CIA 'Torture'

[Triticum]

Find the irony in what, apparently, Thomas Friedman now recognizes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/op...dman.html?_r=2

There's some irony in contrast to another Friedmanism. Just substitute the word "terror" for "torture" and see what happens.

After every major terrorist incident, the excuse makers come out to tell us...why the terrorists acted. These excuse makers are just one notch less despicable than the terrorists and also deserve to be exposed.

[Maggie]

Triticum,

You are dead wrong on the technical legal aspects of this issue. I will however concede that perhaps a bit of legal “gymnastics” was necessary to justify the CIA’s intentions under the statue (which by the way I have not read and don’t want to – I do enough of that at work) but that is not at all uncommon. A lot of this seems like “torture” to me too.

I also agree that Congress’s actions (or lack thereof) were, to a large extent, politically motivated. That goes without saying; however, they could have asserted that the practice is illegal (and held hearings – which they LOVE to do) rather than proposing legislation to outlaw the practice outright. They didn’t do that, did they?

I’ll try to address more of your post in the morning. In the interim, read this link – the author, in my judgment, makes a very nice case against “waterboarding”:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NWZhNjg4MTQzZjUxNjBiNjczNzVmNmMxMTMzOGI2YWY=

Oh, with regard to the use of CITs with these individual stopping after a certain period of time – I don’t recall where I read that (because I read a lot). But will try to dig up a link for you if you like. Also, you could do a little better than relying on Newsweek as a source – just a suggestion – they often need fact checking.

Best regards,

Maggie

[BOBB]

Find the irony in what, apparently, Thomas Friedman now recognizes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/op...dman.html?_r=2

So is the great Tom Friedman now admitting that Iraq was a good thing? Is that what you are talking about, Maggie?

Friedman was an early supporter of the war. Fell out of love with it.

[Maggie]

For review and consideration:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZGIzZTEzMDcxZmNkMmQyMGE3OWEyZDIwY2YwNTBhYjE=

Edit: And one more because I was on the site:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YWM4YmM4ZDcyYWY2MzM5ZTk3ZTk1MjIxZjkxZDY3ODA=&w=MA==

[SubGod22]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/30/critics-attack-obamas-defense-torture-ban/

[Maggie]

Articles like this, as well as other issues in the news this week (SubGod appears to be somewhat derelict in his duties), seriously impede my ability to remain civil in serious discussions about this Administration:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjRhNWQ2YTRlYWI2NzU0Yjc0NmFlN2FjMmI2YzYyODU=

[SubGod22]

Articles like this, as well as other issues in the news this week (SubGod appears to be somewhat derelict in his duties), seriously impede my ability to remain civil in serious discussions about this Administration:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...FjMmI2YzYyODU=

:banghead:

[Maggie]

Speaking of ethics, this is not just idiotic but inexcusable conduct:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/legalities/2009/05/tortured-timing.html

[SubGod22]

Pelosi Contradicted.......Again?

[Triticum]

Thanks for the links...some interesting reading there.

America's Finest News Source

[Maggie]

Thanks for the links...some interesting reading there.

America's Finest News Source

Cute.

[Maggie]

Even though discussion of this topic seems to have died down I thought I would post the link below. While I may not agree with everything Thomas Sowell writes in this column this is spot on:

If we have reached the point where we cannot be bothered to think beyond rhetoric or to make moral distinctions (emphasis added), then we have reached the point where our survival in an increasingly dangerous world of nuclear proliferation can no longer be taken for granted.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDBlZDhiOTc0MGQ0ZWY1N2RlMjE5MGMwZjBlMDk3ZTM=

[SubGod22]

Democrats race to hearings on interrogation memos

[SubGod22]

Even though discussion of this topic seems to have died down I thought I would post the link below. While I may not agree with everything Thomas Sowell writes in this column this is spot on:

If we have reached the point where we cannot be bothered to think beyond rhetoric or to make moral distinctions (emphasis added), then we have reached the point where our survival in an increasingly dangerous world of nuclear proliferation can no longer be taken for granted.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...MwZjBlMDk3ZTM=

:good:

[SubGod22]

Pelosi claims she was 'powerless'