Legal Commentary

Politico: Waterboarding Is Only "Torture To Critics"

By Big Tent Democrat

Politico was stung by the criticisms of it as Dick Cheney's mouthpiece. So they published this rather ridiculous "nuanced" piece by Allen and Vandehei, 2 of their heavy hitters. It is embarrassingly pusillanimous. But I bet they think it is brave. In any event, there is one part that I find particularly objectionable:

Obama has pulled back on what he sees as the most inexplicable overreaches of the Bush-Cheney years — the “enhanced interrogation techniques” (“torture,” to critics) [. . .]

(Emphasis supplied.) You can have any opinion you want about waterboarding, but it is a fact that it is defined as "torture" under the relevant international treaties and federal law. That is a fact. In short, it is not "torture" to critics, it is "torture" under the law. And there is no dispute that the Bush Administration sanctioned waterboarding. If a news organization is too frightened to publish a factual statement, then what value does it have as a news organization? None. More . . .

Politico's primary function is as a right leaning gossip sheet and source of talking points, not a news organization. Occasionally you might break news. But mostly you break gossip. Embrace your identity, Politico. Be Cheney's media outlet. Stop worrying about your critics. You are what you are. We all know it. And you know we know it.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 14, 2010 (boomark / email).