McCain revisits torture issue

Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:43 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Andy Merten

Although McCain showed his signature dry wit during a press conference in St. Petersburg, FL this morning while answering questions about last night’s debate, he reserved some serious candor when he revisited last night’s discussion between himself and Romney on waterboarding.

“If we’re not better than our enemy,” said McCain, “then it’s very hard for us to maintain and keep the moral high ground in this ideological struggle that we’re in against radical Islamic extremism.”

He went on to say Romney “should at least get better briefed,” adding of the torture technique, which is banned by the Geneva Conventions: “I would also hope he would not want to be associated with a technique which was invented in the Spanish Inquisition, was used by Pol Pot in one of the great eras of genocide in history, and is being use on Burmese monks as we speak.”

But the Arizona Senator earned a couple chuckles from the group of reporters when he expressed happiness with his performance last night, saying, “My staff don’t show me the bad reviews, only the good reviews, so I’m exhilarated. Last time they showed me a bad review, we didn’t see them for a while.”

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Comments

anyone doubt that Romeny and the Christain Right would have been first in line to torture Jesus?

Santa An (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:53 AM)

McCain is right to focus on the torture issue, as it was his only great moment all night; the rest of the debate was a trainwreck that went from him barely holding half the pro-war GOP audience on his side in a debate with Ron Paul to giving his veto pen speech one too many times. When McCain reached even further with the Hitler comparison in regards to opposing the Iraq War, and started to get more boos than cheers, Paul looked over at him with a big smile knowing that he had won the moment on television; if Paul wins New Hampshire and McCain tanks there, this moment will be looked back on as pivotal.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:03 PM)

anyone doubt that Romeny and the Christain Right would have been first in line to torture Jesus?

Santa An (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:53 AM)

I would think being nailed to the cross would be torture enough

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:05 PM)

Yes I doubt that. As a matter of fact I think the loony left would be the first to beat the hell out of Jesus for crossing a picket line to help someone.

Dave, Tn (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:07 PM)

Since Senator McCain's advisers are afraid to show him bad reviews does that mean if elected President his advisers would be afraid of showing him alternatives to his plans.
Isn't that what we have in the White House at the present time?

Robert Stelling, Chandler, AZ (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:14 PM)

No doubt whatsoever, Santa An. Bush and Cheney would be there, too, along with Rudy G. while they all join in to sing "Onward Christain Soldiers".

R.Merrell (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:22 PM)

“My staff don’t show me the bad reviews, only the good reviews, so I’m exhilarated. Last time they showed me a bad review, we didn’t see them for a while.”

It's nice to see, like Huckabee, a President with a sense of humor, somebody who is humble enough to poke fun at himself. Good luck to straight-talkin' Mac!

--NSMSNBC (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:41 PM)

Isn't listening to Hillary clinton singing the national anthem considered torture?

YouTube - Hillary Clinton Sings National Anthem
The mic catches Se. Clinton singing the National Anthem in ...
[Click for more information] Watch video - 1 min 8 sec - Rated 3.4 out of 5.0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfZ_gXCHaMw

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:53 PM)

Republicans are having loads of trouble these days. A new unlikely source of problem has emerged in Alaska where the Republican incumbent is in ethical trouble, and a new poll shows him trailing his Democratic challengers by double digits. In Alaska! Link to poll: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/morning-polls-clinton-holds-on-to.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:06 PM)

Hey hey hey! Let's let the new AG weigh in on whether crusifixtion is really "torture." It might only be an enhanced behavior modification and sun-tanning technique. Like those lucky dogs in Gitmo with their free-vacation in the tropics, let's not get carried away. It's not like we're talking about white people.

Thanks for being honest, John McCain.

Citizen of Rome (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:09 PM)

Here's a question for Mitt and the other pro-torture candidates: If you will not condemn waterboarding when we use it, then would it be acceptable as a technique for Islamic terrorists to use on captured American troops? I say it would be horrible for US troops to have that done to them, so it is equally horrible for us to do.

Also, McCain is a war hero and the only Republican with service in the military

rob boston (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:11 PM)

I would think being nailed to the cross would be torture enough

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:05 PM)

Couldn't you have told Mel Gibson that?

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:19 PM)

Yup, it's always the loony left, bombing abortion clinics, waterboarding, torturing POWs in Abu Graib.

I don't know about you Dave, but the only "picket line"
violence I seen recently has been a bunch of facists beating pregnant women outside a clinic.

Randy C, Idaho (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:30 PM)

I think reading jerry's posts is the ultimate in torture...should make Al Qeda read them...we'ld have osama in our hands in no time!

pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:34 PM)

ADD GEORGE BUSH TO THE LIST ,SPANISH INQUISITION,POL POT AND NOW THE UNITED STATES AND GEORGE BUSH.Make room for little mitt.

kenn (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:52 PM)

Are you guys serious? Mitt's probably using this as a coup-out, but he's absolutely right that discussions about what is and is not torture should happen behind closed doors. The world is not 24 and Jack Bauer, but if a would-be terrorist is scared out of his mind because he thinks it is like 24, so be it. Would you rather us say "sleep deprivation is only okay for 3 days" and let terrorists know that they only need to get through 3 days before things stop, or would you prefer them to have no idea what we're capable of in that situation? Aggressive questioning requires fear. If you take that out by revealing too much information, you make any techniques ineffective. Good advice from Cofer Black, though it probably doesn't play well for the candidate with accusations of waffling.

Mike, Austin, TX (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:14 PM)

WWJD?
Who would Jesus waterboard?
Let's not forget this election should be more then where each candidate stands on particular issues, but which has the experience, fidelity and intestinal fortitude to lead this country through these difficult times. We need a Churchill; we need John McCain!

Dennis DeYoung, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:18 PM)

"I think the loony left would be the first to beat the hell out of Jesus"

Isn't that the job of "Christians"?

h'mmm? (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:23 PM)

You think water boarding is torture! Just be glad you aren't where I am now.

Henry Hyde, Hellcity, Hell (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:26 PM)

lol, pat h and company!

seems like our little mr. NSMBC has come out as a rightie...

no wonder he wants Barak as the dem nominee.

Chuck, San Diego (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:27 PM)

It's torture enough whenever "W" speaks.

Rudy, Dick, Mitt, Georgie and the rest of the gang(sters) would have called Jesus a whacky liberal lefty and ridiculed his lack of patriotism. Hell, He would be in Gitmo right now.

Jimmy Chicago IL (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:35 PM)

Yeah Mike, its like every president claiming that they reserve the first use of nuclear weapons as a national option. It sounds good except they and this nation would be international pariahs forever and would open the can of worms for others to proactively use their weapons so do you still think the "fear factor" is a good idea? Well do you?

larry/dallas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:45 PM)

First of all I think it is a out of line to say that the left libs would be the first in line to BEAT Jesus. I don't know why conservatives think they are closer to God than any one else. Secondly those of you who are supporting Mitt better start reading up on the Mormon religion because he is going to base a lot of his decisions on his beliefs and this religion is one of the craziest ones in town!! My family is Mormon and you couldn't pay me enough to vote for him. Do the country a favor and vote for anyone BUT Mitt!! In fact do the country a favor and vote for anyone but a republican!!

MM (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:46 PM)

I think reading jerry's posts is the ultimate in torture...should make Al Qeda read them...we'ld have osama in our hands in no time!
pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:34 PM
_______________________________________________
So do not torture yourself Pat. Skip past, I never read his crap anymore. I hate when people try to reason with that nutjob ( not possible) and so I skip those too.

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:53 PM)

Wow Chuck, if you had asked, I would have told you that I'm registered Republican--though I did vote Kerry in '04 (I unlike many Democrats really liked the guy). In reality, I'm a solid moderate, and that means that I'm happy to support candidates on both sides of the isle and free to dislike candidates on both sides, which I do. I have some viewpoints left of the Dems and others right of the Repubs and still others right in the middle. When I look to nominate a President, the issues are important of course, but my focus is on honesty, integrity and leadership. And those are not strictly Dem or Repub related. I support Obama, because I want him in the WH, you're darn right. I would not shed a tear for McCain, Huckabee or Biden either.

And if you are going to downplay Barack, at least spell his name right, there is a 'c' in there.

--Nicholas

--NSMSNBC (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:41 PM)

Good to see more quality substantive posts from Pat on Lon Gisland.

Bruce, NV (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:50 PM)

McCain is totally correct on this point. The US Army courts-martialed soldiers for using this exact interrogation method in WWI. After WWII we tried Japanese army veterans for using what has traditionally been termed "water torture" on Amereican GIs. Already despots all around the world are using the language of the Bush Administration to innoculate themselves against criticism for all kinds of bad behavior. We can't be the moral standard bearer of the world and at the same time act in ways that are inherently wrong. Currently we're relying on an argument that BECAUSE we're moral everything we do is INHERENTLY right. Doesn't pass the BS test.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:58 PM)

Bill Clinton and Hillary were ambushed by the right wing before he took office the first time.Why do so many people believe everything the republicans bleat out of their mouths?Have you not seen and heard the republican administration lie to all of us---george is just the head of their wolf pack.Guess it is true---you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

HMT (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:12 PM)

Torture is torture and does nothing to enhance or keep our country safe, Thank you John McCain for telling it like it is.

John Alexander,Edinboro,PA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:05 PM)

you go it john b... it's been torture in every part of america except the christain right and bush's wet dreams.

Chuck, San Diego (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:12 PM)

Yes, Larry, I do still believe in the fear factor. The nuclear weapons comparison only proves my point. We have held the nuclear option in our hands for years and no one has "proactively use(d) their weapons" against us. I'm not condoning waterboarding any more than I'm condoning nuclear weapons, but fear does equal deterrence, even on our end. You look at the "Axis of Evil" countrries and which one did we attack? The one with no nukes. We did it on the misguided basis of nukes, but W knew they didn't have those weapons or he never would have attacked. Fear works in diplomacy, like it or not. If we give up our tactics then we're not leveling the playing field, we're giving advantage to those who would do us harm. And it's ridiculous to say that we can't torture because then our enemies would start to torture us. WHAT?!?! They DO torture us. Again, I don't think we should torture anyone, I just think what we do should be internal business, not for general consumption.

Mike, Austin, TX (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:25 PM)

"Also, McCain is a war hero and the only Republican with service in the military" - rob boston

That not even true among Presidential candidates; Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter are both veterans.

Mike, Hermosa Beach, CA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:42 PM)

Once again,the voice of reason falls on deaf ears.Water Boarding is torture under the Geneva Convention.To bring religion (or lack of)into a Political discourse is so close to the Taliban that the inclusion of such should be cause for removal from the process.SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.Does this ring a bell with anyone?I am not perfect,and know no one who is,but those of you that gang up on Jerry/Corpus must not understand any of Amendments to the Constitution.Hang in there fella,because you must be rattling someones belief.A true Patriot,must,by birthright try to make America better.Poltical disagreement is the cornerstone of our country,and to try to stifle it is UnAmerican.Peace.Vote!

docrock,tx (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:45 PM)

John McCain, what an idiot, waterboarding is torture
I would rather be water boarded, then have my head
cut off with a dull knife, like the rugheads did to
their captives. Mitt pandering to the blacks about
the confederate flag, well there are alot of white people that have ansestors that fought under that flag, and we are as proud of that flag, as the blacks
are of M.L.K. that flag is a part of this country, and
everyone might as well get over it. I don't like
my children comming home from school and saying M.L.K. is a hero, I just have to get over it.

lester, north vernon in. (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:05 PM)

It just boggles my mind that anyone could say forcibly pouring water down someone's throat with the intention of making that person think he is going to die isn't torture.

Maybe we've been desensitized by Braveheart - if it doesn't involve intestines on the floor, it isn't true torture. To me, this all sounds like I've entered a parallel universe, where presidential candidates are publicly declaring its okay to torture just a little.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:56 PM)

I had a room mate who was an Air Force interrogator, who worked in a program that subjected our own servicemen to waterboarding to prepare them for it should they be captured.

He said it didn’t hurt anyone but quickly triggered a primal survival instinct that forced almost everyone to panic and “go progressive,” cooperating at least a little, even if they didn’t give up very important information. Once people started down that road, he found them much easier to break, negotiating for more information in increments.

Whether other nations admit to it or not, I got the impression the technique was pretty standard procedure for information extraction because it is so quick and easy and the psychological impact is far more effective than simply inflicting pain on a subject.

Undoubtedly there are harmful variations of the technique, used for punishment and intimidation rather than information extraction, which would account for the WWII Japanese convictions.

WakeWashington, Fort Wayne, IN (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:04 PM)

Does the fact that there are savages out there excuse us becoming savages when we know better? The Chinese mowed down political dissidents in Tianamen Square, does that make it acceptable to kill political opponents? They work people as virtual (and sometimes actual) slaves in their factories, does that mean we should abolish all of our labor law? Thieves get their hands cut off in some cultures, does that make it acceptable for us? "He did it first" is the argument of children. If we want to be seen as moral we must behave in a moral fashion.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 10:52 AM)

All of you on this post that attempt to defend water baording are the reason the United States is now in the mess in Iraq that we face for the forseeable future. You defend Bush and his Nazi pals in everthing they do. You voted for him - twice! You sit back and let them take the greatest country in the world down into the sewer. Wake up - Iraq and the Middle East in general are not worth it. 3500 dead soldgeirs, more than a trillion dollars, and an international black eye forever are what this mess is costing us. What do we get for it? Nothing. Gas prices are high and will get higher. This will not end terrorism. We could literally kill every terrorist alive today and there would be more tomorrow - so the idea that we can "win" a war on terrorism is nuts! Reality is that based on the United States footprint in the wolrd we are going to have to live with some terrorism forever.

Wake up and face reality already - you are all being used and played for saps by wealthy politicians on both sides of the isle.

Fred 1 Porterfield, WI (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 11:23 AM)

Mr McCain, not my choice for president, does understand one main concept in winning the war against terror. We can not allow ourselves to become as our enemy. We can not, as real Americans, condone torture.

Any right wing fool that even hints at such activities should be waterboarded themselves.

Steve Karn (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 12:38 PM)

Mike Austin.

You miss the point.

Whether the issue is out front or behind the scenes, condoning torture - or the threat of such - is, well, un-American.

We are better than that. We are better than our leaders allow us to be.

Steve Karn (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 12:49 PM)

Lest, North Vernon, Indiana.

I also hail from Indiana. You shame intellignet Hoosiers.

Steve Karn (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 12:51 PM)

As far what kind of torture to use, or what has the Geneva Convention have to do with
"terrorists" .. Terrorists are NOT considered military personnel..!! They are not covered by
the Geneva Convention .. They are cold blooded killers, using women and children as
shields.. So how can anyone put them in the same category ..??

R.Daily Eagan, Mn (Sent Friday, November 30, 2007 3:03 PM)

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