Print
E-mail
Torture: America's New 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
 |
| President Barack Obama presents the Commander in Chief trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) |
Poll Finds Half Of Americans Agree With Questionable Interrogation Techniques
By JOE MURRAY, The Bulletin
A new CNN/Opinion Research Group poll shows Americans are resisting a partisan effort to investigate claims the Bush administration tortured suspected terrorists and believe torture is not necessarily wrong.
Fifty percent of Americans approved of the Bush administration’s use of waterboarding in questioning suspected terrorists even though close to 60 percent believe waterboarding is torture.
The poll’s finding comes as congressional Democrats and the Obama administration are stepping up efforts to investigate Bush administration officials who authorized the use of such tactics. Last month, the White House released a number of CIA memos that authorized waterboarding, an interrogation tactic that simulates drowning.
Since making the memos public, Mr. Obama has come under intense pressure from liberal Democrats to prosecute Bush administration officials who authorized the use of the tactic. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have called for “truth commissions” to discuss the use of torture.
“I want to know why they did that,” Mr. Leahy said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” last month. “What kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall and to make sure it never happens again. That’s why I want [a truth commission].”
Americans, according to the CNN poll, are not opposed to the use of torture against terrorists seeking to harm the nation. Furthermore, many conservatives have argued that the tactical use of torture is a justified form of self-defense.
But even though partisans and human rights groups are pressuring President Barack Obama to prosecute, the president is facing an American electorate sympathetic to the Bush administration’s decisions.
Fifty-seven percent of those questioned don’t want Congress to investigate the Bush officials who authorized waterboarding, while 42 percent would support such an action. Fifty-five percent oppose an investigation by an independent panel.
“Roughly one in five Americans believe those techniques were torture but nonetheless approve of the decision to use those procedures against suspected terrorists,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in a statement posted to the news site. “That goes a long way toward explaining why a majority don’t want to see former Bush officials investigated.”
On Tuesday the Justice Department announced it would not be seeking criminal charges against Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury — the three lawyers who penned the released memos. Obama administration officials stated they did not want to second guess the previous administration, but there is a possibility the lawyers could be referred to their state bar associations.
The decision, while in line with mainstream America, ruffled the feathers of liberals hoping Mr. Obama would make an example of the former Bush attorneys.
“Today’s news that the Justice Department will not recommend the designers of the Bush Administration torture program be criminally charged has raised serious questions about our commitment to international law,” said Amy Isaacs, national director of Americans for Democratic Action.
“There is no doubt government lawyers broke the law. The thought that these criminal are not subject to same rules that are applied to the rest of us is unconscionable. We urge President Obama to order the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to review this decision.”
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
Fifty percent of Americans approved of the Bush administration’s use of waterboarding in questioning suspected terrorists even though close to 60 percent believe waterboarding is torture.
The poll’s finding comes as congressional Democrats and the Obama administration are stepping up efforts to investigate Bush administration officials who authorized the use of such tactics. Last month, the White House released a number of CIA memos that authorized waterboarding, an interrogation tactic that simulates drowning.
Since making the memos public, Mr. Obama has come under intense pressure from liberal Democrats to prosecute Bush administration officials who authorized the use of the tactic. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have called for “truth commissions” to discuss the use of torture.
“I want to know why they did that,” Mr. Leahy said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” last month. “What kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall and to make sure it never happens again. That’s why I want [a truth commission].”
Americans, according to the CNN poll, are not opposed to the use of torture against terrorists seeking to harm the nation. Furthermore, many conservatives have argued that the tactical use of torture is a justified form of self-defense.
But even though partisans and human rights groups are pressuring President Barack Obama to prosecute, the president is facing an American electorate sympathetic to the Bush administration’s decisions.
Fifty-seven percent of those questioned don’t want Congress to investigate the Bush officials who authorized waterboarding, while 42 percent would support such an action. Fifty-five percent oppose an investigation by an independent panel.
“Roughly one in five Americans believe those techniques were torture but nonetheless approve of the decision to use those procedures against suspected terrorists,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in a statement posted to the news site. “That goes a long way toward explaining why a majority don’t want to see former Bush officials investigated.”
On Tuesday the Justice Department announced it would not be seeking criminal charges against Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury — the three lawyers who penned the released memos. Obama administration officials stated they did not want to second guess the previous administration, but there is a possibility the lawyers could be referred to their state bar associations.
The decision, while in line with mainstream America, ruffled the feathers of liberals hoping Mr. Obama would make an example of the former Bush attorneys.
“Today’s news that the Justice Department will not recommend the designers of the Bush Administration torture program be criminally charged has raised serious questions about our commitment to international law,” said Amy Isaacs, national director of Americans for Democratic Action.
“There is no doubt government lawyers broke the law. The thought that these criminal are not subject to same rules that are applied to the rest of us is unconscionable. We urge President Obama to order the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to review this decision.”
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
 |
 |
|
| Vatican Paper: 'Angels & Demons' Is Harmless | Poll: Notre Dame Erred By Inviting Obama |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thebulletin.us.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
