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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Not proud. Somewhat sickened it was, or seemed at the time, necessary. Should we torture (have Pakistan torture) the no. 3 AQ guy (what's his name, Ali something)? If we can expose some pltos/cells? If you say yes, should we only torture the "top 10."
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A legitimate question. My answer would be, I think, that if we're going to use torture, it should only be against folks we have real reasons to think are high level or likely to know about specific plots -- not just every dipshit with an AK who we round up. [Lindh definitely fell into that latter category -- Private Joe Snuffy of the Taliban -- special only because he was American.] That said, the lines become so damn fuzzy that I'd be much more comfortable with a "no torture" rule
Quote:
Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
And making Lindh sit up for 3 days? This is a guy who was in the basement uprising, lived in fucking caves for months, c'mon.
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I believe it was four days, buck naked, strapped to a stretcher [I would guess no bathroom breaks either]. You hurt your argument if you minimize or gloss over it , Hank. Say it loud and say it proud, man. Your argument wouldn't change if we'd flayed the skin from his arms, would it? If so, why?
Quote:
Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
When did we do this? Lindh is in jail for being a Tal;iban, not for any dirt he spilled. Shit. We're letting real terrorists go because our system is not structured to deal with the reality. That guy we learned they let go, because to try him we'd have to let him know about all our intelligence sources, so we deport him. We know he was plotting to blow shit up and our criminal justice system points to "send him overseas." He will kill people, understand? We know it, and yet the system you feel we've thrown out dictates we can't practically try him.
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Hank -- what AG is talking about was the undisputed fact that it was Lindh's confession, which was obtained during the interrogation being discussed, which was used as the basis to charge and convict him. Walking around Afghanistan in a long robe with a beard, a Koran, and an AK-47 wouldn't have been enough.
The Bush Administration has found the real answer to your question: Don't try the active terrorist in criminal court, ever. Lock them up in cages on some military base until they are old and gray -- or until we win. Give them no lawyer, and no trial, ever. Period. Problems with that? Well, its necessary, see?
Maybe it is, but propose some real life fixes to deal with the real-life issues. There are two sides here, Hank, and you're seem to be every bit as blind as you're accusing AG of being.
Quote:
Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I'm so fucking angry I'm typing slow- spitting the words out- stand down Atticus- you're wrong here.
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I don't think its that easy a call, Hank. Talk to the Pope. I'd recycle the old Ben Franklin quote, but then most of us don't even pretend to be principled anymore.
S_A_M
P.S. Oh, and Hank? Screw the Western Conference! Go Pistons!
