Cheney: A Decent Man in a world of Webbs, Allens, Foleys and Clintons
I will now adapt a phrase made most famous by Laura Ingraham for the Hollywood set–Shut Up and Sing. When it comes to the White House, gentlemen and women, just Shut Up Govern. And if I may add, also Shut Up, Kill the Enemy and Win the War.
The best thing the president and his administration in general can do right now is stop trying to placate both the American left and the enemy. The only truly consistent line coming out of the White House is a pathetically defensive one drowning in shouted, continuous and insistent pleas that we don’t like or engage in torture.
Prior to my leftist activism, I was a public relations professional. One of the cardinal rules conveyed to clients was the importance of not repeating negatives or the arguments of your enemies or opponents.
Whenever the White House engages in this pathetic cry-baby reassuring that American doesn’t torture the enemy, it a) reminds people that we’re accused of it giving it even more credence and b) takes the focus way from the enemy who in fact does torture people, videotapes it and sends it around the world for all to see.
Then there is the other issue of waterboarding (which goes into the NOT torture category), but which the left and the enemy have decided to cast as “torture” (because it’s so effective) as opposed to the harmless act which, while unpleasant, doesn’t physically harm the terrorist. The other brilliant benefit is it takes a remarkably short amount of time to work (in the case of AQ biggies-30 seconds to 2 minutes). Does it make the bad guys cry? Yes. It is scary? Yes. And it saves lives without harming the subject.
It is, as VP Cheney noted in a radio interview, a no-brainer when it comes to getting information that will stop our terrorist enemy from killing more innocent people. And a frank reminder here–our troops are also innocents.
But now the White House, falling into its now regularly prostrate position, has felt it necessary to insist VP Cheney isn’t evil and doesn’t support torture. What did this accomplish? Hundreds of headlines less than 10 days away from an election with the admin begging to be believed that we’re not horrific, torturing freaks. Talk about handing material to the enemy’s Fifth Column while doing the left’s job for them at the same time.
When one has to reassure people that you’re “not” something, it legitimizes the argument that it’s even possible that you are. Consider if someone ran up to a crowd, pointed at you and yelled, That’s a cocker spaniel in a human suit!! How compelled would you feel to spend days, weeks, or months on end wandering around reassuring people that you aren’t a cocker spaniel? I think that option wouldn’t even cross your mind, as it’s obvious the accusation itself isn’t worth your time.
The particular absurdity here is that the Cheney family is one of the most decent families in American politics. And the VP’s original point is the salient one–dunking a head under water for a moment is indeed worth getting information that will save hundreds, if not thousands of innocent lives. Those of us debating this issue should ask one question–what would you rather endure–Dunking the head of a terrorist under water for about a minute, or cleaning up the carnage of another Beslan school massacre?
Related Post:
My Answer About the Use of “Torture” Against Terrorists
Agree 100% Tammy. I am so weary of America and this government having to defend itself for doing what needs to be done to keep our country safe. We are the most powerful nation in the world, and though not perfect, we are also the most decent. We shouldn’t be apologizing and we shouldn’t be tiptoeing around trying to appease those who have apparently lost all perspective concerning the reality of what we are facing. I love my President, but things need to change.
(I’m a new listener of yours and am thoroughly captivated by your enthusiasm, intellect and honesty. Looking forward to reading your books. Thanks for being out there doing what you do so well.)
After seeing Mrs. Lynne Cheney on Wolf Blitzer’s show I would add, “Let Lynne Loose!!” That is what I like to see. Finally. Tammy you hit it on the head. Listen up Administration. Actions speak louder than words, (even Bela Pelosi’s), so win the war..do it now..lead, govern or get out the way. We need a leader now, not a follower. Yes, Mr. President and Condi, I am unfortunately talking to you as well. Stop following what the world wants and do what I know you believe is right; crush the enemy, we can clean it up after the evil known as Islamofacism is destroyed.
I do not understand President Bush’s desire to be “popular” with the press and the political left! They are both going to assail him regardless of what he does so why not do the right thing and the hell with these people…unless, of course Mr. Bush sees himselve part of this crowd more than he does a conservative! Oh yea…he isn’t a conservative! That explains much! I so miss the Gipper!!
Had dinner last night with a very dear family member… a Vietnam Vet nearing 60, and suffering still from post-traumatic stress disorder, and still on anti-depressants after all these years.
He is hard left, as hard as it gets. Our political views couldn’t be more different, and as the conversation went on, my attempts to “placate” him became more and more futile. For the sake of the evening, I bit my tongue as he indicated ” who cares about Israel ( if they get nuked)”, and a constant barrage of “Bush’s actions created this enemy”.
Tammy, I agree, it’s time for this administration to move forward and prosecute the war on terror, throughout the world, in any way it needs to be done. The pentagon needs to do what is necessary, and leave the press out of it.
In January 2006 Peter Pace and Joint Chiefs sent a letter to the Washington Post, regarding the use of a wounded vet who had lost his limbs being projected into a cartoon. How much lower can politics go, and how much more can we ask of the Pentagon in the way of news sourcing?
Please, yes, shut up, kill the enemy, and win the war.