Who's The Jack Murtha For Torture Investigations?

Originally posted at MyDD.com

Sitting in the airport Friday afternoon, I couldn't believe what I saw on CNN: the entire narrative about torture had been yoked by Republicans - and re-directed at Nancy Pelosi. Frankly, it's probably the first big political success Republicans have had since January. Blatantly dishonest, but successful.

But nearly lost is the notion that torture is illegal. And lost is the uncomfortable truth: the Bush administration tortured detainees for political cover after the Iraq invasion - no 'ticking time bomb,' no '24' impending attack. The Bush administration tortured because they wanted an Iraq-9/11 connection that didn't exist. But no one's talking about it, or what should be done.

And with the White House "looking forward," the opportunity to enforce the rule of law is slipping away.

Back in late 2005, opposition to the Iraq war was also floundering. The Senate easily defeated timetable measures. The only resolution with enough support to pass had weak language about how 2006 "should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty." It was Republican-written.

Then, on November 17th 2005, Jack Murtha stepped forward. As a former Marine who originally voted for the war's authorization, Murtha's voice cut through the false Washington conventional wisdom that dissent about our sustained occupation came only from the far left.

Who's the Jack Murtha for torture investigations?

Whose call for a special prosecutor would get the political media's (and the White House's) attention?

 

Follow Josh Orton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joshorton

Comments

[ThesagaciousOne]

08:57 AM on 05/19/2009

Will you feel the same way towards Pres. Obama when he does the same things. He has paved the way for using the same techniques.

[Don-in-Johnstown]

07:20 AM on 05/19/2009

Josh: Your point is spot on. Whatever one may think about Jack Murtha, by speaking out he changed public opinion on the War in Iraq. And he is the best guy to stand up and demand something be done now in holding people responsible for the use of torture to try to justify the invasion of Iraq. Though ineloquent, when he speaks, everyone listens.

[zizyphus]

10:08 PM on 05/18/2009

They tortured because they are morally deficient and criminal, and must be held accountable to the full extent of the law. No excuses for torture. Let the prosecutions begin, and the chips fall where they may.

Maybe Congressman Porter Goss, once head of the CIA, should take the Murtha role. I am not going to hold my breath, he is, of course, a Republican. I would never expect anything like righteousness from the right.

[manfromsnowy]

04:12 PM on 05/18/2009

Following our leaders example the population is losing interest in the truth.

I guess it is just the first casualty, in the war on,

justice

the American Constitution

and true freedoms. Thank you politicians.

[Bubbinator3000]

04:10 PM on 05/18/2009

If we demonized and criminalized Michael Vick for torturing dogs, then how can we look the other way when our top public officials tortured human beings? What does it say about our society as a whole, if we care more about the treatment of dogs, then the treatment of human beings? I woul like to ask a simple question to all Christians - what would Jesus do? And if you can still justify torture, you are no Christian in my book!