John McCain: Senate should reject Gina Haspel for CIA director

With his last dying breath...

Of course, had Trump nominated someone different he would have gotten McCain's full support. 

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain urged his Senate colleagues Wednesday night to reject Gina Haspel's nomination for CIA director, saying she failed to adequately answer questions about her role in the agency's torture program at a confirmation hearing earlier in the day.

On May 9th this story broke:

Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden credits waterboarding for 'delivering special operators to the terrorist's home'

McCain did for the Republican party what Benedict Arnold did for the American Continental Army.

Another fine example:

Senator McCain reveals 'it was his duty' to give infamous golden showers dossier to the FBI and slams Trump for his 'reality show facsimile of toughness' in upcoming memoir

The Arizona senator is the second Republican to come out against Haspel's confirmation, meaning that GOP leaders may not have enough votes to confirm her. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has vowed to oppose Haspel because of her role in the agency's now-outlawed torture program.

Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, and "no" votes by two Republicans could sink Haspel's nomination. So far, no Democrats have announced that they will support her.

McCain's opinion carries great weight because he is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former prisoner of war who was tortured by the Viet Cong in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. He has been an outspoken critic of the CIA's past use of torture, which was banned during the Obama administration.

McCain, who is undergoing cancer treatment in Arizona, could help defeat Haspel's nomination even if he is not well enough to fly to Washington, D.C., to vote. His absence also could deprive Republicans of the 51 votes they need to confirm Haspel.

"I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country and has devoted her professional life to its service and defense," McCain said. "However, Ms. Haspel's role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture's immorality is disqualifying. I believe the Senate should exercise its duty of advice and consent and reject this nomination."

Haspel testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that, if confirmed, she would not restart the CIA's controversial interrogation. After the 9/11 attacks on America, the agency used waterboarding and other torture techniques to try to get information from suspected terrorists during the George W. Bush administration.

"Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, on my watch, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program," she told the senators. However, she stopped short of condemning the agency's past actions as immoral.

McCain said he doesn't believe Haspel went far enough in providing details about her CIA experience and her involvement in torture.

"Like many Americans, I understand the urgency that drove the decision to resort to so-called enhanced interrogation methods after our country was attacked," McCain said. "But as I have argued many times, the methods we employ to keep our nation safe must be as right and just as the values we aspire to live up to and promote in the world."

The Intelligence Committee is expected to recommend Haspel's confirmation to the full Senate. Republicans make up eight of the 15 members of the panel, and they all indicated Wednesday that they would support Haspel when the committee votes in the next few weeks.

CIA director nominee Gina Haspel says she wouldn't allow the agency to undertake "immoral" activities, even at the request of President Donald Trump. USA TODAY, USA TODAY

The only GOP senator on the committee who had expressed serious reservations about Haspel — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine — announced after Wednesday's hearing that she would support her confirmation.

"At the hearing, I questioned Ms. Haspel regarding the enhanced interrogation program that was started after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks," Collins said in a statement. "I have long believed — and have consistently stated— that this program was completely unacceptable and that waterboarding is tantamount to torture."

However, Collins cited Haspel's testimony that she "played no role in the creation of the interrogation program and that she wasn't even aware of its existence until more a year after it began."

"Furthermore, she said that she supported the 2015 law changes and made clear that she does not believe that the CIA should be in the 'interrogation business,'" Collins said. "She testified that under her leadership, the CIA would follow the law and would not resume enhanced interrogations and that she would not seek to repeal the law."

Democratic committee members focused much of their questioning on Haspel's oversight in 2002 of a secret "black site" in Thailand where suspected terrorists were subjected to waterboarding and confined in coffin-shaped boxes for hours.

Haspel, who spent more than 30 years as a covert agent before becoming the CIA's deputy director last year, also faced questions about her involvement in the destruction of 92 videotapes that showed prisoners being waterboarded.

She testified that she drafted the order to destroy the tapes at the direction of her boss, who decided to issue the directive on his own.

John McCain: Senate should reject Gina Haspel for CIA director

Memes for Conservatives

Dick of the year award

Memes for Conservatives

Unbelieveable

John Kerry 'secretly met with top Iranian official in clandestine diplomatic push to undermine Trump and salvage nuclear deal'

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Former Secretary of State John Kerry has reportedly engaged in clandestine diplomacy with a top Iranian official in an attempt to salvage the nuclear deal framework. 

Kerry, who brokered the Iran deal for the Obama administration, met with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif about two weeks ago at the United Nations in Manhattan, a person briefed on the meetings told the Boston Globe.

The meeting was their second in two weeks and came amid a whirlwind of meetings between Kerry and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Union official Federica Mogherini, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

President Donald Trump has threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran at the next deadline for certifying Iran's compliance with the deal, which comes on May 12.

 

Then-Secretary of State John Kerry (left) is seen with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in 2015. Kerry met with Zarif about two weeks ago for secret talks in New York

Kerry has also been meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (top) and French President Emmanuel Macron (bottom) in attempts to salvage the Iran deal

Kerry's flurry of clandestine diplomacy highlights his desperation to save the Iran nuclear deal, which he sees as a signature achievement.

The deal, between Iran and the five permanent members of the US security council, plus Germany and the EU, saw Iran agree to halt its nuclear weapons program for a decade in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. 

Kerry's involvement in trying to preserve the deal after leaving office came as a surprise to foreign policy experts.

'It is unusual for a former secretary of state to engage in foreign policy like this, as an actual diplomat and quasi-negotiator,' Michael O'Hanlon, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, told the Globe. 

'Of course, former secretaries of state often remain quite engaged with foreign leaders, as they should, but it's rarely so issue-specific, especially when they have just left office.' 

Kerry and Zarif are seen together in 2016. Kerry brokered the Iran nuclear deal for the Obama administration and is desperate to see it salvaged in spite of Trump's threats

The shadowy diplomacy will raise questions of a violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens acting on behalf of the United States during a dispute with foreign governments.

But the obscure 18th-century law has never been used to prosecute anyone - although it was raised to criticize Mike Flynn for his discussions with the Russian ambassador after the 2016 election. 

Macron, whom Kerry met within New York and Paris, in meetings conducted in both English and French, has been actively lobbying Trump to remain in the Iran deal. 

The French president said this week that that leaving the deal could mean war.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing Trump to take a more aggressive posture toward Iran, Israel's archenemy. 

This week Netanyahu gave a presentation claiming he had proof that Iran 'lied' about its past nuclear weapons program.

On Thursday, Zarif threated to withdraw from the nuclear deal, saying Iran will not 'renegotiate or add onto' the deal.

The five-minute video shows Zarif behind his desk, delivering his message on the deal. He offers background first about the deal before laying into Trump and criticizing Europe for offering 'the United States more concessions from our pocket.' 

'On 11 occasions since the U.N. nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran has implemented all of its obligations,' Zarif, who studied in the U.S., says in American-accented English. 'In contrast, the U.S. has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran.'

(Looks like the 'U.N. nuclear watchdogs' are just dogs. Must have read at least 25 articles on how Iran has violated the agreement with various missile tests and providing arms to their fellow terrorists Hamas and Hezbollah)

Unbelieveable

A different take on Donald Trump: (a non-political agenda)

By Charles Krauthammer

Trump Is Not A Liberal or Conservative,

he's a "Pragmatist." 

(Definition: A pragmatist is someone

who is practical and

focused on reaching a goal.

A pragmatist usually has

a straightforward, matter-of-fact approach

and doesn't let emotion distract him or her.)

"We recently enjoyed a belated holiday dinner

with friends at the home of other friends.

The dinner conversation varied

from discussions about antique glass and China

to theology and politics.

At one point,

reference was made to Donald Trump

being a conservative,

to which I responded that

Trump is not a conservative.

I said that I neither view nor do I believe

that Trump views himself as a conservative.

I stated it was my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist.

He sees a problem

and understands it must be fixed.

He doesn't see the problem as liberal or conservative,

he sees it only as a problem.

That is a quality that should be admired and applauded,

not condemned.

But I get ahead of myself.

Viewing problems from a Liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government,

more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class

in all economic strata.

Viewing things according

to the so-called Republican conservative perspective

has brought continued spending and globalism

to the detriment of American interests and well being,

denial of what the real problems are,

weak, ineffective, milquetoast, leadership

that amounts to Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff,

appeasement oriented

and afraid of its own shadow.

In brief, it has brought liberal ideology

with a pachyderm as a mascot

juxtaposed to the ass of the Democrat Party.

Immigration isn't a Republican problem,

it isn't a Liberal problem,

it is a problem that threatens

the very fabric and infrastructure of America.

It demands a pragmatic approach

not an approach that is

intended to appease one group or another.

The impending collapse of the economy

wasn't a Liberal or Conservative problem,

it is an American problem.

That said, 

until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach 

to resolution, it will never be fixed because the Democrats and Republicans know only one way to fix things 

and the longevity of their impracticality has proven to have no lasting effect.

Successful businessmen like Donald Trump

find ways to make things work,

they do not promise to accommodate.

Trump uniquely understands that

China's manipulation of currency

is not a Republican problem or a Democrat problem.

It is a problem that threatens our financial stability

and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it.

Here again, successful businessmen, like Trump,

who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality

understand what is necessary to make business work,

and they, unlike both sides of the political aisle,

know that if something doesn't work,

you don't continue trying to make it work

hoping that at some point it will.

As a pragmatist,

Donald Trump hasn't made wild pie-in-the-sky promises

of a cell phone in every pocket,

free college tuition,

and a $ 15-hour minimum wage

for working the drive-through at Carl's Hamburgers.

I argue that America needs pragmatists

because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix them.

They do not see a problem

and compound it by creating more problems.

You may not like Donald Trump,

but I suspect that the reason some people do not like him

is because:

(1) he is antithetical to the "good old boy" method

of brokering backroom deals

that fatten the coffers of politicians;

(2) they are unaccustomed

to hearing a president speak

who is unencumbered by the financial shackles

of those who he owes vis-a-vis donations;

(3) he is someone

who is free of idiomatic political ideology;

(4) he says what he is thinking,

is unapologetic for his outspoken thoughts,

speaks very straightforward

using everyday language

that can be understood by all

(and is offensive to some who dislike him anyway)

making him a great communicator,

for the most part,

does what he says he will do

and;

(5) he is someone

who understands that

it takes more than hollow promises

and political correctness

to make America great again.

Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

talk about fixing America

is like listening to two lunatics

trying to "out crazy" one another.

Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Marco Rubio

are owned lock, stock, and barrel

by the bankers, corporations, and big dollar donors

funding their campaigns.

Bush can deny it, but common sense

tells anyone willing to face facts

is that people don't give tens of millions

without expecting something in return.

We have had Democrats and Republican ideologues

and what has it brought us?

Are we better off today or worse off?

Has it happened overnight or

has it been a steady decline

brought on by both parties?

I submit that a pragmatist is just what America needs right now.

People are quick to confuse and despise confidence as

arrogance, but that is common among those who have never accomplished anything in their lives (or politicians who never really solved a problem,

because it’s better to still have an "issue(s) to be solved,"

so re-elect me to solve it, (which never happens)

and those who have always played it safe (again, all politicians)

not willing to risk failure, to try and achieve success).

Donald Trump put his total financial empire at risk

in running for president

and certainly did not need

or possibly even want the job;

that says it all.

He wants success for the U.S.

and her citizens

because he loves his country.

A different take on Donald Trump: (a non-political agenda)

Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize, says South Korea's Moon

Don't hold your breath waiting for Trump to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is no torrid love affair going on with Trump and the MSM. 

Unlike this guy who was in office all of like 45 minutes when he got his for doing absolutely nothing.

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"President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize. What we need is only peace," Moon told a meeting of senior secretaries.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said U.S. President Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, a South Korean official said on Monday.

"President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize. What we need is only peace," Moon told a meeting of senior secretaries, according to a presidential Blue House official who briefed media.

Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday pledged to end hostilities between the two countries and work towards the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula in the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade.

Trump is preparing for his own summit with Kim, which he said would take place in the next three to four weeks.

That upcoming meeting was the main subject of a private walk and chat that Kim and Moon had during their meeting at the border, the official said.

In January, Moon said Trump "deserves big credit for bringing about the inter-Korean talks. It could be a resulting work of the U.S.-led sanctions and pressure".

Moon's Nobel Prize comment came in response to a congratulatory message from Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, in which she said Moon deserved to win the prize in recognition of his efforts, the Blue House official said.

Moon responded by saying Trump should get it.

Kim Dae-jung championed the so-called Sunshine policy of engagement with North Korea and won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize after engineering the first inter-Korean summit with former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

During Monday's meeting, Moon called for a joint study with the North of economic projects that could be resumed without violating international sanctions imposed on North Korea for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

"The study is to set in motion the programs that are not subject to sanctions, while exploring what the two Koreas could do when the sanctions are lifted in the future," the official quoted Moon as saying.

The Trump administration has led a global effort to impose even stricter sanctions on North Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that Trump would maintain a "pressure campaign" of harsh sanctions on impoverished North Korea until Kim scraps his nuclear weapon program.

Late Saturday, Trump told Moon in a phone call that he was pleased the leaders of the two Koreas reaffirmed the goal of complete denuclearization during their summit, South Korean officials said on Sunday.

The White House said Trump and Moon had "emphasized that a peaceful and prosperous future for North Korea is contingent upon its complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization".

A senior adviser to Moon told Reuters last week that the South Korean government had a "comprehensive roadmap" that it was sharing with the United States ahead of Trump's meeting with Kim.

Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize, says South Korea's Moon