They did what to the Gitmo detainees? Updated
posted at 8:10 pm on February 13, 2008 by Bryan
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
If this is the kind of thing we do to the detainees at Gitmo, we’re no better than they are. We have become what we hate.
Anonymous law enforcement and military officials revealed that F.B.I. interrogators provided Al Qaeda suspects with “food whenever they were hungry as well as Starbucks coffee at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,” The Washington Post wrote in a front-page article.
Starbucks? See, that’s how it goes. You start with the loud music, and that works for a while. Then you progress to waterboarding, and that gets something but not everything out of these guys. You know they know more than they’re telling, and you’re desensitized because you have already started down the road to brutality. Then you have to bring out the big gun — bitter, always burned Starbucks coffee. You have become a savage.
Update: On a serious note, the Senate voted today 51-45 to ban waterboarding and other interrogation methods. President Bush vows a veto, setting up the attack ads this fall. Bush isn’t on the ballot, but as Obama said in his Wisconsin speech last night, the war is on the ballot. So is John McCain, and he voted against the bill.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
We are a truly special nation.
SouthernGent on February 13, 2008 at 8:13 PM
I’m betting Starbucks donated the coffee once they found out it was intended for the terrorists.
jediwebdude on February 13, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Ahem.
malan89 on February 13, 2008 at 8:15 PM
It would have been torture if we would have made them pay for it.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Starbucks? Starbucks?
Does that mean my Geneva Convention rights are being violated because I’m forced to drink non-brand name coffee at work?
amerpundit on February 13, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Would this qualify Starbucks to be one of Barry O’s Patriot Corporations?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Everyone knows Starbucks is a subsidiary of KBR a.k.a. Halliburton and that the Chimphitler put all kinds of pork products in the coffee.
Gosh sheeple. Wake up! We live in 1934 Germany!!!!!!
VolMagic on February 13, 2008 at 8:16 PM
No fear McCain will take care of this once and for all!
McCain to Close Gitmo: “The first day I am President” (Video)
Poptech on February 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM
It could have been worse….we could have made them drink a McLatte.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM
omg the humanity!!
trailortrash on February 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Sorry to blog pimp, but conscience compels me to point out that there were also massages and/or lap dances.
WHEN DID WE LOSE OUR SOUL?
see-dubya on February 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Senator McCain, your friend Joe Arpiao, America’s toughest Sheriff, is needed down there!
Green baloney, living in tents, & chain gangs.
jgapinoy on February 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Did they give them fully inflated balls yet? Please let them have fully inflated balls to play with! Murderers!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6659585.stm
lorien1973 on February 13, 2008 at 8:18 PM
My god. Disgusting. Heres the number for the Hague: (+31) (0)70 302 23 23. Let them know of these horrible atrocities.
malan89 on February 13, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Wellll…Starbucks does burn their beans, so…
Asher on February 13, 2008 at 8:19 PM
What building do I have to blow up to get a Starbucks coffee? I always wanted to try that stuff!
Buddahpundit on February 13, 2008 at 8:19 PM
That made me laugh.
But yeah, Starbucks’ coffee is horrible. Plus, I drink plain, black, regular coffee…I always feel a little out of place ordering that at a Starbucks. Give me Dunkin Donuts coffee any day. Or even McDonalds coffee.
JetBoy on February 13, 2008 at 8:19 PM
FIRST LOOK AT TORTURING JIHADIS WITH SANKA!!!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Don’t hate on Mickey D’s coffee. Obviously it’s not good enough for terrorists, but it’s plenty fine for us commonfolk.
malan89 on February 13, 2008 at 8:20 PM
I heart Gitmo, sponsored by Starbucks. This sounds way better than Rush’s Club Gitmo.
The MSM has got to do a better job of editing their stories. Craziness like this gets out, and us rubes might have a second look at water boarding.
Cold Steel on February 13, 2008 at 8:20 PM
We oughta be splashing them in the face with it.
Tony737 on February 13, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Bwaahahahahaha!
peski on February 13, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Does Chez Panisse cater Gitmo? Because I think the Geneva conventions say something about organic couscous.
Somebody oughta write an earmark about that.
see-dubya on February 13, 2008 at 8:21 PM
I’m hungry and want a latte grande. Please deliver as ASAP
400lb Gorilla on February 13, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Somewhere the men who defended this country in every war from WWII back to 1492 are spinning in their graves.
I had a relation who (claimed) to spend the war of 1812 in a prison teaching the bugs to crawl to him when he whistled. That way he could take off his clothes on one side of the cell, whistle, and have them come crawling over to him.
What a bunch of pansies we are.
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on February 13, 2008 at 8:22 PM
But the real question is this….What type of universal coffee care are we going to get under a President Baramalama, El Presidente Juan or Kommandant Hillary?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Taunting them with treats from the Great Satan? How could such a thing happen? They probably returned this evil by peeing in the cups and throwing them at the guards.
bbz123 on February 13, 2008 at 8:23 PM
You know our motto: Delivered in 30 Minutes or Less, Or Your Case Becomes a Crime Against Humanity!
amerpundit on February 13, 2008 at 8:25 PM
I forget. Wasn’t Starbucks on the Cindy Sheehan hunger strike diet?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Well, there ya go! Post of the night!
SouthernGent on February 13, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Geez. I thought we were fighting a war against terrorism.
ctmom on February 13, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I thought it was Jamba Juice/Tropical Smoothie.
amerpundit on February 13, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I don’t know. I rather be water-boarded than get a burned tongue from that Starbucks coffee.
Water-boarding last just a few seconds. A Starbucks “tongue-burn” can last for hours, and make it hard to sleep.
Agrippa2k on February 13, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Man, sounds like gitmo is a great place to relax, lose a few pounds and get some shopping done for the family. Where do I sign up? Sounds like a spa. I’d gladly get waterboarded for a free vacation to Club Gitmo!
robblefarian on February 13, 2008 at 8:29 PM
I always thought there was trouble brewing down there. Now we know exactly WHAT was brewing!
mogilla on February 13, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Back when I was blogging I wrote about how they were getting ice cream and cookies. (not joking)
RightWinged on February 13, 2008 at 8:30 PM
My bad.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:31 PM
To be fair, they aren’t given scones. We’re not soft you know.
Chuck Schick on February 13, 2008 at 8:35 PM
What hath fast food wrought?!
liquidflorian on February 13, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Wow. Starbucks really is everywhere.
So if Gitmo covers about 45 sq. miles there must be like 173 of them already.
Deety on February 13, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Ok, now take it away and don’t give them anymore caffeine until they talk.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 13, 2008 at 8:44 PM
But isn’t it cruel not to offer a biscotti?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Wow. That’s like concierge level at the freaking Hilton.
If I was Gitmo-God in fantasy land, there’d be no working lamps left in that little slice of Cuban heaven, ‘coz their voltage-spitting power cords would be attached u-know-where.
Who here wouldn’t sacrifice a nut (or ovary galz) to go Jack Bauer on those defective humanoids??
melkor on February 13, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Obama’s for Ovaltine!
With camel’s milk.
Then a napsie.
Poor widdle jihadis.
Can we tuck you in?
Preferably with an entrenching tool.
(After a nice warm meal of Claymore surprise.)
profitsbeard on February 13, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Holy Hell!! My tax dollars are paying for an exhorbitantly priced Starbuck’s cafe latte for terrorists?
Where am I and what have you done with my country…?
CliffHanger on February 13, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Ok, now take it away and don’t give them anymore caffeine until they talk.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 13, 2008 at 8:44 PM
MirCat has seen the real plan here, then we should make them eat ice cream till they get a brain freeze,then they will spill their guts for sure.
bbz123 on February 13, 2008 at 8:50 PM
We surely gave them access to Wifi so that they could contact Hillary and Obama…
d1carter on February 13, 2008 at 8:51 PM
About that Update:
Strange…Obama AND Clinton abstained from voting. McCain found the time to vote on such an important thing tho…
JetBoy on February 13, 2008 at 8:51 PM
It was the right vote. This a HUGE losing issue for the democrats. If the RNC has any brains, they would produce a commercial highlighting Obama’s vote…assuming he even showed up.
SouthernGent on February 13, 2008 at 8:52 PM
and btw…I thought McCain was against any forms of “torture” as an interrogation method…yet he (Lieberman too, I see) voted against the bill. Interesting….
JetBoy on February 13, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Wait, wasn`t he against waterboarding?
ThePrez on February 13, 2008 at 8:54 PM
it is torture to drink starbucks with no cream and sugar
Defector01 on February 13, 2008 at 8:55 PM
and don’t even get me started about the lack of cocoa powder, caramel sauce or flavored syrups
Defector01 on February 13, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I’m afraid it isn’t a place to lose a few pounds. From what I’ve read, the detainees have gained weight. No wonder that in most of his pics, KSM looks so well-fed.
Man, we try to run a GULAG/Auschwitz, and instead of turning them into human skeletons like we racist oppressors are supposed to, we’re making them fat! (/sarc)
Bigfoot on February 13, 2008 at 8:56 PM
How about Rush’s Club Gitmo, presented by Starbucks?
steveegg on February 13, 2008 at 8:56 PM
What,this is an outrage,I can’t believe this!
I don’t know whats got me more revved up;
that they didn’t get tickets to the Opera,
or the terrorists were denied a Limosine to
the Opera!
canopfor on February 13, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Wha, wha, wha, WHAT?
St. John, who has been preaching against torture, voted against prohibiting this alleged “torture”?
MULTIPLE LOOKS AT HYPOCRISY!!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 8:57 PM
It’s still early, but I have to give that Comment of the Night™.
steveegg on February 13, 2008 at 8:58 PM
…the next thing ya know they’ll be drinking beer and cussing out loud.
Zorro on February 13, 2008 at 9:00 PM
And looking at a whore’s ankle.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 9:03 PM
hahaha!
Zorro on February 13, 2008 at 9:05 PM
If they pass such a Bill that would have catastrophic consequences on our ability to fight this ruthless enemy.
I will catalogue the supporters of this reckless measure and hope that I will not have to reckon with them.
Do they not consider that their names will be the ones remembered if we do suffer a devastating attack that could have been averted with coercive force.
I hope for their sake that I dont lose a loved one to the savages who they are appeasing.
I doubt that I would be the only angry person looking for accountability.
Sonosam on February 13, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Was there a cloture vote on this bill?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Actually, that’s torture. Dunkin Donuts has much better coffee. :-)
cannonball on February 13, 2008 at 9:10 PM
No wonder Mitt wanted to double the size of Gitmo. The profiteering capitalist pig that he is, he undoubtedly had visions of doubling the retail space there with a big investment from Bain Capital.
Buy Danish on February 13, 2008 at 9:13 PM
How about a compromise:
COFFEEBOARDING
AmericanDad on February 13, 2008 at 9:15 PM
I can hardly wait for the campaign: eight months of watching Obama and McCain one-up each other in accusing America of “atrocities.”
The Democrats couldn’t have chosen a better Republican candidate. McCain has been 100% lockstep with George Bush on American interventionism – happily stepping into the anti-”Bush’s War” rhetoric Democrats have invested eight years of political capital into building up within the electorate.
Meanwhile, McCain has come out foursquare against protecting America’s borders and punishing the terrorists themselves.
Oh yeah. That’s a winning combination.
logis on February 13, 2008 at 9:15 PM
If we really want to torture these folks I say put them in the same room with Mitt Romeny and make them listen to his bs.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 13, 2008 at 9:15 PM
OR make them listen to RuPaul talk about the gold standard.
OR make them listen to Pastor Schmuckabee preach to them that “Jesus has a plan for your life.”
OR make them watch ALL of Juan McLame’s speeches and make them count how many times he says, “My friends.”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 13, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Since you’re such an expert on Mitt, do you think you could learn to spell his last name? This is only the 65,087th time you’ve gotten it wrong.
Buy Danish on February 13, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Ow. Seriously, does anybody else here get caffeine withdrawal headaches? I’d much rather be waterboarded than have to go through that.
logis on February 13, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Get em all hooked on that crack coffee, and something is in there cuz it gtes me super goin, and then take it away.
I like that, but I’d rather strap them to a set of bed springs and shock the shit out of them with 120VAC.
benrand on February 13, 2008 at 9:32 PM
The Chosen Troll strikes again. Regardless the topic, regardless the thread…. Chosen Troll will derail any conversation. All it takes is a giant portion of schoolyard logic, and a healthy dose of class envy. Thanks for adding your voluminous wit to this thread. Looking for many more anti-Mitticisms from you in the future, oh great one.
Cold Steel on February 13, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Real terrorists prefer Peet’s Coffee. It’s roasted in Berkeley! Well, actually it’s roasted in Emeryville. But close enough. The first Peet’s Coffee & Tea was based in Berkeley, CA.
HebrewToYou on February 13, 2008 at 9:51 PM
A form of “torture” that is used, is to feed the prisoner anything they want, in great quantities. They feed them and feed them and feed them. They also sit there and talk to them the whole time. They don’t let them go to sleep.
Think about how tired you get after a big Thanksgiving Day meal, you want to crash on the couch and rest.
Now think about being full and not being able to rest. The lights are too bright and some guy just won’t stop talking to you. But you’re so full and sleepy. You’ll tend to gab, answer questions, etc., especially if you think it’ll shut the other guy up so you can get some shut eye.
You’d be surprised how often this is used and how well, this subtle method, works.
Tyrs Fury on February 13, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Starbucks gives me heartburn.
That’s torture to me.
drjohn on February 13, 2008 at 9:59 PM
I’m surprised the detainees didn’t demand Caribou Coffee which is the chain owned by Muslims. Check it out !
http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/caribou.asp
Firmworm on February 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM
There are probably six Starbuckses in Gitmo and a few more in Havana on the same street corner. It was just convenient, guys.
OneGyT on February 13, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Is that the sound of flippitly flop, flippity flop, flippity flop I hear?
boomer on February 13, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I’ll admit I prefer Seattle’s Best (yes, I know their beans are Starbucks, but they seem to brew them better), but that’s not the point. The torture isn’t giving them the Lattes, Mochas and Frappuccinos. The torture is taking them away once they’re hooked!
Blacklake on February 13, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Starbucks gets around – when the first Special Forces unit arrived in Afghanistan, they were met by an advance CIA team with fresh-brewed Starbucks.
See “First In” by Gary Schroen.
fred5678 on February 13, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I only know this because my Lebanese lab manager throws it out every once in a while, but according to him Starbucks donates part of its profits to the Israeli Navy. It is apparently a widely known “fact” in the Arab world, so it would be quite torturous to the well read Arab conspiracists in Gitmo.
Dilophos on February 14, 2008 at 12:18 AM
B@stards!
I have never had Starbucks Coffee..
(or anything from that store that matter)
(I don’t like Coffee) >:}
Chakra Hammer on February 14, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Coffee is mostly… what? Water.
They serve it over a long counter. Kind of like… a board.
QED.
Jim Treacher on February 14, 2008 at 1:15 AM
Good to know Congress is on top of something we did to three illegal combatants (violating the Geneva Conventions only applies to the US armed forces I guess) five years ago and haven’t done since, despite it being rather effective, doesn’t cause any physical harm and made the most hard-core jihadist fold like a lawn chair.
I guess we can now only threaten to send in Jack Bauer to do the interrogation, and show episodes of 24 (before season 5, please) and call it a “documentary.”
Or maybe we could get some Frenchmen to sneer at the terrorists for a few hours, seems to work wonders for American tourists.
Neo on February 14, 2008 at 1:16 AM
Torture is the queasy stomach I get after drinking one of Starbucks’ flavores lattes. We have Caribou Coffee here which is much better, but they are primarily owned by the Red Crescent.
It’s a mixed-up world we live in.
Grafted on February 14, 2008 at 1:38 AM
Really torture them: six weeks of triple grande triple shot mochas five times a day then SWITCH TO DECAF.
Bubba Redneck on February 14, 2008 at 1:45 AM
Barbrastreisand from another limp-wristed member of the dinosaur media.
thegreatbeast on February 14, 2008 at 2:02 AM
Starbuck’s coffee you say?
I can’t be the only one who didn’t expect that.
Deety on February 14, 2008 at 2:14 AM
Coffee?
Starbucks Coffee?
Oooohhhh, noooooooo!!!!
I couldn’t stand even five seconds. I’d be crying and volunteering information, even making information up, telling anything and everything I know rather than to have a drop of coffee touch my lips! I would go insane. That would be the most inhumane torture I’ve ever heard of.
I also think people are wrong about “Waterboarding.”
It turns out that the news media don’t know much about sea side activities. What the Detaining actually due during the day is Surf Boarding. Kelly Slater gives Surfing lessons there and the detainees compete in Surfing competitions.
Last year one of the Gitmo detainees came in fourth in the World Surfing Championships at Pipe Line on the North Shore, in Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
So, no. They are not “waterboarded.” They are Surf boarded.
William2006 on February 14, 2008 at 3:36 AM
It’s psychological torture.
“Here’s your tall Starbucks coffee.”
“This? This is tall? It’s such a small cup!”
“Oh, but Starbucks calls their biggest cup vente.”
“Vente? By Allah, what is the meaning of this word?”
“It means large.”
“But…but…does not tall mean large?”
“No. Tall means small. I could go back and get you a grande if you want.”
“Ah, that must be the biggest size of all.”
“No, that’s a medium.”
“Aiiiiieee! Does not grande mean big?”
“No, grande means medium.”
“But you do not call the biggest canyon in your country the Medium Canyon…are you saying…wait, forget it. Can I go back to the waterboard now?”
James on February 14, 2008 at 7:24 AM
Starbucks coffee? You mean the kind that costs five bucks a cup?? Great, more government waste…
NorthernCross on February 14, 2008 at 7:50 AM
So support the Republicans no matter what they do or who the candidate is.
Spineless, simply spinelss.
srhoades on February 14, 2008 at 8:36 AM
As a former service member and with an MOS 96C (Interrogator Prisoners of War), I am familiar with military interrogation techniques. In a tactical environment, i.e. close combat, the POW needs to reveal his information as soon as possible. There we would use aggressive questioning; threats, physical pain, disorientation, fear. Because I need to quickly give local commanders a S.A.L.U.T.E. Report.
http://www.geocities.com/esm2nddiv/salute.html
When however, time is NOT of the essence I am looking for strategic intelligence, there, I would seek to build bridges and bond with the POW in order to get him to accept ME as the only source of comfort during his captivity. Hence the Starbucks Coffee. Long term questioning is more like a chat session where the POW opens up and gives up information bit by bit and combining all the information from other POWs gives a broad picture of his orginazation.
k2comp on February 14, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Idiots in the office, morons voting on the destruction of America, lunatics telling us what the future for America holds.
What a wonderful world.
madmonkphotog on February 14, 2008 at 8:56 AM
There’s a Starbucks at Gitmo? Man, they really are everywhere.
CP on February 14, 2008 at 9:39 AM
I guess we could feed them Oscar Meyer products and really get some international scandal going
LimeyGeek on February 14, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »