McCain is out of touch..this is obstruction of justice and McCain should said so, and that people should go to jail even if it goes to Whitehouse. I respect his stance on torture, but, what ever happened to liberty AND JUSTICE FOR ALL?" Fairness and morality are no longer virtues of the system but rather extinct terms, except to describe the obvious lack of it. The notion that any human being could be detained for six years on an "assertion" by "the government" and not provided an adequate mechanism to challenge the assertion's merit in some sort of fact based way, is cruel and unusual, applying the simplest of America's standards espoused by our constitution's preamble "…. in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice….," and that all "people" regardless of sex, color, race, or creed are have equal protection under our law, period. Let Justice prevail!

By sanctioning torture, America sinks to the level of her worst enemy.

Aaron Smithsburg, Maryland, I agree whole-heartedly. Do you really think Americans care? The American people lost their country years ago but they were too busy watching football to notice.

Daniel, NY might be right about the primaries, but that's kind of unfortunate for the nation and the GOP, because head-to-head polls continue to show McCain as the most likely GOPer to beat the Dems. See realclearpolitics. McCain has the right attitude to actually manage consensus solutions on long term problems, and maintain strong diplomacy. He takes hits on immigration policy where the only difference from the slicker candidates is that he actually tried to do something besides tolerate the status quo. McCain hopes for peace, but is right about the consequences of premature withdrawal. He's also right about the environment and our need to cut pork.

For once I agree with McCain, this looks bad when we are trying to be the leader of the free world and humane treatment of prisoners. I agree that terrorists do not deserve special treatment in yet perception by others is just as important. The air of secrecy, prisons, torture make us look like more and more like a police state! This is not what our Founding Fathers had in mind. And if you think it’s unpatriotic to ask questions, then remember what if the people did not question the British rule in 1700s, or question the Communism trials in the 1950s? Leave anything unchecked for too long and absolute power will spin out of control. We have every right to question our government, their activities, and our where our tax dollars go to! That is Patriotism as much as going to fight a just war.

From Alice Newman,

"… and those cheering the CIA on as it tortures then lies, wonder why there are more terrorists than when we started this useless war… or maybe I'm giving them too much credit.

The fact that the CIA destroyed the tapes proves that they knew they were outside the law … it’s not the crime but the cover-up that really gets your tail in a trap.

Since all the pro-torture believers "know" water boarding is effective and not harmful … let's get to the truth and start with the head of the CIA -"

GREAT COMMENTS ALICE! We are probably creating more terrorists with our foreign policy or lack there of! Anger and resentment to America will increase if the Roves, Cheneys, and dunderheads continue on the path we are on.

The only issue McCain is right on. He knows what torture is about after his own POW experience so he can relate. To bad he can't relate to unwanted pregnancies, if he had been through that perhaps he would be able to drop his opposition to abortion rights. This guy's had a shot before, he's a senator from here on.

Cornhusker Ron and Former Army Officer
said it all! Old man McCain should lobby for making MLK Jr Day in Arizona
and resign.

Tenet, Goss, Hayden all incompetent
and self serving.

McCain is not going very far in the nomination race. wave of early-state polls was just released by Mason-Dixon and it has McCain barely registering in South Carolina and Iowa and not looking very fresh in New Hampshire.

Wow stunning? Summing sixty years of assassination, bribery, arms deals, drug deals, bloody coups, secret drug testing, brainwashing (ON AMERICANS by the way), I could on and on, as keeping Americans abroad safe or keeping American interests secure? These guys are the reason were hated abroad. This is the Industrial Military Complex, Eisenhower was warning us about! Three generations of the Bush Family, either worked directly with the agency, or recruited for them. Skull and Bones is a recruiting center at Yale, for the CIA. They are the men behind the curtain in this country and it has nothing to do with security, and everything to do with power sharing of the social elite. Don't even worry about a couple of secret tapes; the rabbit hole goes deeper, much deeper, and our elected officials; as well as, the lower downs in the agency, are as completely ignorant of the true, long term goals of the CIA.

What about the tapes that went missing two seconds AFTER the pentagon, the tapes from the gas station and hotel nearby. The ones the CIA came and took after the "PLANE" hit the pentagon, the ones we'll never see, what about that.

A man with honor in government. I disagree with John McCain on many issues, but this is not one.

It is amazing, that if a person is called a terroist, it appears that they lose all rights and safe guards. So whats next, they are called Muslin, maybe called a Communist, how about a Jew, a Catholic, or a Morman.

Am I taking this to the extreme, I do not think so, when laws and legal safe guards no longer apply to all, we stop being a nation of laws.

Destroying tapes at this point in time means individuals involed are well aware that the actions taken will not be condoned outside this administration, they know that the have crossed the line.

No to, mark wilkes barra pa,

the CIA was founded to gather information. And any professional in the intelligence community will tell you that information gained under so called extreme interigation has no value what so ever. Now with regards to Valerie Plame, the adminstration outed her in violation of federal law. Their outing of her not only damaged the nations ability to use a trained CIA Officer but endangered everyone that she has ever had contact with as a potential agent of the United States, this done in a time of war is called Treason.

I'm a democrat, but I've got to admit that this torture debate is ridiculous. We shouldn't use "24″ style interrogations on these people, but some of the things people are classifying as torture is crazy! These people are terrorists planning to kill us and if we don't get the information out of them then they will succeed. Sleep deprivation is torture? Throwing the Koran in a toilet is illegal? Give me a break…let's just give them candy canes and play old gin with them and hope they'll voluntarily tell us anything!

I can't believe people in this country believe if someone is labeled a terrorist they are no longer human.

We are on the wrong side of this war. We cannot force people to like us!

… and those cheering the CIA on as it tortures then lies, wonder why there are more terrorists than when we started this useless war… or maybe I'm giving them too much credit.

The fact that the CIA destroyed the tapes proves that they knew they were outside the law … its not the crime but the cover-up that really gets your tail in a trap.

Since all the pro-torture believers "know" water boarding is effective and not harmful … let's get to the truth and start with the head of the CIA -

This is what the CIA was founded to do . All the dirty jobs we cant stomach. If we knew all of the things they have done over the years this incident would pale in comparison. These men and women go places, do things you never will hear or know about. They keep working operatives safe and alive by destroying the trails that lead our enimies to them. I know , I know , what about valerie plame,,,, she was not a team player, so they cut her loose,, outed her. When every unsavory country in the world is gunning for us , we need these people ,, It's not all fun and games out there, the reality of our enemies politics , foundemental core beliefs, world strenth through terror is at times threatening to our way of life. Tea parties and gala events don't always get the job done

cia,la: Something tells me the highlight of your day is the Rush Limbaugh program. If you want our intelligence agents to act like savages don't expect anything more from your neighbor or your politions.
The enemy will definately torture our soldiers should they be captured but if we indulge in the same behavior what claim do we have to morality or valor?

As much as I want us to be able to do whatever we want to these terrorists I feel that I should trust McCain on this one. He has been on the other side of this, and while I would never compare our government to the north vietnamese, if McCain thinks we shouldn't be doing this than I am going to side with his opinion as he is a far smarter man than I will ever be.

It is adding insult to injury. No need to decipher the CIA actions without orders from the higher, or highest people who think they can get away with it. Suspending the writ of habeas corpus is like taking the care away from the freedoms of the American people. Bush……..it!

hey if it a republican for president vote for john McCain A man of honor

How do you know they are taliban, Cia, la?

First of all they are Al Quaeda not the Taliban. John's valid stance is that if we condone torture it gives the right to others to torture our personnel. Support the troops! No torture allowed! It's been proven completely ineffective through numerous studies and if used makes us little better than our enemies.

Cia,la… The question isn't whether torture is against the Geneva Convention which you apparently allude to in your post but its about torture period and whether any 'civilized' country should carry out such practices, regardless of the rationale.
We are too quick to permit such practices in this country when we deem fit but if it ever happened against an American, omg what an uproar it would cause. Lets stop thinking we are Gawd's gift to mankind and get in line with world thinking (at least the civilized part of it).

Since 911 we have been running like scared rabbits. The largest military machine in world history and yet we are hysterical that another attack might occur on our sacred soil. Its all cause and effect. Treat someone like dirt in another part of the world and they just might come and bite you. Think about it.

Great post.
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Dear John:
As ususal, you are a day late and a dollar (or more) short. You are the biggest hypocrite in politics today. The "Do as I say, not as I do" crowd has a real leader in you.

Where have you been the last 7 years while the Bush administration has taken this country into the ground? Why have you not been more vehemently in opposition to more than the policies that (have) personally affected you. Why wait until you are in office - (fat chance, old mule) - to eliminate torture?

If you are half the man you claim to be, you would be and should have been more involved in opposing torture before it became public knowledge. Oops! You didn't expect the secrets to get out, did you?

Breaking news! The straight talk express crashed long ago.

It's too bad McCain lost out in 2000. I really like the fact that he's an independent thinker. And obviously, he has a unique view amongst the candidates with regards to the use of torture during a conflict. It's unfortunate that this time around, his campaign has really been floundering. I can't see him as a viable candidate with regards to the other Republican candidates' numbers. Oh well.

People are calling it 'torture' when there has been no legal definition of 'torture' to define 'waterboarding'

Sorry, John, but if it would save one American life, I would. Plus you know the bad guys don't care about world public opinion, the UN opinion or the Hague. They're playing for keeps and we need to do the same. Screw the bastards!

These people are taliban not of a know country military!!!! Do your job cia and do it well!!

Too bad John McCain doesn't have the guts to face the obvious. The good senator is begining to act as dense as Fred Thompson.

I mean get real you yokels, the tapes could have easily been modified to pixilate or block out faces.

It is unfortunate that Senator McCain doesn't really want to get to the bottom of this.

He used to have more integrity than the others candidates.

So much of this garbage coild have been avoided with impeachment hearings years ago.

"…bad, bad people"…sounds like a little kid saying "bad dog….bad, bad dog". And it's hard to "erode" American's trust and confidence in Washington when there's virtually none as it is.

From the looks of the picture it appears that Mr. McCain's blood preasure is up a bit…
I wonder if it is a sign of stress from people asking him hard questions about some of the issues that the Honorable Ron Paul is raising.
The status quo crowd is going to have thier hands full between now and election day…
The internet is going to make it more difficult for the smoke and mirrors to be effective in keeping the war mongers in power be they democrat or so called Republicans.