Torture Is Magic
Why won't there be enough votes in the House and Senate to override Bush's veto of the anti-torture bill Congress sent him to sign this week?
The administration's case against the bill -- which merely asks our intelligence services to follow the same interrogation rules already in the US Army Field Manual -- is breathtakingly lame. When Dana Perino told the White House press corps that the Field Manual is "perfectly appropriate... for young GIs, some so young that they're not even able to legally get a drink in the states where they're from," but not for trained intelligence agency "professionals... with an average age of 40," it's a wonder she wasn't asked a follow-up about how tall you have to be to ride the Constitution.
Maverick John McCain, joining the Republican herd voting against the bill, said that intelligence agencies need to use "additional techniques as long as they were not cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment." What "additional techniques"? Don't ask; don't tell. And why do they need additional techniques? What reason could persuade a victim of North Vietnamese interrogation techniques to abandon his principled stand against torture and side with the architects of Abu Ghraib, Gitmo and extraordinary rendition?
It's too easy to explain it as primary season pandering to the Republican right. And it's too simple to say that the GOP strategy this fall will be -- as it has been since the Cold War -- to bring out their base by depicting Democrats as too dewey-eyed to deal with the Devil.
The reason Republicans think the torture works for them, not just with their faithful, but also with independents and some Democrats, is their view that deep down, many if not most Americans really believe in the ticking-time-bomb scenarios they see in shows like 24. Even though the White House, citing national security, has offered not a single verifiable example of an act of terrorism prevented by "additional" interrogation techniques, they believe that Americans accept such a rationale. And even if torture doesn't result in reliable or actionable intelligence, as the Dean of West Point told the writing staff of 24, pleading with them to stop depicting it as though it did; even if 24 star Kiefer Sutherland was asked to give an anti-torture speech to West Point cadets, urging them to believe their teachers and textbooks, not a Fox TV series; even if a prisoner-of-war like John McCain, from the other side of his mouth, warns of the consequences to captured US soldiers of our own country's use of hypothermia, mock executions or sexual humiliation: despite all that, Republican political strategists believe that most Americans secretly believe that torture "works," and that even if it doesn't, the animals behind 9/11 deserve the same mercy they gave to their victims.
In other words, Republicans are counting on magical thinking on the part of American voters. They may tell pollsters they're against torture on human rights grounds, on turnabout grounds, on pragmatic grounds, but in our heart of hearts, Americans (in the Rove/Cheney/Gonzales/Yoo view) believe that torture works, and that waterboarding is too good for terrorists.
There are good historical reasons to impute magical thinking to American voters. For going on 30 years now, the "ideas" that tax cuts produce increased revenues, that all government regulation is bad, that the unfettered market is the best way to deal with social inequity, that the Bible is literally true, that homosexuality is an evil lifestyle choice, that Vietnam was lost because dirty hippies made pansy Democrats overrule wise Generals: for more than a generation, winning electoral coalitions have been built on the denial, delusions, wishful thinking, cognitive dissonance, bread-and-circuses bewitchment, fundamentalist orthodoxy, political manipulation, and Hobbesean hard-wiring of the otherwise wise and wonderful American people.
It's only human nature to want an eye for an eye; it's human nature to think that some circumstances warrant torture, and that sometimes torture works. But as Madison wrote in Federalist 51, the genius of our democracy lies in protecting humans from human nature:
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions."
Carrying out those "auxiliary precautions" -- the obligation of government to control itself, and to protect ourselves from the lesser angels of our own nature -- was why the Founders split power between the executive and legislative branches. Bush's doctrine of the "unitary executive," a two-word abrogation of the Constitution, dispenses with those precautions. If ever there were a reason to despair about the power of our system of checks and balances to subjugate the American beast that Madison warned against, it is embodied in the willingness of Senators like John McCain and Joe Lieberman to let Leviathan have its way.
Follow Marty Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/martykaplan
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Rethugs believe that torture works, and our court systems don't.
Sec. of Defense Voldemort anyone?
Impeachment is not political! Impeachment was designed into the workings of our government to protect the constitution. Elected representa
Although it has not been declared, we are living under martial law and this administrations interpretation of the 'war powers act' have put the citizens of this country in such a perilous predicament that it is against the law to demonstrate and demand the return of out rights that have been guaranteed by the constitution and usurped by this administration with the complicity of congress. I am much more afraid of our government than any terrorists.
Any, impartial, student of history recognizes that the similarities of what happened in Germany under Hitler and what is happening in this country right now are by design.
We can take a lesson from the recent bravery that the lawyers in Pakistan have shown the world by their willingness to be beaten and arrested when they believe that their Constitution has been violated!!
Unfortunately, our judiciary branch cannot even be trusted to call torture, torture!
I watch as my neighbour, America, spirals downward into violence, poverty, and dictatorship. Is there any hope left for a once great nation?
No.
McCain's platform will be torture, 100 years war in Iraq, and, guess what, Michigan, those manufacturing jobs are not coming back.
Unfortunately, around election time selling torture works.
What else has the GOP to pitch besides onward to victory, with any means necessary? Can't run on the economy, small government, fiscal responsiblity and forget "values".
Marty, is it possible that McCain was tortured into giving up his previous principled stand against torture? Perhaps McCain's puzzling swticheroo is a fall-back to survival tactics he employed at the Hanoi Hilton, where he wrote a stilted "confession" nobody believed and named the starting line-up of the Packers as members of his squadron. I see clear signs of the stilted prose, but has anybody recently interrogated the Senator for the names of his campaign staff? I would also suggest looking at recent photos for subtle finger signals spelling "F*** You" in American Sign Language. Reporters on the road with McCain should put their ears to the motel walls and listen for tap communication - the five by five grid variety or Morse Code, not the stuff Larry Craig used in the men's room. McCain's acceptance of an endorsement by that Texas preacher certainly used tortured logic and I think it may have been a cry for help. A-m -b-e-i-n-g -h-el-d -a-g-a-i-n-s-t- m-y -w-i-l-l -b-y -C-a-r-l -R-o-v-e-F-o-r -G-o-d-s- s-a-k-e- s-e-n-d- D-e-l-t-a- F-o-r-c-e.
R.B. You have a great mind!
The phrase "enhanced interrogation techniques" reminded me of Orwell's essay on the uses and abuses of political language:
http://www
We have been fortunate in having very few POWs with this war- if we did, perhaps we'd take a different stance.I think this video addresses the weird American mindset perfectly:
http://www
Issues like this offer a preview of Silent Generation member McCain vs. Generation Jones member Obama in Nov. It'll certainly help McCain to have been so heroic in Vietnam when compared to Obama, who never fought for the military (Generation Jones was one of the only ones in US history to not have a war during their "fighting years".
How does this make sense if W who did not serve in Vietnam managed to prevail over John Kerry who did serve in Vietnam?
Heroic? How so? The very tragic truth is Senator McCain was broken in Viet Nam. He was tortured, and ended up broken and made propaganda tapes for the NVs. There is nothing there that speaks to heroism. There is only horror and humiliation. Anyone will break under torture and say anything, as Senator McCain did. I do not blame him, nor do I scorn his experience. I feel great compassion for the profound indignitites he has endured. However, these indignitites are not qualifications for the Presidency. These experiences are disqualifications. I do not intend any unkindness in pointing out this tragic and obvious truth.
McCain is a complicated guy. He was broken, but he retained more personal dignity than most in a similar position. His actions gave a sense of purpose to his prisoner community. I admire that, but with respect to grand strategy it was all pointless. McCain's actions did nothing to alter the outcome of the war. That he is alive today is almost certainly because he was son of a serving admiral. It all reduces to cultural and personal perceptions of noblesse oblige and honor. Americans love to skewer the French, but our military viewpoint seems to grow more Gallic with each misguided war.
Very well put NCG.
Bush never fought for the Military. He was given a coveted Air National Guard position (although he way less qualified) in Alabama with the help of the political connections of his father during Vietnam. He was protecting the nation against a Viet Cong air attack. He is just as bad as those accused of draft dodging, I would say even worse. He then sends troops to die for an unjust war. And to top this off, Bush ran a smear campaign against McCain that virtually eliminated him from the presidential race in 2000.
I don't know about your Generation Jones label, but there were many conflicts during that era, such as Panama and Grenada. How about have you served? You make it seem that that it is shameful to not have fought in a war. I served during this era of conflict. One of the reasons I'm getting out because of the deceitful leadership this country has come under and will continue if McCain is elected.
I do not recognize this country anymore. I grew up believing that we were an honorable people, a citizenry that would stand up for what was right, that actually might work toward "Liberty and Justice for All". Apparently, not any more, or at least that part of the citizenry who support torture and the euphemistically titled "enhanced interrogation techniques". I used to think of Senator McCain as an honorable man, but after seeing there is no right wing cause/mout
"Abu Graib is what my America The Beautiful has become. If I am not outraged, it is what I have become.
Abu Ghraib is what my America The Beautiful has become. If I am not outraged, it is what I have become. And, yes, I was a soldier; an officer in a combat operation behind enemy lines.
According to international law, violation of The War Crimes Act is punishable by death.
Bush broke them. Therefore, according to international law, he deserves to die.
Now, since most Republican claim to be morally right, conservatively Christian, and, above all, Patriotic, I'm sure they will agree that these laws which serve to protect our troops MUST NEVER be broken.
Check these out:
1- Philadelphia Winter Soldier March, part one :
http://au.
2- Philadelphia Winter Soldier March, part TWO:
http://au.
What could make a torture victim support torturing others? How about a big donation from Blackwater or Halliburton?
McCain used to be an okay guy. But that was then and this is now. He's thoroughly corrupt and probably could use a good therapist. He has been Bush's battered wife for nearly eight years; pimped and apologetic.
He's just the kind of candidate the "owners" like; a little crazy, hungry for power and easily manipulated; a Bush clone.
Why would McCain support torture? Because he wants his party's nomination. He won the GOP nomination against the odds because he give rank-and-file Republicans what they want -- war, war and more war. It's that simple. And why don't the right-wing bozos who have never forgiven McCain for supporting campaign finance reform understand that?
Great article, Marty.
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