Q. Why Do Bushies Love Torture? 3
The medieval practice is illegal and morally indefensible.
Mukasey’s twisted arguments in defense of waterboarding only serve to further diminish America’s standing in the world.
And for what?
The effectiveness of torture in obtaining intelligence is questionable at best.
It produces false confessions and undercuts legal interrogation and intelligence gathering techniques that actually work.
If anything, torture further inflames those who want to harm the United States. In other words, waterboarding could be causing more harm than good.
Mukasey tried to justify waterboarding and other extreme interrogation techniques while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.
But it’s impossible to make a convincing case, given that waterboarding has long been considered torture and violates international law and U.S. statutes.
A. It is their Viagra.
February 4, 2008 at 8:01 am
I’m risking myself here, but here goes:
There was an article that had a paragraph about the possible result if waterboarding is declared torture.
What is the chance that Mukasey is protecting his boss? Kinda like Scooter getting the pardon to keep his mouth shut.
February 5, 2008 at 10:25 am
(Aside: Waterboarding is torture. There’s no “if” about it.)
I think it’s very likely that this issue was discussed before he was nominated. If not discussed, implied. Mr. Mukasey by all reports has had a distinguished and honorable career. I will be charitable and say that I think he’s between a rock and a hard place.
Honestly, he’s probably gone about as far as he can without actually pointing a finger at Dick Cheney and screaming, “Torquemada!”
Follow the link above for a chilling description of the “Water Cure.”
February 6, 2008 at 7:50 am
Oh, I know that it is. But, if it’s specifically named as a torture technique, then everything will hit the proverbial fan. That was my point.