Hearing lies

Bad apple theory continuing in full swing


What Commander-in-Chief override?

I'm watching the Gonzales hearings with jaw-dropped amazement.

Do you approve of torture?
"Absolutely not."

Geneva Convention?
"When it applies..."

Do you condemn the techniques shown in the photos?
Yes. We will prosecute... [just the bad apples, apparently]

Later... Gonzales says that the president has ordered that the US will not use torture, does not condone torture, did not in the past order torture. But, he would not answer a question about the president's right to override laws and treaties against torture.

And when it is torture? Only when it causes extreme pain organ failure or death (as the supposedly repudiated Bybee memo? Repudiated? Senator Kennedy says harsh treatment continues to this day.

Kennedy has been best so far at bringing up the actual acts that happened in the field following the memos Gonzales produced. These are what really belie the rotten apple theory -- the widespread use of the "techniques" across many US Terror War facilities in many different contexts.

Later the "the ticking bomb" of supposedly "high-value" detainees was addressed. My question: Did "waterboarding" and other torture techniques help in obtaining any accurate, important information?

Update: Were just protecting the country from "unlawful combatants".

The Animals! Let's turn their countries into our battlefields to avenge 911, scoop up anyone there we feel like, and torture them! That oughta protect us...

Oy.