i find it stunning that the ex-vice-president is on teevee defending torture

[spanone]

accepted world wide as a crime.

Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is:
“ any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a male or female person for such purposes as obtaining from him, or a third person, information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to, lawful sanctions.<1>
”
In addition to state-sponsored torture, individuals or groups may be motivated to inflict torture on others for similar reasons to those of a state; however, the motive for torture can also be for the sadistic gratification of the torturer, as was the case in the Moors Murders.
Torture is often sponsored by governments. In addition, individuals or groups may inflict torture on others for the same reasons as those acting in an official capacity. Torture is prohibited under international law and the domestic laws of most countries. Amnesty International estimates that at least 81 world governments currently practice torture, some openly.<2>

Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of effecting political re-education. In the 21st century, torture is widely considered to be a violation of human rights, and is declared to be unacceptable by Article 5 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Signatories of the Third Geneva Convention and Fourth Geneva Convention officially agree not to torture protected persons (POWs and enemy civilians) in armed conflicts. Torture is also prohibited by the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which has been ratified by 145 states.

National and international legal prohibitions on torture derive from a philosophical consensus that torture and ill-treatment are immoral, as well as being impractical.<3> These international conventions and philosophical propositions notwithstanding, many organizations (e.g. Amnesty International) that monitor abuses of human rights report a widespread use of torture condoned by states in many regions of the world.<4>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture

[eShirl]

1. I say let him have all the rope he wants. n/t

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, it's like a Mel Brooks movie.

And this clown practically ran the country for 8 years. That explains a lot.
:popcorn::popcorn:

[spanone]

3. he's defending CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

mindboggling

[EFerrari]

4. If Cheney is hitting the rounds, there must be something

in the works.

[spanone]

5. he's doing the pre-emptive strikes imo....he knows what shit lies behing the lies

[EFerrari]

10. This man has never done an unself-interested thing in his life.

He's sending a message to whoever is going to go forward. Maybe that message is a threat, maybe not. But, it's a good sign that he's out there.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Why is it stunning? Of course the Devil would defend torture.

[ourbluenation]

7. I think it's stunning in and of itself, taking the particular characters out of it. n/t

[Gman]

8. This is a man that stands to go to prison for the rest of his natural life

Are you still surprised?

[spanone]

9. yes, i am

[MADem]

11. He's trying to "change the conversation" is all.

He wants to shift the discussion from the blizzard of paper that's falling out of DC that was created by the administration where he was Henchman in Chief, to a "Watch what you say, watch what you do" theme.

It's not working though. No one is a-skeered of him anymore.

We've seen the man behind the curtain. The Great And Powerful Wizard of Oz is just a wheezing blowhard of a guy who has too many beers at lunch and who shoots his best buddy in the face.

[spanone]

12. and a guy who promotes war crimes....and defends them....and in some way seems proud of them

[MADem]

13. It's all against a backdrop of "Be VERY Afraid!!" Problem is, we're not afraid. It must

be frustrating for the little shithead.

[spanone]

14. he must pray at night for another attack 'on our soil'

[MADem]

19. It's more likely the next "soil" issue he sees will be in his adult diaper, the baastid. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

15. The Dick Cheney Rolling Torture Tour

with Sean "I'm a Great American" Hannity as emcee and lead-in act - very appropriately, I might ad.

[TankLV]

16. Well - the GOOD is that HE IS ON RECORD ADMITTING TO TORTURE!!!!

and PROUD of it!!!

Slam dunk conviction comming...

next up - "STOP PICKING ON AN OLD MAN! - CHENEY IS TOO OLD TO BE EXECUTED FOR HIS WAR CRIMES!!!"

more on FUX this morning...

[Puzzler]

17. I noticed that Hannity lobbed softball questions at Cheney...

... that was unexpected, eh?

[L. Coyote]

18. Those of us waiting for "Change" will know it when we see these thiongs no longer happen.

Cheney is saying FU to the whole country and planet, just like they did upon starting their "Enterprise"!

[Supersedeas]

20. and the Yellow Corp Media seems to accept the pro-Torture position as a legitimate position in the

'debate'

Hell, the Corp Media barely has anyone to offer opposition to the pro-Torture agenda.

What's become of our country and the national media??

What will become the new legitimate right wing topic du jour for the Yellow GOP Establishment Media??

Is spying on the Democratic opposition a legitimate use of executive power??
Was the holocaust real after all??
Did Native America's inhabit North America prior to British settlement??
Does 2+2=4....might it also equal 5??

[spanone]

21. where are the chuches when it comes to human rights abuses??? where are the 'moral' leaders?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

22. Now THAT is an excellent question!

I would love to hear the major players (the Rick Warrens, the Pat Robertsons, etc) clearly an unequivocably state where they stand on this "issue".

[spanone]

23. where's the catholic church? where's the baptist church?

truth is, there are no moral leaders imo

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. Again, absolutely spot on. nt.

[Supersedeas]

26. apparently morality takes a backseat to political cheerleading

[spanone]

28. apparently....

:cry:

[Supersedeas]

29. so much for the Heritage Foundation & their ilk raving about the dangers of moral relativism

the ethics of waterboarding depends on the political situation at the time of the act or so the Bush cheerleaders will tell it.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

32. A fantastic observation! nt

[Bluerthanblue]

25. actually, I find it strangely encouraging- he's SCARED- mr. hidey hole

is out trying to muster support-

I hope he fails 'big-time'.

[spanone]

27. i understand what you are saying, but the fact that a man sworn to uphold the constitution

in a country that SHOULD be the moral leader in all things, is on television demanding that the 'good news' about his torture program be released is, well, stunning.

i repeat .....his TORTURE PROGRAM....this is illegal, not only in this country, but in the entire world.

[Bluerthanblue]

33. I get

ya- I'm afraid my cynical perspective of cheney colored the reality of how disconcerting his behaviour is.

We should be appalled. What bothers me even more though, now that Cheney is out of power, are those in this country who continue to rally behind him.

:hi:

[Mr. Ected]

30. This Is A Pre-Emptive Strike (Bushco LOVED Pre-Emptive Strikes)

Try to mold the minds of the public in advance of the shit hitting the fan. Sad thing is, a lot of people will buy into it.

[spanone]

31. faux 'news' is really an affront to anything resembling our country/constitution

it is anything but 'fair & balanced'

it is more like 'sick & twisted'

a 'network' that promotes one political party should be singled out and branded as a political action committee and not a 'news' outlet

[Peregrine Took]

34. When has a previous president or vp ever knocked the new administration

publicly? I think that is shocking and its not getting any attention at all. I think its unprecedented.