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Bush: “I’d Do It Again”

Former President George W. Bush proudly proclaimed this week “Yeah, we water-boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed . . I’d do it again to save lives.” Fortunately, he will not be given another chance but, due to the actions of President Obama and Attorney General Holder to bar any investigation or prosecution of torture, future presidents may well indeed to do it again.

Bush’s remarks came at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. These comments follow Vice President Dick Cheney and Karl Rove virtually bragging about torture during the Administration, here. This shameful moment belongs not to Bush but to Obama who worked to block the fulfillment of our domestic and international obligations to prosecute such offenses. We will continue to have torture discussed casually as just another tough-guy policy choice. Because it would have been politically unpopular to prosecute people for torture, the Obama Administration has allowed officials to downgrade torture from a war crime to a talking point.

For the story, click here.

72 thoughts on “Bush: “I’d Do It Again””

  1. George Bush Book ‘Decision Points’ Lifted From Advisers’ Books
    First Posted: 11-12-10 01:48 PM | Updated: 11-12-10 04:17 PM

    by Ryan Grim

    (Better to see the following two paragraphs in the original article — it’s easier to compare time, as key portions are highlighted.)

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/12/george-bush-book-decision-points_n_782731.html#s180908

    Excerpt:

    Bush writes: “Tommy told the national security team that he was working to apply the same concept of a light footprint to Iraq… ‘If we have multiple, highly skilled Special Operations forces identifying targets for precision-guided munitions, we will need fewer conventional grounds forces,’ he said. ‘That’s an important lesson learned from Afghanistan.’ I had a lot of concerns. … I asked the team to keep working on the plan. ‘We should remain optimistic that diplomacy and international pressure will succeed in disarming the regime,’ I said at the end of the meeting. ‘But we cannot allow weapons of mass destruction to fall into the hands of terrorists. I will not allow that to happen.'”

    Franks, in his memoir American Soldier, writes: “‘For example, if we have multiple, highly skilled Special Operations forces identifying targets for precision-guided munitions, we will need fewer conventional ground forces. That’s an important lesson learned from Afghanistan.’ President Bush’s questions continued throughout the briefing…. Before the VTC ended, President Bush addressed us all. ‘We should remain optimistic that diplomacy and international pressure will succeed in disarming the regime.’ … The President paused. ‘Protecting the security of the United States is my responsibility,’ he continued. ‘But we cannot allow weapons of mass destruction to fall into the hands of terrorists.’ He shook his head. ‘I will not allow that to happen.'”

  4. Blouise:

    BIL’s got the right idea – “season tickets.” I’m sure this won’t be the last of El Rushbo’s trips down the aisle.

    Keep checking your mailbox!

  5. I’m buying tickets for the whole season.

    They are for sale like everything else in Rush’s life, right?

  6. vlf2112 and lottakatz,

    My invitation must have been lost in the mail … hopefully I’ll be able to get to wedding #5.

  7. Last I heard EJ gets 1 – 2 mil$ for a private performance and the money goes to an AID’s related charity. Thank’s Rush, you … well, nevermind the last, I’d be doing a slander to slugs everywhere 🙂

  8. “Palamas,

    Did you enjoy the wedding?”

    —————————————-

    Blouise:

    LOL – I hear he was especially thrilled with Elton John’s performance …

  10. You guys are so full of dookie.

    I guess it would be just another broken campaign promise by Obama. The man is a joke and you just talk about Bush.

    The New Yorker? You believe these idiots? This blog population is as dumb as I thought it was.

    No proof and you guys put it all in.

    Then you ignore the Obama unconstitutionalities, which were again unreported today. The man is embarrassing.

    Bush is already vindicated. You guys are light years behind the times, but you’ll never admit it.

  11. gocart, Thanks for the info and link. Hersh is always a reliable source.

  12. Ponder this for a second, A video of a muslim woman being sodomized by a G.I. or a muslim father being forced to molest his own son! What would be the fallout from that? Holy shit! is right.

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