Comments on: Obtained: Cheney’s Request Form Detailing The Two CIA Torture Docs He Wants

By: FreeRange

FreeRange — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:46:57 +0000

Classic Cheney – he still doesn’t get it! Torture is illegal. Period. This guy needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, along with Karl Rove. Even if they are the only ones prosecuted in the entire Bush administration. Oh, with the addition of Bybee and Jonathan Yoo the enablers of this American atrocity. This is not about blame, but about cleaning house and finding our moral compass in the world.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:56:23 +0000

Indeed, it appears that Cheney is conceding that he ran the torture program. He must know that it will come out anyway. Wow.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:09:31 +0000

So Cheney is asking for the release of files he kept in his own office on prisoner interrogations; he knows exactly which ones he wants.

I know this is an obvious point, but by making the declassification request, Cheney is basically admitting he ran the torture program. We all knew he did, but now he confirms his contemporaneous, detailed knowledge of the methods used and results obtained. He thinks it shows the effectiveness of the methods; if those methods are judged to constitute torture, there could hardly be a more direct link to the VP’s office than Cheney’s request for these documents.

By: jbrader

jbrader — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:07:12 +0000

I have a strong feeling that these documents are kept right next to the Roswell wreckage and below the Arc of the Covenant in that warehouse from Raiders of the Lost Arc. A.K.A., there aren’t any.

By: Sonicfrog

Sonicfrog — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:58:35 +0000

Remember, also, that the argument for the use of these harsh techniques is to stop an attack of the “ticking timebomb”variety. If these memos are detailed in nature, the foiled plots had better be pretty imminent to justify the torture. This is the standard that the pro torture faction themselves have set. So far, the details of the supposedly foiled “Second Wave” attack are extremely lacking.

By: Jonna Mackin

Jonna Mackin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:20:50 +0000

Keep up the good work Greg. Go for all you can get. This is important information that needs to be out there.

By: Continuum

Continuum — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:10:13 +0000

Great start . . . . now, will Cheney request the release of all minutes and names of the folks who participated in his secret energy conferences . . . you know, the people that Cheney previously refused to identify. You would think that he would be so proud of these conferences since it only resulted in over $4 a gallon gas.

By: Chris Brown

Chris Brown — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:33:09 +0000

But, but the question as to whether torture is effective in obtaining “actionable intelligence” or useful information is irrelevant. That Cheney has so many media outlets discussing the effectiveness of torture, including this one, is really pathetic.

The only relevant consideration is that torture by agents of the USA government is illegal. And the only relevant question now is which Cheney administration officials, which members of congress, and which USA government employees and/or contractors should be held to account for their criminal acts.

By: mike from Arlington

mike from Arlington — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:09:03 +0000

“It’s a request for forms from Cheney’s office, which are marked “detainees.” As Kurtz says, that appears to mean that Cheney kept a file marked “detainees.”
.
That was kept on his desk right next to his 2008 Torture Techniques Calendar on one side and a photo with Nixon, high fiving, right before Watergate broke.

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:04:13 +0000

Greg
.
This is probably unrelated but also remember that the former CIA contractor was killed I believe in MD while walking with his wife in the week before Cheney made this request.

By: Bernie Latham

Bernie Latham — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:03:53 +0000

June 1, 2005…
Published on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 by the Inter Press Service
Bush, Cheney Attack Amnesty International
by Jim Lobe
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0601-01.htm

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:03:36 +0000

Jeez, at what point does Cheney’s asking to be prosecuted result in him actually being prosecuted?

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:02:46 +0000

Greg
.
Because they were reports not memos. So whats probably in the reports are a recap of all information gleaned from the interrogation of the detainees that in some way shape or form contributed to breaking up a supposed terror plot. It is also probably why the earlier report has fewer pages than the later report. I would bet the both reports are cumulative.

By: mike from Arlington

mike from Arlington — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:02:00 +0000

You are brave Greg. I don’t think I’d ever do investigative work on someone like Cheney. Watch your back buddy! If you hear something that sounds like Darth Vader in some alleyway behind you just run and don’t look back.

By: Bernie Latham

Bernie Latham — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:56:30 +0000

July 12, 2004: 9/11 Commission Concludes There’s No Evidence Iraq Had 9/11 Role
July 12, 2004: 9/11 Commission Concludes There’s No Evidence Iraq Had 9/11 Role
The 9/11 Commission publicly concludes that there was “no credible evidence that Iraq and al-Qaeda cooperated on attacks against the United States” and that repeated contacts between Iraq and al-Qaeda “do not appear to have resulted in a collaborative relationship.” It also again confirms that it does not believe the alleged April 2001 Prague meeting between Mohamed Atta and Iraqi diplomat Ahmed Khalil Ibrahim Samir al-Ani (see 1999) ever took place, a conclusion it had made in a public staff statement the month before (see June 16, 2004) http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=complete_timeline_of_the_2003_invasion_of_iraq_1190&scale=0#complete_timeline_of_the_2003_invasion_of_iraq_1190