CHENEY Confirms Water-Boarding & Says - "It's A No-Brainer For Me"

[kpete]

Posted on Wed, Oct. 25, 2006email thisprint this
Cheney confirms that detainees were subjected to water-boarding
By Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al Qaida suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called "water-boarding," which creates a sensation of drowning.


Cheney indicated that the Bush administration doesn't regard water-boarding as torture and allows the CIA to use it. "It's a no-brainer for me," Cheney said at one point in an interview.


Cheney's comments, in a White House interview on Tuesday with a conservative radio talk show host, appeared to reflect the Bush administration's view that the president has the constitutional power to do whatever he deems necessary to fight terrorism.


The U.S. Army, senior Republican lawmakers, human rights experts and many experts on the laws of war, however, consider water-boarding cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment that's banned by U.S. law and by international treaties that prohibit torture. Some intelligence professionals argue that it often provides false or misleading information because many subjects will tell their interrogators what they think they want to hear to make the water-boarding stop.

MORE AT:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/columnists/jonathan_s_landay/15847918.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_jonathan_s_landay

[longship]

1. No brain is absolutely correct.

Anybody who advocates torture has *NO* *BRAIN*.

[exlrrp]

54. And no conscience either

How does this side get away with calling themslves Christian?
Do they think Christ would have voted for waterboarding and tax breaks for the wealthy?
I'm surprised their not using God in their commercials for an endorsement. (Hebrew National does!)

[Marnieworld]

74. How do they get away with calling themselves human?

If everyone agrees, and the law agrees that waterboarding is torture then it's torture. this isn't semantics. It's not a subjective opinion. There are laws that state this and they are trying to pretend that it's all a matter of debate. They are fearless. He condoned tortured and admitted ordering it. That can get him hanged. Yet he dares to say this to flaunt that he has no accountibility. They are in such a bubble that this becomes normal. They make me sick. :grr:

[19jet54]

94. Didn't you know?

Yea, Jesus "water-boarded" his disciples until they followed him... those parts of the holy scripture were lost over time? Early Christian martyrs were simply "water-boarding" accidents & the Roman Soldiers were simply trying to stop it, but couldn't?

[Homer Wells]

2. And the War Crimes Just Keep Adding up

When are the People going to stand up and climb out of their self-indulgent stupor and say, ENOUGH!!!!!!??

:grr: :nuke: :banghead: :banghead:

(I thnk when Cheney is saying "No Brainer", he is speaking about his own personal skull.)

K&R

[Zybelline]

4. Cheney will be SO indictable later !

this guy is so arrogant, he is at times reckless

he may be calculating he'll be dead when some day a big inquest on this disgraceful period is opened

but if his cardiologists keep him alive, he will be indicted some day

[maxsolomon]

60. he'll Ken Lay first.

there will be no justice. he'll be beatified along with st. ronnie.

'there's a mighty judgement coming, but i could be wrong"
-l. cohen, tower of song

[spanone]

3. I wonder how the Cheney heart would react to a little WB'ing?

[LiberalFighter]

31. It probably wouldn't take much... just someone being forceful

with him... poking their fingers into his chest while asking questions. I suppose that is why SS Gestapo won't let anyone near him that could upset him.

[civildisoBDence]

55. Heart? What heart?

The Smirk clearly has a brain--a diseased one--but what evidence is there that he has a heart?

DUHbya is the Scarecrow, Cheney is the Tin Man, and they've both followed the yellow cake road to perdition.

Newsprism

[John Gauger]

5. When I first read to definition of waterboarding

it ended with "...does not harm interrogatee, except when it results in death." It can result in death becuase it is the process of drowing someone. I should think that qualifies as torture.

[civildisoBDence]

56. Is that real, or satire?

"does not harm interrogatee, except when it results in death"??????????

Truth is sicker than fiction.

Newsprism

[ComerPerro]

80. by definition, its true. It doesn't harm unless it results in death

because it leaves no scars, marks, bruises, or any kind of evidence at all.

That's probably why BushCo's torturers like it so much.

Of course, its sick and inhumane to bring someone to the brink of drowning. But they don't care.

[screembloodymurder]

97. Water boarding can kill.

It's torture. There is no question about it.

[chat_noir]

6. In 1947, the U.S. Called It a War Crime

in 1947, the United States charged a Japanese officer, Yukio Asano, with war crimes for carrying out another form of waterboarding on a U.S. civilian. The subject was strapped on a stretcher that was tilted so that his feet were in the air and head near the floor, and small amounts of water were poured over his face, leaving him gasping for air until he agreed to talk.

"Asano was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) told his colleagues last Thursday during the debate on military commissions legislation. "We punished people with 15 years of hard labor when waterboarding was used against Americans in World War II," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100402005.html

[Kierkegaard]

40. Yeah, but...

it's different when we do it. :eyes:

This bastard needs to take himself on a hunting trip...

[NewJeffCT]

88. and don't forget

9/11 changed everything, and if you're against waterboarding, you hate America.

[Kierkegaard]

90. Thanks for reminding me.

I'd almost forgotten that things were so black & white.

[grizmaster]

43. 15 years hard labor for each count of waterboarding torture

that would put the entire bush junta behind bars for a couple thousand years

[19jet54]

95. Modern day...

Did you know we currently "water-board" our Navy Seals & other special forces during SEAR training? This is nothing new!

[unpossibles]

98. Oh, in that case,

it's fine.

Ever stop to think that they do it so the SEALS can get used to torture? And that maybe they might care a little less if they kill someone who is not in SEAL training?

[19jet54]

102. Mis-understanding... on my quote

:sarcasm: Not a vote of support for torture - Can you believe today's Tony "SNOW" job on this issue?

As my mom used to say; "One will lie, and the others will swear by it"?

[unpossibles]

99. to clarify what I am saying:

as a student of martial arts, I practice not getting hit in the face all the time. This doesn't mean that I think physical assault should be legal, encouraged, or acceptable.

[19jet54]

103. The purpose is...

FYI - they do this to impress upon them the desire to never quit, never surrender and what to expect from the enemy if captured.

With all due respect, War & Martial Arts are similar, but not really comparable even though MA has it's roots in war. For example, Marine Corp martial arts (their uniform belts are the color they have achieved) are much more intense (a combo of hand to hand with bayonet killing movements only) MA is a bit more artistic & fitness generally, even with weapons, because you almost never really kill?

[unpossibles]

106. true, they do have different goals

I am not trying to say they are the same, just using it as an example of how I can understand practicing to withstand something someone else will try to do to you. I've practiced how to not be choked, punched, held down, etc. To say Gung Fu is more artistic and about fitness is a bit off the mark however. Sure, that it part of it, but the larger part is learning how to end a potential fight as quickly as possible and with as little damage to yourself as possible, regardless of what that might take. If I thought someone were trying to kill or seriously maim me, I would not hesitate to break their arm or choke them until they pass out if I had to in order to stop the fight. I'd rather not have to, and most fights I avoid completely to be honest, because prevention (aka: diplomacy) is usually the quickest and most efficient way to end a fight.

But my point is, that doesn't mean I condone fighting just because I know how to do it, or have practiced how to withstand its effects on me. I think fighting is stupid and a sign of weakness, to be quite honest, and reserve it for when it is truly necessary, and only do what is necessary if I do have to fight. And keep in mind also, that in any training, you are also not trying to kill each other. Pretending to be tortured and being tortured are not the same thing at all.


I don't think the US should condone or accept torture as policy. Not only does it make us look bad, but it's the wrong thing to do for many reasons.

[19jet54]

107. We agree...

Except on one thing; Walk across Baghdad unarmed with your Gung Fu and when you get back, we will talk some more. Since I live in the "Wild West", I always carry a handgun with the proper permits to defend myself - aka Chink-Chank (slide noise that sounds like MA style)- in fact last week, a group of youths thought it would be fun to jump my wife & I (both 50). Boy were they surprised by me, and by the police later. - Grow up! It is a dangerous world we live in? I agree with all your ideologies, but disagree on the piratical application, based on my life experience. Yes, water-boarding is wrong and IS torture, but if they grabbed my wife, I would use any method to get her back and worry about the legal issues later: but that's just me, an old War Horse.

Besides; Japanese Karate is better than Chinese Karate :grr:

[Lebowski]

104. Man!

I hadn't seen that Washington Post article, chat. That's powerful stuff! Not that I had any doubts about the morality of waterboarding before, but to have it right out there that we imprisoned our enemies for doing it before...

My gut reaction is to say how I'd love to see Cheney and Bush waterboarded, and then see what tune they sing. But that just sinks me to their level. And anyways, we have enough evidence (once we get Dems back in on Nov 7) to put them behind bars *without* interrogating them, anyway. It's a happy fact of life that criminals are usually stupid.

[msongs]

7. here is a TV ad begging to happen - visual w/cheney voice over

saying "it's a no brainer" while a person gets this treatment - republican family values indeed.

hope somebody with the ability to do so gets this ad together asap!

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[hedgehog]

8. When an American soldier is in the hands of kidnappers in

Baghdad, I wouldn't be so cavalier about justifying water boarding. I wonder if we will see a video of this poor guy going through all the "acceptable" interrogation methods approved by Bush and Cheney?

[bonito]

10. Thats It exactly

The devil Cheney doesn't go by the golden rule.

[niallmac]

9. I wish one day for Cheney to meet his Karma face to face. n/t

[BlueIris]

105. Totally. If the divine entities were into making money...

they could make a fortune selling tickets to that event. When Cheney gets to the Other Side to evaluate how well he did or didn't accomplish the goals he set out to achieve in this life...blech. That's one person who won't be getting a human body again.

[ourvoicescount]

11. Nov. 7th can't come too soon...

[LynnTheDem]

12. When US citizens/troops are "waterboarded", Americans won't mind.

Right?

After all, if it's good enough for us to do, it's good enough for others to do to us.

[maxsolomon]

61. the first time it happens we will demand vengeance

and will invade a country that didn't do it.

[Solly Mack]

13. He figures he won't be touched

he's betting the nation of America won't charge him
he's also betting that other nations won't charge him either

[BlueEyedSon]

14. He also regards putting lead in a guy's face as "not shooting him"

[LuckyLib]

76. That's right . . . he was "peppered". Waterboarding will result in someone being "washed."

[spuddonna]

15. Oh dearie, dearie... Bushie is gonna spank!

Darth Cheney's telling our techniques! Them evildoers will be able to adapt now, and start wearin' scuba gear to their interrogations!! :sarcasm:

I hope the karmic retribution for this is sweet and swift, for all these criminals... :mad:

[MsKandice01]

50. LOL!! I was thinking the same thing

I was thinking, "Wait...Bush told Matt Lauer that we're not supposed to talk about techniques because it will give the enemy a change to adjust."

[Zambero]

53. I was thinking the same thing

A rare instance of where Bush's brain was functionally superior to Cheney's, for all the wrong reasons. Bush in this instance was being evasive, and for a reason. Cheney's admission of using this technique amounts to a confession. It also amounts to a go-ahead for enemy captors to "interrogate" American captives, using this or any other torture method. Civilization is taking a gigantic leap backwards with this administration. I only hope that we can somehow regain the world's repect and forgiveness once it's finally over.

[spuddonna]

66. Bush:"Thanks a lot, Dick! Now all the terrorists will carry gillyweed!"

How do these people live with themselves?

[nxylas]

68. Nah, he'll just wait for the NYT to print the story...

...and blame them for giving away our plans to the Islamofascists yet again.

[spuddonna]

77. LOL!

You're right! Bush:"Away to Gitmo with you evildoer islamofascistmedia types! You're not supposed to report the news unless I.TELL.YOU.TO!"

Hey, if I haven't said it already, welcome to DU! :hi:

[elehhhhna]

16. Cheney has confessed. This is BIG.

[originalpckelly]

23. Well, the President admitted to 32 felonies on national television...

and no one cared then, did they?

[elehhhhna]

42. WE DID!

[focusfan]

100. if he confessed

to 32 felonies then why can't he go to jail?is he above the
law?

[rateyes]

17. In other words....

CHENEY JUST CONFESSED THAT HE AND DUBYA AND RUMSFELD COMMITTED WAR CRIMES! IMPEACH, REMOVE FROM OFFICE, AND IMPRISON THE BASTARDS!!

[kpete]

27. Thank you

I like the way you said that...kpete

[rateyes]

36. I read a lot of your posts,

and like the way you say most things.

[mdmc]

72. thanks

:kick:

[TankLV]

89. Not just "imprison" - make them meet the fate of PREVIOUS WAR CRIMINALS!

I'll bring the popcorn!!!

[vixengrl]

18. And then, the VP snarled, "Why, it's just a little involuntary

apple-bobbing, without the apples," and grinned one of those half-grins that he completely means, the kind that suggest he had a large tub in the basement he'd use himself in an emergency, if he had one of the bastards, and didn't have any apples.

Crap--you imagine he's proud that this country can break a human being with the threat of death, deprive them of oxygen with the possible threat of brain damage or death by drowning, and really believes that reliable, trustworthy information is going to be obtained this way? That doing this is a part of 'winning the war on terror" and keeping us safe?

Here's a no-brainer--Cheney doesn't value human dignity, and doesn't understand that sadism is differet from interrogation. I find that disgraceful.

(Edit spelling)

[Disturbed]

19. Darth has confirmed what most of us knew.

He is an evil person.

[boolean]

20. This man is going to burn in hell

TRY these fuckers for WAR CRIMES. :grr:

[Warren DeMontague]

21. It's a no-brainer for him, it's a no-breather for them.

We are the United States of God-Damn America. We are BETTER than torture. Our fathers and grandfathers didn't fight and die and slog through Normandy and Iwo Jima so that these two-bit penny ante petro-totalitarians could drag our ideals through the sewer in the dubious pursuit of bogus, useless information from Osama Bin Laden's pizza delivery guy. (Want to find out what OBL is up to... Why not ask his family? They're in Poppy's rolodex)

If we're really going to be the light, the beacon, the shining city on the hill to the rest of the world, we damn well need to be better than secret prisons, rendition, and waterboarding. At the very least.

That's a no-brainer for ME.

[feminazi]

91. Well said!!!

*

[originalpckelly]

22. WOW! Our VP admits torturing people, and this isn't on the front page?

I have to say that is quite striking.

[originalpckelly]

24. Kick...

torture is evil, pure evil.

[moondust]

25. He thinks he can't be touched now.

Their Military Commissions War Criminals Protection Act is retroactive to 9/11. He thinks he's safe now, off the hook. He may even believe they have rewritten the Geneva Conventions.

Tell it to the judge at the Hague, Dick'em.

[originalpckelly]

26. Yeah, it is unconstitutional for someone to pardon themselves...

and so it is impossible for the President to sign a bill retroactively pardoning himself.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. "Suspects"

"Paging Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Captain Alfred Dreyfus to the blue courtesy phone."

[meldroc]

29. Exactly why aren't we impeaching the sons of bitches?

Not just Cheney, but Bush, Gonzales, Rumsfeld, etc.? They're all guilty of war crimes. By all rights, they should get the death penalty for what they did.

[nxylas]

69. Because "we" don't have the power to do so...yet

Hopefully that will change after November, though I'm expecting the worst (my motto is "a pessimist is never disappointed").

[Chulanowa]

73. So, what about citizen's arrest?

I admit I know like, nothing of the process...

[nxylas]

79. "Citizens arrests are illegal, citizen...

...you're under arrest" - Judge Dredd, role model for GOP national security policy.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. Cheney and No brainer in same sentence is a bit redundant, isn't it?

[illinoisprogressive]

32. How do you spell evil?

Soon Websters is going to have to change it's dictionary to include the word Cheney and the definition will be:
evil, despicable, inhuman, ect.

[originalpckelly]

33. I always thought it was fuck?

Maybe I am wrong on that.

[marmar]

34. Humanoids generally don't have brains....

A quote from V for Vendetta comes to mind:

He is a man seemingly without a conscience for whom the ends always justify the means.

[sui generis]

35. who says you have to torture the guy you want info from?

why not torture his kids in front of him?

excuse me, just got the talking point, "humiliate" his kids in front of him.

I had no idea we'd humiliated over 200 people TO DEATH. It's a no-brainer, torture ain't just for breakfast in third world countries any more.

It's the main course, right here in the good old USA.

[sinkingfeeling]

37. "We don't torture" because we say these acts of torture aren't really

torture. Is there any logic there?

[lonestarnot]

38. Good thing then hugh? since shoot'em in the face has no brain.

Turn the hose on him!

[helderheid]

39. TO THE HAUGE!

[Hubert Flottz]

41. "It's A No-Brainer For Me"

No...Cheney's partner in crime is the, "No-Brainer" in chief...



A Gold medal winning "No-Brainer"

[warrens]

44. DIBS!

When we take congress and finally get to interrogate this guy about lying to promote war, his energy "task force," subversion of the intelligence system, etc., I get to waterboard the motherfucker. When I'm through with him, he'll be confessing to the Judge Crater kidnapping and the Kennedy assassination. And anything else I can think of to make him confess to.

[whistle]

45. More like "no-brains" which pretty much describes all of Cheney's

...actions and behaviors

[KitSileya]

46. If you want to illustrate for those idiots who haven't recognized the truth,

that the US tortures, and that it can happen to them, show them the incarceration scenes in V for Vendetta. Approximately an hour into the movie, Evey is taken, incarcerated, waterboarded, and treated exactly the way the MCA made legal. Make them watch it, then tell them in no uncertain words that this is what the US does.

Should 2006 elections be stolen, I think more of us should watch that movie - as a DIY film.

[madrchsod]

47. it was a crime for this guy-why not bush and cheney?

http://www.davidcorn.com/archives/2006/09/this_is_what_wa.php

looks like fun does`t it dickie?

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

48. Would it be torture if it was done to U.S. troops?

Because that's what's going to happen next.


Can we please impeach these fuckers already?????

[TexasLawyer]

58. That's the question!

I hope that Cheney has watched someone being waterboarded. That's the sentence he's just handed our precious servicemen and women.

[bearfan454]

65. That sick fuck would get a hard on if he watched that.

He would. These guys are dirty beyond all fucking belief.

[LSK]

49. has he tried it??? n/t

[Marnieworld]

51. Thank you Dick Cheney!

I can now refer to you as a war criminal with no hesitation. I have been calling you this for years of course but it was harder to explain to people why I was right. Now, it's a piece of cake, a "no-brainer". Evil thy name is Cheney.

[mnmoderatedem]

52. Whoever Scott Hennen is, he should be lobotomized

Jeebus, he asks the question like this:

"Would you agree that a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?" asked Hennen.

Nice to ask a question that is solely designed to produce the answer you desire...

[civildisoBDence]

57. There's a simple way to torture Cheney with water...

Sprinkle some Holy Water on him.

Newsprism

[The Animator]

59. I am beginning to take offense to the current DU nickname for Cheney

Darth Cheney...

come on, I'm a big Star Wars fan... and if your drawing a comparison to Darth Vader here I've got news for you.

Darth Vader had at least a little bit of good inside. Cheney doesn't. Vader did a lot of horrible things as a Sith Lord, but found that little bit of humanity that was struggling to reemerge within him, and did something right at the end.

There is no hope of Cheney doing any such thing.

This is alot like comparing Bush to Hitler.

According to Bill Maher, there is no comparing Bush to Hitler... for starters Hitler was a decorated war veteran.

[Aviation Pro]

63. I use....

...Dick "Fucking" Cheney, which is far more sastisfying.

[Aviation Pro]

62. Well, when you have shit-for-brains....

...like Dick "Fucking" Cheney I guess it is a no brainer.

[Sequoia]

64. Fine. Why not volunteer to show us how it's done.

If no one dies by it and you think it's A OKay, then step right up here and give us a show and tell.

[Britethorn]

67. I'm A Democrat #%

I just posted #5 in my YouTube series, "I'm A Democrat." The first four were up at DailyKos the other day. This one in my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KpmzDe8tek

[Sequoia]

83. I'm not able to watch it. Big Bro got rid of some of my software.

[Richardson08]

70. What is wrong with "water-boarding" KSM or bin al sheeb?

What is wrong with you people?KSM?"Water-boarding" should be the least of his problems.KSM is a piece of shit who deserves no sympathy or any human rights.He is an animal

[Bluebear]

108. "What is wrong with you people?" - the US does NOT torture!

So sayeth your monkey leader.

[Beelzebud]

71. Everything is a 'no-brainer' for the Bush Crime Family.

[Donkeykick]

75. Thanks Dick!

I remember when the USA used to talk about this. Now we're doing it?! Well just hand us the 'black cowboy hat'. I guess our country deserves it! Once again, thanks Cheney!:wtf:

[sakabatou]

78. Can I get some citing?

For research and presentation I'd like to know where waterboarding or any other torture is talked about in the Geneva convention.

Also is there any audio of Cheney's talk?

[Disturbed]

82. Cheney is a vile Sociopath..

A revised U.S. Army Field Manual published last month bans water-boarding as "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."

[MAX 1]

81. Nothing Like Getting Dicked...

...er I mean dunked.

Fascist Empires always exempt their actions as rational and logical, even when they have no brainers.

[sleepingdog]

84. Everything....

....that passes thru Dick's head is classified as no-brainer! And just think, if we impeach dippity Dub, this is who'll take his place! :dunce:

[ladywnch]

85. So I guess the next question is "what EXACTLY constitutes

torture with this administration?!!!??

would say waterboarding someone with, I dunno, say, a bad heart....maybe a pacemaker for example, and having that person drop dead of heart failure constitute torture?

Just hypothetically, ya know....


I talk to coworkers who are former military and they don't have a problem with this practice until I ask how they would feel if their buddies were captured and waterboarded and then, of course, it is completely unacceptable. So many people in this country have somehow been convinced that Arabs are somehow less than human and so anything done to them is perfectly alright. And yet, all the while they cling to the "we have the moral high ground"....."god is on OUR side" beliefs.

It is truly scary. One has to wonder if in deed they have been chemically altered to accept this all as fact and okay.

[Disturbed]

87. Many Americans that call themselves Christians are fine with

waterboarding evil Terrorists. These evil doers are not really human beings, ya see. They don't deserve humane treatment. Cheney will never be prosecuted for anything. He is above any Law.

[TankLV]

86. Well, fuckface - it's TORTURE, no matter what YOU believe.

You have proven now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you and your idiot boss are WAR CRIMINALS, for all the world to see.

What I truely wish to happen to these SICK CRIMINALS would be against the rules to mention here...

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

92. No brain, and no heart either

The man is a sociopath. Plain and simple. His disregard for human dignity sums up everything I hate about the Administration of our Worst President Ever, GW Bush.

[MasonJar]

93. If there is anybody in this world who could benefit more than Cheney

from a little bout of water boarding, please post his name here.____________

[Loge23]

96. If the U.S. was a true democracy...

these guys would be in prison.
If the U.S. was still in the 18th century, these guys would be hanging from the gallows.
The current administration are the traitors that we've all been warned about.

[Gold Metal Flake]

101. From the artical, quotes from interview

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/columnists/jonathan_s_landay/15847918.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_jonathan_s_landay

In the interview on Tuesday, Scott Hennen of WDAY Radio in Fargo, N.D., told Cheney that listeners had asked him to "let the vice president know that if it takes dunking a terrorist in water, we're all for it, if it saves American lives."

"I do agree," Cheney replied, according to a transcript of the interview released Wednesday. "And I think the terrorist threat, for example, with respect to our ability to interrogate high-value detainees like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, that's been a very important tool that we've had to be able to secure the nation."

"Would you agree that a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?" asked Hennen.

"It's a no-brainer for me, but for a while there, I was criticized as being the vice president `for torture.' We don't torture. That's not what we're involved in," Cheney replied. "We live up to our obligations in international treaties that we're party to and so forth. But the fact is, you can have a fairly robust interrogation program without torture, and we need to be able to do that."