Replies

"My first post:
If the intel being gathered by these techniques is of dubious value, then we certainly should reconsider our methods. But I have no moral misgivings whatsoever about extracting information from the vermin we capture. These are the same creatures that plant roadside bombs, behead people, drag burnt corpses through the streets, and fly airplanes into office buildings. It's hard to find much sympathy for their feigned umbrage at our moral "lapses."

There was something "uncivil" about that?"

Not in the least. I have no argument with your basic premise, but with every accused conspiracy/political attack we have witnessed levied upon this administration, proved false by being mis-representative of the facts, or outright made-up lies... and we have witnessed traitorous turn-coats within the administration (such as powell and armitage) being discredited; I believe President Bush has EARNED the "benefit of doubt".

Your remark about my having faith in GOD and our President was uncivil however, IMHO. Argue on the merits of your beliefs, not upon my proclamation of faith.

LLS

Your remark about my having faith in GOD and our President was uncivil however, IMHO.

My remark was a premise of a syllogism: IF we can believe that intel gathered by use of this technique has prevented 8 al-Qaida attacks in this country, then the intel is not dubious. One thing arguing against blind acceptance of that premise is that George Bush is capable of falsifying data that will aid his case. While that was not the central point of my premise, intellectual rigor demands that it be recognized.

Argue on the merits of your beliefs, not upon my proclamation of faith.

First, your faith inspires no such obligation in me. Secondly, I am not "arguing" anything. I am merely presenting my personal observations, consistent with logical thought. And thirdly, I suspect that this disagreement arose from a misperception. When I suggested that George Bush was capable of misrepresentation, I did not intend to insult your god. In my religion, George Bush is simply a human being, as fallible as the rest of us mere mortals.

The fact that he has achieved a credibility on par with the Almighty in your opinion says more about you than it does about him. And it certainly doesn't lend any logical weight to your case.