September 15, 2006
In Black and White
If you ever needed a reminder that ‘Straight Talking Bush’ is nothing more than an illusion crafted by his PR folk, look at this.
Q It's vague to you?
MR. SNOW: Yes, it is.
Q Mean, cruel, inhuman, degrading?
MR. SNOW: Yes, because you have to specify exactly what you mean.
Q Keep smiling. (Laughter.)
MR. SNOW: Please permit me to continue.
You’d have to be a piece of granite to not see what is going on here. Common Article III has been around since 1947. The problem is not that it’s unclear, rather it’s clear that some of the interrogation techniques they want to use would not be allowed under it.
So, they want to give it a more narrow (what they call clearer) definition, which would allow these techniques.
And all of this garbage about the US not wanting to submit to laws made in other countries is just nonsense. It’s an international treaty. We’re not submitting to foreign rule, we have agreed with them to adopt this treaty.
Now we want to change it, without looking like we’ve changed it. And Snow is waving his arms like a magician to make it seem like we’re just looking for a little clarity. What they’re looking for is to unilaterally alter an agreement the US entered into almost 60 years ago. If you think the convention no longer works, then get out of it. But, don’t pretend you’re merely looking for ‘clarity’.