Where to even start in discussing today's interview with fmr. vice-president Dick Cheney?
A few things are clear, Mr. Cheney has no remorse; he would do it all again if need be; and that he knew about and or authorized everything documented in the Senate's torture report. However, Mr. Cheney at times seemed defensive, which must indicate some degree of concern on his part, concern that fmr. CIA Director Michael Hayden visibly and verbally has shared this week.
Believe it or not, there is a part of this column that appreciates individuals who covet American lives above all at all costs. Mr. Cheney certainly takes an extremist view of that notion. But the problem with that view is that those costs negate the very essence of what it is to be an American, and as Americans we don't believe in paying the price of our principles.
As fmr. president George W. Bush said, "America doesn't torture people," if you agree with Mr. Cheney's definition. But the fact is that water boarding, despite what Mr. Cheney will tell you, is torture. When Chuck Todd described a prisoner being put in a coffin like box for a grossly extended period of time, Mr. Cheney responded that the [enhanced interrogation] technique had been approved. But that sounds like torture to us as does the technique of rectal feeding, which Mr. Cheney tried to defend as medically legitimate.
"It absolutely worked," is how Mr. Cheney responded to the question as to whether enhanced interrogation was effective. But did it work absolutely? Mr. Todd cited the statistic that 25 percent of prisoners who were subjected to enhanced interrogation were later found to be innocent. One in four. Mr. Cheney had no reservations - the fmr. vice-president of the United States had no moral reservation about the fact the innocent people were tortured in the name of all Americans. That provokes a visceral reaction.
There aren't going to be prosecutions of any individuals of course, though Mr. Cheney would be a candidate if there ever was one, and you have to concede the point. But we agree with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in that going forward torture will be prosecuted, and that includes people who use water boarding as a tactic.
The reason that we mention the above is because in this column we try to figure out the insight by looking at something from all angles. But the fact is that in the case, we can not defend the indefensible, who is Dick Cheney. His views on how America should go about keeping themselves safe is completely warped. How are we enhancing our own freedom while stripping everyone else of theirs?
Make no mistake, the American people will have to live a long time with the sins committed by Mr. Cheney in the name of the American people - the biggest of which we surely know.
Helene Cooper mentioned that the Chinese press has been all of this story and one of the comments is that 'America wants it both ways,' meaning that we condemn China for human rights abuses but then we go and torture people. No, the Chinese have it wrong, Dick Cheney wants it both ways, but Americans don't, that's why we released the report.
(There's so much more to be said, and it is important to comment certainly. However, it's the holiday time - stressful enough - so why go on and on about it.)
Panel: Dan Senor, Republican political advisor; Helene Cooper, The New York Times; Andrea Mitchell, NBC News; David Axelrod, fmr. senior advisor of the Obama Administration
1.1 Trilion budget bill
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