Condi Rice: "By definition, if it was authorized by the President, it didn't violate our obligation under the Geneva Convention"

If you haven't seen the video posted by Stanford Student Reyna Garcia and his friends, who cornered Condoleezza Rice to question her on the Bush Administration usage of torture. Here is the link

First of all, you got to give credit to Reyna and his friends for confronting who was and is a Stanford Professor, former National Security Advisor, and former Secretary of State. It took some guts. I hope these students wouldn't need to take one of her classes, otherwise, they would guarantee an 'F' for sure.

If you listen to Condi Rice's defensive argument, it was one of those Dick Cheney argument that " well, only if you have seen the facts that we saw, you would have understand, but then we can't show you the fact because you aren't high enough in the government." It is an effective way to shutdown the other person's argument, yet they don't need to produce any REAL evidents to justify their perspectives. It was difficult for Reyna and his friends for a comeback but it did wish they would request on camera a follow-up interview after they have a chance to prepare. Now, I do wonder if Professor Rice would agree to such an interview.

The other shocking argument by the former Secretary was (start at time 6:05):

"The United States was told, we were told, nothing that the violates our obligation under the convention against torture. By definition, if it was authorized by the President, it didn't violate our obligation under the Geneva Convention."

There are 2 serious flaws in her argument. One, I wish that student would follow up with this simple question, "You were authorized by who, again?"

Consider this: If my brain told my hands to kill someone, would that not violate the law and not a murder then? Trust me, my brain is totally convince that it is right and totally justified. I know, I know. You'll say that the brain and the hands are part of the same person. Well, just like the White House and the Justice Department are the same Administration.

Two, I am sure you have seen this clip from 32 years ago, of the former President Nixon which he said, "When the president does it, that means that is not illegal." And remember, Nixon was impeached and resigned in disgrace. Bush and Cheney should have too.

Now, imagine if you were able to ask Saddam Hussein: "President Hussein, what gave you the right to torture and killed thousands of Iraqi". His answer probably would be , "Since I am the President (of Iraq), that means there were not illegal."

If these are the best argument the Bush Gang can come up with, that is a slippery slope.