Representative Allen West (R-Batshit) professed the merits of torture during his appearance on Fox News yesterday, and to support his position, he made a reference that has left me scratching my head trying to figure why it's relevant.
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) pushed back on Monday against President Barack Obama’s comments this weekend condemning waterboarding, even referencing the movie “G.I. Jane,” in which the character played by actress Demi Moore is subjected to the interrogation tactic.
“The president is the benefactor of a lot of information that came from waterboarding,” West said on Fox News. “When you look at the precedent, non-state, non-uniform belligerents captured on the battlefield under the Geneva Convention are not afforded the same type of rights. We can make that determination.”
“As the president, you need to do those things which are necessary to make sure that the American people are kept safe,” the Republican congressman continued, adding, “and furthermore, in the movie ‘G.I. Jane,’ Demi Moore was waterboarded.”
This is what President Obama said over the weekend.
“It’s contrary to America’s traditions. It’s contrary to our ideals. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we operate. We don’t need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism.”
Last time I checked, this president actually has kept us safe, unlike the Bush Administration. And he has done so without the use of torture, saber-rattling, or cowboy-style belligerence.
Perhaps the most ironic thing is, in the movie G.I Jane which Allen West references, water-boarding Demi Moore's character didn't work. She didn't give up anything.
And, by the way, that was a movie. A fictional tale. And just to make sure we're on the same page here -- "24" wasn't a reality series either.