It's a shame that John didn't make a point of how contrived Cliff May's "24" scenario is, because that's crucial to the debate. Last time we got useful information out of an al-Qaeda operative, it didn't involve torture -- would-be millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam told us that bin Laden was determined to strike in the US, and we didn't even have to waterboard the guy.
Bill Maher had Bob Baer, ex CIA, on Real Time the other week and Baer said just this, that "ticking bomb" scenarios really do not occur, and that torture doesn't work. He also said water boarding can cause death by heart attack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFNv1qLOmVQ
Also this guy is a fucking twat, who interrupts too much.
that was a really great interview and the guy pretty much goes "ok, you're right i'm wrong but the people who pay me will fire me if i lose the arguement"
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