Jesus Christ, George Bush and Torture

Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet asked President Bush if he had permission to use "enhanced interrogation" techniques including waterboarding on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Bush writes in his memoir Decision Points:

"I thought about my meeting with Danny Pearl's widow, who was pregnant with his son when he was murdered. I thought about the 2,971 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect my country from another act of terror.

'Damn right,' I said."

My response to Mr. Bush is equally concise and clear.

Damn wrong.

Asked in a 2003 presidential debate to name his favorite philosopher, Mr. Bush answered, "Christ. Because he changed my heart."

It is sickening enough that, as President, Mr. Bush had his legal team redefine torture to be only that which caused permanent organ failure and or death. It is sickening enough that he flaunted every established International law that torture is a crime. It is sickening enough that he consistently obliterated America's constitutional ideals of human rights. But to do all of these calloused acts in the name of Christ elicits in me, as a minister and follower of Jesus, a prophetic condemnation of hellish amplitude.

Here is what a "changed heart" looks like to Jesus:

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons and daughters of God."

"You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before the world that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven."

Mr. Bush feigns that he struggled over his wild west "decision point" in ordering torture.

"The choice between security and values was real."

How 'bout it, Christ?

"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

What is the verdict of Christ for those who flaunt his sacred values? Whether you hear Christ's prophetically zealous pronouncement literally or not, his graphic depiction of such a soul's state is clear, in or out of the earthly body.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment."

Damn right.