by Peter Joseph Swanson
Member since:
April 13, 2007

U.S. does not torture (says Bush)

October 05, 2007 04:19 PM EDT
views: 84 | rating: 9.9/10 (18 votes) | comments: 34

Bush defended his administration's methods of detaining and questioning terrorism suspects on Friday, saying they are both successful and lawful.

"When we find somebody who may have information regarding a potential attack on America, you bet we're going to detain them, and you bet we're going to question them," he said during a hastily called appearance in the Oval Office. "The American people expect us to find out information, actionable intelligence so we can help protect them. That's our job."

He also said that the techniques used by the United States "have been fully disclosed to appropriate members of the United States Congress" — an indirect slap at the torrent of criticism that has flowed from the Democratic-controlled Congress since the memos' disclosure. 

Dems disagree that there is sufficient clarity on the matter, and are demanding to see memos.   They promise a congressional inquiry.

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Comments: 34

Vivian P. Oct 5, 2007, 4:20pm EDT
interesting
Stacey "Yeah, I Said It" H. Oct 5, 2007, 4:26pm EDT
I agree, George, then we'll have to hear about how the inteligence was "flawed". It worked before, why not try it again?
Of course we don't torture anyone. Sometimes the people who ask the questions are a bit brusque.
Chris O. Oct 5, 2007, 4:33pm EDT
And there are no gays in Iran.
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 4:34pm EDT
Interrogation and torture are two different things. Did we torture? DO we?

They say torture doesn't work but then some say you should use it in emergencies. That makes no sense if it doesn't work.

(The "smoking gun as a mushroom cloud" saying has already been abused too much, already)
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 4:39pm EDT
Yay America

Just believe your President. Again and again.

(ha ha)
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 4:40pm EDT
It's been scientifically proven that torture doesn't work (even in emergencies). But I guess some just like it anyway. It makes them feel good to do it.
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 4:41pm EDT
I think that the feeling that you should torture starts in grade school.
David Evans Oct 5, 2007, 4:47pm EDT
Bush also has no credibility whatsoever at this point...
Shari F. Oct 5, 2007, 4:48pm EDT
I want to see these "not torture" methods demonstrated on President Bush and then let him tell us how they are "not torture".
Mel B. Oct 5, 2007, 5:02pm EDT
There goes more of our tax payers dollars that will amount to absolutely nothing but a waste of time.
Clifford H Colpitts Jr Oct 5, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
I have been personally been tortured by agents of the Bush administration when I was recently incarcerated in a maximum federal-state-county prison on Long Island, N.Y. for two violations after complaining about an phony fire report that I suspected was arson and perhaps a murder attempt on my wife. In fact I am fairly sure also that had I asked for a copy of lets say a Hindu scripture, or perhaps event the Koran, I might never have left that prison alive....Now President Bush, why don't you through the press tell my I lying and you not...As for the government murdering prisoners for their polecat and religious beliefs...still doing the research....
Clifford H Colpitts Jr Oct 5, 2007, 5:05pm EDT
I can write much better but the Yankee-Indian game is about to come on. And Damn those Yankees tonight. Indians all the way...
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 5:08pm EDT
Just because I don't like beheadings I should like us to torture? One should allow the other?

huh?

(I LOVE The Legend of Sleep Hollow)
C'mon, folks. Would the government have come up with the term "enhanced interrogation techniques" if we weren't torturing people? Behind every buzz phrase lies something that will make you gag.
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 5:09pm EDT
READ MY NOVELS

(shameless post here - but I realized I wouldn't get deleted for it, it's my own article!)
David Evans Oct 5, 2007, 5:14pm EDT
Bush has zero credibility in anything he says... neither has his management of the government or his policies inspired anything that might be called competence...
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 5:21pm EDT
BOY do I agree with David Evans!!!

Why wouldn't the Dems want to ask questions about all this. Not only is it their job but Bush has proved to be somebody you do NOT trust when he opens his mouth.
David Evans Oct 5, 2007, 5:26pm EDT
I was in GTMO in August of 2003 and February of 2004. Both times I heard of harsh treatment... In 2003, I heard from an off-duty soldier (while getting "checked out" for using their small boats from the MWR marina) of both harsh treatments and "torture tactics" ... the fellow had somewhat of a gleeful tone, which in itself was somewhat disturbing... "torture" has come itself under dissection as to what is and what isn't ... taking it out of the realm of what is just "known" to be torture... I certainly understand the emotion, sentiment, and supposed "logic" ... but the big picture has been lost...
And it all just becomes a sick tangled mess...
Bush is a pathetic spineless sniveler...
David Evans Oct 5, 2007, 5:34pm EDT
Here is a 'shameless plug' ...
"Guantanamo"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976951788
and
"Excerpt - Bending Light: Impressions from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976812578

[by the way... I support your right to plug your book Peter]
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 5:34pm EDT
AND a smirker!
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 5:35pm EDT
ha ha plug my book! ha ha!
David Evans Oct 5, 2007, 5:50pm EDT
Bush the idiot has done more damage to this country than the Terrorists ever could have directly.... Isn't that the point of a "terror' strategy...??? "Terror" is the thing WE have... It is ourselves that 'cause the continued damage' ... Bush's actions have caused the most damage to this nation in over a century...

Glad the right to plug has been settled ... ;)
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 6:05pm EDT
That was tacky, huh?

(READ MY BOOKS!)

(you MUST love me!)
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 5, 2007, 6:06pm EDT
Bush has just played into the terrorists' hands and done just want they want him to do - get stuck in their quicksand -

er - I mean "quagmire"
Karl Leuba Oct 5, 2007, 6:11pm EDT
Mike You are one very very sick man. hie thee to a monastery. torture is A not Effective, B illegal immoral and causes PTSD in both victim and victimizer. C any coercive strategy for forcing information from an unwilling subject.

STILL THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT IS I COULD BE SUSPECTED OF KNOWING SOMETHING THAT A TORTURER WOULD WANT TO KNOW....I DON'T....BUT TWO SECONDS AFTER HE GETS OUT THE BOARD AND THE SPONGE I AM SURE AS HELL GOING TO TELL HIM SOMETHING, EVEN IF I HAVE TO ACCUSE HIS MOTHER OF BEING THE NUMBER ONE TRAINER OF SUICIDE BOMBERS IN EAST ORANGE NEW JERSEY.
Ron B. Oct 5, 2007, 8:02pm EDT
Just another subject the Decider wasn't able to witness firsthand, and his knowledge is strictly vicarious. W stands for wannabe. Never seen such an aggressive deserter in my life.
Elizabeth E. Oct 5, 2007, 9:12pm EDT
Dems...Repubs...looks like they cannot agree? Interrogation procedures....what do you think other countries would do to our soldier's? Are we that righteous?
Joe T. Oct 5, 2007, 9:16pm EDT
The reason that torture by the US is wrong is that we have treaties concerning this. When we don't follow the international agreements set down, we are thumbing our collective noses at the rest of the world. Perhaps, Americans have reached a point whereby thumbing our noses at the world is what we want to do. I tend to think not.
gibbs williams Oct 5, 2007, 10:14pm EDT
Boy what a relief. I am so glad President Bush has cleared up the matter once and for all. It is good to know he would never authorize America to use torture. Now I can rest easy and not have to worry about who to vote for in the next election. Might as well vote Republican to keep the continuity clear. It is so refreshing that P)resident Bush has converted to transparency and given up his obession with secrecy and deceit replacing it with a policy of justice for all. And to think I was really getting worried there for a while.
Nancy O. Oct 6, 2007, 7:57pm EDT
I can't understand why America was up in arms over a stain on a blue dress but no one really seems to be making much out of these MAJOR humanitarian issues that are criminal. Where is the outrage now ???
James B. Oct 7, 2007, 7:03am EDT
Sometimes after a long day of interrorgating some torture helps to take the edge off.
donna h. Oct 8, 2007, 7:47pm EDT
interesting article

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