Cheney Says Torture Works

... never mind that torture is a war crime.

The AP headline from Tuesday reads, "Cheney: US gained information from interrogations."

Cheney said Monday that what hasn't been revealed publicly is what the U.S. gained as a result of these actions.

"I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw, that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country," Cheney said.

Cheney said he has formally asked the CIA to declassify the memos.

However, a senior intelligence official said Tuesday the CIA has received no such requests from the former vice president. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose it publicly.

Why would Cheney try to justify war crimes by claiming that committing them created desirable "consequences?" If I understand his reasoning, he doesn't care whether waterboarding or other means constitute torture because the ends justify the means. It's as simple as that. (Oh, and why would Cheney claim that he requested declassification of the memos if he did not? Because Dick Cheney is a pathological liar.)

It doesn't take a legal scholar to explain the dangers of heading down this slippery slope. Still, Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley did so smartly back in December on Countdown with Keith Olbermann:



Whether Dick Cheney thinks torture works or not is irrelevant. Torture is a war crime. The law is not in question. The question is whether we will continue to stand silently and watch men break our laws without question, without prosecution.

Life Imitates Art

In some circles Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Shi'ite TV reporter who threw his shoe at former President George Bush is a barbarian. In other circles, he is a hero. But no matter your opinion of al-Zaidi, it is hard to argue his indelible impact on modern culture. Writes Bappa Majumdar for Reuters, "India's politicians contesting in the general election, fearful of shoes hurled at them by disgruntled voters, have asked for more security and are erecting metal nets at rallies." [Emphasis added.]

The idea of showing your disapproval (or in some cases approval) by hurling objects is by no means a novel idea. Made in 1980, the following video stands as evidence that al-Zaidi has simply redefined an age-old tradition:

F*ck Cornyn!

I realize I haven't contributed to this site in a LONG time, but this item compelled me to say something.

If the president releases the Bush torture memos, Republicans are promising to “go nuclear” and filibuster his legal appointments. Scott Horton reports on a serious threat to Obama’s transparency.

Since I am now a resident of the great state of Texas, the respectable senator from Texas is MY representative in the Senate. Ya know what I say!? Fuck John Cornyn! Call their mother fucking bluff! If the Republicans want to have their entire agenda based on protecting a failed - whatever you want to call the last 8 years - then LET THEM! They want to shoot their wad for W's sake - LET THEM! In fact - MAKE THEM put their money where their mouths are! Call their bluff and make them go on the record (Officially) as supporting the continued suppresion and denial of Bush ero defiance of international and human law.

Don't back down. Do not compromise. Do not strive for bipartisan cooperation. Do not adjust policy to avoid the filibuster. Let them go on the record as officially condoning and supporting the suppression and denial of a failed adminstration's defiance of international law. In the end, what do they have to lose?!