WSIL-TV 3 ABC
Top Stories
Last updated 8:51 am CT February 09, 2010.
Representative Shimkus Speaks On Torture Memos
"You have insurmountable evidence that we ran a torture program."
"These memos show that what happened at Abu Graib and what happened at Guantanamo were not some bad apples, these were decisions made at the highest leves of our government."
But a lot of Republicans like Representative John Shimkus say they haven't made a clear decision on whether or not the techniques used- can be considered as torture.
"Now the cats out of the bag, now we ought to see if this was helpful and again protecting us from further attack or with what people are talking about a second wave."
Former Vice president Dick Cheney says there are other memos documenting the success of the efforts- but President Obama didn't release them. Shimkus says that in order to make a fair judgement, all of the documents need to be made public.
"I'm concerned, I think we're going to learn both the good and bad from this, but I think if you're going to go down that route, everything should be released."
Another effort that Shimkus says has to be taken is that congress needs to weigh in on the issue...because some of it's members have experienced torture first hand.
"We have credible members of congress who've had limbs broken, hung upside down on meat hooks, you name it. They know what torture is, let them be part of this debate about whether enhanced interrogation is torture."
By Andy Waterman
awaterman@wsiltv.com
Now: 1265727606
