Parsing Torture

The parsing…the parsing.

It is actually quite fascinating to watch the parsing among conservatives. Especially on the question of torture. Not just on one aspect. Oh, no, there are a number of things on which they take the issue and disperse the troubles.

Scarborough is deeply offended about the recording aspect. He resolutely says that the recordings were alright and good. And the CIA was right to get rid of them. And anything after that is just whining. Really? The fact that the White House counsel and Congressional oversight said to not destroy them is not something to consider, Joe? The fact that the 9/11 Commission wanted some of the tapes of the connected terrorist for their work, not to be considered? Really?

It is just a lot easier to look the other way when you don’t think about it, isn’t Joe?


And today I saw a proponent arguing that it was all no big deal. See, it wasn’t explicitly illegal to water board in America. See? No Big Deal. Don’t look behind the curtain. The king has left the stage. Everyone go home. Wow, I guess that ends it all. Except, that most everyone considers this a brutal act. It is illegal internationally. The fact that the CIA, the White House, and Congress have moved to protect interrogator from legal responsibility…they don’t move that fast if there isn’t money, votes, or bad publicity involved.

Bad things happen to us. And it seems we did bad things in response. Now, we don’t what to talk about it. That is not healthy for a nation, for a people. We shouldn’t have to fight to keep the evidence from being destroyed.

Too many conservatives, including this administration have shown a disdain or willful ignorance. It has cost of across this nation, socially and economically, across the globe, diplomatically and militarily, and across history. Let us make the record, set the record, and learn something from all of this.