McClellan: ‘I Could Not Say Honestly Today That This Administration Does Not Believe In Torture’
McClellan: ‘I Could Not Say Honestly Today That This Administration Does Not Believe In Torture’
In 2005, as Congress debated legislation to ban cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody, then-White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan repeatedly asserted that the Bush administration “does not condone torture” and would “never authorize the use of torture.”
But in a podcast interview with ABC News’s Jake Tapper yesterday, McClellan disavowed his previous defenses of the Bush administration’s interrogation policies. “I would have never made those comments from the podium had I known exactly what was happening,” said McClellan.
He then told Tapper that because of “waterboarding and some other harsh interrogation methods” used by the administration, he “could not say honestly today that this administration does not believe in torture”:
Now, looking back on that, I hold a very different view when I know today that were engaged in waterboarding and some other harsh interrogation methods and I would have never made those comments from the podium had I known exactly what was happening in some of those settings. Whether or not it was illegal is a matter for other people to address, but I could not say honestly today that this administration does not believe in torture, does not engage in torture.
Listen here:
Earlier this month, after he had himself waterboarded, journalist Christopher Hitchens wrote, “believe me, it’s torture.” “If waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture,” said Hitchens.
Apparently, Scott McClellan agrees.
Transcript:
TAPPER: Looking back on it, obviously in the…I read the book and there, obviously, you felt very stung, personally. And that was apparent to anybody watching.MCCLELLAN: Right.
TAPPER: The whole Valerie Plame affair and the fact that you were misled by Karl Rove and Scooter Libby about their role. But, beyond that, do you look back at things you said from the podium that just were not true? That you knew at the time were not true?
MCCLELLAN: At the time, no, ah, maybe, no because I believe what I said from the podium was sincere, even though some times looking back on it now it may have been misguided. But let me give you another example. Yes, I, to the initial part of your question, are there other things beyond that, beyond the Valerie Plame episode that I look back to. One would certainly be the whole issue of detainee policy and to a large extent, or almost to a full extent, I had to rely on other people within the White House to provide me with the information I needed for that. I did not sit there and participate in the policy making process for detainees. We’re only now learning the full truth of who was involved in that and what exactly occurred. But when I went out and said, “we do not torture,” that we adhere to our international treaties and so forth, I was relying on what information was being given to me. Now, looking back on that, I hold a very different view when I know today that were engaged in waterboarding and some other harsh interrogation methods and I would have never made those comments from the podium had I known exactly what was happening in some of those settings. Whether or not it was illegal is a matter for other people to address, but I could not say honestly today that this administration does not believe in torture, does not engage in torture. Now, people within the White House continue to believe that it doesn’t — that it’s not tantamount to torture. I just hold a different view today on that subject.
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Says it all.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:13 pmMcClellan disavowed his previous defenses of the Bush administration’s interrogation policies. “I would have never made those comments from the podium had I known exactly what was happening,” said McClellan.
He can not claim ignorance as press secretary.He defended what he knew about, so he’s either good or bad, like anyone else.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:24 pmI read the Hitchens link (VF). I appreciate his efforts to undergo waterboarding to determine if he thought it was torture or not.
I also found Mr. Nance’s 4 point arguments (page 2 of the same link) very compelling.
That information has convinced me that regardless of whether we use it to train our own soldiers and whether it may not be comparable to torture or atrocities carried out by jihadists or terrorists; waterboarding is torture.
Thank you, Christopher Hitchens and thank you, Thinkprogress.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:31 pmBush is great president. Bless the man history will judge him well.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:32 pmKeep it up Scotty. Tell nothing but the truth, the rest of your life, and history may remember you kindly.
Other Busites take note. The truth may not set you free, but, it will probably lighten your sentence.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:37 pmBush has prevent more terror attack. He’s kept us safe. He doesn’t do torture.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:38 pm“He doesn’t do torture.”
Unlike you by putting us through your illiterate posts.
HEY! Wait a minute…..
Is that you, GW?
Quit playin’ with the computer you f***ing halfwit and go eat a pretzel.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:55 pmAnother sock puppet to take out with the trash? Where does that stupid dog keep digging them up?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:55 pmPresident Bush is the Best Says:
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Bush is great president. Bless the man history will judge him well.
FLAGGED Spamming Troll
July 8th, 2008 at 9:45 pmHey, why should wingnuts get all the fake-troll fun?
July 8th, 2008 at 10:37 pm.
Darn them trolls… eh rog?
BTW, rog, I gave you a thumbs up on #2. I think a lot of people have gotten into the habit of overlooking your posts or at least not recommending them because they’ve written you off due to past performances…
But this time, you hit a nail!
Scotty is just like all of us and he IS attempting to paint himself innocent because now he’s confessing to what he already knew, then. He’s just changed his position on torture recently. And yes, you are correct, he is either correct or he is not. Now or then.
I would say he’s more correct now than he was then.
… And being more correct now does in no way excuse his proliferation of the lies, then, either!
.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:29 am“McClellan: ‘I Could Not Say Honestly Today That This Administration Does Not Believe In Torture’”
Really, those Republicans are SLOW.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:55 amI know for a fact bush employs torture tactics…everytime I hear his backwoods, semi-literate azz talking on the television, I would rather tear out my own fingernails. He tortures the English language on a daily basis
July 9th, 2008 at 8:36 amPresident Bush is the Best Says:
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Bush is great president. Bless the man history will judge him well.
Well said. Now, back into Dick Cheney’s man-sized safe with you.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:58 am