Thank You, Senator McCain

During the run-up to the 2008 election, and since, John McCain threw many of his principles out the window, and snarled at anyone who asked him why. He's also largely responsible for inflicting half-term governor Sarah Palin on the country. Much to live up to there,

But on the topic of torture, he has been steadfast. He knows whereof he speaks, and he speaks plainly and with the authority of hard experience. Those who would embrace torture should read what he has to say about it in today's Washington Post:

"I asked CIA Director Leon Panetta for the facts, and he told me the following: The trail to bin Laden did not begin with a disclosure from Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who was waterboarded 183 times. The first mention of Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti — the nickname of the al-Qaeda courier who ultimately led us to bin Laden — as well as a description of him as an important member of al-Qaeda, came from a detainee held in another country, who we believe was not tortured. None of the three detainees who were waterboarded provided Abu Ahmed’s real name, his whereabouts or an accurate description of his role in al-Qaeda.

"In fact, the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” on Khalid Sheik Mohammed produced false and misleading information. He specifically told his interrogators that Abu Ahmed had moved to Peshawar, got married and ceased his role as an al-Qaeda facilitator — none of which was true. According to the staff of the Senate intelligence committee, 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 bin Laden — was obtained through standard, noncoercive means."

and...

"All of these arguments have the force of right, but they are beside the most important point. Ultimately, this is more than a utilitarian debate. This is a moral debate. It is about who we are.

I don’t mourn the loss of any terrorist’s life. What I do mourn is what we lose when by official policy or official neglect we confuse or encourage those who fight this war for us to forget that best sense of ourselves. Through the violence, chaos and heartache of war, through deprivation and cruelty and loss, we are always Americans, and different, stronger and better than those who would destroy us."

Whatever else he has done, or not done, pressing this argument may be his greatest contribution to the nation's good. Senator McCain, today I salute you.

Comments

[Randy Johnson]

For what Senator McCain went through, he should be saluted and I'm glad he said this more recent thing. Still, I was sorely disappointed that he so easily discarded his principals in his zeal to be President. I supported him years ago, after all I am Republican, but I could not back him in the last Presidential race even before he brought Palin into the public consciousness. That we are still inflicted with her presence doesn't make me feel any closer to him either.

[Shiai]

Did you see how presidential aspirant Rick Santorum said that John McCain knows nothing about torture(!)? Asked for a response to Santorum, McCain's office gave the perfect one-word reply: "Who?" LOL

[Jeff Mariotte]

For
Man-on-Dog Santorum, torture means being forced to read a book or think
about something complicated. He is an idiot of almost superhuman
proportions.