e worst day s ofou r lives just ifying bef ore congres sional  ove rseer s our n ew  freed omto  act.” (At the Cente r ofthe Sto rm , p178 
 were_indictment enough_of the unconscionably coarse_attitude of_senior_US government_representatives_regarding human life._But now there_is the possibility that_they were only_spouting_a cover story for even a worse scenario, a triple homicide about which they_may_well have_been_kept_in the dark.

More than six_years ago, when I wrote_that earlier_article, I had scarcely gotten accustomed to the_thought_that my former_colleagues had let themselves be suborned by Bush, Cheney_and CIA Director George Tenet into_torturing detainees. True,_there_already_were rumors of CIA_homicides circulating, and the Army abuses_at Abu Ghraib had been exposed.

But_I was having trouble wrapping my mind_around the notion that the CIA_had been given official sanction_to murder._And inured as I am_now to such_indignities, I_still shudder at_the prospect that President Obama will,_a year or_two from now, explain it all_with_a nonchalant riff_on_his_earlier “We_tortured some folks”_—_substituting “killed”_for_“tortured.”

I am in debt for clarification_regarding_the possibility of a triple homicide on_June 10, 2006 to_two_friends who, oddly, bear_the same name – (1)_Scott Horton of antiwar.org, and (2)_Scott Horton,_an attorney,_regular Harper’s columnist, and author the excellent, soon to be published_Lords of Secrecy (Nation Books) –_which has a good_deal to_say_about US-sponsored torture_and_homicide. (I_have seen it in draft.)

Lastly, since context_is essential,_let me add a couple of_additional points. In his_memoir_At the Center of the Storm,_CIA Director Tenet, who was in_charge of the CIA torturers_and_“contractors”_during the worst of it,_admitted to having some concern over_the possibility that_he and his accomplices might eventually be_held_accountable.

In a Feb. 8, 2008 article,_I_referred to a section in Tenet’s_book_in_which he stressed “the importance_of being able to detain unilaterally_al-Qaeda operatives around the world.” His worries shone through_the following words:

“We_were asking for and we_would_be_given as many authorities as CIA ever had. Things could_blow up._People, me among_them, could end up spending some of the worst days_of our lives justifying before congressional overseers_our new freedom to act.” (At the Center of the Storm,_p 178