He’d Do it Again
Remember all the vehement denials from the Bush administration when allegations first surfaced that they had tortured terrorism suspects? We’ve gone from that, to this.
“Yeah, we water-boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,” Bush said of the terrorist who master-minded the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. He said that event shaped his presidency and convinced him the nation was in a war against terror.
“I’d do it again to save lives.”
Obama’s refusal to pursue an investigation into Bush administration torture has led us to a place where Bush can casually admit in a public forum that he waterboarded people. And claim he’d do it again. That means that future presidents can do the same, without fear or concern. Probably without any need to keep it a secret. Obama set a precedent — it’s OK to torture, despite it being against international treaties to which the US is a signatory.
That this man can come and admit to torture like this, and nothing will be done about it, is shameful. And wholly against what is supposed to be the guiding principles of the American system. I say supposed to be because it is becoming more and more evident that any talk of justice and liberty in the United States is nothing more than a fantasy. And it will likely get worse before, or even if, it gets better.