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Key Player In Waterboarding Policy 'Smug' Under Questioning
WASHINGTON - For years, congressional Democrats dreamed of getting a crack at a man they saw as a key player behind the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods against detainees in the war on terrorism -- methods the critics say amount to torture.
On Thursday, they finally got their wish: Thickly bearded and glaring out through half-rimmed glasses, David S. Addington, a top aide to Vice President Cheney and alleged master-mind of the legal rationale for the harsh techniques, appeared before a House subcommittee.
But rather than eliciting new information or forcing damaging admissions from the long-sought witness, the hearing turned into an emotion-charged demonstration of the hostility and mutual disdain between the most liberal critics of the Bush administration's war policies and one of the architects of those policies.
For his part, Addington provided little specific information on his role in pressing for controversial interrogation tactics at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and with CIA prisoners. At the same time, he made it clear that he had played a central role in the matter.
And he lectured the committee on the continuing nature of the terrorist threat. "No American should think we're free, the war is over, Al Qaeda is not coming and they're not interested in getting us," Addington told the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. "Because that's wrong."
Yet when Democrats tried to pin him down on the moral and legal issues they considered crucial, Addington brushed them aside with barely concealed disdain.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who later characterized Addington's attitude as "smug," asked whether, if the interrogation program was found to be illegal, he would bear any responsibility.
"Is that a moral question or a legal question?" Addington asked, then said he bore no responsibility, legal or moral.
Was President Bush constrained by laws against torture? Addington refused to offer an opinion. Putting the question in extreme terms, Nadler asked Addington if torturing a detainee's child to get information would be legal.
"I'm not here to render legal advice to your committee," Addington shot back. "You do have attorneys of your own to give you legal advice."
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) tried to press Addington on whether he had pushed interrogators at Guantanamo to utilize tougher techniques. When Addington said he did not recall, Wasserman Schultz said she found that "hard to fathom."
"Is there a question pending, ma'am?" Addington responded.
A Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week showed that William J. Haynes II, former top Pentagon lawyer, helped push harsh techniques down to interrogators working at the Guantanamo prison. Pentagon lawyers helped transform techniques used to train pilots to resist enemy interrogation into tools for American interrogators, the panel found. The methods may have violated prohibitions on torture or cruel treatment.
Addington acknowledged attending many meetings with Haynes and other top officials. He said he was briefed by John Yoo, the former Justice Department lawyer who drafted many of the legal memos defending harsh techniques. He acknowledged multiple trips to Guantanamo and discussions with interrogators. He said he was familiar with the development of the CIA program. But he gave no details on what he said or did at such meetings.
Critics had hoped the hearing would show that, behind the scenes, Addington played a leading role in pushing for tough interrogation techniques. Addington said he was trying to maximize the president's options in dealing with terrorism and give protections to intelligence agents asked to do "tough things in wartime."
Perhaps the strangest exchange came at the end of the hearing. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) asked Addington whether waterboarding was discussed in meetings.
"I can't talk to you," Addington said. "Al Qaeda may watch these meetings."
Delahunt replied that he was sure they did. "I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington," Delahunt said. Without missing a beat, Addington answered, "I'm sure you're pleased."
© 2008 The Los Angeles Times
64 Comments so far
Show AllSMUG POS is correct.
Problem is he is still on the winning side... for the moment.
If ever the tables are turned and he appears in the dock wearing leg-irons, perhaps that smug air of contempt will be replaced with a tearful whimper of "I was only following orders from above".
My dream would be to one day to see everyone of these fascist pieces of shit hanging from lamp-posts all over DC. What a festive holiday that would be.
David S. Addington, smug war criminal extraordinaire.
What a complete and utter cocksucker.
There is no statute of limitations on war crimes. After Bush leaves office, this fuck can be charged with war crimes for the rest of his evil life, anytime anyone finally gets the courage to do so.
January 2009 is not the end of it for this bastard. I would love to see his smug ass with a cloth over his face being held down and water being poured into his fucking lungs.
I watched the session last night and arrogant is not a strong enough adjective to describe Addington. At the same time it was fun seeing members of the committee getting their knickers in a bind over it.
What a hateful bastard. But I still oppose the death penalty for anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any reason.
Addington is a hero to the corporatocracy, and rightly so. There is no defending their atrocious existence. So, he moves their agenda forward, always staying on the offense. The limp-willed democrats who question him deserve his fate. Take them all out.
To play the devils advocate here.
Waterboarding as per the current administration is not torture. Nor is sleep deprivation, stress positions or beatings torture. All of these are merely "Robust Interrogation"
John McCain is referred to as a "war hero" and his participating with the North Vietnamese Government when he signed statements on their behalf only occurred because he was tortured.
Yet this torture was no worse (by Mccains own accounts) then what the White House calls "Robust Interrogation".
Therefore it follows John Mccain was never tortured.
There were other Americans in Vietnam subjected to even worse abuse then Senator McCain. As per Yoos memo however this was merely "Robust Interrogation". Neither death or organ failure occurred.
Therefore the White House narrative suggests these other American prisoners were never tortured.
All of this has been brewing on high level heat since our
government was overturned in 1963.
Had we had the wisdom then to protest until that powerful
coup was overturned, we would not have suffered these past
forty-five years of growing fascism.
We are looking it in the face now.
What...??? No taking of the 5th.... It sounds like our wimpy assed congress gave this criminal a pass, or just did not do their homework.
If my memory serves me well, there were several high ranking Nazi war criminals who demonstrated distain to the courts at Nurhenberg, were arrogant and were still convicted... because the prosecution had done their homework and presented evidence of knowing responsibility for crimes against humanity.
Sign of the times...???
Peace, KCT
"I can't talk to you," Addington said. "Al Qaeda may watch these meetings."
Delahunt replied that he was sure they did. "I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington," Delahunt said. Without missing a beat, Addington answered, "I'm sure you're pleased."
This is ridiculous. Not to point out the obvious, but this smacks much more of "reality" tv than of a congressional hearing.
"Pleased" that al Qaeda gets to see that sob. Why to continue the downward spiral of hatred and misunderstanding, of predator/prey relationships? So they can continue to believe that we only talk justice and freedom but sow power and corruption? What the hell is wrong with my government? What happened to a congress that would nail a perpetrator like that to the wall? There is just NO excuse for him getting off so easy. "I can't talk to you..." How is that possible where even in a congressional hearing the culprits still don't need to be accountable?
I've followed US intelligence torture campaigns throughout Latin American history, and this stuff only ever got called what it was years after the fact. And before Bush I thought it was history.
My country can do better.
I watched the testimony live & later recorded, and I wouldn't only describe Addington as 'smug', but arrogant. As far as this statement in the article goes,
""No American should think we're free, the war is over, Al Qaeda is not coming and they're not interested in getting us," Addington told the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.",
does this mean if/when there is another 911 type attack on American soil we can attribute it to another false-flag, Black-Ops attack by Addington & his neo-CON cons and/or Mossad, like the last one?
A beginning out of this whole mess is to first initiate impeachment proceedings against Nancy Pelosi, for obstruction of justice, because of her thwarting efforts to impeach, try, and convict obvious international war criminals beginning with Dick Cheney & George Bush paralleled by trials of Woo, Rove, Addington, Feith, Wolfowitz, and other conspirators in the thug laden BushCo mafia.
Enough is enough, actually too much, and if Pelosi is a chock stone preventing this criminal house of cards from falling then she should stand in the international dock with the other war criminals.
This statement is straightforward, decidedly unlike the efforts yesterday by Woo to twist & dodge with lawyer legalize (define the word 'implemented' for example). Nadler, Conyers, Scott, Davis & the rest of the subcommittee should have pressed harder, but I can understand their frustration with these slimey sorts. After leaving the room they probably all had the great urge to bathe. Next hearing they need to have the Attorney General & other principles present so there are no excuses to dodge answering the questions. Basically, Woo took 'the fifth' yesterday on a number of questions.
This is the real face of Bushism, the New Republican Party, and radical statist fringe of that political spectrum. Is there anything more disgusting?
"My country can do better."
No, it cannot. This country cannot do any better. A warped piece of trash like Addington is akin to a Nazi like Himmler, or a Communist like Beria. What America can do is put a better face on its arrogance, its swagger, its propensity to kick the asses of "smaller" peoples. That would be Barack Obama. Death as a suave movie star, like Cary Grant or David Niven.
~ POLITICAL CARTOON ~
Visualize the smug but excited face of David Schtick (trickster) Addington, dressed in a slick 3 piece pinstripe suit ( like in Monopoly ) with dollars hanging out everywhere -- while he's bending over the bent over the Statue of Liberty, …
Tittle:
__ C O R P O R A P E __ O F __ A M E R I C A __
Namaste
since waterboarding and other tortures are now apperantly a legal method of getting information in the USA, why doesn't congress simply put Addington to the question?
Except he may melt when the water touches him, like the wicked witch of the west.
"...Addington brushed them aside with barely concealed disdain."
No shit. I liken it to this: You rob a bank. You rape the secretaries and shoot the guards. Your getaway driver waits outside. You make it safely home and are sitting in your favorite comfy, padded, leather armchair watching TV and drinking a beer.
Then someone knocks on the door, interrupting what otherwise would have been a perfect afternoon. You answer the door and its an annoying Democrat all dressed up in a Keystone Cop outfit complete with badge and pistol, wanting to question your driver about running a red light.
Now, you could try to conceal your disdain, or you could simply pull a Dick Cheny and say, "Go fuck yourself!" I know what I would do.
What's the Keystone Cop going to do? Try to arrest you for not letting him question your driver? I mean, you already got away with murder.
Watching Mr. Addinton in the hearing I felt totally embarrassed for this nation and how our government is run by self proclaimed masters of deception. Don't ever answer the question or answer the question with a question. Mr. Addington seemed to take great pleasure in being totally obsitnant. With a black crayon his picture could, with a few strokes, be turned into the devil personified. What a sham, what a shame. We know, or have been told, that torture seldom, if ever, works. So why do these fiends keep pursuing this line of practice? Perhaps it is to keep is fearful and in line for what could happen to us should the situation happen to arrive.
"No American should think we're free, the war is over, Al Qaeda is not coming and they're not interested in getting us," Addington told the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. "Because that's wrong."
Al Qaeda is a FABRICATION of the United States... Addington is just playing the fear card to get you Americans to accept the fascist state that's being shoved down your throats.
Like concentration camp officers of the Third Reich, he is cool and collected. He is not arrogant -- he is simply and deeply dissociative. He thinks nothing of about the dark means or results of his employment. He is not moved. He too reflects the inner-workings of the black heart of this administration. You see, they don't lose sleep over the misery, terror and screams of pain they inflict. It is simply a day at work -- all in the cause of the results they desire. There is nothing to question -- when you believe you are absolutely right.
Also... lemme guess... Addington is Ashkenazi isn't he?
Comments like:"I can't talk to you," Addington said. "Al Qaeda may watch these meetings." Demonstrate to me the jocular state of mind of American officials. There is not even the pretence of accountability. Mr. Bush's people know they have nothing to fear from the Democrats.
In retrospect, it is this kind of on-your-face arrogance that the Dems need to hear in the vain hope that it is what it will take to prick their conscience. I am beginning to worry that nothing much will change after January 2009. The Dems will find a way to rationalize the continuation of occupation. Torture will continue in another name. The funding for Iraq occupation will continue. In the end, I suppose, it will be the hard cold economic pain and reality that will force the occupying power to let go Iraq. Until then nothing will change! By the way I am 100% behind BO.
The American People DO NOT NEED the Democrats or anyone else to proceed with War Crime Charges against the Bush administration---ALL OF THEM-------A-L-L OF T-H-E-M --------
When enough people call for those war crime tribunals---they will happen swiftly.
I will volunteer as a janitor if nothing else can be found for me at the court room where this takes place.....sign me up.
Silence is "consent" in a Democracy.
~ TAILCAP ~
I believe that you were wrong about the keystone cop's reason to visit.
Wasn't it just the littering of Kleenex tossed out by a blood stained hand ?
Aren't red lights just symbols to hit the gas and go to war ?
Namaste
I don't care how smug or arrogant the SOB is. I suspect that he, with Cheney and others, were responsible for masterminding the events of 9/11. Condoning or authorizing water-boarding is trivial compared with the crimes that this personification of evil has committed. I would not be surprised if this psychotic individual spent time in WTC7 planning the attack, and the subsequent incursion into Afghanistan and Iraq. Someone, somewhere knows what this bastard has done, but they're most likely too fearful for their own lives and the lives of their families in order to spill the beans.
Namaste
I stand corrected.
RichM, tailcap,
Good form. Good form.
There's only one problem with this frame. In the conception where the Republicans and Democrats are in total cahoots, where the Democrats are the hapless corporate troopers stuck with latrine duty in the political apparatus, forced to be portrayed as utterly useless and incompetent -- why would Addington show disdain.
It seems, if they are all confederates, that it would be smiles all around. If there were nerves, it would be an artifice and not raw enough to be perceived as genuine.
Seems genuine contempt might be hard to summon.
Of course, one can imagine a hierarchy whereby the losers in the club are Democrats and the winners are conservatives.
The winners might hold the losers inherently in contempt, the same way the leader of a north african terror cell might sodomize the weakest in the cell partially out of contempt for weakness.
Maybe I just talked myself into it.
But, in the case of confederacy, Addington's contempt couldn't be in anyway related to his conduct in his duties or in the proceedings themselves -- as the proceedings would be necessary to perpetuate the illusion of a functioning government for the duped masses.
One of the most disturbing phrases I heard from both Addington and Yoo, I believe, is "attorney-client" privilege...they see their jobs just as they would if they worked for a private law firm. The fact is, our tax dollars pay their salaries, these SOB's...no one reminded them that they work for the American people, on behalf of the USA.
Well, is anyone surprised that he believes "representatives of the people" are a pain in the ass? His group of criminals don't answer to anyone, much less congressional representatives he know won't act against him or the administration. I'd be smug and arrogant, too, and have the time of my life rubbing their noses in it.
Democrats, Republicans, what's the difference. It's an entrenched political class that could not care less about the will of the people. Addington is simply a product of our now-corrupt political system.
King Fucking Asshole David Addington makes a rare guest appearance at the Congress "all talk--no action" windbag subcommittee show. Woo-hoo! All bling-bling and no substance. Bells and whistles--but no beef. Of course, David gives "We the People" and our elected representatives a verbal one-finger salute. He even pulls the Reaganesque "I don't remember anything" tactic. Typical republican. Defiant, arrogant--and full of shit to the bitter end: ladies and gentlemen I give you David Addington, public enemy who fucked your country up permanently number 1. Pinochet took time...let's hope David's comeuppance doesn't take so long :)
I don't believe in capital punishment, however give me a big bar of soap, a needle and thread for his lips and a big freakin' hole in the ground to put the slime, and I'll be just a bit happier. A bunch of his buddies could be included here!
It is a good point that contempt for the people's Representatives means contempt for the people.
Essentially, we have misanthropes and sociopaths moving the military around as a roving meat grinder.
All along, it has seemed like a financial bonanza for the corporate.
Perhaps instead this is just good old Caligulan bloodlust -- as suggested by the oozing contempt of fellow man exhibited by Addington.
Surely, for those that aspire to Christian virtue, this is as close as one can get to the opposing pole.
COCKSUCKERS IS RIGHT..HOWEVER..I MUST SAY HERE..I HAVE ALWAY'S FELT THAT..'COCKSUCKER' WAS MORE A TERM OF....ENDEREMENT...YEAH..AHH YES..YES..ANYWAY..
WOW! I ACTULLY AGREE WITH EVERY POST TODAY..ON THIS TOPIC..I AM SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED..AS IF IT MATTERED WHAT I THINK..DUHHH..BUT WAY TO GO FOLKS..YOU ALL..ALL..REAFIRM MY FAITH IN THIS NATIONS CITIZENS..PATRIOTS EVERY ONE OF YOU..SERIOUSLY..I AM NOT KIDDING..
ONE THING..OF COURSE...I AM AMAZED AT THE HYPOCRISY..WELL NOT REALLY..BUT IT IS..FLAMBOYANT HYPOCRISY...THAT THESE ..FUCKING SCUM..ALWAY'S..EVERY TIME...RELY ON "THEIR RIGHTS" TO DISMISS THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS..IT IS SO..PLAIN..EVEN PLAIN ENOUGH TO NOT BE.."LOST" ON THE "AVERAGE" CITIZEN...IT IS JUST....OBVIOUS..NO REAL "RHETORIC" TRAINING REQUIRED...THEY SAY IN EFFECT...EVERY TIME..EVEN BUSHCO....'I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT REGARDING MY UNDERTAKINGS TO DEPRIVE OTHERS OF THAT SAME RIGHT..'...JEEZIS..IT IS STUPIFYINGLY STRAIGHT FORWARD HYPOCRISY...WAKE UP CITIZENS..
AND FINALLY...(DID YOU SEE THIS COMING?)STOP PAYING FOR IT..IF WE ALL..I AM ALREADY THERE..BUT PLEASE..JOIN IN TAX STRIKE..YOU WANT TO BRING THESE SWINE TO THE TABLE? THEN STOP PAYING ADDINGTONS SALLERY FER CHRISSAKES! YOU PAY HIM TO DO WHAT HE DID..IS THAT NOT AMAZING?
~ MIRF59 ~
You say above "But, in the case of confederacy, Addington's contempt couldn't be in anyway related to his conduct in his duties or in the proceedings themselves — as the proceedings would be necessary to perpetuate the illusion of a functioning government for the duped masses."
Perhaps his disdain is for their lack of having an effective job satisfaction ( and ethic fortitude ), whereas he plans on killing millions and making billions in profits ( and can measure directly his success ) -- Congress's job is to appear to be mere dilettante court jesters, and they are even failing at that.
Yes, Addington is human excrement, but you've got to admit that he treated those preening, do-nothing Congresscowards with all the contempt they deserve.
RE: pleasethink June 27th, 2008 3:53 pm
"One of the most disturbing phrases I heard from both Addington and Yoo, I believe, is "attorney-client" privilege…they see their jobs just as they would if they worked for a private law firm. The fact is, our tax dollars pay their salaries, these SOB's…no one reminded them that they work for the American people, on behalf of the USA."
Something equally disturbing in the testimony was torture not defined by the misery to the tortured, but whether the torturer had malice or was sadistic. These people are not just disturbing, but very disturbed.
As Iwatched Addington and Yoo go through their Alberto Gonzalez act ("I don't recall, I can't remember", etc.)I wished that some burley prison guard types would bodily lift them out of their seats and (with the proper restraints applied)begin to demonstrate the "agressive and harsh" techniques on them in order to elicit some more honest answers and improve their memory.
Then when all the fascist neocons yelped about outrrageous conduct on the part of the house committee, the majority could all say, "see, that's what we have been trying to tell you for the past 5 years, assholes!"
America, Home of the Brave? Is there no one who will stand up to these maniacs who have seized control of your government. You live in a facist state. THEY HAVE KILLED MILLIONS, STOLEN TRILLIONS and will not stop. This is a planned destruction of your country along with a massive release of violence and permenant environmental catastrophe (not global warming but chemical and radiological) Is there no one? What will it take? Where are the BRAVE????
HOLD THE SONOFABITCH IN CONTEMPT!!!
Are those answers regarded as sufficiently answering the question, if not appropriate????
WTF
Further:
Were there no members of the House Judiciary with BALLS??
I guess I'm not terribly surprised to answer, apparently not.
On David Addington
At no time in the recent history such a concentrated congregation of psychopathic cold blooded murderers has been put in charge to conduct an affair of a nation.
All the way down from the Executive branch, Legislative, Judiciary to Pentagon, these traitors, as the agents of a foreign entity, Israel, have penetrated every aspects of American way of life.
They are fully confident that by having support of the ZIONISTS' Power Configurations, AIPAC et al behind them, in conjunction with the complicity of the main stream media, no ONE is capable of touching them, the rest is just a wishful thinking that a day comes in which justice prevails.
Peace Czar: Just another show for the camera to fool the gullible, so that when they hit 'em up for donations, the ca$h will keep coming in.
This Addington asshole was exposed two or three years ago in a New Yorker piece, as Cheney's right hand legalizer of all the fascist policies that cross Dickhead's desk. You won't find a more committed fascist in Washington than Addington, and now he's rubbing it in Congress' shocked and timid face.
The best part is how it's apparently still not certain by any means that torture is illegal. All Addington has to do is brush aside their questions "with barely concealed disdain," and all they can do is gasp and look sheepish. Who really knows if torture, any way and any time Bush-Cheney demand it, is legal or not? We won't know for at least another 50 years, regardless of all the statutes and laws against it, in the Constitution, the Geneva conventions, UN resolutions, and the established laws of most countries. But this asinine, criminal-abetting Congress cannot determine whether all the torturing done under Bush is REALLY illegal. One day it just may be found to be illegal, but it's too early to tell. They've only been doing it on a daily basis for 7 years, they need more time to keep torturing and murdering so Congress can question fascists like Addington to find out if they (the fascist torturers) think it's illegal.
No one can tell the great mafia of criminal deciders what is and isn't legal. It's whatever they say it is. John Yoo and Addington are all in favor of calling torture 'enhanced interrogation,' with no illegal overtones. And so it is, because they can smugly brush off Congress's limp and lame questions.
Yes, we are Nazi Germany all over again. Is everyone else as excited by the prospects of the next "election" as I am? Si, se puede! Can't you just smell the miraculous CHANGE in the air?!
jcrumb, remarkably this time we are also in agreement, despite the fact (as others have mentioned on numerous occasions) your posts are made exceptionally difficlt to read because of you SHOUTING in all caps.
It's not what we SAY, but what we DO, and the way to have the greatest striking power against these traitors is hitting them below the belt...in their wallets. Unfortunaely, this takes a population in agreement, who are willing to stand up rather than meekly & ignorantly bending over. Fascist propaganda instills fear in the populace, and unless the people are organized then piecemeal efforts assure the unity of force presented by the well funded (with our money) might of nefarious organizations (such as Blackwater traitor co-conspirators) will pick people off one at a time. Evidence of the Nazi late night 'knock on the door' is still too fresh in the collective public memory of Americans, and the level of confrontation has steadily declined since the '60'. This administration has shown it will kill, 'disappear' people, use WMD in a fictitious attempt to find WMD they knew non-existant, and yes...torture. The 'us' in the US must not forego hope, however.
Ephraim June 27th, 2008 6:15 pm:
"Who really knows if torture, any way and any time Bush-Cheney demand it, is legal or not? We won't know for at least another 50 years, regardless of all the statutes and laws against it, in the Constitution, the Geneva conventions, UN resolutions, and the established laws of most countries."
Good point. Congress is made up mostly of lawyers and yet somehow they need the perpetrators to tell them that water torture is illegal.
I just watched some of the hearings on democracynow.org. It is jaw-droppingly unbelievable.
Bush's people wouldn't even answer the question:
"Would it be legal for the US president to order someone to be BURIED ALIVE?"
The name calling by Democrats is pitiful. What they need to do is indict, prosecute and convict. Anything less is complicit in government war crimes.
that boy is a scumhoe...
Waterboard the bleeping bleep. What more should we expect from an employee of the cowardly AWOL leader who enjoyed blowing up frogs when he was a juvenile delinquent.
mirf59 June 27th, 2008 3:48 pm
Your guess is probably better than mine.
I do love the analogy: "...where the Democrats are the hapless corporate troopers stuck with latrine duty in the political apparatus..."
Congress has failed us, and abdicated their responsibilities. Let Us, the People, therefore issue Citizens' Warrants, calling for the immediate arrest and detention of John Yoo and David Addington for contempt of Congress, crimes against the Constitution, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Let any citizen that encounters Mr. Yoo or Mr. Addington be advised that they are dangerous, violent criminals with no regard for morality, decency, or the rule of law. Any citizen encountering Mr. Yoo or Mr. Addison is hereby obliged to place them under citizen's arrest and turn them over to the relevant authorities. These warrants will not be revocable by Presidential pardon, or any Congressional action.