Who still supports extraordinary rendition?

Great Debates
1

In the cover story in the October Atlantic, an ostensibly conservative commentator takes the position that the extraordinary rendition measures taken over recent years were unquestionably torture and harmed the US’s position in the world. As a long-time liberal pacifist, that position was no news to me. But it sorta impressed me coming from someone who claimed to so strongly support so much else done by the prior administration - including its military actions other than torture.

I know Cheney still goes on about how valuable these actions were, and how ceasing them endangers us. But I was wondering whether any posters still thinks extraordinary rendition was/remains acceptable under the circumstances. Is this still debated by anyone other than Cheney?

2

Hey Dinsdale, where’s Dough?

3

I’m ok with extraordinary rendition in some cases, like if there’s some sort of notorious criminal who we can’t get through legal rendition, like the Eichmann situation.

4

Eichmann was given a fair trial.

5

I apologize if I was not perfectly clear, but my OP intended referred to US’s recent “enhanced interrogation” policies, rather than the manner in which individuals might be apprehended and transferred. Stress positions, sleep deprivation, cold and heat, use of dogs, waterboarding - that sort of activity.

6

Right. After he was extraordinarily rendered. I say, use legal means to get the bad guy in custody if you can, and kidnap him if you can’t, then take him back home and try him.

So, you’re not talking about rendition at all…you’re talking about torture.

7

Well, I think so, as did the author of the article. But I was trying to use what I understood was the terminology used over the past few years.

8
  1. Extraordinary rendition
  2. Torture by proxy
  3. Torture

Which one(s) are we discussing?

IMHO, the USA was using extraordinary rendition to enable torture by proxy because torture was not permitted in the USA.

9

The article is discussing torture by Americans, not extraordinary rendition.

Speaking directly to Bush, the author says:

As if.

Bush has never taken responsibility for anything in his life. The article is trying to teach a pig to sing.

10

Just finished the article. I found it very compelling and well written. I would wish that someone would read this to Bush over and over and over again, just to see if something would sink in.

Dinsdale, you may want to get the title of the OP changed, since extraordinary rendition is not really the point of Sullivan’s article.

11

#1 remains US policy, at least in theory, correct?

12

I asked the mods to close the threads, as I did not intend to cause such confusion.

13

After his kidnapping. There was also the small matter of jurisdiction, a question that the world agreed to let alone.

But justice was served.

14

Please start a new one! This article deserves to be read.

I’d suggest the debate could focus around whether or not an personal apology from Bush regarding his decisions regarding torture would be the right thing to do for the country.

15

Closed at the request of the OP.