Jordan’s King Abdullah says U.S. tortured.
By on Apr 25th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Jordan’s King Abdullah says U.S. tortured.
Yesterday, NBC Meet the Press host David Gregory interviewed Jordan’s King Abduallah and asked him whether he believed the U.S. tortured detainees. “Well, from what we’ve seen and what we’ve heard, there are enough accounts to show that this is the case,” Abdullah said. Gregory pressed:
DAVID GREGORY: That’s an important point. You actually do believe that the United States engaged in torture.
KING ABDULLAH: What I see on the press … shows that there were illegal ways of dealing with detainees.
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The only people supporting torture are those who support George Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, and all right wing dictatorships. Other than that, the rest of us who live in democratic republics understand that torture should not be done, because it reduces us down to the level of the terrorists and makes us no better!
April 25th, 2009 at 8:19 amI wonder how many years ago David Gregory and the other vaunted TeeVee reporters knew of U.S. torture and did absolutely nothing.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:25 amThere’s no debate as to whether the US tortured terrorism suspects; the declassified memos released by the Obama administration and the recent Senate Arms Services Committee report on prisoner abuse, makes it clear that BushCo purposefully engaged in torture while lying about it to the world and secretly and carefully re-writing the legal tenets which made these actions seem compliant with international conventions such as Geneva.
The only debate is how far Republicans will go to cover for this heinous criminality; there are of course Democrats who were aware of the program and likely signed on to it, but this is a GOP policy that has Bush/Cheney’s bloodied hand prints all over it, no matter how many Congressional Dems were on board, the Right owns this shit, and are now desperate to downplay it, just as they did when the abuses at Abu Ghraib first broke.
Disgusting.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:33 amWait, Cheney’s daughter said it wasn’t torture. Who are we to believe?
One Republican ( I think Newberry) that appeared on Hardball basically said it was not torture if the professionals were doing it, and as long as these professional were proficient at obtaining information. The problem was because non-professionals waterboarded and didn’t know how to appropriately.
Kit Bond say were should just look forward like the Republicans did after the Clinton Administration (and their impeachment of him for lying about a blow job.)
McCain says we should just look forward afetr he made it clear in 2008 during his campaign that the US should not torture, and he knows first hand how nonproductive it is.
Pelosi said impeachment was off the table from day one, and later claimed noone told her what the Bush regime was up to approximately 8 years after she voted yes on NAFTA, like good liberals do.
Now Pelosi and Obama tell us an independent investigation is off the table.
Obama wants to look forward, after he looks backwards just a little in order to give Republicans like Stevens a get out of jail free card but refuses to look backward to do the same for Don Seigleman or the scapegoats in the military that the Bush regime put in jail for their crimes.
He also occasionally looks backwards to remind us that it is not his fault we are on the brink of a depression, that we cannot afford college or healthcare because of things done in the past, and how the previous administration’s foreign policy was not the right way to go.
He looked backwards on these issues, because he wants to address the wrongs and correct them, but when it comes to war crimes, treason and holding criminal Republicans accountable, it is time to look forward again.
This is not an extremist lefty talking here. This is a regular American that thinks multi-national, investment-class elitists should not be above the law, especially when the things they have done have harmed millions more people than you neighbor down the street toking on a joint.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:37 amThis will more than likely be looked at by the Radical Wingers as “Well, he’s not American, so of course he’ll say it was torture”.
Just wanna get that out of the way first, and when the first fool says it… remember, I called it.
I do get tired of the muscle-flexing by the pugs. See, when you focus all your intent and energy on military muscle… you become weak intellectually. You don’t think before you act, you just DO.
Balancing military might with common sense… you know, actually using that brain matter for something more than military tactic, or designing ways of torturing someone that you can argue AREN’T torture… you could actually formulate the logic that it all seems like a bad idea in the first place, and not do it.
That’s called a conscience. But I wouldn’t expect the torture-supporters to understand that, or even know what a conscience is.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:39 amRodeskawler Says: This is not an extremist lefty talking here. This is a regular American. . .
There’s hardly any “extreme lefties” amongst our TP crowd, Rodeskawler — despite what FauxSnooze and the reich wing spin machine says. We’re all “regular Americans” — and we’re pretty pissed about this whole torture thing…
April 25th, 2009 at 8:40 amIf a person is politically left of center, and is “extremely” angry at the reichwingnuts for torturing prisoners, then there are a lot of “extreme leftys” here.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:09 amKing Abdullah should know…given the fact that the CIA ran a black site in Jordan until 2006.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am
All of this must be exposed through investigation and testimony. Until then, the repug deniers, Bushies, et al., will continue to lie and escape prosecution.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:25 amIf I hear the word “torture” ONE MORE TIME on the TeeVee machine or on TP I’m going to throw the darn TeeVee and computer out the window! (No not really.)
Prosecute these bums and let’s get on with fixing the mess of an economy the Reich-wing left behind. Maybe a “guilty” verdict would shut this Rebublican’t cabal up for another 30 years????
April 25th, 2009 at 9:36 amGee…I’m so glad the King said that, I wasn’t sure until now….Snk/off..Peace, Blessings and Justice..
April 25th, 2009 at 9:42 amceltic cynic Says:
I wonder how many years ago David Gregory and the other vaunted TeeVee reporters knew of U.S. torture and did absolutely nothing.
Digby has an interesting response to your question CC.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/ “Nobody Said This Was Going To be Pretty”
It’s the ƒirst story you see when you scroll down to Friday.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:11 amIt appears that the King is smarter than most of America’s elected Republicans.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:15 amWhere has David Gregory been? Oh I know, he has been in the tank with the Bushvik Crime Family for years. If he would deal with the news instead of using RNC talking points all the time, he would have known that we tortured for about five years. Why did they destroy over 90 interrogation tapes? Why were they trying to justify waterboarding all these years? The biggest question: Why have we convicted soldiers in the past for waterboarding? David Gregory is worthless.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:39 amPerhaps David Gregory should have given Abdullah a talking points memo (which would state to use the term “prisoner abuse”) prior to the interview. Heaven forbid that the public gets stirred up and revolts against the establishment.
David and the rest of MSM continue to rewrite history and control the national dialogue by repeating their talking points and framing discussions around them.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:49 amI know it’s kinda silly, but I can’t help liking King Abdullah simply because he’s a Star Trek Next Gen fan, and appeared in a STNG episode. To me this shows that he is capable of thinking beyond his own country and beyond our single home planet.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:59 amI have an honest question. The CIA destroyed the interrogation tapes, did they not? Can we prosecute anyone for the destruction of evidence?
April 25th, 2009 at 11:05 am#1 And, torture torture violates international treaties to which the US is a signatory and therefore, US law. Torture is illegal regardless of the justification.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:11 amI’m with Shep Smith on this one.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:12 amIs David Gregory really this horribly stupid? Didn’t the fool see any of the pictures of torture that came from the Iraqi prisons from 2004? How can this idiot ask, with a straight face, if somoene “thought” the United States tortured? David belongs on the Fixed News Channel with those of similar backgrounds and intelligence levels.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:13 amThe CIA only destroyed the COPIES . . . Cheney listens to the originals nightly to fall asleep . . . .
April 25th, 2009 at 11:16 amWho the he…ll cares what King Abduallah says or thinks. Tell him to go for a camel ride.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:21 amDavid Gregory: “That’s an imprtant point. You actually do believe the US engaged in torture?”
How is this even a question? It’s universally acknowledged the US waterboarded detainees. Waterboarding is legally defined as torture. (The US itself has successfully prosecuted and convicted others for waterboarding.) How on earth could King Abdullah believe anything other than the established fact that the US “engaged in torture”? And how in the world is that perfectly logical, unexceptional acceptance of the universally acknowledged facts “an important point”? Since when did a world leader acknowledging the bleeding obvious become an “important point”? This is Beltway insider mendacity masquerading as “gotcha journalism”. Gregory is trying to create a simulacrum of reasonable doubt where there is none in a desperate bit of torture denial-revisionism. The US tortured. That isn’t even a question any more. The only question is whether anyone will be held responsible for this state-sactioned lawbreaking and if not, why not? Until he can bring himself to address that question, David Gregory should get back to krumping with Karl Rove and leave this discussion to grown-ups.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:21 am“Who the he…ll cares what King Abduallah says or thinks. Tell him to go for a camel ride.”
Ah, American nationalism at its finest. :(
10hourday, there are millions of people who care about what the rest of the world thinks of the U.S. Nobody cares about what you say or think.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:37 amDoes Gregory now work for the Republican party?? Or Fox news?? (actually only one organization here but just to make the point)
He has become such as asshat over the last few months you will be hard pressed to tell him from Beck or Hannratty or O’Reilly soon…yikes….
April 25th, 2009 at 12:08 pmbriantanks Says:
Besides contributing nothing to the discussion, your comment simply reveals your ignorance. Please, go away and learn something. Preferably something factual.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:15 pmCan we all write to Meet the Press and complain about the toady, David Gregory? He is an abysmal host – if I want the interviews with a repugniscum perspective, I’d watch Wallace on Fox.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:27 pmThe Ctenocephalides Dogfather Says:
Rodeskawler Says: This is not an extremist lefty talking here. This is a regular American. . .
There’s hardly any “extreme lefties” amongst our TP crowd, Rodeskawler — We’re all “regular Americans”
More like Amerikans
You numbnuts actually believe you are not extreme lefties? In the real world you are nuttier than a fruit cake.
Oh…by the way…Who gives a fig what the camel humper thinks anyways.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:30 pmRealityCheck Says:
Jebus, 10hourday has a twin.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:42 pmHey RealityCheck
April 25th, 2009 at 12:48 pmLong time no see you POS. Will you be sharing with us evidence of mine anti-Americanism this day or will I just be making a clown of you?
Let’s make that “mine”, “my”and then let’s start the fun…
April 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pmF ucking loser…
Yea, and he oughta know.
April 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pmNEWS FLASH: King Abdullah says “like, duh.”
April 25th, 2009 at 2:24 pm“What I see in the press…”
That’s a halting answer from King Abdullah. Funny, there are reports of CIA renditions to Jordan.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09409868.htm
April 25th, 2009 at 2:37 pmMore on Jordan’s role in renditions:
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41901
April 25th, 2009 at 2:40 pm“You actually do believe…”
Gregory is still bewitched by his former dancing partner, MC Rove. He is honestly shocked people choose reality (i.e. what is absurdly obvious) over denial.
April 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pmDavid Gregory is in so far over his head that it is ridiculous….King Abdullah is very intelligent and thoughtful….he was educated at Deerfield Academy and in England..his world view is similar to Obama’s.
I haven’t watched MTP in years and I’m not about to start now, especially, with a tool like Gregory.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:26 pm10hourday Says:
Still the ignorant bigot I see. Guess what? No one CARES what YOU think
April 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pmbriantanks Says:
You bring the strong stupid to the table. The pure unadulterated stupid of the TRUE moron. Ignorance born of generations of inbred stupid. Tell your sister/wife those stupid pills are doing wonders. Then go outside and play with the special children who are your intellectual peers. The adults are trying to talk here. It is as above your head as third grade math was.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:36 pmRealityCheck Says:
I am pretty far left. On the other hand I am no where near as stupid as you. YOU are an ignorant brainwashed moron and try to remember the elections results no one cares what YOU think. Also try to remember how abjectly stupid you are. No one in their right mind is EVER going to care what you think. You are a coward and a punk and a moron on your BEST day. Go take a swim to Hawaii you worthless toady troll.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:38 pmWAYNEBRO Says:
KING ABDULLAH: What I see on the press … shows that there were illegal ways of dealing with detainees.
Yea, and he oughta know
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Exactly. That should really make us take a second to think about what we are doing. It is about like going to prison and having Charlie Mason tell you…Man you really need to dial it back some.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:41 pmWhat is so funny about the lefties is they have been spitting mad since their boy Billy got impeached…and as an added insult…they lost the next TWO elections. President Bush has done an outstanding job keeping America safe…after the flunky pretender Clit-on allowed our military to decay and our intelligence services to lapse…cutting them to the bone.
Now that they are built back up again…B.O. comes in and will start gutting the military and compromising the intelligence services all over again. Same old same old playbook for the lefty idiots.
None of you have a backbone…especially the D. Bag DSTANKAZZ. He is so anti-american he must have been born a commie.
Anyway…it’s going to be fun watching you piss and moan…because even B.O. doesn’t want to try and open up this stupid idiotic Pandora’s Box…because it will eventually lead back to many of your hero’s on the left. Besides…it’s not like they cut off their heads or something…now is it!
Commies…all of you
April 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pmHey, time for a reality check, Reichwingnuts are out of power now, and since they are branded as the pro-torture party, they won’t be regaining power any time soon. America isn’t going to vote for any Republicans for a generation. Your party is finished and your philosophy with it.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:00 pmI think the story here should be how Gregory keeps pushing Abdullah to treat matters of simple fact as matters of opinion: “is it really your opinion that the memo says what it says?”
.
Rodeskawler Says:
One Republican ( I think Newberry) that appeared on Hardball basically said it was not torture if the professionals were doing it, and as long as these professional were proficient at obtaining information. The problem was because non-professionals waterboarded and didn’t know how to appropriately.
Right… it’s not torture if you’re being tortured by an expert torturer.
.
10hourday Says:
Who the he…ll cares what King Abduallah says or thinks.
Well, we’re being subjected to what Gingrich thinks on a regular basis and he isn’t an elected official either.
.
RealityCheck Says:
President Bush has done an outstanding job keeping America safe…
Let me guess, New York has gone back to being “fake America?” How dare you discount the 9/11 victims like that. At least some of us take the WTC attack seriously, instead of using it as a political tool only when convenient.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:07 pmRealityCheck Says:
What is pathetic about you is, well, everything but especially they lying and the stupidity. It is astonishing how stupid you are. What a worthless piece of shite you are. Just go kill yourself. It is the only good thing you could possibly do for the world which will just flat be a better place without you in it. You are too stupid and pathetic to pollute our gene pool with your retardation. So just go kill yourself. The world is waiting for you to do the right thing. What good can possibly come of you just being a liar of just coming here every day and lying with every word you put on the screen? Do you have any self respect? Dont you get tired of humiliating yourself day after day by lying right to people who KNOW you are lying and what a liar you are? It is time. Just go kill yourself and let the world smell a little sweeter
April 25th, 2009 at 7:18 pmLet me guess, Billo will say the King of Jordan was put in power by a cabal led by GE, George Soros, Al Gore, Richard Branson, Big Bird, Batman and the newest acquisition of ACORN, AFLAC.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:01 amKing Abdullah has a heirum. Wonder what American women think that is. Forced sex with a fat, stinky, swarthy arab male. Just curious.
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