Thursday, April 24, 2008

Ashcroft sure is cranky for a godly man

Via Blue Texan at Firedoglake, Elsinora of the Daily Kos during a question and answer period after Ashcroft's speech:
ME: Actually, Mr. Ashcroft, my question was about this other document. (laughter and applause) This other document is a section from the judgment of the Tokyo War Tribunal. After WWII, the Tokyo Tribunal was basically the Nuremberg Trials for Japan. Many Japanese leaders were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture. And among the tortures listed was the "water treatment," which we nowadays call waterboarding...
ASHCROFT: (interrupting) This is a speech, not a question. I don't mind, but it's not a question.
ME: It will be, sir, just give me a moment. The judgment describes this water treatment, and I quote, "the victim was bound or otherwise secured in a prone position; and water was forced through his mouth and nostrils into his lungs and stomach." One man, Yukio Asano, was sentenced to fifteen years hard labor by the allies for waterboarding American troops to obtain information. Since Yukio Asano was trying to get information to help defend his country--exactly what you, Mr. Ashcroft, say is acceptible for Americans to do--do you believe that his sentence was unjust? (boisterous applause and shouts of "Good question!")
ASHCROFT: (angrily) Now, listen here. You're comparing apples and oranges, apples and oranges. We don't do anything like what you described.
ME: I'm sorry, I was under the impression that we still use the method of putting a cloth over someone's face and pouring water down their throat...
ASHCROFT: (interrupting, red-faced, shouting) Pouring! Pouring! Did you hear what she said? "Putting a cloth over someone's face and pouring water on them." That's not what you said before! Read that again, what you said before!
ME: Sir, other reports of the time say...
ASHCROFT: (shouting) Read what you said before! (cries of "Answer her fucking question!" from the audience) Read it!
ME: (firmly) Mr. Ashcroft, please answer the question.
ASHCROFT: (shouting) Read it back!
ME: "The victim was bound or otherwise secured in a prone position; and water was forced through his mouth and nostrils into his lungs and stomach."
ASHCROFT: (shouting) You hear that? You hear it? "Forced!" If you can't tell the difference between forcing and pouring...does this college have an anatomy class? If you can't tell the difference between forcing and pouring...
ME: (firmly and loudly) Mr. Ashcroft, do you believe that Yukio Asano's sentence was unjust? Answer the question. (pause)
ASHCROFT: (more restrained) It's not a fair question; there's no comparison. Next question! (loud chorus of boos from the audience)

6 comments:

Sorghum Crow said...

Ashcroft is a war criminal. The only audience he should be addressing is a tribunal.

ellroon said...

I wonder if he'd prefer the Hague to being put in stocks in the public square and mocked....

Steve Bates said...

In his heyday, Ashcroft drove me to write doggerel so awful I couldn't even bring myself to publish it. Today, though, I don't worry very much about him. It seems to me that that student subdued him quite effectively.

It's Cheney, Bush, Addington, Rove, Gonzo, Rumsfeld, Mukasey and yes, Condi Rice that I really want to see in the dock (or in stocks, what-the-hell) in The Hague. And after that, in prison for a very, very, very long time. We'd best impeach Bush and Cheney right now, so they can't set about pardoning everyone.

ellroon said...

Maybe that's why Georgie was so happy with John McCain... Bush pardons everyone in his administration and then McCain pardons Georgie for the good of the nation.

Georgie is sure acting like a senior looking at graduation....

Steve Bates said...

Somebody oughta write an Otis Redding parody for these guys: "Sittin' in the Dock at The Hague..." somebody oughta do that. :)

ellroon said...

Your wish is my command!