I almost titled this post, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Worst Excuse Ever,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but the fact is that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard worse, or none, for possibly illegal behavior from the White House lots of times.<\/p>\n
The discussion about torture, or torture-lite, often includes something like this:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a bomb under L.A., and we know, or strongly suspect, that this guy has the details. Hell yeah, torture him!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Or maybe this:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Americans are at risk, and we know, or strongly suspect, that this guy has information that can save American lives. Torture him to get that information.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Now, whether or not you agree that torture at those times is ok, or even effective, most people would NOT say this:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve arrested a guy and we want to try him and put him in jail. In order to get him to confess, we torture him. Then we use than confession against him in the trial.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Right? I mean, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it a completely basic idea that torture produces false confessions? I mean, even if we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not talking about thumbscrews. Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s water boarding, sleep deprivation, loud noises, or being retrained in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153stress\u00e2\u20ac\u009d positions. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll all end if you confess. Should we use those confessions to convict? I think that most people would say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153of course not.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
So, am I hearing this wrong, or are members of the administration arguing that we should be allowed to use those confessions? How can this be cool with Americans?<\/p>\n
And now, finally, for the worst excuse (in days).<\/p>\n
I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t found it on the Net, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty sure that the following paraphrased excuse made it through to my not-quite-awake brain this morning, straight from NPR<\/a>:<\/p>\n