Poster of the Week – February 8,
2012
I have a Dream/I have a Drone
Artist Unknown
Digital image
Circa 2013
CSPG’s Poster of the Week for Black History Month is a powerful visual
commentary on the ideals articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr., in contrast
with the political agenda pursued by President Barack Obama. This striking image
also highlights the content of the confirmation hearings
that took place this week, regarding Obama’s nomination of John Brennan to be
head of the CIA.
John Brennan is chief counterterrorism advisor to President Barack
Obama. Although he had been with the CIA for 25 years, Brennan withdrew his
name from consideration for Director of the CIA in the first Obama
administration over concerns about his support for the use of torture by the
CIA under President George W. Bush. Instead, Obama appointed Brennan to be
Deputy National Security Advisor, a position which did not require Senate
confirmation.
After Obama nominated Brennan in
January 2013 to be the next director of the CIA, the ACLU called for the Senate to
not proceed with the appointment until it confirms that "all of his
conduct was within the law" at the CIA and White House.
At his confirmation hearing on
Thursday, February 8, Brennan forcefully defended Obama’s counterterrorism
policies, including the increased use of armed drones and the targeted killings
of American citizens. Jeremy
Scahill, author of the forthcoming book, "Dirty Wars," commented on
Brennan’s responses on DemocracyNow.org, "None of the central questions
that should have been asked of John Brennan were asked in an effective way. In the cases where people like Sen.
Angus King or Sen. Ron Wyden would ask a real question, for instance, about
whether or not the CIA has the right to kill U.S.
citizens on U.S. soil, the questions were very good. Brennan would then offer
up a non-answer. And then there’d be almost no follow-up." Scahill went on
to say, "[Brennan] has served for more than four years as the
assassination czar, and it basically looked like they were discussing
purchasing a used car on Capitol Hill. I mean, it was total kabuki oversight.
And that’s a devastating commentary on where things stand."
When will we ever learn?
Sources:
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