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[Updated/Video of Larry] Larry Johnson on ABC World News Tonight re Bush’s Veto of Waterboarding Ban

By SusanUnPC on March 8, 2008 at 2:58 PM in Hillary Clinton, Homeland Security, Intelligence, John McCain, Larry Johnson, Torture

(Thank you, C.S., for the fast video work!)

Earlier: Larry Johnson will be on ABC World News tonight to discuss Bush’s veto today of the legislation that bans waterboarding. Tune in, or check for video here.

UDPATE, via MakeThemAccountable.com, from ThinkProgress “MSNBC Host Falsely Claims McCain Opposes Bush On Torture Bill Veto“:

On MSNBC this morning, anchor Monica Novotny claimed that President Bush’s impending veto of the Intelligence Authorization Bill would put “a chill” in his alliance with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Bush is vetoing the bill because of an amendment that puts the CIA’s interrogation program under the standards of Army Field Manual, which Novotny claims McCain supports.

“He doesn’t like a provision that’s been pushed by, you guessed it, Sen. McCain,” claimed Novotny. Watch it: [VIDEO]

The problem is that Novotny has her facts dead wrong.

Though McCain has criticized the use of torturous interrogation techniques in the past, he voted against the bill that Bush is set to veto tomorrow: …

Here’s the news story, via Fox News, “Bush Vetoes Legislation Barring Waterboarding, Says It Preserves Tool in War on Terrorism,” along with Larry’s writings here on torture, and more:

President George W. Bush said Saturday he vetoed legislation that would ban the CIA from using harsh interrogation methods such as waterboarding to break suspected terrorists because it would end practices that have prevented attacks. …

Larry Johnson has written much here at NoQuarter on torture, waterboarding, and the Bush administration. Among those stories is “Urgent: Letter from Intelligence, Military, Diplomatic, and Law Enforcement Professionals.”

A group of distinguished intelligence and military officers, diplomats, and law enforcement professionals delivered an urgent message this morning to the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, calling on them to hold the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey until he takes a clear position on the legality of waterboarding.

Their message strongly endorses the view of former judge advocates general that waterboarding “is inhumane, is torture, is illegal.” The intelligence veterans added it is also a notoriously unreliable way to acquire accurate information.

They noted that the factors cited by the president and Mukasey as obstacles to his giving an opinion on waterboarding can be easily solved by briefing Mukasey on waterboarding and on C.I.A. interrogation methods.

The intelligence veterans noted that during their careers they frequently had to walk a thin line between morality and expediency, all the while doing their best to abide by the values the majority of Americans have held in common over the years. …

Look at the list of professionals who signed this letter.

ALSO OF NOTE — From “Foreign Policy: Will This Get Fair Play? [UPDATED x2]“:

“General Taguba Endorses Hillary Today” — Ret. Army Major General Antonio Taguba “is among 27 flag-rank military officers and more than 2000 veterans who have endorsed Senator Clinton to be our nation’s next Commander-in-Chief.” As you know, he “led the Army’s investigation into prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib in 2004.” In General Taguba’s endorsement, he stated:

“Senator Clinton’s unequivocal opposition to the use of torture under any circumstances, and her willingness to take a stand for what she believes in is exactly the sort of courage and moral strength that we need in our leaders. I know that, as President, Senator Clinton will hold America to the high moral standards that have made us a leader among nations.” READ MORE.

  • Andy

    At what times ?

    • susanunpc

      Check your local listings. It differs from city to city depending on when the local affiliate airs the national news show. On my Seattle station, it’s on here at 6:00 p.m. PST.

      • Andy

        Thanks Susan !

  • Kathleen

    Thanks!

  • Patrick Henry

    Thanks Susan..

    Looking forward to hearing Larrys comments..

  • TeakWoodKite

    318 days and counting down. It is “international woman’s day” according to my GW quote calender.

    I am looking forwards to the questions as well.
    Thanks for speaking on this travesty, Mr Johnson.

    • Andy

      Indeed it is: Congratulations and Cheers to all Women !!

      Form: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

      INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – 8 MARCH 2008
      15,000 women marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. 100 years on, the pertinence of this event is honored through IWD’s 2008 global theme ‘Shaping Progress’.

      A special toast in honor to our next President: Hillary Rodham Clinton :-)

    • Simon

      Thanks for speaking on this travesty, Mr Johnson.

      Those who support torture are kooks, or cowards at heart.

      And it scares them when men like Larry, and others, like the generals, speak up against torture.

      Men who aren’t afraid to fight back, men who can do a little physical damage, men who are, gasp, capable of beating them UP, our big torture bears are fearful wimps, bottom line. Rumsfeld, is to me, a second away from Alzhiemer’s, and those morons follow his advice? Hey, spot the senile guy! You guys can’t, and you think you can run a country?

      Kinda nice it scares a guy like Cheney to know a guy like Larry Johnson would oppose him over torture, and not back down.

      The pro torture crowd are SUCH cowards, such scaredy little things.

      And they’re fighting against a possible war crimes trial, too. By maintaining the status quo, they can push back, in their heads undermining the morale of their enemies (sane Americans) as they defend against a criminal charge, ie, “we will admit we did nothing wrong.” If they had hired competent good lawyers, as opposed to John Yoo, and David Addington, they wouldn’t be looking at these problems, now, would they, and they would understand WHY torture is prohibited in the Constitution, emphasising the preservation of democracy, and allowing a control structure by which the American army can operate. Chaotic heads torture, and chaotic heads don’t win wars. Look at the mess we have, and then look at who advocates torture – the losers.

      Too bad, and glad they are not my legal problems.

      Poor Orville and Wilbur crashed.

      Cheney’s trying to use the issue as a psy ops, muddying the waters, obfuscation.

      I don’t even pay attention. What you do at gitmo, the saudis would do to you, Dick.

      Tick tock…

      • Mike Howell

        Simon –

        I’m not so sure that the torture support of some isn’t akin to that for the support of the telecom immunity act.

        It’s basically a way to ensure profits for the no-bid contract vendors servicing Bush & Co’s business ventures in that outfits like Blackwater won’t have to concern themselves with costly litigation re: torture victims.

        At least with the telecom act, I can envision situations wherein the discovery process actually provides a greater opportunity for the mishandling of private information.

        I think the answer there is for serious penalties on a go forward basis regarding the future release of any private information whether collected in the past or present.

        Any person who supports the use of torture or the suspension of writs of habeas corpus should not be allowed to hold public office in a democracy. It’s despicable.

        Lincoln was wrong on that – very wrong.

  • IndyRobin
    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      But Jonathan Alter said a few weeks ago that all of her donors had already given the maximum. Robin, do you really think there’s anyone left to give her money?

      • IndyRobin

        LOL

        Even if its five bucks ADD .44 to SHOW SUPPORT;
        yes indeedy, HRC will be the 44th POTUS

        • Kathy

          Done. $50.44. There are a lot of us out here. Another $35,000,000 by the end of March.

  • Mr.Murder

    Well of course terrorism is growing, when you go invading the wrong country and use torture, you inspire resistance.

    What part of K Street was Mikey walking down in the stock footage, Larry?(j/k)

    The tactical actions of implementing torture are a strategic mistake.

  • Samantha

    First: Larry’s photo on this site does not do him justice. That video’s a keeper.

    Second: Larry’s a ROCKSTAR!

    Third: I’ve seen that guy opposing Larry’s views by promoting torture on other shows. He’s always Mr. Be Afraid Be Very Afraid. But he is never able to explain how the hell torture gains you anything.

    You can’t rely on the info. you get and abusing humans only serves to make monsters out of people.

    It’s nonsensical.

  • Jess Wonderin

    GO LARRY! Give’m TRUTH! So sad that we in America are debating the use of torture after years of “moral high road”, Nuremberg, the Japanese Trials, and a professed belief that we are a “Christan” nation . . . didn’t Torquemada prove that anyone will confess to ANYTHING if given the right “stimulus”???

    So McCain, a man who should be OUTRAGED at the thought of torturing POWs, votes against OUTLAWING it and supports illegal invasion of privacy! The GOP has quite a “candidate” representing American Values.

    As we approach Easter, just maybe we ought to think about another brown Middle Eastern trouble maker that was tortured and killed by a failed government about 2,000 years ago . . .

    (As anyone else noticed the “New” Hufpo has become over run with KOS/Freeper refugees and the “moderators” have definitely left the building . . . haven’t seen my posts since Bush told a truth . . ;)

  • http://www.notofthebody.blogspot.com Hype-Jersey

    Wow – Larry looked GREAT up there! Very authoratative.

  • Alien

    Larry -you just got on TV here in my country. International star.

  • Kathleen

    Larry thank you for your integrity and your commitment to following Internatinal agreements. Your honorable stance gives me a bit of hope in my country.

    Sure is disspointing to hear Micheal Scheuer talk like this. I often read what he has to say. But his stance on torture is discouraging.

    As larry has said in the past it is more than likely that those who have done the torturing are not CIA personel. Who are they is the question? Why are Bush and Mukasey protecting them? Who are the CIA attorneys who gave permission for these “enhanced” torture techniques to be used?

    Buah, Cheney, Addington etc. know if the firewall comes down on this they could/would/should be tried as war criminals.

    Really liked when Senator Whitehouse brought up the Nuremberg trials during some hearings with Mukasey.

    It’s really tough to have any faith in my government when one branch selects a President, that administration commits more crimes than any administration before, our congress does not hold them accountable, and our Justice system protects them.

    Scary; times!

    Where is Monica when you need her? We know what a Republican controlled congress considered important. Investigating a President and holding him accountable for lying under oath about a blowjob. Forget holding anyone accoutable for an INTELLIGENCE SNOWJOB that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, injuries and millions of refugees. Holding this administration accountable is the very least our justice (with a small j) system and our congress (small c) need to do for those who have lost their lives and had their lives ruined by an unnecessary and immoral war.

  • http://www.despair.com/idiocy.html Smilin’ Jim

    Larry Johnson: The men in black look works.

    Now how the on earth did ABC manage to juxtapose an ops guy and a desk jocky in sham equivalence?…….Because Vox Populus knows that the American people are dumber than retarded dog drool.

    This is my desk.
    There are many like it, but this one is MINE.
    My desk is my best friend. It is my life.
    I must master it as I must master my life.
    My desk without me is useless. Without my desk, I am useless……………………..

    • Mike Howell

      Smilin’ Jim –

      Perfect! From the looks of the desk jocky he sits a little too close to the vending machines. Maybe he should put some time in at the range or go hunting…