Torture
Eugene Robinson on Bush and torture: "Bush's view of the world is based on the idea of American exceptionalism: that this country is unique, that its ideas and values are not just worthy or admirable but superior to any others."
Colin Powell on the same subject: "To say that we want to modify, clarify or redefine Common Article 3, which has not been modified for the 57 years of its history, I think adds to the doubt" [about U.S. morality]. Plus I believe that the legitimate concerns that the administration has can be dealt with in other ways."
I would hope that the worst thing Bush has in mind is take away the terrorist's Harry Potter books. And while I respect his decision of not going into specifics, the bottom line is Bush does not have the credibility to be taken at his word on this issue. You just can't trust that if he gets his way, there won't be a story in eight months about soldiers strangling prisoners with shoestring.
And no one in Congress wants to be The Guy/Gal Who Let That Happen. History will not be kind.
Here's a good definition of torture: "the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty." If this is what Bush has in mind, everyone in Congress should be saying "no."
UPDATE: Tim Dickinson from Rolling Stone has his take as well.
Colin Powell on the same subject: "To say that we want to modify, clarify or redefine Common Article 3, which has not been modified for the 57 years of its history, I think adds to the doubt" [about U.S. morality]. Plus I believe that the legitimate concerns that the administration has can be dealt with in other ways."
I would hope that the worst thing Bush has in mind is take away the terrorist's Harry Potter books. And while I respect his decision of not going into specifics, the bottom line is Bush does not have the credibility to be taken at his word on this issue. You just can't trust that if he gets his way, there won't be a story in eight months about soldiers strangling prisoners with shoestring.
And no one in Congress wants to be The Guy/Gal Who Let That Happen. History will not be kind.
Here's a good definition of torture: "the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty." If this is what Bush has in mind, everyone in Congress should be saying "no."
UPDATE: Tim Dickinson from Rolling Stone has his take as well.
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