If they torture Arabs today who will torture tomorrow ?

[Wiregrass Willie]

Yesterday Meet the Press interviewed director of national intelligence, Admiral Mike McConnell, in his first television interview. Russert was in his most "kinder and gentler" mode.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19850951/

MR. RUSSERT: But by the use of the term “enhanced interrogation measures,” there clearly are things that are used to elicit information. Have we eliminated waterboarding? Can you confirm that?

Admiral McCONNELL: I would rather not be specific on eliminating exactly what the techniques are with regard to any, any specific.

At this point Russert should have interupted and said something like "Thanks you Admiral, that answers my question".
But instead, he lets McConnell continue -

Admiral McCONNELL con'ts: When I was in a situation where I had to sign off, as a member of the process, my name to this executive order, I sat down with those who had been trained to do it, the doctors who monitor it, understanding that no one is subjected to torture. They’re, they’re treated in a way that they have adequate diet, not exposed to heat or cold. They’re not abused in any way. But I did understand, when exposed to the techniques, how they work and why they work, all under medical supervision.

Holy Shit ! The questions have to be asked under medical supervision, eh ? That tells us a lot.

Admiral McCONNELL con'ts: And one of the things that’s very important, I think, for the American public to know, in the history of this program, it’s been fewer than 100 people. And so this, this is a program where we capture someone known to be a terrorist, we need information that they possess, and it has saved countless lives. Because, because they believe these techniques might involve torture and they don’t understand them, they tend to speak to us, talk to us in very—a very candid way.

In other words, they are afraid of having their pubic hair set on fire.

MR. RUSSERT: Does this new executive order allow measures that if were used against a U.S. citizen who was apprehended by the enemy would be troubling to the American people?

Admiral McCONNELL: I can report to you that it’s not torture.

Bullshit ! (But Russert couldn't think of anything that descriptive )
A couple of questions later Russert asks this :

MR. RUSSERT: And we would find it acceptable if a U.S. citizen experienced the same kind of enhanced interrogation measures?
Admiral McCONNELL: Tim, it’s not torture. I would not want a U.S. citizen to go through the process, but it is not tortures, and there would be no permanent damage to that citizen.

Oh, spare me !

What Russert should have asked, and demanded an answer to would have been this ---

"In a few years .... when the F.B.I and local police are using these same techniques on American citizens suspected of crimes, will you have any problem with it ? "

I would love to see someone in the Administration answer that question.

[Jim Sagle]

1. Anybody they goddamn well feel like.

[Solly Mack]

2. but let's keep pretending America isn't committing war crimes

let's keep pretending it is just a "few bad apples"

let's keep pretending the 109th Congress didn't pass legislation (MCA 2006) that basically granted immunity to those who torture and redefined the War Crimes Act of 1996

let's keep pretending that ALL Americans won't be paying for the crimes of our government


let's just keep pretending that it will all just go away in 2009....

[Swamp Rat]

3. They already tortured many of us to death here in New Orleans.

[Solly Mack]

4. they didn't even give y'all that much thought

they put a lot of thought into their torturing and justifications for torture

[Swamp Rat]

5. Heard another story from a friend

who was one block from where Bushler landed in Jackson Square. As he was about to enter his residence on St. Anne, two troopers (not New Orleans police), grabbed him punched him a few times in the face, and barked questions at him. Every time he started to reply they punched him in the throat and face. When he remained silent, they continued the punching for not replying. The neighbors on the second floor yelled at the police to stop, identifying him as being in the proper place, but the police drew their revolvers and said they will shoot them if they don't shut the fuck up and go back inside. Then the beating resumed. After he was on the ground they stomped on him and as he reached for his glasses, which they knocked off his face, one trooper crushed them. So, it was nearly pitch back and now he was blind. After few seconds transpired while the troopers resumed their promise to kill the other neighbors, he crawled inside his place and was able to lock the door. Then he had a seizure and woke up hours later in convulsions, and had to survive on no food and little water for a few days until Bushler's army left after the photo-op.

I know many many more people who survived attacks like this from the neo-nazi Bushler troops.

[Solly Mack]

6. Oh, Swamp! I'm so sorry!

:(