Leahy presses Rice on Bellinger’s torture comments.
Leahy presses Rice on Bellinger’s torture comments.
In an Oct. 24 debate, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s legal adviser, John Bellinger, refused to classify waterboarding as torture — even if it was used “on an American national by a foreign intelligence service.” Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today asked Rice to clarify her aide’s recent comments. Via CNN Wire:
“There are reports that one of your principal aides and legal advisers, a Mr. John Bellinger, is taking the legal position that he cannot say whether it is permissible to waterboard Americans and that it depends on the facts and circumstances,” Leahy said about the State Department’s principal adviser on domestic and international law.
“I could not disagree more strongly. There are no conceivable facts or circumstances that would justify waterboarding an American anywhere in the world for any reason. Our treaty obligations and domestic law make waterboarding illegal. Please respond without delay and set this matter straight.”
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with a really really harsh letter.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:34 pmTry taking a big Bat with you Leahy, not a letter, and start a smack down on them, that’s the only thing that is going to get their attention.
Buck Fush
November 7th, 2007 at 2:41 pmBelieve Rice? Condiliesalot.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:42 pm…and this time, the Dems REALLY mean it. You bad, bad people.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:42 pmNow she’s going to go shoe shopping.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pmHow does a “treaty obligation” prevent others from waterboarding Americans, but doesn’t prevent Americans from waterboarding others?
Wow, that’s one hell of a one-sided treaty.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pmHow many times do you plan to ask her, Leahy? 8-9 times? … and what if she doesn’t answer?
You guys really need a new script.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:45 pmOoooh, I’ll be Condi’s shaking in her Manolos!!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:48 pmWhy the hell are the Democrats playing games and not impeaching these fascist for obviously violating US and international law??
This crap is just fcking unbelievable. Rule of Law is now just a joke in the US.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:48 pmCrap. I hate typos – they ruin a good punchline every time. :o/
I’ll BET Condi’ shaking in her Manolos.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:48 pm*pulling hair out*
I give up. Feh.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pmHow about “My aide cannot define waterboarding as torture, because torture is illegal and we’ll all do jail time”?
November 7th, 2007 at 2:51 pmPress harder, Leahy, make Rice paper!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:51 pmor Rice crispy.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:53 pmHow does a “treaty obligation†prevent others from waterboarding Americans, but doesn’t prevent Americans from waterboarding others?
Wow, that’s one hell of a one-sided treaty.
Comment by Doofus
Because at the end of the day, bad people will do bad things, regardless of treaties. That’s why this issue has resonated so much with ‘normal’ Americans. They believe we are above that sort of behavior – and we should be. There never is a valid reason to stoop so low as to match the evil behavior of bad people. Also, as a side note: TORTURE IS ILLEGAL!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:53 pmSing along now, “Walking in a fascist wonderland… Later on, we’ll be waterboarding…”
“Tis the season to be waterboarding…”
“Now we don our fascist apparel…”
It’s been very hard to celebrate the “joy of the Christmas season” since the Bush gangsters staged their fascist coup on 13 December 2000… This will be our 8th Christmas under Bush fascist rule…
November 7th, 2007 at 3:02 pm15 – you said a mouthful.
Bad people will ALWAYS do bad things.
We’re supposed to be the good guys – so how the fresh hell are we supposed to justify OUR doing bad things…??
November 7th, 2007 at 3:02 pmYou mean someone’s actually questioning the negative consequences of condoning certain ‘interogation techniques’? Why didn’t this paradox arise during the AG confirmation? Another bad application of the Golden Rule, and people say this is a nation of Christian principles? Say “Merry Christmas” or else it’s the waterboard for you.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:06 pm*pulling hair out*
I give up. Feh.
Comment by Leftside Annie — November 7, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
It’s okay – we all have bad finger days from time to time :)
November 7th, 2007 at 3:23 pmThose 24%ers just watch too damn much 24.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:25 pmKeith Southerland portrays a fictional tough guy. Kinda like our trolls.
Sutherland? DixieLand?
November 7th, 2007 at 3:26 pmOh, goody! Another letter! That’ll show ‘em.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:35 pmSutherland? DixieLand?
Cumberland?
November 7th, 2007 at 3:36 pmWhy are the Dems playing by rules, and being “gentlemen?” Letters, requests, proper language, etc., go nowhere with this criminal cabal. Demand answers, if none are forthcoming, press charges. They understand nothing except brute force – so give it to them.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pmI am sick of this pussyfooting and “please, may I” approach — the requests are reasonable and warranted. Get the answers, or else!
i guess i dont see the point of another letter.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:01 pmi dont even feel like making a joke about “another letter”
November 7th, 2007 at 4:01 pmWhy is the issue that it was an American national who was waterboarded? Torture is torture — is it only wrong if it is done to ONE OF US?
I am sick to death of this arrogance and immorality. The fact that no one else has picked up on this is just an example of the pathetic brainwashing of our uninformed populace.
We tried and convicted people for war crimes because of waterboarding. Well, when WE do it, it is wel….um….different. Anyone read Animal Farm lately?
November 7th, 2007 at 5:16 pmheard on maddow:
Waterboarding is Torture… Period
Posted by Malcolm Nance on October 31, 2007 2:30 PM
I’d like to digress from my usual analysis of insurgent strategy and tactics to speak out on an issue of grave importance to Small Wars Journal readers. We, as a nation, are having a crisis of honor.
Last week the Attorney General nominee Judge Michael Mukasey refused to define waterboarding terror suspects as torture. On the same day MSNBC television pundit and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough quickly spoke out in its favor. On his morning television broadcast, he asserted, without any basis in fact, that the efficacy of the waterboard a viable tool to be used on Al Qaeda suspects.
Scarborough said, “For those who don’t know, waterboarding is what we did to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is the Al Qaeda number two guy that planned 9/11. And he talked …” He then speculated that “If you ask Americans whether they think it’s okay for us to waterboard in a controlled environment … 90% of Americans will say ‘yes.’†Sensing that what he was saying sounded extreme, he then claimed he did not support torture but that waterboarding was debatable as a technique: “You know, that’s the debate. Is waterboarding torture? … I don’t want the United States to engage in the type of torture that [Senator] John McCain had to endure.”
In fact, waterboarding is just the type of torture then Lt. Commander John McCain had to endure at the hands of the North Vietnamese. As a former Master Instructor and Chief of Training at the US Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School (SERE) in San Diego, California I know the waterboard personally and intimately. SERE staff were required undergo the waterboard at its fullest. I was no exception. I have personally led, witnessed and supervised waterboarding of hundreds of people. [...]
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/10/waterboarding-is-torture-perio/#c000923
November 7th, 2007 at 7:09 pm.