Enhanced Grain Deals

Amid all the “enhanced interrogation” clamor, Americans have shown themselves a sympathetic people, if at times misguided. Despite where our head is sometimes at, our heart’s in the right place. We care about people and we don’t want them tortured, no matter what they’ve done.

This makes things awkward for President Obama, who had intended to sign a civilian nuclear treaty with the United Arab Emirates, because a member of the UAE royal family, Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, was videotaped torturing a business partner over a perceived slight in a grain deal. And lest the Arab royal’s torture be confused for the strong interrogation techniques so often mislabeled “torture” by American pundits, this one was for real: the Sheikh, brother to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, beat his victim with a cattle prod and a nailed board, burned his genitals, and drove over him in a Mercedes.

Sheikh Issa, with iPod.

Democrat Jim McGovern, co-chair of Congressional Human Rights Commission, called the video “one of the most horrific things I have ever seen in my life,” and has called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to halt any nuclear talks with Abu Dhabi (the treaty called for the sale of nuclear technology to the UAE country, in exchange for their agreement to abide by nuclear non-proliferation agreements).

The tape was reportedly made four years ago, at which time the UAE government declined to investigate the Sheikh. Now, with nuclear technology in the balance, that same government has pledged “a comprehensive review of the matter immediately.” Perhaps “immediately” is Arabic for “four years after the fact.”

For an administration as vocally committed to human rights as President Obama’s, surely a country whose royal government official behaves thus isn’t a suitable nuclear partner. What’s also alarming: that country ignored such behavior when it first arose four years ago, and is only now acting when a nuclear treaty is on the line. The UAE happens to also be a trading partner to Iran.

Girls Gone Mild

The Dartmouth Review reports two men, claiming to be representatives of the Girls Gone Wild adult video franchise, have been spotted around Dartmouth College, making so bold as to approach girls wearing sorority letters and ask them to participate in “interviews.”

The College’s Department of Safety & Security has been unable to confirm whether or not the men actually represent the adult video series, which was scheduled to appear in Hanover by permit this week (but not on the day the first girls were approached). Girls Gone Wild vans have been seen around campus in years past.

Ashley Cartagena, vice-president of Dartmouth’s Panhellenic Council, described the incident as, “…not a positive thing for the community” and “offensive.”

No word yet on whether the men merely requested “interviews” with the girls, or also offered evidence of their own financial security, family pedigree and Nantucket vacation property in return.

"As if!"

Clearing the Bench

Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter announced plans to retire today, prompting immediate speculation as to his replacement. Justice Souter was appointed to the Bench by former President George H.W. Bush in 1990. In addition to surprising conservative backers with his unexpectedly liberal voting, Justice Souter has become known for eccentricities: he drives, not flies, from Washington back to New Hampshire at the close of each term, refuses to purchase a cell phone, and will not use e-mail.  

Justice David H. Souter

At the top of most short lists: Seventh Circuit Judge Diane Wood, who taught at the University of Chicago alongside President Obama, and Solicitor General, and former Harvard Law School dean, Elena Kagan (though Kagan has never argued a Supreme Court case). Discussion of the two women has prompted speculation the President will replace Justice Souter with a woman or other minority. Those fitting the criteria might be Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who would be the first Hispanic Justice; Yale Law School dean Harold Hongju Koh, who would be the first Asian American Justice; and former Stanford Law School dean Kathleen Sullivan, who would be the first Justice named Sullivan.