Right-Wing Pundit: Give The CIA Official Who Destroyed The Torture Tapes ‘A Medal’
Right-Wing Pundit: Give The CIA Official Who Destroyed The Torture Tapes ‘A Medal’
Prominent conservative commentator Linda Chavez writes that Jose Rodriguez, the CIA official who reportedly undertook the destruction of the torture tapes, “deserves a medal.” Chavez — President Bush’s once-failed Secretary of Labor candidate — writes:
In the next few months, [Rodriguez's] name will likely be dragged through the mud, and he will be vilified as a rogue official engaged in a massive cover-up. I think he deserves a medal. [...]
Rodriguez’s lawyer says that his client sought and received legal clearance to destroy the tapes. Even though he is likely to become a scapegoat, what he did was right. He protected not just his men but all of us. I, for one, thank him.
Given Bush’s past record of distributing medals to individuals who carried out the White House’s disastrous policies (see George Tenet and Paul Bremer), Rodriguez would indeed qualify. The New York Times reported recently that there was “vigorous sentiment” among some top White House officials to destroy the tapes.
In November, Fox pundit John Gibson said the White House deserved a medal for outing Valerie Plame. Conservatives have made a mockery of the “presidential medal of freedom,” turning it into a symbol for absolving the Bush administration’s illegal behavior.
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66 Responses to “Right-Wing Pundit: Give The CIA Official Who Destroyed The Torture Tapes ‘A Medal’”
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Yeah, yeah. Tony Blankley of the Wa Times had roughly the same reaction. Rule of Law means nothing to these people... this week.
But go ahead, give 'em a damn Medal of Freedom. It's not the award has any significance anymore anyway.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:06 pmthe presidential medal of honor holds as much distinction as the awards handed out to Hitler's elite
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 pmA medal to a criminal? You've got to be joshing. This man committed a Federal offense. These reichwing nuts are certifiable sociopaths.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:20 pmThese pundits are suggesting commendation for one who has committed a federal offense. Maybe we should hold them responsible for the breakdown of the rule of law in this country?
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:21 pmI thought this woman would have slunk away in shame after her con-artist methods were revealed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/12/AR2007081201371.html
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:23 pmRodriguez’s lawyer says that his client sought and received legal clearance to destroy the tapes.???????!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to see the legal clearance of DESTROYING EVIDENCE OF TORTURE BY THE USA. THE LEGAL CLEARENCE TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE AGAINST WAR CRIMES. HE DESERVES A MEDAL SHUVED UP HIS REAR END!
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:31 pmCuffs are made of medal - I think I can get into that idea, as long as we're talking cuffs! ;)
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:33 pmAnother misunderstood loyal Bushie war on terror hero.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:33 pmI thought this woman would have slunk away in shame after her con-artist methods were revealed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2007/ 08/ 12/ AR2007081201371.html
Comment by JimRMTZ — December 22, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Republicans are CON artists by nature, why would they feel shame for getting caught being good CONs? ;)
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:34 pmIt occurred to me that Bubba Clinton once again tried to undermine Hill'reh's Presidential campaign, this time against the current "like-ability" push. By trying to promote Hill'reh as a "genius", he is actually reinforcing the cold, calculating and unfeeling image we all know, undermining that she is actually self-effacing, demure and (ugh) touchable.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 pmIf Bush and Cheney had their way, minorities like Linda Chavez would never have become citizens of the United States. It's Ironic how people like Chavez can support Republicans.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:42 pmThis country is going to hell in a hand basket. It truly scares the crap out of me.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:43 pmConyers does NOT care about Wexler’s Petition to start Cheney impeachment hearings!
Read the transcript from Democracy Now.
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/from-democracy-now-interview-with-conyers-he-doesnt-care-about-wexlers-petition/
He will NOT allow impeachment hearings to take place.
Conyers knows that Pelosi will undercut the efforts of impeachment rather than helping to build a bi-partisan coalition to impeach.
Conyers knows that Pelosi will again be Speaker of the House next year and she will take him off the Judiciary Committee if he goes against her wishes. It’s a “lose-lose†for him and impeachment.
Let’s help him and the rest of the members of the House of Representatives by removing an obstructionist Speaker. It can be done and must be done to start the impeachment process.
http://www.petitiononline.com/everyman/petition.html
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:44 pmCan anyone tell me who on the Rethug side has any Washington experience?
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:44 pmSorry, I meant to add out of the Rethug candidates running for the Presidency.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:46 pmWhy not? I mean Tenet, Bremer and Wolfie all have one.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:46 pmHe protected Republican politicians.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:49 pmOur next president should rename that medal, seeing that its use has been debased so.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:55 pmTorture is good!
Torture the bastards!!
Comment by John Kerry — December 22, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
ROTFL!! If torture is good, why is your leadership a bunch of 'pansies' that won't admit this? And why do you have to use the alias of a LIBERAL to say what you don't have the b@lls to say under your own real name?
ROTFL!! COWARDS! That's why you think TORTURE is good - you're a bunch of SCARED LITTLE GIRLS!! BAHAHAHA!!! Bunch of emasculated 'tards!
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:59 pmHe didn't protect CIA.
He did not protect America.
He protected Republican politicians.
Republicans who could not even trust their own CIA.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:59 pmThat Ron Paul sure is a lightning rod. He's partially responsible for the following match-up:
Thrilla in Vanilla: Klein vs. Greenwald
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:00 pm.
My solution is to herd the wingers into Utah, where they would quickly die.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:02 pmI thought this woman would have slunk away in shame after her con-artist methods were revealed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2007/ 08/ 12/ AR2007081201371.html
Comment by JimRMTZ
Wow, she is a real piece of work. But, she's also a typical Republiscum. It's all about "me". That's the mantra of the Republiscums.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:10 pmIt occurred to me that Bubba Clinton once again tried to undermine Hill’reh’s Presidential campaign, this time against the current “like-ability†push.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
You know Jason, you really should seek professional help for your obsession with Bill Clinton. It must really frost you that Bill Clinton is a beloved ex president and your guy is a disliked and reviled current president.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:14 pmYou know Jason, you really should seek professional help for your obsession with Bill Clinton. It must really frost you that Bill Clinton is a beloved ex president and your guy is a disliked and reviled current president.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 22, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Maybe Jason is secretly Doughy Pantload, who had a column in the morning paper claiming that a failure by HRC to get elected will allow the neocons to claim it's really all about a rejection of Bill. "See! Neener! The Clinton Years weren't really that good, or she would have won!" Childish little twit.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:22 pmIn case you Think Regress Rejects haven't heard, Harry Reid said the surge has helped out progress in Iraq. Here is the link
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/reid_12-21.html
Maybe Faiz can post this as one of his stories.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:25 pmundermining that she is actually self-effacing, demure and (ugh) touchable.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 22, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Once again, completely off-topic. Jason, the rest of of DO NOT find your unhealty sexual obsession w/ this woman to be the least bit interesting.
We DON'T CARE if she reminds you of your mother.
Get help... you desperately need it, as your endless posts about her prove.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:29 pmImprison the sane and herald the lunactics!:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/washington/23habeas.html?hp
In 'Idiocracy' folks just got dumb; in 'US democracy' the dumb get greedy.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:31 pmI don’t think you’re qualified to criticize my posts.
Comment by Frank M — December 22, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Yer "opinions" speak fer tehmselves. You've perfected self-parody.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pmGO BUBBA GO! Keep undermining your (ugh) wife's campaign!
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:54 pmIt's not hyperbole when I say Republicans hate democracy and the rule of law. They like pomp, pageantry and the pretension of proper governance, but when push comes to shrug they act like petty thugs.
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:56 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — December 22, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Thanx for confirming what I've long suspected. Bill Clinton DIDN'T have sex with that woman! After all, a President is, by BigO's "logic", incapable of lying.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:01 pmI don’t know if the fellow who destroyed the tapes deserves a medal or not, but he certainly deserves kudos for doing his job helping to keep the United States safe from terrorists.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
I don't usually engage trolls, but I'm curious:
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:01 pmAssuming you're sincere, how exactly would this tape have damaged national security? Or do you people just abandon logic and give in to hysterical fear without reflection? The great the danger you construct in your imaginations, the braver you are for cheering on war from your keyboards?
Guilty as charged.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — December 22, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Ask Footie why the CIA quit waterboarding back in 2005 if it was so essential to keeping the country safe. Not... ONE... of these worthless F'-in' human colostomy bags will answer that one.
BTW, nice Jingle Ballsâ„¢, Fooite. It's nice ta see bein' a troll hasn't completely destroyed yer sense a humor. After all, you do keep comin' here in that outfit.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:02 pm40 - I say i don't breath, so therefore i don't breath.
Evidence acquired under duress is inherently suspect, and inadmissable in court as violating the 5th Amendment, etc. As future court jurisdicational matters were uncertain at the time, the CIA/military would want to make their cases air-tight. They kept the tapes to show reasonable suspicion toward 'documenting' the 'confessions'. In reality, the CIA destroyed these tapes to keep the trials alive...as discovery of mistreatment [kindly] and failure of process would kill the evidence (and that later acquired).
Flatly, this is a sham. The 'trials' are only meant to produce fake convictions...whereby our leaders propogate more imaginary fear... to keep people like yourself from asking more questions about their OTHER illegal activities.
You are a daisy.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:03 pmThe great the danger you construct in your imaginations, the braver you are for cheering on war from your keyboards?
Comment by JimRMTZ — December 22, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Jim, everything you're asking is true and meaningful, and you'll NEVER get a straight, honest, meaninful reply from Footie.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pmComment by BARTLEBEE — December 22, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
Well, in fairness, the CIA has never previously been under the control of anyone as incompetent, and corrupt, as Bushco. Heck, the Chimperror probably takes people he wants to impress on tours and supplies them with choice tidbits of intelligence to show their friends. Then he probably takes them home to view home movies of all our "clever" interrogations. I don't place any act, criminal or merely stupid, beyond these scum.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 pmI am sincere.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 22, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Hell's bells! A "sincere" sociopath.
BTW, still wishing for a "nukular" attack on Iran? Hows that working out for you?
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pmOur enemies cannot be allowed to learn the techniques the United States uses for gathering information.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
??????? Yeah, "they" don't know, let alone they were trained by US.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pmWhat is the nature of man who villifies the whistleblower and rewards the criminal?
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:37 pmHe'll get the Royal Scapegoat Order of the Shaft from the untouchable higher up's.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:12 pmGreat! a UTB ["under the bus"] medal.
Quaint.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:18 pm59 - the answer is: nature.
the CW is that animals compete for resources however possible...just that often they cooperate and/or pace themselves because it's in their best interests.
Could it be that our own greatest gift, consciousness, has backfired by allowing some of us [neo-cons, trolls] to justify harm against others, for their own personal gain, b/c they see themselves as separate from the planet. Creationism will kill us.
The one promising thing we humans have left...is that we COULD consciously decide to coordinate our actions and prolong life 'round har.
So i propose, to you you neo-cons, trolls, and bible-bangers, that: ignorance is bliss, but insight is salvation.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pmPlease stick that medal somewhere the sun will never, ever shine.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 pmTHATS your position?
Comment by BARTLEBEE — December 22, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
His postion is actually "down on all four w/ his head down on."
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pmIt's perfectly OK for our government to torture in our name, and especially if we have no idea how they are performing said torture.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:36 pmIt's OK, because we a bunch of scared weenies, right BigAss?
I don't mind if they give this dude a medal, as long as it's from the repressive right-wing government of Myanmar (formerly Burma), and as long as it's awarded posthumously.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 pmnah, give him a talk show and a book deal... that's what Ollie North got, right? it seems to be the formula for rogue "heroes" who excuse themselves from the law...
December 22nd, 2007 at 6:06 pmO. Bigfoot, if Bush said the sky was green, then it surely must be so, and the fact that we see it as blue must mean our eyes have a liberal bias.
December 22nd, 2007 at 6:38 pmTo call such a person a 'man' is to accord them entirely too much dignity and honor. The nature of such a person is that of the lowly cur.
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:00 pmYes, and after you give him a medal, ship his a** to prison for treason.
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 pmYou think Ms. Chavez would express the same sentiment if a Democrat was president?
Exactly!
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:51 pmIts a well established principle of law (both in the USA and in the UCMJ) - if you're told something is legal and it is prima fascie illegal, being told it is legal isn't a defense.
See Nurenberg.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 pmWhatever serves to keep these thugs in power...
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmGibson, how come 'Forrest Gump' is smarter than you?
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 pmLOL, John Gibson...is he still around?
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:23 amNot even close. The people who earned the Knight's Cross were some of the greatest soldiers in history (albeit on the wrong side).
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 amAll this schmuck did was destroy some tapes.
outting valarie plame people get a medal too?
not protecting assets at cia seemed a medal worthy endevour at the time for rightards.
tapes probably had cumm stains on em, best to burn that type of evidence right away
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:16 amThe destruction of these tapes is the cover up of a war crime and they know it.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:18 amBigfoot - about .05% of the month...my girlfriend's ability for discussion is as impervious as yours appears to be full-time.
Please join us.
If people in our government were intentionally violating laws that protect our fundamental civil liberties, and the welfare of our armed service members, would you want to know?
As it seems there are substantive charges/evidence to that effect... why let them continue to piss on this nation's best traits?
Thx
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 pmHaven't read thru all comments, so if this is proposed, or simply so obvious no one's mentioned it, oh well...
? If Rogue-riguez "sought and received" legal clearance to destroy the tapes, wouldn't he be naming the who-what-where-when of this so-called legal clearance to save his own ass, thus almost assuring a trail straight to the Nut Hou- oops I mean White House? As if we the kool-aid abstainers didn't already know, but...
Is this it? Is this finally the case with the smoking gun? I'm afraid to get my hopes up, as the last seven years of my (our) life have been a series of BushCo/GOP nightmares and disasters and scandals from which the perpetrators make a Houdini-esque escape, it's like that version of hell where you keep rolling the rock up the hill only to have it roll back down right at the summit, eternally, yeah? Anyone feel me?
What makes this case different in my view are the multiple fronts from which this is being investigated, the involvement of a non-Bushie-Federalist-Hump judge, the CLEAR and undeniable illegality of the act, and the OBVIOUS stench of a cover-up, with a growing scent of the cover-up of the cover-up, and it's THAT which may bring down the house, ala Watergate, am I on target?
If someone reads this can you point out any flaws in my logic? Don't let me get too hopeful, I can't take another letdown. And I know, I know, I won't be surprised if the scapegoat tactic works and this all just blows away...
What scares me is if the investigations get TOO close to W and DICK, its gonna be 9/11 part II...
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:31 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — December 23, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Since Big0 does not use logic, his points are moot.
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:47 pmAnd here the Repubs had everyone fooled, that they were for "the rule of law", when in reality they are for almost everything that is anti-American.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:49 pmI'm sorry now I went thru the comments. Trolls make my head hurt. O, Bigtoe, what doth posess you to see the world in such a completely distorted way? Answer? You are a victim of the massive dis-information campaign known to you as "The Liberal Media". Putz.
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:51 pmRodriguez' name will be dragged through the mud? Really? My sources say that he's made a deal to get immunity from prosecution. He's still angry about being a fall guy 20 years ago in Iran-Contra and he's going to give Bush up.
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:20 pmThere is a basic rule of wrong that goes like this: No matter how bad the original crime destroying the evidence makes it look worse.
So well done to the CIA, they have handed yet another major propaganda victory to the enemy.
December 24th, 2007 at 3:20 am