"Even now, more than half the American people support not only the use of these MILD techniques, but would support the use of TORTURE (the real thing) to save American lives. "
A distortion directly caused by the Bush administration. The demonization and fear mongering of "the enemy" done by them has brought this about. You are an excellent example of how effective they were. Fear mongering is easy, it's common knowledge among pols that it is the easiest control technique.
“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
Hermann Goering |
