Army Official: Waterboarding Breaks Law, Is "Inhumane"

[energeez]

i bet you most people would waterboard a terrost if he had their baby captive and wasn't talking. js

[TheWasssssuppp]

the united states is a democracy not a dictatorship and its inhumane to waterboard or to torture anybody including terrorists this country was not founded to torture people or to be a dictatorship were a democracy and thats not what a democracy does you republicans always say that liberals are destroying the constitution but by tortureing people your braking the constitution

[theMETALDOVE]

@TheWasssssuppp

the united states water boards navy seal recruits. this is common practice. thousands of americans have been water boarded. there has been reporters that submitted to be water boarded for the camera.

the shiites were tortutiing their captives by hanging them up and drilling holes in their knees.

[TheWasssssuppp]

@theMETALDOVE yah and its still not right we shouldnt waterboard

[lNHUMANE]

uh...

[killer8579]

OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED, TORTURED, KILLED, RAPED, BEATEN, far more brutaly then the terror suspect's have ever experienced! but thats ok, our American soldiers are over there fighting for your's and mine's freedom but liberals would rather worry about the safety of the Terror prisoners. SO you get a fucking clue!

[usenetposts]

The first rule about waterboarding club is ... you do not talk about waterboarding club.

[prebenso]

180 times waterboarding on one man is certainly a limited number lying xxxx

[mauiboarder2]

shit, i would have done more then waterboarding to these fucknuts!!! for one these ppl dont give a rats ass about you, me or any body else!!! if your not one of them your as good as dead!! and if your not dead then they want to kill you!!! soo i wish all you fuck'n lameass liberals would wake up and get a clue!!! fuck if you want to be friends to these ppl then move your asses over there and try and be friends with them!!! they would love to kill you, and we would let them!!! fuck'n liberals!

[juarezrt]

I wish you chicken hawks would finally wake up and realize that water boarding is torture no matter who does it. If you don't believe so, then you are either a hypocrite, or you think its ok for out troops to be treated the same way we treat them.

We have condemned these types of actions throughout the world, but now its not wrong because we are doing it. That's the kind of bullshit we have come to expect from tyrants around the world, but not from our government.

[TarotMoon]

wow

[killer8579]

yes, fucking exactly! FUCK liberals and their panzy ass fucking mind set. oh yes, now we cant interrogate the terrorists anymore because its to harsh. it makes ya want to put libs down there in gitmo and leave them there to get re educated!

[vonKressenstein]

Who is testifying, the General or that obfuscating blithering idiot, the republican Senator from Alabama???

Republicans have no shame. They are phony christians. Just vile.

[mauiboarder2]

fuck the waterboarding, just put a bullet in their heads and no worries about torture!!!

[topthickproducer]

I would wish that murder was the crime, unfortunately it is waterboarding or torture.

I don't hate Bush or Cheney, I just think they are stUpid with capital U for you. You for those that elected him TWICE!!!

[juarezrt]

Would you want our troops to be treated like that?

[killer8579]

they already are but worse, if you seem to remember some of the grusome reports. what al Qaeda has done to our american soldiers over there makes what you libs call "horrific torture" look like nothin!

[juarezrt]

"you libs"

Do you know me?

[derektherock42]

You're assuming that everybody who was tortured was a confirmed terrorist. They were not. Most of them were just suspects who never got a fair trial. How would you like it if Canada invaded US, and they plucked you out of your house and started torturing you? Get a fucking clue.

[killer8579]

first off no one's plucking me out of me house as they will be looking down the barrel of a gun! 2nd the "suspect's" could give a fuck about you or me and you liberals have to understand that! I'm for the torture 100% but i would have just made it easier, took the Terror suspects out back and shott them right between the eyes! OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED< TORTURED< KILLED<RAPED<BEATEN, far more brutaly then the terror suspect's have ever experienced! SO you get a fucking clue!

[thespleenfiend]

Lol, how old are you ¬.¬

[bobgnote1]

Earth to TWA Flight T! Brits burned DC, Madison threw in over illegal establishment, letting GONY get in, Lincoln got shot, US drifted into a secret treaty with Victoria, who invaded Palestine, 1882. 1893 US invasion of Hawaii proved a secret treaty, WHICH STARTED BOTH WWI AND WWII, tardies. La Palma and Atlantic and Pacific trenches will spit tsunamis at you, over waterboarding for Israel, when JEWS ARE FROM ETHIOPIA and then from THE PURPLE GANG or NATUREI KARTA, not both. 360.yahoo/bobgnote

[ExtremeRecluse]

This general just lost his promotion by stating the truth

[RusselBertrand]

Jeff Sessions limited number EHH??? probly should read the new documents...over 233 times on some detainees...oh yeah totally limited!! what a crock of shit

[How2Download]

Sheik muhmmad was waterboarded 183 times. geez i guess thats considered humane

[vik238]

Gen. Michael Hayden, Former Director NSA CIA, now works for The Chertoff Group, organized and headed by the former Secretary of Homeland Security (USSS), Michael Chertoff. Mr Chertoff also was a co-author of the controversial US Patriot Act.

The Chertoff Group also recently (March 2009) signed a landmark agreement with the world's largest Public Relations company, Burson-Marsteller. The latter was involved in advocacy for convicted firms such as BabcockWilcox, Pfizer, Shell, Monsanto, EliLilly..

[thestreetdogg]

Americans always think their shit does not stink, they always think whatever they do that they do it just better than others.

They really think that they Army is clean and do not commit crimes "like other Army does"

USA, army do commit and has commited some of the worst crimes out there.

From, Rape, to killing innocent people, Torture, behead people etc etc.

USA is Rich and totally controll Media and that is why their worst crimes never aired, to their People.

USA, ppl are brainwashed.

[JoeNati]

This is why soldiers and Marines fight wars and not touchy ,feely, liberal politicians and human rights activists. Just let the military do it's job. There is no place for political correctness in war.

[impietease]

The Geneva Conventions are treaties which were entered into under the authority of the United States, therefore, US Constitution; Article3 VI, Clause 2; states they are: "the supreme Law of the Land". All US military personnel freely swear an oath that they will defend the Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic". A member of the US Military who willfully violates the Geneva Conventions, has willfully violated their honorable oath of enlistment. You slander The Nation.

[thestreetdogg]

"jOENATI" if that's the case, than Why USA goes after Presidents, or Army of different nations to arrest them and charge them for Torture!?

Are u saying that ur shit does not stink?

[JoeNati]

Is decapitating a prisoner and sending the video to the media humane.?. The geneva convention only works if both parties agree and adhere to it. During the phillipine wars they would cut off muslim's heads and stuff them inside a dead hog. Now that's a great mind fuck . Obviously this General is just a talking head. Anyone who has ever served in combat worth his salt would do whatever is necessary to save the lives of their fellow Marines or Soldiers.

[impietease]

Why do you defame America by comparing the acts of our military, using the actions of our enemies as the standard? We are Americans, and supposed to be better than the rest, yet you would drag us down into the sewer with our enemies? The American war in the Philippines happened before the Geneva Conventions were ratified, and when news of water torture became known to the public, high ranking American military officers were put out to pasture because of it.

[inteli709]

good, I'm glad those fucking terrorist were tortured.

[How2Download]

im glad ur knowledge has not improved since u were born

[stan300zx]

We should all be in Wahington DC 12th July 2008' Support our troops means supporting our CONSTITUTION! Wake up War Crimes have been committed against humanity period!

[chester1080]

Google "online quran"

Get first result is univ michigans online text-searchable quran, Search for Murder, cut off, kill, etc etc

Chapter 8verse 12

Exhortations to Murder and Horrible Torture,

These "revelations" are revealed in psycho wards in prisons everyday

[8.12] When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

[krissnair]

aaaredskin you don't sound like a very smart person. Sorry if I'm judging you, but c'mon, would you like to be waterboarded? It doesn't sound like fun to me. Many of those who are being tortured don't even have viable information. Torture simply allows for false information. I know I would give false information just to get people to stop torturing me. Waterboarding is torture.

[debstef]

That was a joke that Trilat thing. But more seriously, How would you run me and my ilk out on that rail? Would you violate my constitutional rights? What would you do? You see, the simple fact about human nature is that just as you seek to dominate me here, others seek to dominate each other globally. Or regionally. Or whatever. Your no better than me and my ILK. Leftists are to anarchists as rightists are to totalitarians. It's all the same and your on the pussy side. I AM NOT. Hahaha

[debstef]

From the Trilateral Commission. From listening to the various sources available to me. But not, for instance, from people with what I feel is an anti-american agenda. With your belief process here, this country would have never won ANY war EVER. You cannot grasp the concept of violence and domination. Believe me, the carpet bombing of WWII destroyed the enemy, the enemy's family and the enemy's WILL. Absolute barbarity. You would never allow it even if it meant defeat not to. Admit it.

[impietease]

Again you equivocate debstef, blurring the truth asserting that carpet-bombing in past wars is the same as torturing a captured combatant presently. Technology has evolved, and in this era of smart munitions, carpet-bombing would now be an immoral act of war, as air strikes can be localized with tight parameters, and it is wrong to target civilians directly. Torture is inhuman, un-American, and now is embraced conservatives. I no longer am a conservative. Your enemy is inside your gates.

[aaaredskin]

I don't care 1 single bit that ARAB TERRORISTS are being tortured by the U.S. military and the CIA. I also know that liberal democrats who claim to be all upset about it and against it really don't care about the prisoners either. These libs are actually upset that their big enemy, George Bush has had his way with them ever since 2000. This is what this is really all about...it's about trying to "stop" Bush, and to make him "look bad." Fuck you pussies.Yeah, let's all pretend to care for Arabs.

[aaaredskin]

Bravo for debstef's posts! Thanks for being the voice of reason while surrounded by kook conspiracy wackos on this topic....

[aaaredskin]

Hats off to President Bush for vetoing the bill outlawing the CIA to "waterboard" enemies of the United States. What a slippery slope we have when Congress starts mandating exactly how wars can be fought, and exactly how information can be gathered. Thank-you, President Bush!

[debstef]

Odd that you should call yourself moderate. Additionally, I said absolutely nothing about waterboarding keeping me or you safe. Border security is what it is and regardless of a wartime scenario it should be quite stringent. But the intel obtained from the extremely small use of what I do not consider torture has resulted in a HUGE amount of actionable info which might have actually saved your life while all the while you complain about it. "War is hell" and I agree.

[debstef]

Don't tell me..Bush blew up the buildings while Cheney lined up the oil companies. Bushco. Jeez. Of course ALL containers should be checked and ALL borders should be buttoned up just like the rest of the world. I have no idea why you state that but, whatever.

[debstef]

Dont thank me for my service. And I do own patriotism. I know what it is and I know my constitution. AND I know my history. Don't feel me the 'slippery slope' bit. I do not go for it. Our society is kinder now than ever. Ever. more people have rights and privileges that were never dreamed of in the past. All of which has led to us actually being our own worst enemy in these violent times. I may understand my enemy, even sympathise with him, but his is still my enemy... and I want him dead

[impietease]

I've been into the breech too, and that is no excuse for rationalising inhumane treatment of persons detained Under The Colour of Authority Imparted By the American Flag. The slippery slope has already been traversed, when our enemies are used as our morality's referent standard.

You say you know The Constitution, yet you equivocate about "NO PERSON", "IN ALL CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS", and "CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS". It's a shame you do not not live and breathe as a Friend of Liberty.

[debstef]

Well, Mr Kucinich, then it must be time for your liberal revolution. And as soon as you've saved America, you can go try to find our enemies, and give them a hug. Your quotes are all in reference to domestic crime, not war. As Pershing said, "War IS hell", and he was right. It is still necessary and required at times. I know your lofty mind will never understand that. You and the French can go surrender together.

[impietease]

You claimed to have honourably sworn to uphold and protect, from ALL enemies foreign and domestic; to be knowledgeable of, and understand The Constitution, yet insult those who stand in its defense, asserting they are afflicted with starry-eyed utopianism. You must choose: Either honour your oath, or lick the boot of a Connecticut Cowboy President, born to a carpet-bagging Yankee family; who unlawfully claims he exists without the only document sceptering legitimacy to his official acts.

[debstef]

I don't care that your son is serving. I served as well. The moment you compare thr United States of America to Nazi Germany, you must relize just how far off the reservation you have wandered. It's ridiculous You can think what you want of this great place. I've travelled enough to know better.

[debstef]

Listen, they used it a total of like 3 times. TOTAL. and each time it was long after exhausting whatever other resourses I'm sure. These guys are after usable information. Not simple torture fun. You attach nefarious intentions to these actions and I do not.

[debstef]

Thank you for you high-minded approach to war. With enough positive thoughts and efforts, we can ensure our defeat and eventual death. Good job thinking through the horror of war to want all these great rules in a lawless world

[grimshawr]

waterboarding is terrorism. i thought we were at war against terrorism.

[debstef]

Ha!! That is an amazing comment.

[grantsinmypants2]

Is it humane? This is like asking if eating hot dogs can wake the dead.

Does it matter if it's humane? The only question should be: does it further the military goal of X?

So long as X is legitimate (eg: a freer nation defending itself), anything that it does or does not do should be thought of as: Does this help towards X?

Whatever happens to individuals of other countries - and the immorality that entails - is the responsibility of the less free party. Dont like it? Talk.

[impietease]

There was once a time when Americans did not engage in this sort of moral relativism. It deeply offends me. When did our referent for morality become the actions of our enemies?

When did Americans start believing in the morality of 12yr olds?

"But Johnny did it first" is not a rational argument for defense of riding a bicycle through a neighbor's flower bed. It's even less of one as justification for human torture.

We're Americans, and supposed to be better than the rest.

[grantsinmypants2]

When did we decide that we must sacrifice our actual well being to the impossible, impractical standards of a morality which will forever insist that "were better than that"? All the way to the grave

Thats relative: criticizing realitys demands for the sake of some impossible, contradictory, religious moral standard

Morality is a means by which to live. Essential to that is surviving. If someone mercilessly attacks you, it is IMMORAL to turn the other cheek, no matter how sanctimonious

[impietease]

You are a faithless coward and heretic to the American Dream. Please move to another country, and stop befouling mine.

Singapore waits for you.

[impietease]

You are a faithless coward and heretic to the American Dream. Please move to another country, and stop befouling mine.

Singapore waits for you.

[grantsinmypants2]

When did we decide that we must sacrifice our actual well being to the impossible, impractical standards of a morality which will forever insist that "were better than that"? All the way to the grave

Thats relative: criticizing realitys demands for the sake of some impossible, contradictory, religious moral standard

Morality is a means by which to live. Essential to that is surviving. If someone mercilessly attacks you, it is IMMORAL to turn the other cheek, no matter how sanctimonious

[debstef]

No, we are not supposed to be better than the rest. It dos not work that way.

[debstef]

Bravo. These people are very kind to our enemies. Never truly understanding that they are our ENEMY. It's quite simple and barbaric. And I am for it.

[carolinatinpan]

Whatever it takes.

[dwight21B]

Waterboarding is not torture. Go over to Iraq and get captured by some insurgents if you want to find out what torture is. The US Army waterboards its own pilots for survival training. Anybody else think it is messed up that we are allowed to waterboard our own soldiers but not terrorists who want to kill americans?

[Obeyprogress]

I think you need to check your facts. The army manual clearly prohibits waterboarding. in addtition we are not al-Qaeda we are better than that.

[sugarpuddin88]

Abraham Lincoln made a stand against torture during America's most difficult hour

It has long been proven that info under torture is inaccurate; that torture is ineffective as a tool to gather useful information

[grantsinmypants2]

So why didn't the Congressman just make that point and shut up?

Why does it matter if it's "imhumane" or not?

[sugarpuddin88]

Dillon - in addition, we have no idea how many people sit in the 7 tiers of solitary confinement

Ever read the Victory Act? Makes grandma with her prescription pills in the wrong bottle a terrorist!

[DillonX]

3 questions:

Will we ever know for sure how many Bush had waterboarded?

Are we still turning prisoners over to other countries who would waterboard?

Has the United States turned into a terrorist country?

[F4O4U4R4S]

1)no

2)I dont know

3)yes, the states have always terrorized certain parts of the world for americas benefit, the government just disguises it with the word, freedom.

[maxx1000]

.

Dear Senator Sessions,

If I admit to my second wife that I murdered my first wife and promised NOT to do it again, then that should be good enough, YES?

.

[MojoJuana]

mccinsane is for torture now!

[astro104]

NOBama'08!

[terraceterra]

The US has been torturing and much more in secret for years. This is just more lies. I wish the US would commit to the idea that torture and that means any kind of torture is wrong.

[Dogmeat7]

the stuff the U.S does is know were need bad lol. as say o CHINA! if one of these fuckers planted an bomb an it was set to go off I would tortue the fuck out of them lol. Terrists are not Sodiers.

[Paulginz]

So, if people are rich and organised enough to buy a heavyweight bomber and use it to kill civilians, that's fine. But if they're poor and have to plant the bomb and probably loose their life doing so then they shouldn't even be considered human and/or treated as such?

The US didn't declare war in Iraq, I guess that means "soldiers" there should be reclassified as spies.

The geneva convention doesn't cover mercenaries. Would it be ok with you if blackwater people were tortured?

[souljaEXVOTO]

i think pretty much everyone on God's green earth knows that waterboarding pretty much SUCKS!

[Veracifier]

Thanks for the comments.

[devikkyrn]

I like the Republican senator at the end trying to put the issue in a slightly better light -- used a very limited number of times, against high profile targets, yadda yadda yadda. They still used it. Period. And it's inhumane. Period.

[FattKidd]

I've got $20 that says every single one of the prisoners in Gitmo right now have been waterboarded at least once.

[fistnbone]

Ok, I'll take your bet. In 1000 years when the records of Gitmo are redacted and declassified, hit me up and we'll settle the score ;)

[776281]

You would loose that bet. But there are a lot of other psychological torture methods also used, all well documented.

[quietearthMT]

Here's the thing for me.... If we actually captured Osama Bin Laden or another well known, high ranking Al Qaida operative and it was believed that he had knowledge that could prevent an imminent attack then board away... however what I worry about is situations where we capture some guy who we THINK is an Al Qaida operative or knows something and we are WRONG. I think just as much effort should be made into making sure that our intelligence services are improved and have proper oversight.

[gobblegobblechew]

and if I only stole money from only bad people I guess Im not a thief?

[cobwebhead]

That one in a million, ticking time bomb scenario is what presidential pardons are supposed to be used for.

[raphi72]

Well the thing is: There was no ticking time bomb.

[greywolf4744]

"I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just"

Thomas Jefferson

[JavaVoodoo]

Sen. Jeff Sessions is a douchebag.

[jimmyphack]

IMPEACH

[neotoy]

So, Bush goes to jail now? Right? He should, otherwise these laws are basically a lie.

"America does not torture." My ass.

[toreadoroflove]

that would rule. he needs to get in trouble!

[F4O4U4R4S]

only used three times hahhahahahahaha! the states are fucked!

[Bai0Hei]

I don't condone this sort of activity at all.

But I don't see international screaming about the ill treatment of American POWs.

Which is fine with me. I don't need/want international pity.

[Polytical]

You don't see or hear it, because we don't quite care. The US are waging a war and that's what bothers the international opinion.

A case of torturing mostly non-western people is very unimportant compared to what you do every day. Peace.

[impietease]

I doubt very much that you've ever expended the effort to read press releases from International Rights Organizations. Most, if not all have indeed decried the treatment of captured American soldiers. Instead of just repeating what you've heard from a talking-head, why not do your own research before issuing an opinion?

Ditto-head is often more than just an ad hominem derogation, and is instead a logical description of an individual made after sound observations and analysis.

[Gilliatt83]

B.S.

[Telcontar1962]

Great defence....We only broke the law and every rule in the book a few times.

I must remember to cite that when I rob my next bank.

[gwbushapos]

Telcontar1962:

It comes down to this; that PoS g. w. bush says it's not against the law until he's caught in the act.

[Telcontar1962]

Look like the US should have stuck to having a king. At least it would have meant a less autocratic leadership.

Just goes to prove its not the type of political system that delivers freedom but what the people will put up with.

Democracy it would seem is less a defence agaisnt totalitarianism than most others. No wonder Bush wants to spread the word! :)

[gwbushapos]

Telcontar1962:

The US has never had a king.

Criminal acts have nothing to do with tolerance.

Its fear of retaliation and lining the pocket of many elected representatives that allows that PoS g. w. bush to get away with Murder.

[Telcontar1962]

I don't agree with that. Fear and corruption are always signs of a deeper malaise. My country is no different and certainly no better.

Democratic principles were founded by people with a passion and desire for freedom and the guts to fight for what they believed in. By and large we have been put to sleep and walk around like zombies in our own ignorance and indifference. If anything were needed to demonstrate that all you need do is point to the politicians we elect time after time.

[gwbushapos]

Telcontar1962:

What's your plan?

[Telcontar1962]

No plan. I see no promise in humankind. We're an evolutionary dead-end.

As a race we're technologically gifted with all the wisdom and morals of a demented serial-killer.

Lets face it after 10,000 years the best systems we've come up with are capitalism, which is nothing more than a self-serving rapacious pyramid game, and democracy which is no better than any other dictatorial form of government. The future holds either global annihilation or cosmic conquest.

Its bleak.

[gwbushapos]

Telcontar1962:

You have me worry now!

Are you saying humankind may only live another 10,000 years or is the outlook so bleak humankind may only live another 9,000 years?

[brouhajoe]

I love how Sen. Sessions tries to apply ex post facto to the fact that water boarding was used before the court reiterated it's illegality under current law. Using his logic, I could murder someone, and then have the supreme court rule as to whether or not murder is illegal according to our existing laws against it, and say I'm innocent because I committed murder before they made that decision. Ex post facto applies to new laws, not the interpretation of existing ones.

[sjcpony]

I'll bet the families of the soldiers, captured and tortured by Al Quaeda, wish their sons/daughters had just been waterboarded, and lived to tell about it. Instead, their loved ones were tortured, dragged behind trucks, beheaded, dismembered, and burned beyond recognition. Waterboarding is "inhumane"? Liberals are so clueless, frighteningly so. Be a different story if their loved one had to die like a captured soldier. To have to think of the manner of death while you try to sleep. Very sad.

[kalvinphil]

If we didnt torture....Others would be less likely to do so to our people. Waterboarding is used to get people to talk...it has been proven NOT to work. We wouldnt have POWs if we didnt go into this war of LIES too. What if their country did to us what we have done to them....TOTAL DESTRUCTION? I would torture them too.

[franknyt]

yeah!!! why should we better than them?!!? I mean come on!!! If we were invaded by a powerful country by MISTAKE and had been occupied for an undetermined amount of time I would be like you-know cool with that. Hell I'd give them a coke and a smile -- bah bah bah bah

[askquestionslater]

The only people who are clueless are the ones who don't stop to think the whole point of being better than the enemy is to NOT act like them. Our military should not use tactics for investigation any different than our law enforcement use on our own streets.

A criminal is a criminal. Murder is murder. Just because one wears a turbon does not justify torture.

[JohnNoZ35]

So, as long as we don't do worse than the terrorists, we are on solid moral/ethical footing? Since they behead their prisoners, we can rape our prisoners?

That makes no sense.

By torturing, you are giving away any moral authority the US has.

[Bolgernow]

When we become our enemy, it becomes hard to tell us apart. According to you, "If my neighbors are cheating on their taxes to get ahead, then so should I". Character, honor, and unity don't come cheap my friend. Especially when fighting an enemy who shares few.

We are better than that. We're America. In loosing the moral high ground, we now have become worse.

[iamjackscolin]

What a scumbag. Only a few times?