Bush & Company

Is The Maverick really back?

Ex-maverick John McCain has somewhat redeemed himself by getting past his often mean-spirited digs at Democrats and President Obama and his distraction with political polls.
On Monday May 12, he relayed information straight from CIA director Leon Panetta that neither waterboarding nor any enhanced interrogation techniques led to the discovery of Osama bin Laden in a safe house in Pakistan, roundly repudiating the claims of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld who continue to attempt to protect the distorted legacies they've concocted for themselves.

He emphasized that the use of these methods---torture---is "prohibited by American laws and values" and "mistreatment of any prisoners endangers our own troops, who might someday be held captive."

He said that he mourns "what we lose when by official policy or official neglect we confuse or encourage those who fight this war for us to forget that best sense of ourselves."

He especially credited the president: "It took real courage to assume the many risks associated with putting boots on the ground..."

It would be heartening to have the maverick of old back for good.