In a commentary on Friday’s Opinion pages, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, took The Eagle editorial board to task for criticizing his opposition to the McCain amendment banning torture. He argued that spelling out approved interrogation techniques in advance tips off terrorists and gives them an advantage.
While the advantage to terrorists is open to debate, it’s beyond question that our soldiers and intelligence agents in the field need and deserve clearer interrogation guidelines; indeed, the vague, mixed signals on interrogations coming out of the Pentagon and White House have contributed to documented abuses at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere, inflicted severe damage to America’s image, and unfairly placed soldiers at legal risk.
Clear anti-torture guidelines don’t just protect our nation’s values — they protect and support our troops.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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27 Comments
WOW, Randy. That’s a stretch even by the Eagle’s loose standards. Putting blame on the Pentagon & Whitehouse for what some 3rd shift soldiers did. Maybe we should blame Lou for all the Jason Blair types. You guys can’t have your cake & eat it too. Had we been attacked again, which we have not due the President’s leadership, you would be filling these pages with more Bush blame. By the way thanks for putting this stuff on-line; there’s no way I’d pay to read this rubbish!
When you are in change of course you are to blame. That is a no brainer, Rumsfield and Cheney both approved and defended the tactics used. Then of course once the real facts broke they both said it was no their fault.
Congressman Taihrt in his letter played the old U.S./ Soviet car race ploy. Reporting in the U.S.: “The American car came in first, the Soviet car came in last!” Reporting in the Soviet union: The Soviet car came in second while the American car came in next to last”.”
Otherwise to support his shameful vote he pointed out the very few who supported his vote. While failing to mention that by a large majority those who stood up for the real American values.
Yes there are laws in place that state clearly we do not approve torture. But it is apperent that it needed to be stressed again. And that perhaps the law book be used to hit Bush&Co. upside the head to wake them to that fact. I just find it sad that as smart as Mccain is, he did not address exactly what has been happening. By not addressing that it will continue.
Congressman Todd T. Hart is clueless. He proves once again he is nothing but a rubber stamp for the current administration. He obviously believes we will have to become just like the terrorists to beat them.Every time he opens his mouth, he makes me embarassed to be from Kansas.
Apparently, Marty didn’t hear about the “torture memos.”
In his response Tiahrt said:
“Having been to Iraq and Cuba, I can testify to the high level of treatment afforded to the detainees in U.S. custody. From religious accommodations to culturally sensitive meals, detainees are well-treated. Our troops are faithfully fulfilling and exceeding all domestic and international laws and obligations, including those of the Geneva Conventions.”
Tiahrt misses a lot no matter where he goes. Being intelligent has never been his strong point. But the most idiotic statement he made concerns the Geneva Convention. Was he asleep when our president said the Geneva Convention didn’t apply to these “illegal combatants?”
For more on his comments see: http://tiahrtfolly.blogspot.com/
If you really care about our troops, you don’t send them to war zone based on lies.
When they come home, you don’t hide the pictures of the caskets.
And you don’t make the wounded pay for their own treatment using local charities.
That’s what you don’t do if you really care about the troops.
The administrations justifications of torture are just further evidence of a pattern of no regard for the American fighting man.
He’s just a poorly paid government worker, after all . . .
Simple question to all. If CIA agents had 9/11 culprets in custody prior to the attack, knew an attack had been planned but did not know when, when, or how; would support torture in order to save the lives of those lost on that tragic day? Be honest; what if your spouse, your child, your mom or dad, could be saved by the tactics our government has used for years? What then?
Sorry, I meant where, when, or how.
I’m puzzled by Cong Tiahrt’s assertion that he doesn’t want to tip off U.S. intteligence interrogation techniques to alleged terrorists. I mean, if someone says they aren’t going to answer your questions, or will just give their name, rank and serial number, then that should be that. Then bring them before a grand jury with the evidence at hand, or let them go. But if you force them to answer in any way–to get them to tell you want you want to hear–that is torture plain and simple. It is no different from that used by police here when they keep a suspect under a barrage of questions until they “break.” Using loud music, throwing water on them, keeping them awake until they cave in, threatening them or their family, raping or other sexual abuse as in Iraq, keeping them secreted away until they “talk” as in the secret CIA jails–these are all torture techniques. To what interrogation techniques are Cong Tiahrt referring that can possibly not be considered torture?
Marty–Your hypothetical is a good example of what’s called “begging the question” or using the conclusion to be determined to determing that conclusion.
For instance, if one asked the question, “did Bush lie us into war in Iraq?” one couldn’t answer that question “because he said he didn’t lie us into Iraq.” To do so would be assuming that Bush doesn’t lie, which is exactly what needs to be proved.
Your hypothetical assumes that we KNOW that people in custody are terrorists before they commit a terrorist act. In other words, it “begs the question” of whether they are guilty or not.
How can you know that they conspired to commit a terrorist act but not no who is involved, where or when that act is going to take place?
That doesn’t seem likely, does it? So that means you’ll torture somebody who MIGHT have some information MAYBE.
Well, hell, Martin, let’s torture YOU. Maybe you have some information that will help us save lives . . .
Randy conveniently leaves out that Rep. Sam Johnson, 7 years, Hanoi Hilton also voted against this measure. Guess Rep. Johnson’s vote was shameful, too. Or would that be Randy’s editorials?
That’s what I like about Galabad. He always knows just the argument that will impress me and win me over to his way of thinking. Why can’t others be more like him? I’m considering letting him do all my thinking for me.
Steve,
You ought to work on changing the one-note song you’ve been singing lately. It is getting old.
But, Merry Christmas, and good luck with your song writing.
Steven, I think Galahad has the right idea. As long as we respond to gender-challenged “Steve”, he’ll keep on with his inane drivel. Just ignore him and eventually, he’ll get tired of acting like a fool. The upside is, a fool like Steve makes the rest of us look pretty good, lol.
I agree. Gelahad has, in my view, a fine plan for dealing with “Steve.”
Galahad you forgot to mention one other point about caring about our soldiers.If we cared about our soldiers we would buy their body armor for them.
Tiahrt does what he always does. bows down before king bush without using the brain he was given.
Sum 1,I know you meant well, but you must not jump to conclusions by assuming Tiahrt has a developed brain.It’s an honest mistake.Happy holidays.
Steve–
Oh, hell never mind.
You’re apparently a masochist who enjoys getting insulted, albeit by people with a rapier-sharp wit.
So, I’m not playing our little game anymore, Steve.
Go play with yourself . . . but I suspect you’re doing that a lot or that already.
brown,you’re correct.. I should be careful making assumptions like that.
I agree with Galahad, there is no situation that would call for the torture of any detainee, it’s what separates us from countries like North Korea, Russia, China, and countless others. If America is going to be held up to the rest of the world as the shining example of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, there is no other way it can be.Bush has done everything in his power to destroy that image of America.
Of course, if my Mom was in harms way I’d want you to break all his fingers. And kill all his family members too.
Just reading about Mom being hurt, I instantly became a republican…for life. See, just like all the idiots that voted for bush, I’m scared of the unknown too. But, I overcame that feeling of being scared into not being able to think for myself.
So, I wonder…wtf does bush have in store for our country?
He’s pissed off almost all our allies. He’s shown the U.S. to be not any better than that little pissant we overthrew in iraq. We have secret jails all over the world where we torture people we have kidnapped off the streets in other countries. The war in iraq has reduced our forces to the point not many people are scared of us anymore.
The election in iraq went as well as our election here. The opposing parties closed voting sites early. Huge amounts of votes weren’t counted. Yeah, we’re spreading democracy throughout iraq.
But, the bad part is the thousands of American kids who were killed and maimed…cause bush didn’t have the correct info…but woulda gone anyway.
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