He didn't authorize torture. He determined exactly what constituted torture and what did not. All of the laws and guidelines were vague and non-specific, he details it all in the memo. The UN only said "torture" was prohibited, without defining what torture is.
By determining exactly where the line was between torture and "not-torture" Yoo enabled our forces to walk right up to the line without crossing it.
Some may find this kind of shrewdness detestable, but the fact remains no one was prosecuted -- meaning John Yoo was right.
but the fact remains no one was prosecuted -- meaning John Yoo was right.
I have no idea about this specific issue so I am not trying to imply anything about it. But in the general case, as we've all clearly figured out in this crazy period, not getting prosecuted hardly has any correlation with being on the right side in terms of actual justice.
YouTube search, no luck. It is not flattering to Stewart except that he basically admits that he's stumped and has no answer to Yoo's arguments so that was sort of a likable thing to do on a certain level. Stewart does his usual mugging routine and some of those bits might have made it into one of the best/worst compilations.
My guess is you can't find it on YT because Jon Stewart doesn't want you to find it.
Yes, this is the same guy who justified waterboarding in the torture memos.
Oh... thanks. I thought the name sounded familiar but couldn't recall why. Scary.
He didn't authorize torture. He determined exactly what constituted torture and what did not. All of the laws and guidelines were vague and non-specific, he details it all in the memo. The UN only said "torture" was prohibited, without defining what torture is.
By determining exactly where the line was between torture and "not-torture" Yoo enabled our forces to walk right up to the line without crossing it.
Some may find this kind of shrewdness detestable, but the fact remains no one was prosecuted -- meaning John Yoo was right.
I have no idea about this specific issue so I am not trying to imply anything about it. But in the general case, as we've all clearly figured out in this crazy period, not getting prosecuted hardly has any correlation with being on the right side in terms of actual justice.
He wrote the memos, which have stood countless legal tests. He did not "authorize torture."
His appearance on Jon Stewart was one of the greatest slapdowns of that clown ever seen.
Brilliant dude.
I haven't seen it in years but I'll look around!
YouTube search, no luck. It is not flattering to Stewart except that he basically admits that he's stumped and has no answer to Yoo's arguments so that was sort of a likable thing to do on a certain level. Stewart does his usual mugging routine and some of those bits might have made it into one of the best/worst compilations.
My guess is you can't find it on YT because Jon Stewart doesn't want you to find it.
Edit: but I did find it here on Comedy Central's site so maybe I'm wrong: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/flktqb/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-exclusive---john-yoo-extended-interview-pt--1
Yes, John yoo can fuvk off