NYT: Bush now relying heavily on foreign intel to interrogate terrorists
posted at 9:10 pm on May 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Wait, did I say Bush? You know who I mean.
The United States is now relying heavily on foreign intelligence services to capture, interrogate and detain all but the highest-level terrorist suspects seized outside the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, according to current and former American government officials…
Human rights advocates say that relying on foreign governments to hold and question terrorist suspects could carry significant risks. It could increase the potential for abuse at the hands of foreign interrogators and could also yield bad intelligence, they say…
American officials say that in the last years of the Bush administration and now on Mr. Obama’s watch, the balance has shifted toward leaving all but the most high-level terrorist suspects in foreign rather than American custody. The United States has repatriated hundreds of detainees held at prisons in Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan, but the current approach is different because it seeks to keep the prisoners out of American custody altogether…
As a safeguard against torture, Mr. Panetta said, the United States would rely on diplomatic assurances of good treatment. The Bush administration sought the same assurances, which critics say are ineffective…
American officials said the United States would still take custody of the most senior Qaeda operatives captured in the future.
A clever move in how it kills two birds with stone, avoiding further headaches for Obama over how to dispose of terrorists in U.S. custody while leaving jihadis in the possession of people willing and able to go the Mancow route for emergency information if need be. But, er, how is this significantly different from rendition? The only difference that I can see is that instead of grabbing these people ourselves and handing them over to Jordanian or Pakistani intel for interrogation, we’re leading their guys to the suspects and letting them take it from there. “Rendition-lite,” Tom Maguire calls it. Which makes this the second Bush policy despised by the left in the span of three days that The One’s decided to continue.
Exit question: What if some of these jihadis end up in the clutches of intel agencies that are actually sympathetic to them, like Pakistan’s?
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And here I was, thinking that The Iraq War Was Wrong Blog was a joke …
Evil Pundit on May 23, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Everyone who sees that headline clicks on here to tell you your mistake, only to learn you’re pulling our legs. Good one.
jgapinoy on May 23, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Outsourcing our dirty job, what’s the guarantee that the Pakis or the Yemenis won’t manipulate this intelligence for their own ends?
promachus on May 23, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Obama needs to approach the moderate Al Qaeda member and ask them politely for information.
Daggett on May 23, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Other countries tend to let these folks go. Unless they are putting a GPS microchip in them I don’t see how this is helpful. How many times have the folks supposedly responsible for the U.S.S. Cole attack “escaped” or been mistakenly released? And then, unless the “interrogation” is taped, how do we know we are getting the whole story? I trust our folks more.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 9:16 PM
The Illuminati totally took Obama’s face off, and put it on Bush, a la Cage and Travolta in “Face Off.”
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 9:17 PM
I wonder how many went straight to the email instead of clicking on the story?
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Unfortunately this is a f*cked up situation.
How do you prosecute and jail asymmetrical combatants? The legalities of it all are very confusing
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 9:18 PM
At least he’s not tweeting @ShesTooFatForMeBlogette and asking her advise.
Blake on May 23, 2009 at 9:20 PM
We aren’t doing this because it works. We are doing this because we are scared. Nobody, but nobody, in a uniform or from CIA, wants to be the test case for the first show trial. The services know they won’t get any backup from the Hill so the services are washing their hands of it.
Limerick on May 23, 2009 at 9:23 PM
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on May 23, 2009 at 9:24 PM
LOL…these disinterested human rights advocates would probably be calling it a sickening abomination if it were Bush.
ddrintn on May 23, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Does this constitute yet another example of Obama declaring, “Um, Present”?
BuckeyeSam on May 23, 2009 at 9:28 PM
How are the trials of those UN Peace Keepers accused of raping children going……….?
……. “Diplomatic Assurances”, Obama is a child and a coward.
Just leave Gitmo open and let the American professionals do their jobs…….
…….. after all, how can we trust anything anyone else has to say?
Idiot….
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Interesting how these topics are to trolls as crosses are to vampires.
Jamson64 on May 23, 2009 at 9:30 PM
What is interesting is that there are now two posts on HA about NYT stories that are less than the usual fawning over the One.
Wethal on May 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Hey, at least America can go to sleep at night knowing Obama’s values are intact…um….if he has any.
therightscoop on May 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Congratulations NYT. Your vicious attacks on Bush have succeeded in making it less likely that we’ll get reliable intelligence from these terrorists and you’ve made it certain the terrorists will receive more brutal treatment (not that I or the NYT cares about that).
Basilsbest on May 23, 2009 at 9:32 PM
I don’t think there’s any such thing as a GPS microchip, though commenters with high-level security clearances could prove me wrong.
DarkCurrent on May 23, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Strange how being accountable changes goggles.
Wade on May 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Outsourcing the War on Terror
Kini on May 23, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Probably not but still, do you trust these other countries?
Maybe it’s an experiment to see if impartial reporting will help their circulation.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Not only is there one, but check out the delivery system……….
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Your assessment would be incorrect. The services follow the appropriate field manual. Which, AFAIK does not include water-boarding. That is all the cover they need. If the coward-in-chief refused to support any service member who followed that manual he would quickly find himself without a military.
What the coward is trying to do and the ball licking media are supporting is have someone else do the dirty work.
Contrary to the rambling of certain trolls former Brig.Gen. Janis Karpinski is lying when she states she was following orders because of the memos. The idiot had a field manual to work from and she had an obligation as a staff officer to state the methods described in the memos were contrary to the field manual if that were the case. The stupid cow was nothing more than derelict in her duties. To say otherwise is to confirm ones ignorance on the subject.
jdkchem on May 23, 2009 at 9:38 PM
No it is not. Here’s your answer –
trailboss on May 23, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I don’t have a problem with “rendition”. In fact – I believe it’s an ingenious policy.
I’m reminded, in the days after 9-11 – maybe someone remembers who this was … a suspect captured in Egypt and allowed by US officials to be interrogated by them before being extradited to the US for trial.
The man claimed in court that the Egyptians had “roasted” him “on a spit” to get him to talk. A physician expert witness testified “Yes, this man has wounds consistent with having been roasted on a spit”.
Classic!
HondaV65 on May 23, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Firefox says that’s an idiot attack site, can’t see it.
trailboss on May 23, 2009 at 9:41 PM
So,Obama won’t appease the Ant-War El Code Pinko
wackos,and stop the war,as he promised to his
Lefty voters,
but,for the rest of America,and especially those in
harms way,on the gate,and battlefield,he won’t spend
much effort in prosecuting the War on Terror,
or,as Limerck mentioned in his post,Hopey won’t back
these fine men and woman up of the US Armed Forces!!
Seems to be De javu,like Clinton’s Meals on Wheels UN
restricted rules of engagement in Somolia,Black Hawk
Down,where Clinton didn’t seem to care much for the
US Military!!
canopfor on May 23, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Hey Obama–let’s outsource our detainees to the Mexican jail system while we’re at it.
Everybody does everything better than America, in the lib’s eyes.
TexasDan on May 23, 2009 at 9:44 PM
If you use Firefox and have “attack site” warnings enabled the site gets blocked. Thanks to the pussies who flood google with complaints, and google itself, anything that they do not like gets labeled as an attack site. Prior to the election they were blocking the American Spectator and American Solutions as attack sites.
jdkchem on May 23, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Is that a joke because I am on Firefox and I can see it?
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Yeah, I didn’t realize April Fools Day came this early.
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Exactly Kini. Now if Obama can just find a way to unionize and tax it, his re-distribution policies will remain in tact.
Rovin on May 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I say keep Gitmo open……….
………. but let the terrorist caught on the battlefield firing against our soldiers hiding behind women and children in civilian clothes, have a choice.
The United States and a little discomfort…………
……….. or these guys.
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM
I always thought that when Pres. Obama got elected and was privy to the daily security reports, it would be what my father called a “Come to Jesus moment”. And I’ll bet it has been. He still can’t allow himself to be responsible for the decisions that must be made. I’d like to say I was surprised that he has farmed this out but it is in keeping with his “don’t blame me” attitude. He is no leader.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM
In the words of Bawney the great Sage,
“Don’t you righties like hiring out?”
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Ouch!
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 9:51 PM
You can disable that “feature” in the settings under the security tab.
jdkchem on May 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Anyone for outsourcing the Presidency?
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Of course we know what Obama will say if he is ever asked about this
“Well I didnt know it was going on I missed that breifing and the staffer who was there never told me about it”
William Amos on May 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM
We did that already to Indonesia last year.
William Amos on May 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Good job. You know what comes next.
DarkCurrent on May 23, 2009 at 9:54 PM
I am sure that’s how it started………..
……… then rapidly progressed.
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 9:55 PM
No it is a feature that uses google to determine “bad” websites.
jdkchem on May 23, 2009 at 9:57 PM
No joke, but jdkchem just solved it for me.
trailboss on May 23, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Thanks, I so non-geeky that I thought if was a joke that I just didn’t understand. Computers are magic and that’s all I need to know.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:00 PM
I thought Obama was a citizen of the world.
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Allahpundit: Wait, did I say Bush? You know who I mean.
You are a very clever man, Allahpundit, that is certain.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Yes, I can’t wait until Obama’s inauguration and we can finally say goodbye to this Bush fella…
ujorge on May 23, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Sy Hersh claimed about a month or so ago that Cheney had seeded into the government a corps of “neocons” who, he claims (yeah, I know, it’s Hersh but stay with me), will be trying to manipulate Obama’s foreign and defense policies.
My hunch is that the netroots and their allies in the press will be promoting a “Obama’s being manipulated” line as explanation for these policies.
“Let Obama be Obama” will be the chant.
SteveMG on May 23, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I bet these guys don’t do waterboarding either…the use eye gouging and pulling out fingernails and electric shock. The libs should feel soooooooo much better now.
d1carter on May 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
And then our chant will be, “Real men are whom they are!”
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
If the “torture” aspect had anything to do with it, they would be sending Nancy to jail. They know this is a rallying cry for the welfare lined purses of the Cindy Sheehans out there.
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Bullet to the head.
LibTired on May 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM
On second thought, I prefer,
“Free OBAMA… from the chains of responsibility he clearly can’t handle.”
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Well the good news is Obama is a hypocrite. The bad news is he’s pretty spineless. He will probably cave to pressure from his kook base and back off this when his poll numbers dive because of the economy.
Ted Torgerson on May 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Yeah, where are our little buddies? :)
ThePrez on May 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Obama was against the War on Terror before he was for it.
And now he’s executing the War on Terror so that his dainty little fingers don’t get dirty.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Actually, it IS voting “present”. That is exactly what the continuation of Bush’s policies is – voting present. That way he does not have to accept any responsibility for the outcome; he has only to point backwards and blame Bush. Or whoever else is handy.
About the only significant Bush policy that he overruled and made his own is the closure of Guantanamo Bay – and you can see the s**t storm that that has brewed up. He can’t handle it. Flippin’ coward…
Has no one in his entire live ever told him “no” to his face?
ss396 on May 23, 2009 at 10:13 PM
That is one of the most frightening posts I’ve ever read here!
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Bush started it.
Obama inherited it.
Cheney shot his friend.
LibTired on May 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
To be fair, The One would call this “Cleaning up the mess left by the last administration”. And sometimes the last guy was really taking care of business in a decent way. But you can’t say that. So you just keep the same operations and hope that nobody notices.
If the Annointed One could eschew the Valley Girl Princess attitude *, he might see that President Bush had a bit of a mess also. Like a tech stock meltdown, a weakened military with poor morale, burgeoning entitlements and a need to cut taxes to spur the economy. Then he had that mess in New York that involved some airplanes and buildings that people with the two second memory of goldfish have totally forgotten. But The One spent years ignoring this history. Hmmmm….
* This is an attitude that finds a charming, pampered and shallow little person confronted with reality after landing a job that requires more than being a clothes horse and making cute and smug remarks and reading crib sheets or a teleprompter. Usually results in a lot of whining, disgust, indecision and finally, disaster.
IlikedAUH2O on May 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
FIFY
Upstater85 on May 23, 2009 at 10:16 PM
P. S. I found a quote that called President Bush a whiner for talking down conditions in the wake of the Clintons. They were liberals.
IlikedAUH2O on May 23, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I can’t believe that unique, insane, hilarious piece of satire is still going on. I nearly spit out my beverage when I realized that the “Proprietor” still professes to believe that Bush is in charge.
Splunge on May 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Er … what!? Is Obama a computer?
OldEnglish on May 23, 2009 at 10:21 PM
O/T I posted at you on another thread but missed you. Have you fully recovered from your spill?
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Model T1000
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
You wouldn’t have a hydraulic press handy, would you?
OldEnglish on May 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
A ZX81.
LibTired on May 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Heh.
LibTired on May 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Wish I could say I did
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
I wish. He’s just a smug little jerk.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Heh. Obama is everything we said…and less. An empty, musty, smelly, ill-fitting suit, with a whole lot of very confused and disillusioned supporters.
Jaibones on May 23, 2009 at 10:33 PM
O/T Thanks, not fully, but mostly. Must be extremely attentive with every move. Haven’t stressed it for nearly 48 hours, now. For me, that’s good.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:33 PM
That’s about right. You never knew what the thing would do when fired up.
OldEnglish on May 23, 2009 at 10:35 PM
At the risk of being a nag, did you see a doctor?
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:36 PM
New Enhanced Interogation Technique just rolled out by our Intelligence Agencies………….
……. put a terrorist in a room, strap him to a chair, and force him to watch and listen to Obama talking without a teleprompter, Barney Frank in full ‘throat’, and Nancy Pelosi as herself.
The screams of “NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!” will be heard across the globe…….
……. and this war will end in a week.
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 10:36 PM
It’s amazing how alike the two parties are.
True_King on May 23, 2009 at 10:37 PM
…extremely attentive…..
Loxondonta on May 23,2009 at 10:33PM.
Loxondonta: I didn’t hear that you took a spill,I hope
your pain free,please be careful Lox,:):)
canopfor on May 23, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I am outraged I tell you outraged!
outsourcing jobs that Americans just won’t do!!!!!
I would love to have a job roasting a jihadi on a spit!!!!
conservnut on May 23, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Hopefully Lox is icing and elevating whatever hurts
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:40 PM
No, dear! I’m used to this sort of thing happening, and know how to tend to it. Specific exercises and rest. I’ve slept more this week than I usually do in three weeks.
Of course, all would be well if only I had some chocolate pudding.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:41 PM
You joke but can you imagine how insulted they would really be? Nancy without a burqa and Mr. Frank’s choice of love interest. Now that would be a recruiting tool.
I just googled the word burqa to make sure I was spelling it correctly. You would not believe the picture that came up. I am pretty sure it would be the big no-no in any Muslim country but you guys would sure enjoy it.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I’ll come over and install a proper banister
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Chocolate does tend to make things all better. I am trying to be good so I am enjoying the sweet corn harvest.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I find it difficult to type when I put my head up in the freezer.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I’m so pumped to have some corn
IDK how it is for you, but where I am the corn ain’t ready til July, Aug., Sept.
So — still waiting :(
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Well, at least you have the elevation part solved.
Could wrap a cold compress round your head with an ace bandage
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I believe Krauthammer said the other day that
‘hypocrisy is the homage to virtue”.
Rendition must be virtuous if Obama is a hypocrite about it.
petunia on May 23, 2009 at 10:45 PM
I thought I was opposed to burqas in all situations. But I’d make an exception in Nancy’s case.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:46 PM
The best part………….
………… how could the Democrats call it “torture”?
Seven Percent Solution on May 23, 2009 at 10:46 PM
TOTUS is the homage to Krauthammer.
Loxodonta on May 23, 2009 at 10:48 PM
NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seven Percent Solution on May 23,2009 at 10:46PM.
Seven Percent Solution: Here’s Steve Crowders video
of Nancy’s torture!
Enjoy,hehe:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr56_qxmejQ
canopfor on May 23, 2009 at 10:50 PM
I’m trying to find the quote, but he had a very inspiring one to a bunch of college grads once, I’m trying to find it.
Krauthammer is an excellent mind — a beautiful one at that, full of wisdom, knowledge, and uncanny depth.
I do not read him that often, but when I do, I am astounded at his ability to articulate the abstract. He is a very deep, thoughtful man.
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I am in Florida. I am eating corn on the cob as a meal.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:52 PM
LUCKY!!!
Love that stuff. I worked in fish markets for many years as a teen, and one I worked at, they use to have one of the local farms (my best buds grandma owns it) bring over corn, and we’d just eat corn all day while cutting fish. It was awesome.
Throw it in the lobster steamer — boom, couple mins later, good to go.
Nothing like eating some corn on the cob, with my feet hanging off the bulkhead, looking at the fishing boats coming in, the afternoon sun dancing through the leaves.
I’m truly a blessed individual
blatantblue on May 23, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Tricky. I will bow to your assurances of being on the mend and wish I was close enough to deliver the chocolate pudding.
Cindy Munford on May 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM
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