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]

Project Phoenix Program - CIA

According to Defense Dept official 26,369 South Vietnamese civilians kil-led under Phoenix while op under direct U.S. control (Jan 68 thru Aug 72 ). By same source, another 33,358 deta-ined without trial. Colby in 73 admitted 20,587 de-aths thru end 71 , 28,978 captured, and 17,717 "rallied" to Saigon gvt. Thus approx 30% targeted individuals killed. All Phoenix stats fail to reflect U.S. Activity after "official" U.S. Control of op abandoned.


http://www.serendipity.li/cia/operation_phoenix.htm

[Nyland8]

Censors: Is there a magic number of times I have to post my observations before they're allowed to be viewed by the public?

[whatthel]

It seems to vary from 1 to 1000.

[DACC]

it does become frustrating, last night I made eight attempts to respond to one post and finally narrowed it down to a single sentence eliminating most of what I really want to portray just to get a post to sail

[PiscesPrincess]

I understand. I have the same issues with this site. its inexplicable.

[vooter]

Well, we know where he is. Grab him, or shut up.

[HyperInfluential]

I wrote to the Secret Service public information address to ask what would happen if a protectee was served an arrest warrant by regular police. Would the SS let the regular police arrest them or what? Follow the protectee even into the jail, certainly a dangerous place? Acknowledge he's under arrest and put him in one of their own facilities? Or what!? Has that ever even happened before?

They didn't write back. I expect they probably get flooded with questions and can't answer them all, but dang, I really wanted to know that!

[steamboat]

Exactly ! .....also, don't 'cherry-pick'. I don't agree with Cheney's position as far as waterboarding goes. However, to his credit, he is asking that ALL the memo's be released. Hey, why would Obama or anybody else have a problem with that? The results. What did they find out. What they did stop. Release ALL or don't release any. Only fair !

[DACC]

please focus on the shiny object as it moves back and forth
you are getting sleepy, verrrrrrrry sleepy....

[RRG64]

Yes, release them all...release all of the top secret Cheney energy task force meetings...

[slinkymom]

Be careful what you wish for...

[LITU]

Because the incrimin ating evidence has already been shredded. And THAT is neither fair nor legal.

[PiscesPrincess]

possibly because some of that information is related to a pending case. just saying.
a number of the detainees at G.tmo have cases pending, don't they? thought so.

[RRG64]

Why? What`s the rush? Let him flail in public.

[monicaangela]

When is the Justice Department going to bring this guy in for questioning? How many tidbits of information have to dribble out before we have a serious effort to put all of this into perspective, prosecute the guilty, make amends for allowing two derranged individuals to lead us all through he// during the nightmare that was these past 8 years, and start to show the world that we are a nation of laws for all, and that we are embarrassed and sorry for allowing ourselves to be hoodwinked.

[breakingnews3]

I predict after Health Care Reform is passed and Justice Sotomayor is sworn in, the FUN will begin :)

[StillWise]

Your fantasies are boring.

[monicaangela]

I am so hoping your beliefs will become reality, it's really hard to remain patriotic when so much obvious injustice has taken place and the same culprits seem to continue to get away with breaking the law and absolutely nothing is done about it. I hope with all my heart, this time will be different.

[rivercricket]

Still waiting to see "Richard Cranium" in a orange suit.....then it will be news!

[monicaangela]

Bingo !!! This is just an effort for this individual to try his case in the public in order to decide his best defense.

[RRG64]

Good point.

[whatthel]

You are correct.

[Nyland8]

Censors: How long will it take before it is determined that the sensibilities of the Cyber World won't be irreparably damaged by seeing my thoughts go up on this board?

[Emerald1943]

You having trouble too?

[A Meat Beetle]

It seems to be particularly bad this morning.

[oregonrain]

I found this old article in a file ....... http://www.alternet.org/story/49275

[rich misty]

As I posted below... Republicans manufacture their own enemies.

[LemonMeringue]

Please post that everywhere.

[cubs325]

this is all about CYA!!!

when have you EVER seen an EX-VP open his mouth so much in public after leaving office

[StillWise]

The current Administration uses the previous Administration as an excuse for their failed policies. Cheeeeeney really had little choice but to defend the previous Administration. And, to some extent, it has worked...........the current Administration has toned down its criticism since Cheeeeney started his "tour".

[teron678]

failed policies???

[slinkymom]

There are no "failed policies" of the current administration.

This country is like an abused child. It will take a whole lot longer that a few months to repair the devastating damage done by the Bush/Cheenie administration.

I for one will give our current president a lot of leeway in trying to help us recover from the phenomenal abuse we have suffered.

[1Troubles]

yes, 4 months and they don't have 8 years of disaster fixed!!

[NWRICK]

Short sighted.
Even if the current administration has no interest is investigation and prosecution, the American public does. When push comes to shove, all politicians, Obama included, are very aware of re election. I know many libs that will not vote for him again if he lets this go. Not to mention "universal jurisdiction" as stated in the conventions we signed.
Bottom line, no prosecutions equal a 50-50 shot at Obamas re election.

[Grunty1]

When has Obama used Ch3n3y's adminstration has an excuse for anything? Rushpublicans are the ones making excuses for Bushco, such as "Its all Clinton's Fault"

[HumeSkeptic]

Mr. Ch-en-ey was only protecting our God given right to torture others.
.

[monicaangela]

He knew it was a crime, however, he was so worried about us he decided to go all out and torture any and everyone he could find that would justify his efforts to enter Iraq and seize their natural resources.

[fcsakes]

How long is this going to drag on. The evidence and countless individuals who were there bear witness to this man's crimes against humanity. If the United States cannot bring itself to administer justice, then I pray another country will..he needs to go before a judge and jury and the full extent of his crimes laid bare for all to see. He chose to violate our Constitution and the Geneva Conventions. We need to see this addressed in a court of law, something he denied detainees.

[vooter]

Yup....

[RRG64]

even the innocent ones....

[PiscesPrincess]

have you never considered give a man enough rope and he will hang himself? well... just sayin'

[CigarGod]

Keep talking Cheney.
This time it is apparent to all you were after changing laws so you could do the unlawful.
I'm surprised you didn't issue uniforms with special armbands for your special cadre's and your pursuit of a New World Order.

[HumeSkeptic]

Ch-en-ey's Legacy:
"Let me torrture or give me de-ath"

[DACC]

LOL! morning Hume

[HumeSkeptic]

:-)

[Grunty1]

I hope he says that. I'd gladly call for the latter for this treason.

[NWRICK]

OMG
Joe S on MSNBC just said this doesn't matter because waterboarding stopped in 03!!!
He cannot be serious!
What a partisan water carrier!

[rich misty]

He has something strategically placed to keep his spine straight with all the weight he is carrying.

[DACC]

he's pushing a book on the greatness of conservatism, go figure

[greatlardini]

He should be worried more about the skel.etons in his own closet. He is aw.ful, and his co-host is worse.

[Grunty1]

That's why he's nicknamed "Morning Hoe" around here.

[AnnfromCA]

And the AP poll shows that numbers are increasing for those who believe torture is sometimes necessary.

I'd say that pretty well seals the deal. Cheney won this debate with people.

[gladys46]

You listen to the nonsense in your own head Ann ! That's what you want to believe ... it's sad for you !!!

[AnnfromCA]

It's on this blog on the politics page, gladys.

You could stand to read a bit more.

[RRG64]

"Cheney’s direct involvement is clear evidence of complicity in international crime, if not also participation in a criminal conspiracy.

As documented in my article, criminal complicity can occur when a person is aware that his or her conduct can or will assist or facilitate conduct of a direct perpetrator, such as use of waterboarding, the cold cell, and dogs to instill intense fear.

He does not need to know that these are criminal or even “torture.” In any event, it has been reported that when Cheney found out that a CIA Inspector General's report warned that several such tactics were criminal, he became irate and ordered the Inspector General to his office.

As the treaty creating the International Criminal Court also declares while reflecting customary law, “a mistake of law as to whether a particular type of conduct is a crime ... shall not be a ground for excluding criminal responsibility.” (Rome Statute of the ICC, art. 32(2)).

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

[Thomas Jones 1]

and you have evidence that more and more people are becoming cowardly enough to think America has to tor-ture to stay safe?

[Anne Stranberg]

To the Karl Rove playbook: say it, say it, say it and they will believe it. So many lies over and over, repeated by the cable news cycle until they "create the news" as Rove new so well.

[breakingnews3]

Siding with criminals......what a sad person.

[gladys46]

Indeed !

[DACC]

trust me there is no jury ready to hand down a verd ict yet. This will remain ongoing and informative in the public arena for some time to come.

[aznurse]

Can you imagine if any other Vice president did this??
and yet we still have to hear his opinion and also the opinions of his daughter.

[rich misty]

Can you imagine what would happen if a Democrat got a consensual beejay???

[monicaangela]

Could imagine any other President allowing a vice president to do this? We have lived under a disfuctional system of government for the past 8 years, only so that daddy's little boy could have his chance to be leader of the free world, Billy the Kid impersonator and a war time president. This is a shame, and if the Justice Department doesn't prosecute these crimes, we can safely say we no longer live in a democracy.