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Why Release a Report on the CIA in Wartime?
Townhall.com ^ | December 11, 2014 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 12/11/2014 7:46:10 AM PST by Kaslin

What good purpose is served by releasing a report on CIA enhanced interrogation techniques while we are still at war with an enemy whose techniques include beheading Americans?

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and her Democratic colleagues say that the CIA lied about their tactics and exceeded their authority while seeking to obtain information from suspected terrorists.

There is a dispute among politicians and intelligence experts as to whether these tactics resulted in any information that was helpful in defending the U.S. from another terrorist attack. In a recent op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, former CIA Directors Michael Hayden, George J. Tenet and Porter J. Goss claim enhanced interrogation did provide useful information, which ultimately led to finding Osama bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan. The CIA maintains the tactics, the use of which ended more than seven years ago, prevented new attacks and were responsible for gaining intelligence information from Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Jose Rodriguez Jr. is the former head of the CIA's National Clandestine Service and author of "Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives." He says, "No matter what the Senate report says, I know it worked."

Whatever the ultimate truth contained in the 528-page document, which cost more than $40 million to produce, our enemies are bound to be encouraged and even more motivated. CIA agents are likely to be targeted. Demonstrations will occur throughout the world by people who enjoy the blessings of freedom without ever having to pay its price. And America will again be diminished in the eyes of some while the Taliban, al-Qaida and ISIS -- unrestrained by any laws or rules of engagement -- continue to sever heads and kill those, including women and children, who won't submit to their tyranny.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney says the interrogation tactics were reviewed by the Justice Department and were declared legal and that if he had to do it all over again, he would do the same thing.

Ah, but isn't America better than this, goes the argument by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and others? Don't we set a bad example when we behave like our enemies? If good American behavior made our enemy engage in similar behavior, that might be a rational argument, but nothing we do short of killing them is likely to deter them from their goal.

In his eagerness to close Guantanamo prison, President Obama has sent six prisoners to Uruguay, of all places. The Uruguayan government says it will treat the men as "refugees" and not monitor their movements.

Justin Fishel and Jennifer Griffin of Fox News.com, spoke with senior defense and intelligence officials, and found that "Of the 620 detainees released from Guantanamo Bay, 180 have returned or are suspected to have returned to the battlefield. Of those 180, sources say 20 to 30 have either joined ISIS or other militants groups in Syria, or are participating with these groups from outside countries. Officials say most of those 20 to 30 are operating inside Syria."

Adding to the confusion over whether we are in this war to win it, is Hillary Clinton's stunning remark that we need to "understand" our enemy and even have "empathy" for them. Good to know before we consider electing her president.

There is one enhanced tactic most people might agree should be used -- winning this long war. We should commit ourselves to that, defeating those who wish to obliterate us, instead of worrying about whether or not we feel good about ourselves while we're doing it.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: cia; ciadirector; torture
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To: PieterCasparzen
..and Benghazi (arming terrorists?)

God only knows what the NSA and NRO are doing. Ugg.

21 posted on 12/11/2014 8:18:53 AM PST by CivilWarBrewing
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To: Kaslin
Why Release a Report on the CIA in Wartime?

When is it not "wartime" anymore? Feels like it's been perpetual war since 2001, with no sign of the federal government saying otherwise anytime soon.

22 posted on 12/11/2014 8:21:56 AM PST by Bettyprob
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To: null and void

You could only add to that list.


23 posted on 12/11/2014 8:22:14 AM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: null and void

f) Serves himself


24 posted on 12/11/2014 8:23:40 AM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

That may be what causes this release of a ‘phony torture report’ to backfire. BHO is far more of a ‘murderer’, including innocents, than anyone else ever thought of being outside of ISIS and Al Queda.


25 posted on 12/11/2014 8:24:24 AM PST by Kackikat
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To: Bettyprob

We have always been at war with Eastasia...


26 posted on 12/11/2014 8:25:28 AM PST by null and void (Will the obama love story be called Broke Barack Mountin' or The Love That Dare Not Say Hussein?)
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To: Kaslin

Only reason was to take the attention off of the barbecue they were having over at Issa’s place.

Mission accomplished too. Nobody is really talking about it today.


27 posted on 12/11/2014 8:26:19 AM PST by RinaseaofDs
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To: equaviator

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I suppose you are right!


28 posted on 12/11/2014 8:26:28 AM PST by null and void (Will the obama love story be called Broke Barack Mountin' or The Love That Dare Not Say Hussein?)
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To: Kaslin

To take attention away from the socialist measures
that Barry is imposing to destroy our country!


29 posted on 12/11/2014 8:46:41 AM PST by upcountryhorseman (An old fashioned conservative)
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To: Kaslin

Thanks your remarks tie in perfectly with death by drone versus torture by water boarding.

“The liberals ignore this and if you ask them to name one terrorist that was killed by water boarding or having underwear put on his head, they stand there looking stupid with their mouth open.”


30 posted on 12/11/2014 11:03:30 AM PST by Grampa Dave (The Democrats, who run America are too old, too rich, and too very/very white elitist losers!.)
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To: nascarnation

Thanks!

Obozo kills terrorists with drones: Dems rejoice, MSM cheers!

CIA interrogates terrorists at Gitmo: Dems say, “Put Bush and CIA in jail”!


31 posted on 12/11/2014 11:08:31 AM PST by Grampa Dave (The Democrats, who run America are too old, too rich, and too very/very white elitist losers!.)
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To: Kaslin

remember the jumper .. those on fire and jumping to escape the ehat and plummeting 1/4 mile at terminal velocity to hit the concrete and exploding on impact.

HOW ABOUT WE USE THAT TECHNIQUE ON THE JIHADIS...

what brought about this purely political one sided kangaroo “investigation” and why were the alleged perpetrators of the alleged torture not questioned... more theater for the LIBTARDS


32 posted on 12/11/2014 11:33:45 AM PST by zzwhale
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To: Kaslin

LET’S HAVE AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHY WE SHIPPED 650 TONS OF WEAPONS TO ISIS FROM BENGHAZI, WHY WE LET 5 AL QUEDA GO FOR A TRAITOR, WHY WE GAVE $30 MILLION TO AL BAGHDADI AND TRAINED ISIS AND AIDED THEM FROM THE GET GO, WHY WE LET THE AMBASSADOR BE EXECUTED, WHY WE WERE IN BENGHAZI IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND WHO GAVE THE “STAND DOWN” ORDER, WHICH THE EX SEALS IGNORED AND RESCUED 68 PEOPLE FROM BENGHAZI... HOW ABOUT THAT ?????


33 posted on 12/11/2014 11:37:21 AM PST by zzwhale
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