Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Helen Thomas: "U.S. Loses Moral High Ground With Torture" [WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES]
TheBostonChannel.com ^ | 22 Jul 09 | The only reporter to have interviewed all 44 US Presidents, HELEN THOMAS!!!

Posted on 07/23/2009 1:48:25 PM PDT by seanmerc

WASHINGTON -- Secrecy is endemic in all governments. It goes with the turf, especially if their leaders hope to hide illegal or immoral behavior, such as torture of foreign prisoners.

Many Americans heaved a sigh of relief last January when President Barack Obama banned the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Image-wise, it made the administration look more humane than the Bush-Cheney team. But that is not the whole story.

Obama left unaddressed the possibility of torture in secret foreign prisons under our control as in Abu Ghraib in Iraq or Bagram in Afghanistan, not to mention the "black sites" sponsored by our foreign clients in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Thailand and other countries.

"The United States will not torture," Obama said in his directive. But he has been silent on the question of whether the U.S. would help others do the torturing.

Members of Congress knew a lot about U.S. torture practices. But Republicans loyal to Bush and Democrats, too, played along and kept silent at the horror of it all.

During the Martin Luther King March on Washington in the 1960’s, a rabbi who had been in a German concentration camp said: "The greatest sin of all in the Nazi era was silence."

Why did no bells ring for the U.S. lawmakers -- particularly those privy to the brutality -- when briefed on the abusive treatment of the captives.

Did they owe more allegiance to the CIA rather than the honor of our country?

There are hair-raising reports of methods that Americans -- including private contractors -- have used to coerce information from our prisoners.

They include slamming a prisoner against a wall; denying him sleep and food; waterboarding him under so-called enhanced interrogation; and keeping him in a crate filled with insects.

I remember when President Ronald Reagan, marveling at the courage of American soldiers, used to say: "Where do we get such men?" And I have to ask: "Where did we get such people who would inflict so much pain and ruthlessness on others?"

William Rivers Pitt, a best-selling author who wrote "The Greatest Sedition is Silence," recently raised the emotional question of whether U.S. adoption of torture has debased the international standards for treatment of prisoners and that our enemies may now feel that they can torture Americans.

Pitt specifically expressed concern about Army Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan last month. American military leaders had warned Bush over and over that U.S. torture of prisoners could boomerang against our troops. But he would not listen.

Obama has blocked publication of pictures of the harsh treatment of prisoners from our two ongoing wars -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- but the word still gets around.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: barackobama; bho2009; bho44; bhocia; bhogwot; dims; dumbocrats; helenthomas; infobabe; liberalmeathead; obama; obamalamadingdong; obamarama; panetta; rats; torture; waronterror; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last
Hello, Clariece!
1 posted on 07/23/2009 1:48:26 PM PDT by seanmerc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

So this is what death is like...


2 posted on 07/23/2009 1:50:15 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (...and never forget that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beckysueb; DirtyHarryY2K; freedomlover; holly go-rightly; Jet Jaguar; Lauren BaRecall; LucyT; ...
Yoo-hoo, Helen Thomas ping list members! FReepmail me if you'd like to be added.
3 posted on 07/23/2009 1:50:28 PM PDT by seanmerc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

4 posted on 07/23/2009 1:50:32 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Impeach the sumbeech)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

How can anyone say we are losing the high moral ground when everyone else is standing on moral quicksand?


5 posted on 07/23/2009 1:52:03 PM PDT by TheThinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
helen peeking Pictures, Images and Photos
6 posted on 07/23/2009 1:52:49 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
The moral high ground was lost by Carter and Klinton. Bush and son built it up considerably and not it is in the crapper again.
7 posted on 07/23/2009 1:53:32 PM PDT by mountainlion (concerned conservative.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

Wrong stone tablet or wrong meds? BTW, I can understand why she doesn’t want to talk about Obamacare. She will never be eligible unless that euthanasia component passes...


8 posted on 07/23/2009 1:54:10 PM PDT by Steamburg ( Your wallet speaks the only language most politicians understand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

That’s cruel! When you said graphic images, I thought it was just going to be torture victims.


9 posted on 07/23/2009 1:54:22 PM PDT by Rennes Templar (Jim Thompson for POTUS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

“Yoo-hoo, Helen Thomas ping list members! FReepmail me if you’d like to be added.”

It never occured to me that we might have masochists at FR. I’m awake now.


10 posted on 07/23/2009 1:56:26 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
Stop! ...Stop it Please! ...I'll confess! I'll confess to Everything and Anything!

Waterboard me! ...Pull Out My Fingernails! ...Anything!

Just Don't Make Look at Helen Any Longer!

11 posted on 07/23/2009 1:58:24 PM PDT by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

This from the woman whose image is ocular torture?

I want to unsee that that pleaz!

Gunner


12 posted on 07/23/2009 1:58:30 PM PDT by weps4ret (Where is John Galt?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
But Helen supports the torture and murder
of 5000 innocent babies each day.

The majority of whom are black babies.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

13 posted on 07/23/2009 1:58:41 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

I don’t care about moral high grounds when it comes to my survival. One of this old moonbat’s cousins from the Middle East attacks me I’m all in favor of some serious torture.


14 posted on 07/23/2009 2:00:47 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
I kinda like this feisty lady...and the leopard coat....

ya! ya!

15 posted on 07/23/2009 2:01:26 PM PDT by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
Antidote...


16 posted on 07/23/2009 2:01:57 PM PDT by Dallas59 ("You know the one with the big ears? He might be yours, but he ain't my president.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc

Must’ve missed her plea for leneancy for the troops captured by Al Qaida.

Must’ve missed her plea for leneancy for the kidnapped civilian contractors.

Must’ve missed.

Oh wait, she’s a proterrorist witch.


17 posted on 07/23/2009 2:03:36 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (There is no truth in the Pravda Media.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dallas59

Bless you Son.....


18 posted on 07/23/2009 2:03:45 PM PDT by knews_hound (I for one welcome our new Insect overlords!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
A one trick pony ogre.
.

19 posted on 07/23/2009 2:04:38 PM PDT by Iron Munro (Komrade Obie says: "This is not your Father's America!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seanmerc
Has Helen undergone her “end of life counseling” yet?
Give her another “red” pill.

E.J.

20 posted on 07/23/2009 2:06:25 PM PDT by Edisto Joe ("Always searching for new ways to enlarge my carbon footprint.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson