Obama admin official: Interrogation techniques we banned actually work (but we banned them anyway)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s national intelligence director told colleagues in a private memo last week that the harsh interrogation techniques banned by the White House did produce significant information that helped the nation in its struggle with terrorists.

“High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country,” Adm. Dennis C. Blair, the intelligence director, wrote in a memo to his staff last Thursday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/politics/22blair.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

During his confirmation hearing as Director of National Intelligence, Blair stated... "In our conversations with leaders of Indonesia, both military and civilian, we decried and said that the torture and killing that was being conducted by paramilitary groups and some military groups in East Timor had to stop,"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_C._Blair

Edited April 22, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And yet, it works.

I guess moral posturing is just that.. posturing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And yet, it works.

I guess moral posturing is just that.. posturing.

...or maybe Blair just doesn't share the Administration's position on what constitutes as torture?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And yet, it works.

I guess moral posturing is just that.. posturing.

...or maybe Blair just doesn't share the Administration's position on what constitutes as torture?

Torture works. If it didn't, it wouldn't still be around. It's been a tool of war for centuries. Tools that don't work (like the spitball) meet obsolescence. Tools that do.... don't. Too bad you find reality offensive.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And yet, it works.

I guess moral posturing is just that.. posturing.

...or maybe Blair just doesn't share the Administration's position on what constitutes as torture?

Torture works. If it didn't, it wouldn't still be around. It's been a tool of war for centuries. Tools that don't work (like the spitball) meet obsolescence. Tools that do.... don't. Too bad you find reality offensive.

The argument is just that torture doesn't provide reliable information, but that it goes against the very principles our democracy. Sometimes doing the right thing isn't always the easiest way to achieve the desired results.

Also, if you look at our indignation over other countries and rogue leaders who have used torture, you see that engaging in the very thing we condemn, we are hypocrites.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

Edited April 22, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Why can't we all just get along?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

Carpet bombing.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

Carpet bombing.

That's a good start.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

Carpet bombing.

with neutron bombs.

[justashooter 430]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

Carpet bombing.

with neutron bombs.

carefully arranged assasinations are more effective, and more cost effective, too.

[Nagishkaw 510]

You talk like terrorism is some academic problem, to be solved through intellectual masturbation. Not so.

What kind of problem do you think terrorism is and how do you propose we solve it?

No problem.

With lots of kisses.

[fozzie 41]

violence begets violence. Someone has to take the higher ground, unfortunately that will always be the 'west'.