Americans Split on Obama's Interrogations Policy

From the new Washington Post survey, via (Memeorandum):

Barack Obama's performance in the first 100 days of his presidency draws strong public approval in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but there is decidedly less support for his recent decision to release previously secret government memos on the interrogation of terrorism suspects, an initiative that reveals deep partisan fissures.

Overall, the public is about evenly divided on the questions of whether torture is justifiable in terrorism cases and whether there should be official inquiries into any past illegality involving the treatment of terrorism suspects. About half of all Americans, and 52 percent of independents, said there are circumstances in which the United States should consider employing torture against such suspects.

Barely more than half of all poll respondents back Obama's April 16 decision to release the memos specifying how and when to employ specific interrogation techniques. A third "strongly oppose" that decision, about as many as are solidly behind it. Three-quarters of Democrats said they approve of the action, while 74 percent of Republicans are opposed; independents split 50 to 46 percent in favor of the decision.

The release of the documents, which was fiercely debated at high levels within the government, met with quick fire from former vice president Richard B. Cheney, who said last week that companion memos showing the "success of the effort" should be declassified as well, arguing that the methods had "been enormously valuable in terms of saving lives, preventing another mass casualty attack against the United States."

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who served in the same position in George W. Bush's administration, supported the release of the documents but said it made him "quite concerned with the potential backlash in the Middle East and in the theaters where we are involved in conflict -- that it might have a negative impact on our troops."

Hmm, a "negative impact on our troops?

Let's see what Cop the Truth says about that:

To me, the question is a simple one: if your family was in immediate danger, your friends and neighbors, wouldn't you do everything possible to protect them? What if it was thousands of your countrymen whose lives could be saved? Wouldn't you throw their would-be murderer into a cold room and blare Barry Manilow at him for a few hours? Or dunk him repeatedly in water, with medical personnel standing by to make sure that he wouldn't be permanently injured?

Of course you would! If you wouldn't, you're a coward who doesn't deserve the freedom that others have purchased for you with their blood. Run along and stick your head in the sand and pray that better people than you are running this country.

Related: Rasmussen Reports, "58% Oppose Further Investigation of U.S. Torture Allegations." Also, Nice Deb, "Most Americans Want Obama To Move On."