Bush's Glib Waterboarding Admission Sparks Outrage

[Stuart G]

Huffington Post..
Dan Froomkin 6/3/10

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/03/bushs-glib-waterboarding_n_599893.html

George W. Bush's casual acknowledgment Wednesday that he had Khalid Sheikh Mohammed waterboarded -- and would do it again -- has horrified some former military and intelligence officials who argue that the former president doesn't seem to understand the gravity of what he is admitting.

Waterboarding, a form of controlled drowning, is "unequivocably torture", said retired Brigadier General David R. Irvine, a former strategic intelligence officer who taught prisoner of war interrogation and military law for 18 years.

"As a nation, we have historically prosecuted it as such, going back to the time of the Spanish-American War," Irvine said. "Moreover, it cannot be demonstrated that any use of waterboarding by U.S. personnel in recent years has saved a single American life."

Irvine told the Huffington Post that Bush doesn't appreciate how much harm his countenancing of torture has done to his country.

"Yeah, we waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," Bush told a Grand Rapids audience Wednesday, of the self-professed 9/11 mastermind. "I'd do it again to save lives."

But, Irvine said: "When he decided to do it the first time, he launched the nation down a disastrous road, and we will continue to pay dearly for the damage his decision has caused.

"We are seen by the rest of the world as having abandoned our commitment to international law. We have forfeited enormous amounts of moral leadership as the world's sole remaining superpower. And it puts American troops in greater danger -- and unnecessary danger."

James P. Cullen, a retired brigadier general in the United States Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps, told HuffPost that the net effect of Bush's remarks -- and former Vice President Cheney's before him -- is "to establish a precedent where it will be permissible to our enemies to use waterboarding on our servicemen in future wars.
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Last 3 paragraphs speak so much about how George Bush really "cares about the troops"...:sarcasm:

[aquart]

1. Do we have it on tape? Is it admissable evidence?

Prosecute him. I'm begging you.

[grasswire]

10. it was not taped, according to Olbermann

But plenty of witnesses!

[tabatha]

2. Trust Bush to act recklessly again.

That is his other middle name - reckless.
I hope it gets him in hot water.
Possibly "Pop" will chew him out.

[rocktivity]

3. Better it should spark an investigation.

:shrug:
rocktivity

[Stuart G]

4. I did think of one thing that could cause Bush some pain on this:

He has let this comment out, so glib and arrogant.

Ok, but he will probably be going on a "book tour" to hype his book. On TV some hosts may bring this cute remark up again, and he will have to defend what is indefensible, again, and again.

He will be coached, of course. But, he will slip up again.
Perhaps in return for going on a particular TV show, he will have to allow honest questions for once.
Probably not, but he is due some real pain, like he inflicted on thousands and thousands of families here and in Iraq.

[young_at_heart]

5. A reminder of some of Bush's "qualities"

Here are some known character traits of a psychopath:

• Uses defense mechanism of projection
• Blames others for own faults/mistakes
• Impervious to anxiety
• Subject to bouts of depression
• Not remorseful
• Willful lack of insight
• No self humor
• Doesn’t appreciate being the butt of jokes
• Uses neologisms
• Lack of probity
• Doesn’t tolerate societal obligations
• Never learns from mistakes
• Thinks in terms of black and white. No nuances

[salguine]

6. I would give anything to see Bush waterboarded. And that

motherfucker Cheney, while we're at it. But instead of water, with wet concrete. No—crude oil first, THEN the wet concrete.

[katandmoon]

7. Bush/Cheney can admit to any war crimes, and Obama's DOJ will twiddle its thumbs.

[Jefferson23]

8. Bush was so quiet for so long after he left the WH, I was convinced

he was advised to do so by his attorneys. I do hope The Hague is paying attention, I know the Democrats in power, for the most part, don't give
a damn.

[indepat]

9. And all the Jesus-lovers who love junior and his wars of aggression and torture et al are probably

breaking out to sing a hallelujah chorus praising Jesus and junior in the same breath. :P

[Enthusiast]

16. Yes, after all

the waterboarded were Muslims.

[libodem]

11. Seems to be part opf the justification

for the use of waterboarding is that we do it to our own soldiers to prepare them. So they better be well prepared. BTW I think the excuse is pure bullshit.

[classysassy]

12. Hello congress are you listening?

you wanted facts,well there they are from the criminal himself,well what are you spineless critters going to do?

[Stuart G]

14. This arrogant statement will cost George Bush plenty..

..First, it will become a central point of his book tour..He will need a really good answer to questions about this, because on some TV shows, they ask real questions..
(maybe he will not go on those TV shows where the question will be raised and he needs to answer..)

..Second, somewhere in this world, they will go after him for this arrogant, "get me, fuck you" statement. Pat Lehey might open up hearings, (might) and international hearings could be, will be.. held. This type attitude doesn't sit well with many honest, fair minded people in this world.

..Third..while it is a longshot.. Obama did say he would go after those who " broke the law" Torture is breaking the law. And Obama knows it. He said that those who followed orders would be left out, but the order givers would be "held responsible".......And Obama knows that Bush has admitted to breaking the law, and sticking up his third finger to those who would enforce it....I am hoping that some sort of justice dept investigation will take place after the election.. It will be ugly and disgusting, but Bush asked for it....________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

and......Bush will never apologize for this..He is so arrogant that he cannot and will not see that he is wrong. He is like all bullies, and sociopaths, unaware that he has done anything wrong. It was a mistake on his part, to openly admit this, mainly cause it will cost him huge amounts of time defending this over and over. If he is charged, he will have to ignore the charges, or defend. "Defend" costs lots of time and money... He can ignore, but it will not go away. The defense against waterboarding does not exist. He was the order giver, and he is responsible.. If he ignores, he will become a recluse...But someone may make him testify..
We will see.

And the Republican party is going to have to defend him....that should be cute..

[The Second Stone]

13. The did it intentionally to damage global respect for

international law. The tighty righties make money selling arms, which means selling war, which means whipping up unfounded fears.

[Enthusiast]

15. What do we expect from a

dunce like Bush? I mean really. His daddy took care of him during a time of danger by getting him a stint in the Texas Air National Guard. How many more deserving did they pass over to move W Bush ahead in the line? And the PTB made sure he was selected to take the office of POTUS. This country is fucked.