Torturer Tortured by Torture News
When you have a retired FBI agent that was involved with the torture that the Bush administration authorized come forth and tell the world it was wrong, then it was wrong. Techniques used or as the right wing now calls them “Enhanced Interrogation Methods” did not offer up any more information than traditional criminal investigation techniques that are used legally even against US citizens. (Look for the word Torture morph into something more acceptable and easier on the ears in days to come) More or less it was a disgusting release for jerks acting like wild little boys that just wanted to put a firecracker up a frogs ass and light the fuse. Just to see what it would do to the frog. Isn’t that pretty much the same thing that the monsters of the Holocaust like Mengala did to the Jews and other undesirables of the Third Reich during World War II?
It is truly a sad day in America when we have people arguing over what the definition of torture is. I dare say to anyone thinking that they have a clever thought to this argument that defends torture, what if it was or is your brother or sister enduring these so called harmless torture methods? Can the local police now use these methods to gain information too? Where do you draw the line in the sand in the acceptance of these practices endorsed and defended by the right wing operatives and the former members of the Bush administration?
My point is this, if a precedent is established and set in stone, and it ignores the law of the land and the will of the people then who is to stop the next monster that thinks he or she is omnipotent and above all laws? Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent involved with the torture events has this to say over at the New York Times… (I highly recommend reading the whole piece)
My Tortured Decision
By ALI SOUFAN
Published: April 22, 2009
It is inaccurate, however, to say that Abu Zubaydah had been uncooperative. Along with another F.B.I. agent, and with several C.I.A. officers present, I questioned him from March to June 2002, before the harsh techniques were introduced later in August. Under traditional interrogation methods, he provided us with important actionable intelligence.
We discovered, for example, that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Abu Zubaydah also told us about Jose Padilla, the so-called dirty bomber. This experience fit what I had found throughout my counterterrorism career: traditional interrogation techniques are successful in identifying operatives, uncovering plots and saving lives.
There was no actionable intelligence gained from using enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah that wasn’t, or couldn’t have been, gained from regular tactics. In addition, I saw that using these alternative methods on other terrorists backfired on more than a few occasions — all of which are still classified. The short sightedness behind the use of these techniques ignored the unreliability of the methods, the nature of the threat, the mentality and modus operandi of the terrorists, and due process. - New York Times
This whole debate over defining what is justified torture is just nuts. One is an Almond, the other is a Walnut, and the other is a Peanut? They are all nuts and a nut is a freakin’ nut no matter how hard or soft the torturing shell is!
My Uncle Eddy fought through all of World War II in the US Navy and lived to see the victory over Japan. He went through hell fighting for what was right and managed to live through the entire Pacific campaign against an enemy that at the time had no value for human life what so ever. He died on his way home for good in an accident getting off a transport ship in the San Francisco bay. He slipped and hit his head, drowning in the bay. His body wasn’t recovered for three weeks. My Uncle Dick piloted a bomber plane over Nazi Germany on so many missions that he finally came home a total wreck but he never regretted a single flight. My own Dad served in the US Navy in the Pacific as a medic attached to the 3rd Marines and never regretted the horror he saw so many young men die from to protect America and what she stood for. One thing they all had in common was defending the way of the American people. Truth, Liberty, and Justice. Not one of these men would have defended torture in any form of captured enemy prisoners. It just isn’t the American way.
The more this topic on torture evolves, the more I understand how much the rule of our laws is important.
My thanks to Memeorandum once more for the news tip!
Papamoka
It is truly a sad day in America when we have people arguing over what the definition of torture is. I dare say to anyone thinking that they have a clever thought to this argument that defends torture, what if it was or is your brother or sister enduring these so called harmless torture methods? Can the local police now use these methods to gain information too? Where do you draw the line in the sand in the acceptance of these practices endorsed and defended by the right wing operatives and the former members of the Bush administration?
My point is this, if a precedent is established and set in stone, and it ignores the law of the land and the will of the people then who is to stop the next monster that thinks he or she is omnipotent and above all laws? Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent involved with the torture events has this to say over at the New York Times… (I highly recommend reading the whole piece)
My Tortured Decision
By ALI SOUFAN
Published: April 22, 2009
It is inaccurate, however, to say that Abu Zubaydah had been uncooperative. Along with another F.B.I. agent, and with several C.I.A. officers present, I questioned him from March to June 2002, before the harsh techniques were introduced later in August. Under traditional interrogation methods, he provided us with important actionable intelligence.
We discovered, for example, that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Abu Zubaydah also told us about Jose Padilla, the so-called dirty bomber. This experience fit what I had found throughout my counterterrorism career: traditional interrogation techniques are successful in identifying operatives, uncovering plots and saving lives.
There was no actionable intelligence gained from using enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah that wasn’t, or couldn’t have been, gained from regular tactics. In addition, I saw that using these alternative methods on other terrorists backfired on more than a few occasions — all of which are still classified. The short sightedness behind the use of these techniques ignored the unreliability of the methods, the nature of the threat, the mentality and modus operandi of the terrorists, and due process. - New York Times
This whole debate over defining what is justified torture is just nuts. One is an Almond, the other is a Walnut, and the other is a Peanut? They are all nuts and a nut is a freakin’ nut no matter how hard or soft the torturing shell is!
My Uncle Eddy fought through all of World War II in the US Navy and lived to see the victory over Japan. He went through hell fighting for what was right and managed to live through the entire Pacific campaign against an enemy that at the time had no value for human life what so ever. He died on his way home for good in an accident getting off a transport ship in the San Francisco bay. He slipped and hit his head, drowning in the bay. His body wasn’t recovered for three weeks. My Uncle Dick piloted a bomber plane over Nazi Germany on so many missions that he finally came home a total wreck but he never regretted a single flight. My own Dad served in the US Navy in the Pacific as a medic attached to the 3rd Marines and never regretted the horror he saw so many young men die from to protect America and what she stood for. One thing they all had in common was defending the way of the American people. Truth, Liberty, and Justice. Not one of these men would have defended torture in any form of captured enemy prisoners. It just isn’t the American way.
The more this topic on torture evolves, the more I understand how much the rule of our laws is important.
My thanks to Memeorandum once more for the news tip!
Papamoka
Labels: Ali Soufan, New York Times, Obama, Prosecuting Torturers, Torture, Torture Memos
posted by Papamoka at
8:11 PM
3 Comments:
Good post, Papamoka. I always feel such an affinity when someone shares stories of relatives who served in WWII. I had a brother and a brother-in-law, both Navy in Pacific combat, and another brother-in-law (101st Airborne) parachuted into western Germany just before Hitler committed suicide. This brother-in-law was shot in the eye with a wooden bullet (Germans were out of ammo), and that fact saved his life. They saw injuries which must have been unbearable to carry with them through life, and, as you said, they would never have condoned torture.
Have there ever been serious studies of how the right-wing brain and the left-wing brain differ? Because I don’t understand how people can think so differently?
I linked the New York Times op-ed on my sidebar. Had read it earlier.
Keep up the good work. BJ
Thanks for that excellent piece PapaM - it's great the way we all help point each other in the right direction. MB
Hello
http://www.smeesh.com/ - sibutramine weight loss
Sibutramine is available in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg capsules and taken orally.
[url=http://www.smeesh.com/]meridia diet[/url]
Meridia is a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor which reduces the reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine that subsequently improves the levels of these substances in synaptic clefts therefore enhancing the feeling of satiety.
meridia pills
Meridia - Fight obesity todayOrder cheap Meridia (Reductil) drugs online and save hundreds! No prescription!
Also known by its generic name Sibutramine, Meridia is mainly intended as an appetite suppressant in the treatment of obesity.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home