This last act of political theater has been almost unbearable to watch. It has literally been a sexist witch hunt (watch the video below) against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the issue of torture.
Here’s the narrative: Pelosi has been one of the most vocal critics on the issue of using torture in interrogating terror suspects since the scandal at Abu Ghraib. Other than Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, she also happens to be the highest-ranking woman in political office.
The right-wingers have effectively pulled a bait and switch on the American people with the help of the ineffective mainstream media. Instead of asking who gave the orders, who was at fault, now all we should care about is whether Pelosi knew about it.
Thursday, Pelosi held a press conference saying she did not know the CIA was waterboarding people back in 2002, but was informed in 2003. Karl Rove pounced. He pretty much called her a liar and said her knowledge that torture was being used to interrogate terror suspects — regardless of the fact that he was undoubtedly in the room when the orders were given — makes her an accessory to war crimes. And he is able to do this while simultaneously arguing that waterboarding is not torture and therefore not a crime in the first place.
Then on Monday, Newt Gingrich (of all people) had the nerve to say Pelosi should resign.
There you have it, the first act of some very sad, ridiculous, thoroughly sexist and ethically repulsive political theater that will undoubtedly continue to play out through the next year.
How exactly is it that the mainstream media is not calling this political witch hunt exactly what it is?
How exactly does Pelosi become the target on the issue of torture while former Vice President Dick Cheney goes around bragging about using torture? How is it that Pelosi is being raked over the coals while Bush is treated with the same deference that is reserved for credible former heads of state?
How is her political future, credibility and perhaps freedom (if you follow the reasoning of folks on both the far left and far right) at stake over whether she was briefed about torture?
And this, while not one pundit, mainstream journalist or politician, has asked a question of people who gave the orders, like Cheney and George W. Bush.
And how is the entire Democratic Party allowing Pelosi to hang out there alone, with her bare bottom twisting in the wind?
The only Democrat to come to her aid so far has been Rep. James Clyburn. He is the only one standing up to the insanity of this news narrative.
How does this all happen? The Democrats are complete wimps and continue to be completely outmaneuvered by Republicans. Their overwhelming majority in Congress is irrelevant, because they are ultimately clueless.
And so-called journalists in the mainstream media have proven once again just how superficial and easily manipulated they are. The mainstream media is completely satisfied with the political theater and continues trying to pass off “he said, she said” sound bytes for real journalism.
Where is the independent probe into who gave the orders?
The thing that bugs me about this whole push to prosecute the former administration over the issue of torture was borne out over the last week. Here is what will happen: Pelosi will fall, for apparently having been briefed about it. Condoleezza Rice will be scarred, for not being able to stop Donald Rumsfeld and Cheney from going through with it. Colin Powell too will fall.
Who will remain standing? The grand old white guys: Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld and Rove. In fact, I would bet Cheney becomes a 21st-century Ollie North. Some conservative folk hero, the man behind the iron curtain who did whatever it took to keep us safe while the liberals were out filing lawsuits and talking nonsense about America’s “moral authority.”
This is the perfect example as to why the left should think twice about investigating torture. It’s not that anyone is sanctioning torture. It’s because once the investigation starts, our government and the mainstream media will prove too ineffective, too mealy-mouthed, too morally corrupt to do any good with it. It will be derailed, and it will be used to take down politicians with political enemies as opposed to getting at the truth.
We already know the government and media are both incapable of taking on real power.
It took our government nearly two years to figure out that former President Bill Clinton lied about receiving sexual favors from Monica Lewinsky, but it has not even touched the likelihood that the Bush administration lied to us about the reason for going into the war In Iraq.
When the FDA, FBI or a narcotics task force executes an elaborate drug bust, they pose for photos with all the contraband on the table. Then, they talk at length about the atrocities of this or that drug organization. You ever notice the kingpins are never caught? At best, they get a few lieutenants and hundreds of street-level dealers, that’s it.
The kingpins in this torture investigation, I guarantee you, will never face a Congressional hearing. They will never face criminal charges. They won’t even be asked directly if their actions violated the law.
Our government’s behavior during the Iraq War and the Bush administration’s campaign to sell that war to the American people are both completely unforgivable. If you can’t get your crap together enough to hold the right people accountable, then just turn the damn page.
Devona Walker is TheLoop21.com’s senior reporter/blogger.
Old Russian saying…You can tell same lie 1000 time(Ms. Pelosi) but not change truth!
Difference between USSR Communist media and USA “mainstream media”
In Russia government make media say what they want – even if lie.
In USA “mainstream media” try make government what they want – even if lie..
…..eventually they become same thing?!
I Igor produce Obama Birth Certificate at http://www.igormaro.org
The U.S corporate media hasn't fallen for anything. Cant you understand that the 5 conglomerates than own the media are all in bed with each other, they conspire together to. The truth as it exists is whatever these guys say it is.
Its a pathetic state of affairs to be in.
True, the vast majority of the news-medias are controlled by Liberals who receive the majority of funding from Wall Street, and business conglomerates who demand their Liberal issues are in the forefront. That's why Foxnews, a mostly Conservative news agency, has higher rating than all the others combined.
But that's not the most repulsive issue here. The issue is, Congress being able to break their own law, by not forcing Pelosi to answer to a Grand Jury. This is just one of the unbelievable instances that beg the question, why aren't these scrounges being forced to abide by the very law the initiate?!! This is just one of dozens of inequities that this government is guilty of and no-one answers to!!
Instead of the shameful personal attacks, why aren't these same people calling for a Grand Jury investigation of Pelosi? This woman has overstepped her authority by accusing the CIA of lying to her and Congress, which is against the law. She must be made to deliver the factual evidence proving her statement or be subject to full measure of the law. As usual, the usual gang of scrounges are surrounding her to deflect, and spin the argument in her favor.
What we are witnessing is another example of politicians not being held to the same legal standards as citizens.
What an absolutely ridiculous piece of pseudo-commentary.
If it ever gets to a point where Condi Rice is in danger of being called into account, the a*holes whom she obeyed by dutifully following their orders will hardly get off scot-free.
I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with high-profile Democrats being taken to task if they stood by meekly as the Bush Administration's institutionalized torture or if, as is actually the case, they condoned its policies by letting it get away with hijacking the laws of the land.
Your “argument” is that if investigations are initiated, they will by definition be corrupt because it's the “government” carrying them out. How is this claim any different from the innumerable versions of the right-wing mantra that investigations will be “partisan” so let's forget about the whole thing? Basically, government is corrupt, so let it continue to be corrupt by not holding anyone accountable for war crimes/crimes against humanity. What utter nonsense.
This post is easily the worst piece of sophist crap I've read on this site. A total embarrassment for BNF.
Wall Street again TC, Pelosi is a good girl and does what she is told. That is how you get ahead in politics. Pelosi is a discrace.
Does that mean US people need new government?
Kiss my ass. We all know who the real criminals are.
You will be satisfied with whatever stooges they offer up. Everyone will. Then you can go run around and pump your chest as if justice was served. Meanwhile, Cheney will still be bragging about torturing folks. Rumsfeld will still be lecturing around the country at conservative universities. Rove will be the puppet master. And George W. will be grilling up burgers down in Crawford, Tx.
You miss the entire point. The point is not what Pelosi knew, it's who made the order? What about that simple premise eludes you. And yeah, if the Democrats can so easily have the tables turned on torture, to the point that Pelosi is the target of an inquiry, then maybe they aren't up to taking on Cheney and the boys.
Liberals funded by Wall Street? What world are you living in? T
What world are you living in?… could that be the world were congress represents you?
wakey wakey
devona Walker: Your right, I apologize for the obvious misstatement. But I must take exception with your Pelosi statement.
The issue is: (1) What did Pelosi know, and when did she know, (2) and if she was briefed, why didn't she take exception to the water-boarding issue then, (3) and if she's telling the truth why isn't she and the Democrats demanding the CIA produce the documents in question?
In short dW, it's about Pelosi charging the CIA with crime against the Congress, and then not backing it up with fact. It's not about the fact that the Bush administration was involves with enhanced interrogation methods. That's an entirely different argument although; a good one.
Screw you and your shrill style of bloviation.
Nothing you said, either in the original post or in your reply, eluded me. You're more concerned with the flack Pelosi's getting than in actually doing some research to see that there are many opinion pieces and commentators – yes, in the “mainstream media” – who are calling for investigations or truth commissions that would hold everyone from bottom to top responsible for the torture policies. Just take a f***ing look at the New York Times editorial pages over the last few months.
“The point is not what Pelosi knew…”
Really? The point is what everyone who mattered knew. As is amply evident if you bothered to actually do any research, Democrats were active enablers of Bush's policies. I think they're very much part of the story of how that administration got away with what it did. Nobody who had any real power during those years is innocent.
I have very little faith that true justice will be done in the U.S. I think the only real possibility for justice is if charges are laid and prosecutions carried out within an international court. That said, I still believe that calling for investigations makes more sense than saying “let's turn the page on all of it.” No one with a modicum of principles – as opposed to party loyalty – would use the bad press Pelosi's getting to advise that we move on.
So, yeah, you can kiss my ass.
Thanks Texas conservative for being civil.
Here's what I think though. I believe the CIA did actually mislead Congress. I also believe at the time Congress was told. They were in the minority and really couldn't do anything about the Bush administration's policies anyway. Back then, this entire country was in this revenge rapture over Sept. 11. If you remember, hardly anyone balked at going to war in Iraq. Even though, everyone one of us were asking “Sadam Hussein? I thought it was Osam bin Laden?”
We were all (and I would say Democrats were just as guilty as Republicans here) still seeing blood and Dick Cheney took advantage of that. Personally, I think Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld completely duped George W. as well. They knew he was not exactly the most intellectually curious guy and they sold him on the war in Iraq as well. I think Powell was bullied into going along. And Rice was simply shouted down any time she said anything. Powell's former assistant, a general, has been saying exactly that to anyone who will listen.
I think one of the Bush administration's biggest sin was scapegoating those enlisted men at Abu Graib ( excuse the spelling). If torture works and it was necessary, then why didn't they say so back then? If it dehumanizing and humiliating our enemies is all a part of some grand 24-Hour-like interrogation “program” why didn't Cheney defend those soldiers?
He didn't. He let them go to jail because all that matters to Cheney is Cheney. And he might honestly believe he is correct. But he's an evil, paranoid old man.
I am not some blind wing nut who thinks everyone should go down. But Cheney and Rumsfeld are both guilty as sin.
I never said “turn the page.” I said either get it right or shut up about it — and that's a paraphrase.
“Nobody who had any real power during those years is innocent.”
Your last sentence is my point. We might disagree, but it's not about party loyalty. It's more about being completely impractical and self-destructive. If they are all guilty, then investigate them all right? How long will that take? What happens to health care, immigration, education and the economy while we all engage in that cluster-fuck of self indulgence?
It's not that I haven't done any “f***ing” research. It's just that we disagree.
There's not much I can say to anyone who calls bringing those guilty of war crimes to account – i.e. justice – a “cluster-fuck of self indulgence.” Hundreds have died being subjected to torture, hundreds more whose lives ruined. They don't deserve their day in court?
Let me guess your reply: “they were already tortured, we can't undo that, so what's the point?” In which case, what's the point of a justice system at all?
I couldn't care less if the process doesn't yield instant closure or is “impractical.” Your country did this and your country should take those who wrought such hellish destruction to court. If that includes making the upper echelons of the Democratic Party testify and get a little uncomfortable for being implicated, so be it.
Last time I checked, an investigative panel or a truth commission or the justice department would not be in charge of “health care, immigration, education and the economy.” Also, what's self-indulgent beyond belief is Americans thinking that accounting for the horrific crimes their country committed in their name is somehow not as important as their own jobs and health insurance policies. After all, the ones subjected to torture weren't Americans, so who cares, right?
We can go back and forth forever I suppose. But the post and my point was a political one, not an ethical one. I assume you are living in this country and understand we are kind of incapable of concentrating on more than a few things at once. So that is what I mean about health care, immigration, etc. A criminal investigation into past heads of state — something never done before, with the exception of Nixon and that was based on breaking and entering, etc. but a criminal, war tribunal investigation — would suck the wind out of everything. That's a political reality. I am not saying they were wrong, or let bygones be bygones. I am just saying justice is best served with precision not grand, sweeping, everybody's hands were dirty so lets burn them all kind of thinking. The best way would be to take politics out of this and let it be an international court that judges it.
The “investigative panel” would be manned by people who were close to power. And in your own words, they are implicated.
I have no qualms with Cheney spending the rest of his miserable years behind bars. But I do have a problem with him taking down half the government with him.
Do me a favour and don't twist my words.
I didn't say “burn everyone,” but if you think high-level Democrats were innocent babes in the woods over the last eight years when it came to torture*, voting for the invasion of Iraq, giving government free reign to spy on citizens, etc., etc., etc., that makes you a party shill and not an independent thinker.
“we are kind of incapable of concentrating on more than a few things at once.”
Let me get this straight:
The Obama Administration can expand the war in Afghanistan and prolong the one in Iraq, costing you and your fellow Americans billions of dollars, while at the same time attempting to reform health care and the economy. But a judicial investigation into torture would deplete the political will and resources of the country from other concerns? Give me a break.
And, no, I don't live in the U.S. I'm just sick of your country destroying so many lives (hundreds of thousands of civilians killed in Iraq, thousands in Afghanistan, millions displaced in both countries) and never being called to account for its actions.
As I said in my comment above, international courts would be the only true means of seeking justice for the last eight years. But since the international community is so afraid of the U.S. (with good reason, obviously), I'm not holding my breath. That's why investigations carried out by Americans themselves should be an option that remains on the table.
(*Human rights organizations started to report on torture incidents very soon after Guantanamo opened for business in 2001. So please spare me the tiresome mantra that the Democratic Party didn't know what was going on.)
Do me a favour and don't twist my words.
I didn't say “burn everyone,” but if you think high-level Democrats were innocent babes in the woods over the last eight years when it came to torture*, voting for the invasion of Iraq, giving government free reign to spy on citizens, etc., etc., etc., that makes you a party shill and not an independent thinker.
“we are kind of incapable of concentrating on more than a few things at once.”
Let me get this straight:
The Obama Administration can expand the war in Afghanistan and prolong the one in Iraq, costing you and your fellow Americans billions of dollars, while at the same time attempting to reform health care and the economy. But a judicial investigation into torture would deplete the political will and resources of the country from other concerns? Give me a break.
And, no, I don't live in the U.S. I'm just sick of your country destroying so many lives (hundreds of thousands of civilians killed in Iraq, thousands in Afghanistan, millions displaced in both countries) and never being called to account for its actions.
As I said in my comment above, international courts would be the only true means of seeking justice for the last eight years. But since the international community is so afraid of the U.S. (with good reason, obviously), I'm not holding my breath. That's why investigations carried out by Americans themselves should be an option that remains on the table.
(*Human rights organizations started to report on torture incidents very soon after Guantanamo opened for business in 2001. So please spare me the tiresome mantra that the Democratic Party didn't know what was going on.)