The debate over the legality of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (i.e. torture) seems to have run its course; however, a new debate has been ignited regarding Department of Justice investigations into the interrogation techniques used by the CIA. Republican politicians, including Senator Hatch (R-UT) and former Vice President Chaney, have attacked Sec. Holder's investigations as purely political. I hardly think that investigations into this serious matter should be cast aside, just because there are political consequences. The American public and the world have right to know if illegal techniques were used and who used them. I am not referring to water-boarding, which was sadly considered to be legal under the Bush administration, but to techniques which were either expressly forbidden under the DOJ memos. Regardless of who was in office, if the acts were expressly forbidden, the perpetrators of those horrendous acts should be brought public and punished, national security dilemma or not.
I, for one, believe that national security should not be considered the eternal justification for evil that it has become. When is the line going to be drawn, and where? First it was interrogating foreigners, but I hardly think it unlikely that Bush and his crony lawyers would have found it difficult to justify interrogating American citizens. However, in my opinion it does not matter the nationality of the person. TORTURE IS WRONG! It should never be done, never discussed, and never justified. Crimes were committed and justice should be taken. If Clinton administration officials engaged in these acts, pre-9/11, they should be brought public too.
After WWII, the world demanded to know what had happened under fascist Germany. The Nuremberg trials helped bring to light the atrocities of a corrupt nation justifying murder for the Reich security. Now in our day and age we deserve an investigation and trial to uncover what went on in the name of Homeland security. The names change, but the justifications remain the same.
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It's pretty hard to define what torture is though, dude. There was a case recently that argued that solitary confinement should even be considered torture. I wouldn't argue with you if you said that the Bush administration allowed torture, or even that Little-Dick Cheney is completely out of his mind, but I bet far less people know about what happened under Bush than new about what happened under the Nazis. Anyway, Romney 2012. See Inglourious Basterds, it will make you a fan of torture.
ReplyDeleteDan, here is a quote from Dick Cheney. He said, "There are those who disobeyed their orders and exceeded the guidelines." If Cheney thinks there are things that went to far, I wager that it was pretty intense torture. These are the things that should be investigated. And saw the movie, loved it!!!!
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