Support for torture investigations growing
January 30th, 2009
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows the extent to which the torture issue divides Republicans from the rest of the public:
Overall, 58 percent support the prohibition Obama declared before taking office, but there’s a wide gap across party lines: 71 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of independents in the poll said torture should never be used, but most Republicans, 55 percent, said there are cases in which the U.S. should consider using torture against terrorism suspects.
There are also clear partisan differ5ences in whether investigations should be launched into Bush administration torture. with a majority [or it a plurality at 50%?] of the public now in favor of investigation:
There’s also a large political divide about whether the new administration should look into any illegality on the part of the previous one in terms of its handling of those suspected of terrorist activities, as 69 percent of Democrats said they’d like to see such investigations while 69 percent of Republicans said no. Independents divide 53 to 45 percent against investigations.
Put together, all Americans break 50 percent in favor of investigations, 47 percent opposed.
A commentatator provides interesting context for interpreting these results:
Put together, all Americans break 50 percent in favor of investigations, 47 percent opposed.
That’s pretty impressive considering most of our beltway columnists have been arguing against prosecutions and our TV media personalities have mostly ignored the issue or have argued against them.
I’d say there is a large disconnect between our citizens and most of our media personalities.
There is also another interesting comment from someone with counterintelligence experience:
Does anyone know if this claim about “one guy” is true? It would be very enlightening to find out.
Entry Filed under: Accountability,Bush administration,Guantanamo,Interrogation,Law,Obama administration,Polls and Attitudes,Torture,War Crimes
As someone who has been on counter-terrorism ops, I know that torture not only is not useful (they lie to you, actually), but is against the Geneva Conventions.
I for one am glad we are returning to the Rule of Law from the dark days of Fear and Paranoia that ruined our nation for the last eight years.
By the way, the most effective way is actual friendly interrogation – most of our useful intel from GITMO was from a former police officer who used standard detective techniques instead of torture. Yep, just one guy.