Waterboarding, Part Deux
By Thomas JeffreyArticle Posted: Wednesday February 13, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In what could only be described as yet another shock and awe campaign, the Bush Administration last Wednesday asserted that waterboarding is legal and therefore is still an option for the nation’s intelligence services, though only to be used as a last resort when even Jack Bauer can’t get a terrorist perp to talk.
The declaration by the White House comes as the very legality of the controversial interrogation technique — one that is viewed as torture by human rights groups and as well as others — had seemed to have been settled amidst legislative action and a Supreme Court ruling. But in a shocking turn of events, White House spokesman Tony Fratto asserted last week that the power of the unitary executive trumps all when it comes to protecting the nation.
The news was met with both disbelief and anger across the entire political spectrum, with prominent Democrats accusing the Administration of failing to follow the law, while Republicans expressed disbelief that the George W. Bush would choose to fight this fight once again in the twilight of his presidency.
However, critics observed that even though the White House may have reasserted their right to exercise authority to authorize waterboarding, most felt that this political and legal hot potato would not be employed by the CIA — even if expressed written consent were given to the agency by the president — simply out of fear that its agents could face serious legal ramifications.
This Leftwing Nutjob wonders whether the constant coverage given to the 2008 primaries and caucuses by this nation’s media prompted this move by the Smirking POTUS as a way to combat his growing irrelevancy as president. Let’s hope that he doesn’t go off the deep end and decide to attack another “rogue” nation before exiting the world stage. (oh, wait a minute….)
White House Pushes Waterboarding Rationale — Washington Post
Comments
Podcast #117
By Thomas JeffreyArticle Posted: Tuesday April 15, 2008
Leftwing Nutjob Podcast, Episode 117, for Sunday, April 13, 2008
Penn hits the bricks, Iran in the spotlight again, the Obama money machine, al Qaeda’s rising star and more!