The Senate report is out and linked below. It is remarkable in both its candor and breadth. I was particularly moved by watching Sen. John McCain, a victim of torture, explaining to his colleagues why this country must not only condemn this torture program but come clean about our failure to meet the fundamental values that define us as a people. It was a true profile of courage — an all too rare moment in our contemporary politics where a politician transcends politics and stand boldly on a higher moral ground. What McCain showed was the difference between a politician and a statesman. He proved himself to be the latter this afternoon.
While I have been critical of Feinstein in the past, I considered this speech to be also her finest hour. While I have criticized the lack action from the committee over the years on this issue, Feinstein did overcome considerable pressure from the intelligence community to bury the report. As the video below shows, McCain called the use of the torture was “shameful” regardless of whether it was effective.
What is most remarkable is the direct identification of people like Hayden, Muller, and others who are accused of giving false information to Congress. This record is combined with the admission that dozens of videotapes were destroyed shortly after the CIA was informed that the legality of the program had been raised. The absence of any criminal charges creates an obvious and troubling disconnect given this lengthy account.
It was equally chilling to not only read of the death of one detainee of possible hyperthermia but the fact that two psychologists created a company and received $80 million for their clearly unethical role in the torture program.
Notably, while the President has repeated his condemnation of the program, there remains a disconnect with the actions of his Administration. The CIA continues to oppose the release of the report and, more importantly, shows a continuing failure to appreciate the depth of the criminal character of this torture program. The CIA issued a statement that again claims that the program was “effective.” As I have discussed in prior columns, it does not matter whether torture is effective or ineffective. It is not just a crime but a war crime. The continued effort of the CIA to claim that it got something positive from torture only reaffirms the view of a rogue agency.
Here is the report: Senate Report
We force fed some folks their entire meal via enema…
We let some folks freeze to death…
Sandi and Carol
We anally probed some folks with broom handles…
You ok with RAPE?
Who knew…
Carol Kichen. High Five
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/10/13/will-canada-arrest-george-bush/
Another great one by JT . Maybe Canada WILL arrest Bush, ya think?
If the international community can’t define what torture is, why is what the U.S. did called torture?
How can this be considered anything other than a political document when they didn’t bother to interview anyone involved in the program? Doesn’t appear there was much of an investigation considering they paid 40,000,000 and spent five years on it.
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/04/28/george-w-bush-war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-criminals-will-be-punished-and-it-will-be-no-defense-to-say-i-was-just-following-orders/
Another great one from JT back in 2009. George Bush said “War criminals will be punished!” Oy.
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/05/08/three-legal-truths-the-case-for-the-prosecution-of-war-crimes-by-the-bush-administration/
OK, this is closer to what I was looking for.
I just learned that information we got about other countries was given to them, and they appreciated that.
Annie
The link to the Obama block of war crimes:
This is exactly why Obama ought to be impeached. But the GOP didn’t hire JT to litigate that aspect of law, didn’t they? And don’t ever count on DEMS doing likewise… They turned a willful blind eye to it all.
In fact, to reference McCain as some hero re: TORTURE takes gumption as Senator McCain has regularly defended these illegal acts by consistently playing them down and purposefully NOT referring to it as TORTURE, but instead he’s always called it “harsh” or “enhanced” thus playing into the hands of the CIA.
What??? Did John McCain finally learn how to pronounce the word TORTURE, or what?
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/11/18/bush-and-obama-war-crimes-or-lawful-wars/
JT moderated a debate on “Bush and Obama war crimes or lawful wars”.
Calling TORTURE “enhanced interrogation” is like calling RAPE “enhanced sex”
… Only the bad guys excuse bad acts by propagandizing a Nation into thinking lawless is lawful and TORTURE is legal.
Can one of you lawyers please point out the part of law that allows the USA to violate Federal and International laws concerning torture… You know, the part that says it isn’t when the USA does it.
http://jonathanturley.org/2010/12/02/wikileaks-obama-administration-secretly-worked-to-prevent-prosecution-of-war-crimes-by-the-bush-administration/
JT on Obama’s complicity in not prosecuting war crimes. Interesting.
Whereas some Americans shun RAPE…
… Others prefer the CIA rape prisoners.
@Jim22 comment at 10:12 pm.
100%
@ Personanongrata
“When do the prosecutions of George Walker Bush, Richard Bruce Cheney, Donald Henry Rumsfeld, Colin Luther Powell, John David Ashcroft, George John Tenet, Jay Scott Bybee, John Choon Yoo, Condoleezza Rice, et al begin?”
“Anything short of hauling the above cretins into court to defend themselves for conspiring in the use of torture against their fellow human beings will be measured and found lacking”
——————————————————————————————————–
1. Can you please give me the U.S.C. code and section that you’ll use to file charges as a bases of prosecution against the above mentioned?
2. Could you give me the statute that allows Obama to Drone kill American citizens in foreign countries without a trial by jury of your peers?
http://youtu.be/e4wzVDC5VAM
Anyone see Cheney on Brett Bayer show today? Oh lord, this man is one creepy human.
Paul Schulte,
“Prairie Rose – I was responding to a comment that Chuck made. Had he approached the subjected differently, we would not be having this discussion.”
I am aware you were responding to a comment Chuck made. Not sure what about his comment perturbed you. There isn’t anything in his post that indicates that this was the first thing that has raised his hackles about his profession. Perhaps it is just the latest–and the one that really broke the camel’s back so-to-speak.
His comment piqued my interest: “My question now is who else is involved that we don’t know about. I am pretty sure some big names are in the mix, and those may very well include two past presidents of APA, according to some reporters covering the story.”
Isn’t this important to figure out?
Regarding your concerns about ‘false memory syndrome’, perhaps you and he are in violent agreement that that tarnished the profession. But, that is still a conversation for another time.
How would you have liked him to approach the subject?
Prairie Rose – I think you need to go back to my original comment which is a response to his original comment. Then I think you will get the lack of flow.
I have learned one important thing since 9/11, don’t try to discuss it with liberals.
Personanongrata – “@Jim22, 4:09 pm
The website you reference is clearly biased and any “information” displayed therein is suspect.
This website was created by a group of former CIA officials with hundreds of years of combined service. They all have first-hand knowledge that the CIA’s interrogation program was authorized, legal and effective. They also have in common that during its 5+ year investigation, the SSCI did not bother to contact them and seek their views.”
I’ll trust the CIA before a Democrat senate report.