I’m sorry, but you seriously need a spine implant.

Seriously.”

And Matt I think you need a brain implant. Seriously. Now that we have exchanged obligatory insults, let’s talk. I was describing the position of Clinton above. My own position, repeated ad nauseum on this blog and other blogs, is that I am opposed to physical coercion interrogation techniques. I include in this category waterboarding. If I were in the Senate I would support legislation banning this technique. I also believe that any politician or party supporting such legislation will pay a very heavy price when an American city is attacked with a nuclear device, something that I anticipate happening in the next decade. I doubt if waterboarding and other physical interrogation techniques can stop this, but I also doubt that the American people will be in a mood to draw nice distinctions in the wake of a tragedy that leaves several hundred thousand Americans dead. Clinton is bright enough to understand this.

I’m sorry, but you seriously need a spine implant.

Seriously.

Landsakes, man. Have you no courage? What is this desperation for the government to torture the big, bad terrorists before they do something mean to you? You’re giving the terrorists way, WAY more power…more attention, even… than they deserve.

Think about this, Donald: Why is it called “TERRORism”?? Forget moral considerations for a moment. Don’t you realize that when you beg the government to stop at no means, no matter how vile and subversive of democracy and human decency, to save your sorry, fear-addled hide – “I’m scared! Trash the constitution! Take away my rights! Do anything, but don’t let them hurt meeee!” – you’re actually doing exactly what the terrorists want you to do? Why are you helping the terrorists?

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/10/clinton-and-tor.html

Clinton expects to be the next president, and she isn’t about to give away any tool that she might find useful in waging war. In some ways she is a throwback to the liberal hawks so common in the Democrat party prior to Vietnam, and anyone who doesn’t believe that she would be ruthless in doing whatever it took to achieve victory simply hasn’t been paying close attention to her statements

.http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/10/ap_interview_obama_criticizes_clinton_war_torture_stances/

Clinton also realizes that if her party were to ban waterboarding a terrible political price could well be paid after a big terrorist attack that causes mass casualties in the US. It is one thing to yell at the Bush administration, rake their hapless AG nominee over the coals, score political points with their base and generally have a good time. It is another to actually pass legislation and assume responsibility for the consequences. As Rudyard Kipling noted, “Power without responsibility – the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages.”

As a student of skillful political manuevers, I tip my hat to Mrs. Clinton. She is playing her political cards well in this case, if not ethically. Or perhpas she is merely taking advice from her cheatin’ half. I have always thought that she was far brighter than him, but I also thought he had the best raw political talent since Reagan left office.
http://infowars.net/articles/october2007/011007Clinton.htm

This is probably the only time I have agreed with Donald on anything, but he is right: what is Congress doing to reel this in? Democrats? The answer is that politics of fear is very much potent – nobody (especially Democrats) want to be labelled a surrender monkey. When people continue to vote out of fear then the politicians will be blindingly dense to stand on principle with regards to waterboarding, rendition, Blackwater, etc.

Bin laden gave his reason for targeting American civilians and it was dismissed as the rantings of a genocidal maniac, but his point is very much relevant: the American people have chosen a democratic system of government and are ultimately culpable for whatever perceived grudges that other nations have against the US government. No matter how much we are mired in denial, the government IS a reflection of American people and the choices made on election day.