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Welcome to the World of Pulitzer Prize Winning Political Cartoonist Michael P. Ramirez |
Gina Haspel 05-08-18
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Meet Michael Ramirez aboard the luxurious Crystal Symphony during this summer's Hawaiian cruise with Hillsdale College. Click HERE for details.
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Democrats and terrorists unite in fear of first female CIA Director
Gina Haspel Is 'The' Director For CIA Right Now
Maseena Ziegler , MAY 8, 2018 FORBES Tomorrow, Gina Haspel, President Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, will face one of the most contentious Senate hearings of all time. It will center on 2002, when she was stationed at a "black site" where detainees were waterboarded. She will be asked about her role in the destruction of tapes that chronicled the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. Those fiercely against her nomination seem to think Haspel loves torture, is un-American, and must be prosecuted because she’s a war criminal. “I mean, really. Much of the commentary about Gina is a distortion of her role at the time,” says CIA veteran Jack Devine, pointing out that she was not the “architect” of the Enhanced Interrogation program. “At that point, she would have been equivalent to a major in the army, not a lieutenant colonel or one-star general, let alone a five-star general.” Here’s what we do know. The so-called Rendition, Detention and Interrogation Program was authorized as legal and necessary by President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft, and White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales. It had the knowledge and approval allegedly of several key figures on the right and left at a time when the country was gripped by fear in the aftermath of 9/11. Aspects of the program were extensively and exhaustively investigated at least three times—notably by John Durham, the federal prosecutor who closed the case on the destruction of tapes in 2010 without bringing any charges. But this is politics after all. Learning from mistakes is what’s key here. “Yes, I'll answer for my past” is what Haspel’s Senate hearing is all about—should she be held accountable for her actions at the time? As Maya Angelou said, when you know better, you do better. It is understandable that many elected officials want to do a deep dive into the CIA’s history on enhanced interrogation techniques and what many consider a morally reprehensible program that was stopped ten years ago. I’d like to think this gives Haspel an opportunity to set the record straight. What if her response is, “Today, knowing what I know, I would do everything in my power to convince my boss that the order was immoral even if it was legal?” Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Ca, who has been consistent in her staunch disapproval of the program,says, “I think hopefully the entire organization learned something from the so-called enhanced interrogation program…I think it is something that can’t be forgotten, and I certainly can never forget it. And I won’t let any director forget it.” However, to hold Gina Haspel to account for the program, and to reject her nomination because it would appear to be a direct endorsement of torture and a repudiation of the agency’s history of enhanced interrogations, would relegate one of the finest public servants to the sidelines of an agency that deserves the best possible leadership right now. Haspel has given 33 years of service to the country. As an undercover operations officer for the CIA in Africa, Europe, and Eurasia, she tracked terrorists, developed assets, and delivered intelligence back to CIA Headquarters. She would acquire information using classic trade craft such as “brush passes, dead drops, or in meetings in dusty back allies of third world capitals.” Years before 9/11 happened, she was fighting terrorism. In 1998, after a US embassy bombing in Africa, she helped bring two targets to justice. Then after a long period abroad, she reported for duty in her new role at the agency’s Counter Terrorist Center in Langley, VA. The date, in a twist of fate, turned out to be September 11, 2001. When the planes hit the twin towers, she knew instinctively who was behind it: Osama Bin Laden. So when employees were told to evacuate from the building, she didn’t follow orders—she remained at her desk. Her mission was to stop further terrorist attacks and find the man responsible. ...read more "It is an honor to be nominated with two of the most talented editorial cartoonists today and two of my favorite people." -Michael P. Ramirez on this year's National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards. Winners to be announced May 26, 2018
Congratulations to all!
Whiskey Politics with Dave Sussman
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Celebrate the greatest gathering of free minds with Michael P. Ramirez at FreedomFest July 11-14, Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael will be speaking and signing books July 11-12, and be available to talk to fans. To learn more, and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE and be sure to use WHISKEY100 for a special discount.
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2018.hillsdalecollegecruise.com
Join Michael P. Ramirez, famed classicist Victor Davis Hanson, former Czech Republic President Václav Klaus, New Criterion's Roger Kimball, Hillsdale President Larry Arnn and many more brilliant speakers aboard the fabulous Hillsdale Hawaiian Cruise July 15-31. Learn more HERE |
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