Cheney Led Briefings Of Members Of Congress To Defend Interrogation Techniques

Washington Post:

Former vice president Richard B. Cheney personally oversaw at least four briefings with senior members of Congress about the controversial interrogation program, part of a secretive and forceful defense he mounted throughout 2005 in an effort to maintain support for the harsh techniques used on detainees.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[fallout4U]

"A former U.S. military in-tell-igence officer in Vie-tnam, K. Barton Osborn, testified before a House Committee that sus-pects caught by Pho-enix were inte-rrogated in helicopters and sometimes pus-hed out. He also spoke of the use of ele-ctric sho-ck to-rture and the insertion into the ear of a six-inch dowel which was tapped through the bra-in until the vi-ctim di-ed." [Blum's reference: David Wise, "Colby of CIA -- CIA of Colby", New York Times Magazine, 1 July 1973, p.33.]

[AtomicSplash]

right, we "libs" also opposed viet-nam. Our moral consistency seems to be driving you in sane.

[fallout4U]

I want LBJ and his administration labeled in the history books as war cri-minals. Let's start educating with the facts in our schools.

[CigarGod]

Thanks.
Glad to know it has never been just "a few bad apples", but systemic.

[fallout4U]

Exactly. TYVM

[AtomicSplash]

you guys didn't learn about this history in school? Nobody try's to hide the phoenix program

[RRG64]

Cheney publicly declared that “[a] lot of what needs to be done ... [“on the dark side”] will have to be done quietly, ... using ... methods that are available to our intelligence agencies ... to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective.­”

He added: “we” “have the kind of treatment of these individuals that we believe they deserve.” For the next two years, many of his preferences were effectuated by his top lawyer, David Addington.

Moreover, it has been reported that Cheney attended meetings of the National Security Council’s Principals Committee in the White House Situation Room during 2002 and 2003, at which specific tactics such as waterboarding and the “cold cell” were addressed and expressly and/or tacitly approved and abetted.

It has also been reported that during this time there was “live feed” or “real time” viewing of parts of actual interrogations, including that of al Qahtani at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2009/05/complicity-of-dick-cheney-no-necessity.php

Cheney, the next Pinochet.

[fallout4U]

However, stating ones opposition does not, by itself, reach the heart of the problem. We are deluged with protests by U.S. government agents and officials -- military, C-I-A, F-B-I, D-E-A, State Department officers, legislators, judges, federal attorneys, etc. -- claiming they are sho-cked and/or that they condemn the "misdeeds" in Gua-ntanamo and Ab-u Gh-raib, as though these horre-ndous forms of "inte-rrogation" are new and unacceptable ways of treating pri-soners, certainly not the norm for the U.S. It is all totally false. For at least a half century, and probably longer, the United States has deliberately employed unthinkably inhu-mane, mu-rderous methods of torture (not infrequently causing the de-aths of pris-oners) . . .

[AtomicSplash]

you seem unsettled that we might want to stop that.

[fallout4U]

Clean the skeletons out of your own closet first.

[bennettkw]

You miss the point. No one who has had any military experience would argue that no atrocities have ever been committed by our men in uniform in past conflicts. War is hell and, no matter how much training, young soldiers will make poor decisions, including torture and murder. Nevertheless, the issue being debated is very different. We are not speaking of rogue, one-off acts of violence perpetrated by damaged boys. Instead, we are talking about our elected leadership creating an active torture policy, a policy that tears out the very heart of what it is to be an American. Citizens of the United States of America DO NO TORTURE. The idea is so important that it is part of the U.S. Constitution with regard to cruel and unusual punishment. It is so important that we have agreed to it in more than one treaty, treaties that have the force of American law once passed by our Congress. When soldiers took it upon themselves to torture captives, they faced the full force of the law. They committed crimes and were thus prosecuted and convicted. Everybody in the last administration who participated in making this policy must likewise face justice. It's the only means by which we can regain even a modicum of our lost honor and respect, both at home and abroad. Prosecute the Torture Administration now! It does not matter one witt what party they are from, if they supported the policy of torture, justice must be served.

[Nyland8]

Second

[Juez]

CHENEY VIOLATED PRISONERS RIGHTS BY USING TORTURE TO EXTRACT UNNECESSARY INFORMATION. FORMER PRESIDENTS ABHORRED THE USE OF TORTURE BUT CHENEY AND BUSH ABUSED THEIR POWER. LAWS SHOULD BE PASSED BY CONGRESS THAT APPROVES TORTURE BEFORE THE PRESIDENT COMMITTS TO SUCH ILLEGAL ACTS.

[rich misty]

You cannot legalize torture without breaking the Geneva Convention and commiting war crimes. Torture is against global humanitarian law.

[blairtone]

some wingnut lefty nutbar gave a link to Article Vl of the Constitution to try to prove that waterboarding was defined as illegal in the Constitution - it took some time to get off the floor, I was laughing so hard, but, repeat after me, waterboarding has never been legally defined as torture no matter how Liberals try to spin the facts. Anyway, the Geneva Convention does not apply when fighting terror/terrorists

[namechallenged]

Cheney bit off his torture nose despite his his quest for information face; torture...

What about those hundreds of detainees who died in our custody?

What is the possibility they were accidentally killed when torturing them?

What if they were the ones who had the "information" Cheney sought?

What if they were the the link between Al Queada to Iraq?

Cheney bit off his torture nose despite his his quest for information face... LOL! More twisted logic.

[Emerald1943]

B reaking news! Princeton University on lock-down! Some guy with a gun on campus!

I sure hope this doesn't end up badly...

Wonder if this has anything to do with Judge Sotomayor?

[rich misty]

Are we in a position yet where we can call this right wing extremist violence without waiting for all the facts?

[ConservativeHippie]

Sure. If you want to be just as pathetic as Fox news.

[gladys46]

Two in custody ... using toy guns being reported !!

[Emerald1943]

Whew! Glad to hear it!

[oregonrain]

Because there are so many , I look at this to remind myself of all that Bush/Cheney did for us http://www.netrootsmass.net/hughs-bush-scandals-list/t/

[mdlw]

Cheney has been trying to brainwash folks for a long time into thinking that the only way to obtain the enemy's information was through torture and other hateful means. Don't forget the fear factor. What good is any information if you sell your soul to obtain it?

I remember Bush announcing to the world he was after bin Laden, months before any military could gather. What strategy! What happened with our intelligence? Instead, now there's the Patriot Act which can be used against me by another regime. And the Bush Administration ordered the invasion of a country without any concrete proof whatsoever of involvement in 9/11. Then three treaties were broken by the Bush Administration's orders to torture. Any one knowingly allowed the orders of torture to be given to field soldiers should be indicted, charged accordingly and held accountable. FWIW

Wonder who benefited the most, money and power, beginning the morning of 9/11??

[Emerald1943]

Follow the money! Cheney and Halliburton!

[fallout4U]

Vie-tnam, 1966-73 Pho-enix Program to-rtu-re tactics include ra-pe, elec-tric shock, water tor-ture, han-ging from ceiling, bea-tings, inc-arce-ration and exe-cution. 69-71 K. Barton Osborn, Pho-enix agent, testified to Congress "I never knew an individual to be deta-ined as a VC suspect who ever lived through an inte-rrog-ation in a year and a half. Uc 114. Note says this testimony given before U.S. Congress,Heari. 315-321.

This type of thing has been going on since WW2.

Cheney is a light-weight in the history of tor-ture.

Why have you Libs suddenly developed a conscious???

[AtomicSplash]

If you remember correctly we "libs" opposed the Vietnam war.

[gladys46]

Remembering correctly is not what repubs want to do .... they want to justify and support t or ture by any means necessary ... period !!!

[AtomicSplash]

If you remember correctly we "libs" opposed the Viet-nam war.

[fallout4U]

Where are the prosecutions of the politicians in charge???

[gladys46]

Hmmm ... so why was John Kerry swiftboated !?? Why did repubs win elections continually denying any of this !??

[RRG64]

What does that have to do with Cheney`s War Crimes?

[rich misty]

I would like to see you behind bars someday... It would be an interesting interview for the prison psychologist.

[blairtone]

yes, rich, just like the old USSR - throw everybody who doesn't agree with you into the gulags - you could even 'reeducate' them using torture and deprivation!

[BigHeadTodd]

The banditos of the 2001-2009 regime are correct in only ONE sense. The more we learn about what really went on during this dark age in America, the more accurate history will judge them. Hard to believe but can you give someone an F-minus grade!?

[rich misty]

DACC thank you for the very nice post and complement, I am a long time fan. I responded to your post about two people agreeing with humor... Out here I try to get along with the good guys and avoid bumping whenever possible..­. We will have plenty of time to dissagree when the big problem right in front of us is dealt with.

I am a former Republican­... I worked for the GOP back in the day... I _OWE_ my country not only an apology, but as much effort and community service as I can possibly muster to clear my conscience.

[gladys46]

Rich, it probably wasn't "your" conscience in the first place ! "Your" inner self prevailed ... I'm glad !!

[rich misty]

It was not my fault anymore than people can blame Democrats who voted for the use of force authorization. I believed lies. I feel bad because I consider myself moderately intelligent and I was taken by scammers.

Well, I have taken down my share in return, and have no intentions of stopping.

[Emerald1943]

I knew there was a really good reason that I like you sooo much! LOL

Keep up the good work!

[rich misty]

I made sure you were on my fans list, but I you were already on there ;-)

[OKnight]

u rock r m...

[rich misty]

Thank you :) You drive nails home yourself..­. Quite a sledge you pack.

[fallout4U]

You were a RINO if anything, never a conservative.

[rich misty]

You are correct, I am not, never was, a criminal.

[Heavy]

I googled anti-abortion violence yesterday just to see how frequently it occurs.
Looks like the rabid right are far more active than I suspected.
Should we detain and torture them? Surely it is much more likely that the next attacks on American soil will come from them.

[Emerald1943]

Oh, but they don't count! They wave the flag, thump their bibles, "support the troops" and spew their lies! They are the "right" kind of Americans! NOT!!!

[DACC]

the facts are al@rming. as one who has followed this behavior over the years I often wondered why no one else seemed to care about it.

[Heavy]

I was astounded to see how frequent it was. Of course Bush defunded the FBI program against it.

[DACC]

RichMisty
I am always amazed at your tenacity and skill towards keeping the topic matter on any thread here on facts and away from rhetoric. One can only imagine the hours of research you have endured to ensure this is the case. We are grateful for your efforts and even if we don't always see eye to eye on everything I remain immensely impressed with your abilities. To that end I would like to add a wonderful quote I hold true to:
"When two people always agree, only one of them is doing all the thinking"

-Lou Holtz

[gladys46]

Co-sign !

[rich misty]

Hume is the left side of my brain.

[DACC]

lol! he has always been on my "gosh I wish I had his critical and expressive thinking skills" list. He's amazing also!

[Emerald1943]

When I was a new poster here, Hume was my very first favorite! I'm glad you are both here! You add so much to the conversation!

[slinkymom]

You, Hume, DACC, and several others are the reason I keep coming back here and reading posts. I learn so much from all of you. Keep up the great work.

[fallout4U]

It is a lefty love-fest! It kinda reminds me of Woodstock.­..

[Emerald1943]

They wouldn't have let you in the gates at Woodstock!

[HumeSkeptic]

President Obama has ordered an end to torture.

Is that enough?
Does that mean that that dark period of depravity is behind us, and we can move forward?
I don't think so.
Unless there is accountability and unless there is severe punishment of those who took us down that path of depravity, we are likely to repeat it in the future.
.

[rich misty]

I agree, as usual, 100%

[gladys46]

As this horror unfolds, I believe that President Obama "expects" us, the american people to demand justice be sought by the proper legal institutions and congress! Thereby, causing these criminal activities not to be convoluted by repubs as being the President's political attacks of them.

[MathIsTruth]

Though you may be right, that does not, in my mind, let Obama off the hook.

The problem with Obama's stance is that it leaves the issue of culpability for war crimes in this murky, ambiguous gray area.

The law (both federal and international) is crystal clear on torture. Why can't and why shouldn't Obama be crystal clear on it as well? Why pretend that maybe war crimes could be investigated or maybe not?

As president, Obama needs always to talk about torture and war crimes using the same words he would use in situations where Americans were the VICTIMS of war crimes and torture.

If 1000 American service men and women were captured and brutally tortured, would Obama say of our enemy "let's look to the future"?

[Emerald1943]

Good point! I have been posting that I believe he wants us to "force" him to prosecute. If he comes out with his hair on fire about this, it will be impossible for him to get anything else done on his agenda. The Congress will be completely deadlocked, and the country will be torn apart.

But if the people demand it, the President can stay above the fray, where he should be. This is the job of the Attorney General. Let's keep up the pressure!

[rich misty]

drbillybob: Can anybody show me in US code where waterboarding is specifically declared illegal?
-------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Six_of_the_United_States_Constitution

Article Six ^^^

http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/terrorism?OpenDocument

The specific language of the law ^^^

[DACC]

there ya go with all that "facty" stuff again :)

[RRG64]

Just confusing them....th­eir talking points say nothing about facts.

[rich misty]

It is very specific and to the point... about 6 paragraphs _total_ to understand the very simple law that applies.

[slinkymom]

I don't think drdillybar has the stones to reply to your very factual posts.

[rich misty]

If any of them respond to me, they are insults.

[HumeSkeptic]

Those who loved our 0ld friend RantingTommy, let's fan 'Thomas Jones 1".
En masse.

Welcome back, RT.

[breakingnews3]

Done.

[DACC]

thanks for the reminder, done