Comments on: Who Should Take the Heat for Torture?

By: oscar

oscar — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:08:33 +0000

It's clear that there is no mechanism in place for determining who's responsible for torture, and what's to be done about it, because we think torture is something we don't do. Torture is done by others, by bad people, so we've never faced up to the implications of what to do when it happens here. The possibility of strictures like the Nuremberg principles being applied to us, us for god's sakes, is alarming. So, we'll let the little guys off because they were just following orders, and the big boys will leave government and go to the American Enterprise Institute. It will be like it never happened and we can continue to sleep the sleep of the righteous.

By: bubbabrazille

bubbabrazille — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:05:33 +0000

Obviously Addington, Yoo and Rodriguez should be prosecuted. I'm not sure why the underlings should not also be prosecuted. Seems like the 'he told me to do it' defense of an errant child. Any reasonable adult would simply refuse to torture another individual, damn the professional consequences.

Treat them reasonably, legally, give them a trial and then, the law will out, imprison the cowards.

By: smileyguy

smileyguy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:38:25 +0000

I think one overlooked aspect of the Bush administration's support for torture is that it is one move way to suppress dissent and destroy the civil liberties of the American public as a whole. We now live in a country where it is very possible that a person can be snatched off the street, tortured, and made to disappear. We know that this has happened to non-citizens. How many potential protestors are cowed by the fact that our government is now capable of this? The CIA has always been a tool of the corporations and wealthy elites, furthering their interests without any regard for civil liberties or the principles our government is supposedly built on. The current administration stands with the Nazis at Nuremburg, devoid of any human dignity. They should all be punished, even if it takes pursuit after they leave office.

By: skulzfontaine

skulzfontaine — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:33:31 +0000

So the answer is easy. Waterboard Addington, Rodriguez, and Yoo. Simple as that. Do it on prime time television for all the world to see. Do it in full blown Guantanamo/Abu Ghraib/Bagram Airbase style for pure effect. Make the televised event mandatory for school children and Evangelicals. Cause you know, whom would Jesus torture? Make the televised event mandatory for Republicans and Democrats and especially Hillary Clinton. Although Clinton seems to be mired in some kind of "racist" controversy. Wait a minute, how about we INCLUDE Clinton and make it a four some. Yeah, that'd work.
Yup, waterboarding for fun and ratings! I'm willing to bet that Amerika WOULD watch such a scintillating production. Heck, it certainly couldn't hurt.

By: oscar

oscar — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

It’s clear that there is no mechanism in place for determining who’s responsible for torture, and what’s to be done about it, because we think torture is something we don’t do. Torture is done by others, by bad people, so we’ve never faced up to the implications of what to do when it happens here. The possibility of strictures like the Nuremberg principles being applied to us, us for god’s sakes, is alarming. So, we’ll let the little guys off because they were just following orders, and the big boys will leave government and go to the American Enterprise Institute. It will be like it never happened and we can continue to sleep the sleep of the righteous.

By: bubbabrazille

bubbabrazille — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Obviously Addington, Yoo and Rodriguez should be prosecuted. I’m not sure why the underlings should not also be prosecuted. Seems like the ‘he told me to do it’ defense of an errant child. Any reasonable adult would simply refuse to torture another individual, damn the professional consequences.

Treat them reasonably, legally, give them a trial and then, the law will out, imprison the cowards.

By: smileyguy

smileyguy — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I think one overlooked aspect of the Bush administration’s support for torture is that it is one move way to suppress dissent and destroy the civil liberties of the American public as a whole. We now live in a country where it is very possible that a person can be snatched off the street, tortured, and made to disappear. We know that this has happened to non-citizens. How many potential protestors are cowed by the fact that our government is now capable of this? The CIA has always been a tool of the corporations and wealthy elites, furthering their interests without any regard for civil liberties or the principles our government is supposedly built on. The current administration stands with the Nazis at Nuremburg, devoid of any human dignity. They should all be punished, even if it takes pursuit after they leave office.

By: skulzfontaine

skulzfontaine — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

So the answer is easy. Waterboard Addington, Rodriguez, and Yoo. Simple as that. Do it on prime time television for all the world to see. Do it in full blown Guantanamo/Abu Ghraib/Bagram Airbase style for pure effect. Make the televised event mandatory for school children and Evangelicals. Cause you know, whom would Jesus torture? Make the televised event mandatory for Republicans and Democrats and especially Hillary Clinton. Although Clinton seems to be mired in some kind of "racist" controversy. Wait a minute, how about we INCLUDE Clinton and make it a four some. Yeah, that’d work.
Yup, waterboarding for fun and ratings! I’m willing to bet that Amerika WOULD watch such a scintillating production. Heck, it certainly couldn’t hurt.