Guest Blogged by Alan Breslauer
Out on the campaign trail today John McCain tackles the question of whether the U.S. can reclaim the moral high ground in light of torturing prisoners of war. In addition to stating his disappointment that all the other GOP presidential candidates expressed their approval for torture during the second Republican debate, McCain noted the “sharp dividing line between those who have served in the military and those who haven’t.” McCain continued:
Every retired and active duty military officer that I know says we shouldn’t torture people. General Colin Powell, all of these others who have had the responsibility of leadership because they fear that if we torture people what happens to their soldiers when they are captured. We don’t want that to happen to men and women serving in the military.
So I feel very strongly about it. And it’s not like 24, it’s not like 24, this is real life.
McCain also blows up many other oft-given reasons for torture in this short clip (2:55).
I wonder if the neoCon in the lead, who has not announced yet, is also for torture?
Is that part of conservatism now … advocating torture? Maybe Ann Coulter is a conservative after all?