ABC News Reporter Tweets That Iranian Detainees Are Being Waterboarded [UPDATED]

UPDATE: Days after writing this, it's hardly surprising to wake up and find that the New York Times has suddenly found a use for the word "torture," when previously, "enhanced interrogation techniques were the norm. Via Glenn Greenwald:

Time for a letter to Clark Hoyt, New York Times public editor!

Mr. Hoyt--

I wonder if you'd be good enough to explain something to me. Mere months ago, you said:

"Exactly what constitutes torture continues to be a matter of debate and hasn't been resolved by a court. This president and this attorney general say waterboarding is torture, but the previous president and attorney general said it is not. On what basis should a newspaper render its own verdict, short of charges being filed or a legal judgment rendered?" Jehl argued for precision and caution. I agree. "

Yet, today, you have a piece by Michael Slackman, summarized on your site as follows: "The Iranian government has made it a practice to publicize confessions from political prisoners, often subject to sleep deprivation, solitary confinement and torture, rights groups say." The article somehow manages to avoid classifying these techniques with the commonplace and widely accepted term "enhanced interrogation techniques."

According to recent precedents, established by the United States, a government has the leeway to subject people to "intense questioning" as a part of a response to their national security interests. I wonder if you could explain how the word "torture" came to be used in this instance. Has a "legal judgement" been rendered that I've not heard of? Under what distinction is the word "torture" used here?

I'd very much like an explanation.

We'll see what he says about this!

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[h/t; The Daily Dish] From ABC News' Lara Setrakian, comes this tweet:

Tehrani source close to those detained says some have been beaten heavily and waterboarded with hot water #iranelection

In my younger years, I would simply expect this news to be greeted with universal outrage, knowing that the techniques being described had long been deemed to be well across the Bridge Too Far. Now that I've lived through the Bush administration, however, I am forced to contemplate the possibility that Iran is merely taking legitimate steps to obtain critical information in their nations' vital national security interests. One mustn't preclude the possibility that many of those being waterboarded are privy to information about "time bombs" that may, at this moment, be "ticking."

The whole matter could be investigated, I suppose, but I'm also forced to consider that once Iran is through this rough patch, it would be better if everyone involved just looked forward, not backward.

Anyway, I guess everyone's really playing follow-the-leader on this nation's innovations in the area of what our press calls "enhanced interrogation techniques." Pop champagne.

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Comments

[Freesia2]

Oh yes. And as one of the brain children of the right Peggy Noonan said, some things should just be "mysterious". Because obviously ignoring them makes it all go away into the shadows.

Until it pops up in Iran. I'm sitting here staring at what you wrote Jason. I knew this was going to happen - I just wasn't ready for it to be happening. And I'm grieving for the days when we were the exception and the exceptional. We were shining. We were someting special.

But Dick Cheney took that away. Now we're just a country who can't say a word. What we say? Don't do what we did or else? Won't stop Cheney's defenders, even as they scream patriotism and American exceptionalism like maniacs.

This is a sad day. America is never going to be what I remember ever again. Is it? A big "D.ick" saw to that.

[sviolette]

I wonder where they got the idea that torture is OK?

[LemonMeringue]

The U.S. is guilty.

[hapiday]

When's the resolution coming from the Republicans? Bush and Cheney will get what's coming to them. Things are going to fall into place. It ain't over, until it's over.

[benster1]

Ahem ............. would that be considered tourture now? I mean after all we have been hearing quite a bit about the virtues of waterboaring. You know like how in some extraordinary situations you have got no choice other than ( how you woudn't have used it but left you with no other choice) bla bla bla... and now the Iranians leadership some how realized we wish we hadn't done it but you know bla bla bla... in the mean time depending in the situation and done by whom. it is yes if you do it in the West or the so called inlightened civilizations and a no no in those fanatic, undemocratic regimes. Democracies reserve the right to use every means nessesary. Woe to you undemocratic despots for the day of judgement shall befall you. Remember every means necessary!! Ye shall be brought to justice though it shall only be for the interest of ours not that we really cared fo y'all.

Amen!!!!

[sbvpav]

the ripples of evil and inhumanity continue.

[RobinSeattle]

Us and Iran with the waterboarding fetish. Talk about keeping shameful company.

[abouttime]

Obama MUST close Pandara's Box!

Indict war crimminals -- NOW!

(Bush, Chenney et al)

[SueInCA]

I agree. I hope this shames himn in to taking action. Otherwise he cannot comment.

[LemonMeringue]

The U.S. must take a stand on torture.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

If this story is true, President Obama now has no moral authority to criticise the Iranians doing this.

The same is true with respect to the other Washington, D.C. leaders in the Democratic Party who are saying nothing and doing nothing instead of pushing for the prosecution of Cheney, et al.

What about the local politiicans? Are they, too, saying nothing and doing nothing?

This is rotten all the way from the top down to the local centrists-wannabes.

[genia]

ahh ...yes, yes...definitely Obama's fault...yes..

[AnotherMcIntosh]

A leader has the moral responsibility to lead.

[wereeverywhere]

The frustration many of us felt during the Bush years has been soothed somewhat but not healed by the new president. The security states of America far from being repudiated continues plus none of the principals that tortured in our name has faced any consequences. I don't blame Obama the person, but the office of the president is set up for such cowardice to face hard choices.

[wijg]

... but I thought torture was okay now.

[wereeverywhere]

Ahmadinejad sends a loving homage to BushCo. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[Lynnce]

test

[hrc04]

Oh they're waterboarding them? That's a relief... I thought they would at least torture those detainees.

[LemonMeringue]

This is what happens when there is no reckoning for breaking the law.

It is beginning to be partly Obama's fault now.

[madHenry]

Sorry. I'll assume you only have a single ass.

[SueInCA]

Perhaps it will wake him up that now we must pros ecute

[Drjimmy72296]

We don't use hot water, therefore we're much better than they are. PLUS, we let them stay up late and turn the air conditioning on for them.