Judith Miller: ‘No one ever waterboarded at Gitmo’

By Diana Sweet
Saturday, October 24th, 2009 -- 10:01 pm
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millercloseup Judith Miller: No one ever waterboarded at Gitmo

In an interview with PJTV's Bill Whittle on Friday, former New York Times reporter and now Fox News pundit Judith Miller had nothing but praise for the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and claimed that not only was no one ever subjected to waterboarding there, but that any harsh treatment took place only during the first four months of its opening.

Miller has joined the ranks of former Vice-President Dick Cheney and daughter Liz Cheney this week as she defends Gitmo, and calls for President Obama to keep the facility open to house detainees there rather than bring them into prisons within the United States mainland.

Referring to Gitmo as a "model prison," that offers a wide variety of food and provides "extraordinary" health care that is "far, far better from what these people would get in a maximum security U.S. prison on American soil," Miller expressed what she called concern for excess waste during a period of economic strife within the nation.

Asked by Whittle if Gitmo still had a bad reputation overseas, Miller expressed dismay that, indeed, Gitmo carried the stigma of many media reports of torture and abuse at the facility, "Even though this hasn't been true for many, many years now," she explained. "No one was ever waterboarded at Guantanamo, according to Guantanamo officials," Miller continued. "Torture as ordinary people would call it took place only during four months when it first opened...like sleep deprivation, being doused with ice cold water...things that don't meet current standards."

Story continues below...

Miller's only 'gripe' about the situation at Guantanamo Bay's detention facility was the "legal limbo" many detainees face as they wait to actually be charged with a crime and granted a trial, the same situation that endured during the previous administration's 8-year tenure.

Miller also wrote an opinion piece that was published in the Los Angeles Times today titled 'Keep Gitmo,' that echoed many of these praises, as well as denials of torture, and calls for continued operations at the facility:

"Although it's true that a 2005 Pentagon report concluded, after examining 26 complaints from FBI agents involving a small portion of more than 24,000 interrogations at Gitmo, that a few "high-value detainees" had been subjected to treatment that was "degrading and abusive," it "did not rise to the level of prohibited inhumane treatment" or torture. Furthermore, those techniques -- such as loud music, sleep deprivation, temperature manipulation and prolonged shackling -- ended long ago at Gitmo, officers say."

This video is from Pajamas Media TV, broadcast Oct. 23, 2009.



Download video via RawReplay.com

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Story comments are below...

  • This right wing excuse for a journalist is Sooooo tiresome. If we can get prosecution for those officials for whom she is covering up, we can stop presidential overreach in the future.

    Sign the PETITION to prosecute at
    http://ANGRYVOTERS.org

    .
  • nader paul kucinich gravel
    Judy is all over the MSM now...
  • bushfatigue
    Why in the world would the LA Times give this loser a platform? I guess we can fairly concluded the neo-cons have control of that editorial page as well. That would also explain the summary discharge of Robert Scheer.
  • the large kahoona
    Filthy scumbag, I'd like to waterboard her myself.
  • gotkids
    SIGH! Just sigh.
  • Raysure
    Judith is still lying after all these years. What a skank.
  • mschlee
    Hasn't that tired old war pig embarrassed herself enough for one lifetime?


    FREE AMERICA

    REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY
  • mschlee
    Hasn't that tired old war pig embarrassed herself enough for one lifetime?


    FREE AMERICA

    REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY
  • cliffhammond
    Judith Miller is a neocon shill. She was a plant at NYT. Traveled all over Iraq with Ahmed Chalabi lying about WMDs -- never did find any; and she was with THE expert. Now she's with Fox "news"? Figures. Does she thinks we've forgotten? I'm not going to waste my time with her.
  • notausername
    And I wonder why anyone interested in real news would still be reading NYT!! Future FOX pundits are currently in training at NYT - Sanger and the rest of the NeoCons writing from a "liberal" angle for NYT and WaPo. The message is the same, it is just flavored -- vanilla-latte!

    RAW, you should clearly label your stories: "NEWS" RAW has collected, and "MSM" echo chamber news.
  • truthops2010
    Judith Miller has along with the Great Dick, blood on her hands, as she helped the Great Dick sell the Iraq War. Her stint in jail swelled her bank account in Switzerland no doubt, as she looked forward to dinner and probably sex with Scooter Libby once he was free and clear. As for Guantanamo, she is one of those who deserve to partake in their fine medical treatment, like force feedings, and monitoring by doctors to explore her tolerances to EITs. So in short Judith, shut the F up!
  • Antinous
    There is not a lie Judith will not tell for a dollar. Whore is too good a word, at least whores offer a service, this woman has proven herself to be totally worthless.
  • arlojthudpucker
    Her reputation precedes her.

    Why would anyone give this lying wench any credence ?
  • rexozone
    just when you think Fox is an unprincipled, voice machine for ranting corporate clones whose mission accomplished is monopolizing media with their marketing...along comes Judith Miller. Her reputation is enough to sterilize even Murdoch's toilet journalism with ironic insight, borne of her experience in cheerleading the military industrial complex and the gullible public into illegal war. What's next? G. Gordon Liddy trying to capture your gold?
  • airjackie
    Judy is still sleeping with the enemy after lying under oath. No honest person calls Judy a Journalist anymore after learning she carries bags of notes and committed Treason against the United States. Now Judy said no one was tortured yet both Bush and Cheney have admitted with evidence we did torture and waterboard many who were innocent. See forgets about the hundreds of detainees released as all were innocent but the Bush Administration didn't want to admit they were holding innocent people. The young man from Australia was held for 7 years while being tortured and drugged then told to lie to be leased only to have documents showing the US knew he was innocent and the Government of Australia had to protect him from the Bush Administration. He is now recovering and the truth is out. Judy will have a place in hell with the rest of those who committed these War Crimes and those who supported it.
  • williamtester
    Were I not a member of the sane world, where truth is truth, I would be given to think Judith Miller a wily, covert propagandist for the military intelligence establishment that continues beyond temporal changes in administrations. But as a sane, informed person, I offer that Miller has simply become a neocon pawn, a duped fellow traveler, having switched her allegiances to the Fox News/Cheney camp. Sadly, she has certainly lost all credibility as an objective reporter. Judith, please don't drink anymore Kool-Aid...
  • lindameadows
    She has it backwards. The first months of Gitmo were run under the Army Manual, and by the FBI, which forbids torture. Then the CIA and the private contractors--Cheney's army--came in and began torturing. She lied in the run-up to the Iraq war and she's lying now.
  • Max_1
    .

    WATERBOARDING IS A RED HERRING!

    The interrogation techniques used by the CIA, be it at Gitmo, Abu Gahreab, or Baghram, OR the rendition to "BLACK SITES" in Countries IS the TORTURE.

    The fact that members of al-CIA-Duh have been thrown out of the U.S. run tribunals specifically FOR being TORTURED is proof enough that our policy, when handling Taliban and al-CIA-Duh members HAS.BEEN.TORTURE!

    Whether it happened AT Gitmo. is NOT the issue. In FACT, by letting Ms. Miller bring this sticking point up and letting her hinge reality on this "did they, did the not" argument is how the debate over US policy OF TORTURE will get forgotten.

    Does it matter, really, where the US lead TORTURE program took place? Because the crux of Ms. Miller's argument is that IF "waterboarding" didn't take place, then the US is absolved of suspicion of TORTURE. Many ignorant people will fall right into THAT trap, "If it didn't happen there then it never happened at all."

    Sure Ms. Miller,
    ... And I know many trees that fell silently to the ground, too! I'm sure the great reporter that she thinks she is wouldn't even research my claim.

    .
  • stormy7
    Judith Miller is a perfect example of a right winged media whore. Holding all those people in Guantanamo without charges is against the law. They were tortured in the name of freedom.
  • kasinca
    I guess if she went to the slam protecting war criminals, she may be a war criminal.
  • JohnHaversock
    There are many well-documented claims of torture and abuse of detainees. But Miller does make one good point. There is no evidence that any of the high-value detainees (HVDs) were waterboarded at Guantanamo. All reporting indicates that waterboarding occurred at CIA 'black sites' before the HVDs were transferred to GITMO. Whatever your opinion of Miller, people need to look precisely at what claims are supported by evidence. That is where a case is to be made
  • PunchDrunkLove
    Judith Miller is in the top 10 worst "commentators" of all time, she's been discredited more times than i care to mention, as bill hicks once said, everything she says from here on in is like a turd in my drink .
  • jimbo92107
    Lying got Judith Miller fired from the New York Times, and then hired by Rupert Murdoch. Good to know she found her niche.
  • Name
    Come back to the sane world Judith. About now the aspens are probably turning colors in the west- out in the sane world, Judith. You don't have to be a lying shill working for Fox "news", Judith. Surely the Podunk Dispatch has room in the copy boy department for a hard working, intrepid former-reporter for the New York Times- out in the sane world. And if not, I'll bet you could teach writing at some high school and help them with their newspaper. But you have to return to the sane world, Judith or there's nothing anyone can do to help.
  • robertfromphila
    DISCREDITED VOICE!
  • kayttt2000
    It's only a question if she'll be charged with National Crimes or the Hague...
  • m
    Why does anyone listen to Judith Miller?
  • Dawn
    Seems like Judith needs more time in the slammer herself. This time get a good one that "doesn't torture".
  • bushsworstnightmare
    what, more revisionist right-wing lunacy?

    haven't they done enough damage these past eight years?
  • msfreeh
    to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see
    http://www.forums.signonsandiego.com/showthread...

    to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see
    http://www.dallasnews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?...
  • msfreeh
    to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see
    http://www.forums.signonsandiego.com/showthread...

    to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see
    http://www.dallasnews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?...
  • dennycrane
    Yep, and... "nothing but the truth" is told on FAUX NEWS. What a crack.
  • arcticredriver
    And Karen Greenberg, who wrote a well reviewed book on Guantanamo's first months, aid that the first commandant was replaced because he wouldn't follow the Bush administration's plans for torture.

    Let's be clear here. Ms Greenberg is credible. Ms Miller is not
  • .
    Yes indeed, a good, solid story about a shameless, mercenary shill with blood on her hands, the very paragon of yellow journalism.
  • Jack45
    I am so disbelieving of what Judith Miller asserts that I fail to find any humor in this outrageous assertion. Ms. Miller should be exposed for who she is... and soon.

    If we don't come to our senses as a nation, we're toast.

    Folks, it's time to 'fess up and get back on track. The world gave us a second chance when Obama was elected. Let's not squander it needlessly.
  • OldAtlantic
    This is a good story. Solid reporting.
  • socialismorbust
    Why the fuck do you come to this site???
  • Max_1
    socialismorbust,
    Well, when one does not like one's own Countrymen, what better way to annoy them but with false bravado of Patriotism and Religion?

    You know the claim...
    ... You're not American enough if you don't parrot FOXPRAVDA.
    ... Your not Christian enough if you don't parrot godless hate!

    .
  • socialismorbust
    BINGO!
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