UPDATE: American Police Force Hardin Montana

APF Reveals Little Information

By Nick Lough & Katie Ussin

Story Published: Sep 28, 2009 at 7:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM MDT
Multimedia

BILLINGS – Confusion and secrecy about American Police Force has grown during the last few weeks.

“APF has been here for 10 months but it has never been stealth,” said APF spokesperson Becky Shay at a press conference on Saturday morning. The group announced its plans to fill the $27 million dollar detention facility and build a police training center next to the jail. While they gave details for the site, other questions went unanswered.

Where will the prisoners come from? What experience does APF have in prisoners and training police officers? Why was Two Rivers Authority Executive Director Greg Smith placed on administrative leave?

During the press conference APF also refused to release any information on its funding or organization “The decision is the name of the parent company will not be released,” said Shay.

When questioned about the decision to show up in Hardin last week in vehicles with “Hardin Police” templates, members were brief in their explanation. “They are to show are intentions are good,” said APF leader Captain Michael Hilton. “Why not put an APF logo on it,” said Shay. “You know we’re getting there.” All of the decals were removed from the vehicles two days later.

APF has consistently stated the community has nothing to fear and says its plans will help stimulate the Hardin economy. “This corporation’s intention is to buy local and stay local and do local business as much as we can,” said Shay.

Residents appear split in their feelings over the company. Some want more information, but others believe it will be a tremendous boost to the area. The company plans to hold a job fair in Hardin the third week of October.

Another development this weekend was the naming of Shay as APF’s new public relations director. Shay was a reporter with the Billings Gazette who had covered the detention facility story for last few years. She announced on Friday she was leaving the paper and hosted the APF press conference Saturday morning.

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Senator Levin: Cheney Confessed To Approving Waterboarding

Senator: ‘As far as I’m concerned,’ Cheney admitted condoning torture

Raw Story- David Edwards and Diane Sweet
Published: Thursday December 18, 2008

Vice President Dick Cheney confessed to approving torture, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Wednesday night.

During an interview with ABC News on Monday evening, Cheney had said “I supported it,” referring to the practice known as “waterboarding,” a form of simulated drowning.

“I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn’t do,” Cheney said. “And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it.”

“Did he just admit to condoning torture?” Maddow queries.

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s exactly what he admitted,” Levin said after a pause to shut his eyes, and shake his head as if still in disbelief.

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Law Professor: Cheney Confessed To War Crime

Scholar: Cheney confessed to war crime

Raw Story- David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Wednesday December 17, 2008

Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley believes that not only did Vice President Dick Cheney “unambiguously” confess to a war crime during an ABC interview on Monday, but the US’ future as a nation may depend on taking action.

Asked by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann whether Cheney had just confessed to a war crime on national television, Turley at first replied wryly, “It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? … If someone commits a crime and everyone’s around to see it and does nothing, is it still a crime?”

“It most certainly is a crime to participate, to create, to in many ways monitor a torture program,” he added. “What [Cheney] is describing is most certainly and unambiguously a war crime.”

During Monday’s interview, Cheney was asked, “Did you authorize the tactics that were used against Khalid Sheikh Mohamed?” and replied, “I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared.”

“What happens if the next administration does not press this?” Olbermann asked. “Do we let the International Court at the Hague come in and take over all our responsibilities for policing our own act here?”

“That’s what worries me the most,” Turley replied, “is that you can’t talk about change without having some moral component to it. It’s not just about creating jobs or lowering the price of gasoline.”

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Cheney Admits He Approved Torture (VIDEO)

Cheney admits authorizing detainee’s torture

Raw Story- David Edwards and Stephen C. Webster
Published: Monday December 15, 2008

Outgoing VP says Guantanamo prison should stay open until end of terror war, but has no idea when that might be.

Monday, outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney made a startling statement on a nation-wide, televised broadcast.

When asked by ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl whether he approved of interrogation tactics used against a so-called “high value prisoner” at the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison, Mr. Cheney, in a break from his history of being press-shy, admitted to giving official sanctioning of torture.

“I supported it,” he said regarding the practice known as “water-boarding,” a form of simulated drowning. After World War II, Japanese soldiers were tried and convicted of war crimes in US courts for water-boarding, a practice which the outgoing Bush administration attempted to enshrine in policy.

“I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn’t do,” Cheney said. “And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it.”

He added: “It’s been a remarkably successful effort, and I think the results speak for themselves.”

ABC asked him if in hindsight he thought the tactics went too far. “I don’t,” he said.

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