IN RESPONSE TO THE CIA INTERROGATIONS

boblonsberry.com ^ | 08/27/09 | Bob Lonsberry

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In recent days we've learned some new things about the CIA interrogation of terrorism suspects after September 11.

We've learned that it was a lot more than just waterboarding.

It was also threats.

Like the time they put the drill upside the suspect's head and told him that if he didn't tell what he knew they were going to give him the Black and Decker treatment. Or when they told the man who blew up the sleeping sailors aboard the USS Cole that if he didn't cooperate they were going to make him watch while Israeli commandos raped his mother.

That's pretty strong stuff.

It takes things to another level, and calls for careful consideration of how we operate.

And it makes me want to say something to the CIA and its interrogators. As I hear these stories, I feel bubbling up inside me a sentiment that I can't restrain. Something that I believe decency demands be said, something that cannot go unspoke. Basically, for the CIA, I have two words.

Thank you.

Thank you for defending America and my family.

Thank you for having the brass to chase down America's enemies. Thank you for getting information from them which protected our country and crippled their organization. Thank you for jumping into the fray when America needed you most.

I think these interrogators are American heroes. Common sense says we should throw them a parade.

Barack Obama says we will investigate them, disavow them, and probably prosecute them. On his side he seems to have every TV anchorman and Democrat politician in the country. From the way they have carried on, these interrogators were the most evil people around and they have committed some grave crime against humanity.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

And those who call this "torture" have never read of what the Japanese did under Hirahito, the Vietnamese did under Ho Chi Minh or what the Russians did under Joseph Stalin. Tortured people bleed and die, they don't crap their pants and cry for mommy.

Yes, a terrorist was threatened with a drill, but he wasn't drilled. A terrorist was threatened with a gun, but he wasn't shot. People got threatened, but they didn't get injured. These terrorists were lied to -- they were told they were going to be subject to violence -- but they didn't get hurt. The man who masterminded September 11 was told that if there was another attack on America that we would kill his children. We didn't kill his children. We manipulated him to think we would in order to compel his cooperation.

That's what interrogation is.

Where I grew up there is a simple childhood maxim: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. That applies to getting information out of terrorists. You can say anything you want, you can make them believe anything you want. Unless it gets to the broken bone level, nobody's got a beef.

At least nobody who knows what it takes to defend America.

On September 11, war was declared on the United States. An organization and an ideology decided to slaughter Americans wholesale. It was in every way a fight for survival, a fight to the death. Some 3,000 of our neighbors had been killed, murdered in the blink of a cowardly sneak-attack eye. Every indication was that more attacks were on the way. A Muslim group claimed responsibility and threatened additional attacks.

At that point, the president and others in the government -- from the military to the FBI to the CIA -- stood up in a concerted, no-holds-barred effort to protect the American homeland. It was the fundamental duty of government -- national defense. Men went to war and the CIA went into action. It was a fight to protect America, it was the highest calling of national duty.

And that's what the interrogators were doing with those suspects.They were doing what they could to get information to protect this nation. And they were successful.

But even if they hadn't been, their actions -- threats and intimidation, harrassing questioning -- were completely justified. This nonsense about there being some violation of law is ridiculous. The actions of those interrogators, just like the actions of our GIs in battle, are justified by the law of self-defense. They were repelling an attack, they were stopping an ongoing terrorist plot against the United States. They were soldiers on the front line.

And they are being thrown under the bus for political reasons. Somehow, the political party in control of the federal government has decided to attack our defenders. In a move that gives comfort and encouragement to our enemies -- and which despirits and weakens our defenders -- the Obama Administration has decided to make the CIA the enemy. Acting out liberal fantasies stretching back to Vietnam, the CIA is the bad guy. And in caves in Pakistan what's left of Al Qaeda must be laughing themselves silly. We have intimidated any future defenders out of standing up for the country, and we have publicly announced that our prisoners will undergo no stressful interrogation. We have hurt our side and helped the other side. We have increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks against America and Americans. This decision may literally cost American lives.

And that is the policy of Barack Obama.

I'm sorry, I forgot the inauguration. That is the policy of Barack Hussein Obama.

But it's not the policy of the people of the United States. The people know who their defenders are, the people love the country, the people believe in defending the country and putting America first.

The people don't want to prosecute those CIA interrogators.

The people want to thank them.

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And that is the policy of Barack Obama.

I'm sorry, I forgot the inauguration. That is the policy of Barack Hussein Obama.

[mbarker12474]

Amen.

[Lazamataz]

Thank you.

Get rid of Obama, and do more of these interrogations.

To our enemies, not to citizens that Obama declares 'enemy' because they oppose communism.

[silverleaf]

Not only should we the peope thank them, but contribute to a defense fund if one is established.

[lcurto681]

Well said my fellow American. Here-here!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘zackly. Holder should be put on trial. Not the people who protected us.

[Piquaboy]

I can only hope that they piss off the wrong CIA operative.

[Riodacat]

Let's be thankful that they had Kieffer Sutherland in carge of interrogations.

[Servant of the Cross]

Take this debate right to the American people. "24" and Jack Bauer have already 'won' this debate in the "hearts and minds" of the American people. This is a loser for 0bama so let's open up a second front of the war (in addition to 0bamacare/Kennedycare) to take back our country with this issue. Pound them hard. Send Cheney, Steele, DeMint, Palin, King (Peter), etc. to slam 0bama and Holder on this EVERY day until the outcry stops it in its tracks. Contrast this investigation with the recent "killing" of the Richardson investigation and the abhorrent dismissal of the Philly Black Panthers at the voting precinct. Criminals are freed and patriotic CIA agents defending the security of the country are prosecuted?!! This is an impeachable offense.

[Louis Foxwell]

This is, indeed, an impeachable offense.
The drips will become a steady flow and the flow a flood, until the great masses of the American people can no longer deny that we have elected a man who hates our country.
He has brought our enemies into the White House.
He has bankrupted us.
He seeks to silence our dissenting voices.
He is, in every respect, our enemy and he must be impeached.
I pray he will be protected from any and all violence until he can be prosecuted under the law for treason.

[Servant of the Cross]

Thanks for this great post. It’s the voice of a Prophet (from your lips to God’s ear)!!