John Yoo grew up in the Philadelphia area and presumably got a great education at the Episcopal Academy before he headed off to the Ivy League and finally the Justice Department, where he became the nation's leading advocate...for war crimes. It is Yoo who adopted the warped and unsupported view that one terrorist attack gives the U.S. president the uncontested powers of an emperor, and that the president can use those powers to command torture, unlawful rendition or torture, and generally destroy the reputation of a country founded not really that long ago as a beacon for liberty and civil rights.
I -- and many others -- believe that Yoo's actions in the White House should be investigated by Congress and the Justice Department. That may happen, but for now he is still taken seriously as a constitutional expert and give all kinds of platforms to defend his views, that there was some kind of justification for the ideas that led to gross violations of law that took place at Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and elsewhere. The latest example: An op-ed by Yoo in this Sunday's Inquirer.
In the bad timing department, Yoo's op-ed was published on the same day that the New York Times published an op-ed chronicling some of the unlawful activity that was unleashed under the signature of John Yoo. You can read the graphic depiction of some of the torture techniques -- and before you say anything, I think the initial victims here are murdering thungs who deserve to burn in hell for all eternity for their own illegal acts plotted and carried out on 9/11.
But the whole point of fighting terrorism is maintaining a civil society, a society that's so much better than that. There's no evidence that torture produced any actionable intelligence that could not have been gained through legal means -- but it did recuit new terrorists to their cause in Iraq and elsewhere and sullied America's image among those who once admired us. For who? For what?
As the author of the New York Times article, Mark Danner, wrote:
What we can say with certainty, in the wake of the Red Cross report, is that the United States tortured prisoners and that the Bush administration, including the president himself, explicitly and aggressively denied that fact. We can also say that the decision to torture, in a political war with militant Islam, harmed American interests by destroying the democratic and Constitutional reputation of the United States, undermining its liberal sympathizers in the Muslim world and helping materially in the recruitment of young Muslims to the extremist cause. By deciding to torture, we freely chose to embrace the caricature they had made of us. The consequences of this choice, legal, political and moral, now confront us. Time and elections are not enough to make them go away.
John Yoo has a right to free speech in this country. What that means is that he's allowed to walk down this street or stand up on a soapbox in Fairmount Park and spout his repulsive viewpoints -- and not get arrested. It doesn't mean that Yoo is entitled to powerful megaphones for those views, like the op-ed page of an American newspaper -- not if we're really serious about treating torture with the gravity it deserves. Yoo's megaphone should have been unplugged a long time.
There's no blood in torture...... Torture has no blood.— Mr. Smith
Comment removed.
And he lies... "Agree or not with its policies, the Bush administration succeeded in preventing another al-Qaeda attack, with any reduction in civil liberties far less than previous U.S. wars." What about that episode of terrorism by anthrax? For some reason, all of the Bush inner circle seem to have some kind of amnesia about that time period. Or... maybe they really do believe that the case has been "solved." Not!— kmurphy- Can someone explain to me why, if someone is concerned about American security, they would advocate using torture despite the consensus among intelligence experts that using torture is ineffective and counterproductive?— Talking point sleuth
- FYI that John Yoo continues to be listed as a "Distinguished Scholar" over at the National Constitution Center (http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_about_Distinguished_Scholars_Panel_.aspx). I noticed this a year ago and I'm surprised to see that his name is still there. Makes me wonder about the Constitution Center itself.— MB6
- ...but convicted cop killers should be given free access to any media they want, including commencement addresses, right Will? Your hypocrisy here is nauseating. To date, John Yoo has been convicted of nothing. Publishing an op-ed piece in the Inquirer offers a different side to the debate, and opens him up to ridicule and scorn, if appropriate. Why would you, as a journalist, be so passionate about stifling someone's expressing of their opinion, just because you disagree with it???— IggleFan68
- but convicted cop-killers should have all kinds of access to media -- op ed pieces, commencement speeches, etc... Your hypocrisy is nauseating. Doesn't it make you wonder what kind of journalist you are when you advocate limiting someone's ability to communicate just because you disagree with them?? Remember, Mr Yoo isn't even accused of anything... TPS's point is much more valid.— IggleFan68
- Since you're not a toady, Iggie, I will refrain from commenting on your double-post. Oh. Wait.— Talking point sleuth
Will, I just took the time to write a comment, and was told it's being "reviewed for publication", which means I'll never see it. Could you find it and post it please. This site has become frustrating. Thanks.— jmc- hahahaha TPS... Read JMC's post, and you will understand why there is a double post by me.— IggleFan68
"when you advocate limiting someone's ability to communicate just because you disagree with them??" . . . . Very unbecoming a journalist, I agree.- "But the whole point of fighting terrorism is maintaining a civil society" Hmm, I thought the primary point of fighting terrorism is to prevent citizens from getting killed. Compared to WWII, what we have seen in the WOT is pretty small change regarding civilian casualties and trangressions on civil liberties (anyone recall mail censorship?)— db_cooper
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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