Armitage: I should have resigned because of torture.
Armitage: I should have resigned because of torture.
In an interview to be aired on Thursday, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told Al Jazeera English that he “did not know…that torture was going on” in the Bush administration. In retrospect, if he knew about the mistreatment, Armitage said he would have resigned:
Q: So when you knew that the administration of which you were a part was departing from the Geneva Conventions and sidelining them, why didn’t you quit?
ARMITAGE: In hindsight maybe I should’ve. But in those positions you see how many more battles you have. You maybe fool yourself. You say how much worse would x, y, or z be if I weren’t here trying to do it? So torture is a matter of principle as far as I’m concerned. I hope, had I known about it at the time I was serving, I would’ve had the courage to resign.
Armitage has previously been waterboarded as part of SERE training, saying in 2008 that he “absolutely” believes the practice is torture. “I’m ashamed that we’re even having this discussion,” he said of the debate over torture.
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So is more than half the country.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:02 pmWhat a minute, I thought the excuse was
“I was only following orders.”
April 15th, 2009 at 6:05 pmGood for you sir. You hear that Obama? Our country needs the catharsis of trials.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:08 pmRats jumping ship.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pmWait, you mean one of these people actually has a conscience??
April 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pmIf I knew we were torturing, I’m pretty sure he knew.
He’s just trying to keep from being charged with War Crimes.
But unfortunately none of the WAR CRIMINALS are going to pay for their crimes.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pmOk, you didn’t resign. How about stepping up to the plate now? Otherwise, STFU. No one will feel sorry for you.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:11 pmCongratulations Mr. Armatige. you’re on the right path now.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:14 pmHow do you know when a neocon / Republican / conservative is lying?
Their lips are moving!!!
Ba Dum Bum!!
April 15th, 2009 at 6:14 pmHe was Deputy Secretary of State? What did they do, keep him in a broom closet? This guy is full of crap. Kinda reminds me of Robert McNamera–apologizing after the fact. The only difference between the two is that Richie Boy didn’t wait 35 years.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:14 pmSomeone hears footsteps. Don’t look behind you.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:15 pmWhat about working to ensure justice is done Mr. Armitage.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:17 pmWhile you’re at it, you f#$%ing piece of treasoness s%&@, why don’t you show a little feigned remorse for outting a CIA agent.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:18 pmBetter hope there isn’t any evidence, Mr. Armitage, because this little mea no culpa is only as good as the first Bushie who’s on the spot in the Hague, and willing to name you as an insider along with your boss, Powell.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:23 pmWhat a bunch of self serving crap, to an arabic newservice, what is he an apologist, or just a hypocrite.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:25 pmArmitage: I should have resigned because of torture….
– - “…because now I may get indicted.”
April 15th, 2009 at 6:25 pmArmitage: I should have resigned because of torture….
- – “…because now I may get indicted.”
BINGO!
April 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pmTime-release conscience?
April 15th, 2009 at 6:43 pmDuring the bush/cheney crime spree, the only way any employees of the U.S. government did not know and understand that torture was being committed, was by standing up and shouting “SHUT UP! – SHUT UP! – SHUT UP !!!” as they fled the room where it was being discussed.
They knew very well their jobs and salaries depended upon them to keep silent about the issue whenever anyone not on the inside was present, and most importantly when they were out in public.
Now, they understand they have to keep on remaining silent about all of the crimes that were committed during the bush-2 years, and to keep on regurgiating the lie that “I did not know.” Else, they lay themselves open to indictment as accomplices after-the-fact for failing to report the wrong-doing they were aware of. And that includes being willing accomplices to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:50 pmYou don’t have to be waterboarded to know it’s torture. That’s obvious. And it was publicly known that our prisoners were being waterboarded, so he knew we were torturing when he was in office. And he didn’t step down.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:51 pmWhen you hear banjo music, paddle faster….
April 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pm“But in those positions you see how many more battles you have. You maybe fool yourself. You say how much worse would x, y, or z be if I weren’t here trying to do it?”
I wonder how many war criminals rationalized their actions by the same logic – “if I didn’t do it, somebody else would have done it worse?”
April 15th, 2009 at 7:08 pmAt one time I would have accepted his contrition – but there has been too much water over the dam now — too much damage has been done — and his regret is too little too late.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pmFergus, I had forgotten about Robert McNamara — he had his regrets, too, didn’t he — w-a-a-y too late.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:20 pmEl Bruce::
el bruce this is a universal dilemma in most human beings… do you stay in the system and fight it from inside, or do you resign from the system and fight from the outside. there are also all of the overlapping issues of politics… when do you compromise, what do you compromise on, what are your core beliefs. i have not encountered any liberals who are free of this dilemma, (try talking to vegans about vegetarians some time), it is pretty much part of the human condition.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:57 pmYes, Richard, you should have resigned, but you didn’t. By not resigning you gave aid and comfort to those who have committed crimes against humanity in America’s name.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pmand to pretend that you will never have to make such a decision yourself is a little bit silly. did you pay your taxes this year? you support torture then. because there are people who dont pay their taxes, they are called tax resisters, and sometimes they lose their houses and belongings over it. are you willing to do that? no? should you be considered a war criminal, because you didnt resist enough?
April 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pmPut Bush and Cheney in prison for treason and war crimes.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:11 pmArmitage should be in jail for outing a covert CIA agaent, Valerie Plame…
Too late to get religion now Mr. Bundy.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:19 pmIs Proud here? I am looking for Proud…
April 15th, 2009 at 8:35 pmKnowing that the Bush Whitehouse was characterized by lively, frank, and open discussions, how could the Sec of State NOT know ?
April 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pmHow many more times is this stuff going to be talked about willingly by former administration officials before someone in the government does something?!!! For crying out loud, at least investigate these crimes.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:50 pmhow is this different from McNamara’s phony, semi-almost-partial-ambiguous “apology” for Viet Nam?
answer: It isn’t…
April 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pmOh, spare me! This guy is a PNACer. Nothing else needs to be said.
Another lying POS from PNAC.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pmat 27 decora says:
Oh please. To extend this moral dilemma to the point of a taxpayer is absurd. The only further step you could take is to say that as humans we have a responsibility to other humans and therefore every person on the planet is guilty of this crime. Get real. Am I also responsible for bad court decisions? Iran-Contra? Funding the mujahadeen?
April 15th, 2009 at 8:55 pmBush and Cheney should have resigned too.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:05 pmThe subject of torture appears to be developing a resonance.
Bush/Cheney have but people at the margins at risk of being accomplices. This could start at the very top of our military and work its way down. The first crime is the torture; the second crime is implicating the different agencies and services of our government. What a Pandora’s Box left on the next guys doorstep. This is full of ugly trade offs.
Thanks George!!!!!
April 15th, 2009 at 10:20 pmCourage? Well how can you blame a guy for having no courage. He has courage now to admit he had no courage when it counted. How many times have we heard I didn’t know, I wasn’t told. If I had any idea I would have stopped it. Right. Tell us anything, right Armitage. What a coward.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:20 am.
Dear Richard Armitage,
And George GW Bush should have pulled out…
… But look here, we’re stuck with Jr and his F uck ups.
XXOO
America
.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:09 am.
Should’da…
Could’da…
Would’da…
… Sounds like the start of a very nice confession, to me.
.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:10 am.
What did he know, he was only the assistant to the Secretary of State, Colin Powell…
… It must have been such a shame to hold such a distinguished position, NO?
It really makes you wonder.
.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:21 amThis is nonsense. Firstly, any public policy on torture is only for feel-gooder use. Stress positions, temperature extremes (though not harmful), waterboarding, are what keep this country safe. Why take issue with Americans fighting for your hide yet cincern yourself npot with the true torture in midddle-east countries? Tossing blind-folded men off of buildings, raping women in front of their bound husbands, public floggings for women? Fried chicken at Gitmo? Get real, which is really torture?
April 16th, 2009 at 8:13 amShip_Left,
And Senator McCarthy claimed his hearings and the outing of innocent people kept America safe.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:42 amOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:14 amsac ekimi