State Dept. 'Torture Talking Points' Reveal White House PR Machine Ahead of Senate Report

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/31/state-dept-torture-talking-points-reveal-white-house-pr-machine-ahead-senate-report



Obama administration to argue that revelation of CIA torture program is an example of "America's democratic system"

State Dept. 'Torture Talking Points' Reveal White House PR Machine Ahead of Senate Report
Nadia Prupis, staff writer
Thursday, July 31, 2014

A State Department document obtained by the Associated Press reveals part of the Obama administration's attempt to ready its public relations response to an upcoming Senate report on the CIA's torture program.

Due to be declassified in the coming days, the report is said to criticize the agency for its post-9/11 illegal torture of detainees in secret prisons. The document details some of the administration's prepared talking points to be used once a White House-approved version of the report is released.

Reportedly sent by accident via email to the AP, the State Department memo describes the report as a demonstration of American democracy, rather than as an indictment of the CIA's torture practices. The document states that "no American is proud" of the CIA's tactics, but that "the story" of illegal, indefinite torture and imprisonment is part of a larger message, one in which "America's democratic system worked just as it was designed to work in bringing an end to actions inconsistent with our democratic values." That story, the document proclaims, is one in which Americans can take pride.

In this case, "democratic values" do not seem to refer to the humane treatment of prisoners, but to the CIA no longer being able to hide its illegal operations from the public.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. The King is above the law

That's my favorite Democratic value takeaway from this.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Meanwhile, back in Gitmo, folks continue incarcerated without trial. nt