Debating Obama's Release of the Bush Torture Memos

Reader Comments
Back to article

The argument against the "enhanced interrogation techniques" deemed legal by the Bush administration was over long ago. It was settled by Alberto Mora, former Navy General Counsel, when he said, "Cruelty disfigures our national character. It is incompatible with our constitutional order, with our laws, and with our most prized values. Cruelty can be as effective as torture in destroying human dignity, and there is no moral distinction between one and the other. Where cruelty exists, the law does not." Those who stand astonished to find that we would be concerned with our enemy's dignity, who would drag us back to a time before our Constitution and the demands of our Founding Fathers to preserve the dignity of every man, woman, and child, no matter what they might be accused of, they admit through their arguments for torture that they are cowards. Liberty or death? They choose safety. They would hide from the world, and why not? They scorn it, those who defend Bush. They spit on all that exists outside the borders of the United States and now they fear the reprisal they've got coming, but will (hopefully) never get because most Americans believe we truly do hold up a torch to the world. The light of that torch has always been our best defense, because there will always be other nations willing to fight to keep that light from being extinguished. Wouldn't it be ironic (and all too human) if we allowed our own least civilized citizens to put it out, right here at home?

Matt Straw of MN 10:32AM April 28, 2009

Part of Obama's pragmatic philosophy on politics is based in transparency and accountability. He is doing the right thing by his own words by making these memos public. As for accountability well the public opinion will be the persecution of the ones who are responsible. We should not be spending resources on litigation at this time. The families and friends of the responsible parties will know their names and can clean their own laundry in anyway they choose.
To "Just My Observation":
How could Obama or anyone possibly diminish the respect of the United States more than George Bush Jr.?
Obama is doing everything in his being to restore the lost credibility, morality, and ethical standing of the United States over the past 8 years.
A true leader shows respect to those he/she intends to lead. Obama's ability to enter into any realm from domestic credit to global terrorism with a clear mind focused on cultivating beneficial consensus, attainable goals, and a pragmatic approach for all stake holders has been proven to this stage in his life and I believe will only become more evident. He cannot unravel 8 years of poor judgment in less than 4 months let along less than several years. Patience is a virtue and consistent progress towards a better tomorrow is essential.
To the neo-cons: War somewhere else is NOT Peace at home. When was there ever a wall constructed that did not increase the desire to knock it down, go over, under, or around. Were you ever told you could not do something and then tried your damndest to do it anyway? That is the American spirit!!! One that is free and driven to remain free.
We need to engage our allies and enemies on the world stage of diplomacy. We already know we have the strongest, bravest, most intelligent and equipped military in the world. Watch as we bring the likes of Ahmadinejad and Chavez out of their holes and let the world judge them for their short-sighted, hateful, and ignorant ways. How better to discredit those you wish to defeat? Allow them to defeat themselves by voicing their arrogant rhetoric to world.

t-jah of NH 11:09AM April 23, 2009

I have ONE criterion to decide whether or not ANY technique is torture: would I want to undergo the process or not?
I wonder how many of those Bush Administration lawyers tried the process themselves to decide if it was "legally OK or not"?
As for whether or not the techniques can be used in the future and related arguments? Well again, if I were confined, knowing what my captors/interrogators planned to do to me? Well I'd be MORE tempted to disclose information perhaps. Thank God I'm not a terrorist, real OR suspected!
Personally I think that deterrence has a place at this particular table. On which side you ask? Take your pick.
GK in Syracuse NY

GK in Syracuse NY of NY 8:53PM April 20, 2009

Dick C. of DC, I mean Dick H. of DC, I mean Joker of DC.
You are a complete moron and Joker is an apt name. I doubt you are from DC though because even though the place is full of idiots, none are as big as you.
service members it is acutally service members'
"beheads" is not a noun.
ever - I take it you mean every illegal not ever illegal
entry should be enter
accuses retruning US Say What?????
he's goes Say What again????
lets needs an apostrophe
North Koerans - learn to spell
Be bowed..... HUH????
kissed there ass. I believe you mean their asses
were ever the word is wherever

Ab of FL 12:18PM April 20, 2009

Despite all of the spleen venting, the Republicans can not make a single rational argument for covering up the crimes of the Bush administration. Telling the truth (a novel idea after the last eight years) and announcing we will be following a path of morality, common sense, and legality (an even greater change) is the only way to keep our actions, which were known within the terrorist community and used as recruiting tools, from further harming America and endangering our troops.
To paraphrase an old saying, patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your politicians when they deserve it. Ninety-nine percent of the actions of George W. Bush did not deserve our support. Once Bush's decisions bagan to effect American policies and actions, it was only a matter of time before his complete amorality and lawlessness became known. For President Obama to keep covering them up would itself be a tremendous mistake.

jimatmadison of WI 10:24PM April 19, 2009

I think when you look back at this you will say Obama was the greatest Predsident there ever was for people who hated America! I want to take this opportunity to inform all the service members families that your President has now given the terrorist the blue book on how to torture your loved ones. Not that they really needed it because in reality they really do know how to torture. All you have to do is search the web and you can find the beheads of innocent people. How about this find the 9/11 video's of the planes crashing into the towers! But I guess that's not torture to the BLEEDING HEART LIBERALS IN THIS COUNTRY! Who want everyone in this country to be GAY, Not say the plegde of allegiance, Supports ever illegal alien to entry this country,wants to rewrite the Constitution so we can't bare arms, accuses retruning US Military of being Terrorist/Extremeist,who want the GOD removed from everything, who apologizes were ever he's goes for being an American. Hey lets apologizes to the Nazis! Personally I wondering why Obama hasn't visited the North Koerans and kissed there ass. Be bowed to the Arabs! Oh that's right he tripped. I hope Obama becomes good friends with Jimmy Carter the one term wonder because Obama is going to feel Jimmy's pain!

Joker of DC 11:27PM April 17, 2009

On Sept 11 America suffered its largest toll of death in an attack by the jihadist murderers who decided to wage war on our country and the entire West. Bush determined to do everything in his power to ensure that no further attacks took place in America. To ensure that the persons who would serve as the point of the spear in our national response to al Quaeda could not be later prosecuted for aggressive tactics to discover where the terrorists were located and to possibly discover their plans, he asked the government's lawyers to conduct an analysis of the law and determine the limits of legal interrogation techniques. Critics of the results take it as a matter of faith that the legal analysis was a bogus subterfuge, although it would take a mind reader to know whether these lawyers did not genuinely believe in their legal analysis. Given the urgency of the need to thwart planned attacks on America, I'm willing to give the lawyers the benefit of the doubt, after having read the legal memos authorizing the harsh interrogation techniques. Bush's critics blithely assume that sleep deprivation constitutes torture. If it is, then every police department in the US commits torture when they interrogate murder suspects and use such deprivation to weaken the defenses of suspects and learn the truth. It may not be nice, but it is not torture. I don't know about waterboarding, but again, I'll give those who did the legal analysis the benefit of the doubt. We needed the information in order to prevent a replication of the 9/11 attack in Los Angeles. We know now that al Qaeda planned to fly planes into Library Tower, the tallest building in the city. Numerous attacks were discovered through the harsh techniques, and it is likely that thousands of Americans would be dead now if not for their use. Obama's publishing the details of how the techniques were used is appalling. Now the terrorists know exactly what they must teach their operatives in order to enable them to resist giving in to interrogation, even if we were to resume harsh interrogation in the future with another administration. Obama has definitely weakened our national security in a manner that cannot be fixed. He has misplaced his priorities as a sop to his leftist backers, like those who worship at the altar of the Daily Kos. With the likes of Eric Holder (who was up to his eyeballs in coverups for Clinton) as AG, we are at grave risk now.

Paul McMeans of CA 9:17PM April 17, 2009

I understand that we do not want to torture other. But when they warn that releasing such memos could place the US in danger of future terrorists, you have to wonder who Obama is looking out for. People who are looking to kill Americans out of extreme religious prejudice or the citizens who put him in office and he swore to protect?

Texan Patriot of TX 7:55PM April 17, 2009

I watched President Bush in his last interviews and the amount of respect he showed towards the then President Elect was enormous. Not one ill word towards Mr. Obama.
All I have heard from Mr. Obama and now President Obama is a high level of disrespect and almost hostile attitude towards the former President. I for one am getting tired of hearing it. President Obama is the President and this is his show now and he should stop looking back and start moving forward. President Bush made decisions based on what he believed to be the right thing of the country and now President Obama should do the same.
If he continues with these methods all he will do is diminish the respect for the office that he holds.

Larry of CA 5:47PM April 17, 2009