--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Bush will go down in history as…" description: "\"President Bush will go down in history as the torture president. He has now defied a majority of Congress to allow the use of interrogation techniques ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/jennifer-daskal-81368_congress_president-bush-will-go-down-in-history-a_2203417.jpg" --- # President Bush will go down in history as the torture… ![“President Bush will go down in history as the torture president. He has now defied a majority of Congress to allow the use of interrogation techniques that any reasonable observer would call torture.” quote by Jennifer Daskal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/jennifer-daskal-81368_congress_president-bush-will-go-down-in-history-a_2203417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/jennifer-daskal-81368_congress_president-bush-will-go-down-in-history-a_2203417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/jennifer-daskal-81368_congress_president-bush-will-go-down-in-history-a_2203417.jpg) > “President Bush will go down in history as the torture president. He has now defied a majority of Congress to allow the use of interrogation techniques that any reasonable observer would call torture.” Jennifer Daskal ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of a president’s defiance of Congress to authorize interrogation methods deemed torture, emphasizing legal and ethical concerns. **In simple terms:** President bypassed law for harsh interrogations. Key Takeaway Uphold legal limits, oppose torture. Themes politics ethics human rights Mood critical serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - military operations - human rights advocacy - legal challenges Key Concepts law executive power international law Questions to Reflect On - Should security trump human rights? - How can oversight prevent abuse? A Different Perspective National security arguments often override moral objections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Interrogation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrogation/) [Interrogation techniques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrogation-techniques/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) ## Related quotes > [Experience shows that the reliance on illegal, immoral, and inhumane interrogation techniques is universally a very poor choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/experience-shows-that-the-reliance-on-illegal-immoral-and-inhumane/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [“harsh interrogation techniques.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-byman/harsh-interrogation-techniques/) Daniel Byman > [I do support enhanced interrogation techniques. Obviously their value is shining through with respect to the bin Laden killing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pawlenty/i-do-support-enhanced-interrogation-techniques-obviously-their-value/) [Tim Pawlenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pawlenty/) > [We got valuable information from debriefing of Al Qaeda detainees, and I don't think it's knowable whether interrogation techniques played a role in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/we-got-valuable-information-from-debriefing-of-al-qaeda-detainees-and/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I was a big supporter of waterboarding. I was a big supporter of the enhanced interrogation techniques ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-was-a-big-supporter-of-waterboarding-i-was-a-big-supporter-of-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I mean the fact is that some of this information that we have found out that led to Usama bin Laden actually came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-mean-the-fact-is-that-some-of-this-information-that-we-have-found/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Enhanced interrogation is not to be considered lightly, but the use of enhanced interrogation techniques does not require moral people to abandon their beliefs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/enhanced-interrogation-is-not-to-be-considered-lightly-but-the-use-of/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [It is not an opinion that "enhanced interrogation techniques" are torture. It is a legal fact. And it is also a legal fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/it-is-not-an-opinion-that-enhanced-interrogation-techniques-are/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [Well, the role of our "allies," in my view, is a scandal. 53 other countries cooperated in the kidnapping, "extraordinary rendition," of suspected terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/well-the-role-of-our-allies-in-my-view-is-a-scandal-53-other/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [I am sorry that Mr. Cheney, and every other supporter of enhanced interrogation techniques, has to defend the practices as if they were torture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/i-am-sorry-that-mr-cheney-and-every-other-supporter-of-enhanced/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Before Bin Laden did everything but advertise. Yet he had to blow up the Twin Towers just to get the attention of anyone outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-north-patterson/before-bin-laden-did-everything-but-advertise-yet-he-had-to-blow-up/) [Richard North Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-north-patterson/) > [If you suspend the Geneva Conventions, give the green light to anything that will get intelligence, round up thousands all over the globe with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/if-you-suspend-the-geneva-conventions-give-the-green-light-to/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [The Bush administration will go down in history as the Torture Team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/the-bush-administration-will-go-down-in-history-as-the-torture-team/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [I think that anyone who comes upon a Nautilus machine suddenly will agree with me that its prototype was clearly invented at some time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-that-anyone-who-comes-upon-a-nautilus-machine-suddenly-will/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) ## More by Jennifer Daskal > [What makes this so remarkable is that this is the first time the United States is accountable for its record on torture with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-daskal/what-makes-this-so-remarkable-is-that-this-is-the-first-time-the/) Jennifer Daskal > [I think we need to understand what we mean when we talk about closure, we don't mean transfer or prosecute which is what many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-daskal/i-think-we-need-to-understand-what-we-mean-when-we-talk-about-closure/) Jennifer Daskal Explore all 3 Jennifer Daskal quotes ## More Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [So our focus has to be on the things that we can control, which is to take the necessary measures working with Congress to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/so-our-focus-has-to-be-on-the-things-that-we-can-control-which-is-to/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) United States Congress > [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [My younger self could not imagine standing on the floor of Congress as a member of Congress voting on legislation that, if enacted, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/my-younger-self-could-not-imagine-standing-on-the-floor-of-congress/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) [Browse all 3,400 Congress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Bush will go down in history as the torture president. 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