Emad Burnat is the Palestinian director of the Oscar-nominated documentary, “5 Broken Cameras.” He is the first Palestinian to be nominated for an Academy Award.

He traveled to the United States this week because the Academy Awards ceremony is this weekend. It is common for nominees to be in attendance. But on Tuesday night, US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained and held him at the Los Angeles International Airport. They threatened to send him back to Palestine before the ceremony.

Because of a ten year mainstream media whitewash, it’s been generally accepted that “mistakes” resulted in a war that claimed over 4,800 US troops. But this week, MSNBC will rock the boat, suggesting false pretenses took us to war, meaning the nation should start debating consequences.

Thomas Drake, a National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower who the Obama administration tried to prosecute for a “leak” until the case collapsed, joined me for a conversation about the parallels between his prosecution and Kiriakou’s prosecution.

Years behind the left and groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Sean Hannity is just now beginning to complain about the the government being too intrusive. Hannity pretended today not to know the government is already collecting our calls and emails, but he was in a snit to hear that Democrats have proposed new telecommunications rules that would require providers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and others to retain text messages for two years in case they are needed by law enforcement.

This election, Charlie Savage of the New York Times writes, will decide the future of “interrogation methods in terrorism cases,” whether torture techniques used by the administration of President George W. Bush are restored. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney favors “enhanced interrogation techniques” or torture. President Barack Obama has maintained certain torture techniques should not be used on prisoners suspected of having ties to terrorism.

The reality is the choice is not so distinct. When it comes to policy, both candidates would permit a level of torture.

One hallmark of the administration of President Barack Obama has been the commitment of the administration to move forward and not look back—to, as a Democratic Party operative only concerned with election results might say, not re-litigate the eight years of the administration of George W. Bush. This means no accountability for those responsible for committing torture. It means no justice for torture victims.

Michael Hayden, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director under President George W. Bush, delivered a speech yesterday where he outlined the ways that President Barack Obama has managed a “practical consensus,” which has fostered “powerful continuity between two vastly different presidents”—himself and his predecessor, Bush.

For fourteen years, the university put its prestigious football program ahead of doing anything for the children, who were victimized. This is appalling and despicable. And, now, today the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has levied incredibly severe penalties against the institution for covering up crimes that were committed against children. What does this case tell us about holding other institutions and officials, including government, accountable for their actions?

You all know I’m a relentless gossip about the Veepstakes, which is sadly diminished this year from last cycle by 50% because Uncle Joe went all Super-Ghey on Barack, making it impossible to kick him out of his Observatory Circle digs without incurring the wrath of and enraging the Lavender Dems, David Geffen and other wealthy Gays Who Bundle (heh).

But the GOP Veepstakes are rich this year.

Long-time Chicano activist Carlos Montes, who has been active in the antiwar, education and civil rights movements in Los Angeles for decades, goes on trial today for bogus charges that are being brought against him for purchasing a gun. It is a political trial and a continuation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) targeting of antiwar and international solidarity activists.