[Mia T]

I agree with you RR; I have problems with the crux of the Krauthammer argument.

COMMENTS:

1. McCain's phony moral preening exposes a sick mix of vanity and stupidity.
   
   Krauthammer's argument for exceptions to McCain's no-torture law (the ticking time bomb and the slower-fuse high-level terrorist ) is also an argument to keep McCain VERY far away from the presidency.

   Faced with a similar choice, an American president would have a similar obligation. To do otherwise--to give up the chance to find your soldier lest you sully yourself by authorizing torture of the person who possesses potentially lifesaving information--is a deeply immoral betrayal of a soldier and countryman. Not as cosmically immoral as permitting a city of one's countrymen to perish, as in the Ethics 101 case. But it remains, nonetheless, a case of moral abdication--of a kind rather parallel to that of the principled pacifist. There is much to admire in those who refuse on principle ever to take up arms under any conditions. But that does not make pure pacifism, like no-torture absolutism, any less a form of moral foolishness, tinged with moral vanity. Not reprehensible, only deeply reproachable and supremely impracticable. People who hold such beliefs are deserving of a certain respect. But they are not to be put in positions of authority. One should be grateful for the saintly among us. And one should be vigilant that they not get to make the decisions upon which the lives of others depend.--Krauthammer
   

2. A politically correct War on Terror is mortal danger wrapped in absurdity; a prime example: giving the terrorists their instruction manual (the Koran). I have been arguing against this practice for years. Why does Krauthammer use this moronity as proof of our enlightenment and not our utter stupidity?
   
   
3. Krauthammer, a physician, is using the triage model for his basic argument. His premise, that risk and value assessment of terrorists can be calibrated with precision so that the torture applied can be proportional to the threat is wishful thinking at best, and begging the question, in any case.
   
   We must assume the worst case scenario for all terrorists unless and until we prove otherwise.

[river rat]

I've stated a number of times, my belief that McCain is still the prisoner of the Communists...

His "performance" with John Kerry on the Senate Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs -- was TOO bizarre...

To McCain -- the Vietnamese were the truthful heroes and the POW/MIA activists were the bad guys needing to be silenced.. It made me sick.... His clear bias in favor of the murderous Communists and animosity toward the families and activists of the POW/MIA families was unexplainable and infuriating.

From that day, I've believed McCain was showing his gratefulness that films or information about his behavior while a POW was held but not revealed by the Communists..

McCain either owes the Communists something, or he is the true Manchurian Candidate..

To have him in in the Senate is a risk too great..

Semper Fi