It was a really nice day in D.C., sunny, not too hot, the trees were blooming, and most Senators probably decided to get their daily vitamin D fix rather then attend a hearing about a subject that most Americans say should just be MovedOn from. Few Senators Show Up for ‘Circus’ Hearing on Alleged U.S. Torture of Al Qaeda Terrorists
Only five senators attended a high-profile Senate Judiciary subcomittee hearing Wednesday on the Bush administration’s use of controversial “enhanced interrogation†techniques on terrorist suspects.Â
Only three senators stayed around long enough to question any of the witnesses.
One of the three senators, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), called the hearing a “circus†and told CNSNews.com that the former Bush administration lawyers who authorized the techniques should not have been hauled before Congress to testify about memos they wrote on the use of enhanced interrogation.Â
The hearings, Graham said, were political.Â
“Why would you want to come to this circus,†Graham asked. “If I were their lawyer, I would tell them no. You wrote what you believe, stand by what you believe and don’t be part of a political circus.â€
“Should we have (Rep.) Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) here?†Graham asked incredulously. “Where does this end? The main thing is that we learn from our mistakes.â€
Other then Graham, who was there? Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) had actual questions for the witnesses, while Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) had statements, then bolted.
So, I guess the lesson we can take from this is that even most of even the most hardcore Democrats understand that things were done in the aftermath of 9/11 that were distasteful, but necessary, to make sure more of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones did not join the 3,000 already killed by Islamic barbarians, and that investigating will serve no purpose other then to make a few of the hardcases on the Left happy. Remember, these hardcases are the same ones that are freaking out that Obama is not releasing “abuse” photos that will put our troops in harms way. I dare say that these same hardcases want to put our troops, not to mention Americans traveling abroad, in harms way. Why? It’s what they are, it’s what they do.
Teach did the actual torture of the detainees increase the danger posed to our troops ? And if so who was responsible for doing so ?
Correction to your last paragraph:
So, I guess the lesson we can take from this is that even most of even the most hardcore Democrats understand that things were done in the aftermath of 9/11 that were distasteful,
but necessaryillegal and ineffective, to make sure more of our friends . . .If it were up to me I’d prosecute the members of the house and senate intelligence committees of either party who knew what was going on as well as Bush, Cheney, Addington, Yoo, Rumsfeld and others for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
You should try to process this issue as outside the scope of partisan politics. It goes beyond partisanship and implicates the core values of our republic: rule of law and due process.
Yet, you yourself are processing this inside the scope of your partisan political viewpoint, MikeBC.
I don’t think it’s a matter of partisanship to want law enforced, do you?