Torture Is Fun For All Ages

The incomparable Digby has some very sharp readers. One commenter leads us to an outstanding "enhanced interrogation"... from 1638.

AF

What I Want To Know Immediamente

Former CIA interrogator John Kiriakou has been all over the tube this week talking about waterboarding. What struck me was his ambivalence towards torture. To summarize his position: "torture was necessary but it now I think it was wrong." Fuck that shit. Either it's wrong or not Johnny. No grey area here.

Kiriakou attempts to rationalize torture as the end justifies the means. He specifically cites the waterboard interrogation of Abu Zubaydah claiming it:

probably disrupted "dozens" of planned al-Qaida attacks

Probably disrupted? If that is in fact the case, tell us exactly which attacks were "disrupted". There is no possible security issue here (other than securing protection for the Bush Administration against prosecution). It's no secret that Abu Zubaydah has been in US custody since 2002. He can no longer offer any timely actionable intelligence. The despicable "harsh interrogation" techniques employ by the United States are a matter of public record. I can think of no reason why our government will not divulge exactly how torture prevented even one attack.

Like the torture videos, any proof that information gleaned through torture "disrupted al-Qaida attacks" would, for many Americans, justify Bush & Co.'s otherwise unjustifiable actions. No specifics are forthcoming. We are expected to take their word for it.

I for one am not comfortable with that.


AF

Separated At Birth?

I couldn't resist.

Ex-CIA Interrogator John Kiriakou (L) & Comedian Mo Rocca (R).

AF

"If That Is True..."

The Bush bullshit is flying so fast and furiously that sometimes our vision is at least partially obscured. Dig too deeply in search of the truth and you miss the big lie at the surface. This is purely intentional. Still, I'm really pissed at myself for missing the latest Bush Inc. whopper.

Former Congressman Tim Roemer (D), House Intelligence Committee & 911 Commission alumnus, was on Olbermann last night. He eviscerates the Bush Administration/CIA excuse for destroying the torture videos :

Right now the CIA is saying that they destroyed these tapes because it would've provided some information about Agents that should be classified and sources and methods if that is true then they should destroy almost everything at Langley. That is really not something that we buy.

More later.

AF

CIA Torture Team Leader Hired For "Kite Runner" Kids' Flight

Last week the finale to my epic Saudi Law: Can't Punish Female Victims Too Harshly... series noted that Paramount Pictures whisked The Kite Runner's young actors out of Afghanistan.

The three boys and their families feared reprisals in response to the film's "culturally inflammatory" homosexual rape scene. A crew of 2o including a former CIA counterterrorism expert worked for months to pull this off. We now know the CIA agent's name.

The brilliant Majikthise has exclusive deets:

A retired CIA agent who lead the team that waterboarded terror suspect Abu Zubaydah went on to work as a security consultant for the film adaptation of The Kite Runner (2007).

Lobbyists for Viacom helped the producers of the film retain retired CIA agent and "countererrorism expert", John Kiriakou, according an Oct 4 article in the International Herald Tribune--before Kirkakou went public about his career as a torturer.

Paramount Pictures is wholly owned by Viacom.

More on Kirkakou later.

AF

When Caution Becomes Cowardice

From town politics to the national stage, I've watched the Democrats' overabundance of caution turn to cowardice. People too worried about what other people will think to do what's right. People too afraid to lose their stature to speak out. Fuck putting your town, state or country first lest it put an end to the gravy train. The Democratic Party as a whole is in need of an emergency testicular implant.

I won't rehash theories on what and when Sen. Rockefeller and Rep. Harman knew about the destroyed torture tapes. Nor will I prattle on about House Speaker Pelosi's apparent knowledge of waterboarding dating to 2002. Smarter people than I have said plenty already.

Obviously the CIA torture videos were tossed to protect the torturers and others from prosecution. In the current discussion, two far greater motivations are being overlooked:

1. If torture were effective, the video wouldn't have been destroyed. Hundreds of hours of "interrogations" were recorded. I can't think of anything more valuable to torture proponents than visual evidence bolstering their case. Instead, the video showed torture for what it is: sick, useless and profoundly un-American.
2. Another less obvious reason the tapes had to be tossed: The administration couldn't allow the specific questions to become public. What the torturers asked their prisoners would reveal way too much about the mindsets of Cheney and Bush. It would also put their attitudes on a time line. Both were not only actively urging torture but also provided specific lines of questioning.

Taken in this light, I'm surprised the CIA kept the tapes as long as they did.

On torture, impeachment, ending the Iraq war and too many other issues, the Democratic leadership has served us little else but bitter disappointment. Among past and present members of House and Senate Intelligence Committees, key Democrats were privy to some info about some aspect of the disgraceful torture debacle. They did nothing. They said nothing.

Yes, it is illegal to reveal classified information. Leaks put Dems at risk of being labeled "traitor" and worse. C'mon! What ever happened to the distinctly American notion that we should do what's right, honest and humane and damn the consequences? The never ending so-called "War on Terror" is not a blanket excuse to throw away those principles we hold so dear. Like bin Laden at Tora Bora, once we let go of our honor it's not easily recaptured.

In direct contrast, unnamed CIA analysts recently risked all: jail, their reputations and their careers. Threatening to go public if the Iran NIE did not reflect a nuclear program halted in 2002, these patriots forced the Bush administration to squelch their Iran war drums. This took muchos huevos grandes. They may still face retaliation with some Republicans pressing for an investigation. Unlike Senators and Congresspeople, a CIA analyst fired under such circumstances has few options upon returning to the private sector. It's not as if Blackwater or any other defense contractor will hire him.

The world is officially topsy-turvy. CIA analysts have more courage to stand up to the Bush Administration than Sen. Rockefeller (D), Rep. Harmon (D) and Rep. Pelosi (D). By keeping illegal Bush policies and decisions confidential, our Democratic leadership gives tacit approval to many of this Administration's actions. Their continued reluctance to come clean is troubling and misguided.

Beyond the moral arguments for full disclosure, why give Bush & co. any more power than they already have? The Dem's silence gives the impression specific confidential knowledge is being wielded as political blackmail. Nothing cuts a blackmailer at the knees like going public. Sadly, that would require an abundance of courage where courage is lacking.

Moreover, Capitol Hill Democrats still labor under the mistaken impression that the Bush Administration will occasionally obey the law. Dems think that keeping square with the Official Secrets Act also offers protection from the political damage that would result if their complicity were known. Stupid, stupid Dems. Republicans can't even follow the rules about not following the rules. This Administration has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to leak any info that may prove politically expedient. A new CIA leak puts Pelosi at a 2002 waterboarding briefing. Did Bush order the leak to embarrass the Speaker? John Aravosis sure thinks so.

Speaker Pelosi followed the letter of the law and got screwed. Had she leaked the Administration's torture policy back in 2002, Pelosi could have been trebly screwed. If the leak had been traced back to her, she may not have won reelection. Leaker Pelosi certainly would never been named Speaker of the House. But perhaps Bush and Cheney's shameful torture orgy could have been nipped in the bud.

That would have been courageous.

AF