That’s a rationalization. Many operatives refused to torture. When I was in the military, one thing I was taught was that I had the right to not follow an illegal order. Did the orders make the CIA torturers less evil?
Contrary to what Obama seems to think, there is plenty to see here. Far too mush to see here.
I say we start the tradition that the new Administration has the duty to review and investigate the outgoing Administration upon taking the White House.
It’s pure bullshit that crimes go uninvestigated (and unpunished), or that ‘The President is above the law’ (The President is not, by the way).
I figured that the resident trolls would have too much cognitive dissonance (“yeah, Obama’s bad, but wait, we support Bush’s torture policies, so we should like Obama for this one, but Obama’s bad, but…”) to post about it.
But I see that “B-b-but CONGRESS did it TOO!” still has some momentum.
I wish the diehard 25% on the right could see this cartoon and understand that it’s possible to disapprove strongly of some actions taken by a leader who you still greatly admire, instead of constantly trying to minimize or deflect criticism.
“The CIA inspector general in 2004 found no conclusive proof that waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques helped the Bush administration thwart any ”specific imminent attacks,” according to recently declassified Justice Department memos.
That undercuts assertions by former Vice President Dick Cheney and other former Bush administration officials that the use of harsh interrogation tactics, including waterboarding, which is widely considered torture, was justified because it headed off terrorist attacks.”
lycodont about 15 years ago
Obama, Bush. Good cop, bad cop.
geezjan about 15 years ago
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
mattro65 about 15 years ago
That’s a rationalization. Many operatives refused to torture. When I was in the military, one thing I was taught was that I had the right to not follow an illegal order. Did the orders make the CIA torturers less evil?
Chrisnp about 15 years ago
I think “They were only following orders” was a reference to the Nuremburg defense
AdmNaismith about 15 years ago
Contrary to what Obama seems to think, there is plenty to see here. Far too mush to see here. I say we start the tradition that the new Administration has the duty to review and investigate the outgoing Administration upon taking the White House. It’s pure bullshit that crimes go uninvestigated (and unpunished), or that ‘The President is above the law’ (The President is not, by the way).
lalas about 15 years ago
The FBI refused to engage in the torture since they know it is ineffective and unreliable. Rapport based interrogations is where it’s at.
Karl Hiller Premium Member about 15 years ago
I figured that the resident trolls would have too much cognitive dissonance (“yeah, Obama’s bad, but wait, we support Bush’s torture policies, so we should like Obama for this one, but Obama’s bad, but…”) to post about it.
But I see that “B-b-but CONGRESS did it TOO!” still has some momentum.
I wish the diehard 25% on the right could see this cartoon and understand that it’s possible to disapprove strongly of some actions taken by a leader who you still greatly admire, instead of constantly trying to minimize or deflect criticism.
wmclay about 15 years ago
The worst part? A news report today said that a CIA study concluded that NO information was obtained under torture that prevented any attacks.
All these crimes were committed in the name of protecting us, and they didn’t work worth a damn!
Lavocat about 15 years ago
Or, to paraphrase Colin Powell: you were elected to it; you own it.
anatheist2009 about 15 years ago
Bill_Clay, can you give a source?
wmclay about 15 years ago
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/story/1016826.html
“The CIA inspector general in 2004 found no conclusive proof that waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques helped the Bush administration thwart any ”specific imminent attacks,” according to recently declassified Justice Department memos.
That undercuts assertions by former Vice President Dick Cheney and other former Bush administration officials that the use of harsh interrogation tactics, including waterboarding, which is widely considered torture, was justified because it headed off terrorist attacks.”