Torture Memo Author Says CIA Went Too Far
[su_right_ad]The Bush White House attorney who provided the rationale for torture says in some cases the CIA went too far.
Former Justice Department lawyer John Yoo said the sleep deprivation, rectal feeding and other harsh treatment outlined in a U.S. Senate report last week could violate anti-torture laws.
“If these things happened as they’re described in the report … they were not supposed to be done. And the people who did those are at risk legally because they were acting outside their orders,” Yoo said on CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS”.
As Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel in 2002, Yoo co-wrote a memo that was used as the legal sanction for what the CIA called its program of enhanced interrogation techniques after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The memo said only prolonged mental harm or serious physical injury, such as organ failure, violated the Geneva Convention’s ban on torture. Aggressive interrogation methods like waterboarding fell short of that mark.
Yoo’s comments on Sunday contrasted with those of Cheney and former national security officials who invoke his memo to argue that the harsh treatment of detainees was legal.[su_r_sky_ad]
rat618 December 15th, 2014 at 10:29 am
This taking “throwing people under the bus” to a whole new level. Just trying to save his rep and his ass. He will need to look over his shoulder from now on as Cheney’s people will definitely be after him.
crc3 December 15th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Waterboarding fell short of torture? On what planet? John Yoo is full of crap like the rest of the people that are trying to cover up the fact that the Bush administration is probably the most corrupt in US history. I will never be satisfied until all the players are behind bars. However…I’m sure I will never be satisfied because it will never happen because those same people look to be “untouchable”…
tiredoftea December 15th, 2014 at 11:23 am
“I didn’t think they would take that memo so seriously!”, John Loo.
Anomaly 100 December 15th, 2014 at 12:28 pm
“It was all in fun.”
cecilia December 15th, 2014 at 11:04 pm
it’s as if they are mentally ill…….they open their mouths and weird stuff comes out
tiredoftea December 15th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
IKR?!!! There’s so much weird stuff inside.
fahvel December 15th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
if the subject weren’t so abhorrent, it’d be fun to watch the rats diving overboard.
William December 15th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
It’s even worse than I thought.
Roctuna December 15th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Oh god, #1 and #5 would get me to admit to anything to make it stop, not to mention that 5 would require super drugs. #4 good for a laugh, #2 would be difficult to distinguish between McCain and the sponge.
burqa December 15th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
They also piped in Melanie’s “Brand New Key” over and over, 24/7.
EVERYBODY SING ALONG!:
“I-I-I-I-I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates,
You’ve got a brand new key…..”
Bunya December 15th, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Looks like Cheney’s the only one standing ground. And, in true Cheney form, he threw Bush under the bus on Meet the Press.
tracey marie December 15th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Fingers crossed that Cheney and his words of support for the killing and maiming of prisoners could be used against him and give cause for his arrest.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" December 15th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Couldn’t resist this one…. Merry Xmas !!!
ChrisVosburg December 15th, 2014 at 11:07 pm
Deeply repulsive, Susan.
Pistol-Packing December 16th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
Thank you, thank you very much…. =)
ChrisVosburg December 15th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Yes, Mr Yoo, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the rest are the gangsters who sacked the nation’s reserve of any last remaining shreds of moral good–
And you drove the getaway car.
fancypants December 15th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
stick to your guns john yoo
” it was borderline torture “