President Obama’s Doublespeak On Torture Report Explained
Following the release of the report Tuesday, President Obama talked to Telemundo’s José Díaz-Balart about some of these issues, including the timing of the release, of which he said, “I don’t think there was ever going to be a perfect time to release the report, but my position consistently was that after having conducted this report, it was important to go ahead and release it.”
This is in contrast with what many critics say is White House attempts to delay the report, but which, the white House says, were good faith negotiations over redactions to the report in order to protect American interests, operations, and personnel. You can agree or disagree with that footing, but it is entirely consistent with the past practices of this White House. The debate over transparency has become an entirely binary affair, but there really are legitimate concerns in this area. Just ask Lena Dunham’s “Barry” about that.
More jarringly, the president doubled down on his former assessment of the “enhanced interrogation techniques,” calling them “brutal,” and reiterating that they “constituted torture in my mind.” On the other hand, Obama repeatedly offered the kind of “fog of war” arguments we always hear about this sort of thing, offered not as “excuses,” but as reluctance to judge…READ MORE
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By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
36 responses to President Obama’s Doublespeak On Torture Report Explained
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tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 20:09
Our President has a legal obligation to pursue the legal case against any and all who instigated, abetted and participated in this horror!
Hirightnow December 10th, 2014 at 20:31
Unless it casts aspersions upon the previous administration…then it’s “Partisan Politics”
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 20:45
It’ll be partisan politics no matter what he does, or doesn’t do.
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 21:09
Our President has a legal obligation to pursue the legal case against any and all who instigated, abetted and participated in this horror!
Hirightnow December 10th, 2014 at 21:31
Unless it casts aspersions upon the previous administration…then it’s “Partisan Politics”
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 21:45
It’ll be partisan politics no matter what he does, or doesn’t do.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 20:33
The whole thing has been slow-rolled and punted down the road for too long. It appears the idea was to delay for as long as possible so when it finally came out, enough would say it’s old news that there would not be many calls for appropriate action.
There needs to be congressional hearing with those mentioned in the report called to testify.
Unfortunately, with the loss of majorities in both houses, the GOP controls the agenda.
What needs to come out of this is a hard determination, and supportive legislation if needed, to assure we never torture again.
There once was a time when conservatives were as disgusted by torture as liberals are. During the Cold War conservatives were right out front criticizing the USSR and other countries for using torture. Nowadays, it appears they have forgotten and need leadership to get back to a morally defensible position.
Bunya December 10th, 2014 at 21:45
After his election, Obama was asked if he planned on pursuing criminal charges against the Bush era officials who carried out the CIA program. It required a yes or no answer. Instead, he gave long, drawn out speech about how he condemned the “enhanced interrogation techniques” used, calling them barbaric, and how America should not engage in such brutal methods. That’s it. He was asked a second time – and again he gave the same type of sugar coated non-answer.
I’m not expecting a whole hell of a lot will be accomplished with regard to any appropriate action being taken or any charges filed. Democrats are relatively spineless when in comes to holding republicans accountable for their atrocities.
As for conservatives criticizing other countries for their use of torture techniques; of course they do! Torture is evil and inhumane and only used by heartless barbarians! On the other hand, the GOP’s use of “enhanced interrogation” is an extremely effective procedure used to extract valuable information. See the difference? Neither do I, but many Bush/Cheney sympathizers do.
Wayout December 10th, 2014 at 23:29
And for the Dems, the “Enhanced Interrogations” by Bush/Cheney were bad, while the drone strikes ordered by Obama/Biden that not only kills the suspected terrorists, but also innocent bystanders is good. What a convoluted way of thinking.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 23:36
The drone strikes were not against captives under our power and hors de combat.
As I replied to you before, the difference is great between the two.
For example, it is legal to shoot an enemy on the battlefield but it is illegal to shoot a prisoner.
Like I said above, you need to stop letting pundits do your thinking for you.
BURQA’S FOURTH LAW OF POLITICS:
Conservative pundits have an S&M relationship with their audiences. Being sadists, the pundits deliberately distort and omit information on various subjects, because they know their audience will repeat it unthinkingly. They enjoy watching their masochistic audience present their half-truths in forums such as this and get creamed, which appeals to their masochism.
Both derive pleasure from being wrong.
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 23:40
Stay on topic. Every time your heroes are shown to be the frauds they are, you idiots change the subject, just like a bunch of pre-schoolers who’ve been caught doing something wrong.
OldLefty December 11th, 2014 at 11:15
Bush expanded the use of drones.
CIA Expands Use of Drones in Terror War
‘Targeted killing’ with missile-firing Predators is a way to hit Al Qaeda in remote areas, officials say. Host nations are not always given notice.
January 29, 2006|Josh Meyer | Times Staff Writer
Meanwhile, if it wasn’t drones, it would be piloted bombers.
When it well known the “Enhanced Interrogations” do not yield reliable information, but is great for eliciting false confessions….
Now THAT’S convoluted thinking.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 23:41
Good point on prosecution. Holder is the main one, though. I want to see him asked.
It’s depressing to consider that those guys may very well get away with it, though there is small consolation knowing their reputations are forever soiled when it comes to those who have been named.
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 23:44
In our short attention span country and the right wing propaganda machine, their reputations are safe.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 23:57
Repeating my reply of a few minutes ago that disappeared.
I agree with you on the prosecutions. The one I’d really like to see asked is Holder.
It’s depressing to think they may get away with it, but at least we know their reputations will forever be tarnished.
I have no idea why this opinion had to be deleted, so I’ll try again.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 21:33
The whole thing has been slow-rolled and punted down the road for too long. It appears the idea was to delay for as long as possible so when it finally came out, enough would say it’s old news that there would not be many calls for appropriate action.
There needs to be congressional hearing with those mentioned in the report called to testify.
Unfortunately, with the loss of majorities in both houses, the GOP controls the agenda.
What needs to come out of this is a hard determination, and supportive legislation if needed, to assure we never torture again.
There once was a time when conservatives were as disgusted by torture as liberals are. During the Cold War conservatives were right out front criticizing the USSR and other countries for using torture. Nowadays, it appears they have forgotten and need leadership to get back to a morally defensible position.
Bunya December 10th, 2014 at 22:45
After his election, Obama was asked if he planned on pursuing criminal charges against the Bush era officials who carried out the CIA program. It required a yes or no answer. Instead, he gave long, drawn out speech about how he condemned the “enhanced interrogation techniques” used, calling them barbaric, and how America should not engage in such brutal methods. That’s it. He was asked a second time – and again he gave the same type of sugar coated non-answer.
I’m not expecting a whole hell of a lot will be accomplished with regard to any appropriate action being taken or any charges filed. Democrats are relatively spineless when in comes to holding republicans accountable for their atrocities.
As for conservatives criticizing other countries for their use of torture techniques; of course they do! Torture is evil and inhumane and only used by heartless barbarians! On the other hand, the GOP’s use of “enhanced interrogation” is an extremely effective procedure used to extract valuable information. See the difference? Neither do I, but many Bush/Cheney sympathizers do.
Wayout December 11th, 2014 at 00:29
And for the Dems, the “Enhanced Interrogations” by Bush/Cheney were bad, while the drone strikes ordered by Obama/Biden that not only kills the suspected terrorists, but also innocent bystanders is good. What a convoluted way of thinking.
burqa December 11th, 2014 at 00:36
The drone strikes were not against captives under our power and hors de combat.
As I replied to you before, the difference is great between the two.
For example, it is legal to shoot an enemy on the battlefield but it is illegal to shoot a prisoner.
Like I said above, you need to stop letting pundits do your thinking for you.
BURQA’S FOURTH LAW OF POLITICS:
Conservative pundits have an S&M relationship with their audiences. Being sadists, the pundits deliberately distort and omit information on various subjects, because they know their audience will repeat it unthinkingly. They enjoy watching their masochistic audience present their half-truths in forums such as this and get creamed, which appeals to their masochism.
Both derive pleasure from being wrong.
tiredoftea December 11th, 2014 at 00:40
Stay on topic. Every time your heroes are shown to be the frauds they are, you idiots change the subject, just like a bunch of pre-schoolers who’ve been caught doing something wrong.
OldLefty December 11th, 2014 at 12:15
Bush expanded the use of drones.
CIA Expands Use of Drones in Terror War
‘Targeted killing’ with missile-firing Predators is a way to hit Al Qaeda in remote areas, officials say. Host nations are not always given notice.
January 29, 2006|Josh Meyer | Times Staff Writer
Meanwhile, if it wasn’t drones, it would be piloted bombers.
When it well known the “Enhanced Interrogations” do not yield reliable information, but is great for eliciting false confessions….
Now THAT’S convoluted thinking.
burqa December 11th, 2014 at 00:41
Good point on prosecution. Holder is the main one, though. I want to see him asked.
It’s depressing to consider that those guys may very well get away with it, though there is small consolation knowing their reputations are forever soiled when it comes to those who have been named.
tiredoftea December 11th, 2014 at 00:44
In our short attention span country and the right wing propaganda machine, their reputations are safe.
burqa December 11th, 2014 at 00:57
Repeating my reply of a few minutes ago that disappeared.
I agree with you on the prosecutions. The one I’d really like to see asked is Holder.
It’s depressing to think they may get away with it, but at least we know their reputations will forever be tarnished.
I have no idea why this opinion had to be deleted, so I’ll try again.
edmeyer_able December 10th, 2014 at 22:09
Am I disappointed in what the end results of Obama’s actions will be, in a word yes.
But the one difference between Obama and any of the conservatives defending the actions of the cia is
THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN.
edmeyer_able December 10th, 2014 at 23:09
Am I disappointed in what the end results of Obama’s actions will be, in a word yes.
But the one difference between Obama and any of the conservatives defending the actions of the cia is
THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN.
Wayout December 10th, 2014 at 23:23
First, you need to get the basics right. This was the release of a report by Democrat Senators which was written by their own staffers, not by the Senate as a whole.. As for Obama, it’s always either doublespeak or outright lying as that is his standard way of operating.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 23:30
You have the basics wrong.
Someone lied to you.
Now you look silly, not knowing the way things are done in D.C.
Staffers write all these things.
That’s what they do on the staff.
The report is from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
tiredoftea December 10th, 2014 at 23:38
Sorry, but you are pathetic, even for a fringe klown. Your right wing buddies fought for restricting this report to only the CIA and not the more proper report on why the CIA was authorized to use torture. That would have led directly to the White House and not a place where your “patriots” wanted to go.
burqa December 10th, 2014 at 23:54
Familiarize yourself with how things are done in D.C.
Staffers write almost all that stuff.
That is what staffers do.
It’s the same with speeches.
They seldom write their own speeches, either. A speechwriter will write it but it is the politician’s speech. No, really, I’m not making that up.
That’s the “basics” of how they do things.
The report is from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
OldLefty December 11th, 2014 at 11:15
That’s EXACTLY what they say about reports written by Republic senators, and the double speak of the Bush administration.,
Why do you think that common and old sentiments are new and special when your side expresses them?
Wayout December 11th, 2014 at 00:23
First, you need to get the basics right. This was the release of a report by Democrat Senators which was written by their own staffers, not by the Senate as a whole.. As for Obama, it’s always either doublespeak or outright lying as that is his standard way of operating.
burqa December 11th, 2014 at 00:30
You have the basics wrong.
Someone lied to you.
Now you look silly, not knowing the way things are done in D.C.
Staffers write all these things.
That’s what they do on the staff.
The report is from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Really now, you need to stop letting pundits do your thinking for you.
BURQA’S FOURTH LAW OF POLITICS:
Conservative pundits have an S&M relationship with their audiences. Being sadists, the pundits deliberately distort and omit information on various subjects, because they know their audience will repeat it unthinkingly. They enjoy watching their masochistic audience present their half-truths in forums such as this and get creamed, which appeals to their masochism.
Both derive pleasure from being wrong.
tiredoftea December 11th, 2014 at 00:38
Sorry, but you are pathetic, even for a fringe klown. Your right wing buddies fought for restricting this report to only the CIA and not the more proper report on why the CIA was authorized to use torture. That would have led directly to the White House and not a place where your “patriots” wanted to go.
burqa December 11th, 2014 at 00:54
In D.C., the “basics” of how things are done is staffers write almost all that stuff.
That is what staffers do.
It’s the same with speeches.
They seldom write their own speeches, either. A speechwriter will write it but it is the politician’s speech. No, really, I’m not making that up.
That’s the “basics” of how they do things.
The report is from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
OldLefty December 11th, 2014 at 12:15
That’s EXACTLY what they say about reports written by Republic senators, and the double speak of the Bush administration.,
Why do you think that common and old sentiments are new and special when your side expresses them?