All throughout the Bush administration’s time in office the media (and others) harshly questioned and severely criticized America’s interrogation methods for captured terrorists. No one asked whether tougher measures were sometimes necessary, but the theme that was continually pounded out was that it wasn’t ever necessary. Information obtained and lives saved were of no consequence. It was reported that America was a ‘nasty country’, we were told that the world looked upon the U.S. as a villain nation for treating its enemies as enemies in a time of war. The media told us we lost all of our friends around the world. Some congressmen either implied or called for President Bush’s and Vice President Cheney’s resignations! They were slammed for keeping the fact that water boarding was used a secret. Hollywood even released a movie suggesting that Bush should have been assassinated.
Only one week after President Obama’s swearing in, John Roberts (an anchor) and Jeanne Merserve (a reporter) on CNN finally both seemed to ask this ever obvious question in unison, “Are harsher interrogation methods sometimes necessary?” [I’ve always thought that Jeanne Merserve was a fine reporter and an unbiased newsperson, so please understand that I’m not picking on her.] She wrapped up her news report by concluding, “More severe measures are only effective if they are secret.” FINALLY, the truth came out! However, why could they not have said precisely that during the Bush administration’s time in office? If the media wasn’t or isn’t tilted all the way to the left, then if you’re fair, answer me this: What took CNN so long to wake up and at least raise the question?
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