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We're All to Blame for Torture

Tactics are no surprise; let's not dump our guilt on CIA

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 28, 2009 12:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Suddenly, Democrats in Congress are calling for the prosecution of CIA agents for torture. But that torture was never a secret, and when it was politically prudent, Democrats had no problem backing it—and neither did many Americans, writes Naomi Wolf in the Guardian. We’ve all got “blood on our hands,” and prosecuting CIA operatives would be scapegoating to ease our own guilt.

“When the political winds were with the last administration,” Wolf writes, “just about every congressional Democrat fell right into line to accept it, if not cheer it on.” And “how many Americans spoke up when it was chic to thrill to the sadistic soundbite of ‘take the gloves off’?” Instead of going after the CIA agents, we must “lay the guilt where it belongs”: legally, on leaders who ordered the torture, and "emotionally and morally," on ourselves.

Mike Morice of World Can't Wait group is seen after a live waterboarding demonstration outside the Spanish Consulate in Manhattan to urge prosecution in Spain of the alleged involvement of Bush administration officials in the torture of terror suspects, Thursday, April 23, 2009 in New York.
Mike Morice of World Can't Wait group is seen after a live waterboarding demonstration outside the Spanish Consulate in Manhattan to urge prosecution in Spain of the alleged involvement of Bush administration...   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Leaders like Condoleezza Rice should be in legal trouble over torture, not CIA operatives, Wolf writes.
Leaders like Condoleezza Rice should be in legal trouble over torture, not CIA operatives, Wolf writes.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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May we please look in the mirror, for the sake of our own moral health? - Naomi Wolf

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
justme
Apr 28, 2009 11:23 AM CDT
Harsh interrogation or torture? In the words of a famous president, it just depends on what the definition of "is " is.
nick
Apr 28, 2009 7:43 AM CDT
For 5+ years, President Bush said to us, "America does not torture". I don't know about you, NutsInNY, but I don't feel like I need to be let off any hook. My President lied to me!
Zorro
Apr 28, 2009 6:41 AM CDT
Finding the scapegoats to blame for the actions condoned by many is typical for Americans. Look at the smoking industry - we've known for over 40 years that it kills people but its still ok to sue the tobacco companies because we "didn't know it would kill us".

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CIA Interrogators Deserve Thanks, Not Punishment

Torture 'Apologists' Are Wrong: It's Never Justified

Torture Played ‘Small Role’ in bin Laden Hunt


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