Mukasey On Waterboarding: 'I Would Feel That It Was Torture If It Were Done To Me'

Think Progress:

In today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey whether waterboarding is torture. "Would waterboarding be torture if it were done to you?" "I would feel that it was," said Mukasey. He then continued to dodge the question on whether the procedure is illegal by going on a tangent and citing Cicero. Watch it:

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[ultomatt]

Anyone...A­NYONE...wh­o refuses to say that waterboarding is torture, should volunteer to have it done to them, to prove it.

[GetoffMylawn]

Why can't we just forget about this, after all, it's just Water Under the Bridge, of my nose, while I'm blindfolded and being punched in the gut, and I wasn't even supposed to be here today!!!

[ultomatt]

Thank you Herr Schumer and Frau Feinstein, for your major contribution to putting this animal in place. Clearly, torture is not a problem for this incredibly disingenuous critter. Amazingly, The Decider, once again, managed to put someone in who is actually worse than his predecessor. The main difference between this monster and the Fredo monster is, this one is more intelligent, and thus, more practiced in deception and treachery. He is clearly far more dangerous than Gonzales was.

And enough already with describing waterboarding as "simulating" drowning. IT IS DROWNING..­.it is NOT a simulation. When one's lungs are filled with water, you have drowned. Drown your victim, revive them, then do it again, and again, and again, for as long as necessary to get them to tell you what you want to hear. If that isn't torture, then nothing is.

This bastard's "opinion" on this subject means NOTHING. Why even ask? The law is clear, and this monster doesn't write the laws, he just vigorously refuses to enforce them, unless his master tells him otherwise. He is the War Criminal-In-Chief's primary "legal" enabler, and he will give master what it desires...­which is protection from litigation, and the very real possibility (if the law were ever actually enforced) of being made to face the death sentence for ordering the torture and murder of prisoners under US control (re: War Crimes Act of 1996).

The tragic thing about this, and so many crimes against humanity is, they are unnecessary. But these creatures only know cruelty and brutality, not creativity. If one uses an intelligent interrogation method, there is no need for torture. But, as with so many brutally repressive regimes this country has shamelessly supported (re: Suharto...­may he rest in pieces), the expedient and savage path is always chosen. I think it has a lot to do with being psychopaths who desire feeling in response to these acts of brutality. Unfortunately, psychopaths are devoid of human emotion, and can never feel what normal humans feel...whi­ch is total revulsion for these forms of merciless savagery.

[Zhonni]

Why in the world did Democrats let this guy pass? I never liked him and still don't.

This idiot does not understand that the integrity of the U.S in under attack and is on the decline around the world.

When, not if, an American troop is captured in future wars, we won't have the protection that we had under the Geneva covention. It is safe to say I won't be part of those ones.

[WilliamWallace]

Attaboy, Mukasey. The good old NeoCon double-standard that we've grown so familiar with.

[sugarmoes]

time to start arresting officials.

[Liam]

Well clearly the correct solution here is to waterboard the whole lot of them. Mukasey, Cheney, Bush, Rice, and what the heck, let's get Gonzo and Rummy in there as well.

Waterboard the whole lot of them until they agree that yes, it's torture.

"People of equal intelligence have disagreed on this" my big white butt. Waterboarding has been held to be torture for hundreds of years. The Japanese were specifically cited for it in their war crimes trials.

It isn't valid to assume that all opinions are reasonable, just because someone with a vested interest holds a different opinion.

It's torture. Everyone (but us, apparently) knows that it's torture.

Liam.

[gonnuts]

Mukasey looks, sounds and acts exactly like a "mob lawyer".

[gopindrag]

So Muke the Puke won't answer straight up....unle­ss we waterboard him for a yes or no answer. If he says no, we can waterboard him all night. If he says yes it is torture, the debate is over.

[louinphx]

Once again I am baffled by how Congress allows this morally corrupt administration get away this. An average high school debating team could have torn this testimony to shreads without even thinking hard.

[lippp]

No question the Bush Administration believes and uses torture. After all the past seven years have been hell for democracy and the American People. We have all been tortured and will suffer the consequences for a long time to come. Adding salt to the wound incompetent Bush, Rice, Wolfowitz and especially Cheney and Rumsfeld will not be held accountable and in fact profit from their disgraceful neo con bullying. Thanks in part to the democrats and polite Pelosi.

[tafkaMinneapolisMike]

Sen. Ted {insert amazingly crass and derogatory nickname here} Kennedy (D-MA) can not and must not ask such questions that do nothing but give aid and comfort to our enemies. Obviously he should be waterboarded as well as anyone who believes him or sides with the terrorists.

For the last time, it does not matter if waterboarding is torture. All that matters is that we can do it as well as whatever else we want because we are led by those who are morally superior to all others. If our beloved President were to even gesture at another person and mutter 'terrist', our Patriotic duty would be to waterboard that person without mercy in order to prevent them from killing more Americans.

Some might scoff at such reactionary measures. What nonsense! A true Patriot would happily and gleefully strap his or her mother to a waterboarding device and go to town until until their mother was dead or gave up all her evil secrets, whatever comes first. This is how much true Patriots love their country. Like the President, they are willing to do anything to anyone at any time for any reason - all in the name of Freedom.

www.primadogma.com

[lornejl]

Hillary and Obama both need to address the lawlessness that is the Justice Department, I never hear a peep from either. Crimes against the United States of America by the bush crime family seem to be something candidates won't touch with a ten foot POLL.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

So if waterboarding were done to Mukasey it would be torture. But as long as it is done to some middle eastern guy it isn't torture. This guy is a reall sweetheart.