Obama’s False Attack Today
By SusanUnPC on March 8, 2008 at 5:54 PM in Barack Obama, Flag officers, Hillary Clinton, Torture
Words, just words: “We need a Commander in Chief who has never wavered on whether or not it is acceptable for America to torture, because it is never acceptable. While I have consistently opposed torture, in the course of this primary campaign Hillary Clinton has flip-flopped from her past position of tolerating torture. I believe that we must reject torture without equivocation because it does not make us safe, it results in unreliable intelligence, it puts our troops at risk, and it contradicts core American values. When I am President, the American people and the world will be able to trust that I will outlaw torture, because unlike Senator Clinton I have never made an exception for torture and I never will.” (From Barack Obama’s statement on Bush’s veto today, via The Page, March 8, 2008)
Oh really? Not when a major rightwing blog is attacking Hillary for her “pro-Islamist sop” (more on that attack below). And take a look at how Hillary Clinton handled this trick question from Tim Russert in September 2007:
Oh really? Check out what Barack Obama had to say about Donald Rumsfeld, a chief instigator of the Bush administration’s policy on torture:
Then there are Sen. Clinton’s many statements on torture, as well as the endorsement by Gen. Antonio Taguba based on Hillary’s repudiation of torture — and Gen. Taguba’s endorsement was but one of 30 flag officers backing Hillary Clinton, including General Henry Hugh Shelton (two-term Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).
Ask Gen. Taguba what HE thinks of Donald Rumsfeld. As I wrote recently:
Gen. Taguba endorsed Sen. Clinton because of her “unequivocal opposition to the use of torture under any circumstances” [NoQuarter story].) Let Sy Hersh tell the story of how Gen. Taguba told the the truth in the report he was assigned to write about Abu Ghraib and, for that, was ridiculed by then Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. Gen. Taguba’s career was “shunted,” says Hersh, and he was “forced out” of the military.
Here is Gen. Taguba’s full statement on his endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
Here are Hillary Clinton’s statements on June 27, 2007 in a speech regarding national security at the Center for a New American Security:
“Toward a New American Security” is exactly the right title for this forum. We are in a moment of profound change and challenge that requires new thinking and a new direction. As Americans we bear much responsibility for the global economic, technological, and democratic revolution we are experiencing.
[...]
It is dangerous for us to be caught up in debates about wiretapping schemes and it is dangerous for the administration to refuse to disavow torture.
We are in a long term struggle in which our values must be more than rhetoric. But we are weakened by Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and by this administration’s policies on detainees and torture.I voted against the Military Commissions Act because I believe we have to stand for the rule of law before the world, especially when we are under threat. Democrats and Republicans alike believe that terrorists have to be caught, captured, sentenced, punished, killed. I believe there should be no mercy for those who perpetrated 9-11 and other crimes against humanity. But in the process of accomplishing what is essential for our security we must hold onto our values and set an example we can point to with pride and not shame.
The bill allowed the admission into evidence of statements derived from cruel, inhumane, and degrading interrogations. Will our enemies be less likely to surrender? Will informants be less likely to come forward? Will our soldiers be more likely face torture themselves if captured? Will the information we obtain be less reliable? As Lieutenant [General] John F. Kimmons, the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence has said, “No good intelligence is going to come from abusive interrogation practices.” Allowing coercive treatment and torturous actions toward prisoners violates the rule of law, fails in intelligence gathering, and promotes radicalization.
Al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden’s second-in-command, the architect of many of the attacks on our country, throughout Europe and the world has said over and over again if we would only pay attention – it is on their websites – that torture helps the cause of extremism, watering the seeds of jihad. I’ve called for the closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay because it represents in the eyes of the world abuse, secrecy, and contempt for the rule of law. Rather than keeping us more secure, Guantanamo is harming our national security. It compromises our long-term military and strategic interests and impairs our standing overseas. …
You know that Hillary Clinton has to be right on torture when the rightwing blogs — like Captain’s Quarters — are attacking her stand against torture with this:
Why would Wahhabists be putting chips on Hillary Clinton and her unofficial running mate? Running down their wish list, you’ll find that Hillary checks off on just about everything — from promising to pull out of Iraq and the Middle East to creating a Palestinian state to closing down Gitmo. She also wants to stop interrogations and surveillance of jihadist suspects.
All this is spelled out in her foreign policy manifesto published in the latest Foreign Affairs magazine. Among other pro-Islamist sop, she argues that:
• “Getting out of Iraq will enable us to play a constructive role in a renewed Middle East peace process that would mean security and normal relations for Israel and the Palestinians . . . (and) a Palestinian state.”
• “I will replace our military force with an intensive diplomatic initiative in the region.”
• “We cannot support torture and the indefinite detention of individuals we have declared to be beyond the law.” …
“Pro-Islamist sop.” What better affirmation do we need that she’s got it right on torture? Then there’s this, and she speaks in the Senate chambers last year on the history of this nation’s opposition to torture, including the policy of George Washington:
So, what about Obama’s lame attack on Hillary today? It’s words, just words:
, the basis for the Best Motion Picture Nominee (Golden Globes) starring Brad Pitt.
, the novel by John Le Carre, a new motion picture starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth.
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