Cheney: Politics driving CIA interrogation probe

[Emit]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – Former Vice President Dick Cheney says politics are driving the Justice Department's decision to investigate whether CIA interrogators abused terror suspects detained after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"It's clearly a political move," Cheney said in an interview aired on "Fox News Sunday." "I mean, there's no other rationale for why they're doing this."

He added: "I just think it's an outrageous political act that will do great damage, long term, to our capacity to be able to have people take on difficult jobs, make difficult decisions, without having to worry about what the next administration is going to say."

At issue is Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to look into abuse allegations after the release of an internal CIA inspector general's report. President Barack Obama has said interrogators would not face charges if they followed legal guidelines.

~snip~

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090830/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_cheney

---

[barbtries]

1. just responding to the headline

first, bullshit.
second, it's republicans who have politicized everything.
third, there is a difference between right and wrong, and torture is wrong! i don't give a fuck how many times you say it is right. it's still wrong and it has always been and will always be.

i hope that fuck is scared, and i hope more than i can express that his fears are well founded. he belongs in prison.

[Honeycombe8]

2. Nothing gets Cheney more visible on TV than mentioning investigations into torture...He's scared.

I hope he's very afraid.

And Cheney whining that politics is pushing the investigations is funny, coming from HIM, the grand daddy of all grand daddies in pushing a political agenda over what's good for our country.

[shotten99]

3. Dick's dreaming of Gerry Ford still.

[Buzz Clik]

4. The only way this gets done in Congress is if the GOP initiates the investigation.

They'll be calling "partisan witchhunt" the entire time. It's part of the reason why Obama won't touch it.

[No Elephants]

74. IMO, there's nothing more pointless than worrying about what Republicans will say about

what Democrats do. They'll say bad things. Duh. Does that mean Democrats should never do anything?

[polichick]

5. "there's no other rationale for why they're doing this."

Just like Nixon, the idea of justice eludes him.

[Demeter]

8. Not to Mention the Distinction Between Right and Wrong

He only recognizes Right and Left, and through logical fallacy, decides Left is Wrong! Cheney deserves everything that's coming to him, and much more besides.

[lunatica]

6. Hey Dick, politics drove your torture agenda

Because absolutely nothing else did. It was 100% politics to amass power. You said so yourself when you penned your signature to the Project for a New American Century (PNAC)

[Wapsie B]

7. Why the hell should he be worried? Just like his kind like to tell others

if you've done nothing wrong you've got nothing to be afraid about.

[Solly Mack]

9. Another round of War Criminals on Parade

[Overseas]

10. Maybe if we pretend it's a commercial move, that would work for him?

Hey, Dick, don't worry it's a commercial move by the solar power corporations to defeat the power of the oil lobbies to continue their resource wars around the globe.

It's not political Mr. Cheeeeneeey, it's just those darned Greenies wanting a share of the energy business.

How's that?

[hmorehead]

11. What? Politics driving policy?

I am shocked. Shocked!

[grahampuba]

12. Lady Justice is a Democrat

He added " I just think its an outrageous political act that will do great damage, long term, to our capacity to be able to act unilaterally with out regard to the Geneva Convention, the Constitution, and America's standing in the world."

And this smash and grab thief is talking about long term consequences? Thats rich..

But it looks like he spells it out neatly for us,.. the Republican party or at least the the Neo-Cons have no interests in the constitution, truth and justice or international law.
if pursuing those ideals draws the distinctions between two parties, so be it.

[JDPriestly]

18. The problem is that unilateral conduct that violates the Geneva Convention

and the Contitution is ILLEGAL, Mr. Cheney. It is ILLEGAL BY DEFINITION.

At Reagan's request, Congress did not ratify the Geneva Convention of 1977 which concerned the care of non-combatant prisoners of war. It had already been signed, however, and we are arguably subject to its rules. See the reference to the blog discussion about arguments for and against our being subject to that Convention's rules.

In any event, the failure to ratify that Geneva Convention is an insult to George Washington and the heroes of the American Revolution many of whom were non-combatants, unprotected by the conventions of war and who suffered terrible cruelty at the hands of the British and of mercenaries hired by the British to fight the American rebels. Those who refused to ratify that convention did not know or respect the principles established by the father of our country, George Washington.

Cheney seems to think that he knows better than George Washington when it comes to waging war. We have already seen how successful his methods of waging war have been. How many years have we been in Afghanistan? How many in Iraq? Some commander in chief we had in Bush, eh????

Washington's Crossing, David Hackett Fischer

http://ask.yahoo.com/20020212.html

Apparently, in Hamdan, the Supreme Court found that the Geneva Conventions of 1977 do apply to our prisoners of war. I guess Cheney missed that decision. I guess it didn't fit into his plans for the world.

---
But the Court did hold as a matter of treaty interpretation that CA3 applies to persons detained in the armed conflict with Al Qaeda. Indeed, that's the specific, unequivocal holding of the Court in section VI-D-ii of the majority opinion. And Justice Kennedy added this emphasis in his concurrence:

"The provision is part of a treaty the United States has ratified and thus accepted as binding law. . . . By Act of Congress, moreover, violations of Common Article 3 are considered 'war crimes,' punishable as federal offenses, when committed by or against United Statesnationals and military personnel. See 18 U. S. C. § 2441. There should be no doubt, then, that Common Article 3 is part of the law of war as that term is used in §821."

In other words, CA3 is "binding" in and of itself, and as incorporated in the War Crimes Act, and as incorporated in 821.

This means both that the President has a constitutional obligation to faithfully execute Common Article 3 as applied to Al Qaeda (because the treaty is the Supreme Law of the Land per Article VI of the Constitution), and that (as Justice Kennedy indicated) violations of CA3 are prosecutable as war crimes under 18 U.S.C. § 2441. See also this post by Carlos Vazquez. t is still the case that the Court held that the military commissions are violations of the Conventions."]


http://gulcfac.typepad.com/georgetown_university_law/geneva_conventions/

[No Elephants]

75. The UN Convention Against Torture is to the point.

[Wizard777]

23. Rhythm is a Dancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMPM1q_Uyxc"> Cheney's gonna get it on the down beat. We despise what he has done with a passion. The prosecution will be a snap.

The usually quite international courts have been quite vocal about Bush Co.'s tortures.

[Arkana]

13. Go on a hunting trip and shoot yourself, Dick.

No one cares what you think, do, or say anymore.

[ixion]

14. Spoken like a true war criminal

one can only hope you spend the rest of your bitter life on a cold cement floor in the Hague, Mr. Cheney.

[Iggo]

15. Listen, Dick.

I don't care what drives the investigation as long as it's driven straight at you.

[xxqqqzme]

16. Now that's funny.....

is he working up 30 minutes & taking it on the road?

[Lucky Luciano]

17. When Darth opens his mouth, it always means

that they are getting close to him.

[buckrogers1965]

19. If the law wasn't broken

then they have nothing to fear.

The reason that allegations of torture are being investigated is because the world has been horrified for years and has been demanding an investigation into these atrocities that America has committed.

If you don't break the law and violate the most basic of human rights, then you won't get investigated for being some of the worst humans that have ever lived.

[Roland99]

20. Like that evil fucker didn't use his political agenda to drive the CIA (and DIA and OSP and....)

FUCK OFF, DICK

[Wizard777]

21. Then Send them to an Impartial third party for trial. Send them to the ICJ.

[CanonRay]

22. He's scared shitless, isn't he.

[Hubert Flottz]

24. Dick Cheney On FOX....= more lies and bullshit.

Neither one has ANY credibility.

[glinda]

27. I wonder if Faux can be charged in "aiding in the cover up"?

[Hubert Flottz]

32. They should be charged with every crime they helped the

neocons pull off or cover up.

[4lbs]

25. "No other rationale..." ? You mean investigating something that broke the law doesn't count?

Dick Cheney is just that.... a Dick.

[BunkerHill24]

26. I wonder how Dick sleeps at night...

If Dick can sleep at night, he really must be a monster. He has the arrogance to think that he is qualified to be heard on torture techniques that even his own hack lawyers believed were illegal.

[thecrow]

28. Oh he doesn't...

but he has to return to his coffin at daybreak

[Blandocyte]

29. The spirit of Nixon possesses Cheney

fukker needs an exorcism.

[rocktivity]

30. Rocktivity: Self-preservation driving Cheney

:boring:
rocktivity

[Doctor_J]

31. turn the fucking sociopath over to the Iraqis

they'll treat him better than he deserves

[Hubert Flottz]

33. Great Idea!

I'd vote for that!

[IDemo]

34. Cheney says cooperation with CIA probe "will depend"

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said he might refuse to speak with a prosecutor investigating suspected CIA prisoner abuses, a probe he branded as political and bad for national security.

Cheney has been one of the fiercest critics of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision last week to name a new special prosecutor to look deeper into harsh interrogations of captured terrorism suspects during the Bush administration.

Asked whether he would talk to prosecutor John Durham if eventually sought out, Cheney told "Fox News Sunday": "It will depend on the circumstances and what I think their activities are really involved in. I've been very outspoken in my views on this matter."

The cases under investigation include a mock execution, use of a power drill to scare a prisoner and the waterboarding of accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 times.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN30406020

[MUAD_DIB]

35. Bring him in wearing cuffs. If he defibrillates on the stand then tough shit.

[saigon68]

68. Dirt Bag Cheney is a War Criminal

And a mother fucking Draft Dodger

[Lost-in-FL]

36. Depend... a wet Depend is what I would like to throw at him.

A shoe isn't enough.

[Cyrano]

37. Okay, I get it, Dick. Any federal prosecutor comes to my door and

I tell them: "Go away."

Actually, that seemed to work pretty well for you after you shot some guy in the face with bird shot.

The sheriff's deputies came to the door and were told to come back tomorrow. They left, came back the next day and that was the end of it. No breathalyzers, no questions, no explanations, no anything but: "Go away."

I just can't wait to once again hear some incredible asshole politician use the phrase "equal justice under the law." -- But I digress.

So let me get this straight, Dick. Any federal prosecutor who comes knocking on your door will get the "Go away" treatment? Ummm, what if they have a warrant?

[11 Bravo]

38. Subpoena his doughy ass. If he resists, tase him.

You're a private citizen now, Dick.

[MUAD_DIB]

45. Frog march him. If he has a heart attack who cares?

[Vidar]

39. Time for your waterboard, Mr. Cheney.

[Cass]

40. This man is a disgrace and has no respect for the law whatsoever.

I hope they haul his ass in in handcuffs if necessary. He is not above the damn law and he needs to be reminded of that by the US Attorney's office.

[glinda]

42. Exactly the point.

[felinetta]

49. Remember when he answered a question with one word "so"? Here is transcript.

Cheney On Two-Thirds Of The American Public Opposing The Iraq
War: ‘So?’

This morning, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion,
ABC’s Good Morning America aired an interview with Vice
President Cheney on the war. During the segment, Cheney flatly
told White House correspondent Martha Raddatz that he doesn’t
care about the American public’s views on the war:

    CHENEY: On the security front, I think there’s a general
consensus that we’ve made major progress, that the surge has
worked. That’s been a major success.

    RADDATZ: Two-third of Americans say it’s not worth
fighting.

    CHENEY: So?

    RADDATZ So? You don’t care what the American people think?

    CHENEY: No. I think you cannot be blown off course by the
fluctuations in the public opinion polls.

[Cass]

53. He is so full of himself, isn't he?

The American people be damned, he'll do whatever he wants.

I hope Holder makes him wake up and smell the coffee on this.

[irislake]

63. He's above the law

watch him get away with it.

[laughingliberal]

69. He thinks he is the law n/t

[Wizard777]

41. Cheney STILL thinks he has complete control of the government.

But he very well may. God knows he and Halliburton have most of our money. I know Government defense contractors. I take things Halliburton has done and I ask them. What would happen to you if you did this. I get a universal, "they would jack the jail up and put me under it." So you wouldn't get a 600 million dollar bonus for price gouging and double billing? Again I pretty much get a universal, "I wouldn't even get an extra dessert in the PRISON Cafeteria."

[felinetta]

50. You're absolutely right! Nut job! Always was and always will be.

[Wizard777]

62. The fact that he's still a free man indicates Americans are the real nut jobs.

You see America thought the Bush administration was stupid. But the Bush administration KNEW Americans were stupid. Every day they remain free. They prove that knowledge to be right. Even if the intelligence was Dead Wrong.

[badgervan]

43. Traitor to Our Constitution and Our Country

... as such, the Big Dick must answer to justice. No "outsies". Does this clown have an ego, or what?

[tularetom]

44. They have ways of making his fat ass talk

And I think he pretty much knows those ways.

[lib_wit_it]

46. I'm against torture of human beings. No reason not to torture *Cheney* to make* him* talk.

[kenny blankenship]

47. Depends on how much water they pour up his nose? Number of tasers to the ball bag he receives?

Let's find out if Neo Nazis are really made out of stronger stuff, the way they claim they are.

[felinetta]

48. What an arrogant #%%R@, @^#*), #)#*^@& And don't forget what Liz Cheney said:

    L. CHENEY: I don’t think he planned to be doing this, you
know, when they left office in January. But I think, as it
became clear that President Obama was not only going to be
stopping some of these policies, that he was going to be doing
things like releasing the — the techniques themselves, so that
the terrorists could now train to them, that he was suggesting
that perhaps we would even be prosecuting former members of
the Bush administration. 

[JDPriestly]

51. How ironic! The man who denied so many their Fifth Amendment rights

relying on the right to remain silent. That's just too funny.

[truthisfreedom]

52. Correction: Cheney says "I'll be wearing depends"

That mofo is toast.

[abq e streeter]

54. Time for a strongly worded letter and maybe a subpoena that we really don't mean

[BlueDemKev]

55. Waterboarding?

Could we waterboard this fat bastard just so he can prove to us it's not torture, but just like taking a shower?

[NoodleyAppendage]

56. When this sack of sh*t kicks the bucket, I'll be making a special trip to piss on his grave. n/t

J

[The Wizard]

57. I would join you

but I promised myself upon discharge from the Army I wasn't going to stand in any long lines.

[NoodleyAppendage]

73. LOL. Good one. n/t

J

[Blandocyte]

58. Here's a good candidate for rendition

[Zorra]

59. Someone needs to send that arrogant criminal POS to prison. n/t

[windoe]

60. Delusions of grandeur, at it's best...

he has been dictating his life for many years now, apparently with little if no resistance. Can't wait till he wakes up and realize his game is up.

[nealmhughes]

61. I think that is one reason there are federal marshalls, Dick; to bring in the few who dare to defy a

federal grand jury.

Screeching "executive priv" probably won't help you either, Dick. I think the current AG and his grand jury and special investigators trump an out of office VP and congressman, even a former Halliburton executive!

When is his book coming out? That is the only reason anyone would care one whit about him, his opinions, or his threats. And if one might paraphrase Mary McCarthy on Lillian Hellman, "Every damned word he writes is a lie and that includes 'and' and 'the.'"

[Lil Missy]

64. Interesting how the bush camp stays silent while cheney self-destructs. n/t

[coalition_unwilling]

65. Here's how I think (and hope) it goes down,

so as to restore respect ang citizens for the "Rule of Law":

1) Durham assembles a team of investigators;

2) Said team determines that probable cause exists that U.S. statutes were violated;

3) Durham empanels a Federal Grand Jury to issue subpoenas, take testimony and, if warranted, issue indictments.

Cheney is EXTREMELY VULNERABLE to a duly issued ruapoena! He can move to quash the subpoena, but ON WHAT GROUNDS??? A denial of his motion to quash can be appealed by Cheney all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but any appellate decision that finds Cheney's motion to quash to have merit must base that finding in precedent.

I don't think there is any precedent that allows a prior elected official to igmre a duly-issued SUBPOENA. (Executive Privilege does not apply here.)

[undeterred]

66. It will depend on his being water boarded.

[Piewhacket]

67. He won't cooperate because he knows its a CRIMINAL inquiry with him at the end. He'll spin...

and, god willing and if justice prevails, when he has finished spinning his lies,
he'll be sent SPINNING on the end of a rough hemp rope.

[Hubert Flottz]

70. ShotGun Dick is above the law...

He has better things to do than answer questions, just like he had better things to do than to go to Viet Nam. He's a to the manor born republican and he's entitled to entitlements, like a gold plated get out of jail free card.

Smoke some pot and you get 20 years...but George and Dick can start 2 wars where thousands die and they think that they should get a pat on the back.

Then there's Tom Ridge on the Toady Show this AM..."Our government has stopped torturing, so they shouldn't be tried in criminal court. To try these people who tortured would be CRIMINAL!" If I go rob a fucking bank today and I don't rob one tomorrow, should I get away without being charged on Wednesday?(I thought Tom Ridge was a REAL lawyer?)

[bemildred]

71. Right, like Cheney would never engage in politics. nt

[Blue Meany]

72. In other words, he is accusing Obama of acting like Bush...

whose administration made all decisions based on political gain. I guess we can't expect the MSM to point out that the Bush/Cheney administration was the most politicized in history and that *they* prosecuted Democrats, some of them innocent of any wrongdoing, for political purposes, while ignoring major crimes of Republicans. But, of course, this part of a larger strategy of distorting reality for Republican advantage: by claiming that Democrats are doing exactly what Republicans did (and which they also denied doing). As Karl Rove once explained, they want there to be a "Democratic truth" and a "Republican truth." That, after all, is the only way that a party whose policies benifit a tiny portion of the population can win. They have to avoid rationale policy debates based on facts, in favor of fear mongering, lies, and character assasination. Real journalism that looked at this larger picture, of course, would make it much harder for them to play this game. But the "he said, she said" narrative that passes for journalism today plays right into their hands.