Comments on: Watch Elisa Massimino Debate Torture’s Role in the Death of Osama bin Laden http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/ Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. Fri, 24 May 2013 21:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: David Fillingham http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-11094 David Fillingham Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:59:36 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-11094 Please go to http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ban_torture.vp.html for full details of VFP's stand against torture of all sorts. There are many members from WWI on who stand against this insult to human rights, the interrogation method that fails time after time while we ruin people's health and mind. As a nation we are slaves to hatred, to hurting others, we oppose education, we ignore science and people trying to do good in the world. War is not the road to peace, peace is the path. Please go to http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ban_torture.vp.html for full details of VFP’s stand against torture of all sorts. There are many members from WWI on who stand against this insult to human rights, the interrogation method that fails time after time while we ruin people’s health and mind.

As a nation we are slaves to hatred, to hurting others, we oppose education, we ignore science and people trying to do good in the world.

War is not the road to peace, peace is the path.

]]> By: Gladys http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-11026 Gladys Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:14:30 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-11026 Elisa handles this beautifully. She makes her points without getting caught up in the other panelists defensive points. Elisa handles this beautifully. She makes her points without getting caught up in the other panelists defensive points.

]]> By: Tom Reilly http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-10984 Tom Reilly Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:59:03 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-10984 I hold the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge from Vietnam. I risked my life repeatedly for the values that the Bush administration tossed aside as soon as the going got rough: The search for the dignity of every individual, the spirit of shared sacrifice, the realization that torture can be as much physical as mental, refusing rationalization [where you do what you please and think up a reason for it afterward!!]. Torture is an act of despair, not of patriotism. It joins the practice of slavery as a black mark on the honor that makes and keeps our country great.--Tom Reilly I hold the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge from Vietnam. I risked my life repeatedly for the values that the Bush administration tossed aside as soon as the going got rough: The search for the dignity of every individual, the spirit of shared sacrifice, the realization that torture can be as much physical as mental, refusing rationalization [where you do what you please and think up a reason for it afterward!!]. Torture is an act of despair, not of patriotism. It joins the practice of slavery as a black mark on the honor that makes and keeps our country great.–Tom Reilly

]]> By: Mark Seifert http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-10969 Mark Seifert Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:11:01 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-10969 Torture was used to extract confessions, so that the real terrorist perpetrators of 9/11, Cheney, Bush, Silverstein, Giuliani, Rummy, et al. could point the finger at someone else, so they could get away with both mass murder (Iraq) and the murder of US citizens (9/11). An "ignoranus" is a dummy who is also an asshole. This title should be applied to anyone in the AEI and to Mukasey, Yoo, Thiessen, and Rizzo. Since these bums are not in jail, where they belong, they should at least have their Medicare benefits taken away. Torture was used to extract confessions, so that the real terrorist perpetrators of 9/11, Cheney, Bush, Silverstein, Giuliani, Rummy, et al. could point the finger at someone else, so they could get away with both mass murder (Iraq) and the murder of US citizens (9/11). An “ignoranus” is a dummy who is also an asshole. This title should be applied to anyone in the AEI and to Mukasey, Yoo, Thiessen, and Rizzo.
Since these bums are not in jail, where they belong, they should at least have their Medicare benefits taken away.

]]> By: Erik Wood http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-10958 Erik Wood Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:20:44 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-10958 Let's all be clear, torture or "Enhanced Interrogation" was never an instrument for the extraction of information. It is a weapon of intimidation used to scare the living hell out of an entire population. It has a very chilling effect on those who would speak out against or oppose the activities and policies of an authority. Especially when the precedent has been set forth that in spite of any established legal freedom of speech, one may be singled out as an enemy combatant and subjected to the same incarceration and treatment for exercising that right in a manner inconvenient to the establishment. Torture doesn't achieve it's desired effect if it remains undiscovered. Leaks about the practice of torture are fully intentional. The thinly veiled nomenclature which "attempts" to distinguish the practices from one another (torture vs. not torture) is intended to be transparent and unconvincing. It only strengthens it's impact when the media discuss the matter endlessly, and the population is polarized in conflict over it's morality. Let’s all be clear, torture or “Enhanced Interrogation” was never an instrument for the extraction of information. It is a weapon of intimidation used to scare the living hell out of an entire population. It has a very chilling effect on those who would speak out against or oppose the activities and policies of an authority. Especially when the precedent has been set forth that in spite of any established legal freedom of speech, one may be singled out as an enemy combatant and subjected to the same incarceration and treatment for exercising that right in a manner inconvenient to the establishment. Torture doesn’t achieve it’s desired effect if it remains undiscovered. Leaks about the practice of torture are fully intentional. The thinly veiled nomenclature which “attempts” to distinguish the practices from one another (torture vs. not torture) is intended to be transparent and unconvincing. It only strengthens it’s impact when the media discuss the matter endlessly, and the population is polarized in conflict over it’s morality.

]]> By: John http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-6873 John Mon, 16 May 2011 18:32:26 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-6873 If enhanced interrogations worked we would have had this guy years ago – IMHO they had solid leads given to them and they followed those leads – and bingo – bobs your uncle – Torture can make a person say anything and lead the interrogators around in circles- chasing their tales (pun)- It defies logic and common sense that torture years ago had anything to do with this outcome. Torture may have a negative impact on those that could and would help in coming forward with information - even the slightest bit of info can be useful – but if people think they might disappear; they won’t risk it (most wont anyway – would you) and who gets the reward monies for OBL? Someone out there helped and helped big time at great risk to themselves and family. As for killing OBL and others like him– armed or not, it makes no difference - his ideology, voice and the willingness of people to follow; made him deadly. If enhanced interrogations worked we would have had this guy years ago – IMHO they had solid leads given to them and they followed those leads – and bingo – bobs your uncle – Torture can make a person say anything and lead the interrogators around in circles- chasing their tales (pun)- It defies logic and common sense that torture years ago had anything to do with this outcome. Torture may have a negative impact on those that could and would help in coming forward with information – even the slightest bit of info can be useful – but if people think they might disappear; they won’t risk it (most wont anyway – would you) and who gets the reward monies for OBL? Someone out there helped and helped big time at great risk to themselves and family. As for killing OBL and others like him– armed or not, it makes no difference – his ideology, voice and the willingness of people to follow; made him deadly.

]]> By: John Perry http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/05/16/watch-elisa-massimino-debate-torture-at-the-american-enterprise-institute/#comment-6869 John Perry Mon, 16 May 2011 18:21:48 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=11662#comment-6869 Let's see... We've got Elisa against Bush yes man AG Mukasey, Bush torture architect John Rizzo, Bush legal lackey Yoo, who wrote the memos that said it was all legal, and Marc Thiessen sophomorically trying to justify torture by reading quotes from people who have undergone worse torture tactics than waterboarding. What a joke. These "men" are just pushing the same old lies to cover up obvious war crimes. The UN Convention Against Torture is clear and unequivocal. And we're talking about a lot more than just waterboarding. Let’s see… We’ve got Elisa against Bush yes man AG Mukasey, Bush torture architect John Rizzo, Bush legal lackey Yoo, who wrote the memos that said it was all legal, and Marc Thiessen sophomorically trying to justify torture by reading quotes from people who have undergone worse torture tactics than waterboarding. What a joke. These “men” are just pushing the same old lies to cover up obvious war crimes. The UN Convention Against Torture is clear and unequivocal. And we’re talking about a lot more than just waterboarding.

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