No it's not humane to be waterboarding suspected 9/11 terrorists however to save lives sometimes you have to do what you got to do to accomplish that – even if it means torture. I think of it as if my husband or child was kidnapped and one of the perps were caught – would I offer to lawyer him up to find out where my husband or child is or would I rip his fingernails out one by one until he spilled? Either way my husband or child may not make it out alive but at least I did something instead of protecting the accused by giving him a lawyer and hoping he gives the details.

My question is, why has this country gotten so soft with giving criminals more rights than the victims?

Do you remember when Democrats made "Bork" a verb and Republicans then delighted in "borking" Lani Gunier and others? Whether it's 8 years or 28 years before Republicans regain control of Washington, every Democrat associated with the Obama administration will be subect to being "Cheney"ed".

Now that the Obama Administration has released the "cat out of the bag,"--and that was a mistake---everybody is calling "foul,"--even the ones who approved these programs. Everybody want results-–but no one wants to know (plausability denialibility) how the information is acquired. War is a "nasty business,"--and nice people always finish last.

The attacks prevented do not matter when it makes us no better than them. We are supposed to be above such guerilla tactics. We are not barbarians. Especially when there is no proof that the same information could not be gotten any other way.

Not to mention that all such information is suspect for validity when you use such techniques since the person will lie through their teeth to stop you from hurting them.

This is wrong. Period. And the "number of attacks prevented" could have easily just been made up by the leaders involved to cover their own butts so that they actually SEEMED to accomplish something when they weren't.

Stop thinking that the Bush administration were wonderful innocent people just protecting American citizens when they weren't. They were protecting their own personal power and indulging in disgusting guilty pleasures of murdering and torturing people.

This is no longer the era of the Cold War.

There is no justification for such behavior. None.

Now, let's welcome tonight's contestests on......... The Blame Game.... YAY!!

Here we go again: one side blaming the other – pointing fingers – "not recalling" ...

If the U.S. government has chosen to use torture for interrogations then we need to get off our high horse, telling other nations that we will not deal with them until they stop their human rights abuses.

Be straight: Ok – you do it. – We do it, too – We all know it. It's an even playing field.

Will the WSJ be the next hate target for the Obama storm troopers?

I've always believed the punishment should fit the crime. But this goes to far. It's impractical & unjust. If the US is sinking to low levels I think it betrays the trust that Americans put into the government.

Obama is very Naive. Since 9/11 there has not been another attack on US soil because the policies in place have kept us safe, and that includes the harsh interrogations of Terrorists. The new Obama policies threaten the safety for all of us. The safety of Americas far outweighs the discomfort of a Terrorist. None of the tactics used caused any permanent damage.

Criminal charges can not be brought against Cheney and Rice just; because they agreed with the act, you have to charge those in the military that had participated in the acts of water-boarding are you really going to waste taxpayer dollars tracking down and prosecuting those solders which had participated in the activity or leave it up to the Military to try and convict there men? How will they hold up after being in Afghanistan War now going over 7 years, the bailing out of Mortgage Companies that are receiving from both ends, be the head of the Democratic organization that approving of Gay & Lesbian marriage and activities, Keeping Christianity out of the schools ware it is in fact needed more now days, and then the facts which show that unemployment numbers correlate and Illegal immigration are in sink with one another.

I don' understand why the United States is it's own worst enemy. I don't know of any other country that "airs" it's dirty laundry worldwide. Although I do not condone torture, I also realize how high the stakes were after 911. Did we forget? There seems to be a sense of apathy since we have not suffered another such attack. Why are we looking back and wanting to prosecute the very people who were backed against the wall and had the ultimate responsibily of protecting us? Do you hear "our" attackers apologizing to us? Although my opinion could be taken as "siding" with the Republicans, I want to clarify that I am a "die-hard" Democrat who very much supported Barrack Obama and the Democratic ticket....and still do.

Dee, thanks for understanding. This is America and I fully respect your right to be a Democrat. I am a Republican. Thank goodness we agree on this topic.

The stakes are high. For those Democrats who constantly rant about Bush.

It appeared that Mr. Obama understood it would be unfair to prosecute U.S. government employees for carrying out a policy that had been fully vetted and approved by the executive branch and Congress.

Congress. You mean the Democratic controlled congress of 2007 and 2008. So to all those that want to skewer Bush and Chenney. Please make sure you include the Democrats you elected in the fire pit you wish to throw the Republicans in.

Dee is on target. The stakes are high. Giving more fuel to the Taliban and other terrorist groups at this time was very ill advised. Join the Taliban and fight to the death because if you are captured they will do these things to you. Take Obama's word for it. Or Obama is leading now they wont torture you at all. Three meals a day, cable tv, air conditioning.

Either way its bad for America

When are certain democrats going to start living in the present? I totally agree with Dee. It is shameful that these things have become so politicized, especially in the face of so many challenges today. Maybe you should do a piece on "Nancy Pelosi: A Convenient Memory." BTW, I am an independent who still has faith in Obama but am horrified by many of the other politicians in Washington.

After WWII the US prosecuted war criminals for water boarding–if it was illegal since WWII why would it be legal now? The who knew what and when is all a sidetrack...if it was illegal in 1945, it's illegal now....but then the US doesn't even know what an illegal alien is anymore, so how can we be expected to understand any other basic legal definition???

Obama waffles for sale again! This whole blow up about foreign terrorist torture is pure smoke and mirrors political maneuvering. The Dems want to tie up the country and the Republicans by diverting everyone's attention away from what the current administration is doing today, by reliving the past. Hey look over there at what happened long ago, while we pull the shade down on the American people that we told would be informed about everything. Oh well, I guess there is always "hope".... Obama politics – the new comedy. Just watch out for the backfire – burnt waffles anyone?

Right or wrong Obama supporters see him as GOD.

Thank you so much for the realistic look at what happened. I am glad that we have been safe since the terrorist attacks and have not forgotten the fear we felt on 9/11 and for quite a long while after that. What can we possibly gain by an investigation? I am grateful also, Dee, for those who kept us safe. When all the former CIA and intelligence people oppose this investigation as something that will help our enemies (terrorists, BTW), that should speak volumes to those who want to pursue this for some reason. I never supported Bush either! But this needs to stop. We don't want to go back to that terrible fear that we lived with after we were attacked. Thank you Peter Hoekstra.

Republican and Democrat alike are sure to be unveiled as culprits in this torture scandal. But rest assured, it must be investigated and punished.

The fiascoes of the past year are a culmination of criminal politicians and businessmen who have mastered the art of the 'loophole': From off-shore banking to the mortgage default debachle (which should be called gambling) to the twisting and mutilating of the United States Constitution. If these people are not prosecuted, this behavior will be repeated and enhanced. As a mother of 3 and employee supervisor, I can assure you,– Let them get away with it and not only will it continue, but the stakes will get higher and more participants will join in.

I think we will see a great shift in things if these proceedings go on you will get to see what a LIAR Pelosi really is and why she got into office due to her Husband Not her intellect since she seems to be lacking in it and honesty!

Quotes from Nancy Pelosi 2006
'You don't need God anymore, you have us Democrats.'

Pelosi recently saying (TWICE!) that "If the Stimulus (Spending) Package is not passed quickly, then 500 million people will lose their jobs". Since there are approximately 280-290 million people currently living in the U.S. , total, I would assume the remainder she is referring to are illegal Mexicans.

Do your research people learn who the real Liars in the House are!!!

What the CIA did was for our benefit and this is just appalling that this investigation is even going on but mark my words it will backfire in the face of the Liars and the Cheats in Congress and I really can't wait for it to! I want Pelosi and all her crook friends brought UP on Charges when it does!

This is the worst action Obama could have let happen while he is in office to bring up people from the Past Administration and question them and their abilities when they did absolutely what was RIGHT! is an Outrage to say the least this really will have a mark on his Presidency a very bad one! This whole thing leave a bad taste in my mouth along with pure Fear that these total Idiots who are supposed to be running our country are so caught up in the past blame game they can't do their jobs they need to do NOW!!

Or is that just it? These Idiots want to pass the blame onto someone else because they are ALL doing such a horrible job?

If you actually read the memos, which I guarantee most people have not. You will see that 10,000 american solidiers were subject to this in SERE training, and only two quit the program. And the memo also says that all of the 9,998 soldiers waterboarded had cooperated information. And it goes further to say that none of the soldiers waterboarded had any long term physical or psycological damage.

What made President Bush going on camera and state that we don,t torture ? It reminded me of president Clinton stating that he had no relations with Ms. Lewinski . Some things we should keep quite about, so what we tortured a few of them, think about how they do us when we get captured. I think in the state of War that anything goes . But I think also that some of congress members who knew about it should speak up .

I haven't forgotten Dee, where's Bin Laden???

It is their job to know-who is Pelosi trying to kid. I beleive she has challenged and put her foot into her mouth.
I am not a supporter of hers to say the least – am mad at her for making our country look stupid-this just verifies to me that she is not really too bright.
Why would we want this put out into the media. There could be closed hearings in a military court and see what happened if it is reallly necessary.
So now that Obama has bombed terriorists in their homes in Pakistan with their children in these homes, are we now going to have to have an investigation to see if these are too extreme measures that might make our enemies very mad at us.
Hmmm-wasn't Bush accused of this.
I am not saying I am for or against waterboarding but I do expect the military and our politicans to know what they are doing and they need to be trusted to handle stuff like this.
War sucks and that is the way it is. There always has been and always will be wars.