Flashback: When Durbin Compared U.S. Torture To Nazis, Firestorm Ensued
As Spencer Ackerman just reported over at TPMmuckraker, Michael Mukasey just compared U.S. torture to the Holocaust at his confirmation hearing a few moments ago.
In light of this, we thought it would be interesting to recall another similar episode. Remember when Dem Senator Dick Durbin compared American torture to the Soviet gulags and to Nazi activities back in 2005? At the time, he said:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."
An enormous firestorm ensued, with Republican after Republican denouncing him. And Durbin was forced to deliver a tearful apology on the Senate floor. What will happen this time?
Seems worth recalling.
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Mukasey hates the troops.
Since he's apparently against torture, there goes his chance of serving in the Romney administration.
October 17, 2007 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Choking up, Durbin said, ""Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line. To them, I extend my heartfelt apologies."
Sounds like he was choking up with indignation, not compunction. His apology was extended only to those who 'believed' (matter of faith, not fact) that his remarks crossed the line. I'd say it was a pretty slippery apology and in no way retracted his original statement. Good for him.
October 17, 2007 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm at work so I'm not able to follow along with the fun but I have a crucial question I would like Mukasey to answer. Hopefully this was asked in a followup to his response.
Is waterboarding torture? Are head slapping and extended stress positions torture?
George Bush says we don't torture. Thats not big news. The big news is when Mukasey says what we have actually done is torture, and he will not give his blessings to that going forward, even if the President thinks it is not torture.
October 17, 2007 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
IOKIYAR
October 17, 2007 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
just finished reading a book Joseph W. Bendersky's Concise History of Nazi Germany and the numerous parallels between Hitler's methodology and BushCheney's were striking.
I read the rethugs outcry to Durbin's honest feelings about what the AMerican FBI did to their interrogatees as a collective abreaction.
October 17, 2007 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Where is the OUTRAGE this time?
How come Democrats don't POINT this out to the Media?
October 17, 2007 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I recall, there was a huge fuss - which died down considerably when it turned out the CIA was ACTUALLY using parts of the Soviet Gulag as part of its rendition programme.
By that precedent, there will probably be a hissy fit about comparing American torture to the Holocaust which goes quiet when we find out the interrogation manuals were originally written in German and have SS logos on them...
October 17, 2007 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican hypocrisy is of course even more blatant than usual. But before anyone starts to think to well of Mukasey's testimony, read Katherine at Obsidan Wings.
October 17, 2007 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
No it's not worth mentioning.
If we mentioned it, we might point out a (yet another) glaring hypocrisy in conservatives/Republicans. And we can't have that.
MSM sources? Ha! Too busy collecting fat paychecks and mailing in their jobs to actually hold anyone in the conservative delusion accountable.
The funny thing is, people like Matthews, Blitzer etc know it's all a farce. A scam. An elaborate circus sideshow to distract from what is eating us away at our core. But they're fat, happy, well-fed and comfortable. Why should they practice actual journalism and risk all their comfort?
October 18, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink