How does Hillary Clinton feel about Torture? and specifically Waterboarding...

[JackORoses]

In the past she has been very ambivalent on this subject.

Clinton was similarly vague about how she would handle special interrogation methods used by the CIA. She said that while she does not condone torture, so much has been kept secret that she would not know unlesselected what other extreme measures interrogators are using, and therefore could not say whether she would change or continue existing policies.

"It is not clear yet exactly what this administration is or isn't doing. We're getting all kinds of mixed messages," Clinton said. "I don't think we'll know the truth until we have a new president. I think you can get in there and actually bore into what's been going on, you're not going to know."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902284.html

She always reserves the right to torture in an 'emergency' but she is always obscure as to what defines emergency.
She has refused to sign any pledges that would seek to ban torture.
And has she ever even been asked directly for her thoughts on Waterboarding.
I think it is important we find out what her position is.

Whereas, Obama has long publicly rejected Torture. He has signed pledges seeking to ban torture.
He has specifically rejected Waterboarding.

We do not want the Policy of Torture to continue into the next Administration.
Hillary needs to be confronted on this ASAP.

[lligrd]

1. She Thinks It Should Only Be Applied To Obama

supporters is my guess.

[bellasgrams]

5. sounds good to me.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. or Monica.

[DJ13]

2. Hillary approves just like the rest of the neocons

[cbayer]

3. Her position is clear

At one time, she did make a statement about reserving the right to torture. She was specifically asked a question using the "ticking time bomb scenario". Since last fall, she has clearly and repeatedly taken the position that all torture is unacceptable, including waterboarding.

I would appreciate a link about the petition that people keep referring to. I was only able to find one article about this and it stated that neither has signed the petition.

[bigtree]

4. don't expect truth from these folks who can't get enough insults into their three posts a day

to satisfy their Hillary Hate.

[cbayer]

6. I know, but it makes me feel better

to counter with facts and logic.

They hardly ever respond to me.

I noticed that you do the same and appreciate it. :hi:

[BenDavid]

8. Hillary Clinton Presses Bush to End Torture

Here's a letter Hillary Clinton sent to George Bush today...I'm surprised I haven't read about it anywhere.
Clinton Calls on President to Support Humane and Effective Standards for Interrogation, Urges President to Remove Veto Threat from Intelligence Authorization Bill
Washington, DC—Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on President Bush to remove his threat to veto the Fiscal Year 2008 Intelligence Authorization Bill, which applies the U.S. Army standards for interrogation to U.S. intelligence agencies and contractors, and bans the practice of waterboarding. In a letter to the President, Senator Clinton urged him to live up to the standards that America has promoted around the world.

“Our nation and our President must strongly and unequivocally stand for the rule of law—especially when we are under threat from an enemy that embodies the antithesis of our values,” Senator Clinton wrote. “In the process of accomplishing what is essential for our security, we must hold onto our values and set an example we can point to with pride, not shame.”

The text of Senator Clinton’s letter is below the fold:


February 12, 2008
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Nothing is more damaging to our moral authority and global standing than a failure to live up to the standards that we have embraced and promoted around the world.

I write you today to urge you to stand for American values and remove your threat to veto the FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization Bill (H.R. 2082). I urge you to support the humane and effective standards for interrogation adopted by the U.S. Army; to reverse your opposition to applying these standards to the intelligence agencies, including the CIA and private contractors; and to unequivocally oppose practices like waterboarding, which are immoral, illegal, ineffective, and un-American.

I have met and spoken with some of our nation's most experienced and respected military leaders. They have told me that "torture is unlikely to produce accurate or actionable intelligence," and can damage our security by producing false information. Many studies, including a 2006 report by the Intelligence Science Board, have reached conclusions that support this view. I believe, as do the military leaders I have consulted, that any sign of wavering on this issue by the Commander-in-Chief "will drop down the chain of command like a stone, and the rare exception will fast become the rule."

Our nation and our President must strongly and unequivocally stand for the rule of law – especially when we are under threat from an enemy that embodies the antithesis of our values. In the process of accomplishing what is essential for our security, we must hold onto our values and set an example we can point to with pride, not shame.

Torture is morally wrong. It is against the law. It betrays our most fundamental values, damages our credibility around the world, and harms U.S. national security. I strongly urge you to bring the CIA into conformity with our values and principles by requiring that it abide by the Army Field Manual’s interrogation techniques.

I am confident that whoever occupies the White House next January – Democrat or Republican – will take this important step and apply a single humane and effective standard of treatment that applies to the entire U.S. government. You have an opportunity to put our country on the right course now, so that the United States can once again lead by example.

Sincerely,

Hillary Clinton