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Waterboarding & Illegal Torture??? Obama Speaks Again

By Larry Bettag

Mortgage and Lending with Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 NMLS ID# 158606

May 20, 2009 01:13 AM

Obama said that he would vigorously defend the Bush administration even though he would draw a line in the sand as to what's excessive torture. What gets me is that torture is torture. Torture is not being done for a sport, rather it's being done, at least in the United States, to protect the citizens of the United States. A top Bush Aide, said that the records are available that show exactly what information we gathered from using our excessive methods of interrogation.

What really rags my goo is that we had 9/11. We had planes flying into our skyscrapers, killing Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, Independents and Muslims, Jews, Christians etc. We in the United States, get pissed and say "not on our soil" and implement strict tactics and get legal opinions saying what's extreme and what's not, in order to gather information to protect OUR COUNTRY.

Today, the master of meaningless eloquence retracted yesterday's words and said, "that'll be up to the Attorney General's office to see if they want to prosecute." A few poignant points:

1) Who'd ever want to become the president (except Rod Blagojevich) if they new that the next adminsitration was going to try to proscecute them for work done in good faith;

2) These guys had legal opinions saying "go ahead....protect our county...do what you need to do" since we need to protect ourselves;

3) Obama is shifting (caving in) his position to make things happy for the peeps in his party. I can't beleive that he said that he'd vigorously defend them, when thereafter he goes and say's no way;

4) The most stupid thing, I think, is telling the world that we'll never cross this line when trying to extract information from terrorists who want to harm our country. What???? Are you kidding me? I believe that we have a right to protect our country at all costs....this includes, in my eyes, waterboarding the worst of the worst. Ultimately they don't die, but if we extract information that protects 5, 10, 10,000, or 1,000,000 lives, the waterboarding was worth it. It's about protecting our country, not putting the rights of one above the collective rights, protections and interests of the whole. Just my viewpoint.....

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Terry Miller

Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX

Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

One American life is more valuable than the entire Terrorist population in the world. There is no such thing as torture of someone that would kill you just for being an American.

May 20, 2009 01:18 AM

Eric Villaverde

DoubleTree Home Inspection Services L.L.C. - Phoenix, AZ

Every time he speaks the economy goes down. He spoke at ASU here in AZ. Then, he spoke at Notre Dame. He got a degree from Notre Dame and a scholarship on behalf of his name at ASU.

May 20, 2009 01:19 AM

Katiejo Franks

Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Scottsdale, AZ

We have to do everything we can to protect America. Change is here as promised

May 20, 2009 01:41 AM

Hugh Krone

Weichert Referral Associates - Hamburg, NJ

Realtor, Sussex County NJ

Larry

If you listen to enough Obama speeches you will hear him support every side of every issue, it is his actions we must watch closely.

May 20, 2009 02:03 AM

BJ Matson

The Choice Group - Olney, MD

Larry, I agree with you completely... do what you need to do. These are Terrorists, not captured soldiers of some country. Torture away and get the info you need to protect us. In fact, don't even tell us about it... How can you be safe if you will be judged by your own media and not allowed to do what you need to do, or your information extracted is shared publicly. When you are dealing with people that are trying to KILL you and your country you use any means necessary.

May 20, 2009 02:04 AM

Kathleen Frawley

Keller Williams 916 730-4404 Elk Grove, Wilton, Folsom, Sacramento - Wilton, CA

South County Sacramento, 916 730 4404

OK it's WAR. read those words: war. I thought all was fair in love and WAR. A mama bear will do what ever she needs to to protect her babies, and we should too.

May 20, 2009 03:29 AM

Joanna Szwyd

StoneHouse Properties - Great Barrington, MA

Very well said, Larry. I also agree with Terry above: one American life is more valuable that the whole terrorist group.

May 20, 2009 04:18 AM

Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495

Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

I still can't understand how you and the others think torture is just fine if "it keeps us safe." There is absolutely no proof that it has, does or will. I would imagine then that you condone the crushing of the testicles of young boys, in order to get information about their parents? Because that is what the past administration passed as "accepted torture techniques."

May 20, 2009 07:31 AM

Larry Bettag

Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL

Vice-President of National Production

Terry...good words well said.

Eric...insane isn't it?

Katiejo....we do need to protect America.

Hugh....how well put.

Montgomery...thanks....

Kathleen....how true.

Joanna....I'm with you.

Terry?????? HELLO???? We need to protect America, PERIOD! That's the deal. Torture of suspected terrorists I support to save our country. I don't know where you get off on the kid testical stuff. I'm not suggesting a Soviet state. I'm saying know terrorists could be tortured to protect our country. That's it. Terry, I've followed you posts. You're awesome, but we'll disagree here.

May 20, 2009 08:52 AM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

I'm just glad the terrorists know that the current administration will not put up with the CIA or military doing bad things to terrorists. Terrorists need to be treated with respect, given 3 square meals a day, free healthcare, conjugal visits, a well paid attorney to protect their inalienable rights, etc., etc.

How dare we try to shake them up in order to extract information from them? We need to announce to the whole terrorist world exactly what they can expect from us if they get captured. That way they can prepare in advance in case they do get captured. There are no secrets here.

I'm feeling safer already. This is real change I can believe in. (Obviously I'm kidding.)

May 20, 2009 09:22 AM

Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495

Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

Larry, all is not fair in love and war. We executed Japanese soldiers for waterboarding Americans. Would you like to see those Americans who have waterboarded suspected terrorists executed by their military? Apply your case to a civil incident. Do you approve of torturing an American because they may have information about a serial killer, or child molester? If its all about keeping Americans safe, is it all about keeping one American safe from a killer, or is it only all about keeping multitudes of people safe? Or is it really all about hating people from middle eastern countries?

May 23, 2009 12:53 AM

Kevin Robinson

Twin Falls, ID

Fractional Developer

Kinda funny. Some members of our military and the CIA get waterboarded so they can learn how to apply it. Libs are just needing an excuse and this one sounds good.

May 23, 2009 05:18 AM

Larry Bettag

Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL

Vice-President of National Production

Rob...you had me worried at first.

Terry...you and I will disagree. Only a few people got waterboarded. And it was for the safety of our country. It's not wanton and wreckless. I'm all for using discretion, but ultimately we need to protect our country.

Kevin...well said.

May 26, 2009 01:40 AM