This Week: McCain Is Scathing In Torture Report, But Not So Much On Camera
By Nicole Belle Monday Dec 15, 2008 9:00am
Oh, it's so nice to see some of the straight-talkin', ready-to-lead, he-gets-it-because-he-was-a-POW stylings of former presidential candidate John McCain, isn't it? The strongest assessment and responsibility assigned for the Torture Presidency was co-authored by Our Man McCain, dismissing completely the White House alibi that Abu Ghraib atrocities were committed by a few "bad apples".
The abuse of detainees in U.S. custody cannot simply be attributed to the actions of ‘a few bad apples’ acting on their own. The fact is that senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorized their use against detainees.[..]
The administration’s policies concerning [torture] and the resulting controversies damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemies, and compromised our moral authority.
You read that right. John McCain and Carl Levin said in no uncertain terms that the policy to torture prisoners was conceived in the highest offices of the administration and have hurt this country both in intelligence gathering, but also more critically, national security.
But hold those public servants accountable? Hey now, that's asking too much of ol' Johnnie.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Some look at that and say, because of that, there should be a special prosecutor looking into all the crimes that were committed, and no one should be exempted from that.
MCCAIN: Well, look, that's not my job. If overwhelming evidence indicates that, that's fine. But the point is, I thought, and Senator Levin did, that we should carry out our responsibilities in the Senate Armed Services Committee and do a thorough and complete investigation. I'm not that interested in looking back. What I am interested in and committed to is making sure we don't do it again.
"It's not my job"?!?!?!?! Who the hell's job is it, then? C'mon, McCain. You KNOW they've broken the law. You KNOW they've hurt our national security. You KNOW that our reputation on the world stage is horribly damaged. But you're not interested in "looking back"? How about being interested in doing your damn job, Senator, and exercise some oversight? History isn't going to look poorly on the presidency alone, you cowardly putz, if you REPORTED torture and did nothing about it.
Transcripts below the fold
STEPHANOPOULOS: You and the president-elect also Guantanamo, closing down Guantanamo.
MCCAIN: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And you signed on to a very harsh report, out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this week, on the torture of detainees across the military prison system. And you said this wasn't just the work of a few bad apples. In fact, you laid direct responsibility of Secretary of Defense -- former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Listen to this: "Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's authorization of aggressive interrogation techniques for use at Guantanamo Bay was a direct cause of detainee abuse there. It conveyed the message that physical pressures and degradation were appropriate treatment for detainees in U.S. military custody. What followed was an erosion in standards dictating that detainees be treated humanely." His spokesman called these allegations "unfounded." How do you respond to that, first of all?
And, number two, how should the Secretary of Defense be held accountable for this?
MCCAIN: I don't know. I think history, obviously, will render very harsh judgment about this whole detainee treatment situation, whether additional action is called for. I think, as a member of the -- ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, that we've done our job.
Let me just tell you a brief story. Not that long ago, a year and a half ago, Senator Lindsey Graham and I were in Iraq. We were in the prison. The general, our U.S. general in charge of prison had us in a secluded area and met a former high-ranking member of Al Qaida, one of the toughest guys I've ever seen. I said, how did you succeed so well after the initial American victory?
He said, "Two things" -- he said, "One" -- he said, "there was no control by your troops. It was total lawlessness. There was rape, looting, pillage, murder, settling of old scores. So there was
lawlessness. Second, the greatest recruiting tool we had -- we were able to recruit thousands of young men," he said, "was Abu Ghraib." So you can't underestimate the damage that our treatment of prisoners, both at Abu Ghraib and other...
STEPHANOPOULOS: But some look at that and say...
MCCAIN: ... harmed our national security interests.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Some look at that and say, because of that, there should be a special prosecutor looking into all the crimes that were committed, and no one should be exempted from that.
MCCAIN: Well, look, that's not my job. If overwhelming evidence indicates that, that's fine. But the point is, I thought, and Senator Levin did, that we should carry out our responsibilities
in the Senate Armed Services Committee and do a thorough and complete investigation. I'm not that interested in looking back. What I am interested in and committed to is making sure we don't do it again.
We're in this long twilight struggle here, and so America's prestige and image, as we all know, was damaged by these stories of mistreatment. And we've got to make sure the world knows that that's not the United States of America that they knew and appreciated for centuries.
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Arlen is always aware of right and wrong, and appropriately outraged at injustice...right up to the moment before he casts a vote.
like so many addicts, John addicted-to-power McCain cheerfully admits the problem, then stops entirely on his trip up the stairs. Sure, I'm an alcoholic. No, I'm not doing anything about it!
You know what's worse than eating an apple and finding a worm?
Finding half a worm.
.
Imagine a time when torture was a crime...
.
And protests didn't rhyme.
and we ate our chicken with thyme . . .
...and drank tequila with lime.
while we watched a mime
Slip on a dime...
and fall into the grime
This waffling, spineless sack of horse shit is just what he is.....maverick shit. Talk about "flip flop" coward....that about sums him up.
I am so disgusted with our "checks and balances" sitting quietly and being complicit in these crimes. First pelosi in her refusal to hear about impeachment, when at no time in history has this country had stronger cause for impeachment...and then the powers of the Senate who sit by spineless and afraid to do their damn jobs.
Vote them all out and start over again. Our founding fathers would be so ashamed of this trash we have in Washington DC today. Totally ashamed.
If this McCain had emerged throughout the election cycle...
If this McCain had selected a VP worthy of consideration (even the loathsome Lieberman)...
If this McCain had hit the campaign trail...
If this McCain had played to the center with his McMavrickiness and managed to talk about an issue or two with even one real solution...
If...if...if...
We may not have had a President-Elect Obama.
So Levin and McCain coauthor a report on illegal activities, documenting overt and systematic abuse and torture, draw many conclusions and offer zero recommendations nor forward the report to the DoD or DoJ for action.
Other than a book end on some dusty library shelves, why bother? Granted it could lead some foreign judge or prosecutor, using so much toilet paper as a template, and investigate and indict for war crimes. Of course the US doesn't allow extradition of the priveleged class, so other than restricting overseas travel of our own beloved law breakers and Congressional enablers, BFD.
..has gone the way of the dodo bird.
why should anyone listen to him?
Not only is he "not responsible" for doing anything about Bush's felonious torture now, but he caved after Bush essentially gave the finger to his torture bill that became law.
As a politician and a man, he's about as potent as a wet noodle.
and mccain's cave was more than just a cave, imo. his lack of action in ensuring that the cia ceases all torture and renditions in effect was a tacit approval on the use of torture.
he talked a big talk, and in the end he was as spineless as all the other congresspeeps that support torture--openly and covertly.
I thought Obama had shut the "Straight bullshit express" up once and for all? Why is it so hard for this old sap to just say that torture is immoral and ineffective?
you seem to not be following the msm's playbook on this. if you flip to page 12, paragraph 2, 3rd sentence you will see, written in black and white, and i quote:
"all members of the media are to report that the 'ole mac' is back, and to cheer mccain's return to the sunday morning talk show circuit. the mccain of old is back, all is forgiven and--in case you forgot--he is a decent, mavericky senator."
you just can't follow the script can you? gahd
who left out the Liberal Agenda for the Republicans to see? Page 2, paragraph 5, subsection ii(a) clearly states: keep the Liberal Agenda on your person at all times.
After spending upwards of thirty years building an effective media propaganda network, it is of the utmost importance to continue to nourish the media conglomerates with exclusive insight into the importance of the Republican ideology. To with:
- Lavish the media at all times for espousing conservative talking points
- When they go off-script, shout Liberal Media
- If that doesn't work, scream LIBERAL MEDIA!
- Remember that money talks
The Old Coot would knock his 98 year old mother to the ground if she was blocking a TV camera and a microphone.
Talk about vain glory!
This is a prime example of a man (?) putting party over country. McCain knows that should the truth come out, it is the REPUBLICAN party that will be mortally damaged as it is the REPUBLICAN party (not Americans) who made the decision that it was morally right to torture, and then implemented policies that encouraged it.
In earlier times, had a democrat done that, it would have been not only an impeachable offense, the offender would have been charged, tried, convicted and jailed. THESE, SADLY, ARE NOT THOSE TIMES!
"What I am interested in and committed to is making sure we don't do it again."
Um, John? Lemme esplain to you how societies prevent people from doing bad things.
They pass laws that say what things are bad, and stating that people who do bad things will be punished for their actions. Then, they prosecute and punish people who do the bad things.
Did I use small enough words for you?
since these CRIMES called torture are ALREADY illegal, they don't even have to go to the trouble to undertake the first part, just hold accountable and punish the people that break the laws. THAT is how you prevent it from happening again the future.
There are a few historians and theorists that posit that had Ford NOT pardoned Nixon in the 70's (under the influence of, you guessed it, Messrs. Rumsfeld and Cheney), and Nixon held to account for his unchecked presidential abuse of power - we would not have suffered the unchecked Presidential crimes of this presidency - again influenced by Rumsfeld/Cheney and their minions - many of whom will remain in bureaucracy long after the executive has departed.
Will we make the same mistake again and again and again?
McCain? Has been. Let's move on and get a REAL prosectuor - perhaps Russ Feingold? - on the job.
And, of course, the fact that Congress just looks the other way is certain to make future leaders less likely to repeat these criminal acts.
god bless mccain for standing up for what he feels is right..
a true american patriot...
he clearly defines what the old U.S.A is all about...
we should all be proud...
So St. McCain is an independent maverick up until it's time to stand behind what he says? He can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk? Unfortunately, he has more in common with Dems than he probably thinks.
The elder Senator must be drinkin' the same Kool Aid that Nancy Pelosi did. Everybody gets a "Get out of Jail, FREE!" card in W's administration, YEA! Isn't that special?
There never going to indict anyone and its almost stupid to think otherwise. Maybe someone should make a Citizen's Arrest -OR- maybe we need a resolution to be voted on next November as to whether W and his cronies need to be held accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors, or maybe...
wait, isn't that oversight and isn't that what the house and senate are supposed to do? I may be confused about Constitutional responsibilities; after all, I've lived in the USA for only the last 57 years or so and the past eight have been real muddy!
Looks like somebody is still hoping some Carlyle Group stock will come through...
Senator Johnny, MO ONE IS "that interested in looking back"!!! All we want to do is look forward to the trial, conviction and sentencing of the guilty dirtbags!!!
That is not my department... If you want to speak to a real Hero, pick up that phone over there and press "O" for an operator that can assist you. To repeat this message press "9".
i lost interest/respect for mccain during the campaign. unfortunately (but i do understand) he will be a connection to the republicans in the senate for the democrats. mccain got ahold of that NEOCON kool-aid
and lost his way.
the White House alibi that Abu Ghraib atrocities were committed by a few "bad apples".
bush, rumsfeld, chany = a few "bad apples".
"I'm not that interested in looking back." of course not, none of the political thuggies are. they know that 'looking back' will expose the lot of them to justice, in the form of war crimes trials.
"What I am interested in and committed to is making sure we don't do it again." no you're not. you are so not committed. if you were you wouldn't give the CIA a pass to do to torture-tainees what was done to you. You caved like mammoth.
"We're in this long twilight struggle here, and so America's prestige and image, as we all know, was damaged by these stories of mistreatment." that i partially agree with. but it wasn't "damaged". it was FURTHER damaged, let's not pretend that this was the moment where america's image was initially trashed.
"And we've got to make sure the world knows that that's not the United States of America that they knew and appreciated for centuries." bwahahahahahaahaaa... no, what this is, is for the first time in a long time americans are getting an actual impression of how many, many countries and people across the globe view american imperialism. So many Americans pat themselves on the back for being so loved around the globe—having no idea what is being done in their names—and then express shock when terrorism strikes. Ugh.
He is a coward.
Cowardly putz! Damn, that's funny! Although this probably has more to do with Bushy loyalty than with cowardice.
why would John McCain be "loyal" to Bush? Bush ruined him in the South Carolina campaign back in the days when Rove's minions convinced voters that McCain had "an illegitimate Black child" and his time as a POW had left him mentally unstable. Furthermore, Bush essentially told him "up yours" when McCain's anti-torture bill became law.
McCain must be a masochist. He seems to have a tendency to be loyal to people who have more power and authority than he does and treat him like shit. This tendency really makes me wonder what kind of relationship he had with his guards at the Hanoi Hilton.
McCain's MCA of 2006 was written after all the news was pointing a finger at Bush Administration and his CIA Secret Torture prisons.
To aid in the Cover Up of Bush's Criminal activity McCain wrote in the Act provisions to make Bush and Company Retroactive Immunity from prosecution, and gave Bush as President the Authority to arbitrarily Define torture as needed by said CIA.
The Legislation faced failure until Bush met with Republican Senators behind Closed doors to beg them for it's passage.
The Military Commissions Act of 2006 is nothing less than a Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice through legislation.
All the while McCain kept his mouth shut while Troops were being arrested, jailed, and Tried for following Bush Administration Directives through the CIA. These troops were refused, by military courts, use of any evidence that might have tied Rumdumb or Bush administration to their action.
"Support the Troops" is just another Rallying LIE McCain and his Co-conspirators used to further their War Efforts.
What is our role, as citizens, in this sorry mess? Did I see you protesting outside the White House when the prisoners were tortured? Was anybody there at the protest marches? Did ANYBODY do a damned thing? Yes.You.did. You wrote posts on blogs condemning everybody else for being a cowardly shit, but YOU did nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
not sure if you can hear me up there on your gilded soapbox, but just because people blog doesn't necessarily mean they aren't active in countering the bush regime in other ways too.
in fact, YOU are blogging. so, using your "logic", that means you are do nothing, and have done nothing.
Were you there to not see protesters? Just because you didn't see them on the MSM does not mean they weren't there. I was at one in DC, and I know there have been a multitude of protesters across the country - most of which did not make headlines.
Which ones were you at where you did not see anyone else?
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Try to understand and be respectful towards people, especially things your not sure of. I can understand your frustration and we all make mistakes. Best wishes.
remember, your party got its ass kicked in the last election...you are the ranking minority member
that means that the dems will call for hearings and either you will attempt to stonewall or you will join in those hearings
either way, people are going to prison
Republicans will protect their own no matter what. Right now soldiers are in jail for following orders that Rummy gave. Like most Law Maker John McCain knew what was going on and played his part. Now that it has become international news and proof he will let Rummy hang on his own. Now look forward to terrorist using the Bush Torture Policy and there is nothing the US can do about it. We can also thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she got her backroom kick back money and announced the Imepeachment is off the table we should just pray for President Bush. Thousands of dead soldiers I don't think are praying for the man who got them killed for his greed of Iraq oil. I often wondered what Pelosi would have done if one of those soldiers were her son or daughter? At lease Sarah Palin son had a choice as the Judge say to him either go to jail or join the Military for his sentence in his criminal case.
When the last two Democrats lost the presidential election (Gore and Kerry) they were relegated by the mainstream media to the dustbin of obsolescence and ridicule even though neither of them lost by as big a margin as McSame so why are they networks even bringing him on at this point? Isn't he as big a so-called loser as the last two candidates? Why is he even considered relevant anymore? Can anyone say double-standard?
> ...and compromised our moral authority.
What bullshit. This Christanic terrorist regime's "moral authority" was handed to the terrorists by their Christian gods. If the Bush regime had not beed a bunch of Christanic extremists, they would never have invaded Iraq, raped, tortured, and slaughtered over one million innocent people people who worship the "wrong" gods.
The complaint about "moral authority{" is ironic given the history of the Christanic death cult.
No I do not want to look back, ALL MY Firends will go to prision,even ME! Look, my friends, its over, "WE" got away with it, let go, why bring up the past. Onyl I can bring up the past when I wanted to be the President. Now that "I" lost, lets go forward. and ITS NOT MY JOB!!!
That a boy, Mr.Wishy Washy! You're not American enough to want to nail these bastards for defying the constitution... They are defying the constitution IN A BIG WAY!
You're not an American Senator with a duty to protect. You're not for COUNTRY FIRST! You've done your job? What is your job, really? You're no good at your job. As a POW it was your "job" to ESCAPE...You didn't do that either. In fact, you're on video signing a surrender. Hell, did you sign that when Jane Fonda was there? I seem to remember something funny about all of that.
So, can you do your job as an American? Or, are you not an American?
Man-up McCain! Quit being the whimp. Do something GOOD for America. Quit working for the devil's (Ronald 666 Wilson Reagan) republicans. Help us GOOD republicans bring these crooks to justice.
That a boy, Mr.Wishy Washy! You're not American enough to want to nail these bastards for defying the constitution... They are defying the constitution IN A BIG WAY!
You're not an American Senator with a duty to protect. You're not for COUNTRY FIRST! You've done your job? What is your job, really? You're no good at your job. As a POW it was your "job" to ESCAPE...You didn't do that either. In fact, you're on video signing a surrender. Hell, did you sign that when Jane Fonda was there? I seem to remember something funny about all of that.
So, can you do your job as an American? Or, are you not an American?
Man-up McCain! Quit being the whimp. Do something GOOD for America. Quit working for the devil's (Ronald 666 Wilson Reagan) republicans. Help us GOOD republicans bring these crooks to justice.
Pretty much what we expected from this putz.
Those who believed he would have been Bush's 3rd term have been proved right.
"My friends, I was against torture before I was for it, and I am for torture after I'm against it, so I voted for it before I was against it."
Right. The old "before-9/11/2001-and-the-Bush-Administration,-the-world-appreciated-the-US-as-the-greatest-force-for-good-in-history" gambit invoked by virtually everyone appearing in the US MSM. It's the same gambit invoked and propagated by EVERY empire in world history to justify doing what empires do. This one also involves the "Oh, why can't we escape our present ugly, objective reality by returning to a past state of imagined perfection that never, in fact, existed" gambit.
Like any other empire, the US empire has had, in fact, a long history of practicing torture. For example, ask the Filipino people how much they appreciated the US continuing the Spanish practice of water boarding here:
"The Water Cure: Debating torture and counterinsurgency—- a century ago" by Paul Kramer (The New Yorker, Feb. 25, 2008)
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