NYT Op-Ed: The Torture Sessions

Ever since Americans learned that American soldiers and intelligence agents were torturing prisoners, there has been a disturbing question: How high up did the decision go to ignore United States law, international treaties, the Geneva Conventions and basic morality?

The answer, we have learned recently, is that -- with President Bush's clear knowledge and support -- some of the very highest officials in the land not only approved the abuse of prisoners, but participated in the detailed planning of harsh interrogations and helped to create a legal structure to shield from justice those who followed the orders.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[mellene]

Why is it that Dana Perino has to excoriate Helen Thomas for asking the obvious after Bush admits he approves of torture?

[HatingTheGame]

How do you say: "I plead not guilty, and you can't touch me, nyah nyah nyah!" in Paraguayan?

I know I know -- Spanish, but I wanted to make a point :-)

LOL

[mydogshakespeare]

NYT: Why has it taken until April 20, 2008 for you to publish this? Why is it merely on your Opinion page? And why, since you are finally pointing fingers at those who "should have known and said nothing", e.g. Powell and Rice, are you letting your self and other MSM voices off?

Thanks for publishing, and hopefully pressing issue hard, BUT WHAT TOOK YOU SO DAMNED LONG?

[HatingTheGame]

Perhaps right before Murdoch chews them up, and spits them out as canary cage lining, they have a spasm of conscience??

Nah.

[mari2JJ]

Not to worry. "Looks" sort of like Bush has a flag pin in his lapel, so he must be a true patriot, eh? Ahh but those niggling torture facts. The reason we need to send a slew of Democrats to the House and Senate is so they can finally investigate the malfeasance and down right war crimes perpetrated by this administration. And then they can have the guts to turn this bunch, including the flag pin expert, Rove, over to the Hague for trial. Only then can we live down the shame of this administration.

[humanist1]

Deaths (over two dozen) have occurred as a result of the "harsh interrogations" approved and directed by the Bush administration. The constant focus of the MSM and politicians on the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" - i.e. waterboarding - is to distract the public from the murderous policies that this government has perpetrated and condoned in the name of freedom and democracy.
And of course, don't forget to wear your flag pins.

[ObamaEdwards]

Why isn't this on the front page? It is the most important story of our era.

[DerAmi]

Yes, this is very important! It is a turning point in the history of the United States of America. Everyone in the media should be ashamed that there has not been the attention called to the fact that the Executive Branch is not upholding their duty to "preserve, protect, and defend The Constitution of the United States of America." Instead, the current administration has operated an illegal government out of the white house and the congress has been complicite.

It is the duty of the Congress to removed these traitors to The Constitution and war criminals from office.

There is already enough information available to make a case and it is unimaginable that there would not be more information if a legitimate investigation would take place. I am ashamed that the average US citizen has no more understanding of the facts. It is disgusting that so many Americans can be deliberately manipulated by politicians who are willing to use a violent attack to further their own personal financial agendas.

Yes, it is truly an important story. And it is a very sad story.

[isisdawnra]

Obama "08"

[Wiredwilly]

NEXT Congress ?

[WorkingClass]

The times cant go broke soon enough for me. It is complicit in the crimes of the administration. Its safe to call for justice some day in the future. Safe because it will never happen. Anybody remember Lindy England? Janice Karpinski? Why isn't Hillary's Ya Ya sisterhood defending these women?

Now its official. Bush and his thugs are covered in blood. How do Americans bear the sight of them?

[MadJeffersonian]

These criminals have shamed ALL Americans.

[biwee]

Do not hold your breath for any real investigation into torture. After all, the US Congress accepted the whitewash of the 911 Commission (what about WTC 7??). And, the US Congress NEVER (despite what Foxman says) investigated the repeated and deliberate Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in 1967.
Any Congress that would let the crimes of the NeoCons go unpunished will NEVER take a hard look at what is plainly torture and murder.

[gcallaghan]

Torture. The foundation of Bush's legacy.

[JRandomPoster]

It is now known to be fact that Bush has committed High Crimes.

What is it going to take for one man or woman to stand up in Congress and demand that proceedings begin? Not with the next Congress - but right now.

[mari2JJ]

He could be charged this session but walk free because there are not enough Dems in the Senate to convict. Wait till next Congress and work to make sure there are big majorities of Democrats, enough to convict him and then to kick him and his fellow Nazis all the way to the Hague as war criminals. And this is a has been moderate Republican speaking!!!!! You know the Jacob Javits type. But I am embarrassed to admit it now.

[LeftLeaner]

What's wrong with the CURRENT Congress?

It's despicable the way Fancy Nancy will not hold impeachment hearings.

It's not like their accomplishing anything else, which is her "EXCUSE".

They're ALL whores, DEMS and REPIGS - just in different degrees.

Think to yourself, what have the DEMS done for us lately - NOT MUCH!!!!!

[mari2JJ]

Get busy and send more Democrats this election is the answer. Useless exercise now cause the Senate could not convict. Not enough Democrats.

[zizyphus]

That our big leaders found time to savor the nuances of physical and mental torture, and plotted how to apply these techniques to the hapless detainees, shows what their true interests and values are.

While our economy was crumbling as a result of a stupid war, they were drooling over the pain that would be inflicted on helpless prisoners. They should all be in cells at Gitmo for their war crimes, then off to the Hague.

[helonias]

Does a christian country torture other human beings and will god bless that country?

[FogBelter]

You bring up a good point, but I have been thinking of it in terms of Iraq myself. We don't have a clue how many Iraqis have died due to American intervention in their country since Bush41. Some of the Iraqis that died were terrorists ... a relative few compared to the vast number of dead. Dead Iraqis would include woman, children, the elderly, the infirm, the pregnant, the handicap, and, although Muslim in Christian's eyes, the pious and good.

Is the Christian God a bigot? Would all of these innocent deaths be dispassionately overlooked? Would Saint Peter greet arriving Christian Americans at the Pearly Gates with the pictures and stories of the Iraqi Dead, explain as a member of a Democracy like the United States the citizens have group responsibility for the Nation's actions. and request an explanation before allowing entrance to Heaven?

To the Christian God, does neighbor imply next door, or across the World as well? Do American Christians truly understand the notion of Justice as it occurs in Heaven, or the thought process that determines God's Judgement?

Along with Torture, an interesting thing for a Christian to ponder.

[helonias]

Not to worry, the rich will give the poor innocent dead Muslims a ride to the pearly gates on their wealth packed camels.