Mukasey disavows torture memo

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey said Wednesday the president doesn't have the authority to use torture techniques against terrorism suspects, a stance not taken by predecessor Alberto Gonzales and considered key to the nominee's confirmation.

Mukasey repudiated a 2002 memo by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee that said the president has the power to issue orders that violate the Geneva Conventions as well as international and U.S. laws prohibiting torture. The memo was later disavowed and overridden by an executive order governing interrogation and treatment of terrorism suspects, which allowed harsh questioning of suspects but included a vaguely worded ban on cruel and inhuman treatment.

"The Bybee memo, to paraphrase a French diplomat, was worse than a sin, it was a mistake. It was unnecessary," Mukasey told the Senate Judiciary Committee under questioning by Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Leahy said that he and other senators did not vote for Gonzales in large part because he refused to disavow the Bybee memo.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-17-mukasey-hearings_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

[LakeSamish706]

1. The problem is that this guy will say whatever Congress wants to hear...

in order to get confirmed and then will turn at the drop of a pin to boot licking just like Alberto Gonzales did.

[Atman]

2. Say anything.

Oh, yeah. I believe him. He was told in advance that he wouldn't be confirmed if he didn't "disavow" the memo, so he "disavows" it now. Big effing deal. The torture will continue, but the memo has been "disavowed." I'm sure the guys being waterboarded and electrode-balled will be very relieved to hear this.

And so it goes, another Bush crony lies to get a job.

.

[redqueen]

3. So? He'll say whatever he has to...

What was it that Mukasey was involved with? There's enough dirt to sink him. Lets see if he gets the nod anyway.

[VP505]

5. He will,

Schumer has been cheer leading for his nomination, LIEberputz supports him, this hearing is just a formality. Mukasey, so he says, torture = not OK, but rounding up Muslims = is OK.

[cstanleytech]

4. I don't see exactly where

he said "The Bybee memo, to paraphrase a French diplomat, was worse than a sin, it was a mistake. It was unnecessary" , was it on the video portion or did they update the article and delete it?
Anyway if that was all he said about then it could have other meanings including that it was a mistake because it left a paper trail and that the use of torture is ok just be more careful to not leave a paper trail again.

[RamboLiberal]

7. I just checked the linked article at 01:30PM and it's still there

I imagine since it is a building story what is on USA Today story may be edited.

[cstanleytech]

8. Yeah now I see it

Maybe my isp just had not updated their cache or something *shrug* who knows.

[Doctor_J]

6. * wouldn't nominate an honest person to this post

The fact that he nominated Mukasey means Mukasey is a partisan hack who will do anything requested by the HW. He will choose Bush over the Constitution every time.

[gratuitous]

9. Okay, torture isn't okay

That puts him in step with about 95% of the American people. Big whoop.

What I want to know is whether he'll run the Justice Department as an independent cabinet office or as the president's personal lawyer. That is, will he answer subpoenas, investigate wrongdoing by the Executive, and enforce the laws that Congress has passed?

[Lance_Boyle]

10. but that's not what he's saying!

He's saying that the Bybee memo, which said "hey, torture's OK" was *unnecessary* - not wrong. Nobody needed to put out a memo saying torture's OK - "we already knew that the pResident had the authority to do that stuff... why put it in an incriminating memo?"

This guy is as slimy as Gonzo dipped in mucus.

Hrmmmm... Mucus... Mukasey... I wonder... :tinfoilhat:

[gratuitous]

11. You're right

He disavowed the memo, not necessarily the use of torture. And considering the verbal hair-splitting this corrupt administration loves so much, it's important to read very carefully what's said and even more important to look at what isn't said. Every word, every nuance, every hidden meaning has be tracked down and beaten to death with these fuckers.