ABC News just released this fascinating run of events that led to Bin Laden’s assassination. It all began when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, soon to go on trial for his life at Guantanamo, blabbed during his controversial interrogation ordered by the Bush Administration.
Right or wrong, it directly led SEAL Team Six to Bin Laden’s front door. Pretty good fodder for debate…
I don’t consider it hyperbole to say that “we have to go over to the dark side” is the single worst quote by a leading politician in American history. It is settled law that the information obtained from any suspect through the use of torture is less reliable than information not obtained through torture. You can get a person to talk without torture.
From the article you cite:
“Mohammed did not discuss al-Kuwaiti while being subjected to the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding, former officials said. He acknowledged knowing him many months later under standard interrogation, they said, leaving it once again up for debate as to whether the harsh technique was a valuable tool or an unnecessarily violent tactic.”
Bin Laden was a really bad guy, he made the world a much worse place, and we’re all better off now that he is gone. Celebrating his death is shameful. We should all aspire to be better than that.
I happen to agree with you on this one, Dwight. But not with great certitude. I have changed my mind on this at least a half dozen times. And I strongly believe that the President must have the right to make tough calls when necessary.
I agree. The President is the one who has to make these calls and the person in that office has to do it quickly and effectively, which I think Obama managed to do. With all due credit to all of the people and agencies who came before him and who helped make this happen. I just find all of the celebration a little disturbing.