John McCain to Bush apologists: Stop lying about Bin Laden and torture

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/john-mccain-to-bush-apologists-stop-lying-about-bin-laden-and-torture/2011/03/03/AF10AnzG_blog.html

John McCain to Bush apologists: Stop lying about Bin Laden and torture
By Greg Sargent


This is getting really good. As noted below, John McCain in an Op ed this morning skewered the claim that the killing of Bin Laden vindicates torture. But just now, on the Senate floor, he uncorked a new broadside that is quite remarkable, taking direct aim at Bush apologists who are reviving this debate in order to claim Bin Laden’s death as part of the Bush legacy.

snip//

...

“In fact, not only did the use of ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed not provide us with key leads on bin Laden’s courier, Abu Ahmed; it actually produced false and misleading information. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed specifically told his interrogators that Abu Ahmed had moved to Peshawar, got married, and ceased his role as an Al-Qaeda facilitator — which was not true, as we now know. All we learned about Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti through the use of waterboarding and other ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ against Khalid Sheik Mohammed was the confirmation of the already known fact that the courier existed and used an alias.

“I have sought further information from the staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and they confirm for me that, in fact, the best intelligence gained from a CIA detainee — information describing Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti’s real role in Al-Qaeda and his true relationship to Osama bin Laden — was obtained through standard, non-coercive means, not through any ‘enhanced interrogation technique.’

“In short, it was not torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees that got us the major leads that ultimately enabled our intelligence community to find Osama bin Laden. I hope former Attorney General Mukasey will correct his misstatement. It’s important that he do so because we are again engaged in this important debate, with much at stake for America’s security and reputation. Each side should make its own case, but do so without making up its own facts.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/john-mccain-to-bush-apologists-stop-lying-about-bin-laden-and-torture/2011/03/03/AF10AnzG_blog.html

Video of McCain @ link~

[NewJeffCT]

1. kudos to McCain for speaking out about this

Now, will the media give him any airtime on this? The guy has been a featured guest of the Sunday talk show circuit for years now. I hope those appearances don't suddenly stop for him.

[rfranklin]

2. That McCain is a secret mooslim...probably wasn't even born in the USA!

wait, that's right, he wasn't! That proves it--torture works!

[sharp_stick]

3. John McCain

is one man that I would seriously listen to on the use and usefulness of torture. He's probably the only person in Congress that has any real link to the use and usefulness of torture.

[CakeGrrl]

7. Exactly - who better to condemn the use of torture? n/t

[yourout]

4. Wow......I agree mith McCain. How the hell did that happen?

To me this is real simple......what would we do to anyone who waterboarded one of our troops or civilians? Would we be furious as hell?

I thought so.

[Hutzpa]

5. This just keeps getting better

Obama the Zen Master does it again.

[sharp_stick]

6. This should put to rest the idiotic notion

that the torture of prisoners can provide useful information. It's been pretty well known for centuries that torture is only useful as a mechanism to control a population, it's effectiveness at providing information is pathetic.

I'd still like to see shrub and his entire DOJ in the fucking Hague for this but that'll never happen.

[EC]

8. So now the old McCain is back?

Now that he sees the teaparty has lost its mojo, he's back to the against torture McCain?

[Wait Wut]

16. He won his seat.

He won't run again. He's free to be himself for what time he has left. Really kinda sad, if it hadn't been for the fact that he damn near screwed our country just so he could stay in politics. The fact that he had to go all batshit just to stay in office is pretty screwed up. BUT...the alternative (Hayworth) was sooooooooo much worse. Not sure our Dem could've beat Hayworth, either, so we dodged a bullet.

Glad to have the "real" McCain back. He's one of the saner nuts we have in Arizona.

[Azathoth]

9. McCain is the quintessential Republican: willing to stand up for what's right only after suffering

personally the effects of his own party's policies. Kind of like the right-wingers who suddenly become staunch supporters of unemployment benefits right after they lose their jobs.

[RedSpartan]

11. Truer words have never been spoken.

[Dr Fate]

10. I love it when old guys start trying to get to Heaven.

Never too late to start looking for loopholes, John.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

15. Ouch! nt

[Avant Guardian]

26. lol

[Enrique]

12. wow, not bad

he's actually being mavericky. :thumbsup:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

13. K & R. nt

[aaaaaa5a]

14. McCain returns to himself after trying to lead the conspiracy party the last 3 years NT

[RichGirl]

20. That's what I was thinking....

Also....I heard that he is voting with the dems on the current bill.

The maverick is back! The Palin episode of his life is just a bad dream.

[stevenleser]

17. That screaching noise you hear is McCain being thrown under the bus by Rove and the rest of the GOP

And that squeal is the tires on the bus as it is stopped and put into reverse to run over him a second time.

[Enrique]

18. all their presidential candidates will have to denounce him

they will fight over who hates McCain the most.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. I take back every bad thing I said about McCain as well as this OLD PIC POST

OBAMA




MCCAIN

[SpiralHawk]

21. Listen up, Republicons - Tell the truth for once

Americans are sick of your lies and your anti-Christian torture freakery.

[Keith Bee]

22. Trying to reclaim your Soul, Johnny Boy?

Too late.

[Ter]

25. It's never too late

n/t

[BREMPRO]

23. McCain sold his soul years ago.. but his speech on this issue was the best he's made in his career

seems authentic without political motivations.. maybe payback for bush ruining his presidential aspirations...

totally discredits EIT's ie.. torture..

destroys myth that torture led us to Bin Laden

full speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I94Yb4KUic&feature=player_embedded#at=896

[thereismore]

24. Thank you is in order. nt

[LatteLibertine]

27. I'll definitely give him credit on this one

I also liked when he wouldn't let a lady at a rally call President Obama an "Arab."

[OhioBlue]

28. Good for McCain... it is very encouraging when you see

someone standing up for something they know is right... especially when they are embedded in the political web.

[Life Long Dem]

29. "but do so without making up its own facts."

Something so familiar with McCain he thought he would pass this little advice on. :hi: