Panetta Not a Torture Fan
Here’s one thing that bears mentioning now that it appears Leon Panetta is President-elect Barack Obama’s to head the CIA. Given the worries about whether John
Jul 31, 20201.2M Shares16.8M Views
Here’s one thing that bears mentioning now that it appears Leon Panetta is President-elect Barack Obama’s to head the CIA. Given the worries about whether John Brennan might have been too soft on torture — put aside the merits of that contention for a moment — no one can have that fear about Panetta. Here’s something he wrote about torture for the Washington Monthly last year:
“„We cannot simply suspend [American ideals of human rights] in the name of national security. Those who support torture may believe that we can abuse captives in certain select circumstances and still be true to our values. But that is a false compromise. We either believe in the dignity of the individual, the rule of law, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, or we don’t. There is no middle ground.
“„We cannot and we must not use torture under any circumstances. We are better than that.
True, every member of the Bush administration has said that they disapprove of torture while torturing people. So we’ll have to wait for Panetta’s confirmation hearings to know specifically what he thinks of, say, waterboarding or rendition. But as a statement of principle, that seems pretty reflective of a strong commitment to human rights and civil liberties.
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
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