"No one can possibly believe that America is now safer because of the new restrictions on enhanced interrogation and the subsequent appointment of a special prosecutor."
So wrote the Washington Post's Richard Cohen in an op-ed Tuesday that is SURE to raise some liberal eyebrows.
In fact, the following snippets will likely raise some conservative ones as well (h/t Steve Malzberg):
No one can possibly believe that America is now safer because of the new restrictions on enhanced interrogation and the subsequent appointment of a special prosecutor. The captured terrorist of my fertile imagination, assuming he had access to an Internet cafe, knows about the special prosecutor. He knows his interrogator is under scrutiny. What person under those circumstances is going to spill his beans?
Ah yes, the interrogator must build rapport with the captured terrorist. That might work, but it would take time. It could take a lot of time. Building rapport is clearly the preferred method, but the terrorist is going to know all about it. He will bide his time. How much time do we have?
The CIA inspector general's report on the quite brutal interrogation of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the so-called Sept. 11 mastermind, suggests he only turned cooperative when he was repeatedly waterboarded and that the information he provided saved lives. Yet so much was redacted from the report that it is not clear that this is unambiguously the case. Maybe no lives were saved. Maybe Mohammed was waterboarded more than 100 times for nothing. It is an appalling possibility. [...]
The questions of what constitutes torture and what to do with those who, maybe innocently, applied what we now define as torture have to be removed from the political sphere. They cannot be the subject of an ideological tug of war, both sides taking extreme and illogical positions -- torture never works, torture always works, torture is always immoral, torture is moral if it saves lives. Torture always is ugly. So, though, is the hole in the ground where the World Trade Center once stood.
Hear, hear!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Feather...
September 1, 2009 - 16:32 ET by Iowa Boy...knock me over.
"Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Official Motto of the State of Iowa
All thes liberals assume
September 1, 2009 - 16:33 ET by Chris NormanAll thes liberals assume that because we are a democracy that has moral guidelines, that makes us a bunch of hard core Quakers that carry a dove as a national symbol. I don't advocate "torture", but that doesn't mean I'm not okay getting rough with a terrorist to save lives. Liberals all assume that everyone in the country is going to faint from the vapors because these savages were - er - persuaded - to talk under duress. I think they'd be surprised to find out how few agree with them.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Hey Noel... I was
September 1, 2009 - 16:39 ET by bigtimerHey Noel...
I was wondering what you were doing, I saw you were back, I commented on a few of your threads about your interview when this was going on live, cannot believe I was lucky to catch that today..who knew?
Anyway...I heard your astonishment about Cohen writing this today...I thought about getting the link, but figured you would post this and glad you did. ...his last lines are the best.
Torture always is ugly. So, though, is the hole in the ground where the World Trade Center once stood.
Says it all...does it not?
I am also very surprised this coming from Cohen myself....I hope others read and digested this in Congress....those on the RINO side of life as well.
'Go Green...Recycle Congress'
Torture
September 1, 2009 - 17:08 ET by GeneralAlThe only totrure that isn't working is this constant cry of foul from the left! Haven't we got just a great Attorney General? He drops charges against three Black Panthers who imtimadated three white voters during the last election, yet wants to prosecute CIA operatives who got rough with a bunch of no good terrorists! I bet they're probably white! Where have we gone wrong in this nation? Simple enough! With the help of the Communist Main Stream Media we have elected a man to the highest office in the land who has not one iota of ability to handle the job! He has friends like Bill Ayres and Bernadine Dohrn. His pastor is Jeremiah Wright. His handlers are David Axlerod and Rahm Emmanuel! No suprise that we get Eric Holder for AG who has proven his racist tendencies with his actions! America's bowels need a complete enema in 2010 to rid itself of the constipation caused by these left wing Commies!
Many Liberals will have to Re-evaluate
September 1, 2009 - 17:56 ET by richb313Many liberals will have to re-evaluate a lot of things if they are really honest with themselves. You see they finally got almost everything they wanted. President liberal and by the way he is also a self identified African-American...double check, House of Representatives under Democrat Control check. Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco liberal (for that Sna Francisco treat) check. The Senate under Democrat control..check Harry Ried in a position of power (they had to give it to him he gets so cross and throws tantrums if he does not get his way) check. The only thing that they do not have yet is a majority on the Supreme Court but that is only a technicality because this court has already userped more power than anyone thought possible. So really the liberals have everything they wanted and are still mad as hell. Why?
Maybe it is because now that they have everthing nothing is really better and in a lot of measurable ways things are getting worse and the President and the Congress is ignoring it. The economy is in the toilet so they do healthcare? The war in Afganistan is starting to slide south fast and they do Cash for Clunkers. The war in Iraq is also starting to slide south as the disidents are emboldened by Obamas' soft power.
Maybe it is time for everyone to take a deep breath, look around, see which way the beach is and swim for shore. It was foolish to set out without a boat, paddle or anything. No real plan besides Bush Bad Democrats Good existed anyway. Obama gave all of it away to Congress to craft and they didn't even know they were supposed to be designing a boat instead they just sold tickets to a World Cruise and there isn't even a boat to take anyone anywhere.
Well, no shiite.
September 1, 2009 - 20:29 ET by R D Helm-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
Better to invite them to High Tea
September 2, 2009 - 09:43 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonThan to send them back to their cell with all body parts intact and a wet towel wrapped around their heads.
Here's an idea: If they are still alive for more questioning, have suffered no lasting physical damage, then it's NOT TORTURE.
Besides, do we really care if they blow up a train station during rush hour?
Would it really be a bad thing if a group of nutjobs exploded a dirty bomb in the middle of NYC?
According to the democrats, those would be better than asking questions and making the terrorist uncomfortable.
http://gjresult.com
September 2, 2009 - 09:48 ET by jessieHThey started the fight. I was taught to win a fight, any way possible. We will win the fight, any way possible.......