White House Denies Cheney Endorsed Torture

VP Called Dunking Suspects In Water During Interrogations 'A No-Brainer'

(CBS/AP)  The White House denied Friday that Vice President Dick Cheney had endorsed "water boarding" — a technique many consider torture — when he said earlier this week that dunking terrorism suspects in water during interrogations was a "no-brainer."

Cheney's comments sparked an outcry from human rights groups, which claimed his statement amounted to an endorsement of water boarding, an age-old technique in which a prisoner's head is kept under water to simulate drowning.

"This country doesn't torture. We will interrogate people we pick up on the battlefield," President Bush said Friday. He declined, however, to directly respond to reporters' questions about Cheney's remarks.

White House press secretary Tony Snow insisted the vice president was not referring to water boarding.

"You know as a matter of common sense that the vice president of the United States is not going to be talking about water boarding. Never would. Never does. Never will," Snow said.

Asked if the vice president slipped up, an exasperated Snow responded, "No. Are you kidding? You think Dick Cheney's going to slip up on something like this. Come on!"

The controversy stems from an interview Cheney had with Scott Hennen, a conservative radio host in Fargo, N.D., on Tuesday, during which Cheney was asked if he agreed that "a dunk in water is a no-brainer" if it can provide information that can save lives.

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me," Cheney said, according to a transcript of the interview posted on the White House Web site.

He added, "We don't torture. That's not what we're involved in. We live up to our obligations in international treaties that we're party to and so forth. But the fact is, you can have a fairly robust interrogation program without torture, and we need to be able to do that."

Cheney said important information had been gleaned from interrogations of terror suspects like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the reputed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, who is being held at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Our ability to interrogate high-value detainees like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, that's been a very important tool that we've had to be able to secure the nation," Cheney said.

He added that Mohammad provided "enormously valuable information about how many (al-Qaeda members) there are, about how they plan, what their training processes are and so forth. We've learned a lot. We need to be able to continue that."

A Cheney spokeswoman denied the vice president was confirming the use of any specific interrogation technique.

"He was talking about the interrogation program without torture," spokeswoman Lee Anne McBride said. "The vice president does not discuss any techniques or methods that may or may not have been used in questioning."

Human rights groups condemned the vice president's remarks.

"What's really a no-brainer is that no U.S. official, much less a vice president, should champion torture," said Amnesty International USA executive director Larry Cox.

"This administration aims at a radical break with our country's proud human rights tradition," Cox said. "The America we believe in does not torture people."

Mr. Bush signed legislation earlier this month authorizing tough interrogation of terror suspects and smoothing the way for trials before military commissions.

The president said the United States will abide by its international obligations and will not engage in torture.

The U.S. Army's recently revised Field Manual explicitly prohibits the use of water boarding as part of its wider ban or torture and degrading treatment of prisoners.

The manual applies to all the armed services — but does not cover the CIA, which has come under criticism for mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and for keeping suspects in secret prisons around the world.

[bluestardad]

Cheney has no credibility maybe he should be on Rush Limbaugh. Quit covering him CBS he is a pimp and does not care about the American People.

[bluestardad]

adding on to that he cannot even hunt birds let alone set policy that can drive a nation in the right direction.

[agnim]

Any 'alien' with a machine for 'heart' can't be trusted to respect human existence.

This guy, like his boss, ducked military service; yet they eagerly and greedily send young unthinking men to go commit atrocities that will only earn them a place in hell, but not before those sick soldiers have been disrespect by the more decent Americans.

Every American who has a brain knew that torturing of people and the creation of nude pyramids by homosexual soldiers was given clearance from the highest level of our government.

Those soldiers were following orders.
As sane humans, they should have known better than to follow bad orders; and so they are the ones imprisoned for torture.
But who is going to bring the soldiers' ringleaders continue to give the orders for torture to book?

[rharrin1]

Cheney said he was completely innocent in that shooting, other than being half in the bag I did not know texas made the game birds wear red vests.

[getcentered]

I think Chenney is even less humble than our president and far more dangerous for our country.

He speaks with this self-righteous attitude; at least Bush is readable. I think if the Democrats take over the House or Senate or both, that they will do what the whole Congress has fail to do, CHECK THIS ADDMINASTRATION. We are going to see how much Chenney and his coo-coo friends did to press their neo-con agenda and we are going to see whom those friends are. If there is evil in our government, Chenny is part of it.

We need to let the Democrats have some power.

[rsoxfan1123]

you can judge a tree by its fruit

[bluestardad]

CALL TO AMERICAN VOTER
STAY FOCUSED AMERICA IT IS ABOUT TO GET TOUGH. WE HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS OF INTENSE ATTACK ADS, SMOKE SCREENS, DIVISION OF ELECTORATE, DECEPTION, MISREPRESENTATION, AND LIES, TO ENDURE BEFORE WE CAN UNCOVER THE ELECTION FRAUD, RECOUNT THE VOTE, AND THROW THESE CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE. THEN WE CAN START HEALING AMERICA.

[connapa]

As has been said previously, you have to question the accuracy of any and all information obtained through any "unconventional" methods. In dealing with AL Qaeda, even information obtained through normal interrogation can still be suspect. they're just as apt to give disinformation about a nonexistent plot so that we waste our time and resources.

[peterbaldwin-2009]

Chaney is now gloating about the goosestepping Republican congress passing "enabling legislation" to allow torture. It may backfire, driving more good Americans to the arms of the Dems. What do you think is happening to that missing soldier now? George "army deserter" Bush and Richard "five deferrments" Chaney would just smileat that prospect.

These guys were of no help during the Vietnam war. The only enemy soldier they have ever taken down is Ho Chi Whittington!

[observantx]

Okay, let%u2019s look at THIS.

Hmmmm. Darth 5 deferment Cheney, says waterboarding is not torture but part of a %u201Cfairly robust interrogation program%u201D.

Let%u2019s give *** a few dunks and then see what he says about the direct experience of waterboarding.

I%u2019ll bet he%u2019s so tough that he%u2019ll ask for more since he is far more robust than a little dunking. While he%u2019s on that board, let%u2019s ask him why we really went to Iraq. Let%u2019s ask if he and Fearless Leader got so high on the smell of oil that they began throwing our sons and daughters into a meat grinder just to fatten up the bottom line of Haliburton & the rest of his rich cronies.

VOTE these criminals out!

[peterbaldwin-2009]

The American must stop and pay attention. Chaney says waterboarding is okay one one day, and Snow does his Orwellian re-write of history the next day. Americans are being played as suckers and fools by these nitwits. Every day, Americans are getting angrier and angrier. Snow's comments are insulting to the intelligence of the people.

[tejasdemo]

Snow is lying. Cheney is lying.

[manner6]

Do you think this "loaded" Supreme Court will have the decency to declare the recent TORTURE BILL unconstitutional? It's a terrifying prospect putting all that power into the hands of the pro-torture crowd.

[emhawks]

To jerryomara:
Cheney, Bush & Rumsfeld are as guilty of cold-blooded murder as any terrorist. To me, they are the real terrorists. I'm still proud to be an American. Bush/Cheney in no way represent the true America. However, it's disgraceful that what this adm. represents to the world is an America of hypocrisy, lies & greed.
To observantX:
While Cheney is on that waterboard, let's ask him a few questions about 911.

[kesac4650]

There is no torture in the the interrogations done by the US. Those Al Quedaists were able to perform every mental and physical act after the interrogation as they were before their interrogation.
We did not interrogate to elicit a confession. We interrogated to gain information that might prevent further murders of Citizens of the US and our Allies.
It is an odd country that cares more for the rights of Terrorists and convicted mass murderers than it does for the rights of unborn children.
You go ahead and be ashamed to be an American, but perhaps you and your children are alive today because we have taken the fight to the MiddleEast, rather than on American soil.

[diamtool]

Really! I can't believe it! What kind of felonious, moronic draft dodging, freakin old codger chickenhawk would say waterboarding is a no brainer when we got MIA on the freakin ground! MIA in enemy hands as we speak! If waterboarding is a no brainer for us then i wonder what is a no brainer for the bad guys holding our kid. Someone needs to tell this pasty old coward to shut up!
F Bush --let's impeach Cheney!
God Help our Troops
God forgive Bush and Cheney

[kevboom]

Don't be ashamed to be an American. Vote in November and get rid of the right-wing Nazis that have taken over OUR government. We used to have a government of, by, and for the people. Now we have a government of the rich, by the corporation, and for the special interest (i.e., highest campaign donor). What's wrong in this country is the non-voters that look the other way and let the Republicans goose-step all over our civil rights. Or worse yet, those who vote to keep our oppressors in power. Why? I have no idea. Do these people read or watch the news?! Things are not well.

[gslinger3]

Forget Water torture, Maybe we should just cut the enemys heads off like they would do us!!!!! You liberals have no clue!!!!

[shingles1]

I believe Cheney was referring to baptising them.

[gslinger3]

Its a good thing for America in this war that your not in power!!!!

[shingles1]

Shorter Gslinger3:

We must kill those who don't respect life.

[diamtool]

Really! I can't believe it! What kind of felonious, moronic draft dodging, freakin old codger chickenhawk would say waterboarding is a no brainer when we got MIA ON THE FREAKIN GROUND! MIA in ENEMY hands as we speak! If waterboarding is a no brainer for us then i wonder what is a no brainer for the bad guys holding our kid.
Someone needs to tell this pasty old coward to SHUT THE F UP!
F Bush --let's impeach Cheney!
God Help our Troops
God forgive Bush and Cheney

[osidebear]

The only way to say that there is "no torture" in some of the interrogtaions conducted by the US is to redefine the word. When diamtool says that "Those Al Quedaists were able to perform every mental and physical act after the interrogation as they were before their interrogation," it makes me wonder two things: first, how do you know that? And second, even if it were true (and there have been reports of detainees dying) how does that rule out torture?

[nwihoosier]

Worried about waterboarding? Idiots! Decapitation is a no-brainer for the terrorists! (For the less enlightened: Decapitation means cutting off the head.) Please don't spout the sludge about 'two wrongs'.

[wardken7-2009]

The democrates need to take back both the House and Senate and the first order of business should be to impeach both Bush and Cheney ASAP
The rip-off war-mongers and greedy pigs need to be tar and feathered and run out of Washington DC and run out of the country, Haliburton needs to be taxed 99% to get back the (our) money that they stole with the help of Bush and Haliburtons former CEO *** Cheney! go figure
The Republican party needs to Die for the sake of our country. They are the true Benedict Arnolds of today. The republican party is the problem within our country and we need to eliminate the cancer once and for all.

[marcelde]

Snow said. "You think *** Cheney's going to SLIP UP on something like this%u201D?%u201D

TRANSLATION DO YOU THINK *** CHENEY WOULD MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ACCIDENTALLY ADMITTING THAT THE CIA USES TORTURE?

ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT TORTURE BY ANY OTHER NAME(S), e.g. %u201CWATERBOARDING%u201D or %u201CDUNKING%u201D IS INHUMANE AND AGAINST OUR SIGNATURE TO THE %u201CGENEVA ACCORDS%u201D, OUR USE OF TORTURE PUTS OUR TROOPS AT EVEN GREATER RISKS!

THE %u201CENEMY%u201D (those who unreasonably object to having their families, and nation destroyed and then occupied by us) WILL HAVE NO COMPUNCTION ABOUT USING OUR SAME TORTURE METHODS ON OUR SOLDIERS!

CHENEY%u2019S COMMENTS, EVEN IF PHRASED AS AN INNOCENT DUNKING, WILL BE CORRECTLY VIEWED AS AN APPROVAL BY THIS ADMINISTRATION TO PERMIT TORTURE BUT LIE ABOUT IT WITH EUPHEMISMS.

SINCE THE C.I.A. IS NOT UNDER ANY MILITARY RESTRICTIONS, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE CIA HAS HIRED PSYCHOPATHS IN SECRET FOREIGN PRISONS TO ADMINISTER TORTURE TO ANYONE, IRRESPECTIVE OF REAL EVIDENCE AND TO TORTURE AT WILL. MOST OF HITLER%u2019S %u201CS.S.%u201D TROOPS WERE PSYCHOPATHS RELEASED FROM JAILS FOR JUST SUCH A PURPOSE.

[osidebear]

Sorry, my mistake. diamtool did not make that questionable statement. kesac4650 did.

Just want to make sure that "credit" is given where it's due....

[diamtool]

I just finally figured it out!
When we become a nation of fanatical headchoppers and torturers who follow no laws but the jungle law with no regard for human rights then we will have WON the WAR ON TERROR!
Ingenious!
Victory is at hand!
Vote for Republicans!

God Bless our Troops
God forgive Bush and Cheney

[marcelde]

The 'NO BRAINER" is yet another euphemism for *** CHENEY.

[plsshutup]

"I am ashamed to be an American" c'mon you bunch of spoiled babies. You probably tell your parents that you are ashamed of your family when you don't get your way. I bet if Al Gore was President (or better yet John Kerry) everyone would love us and the unicorns would have come back. Half of our country thinks exactly opposite of how you do; probably more than half. Actually we won't know until the next election. We won't know because Conservative people do not cry, whine, and march in the streets, they vote. Where do these poll numbers come from? No one I know has ever been polled about any of this stuff. So go back to reading your copy of Rolling Stone and watching The Daly Show and dream little dreams where everything work out well for everyone and no one dies. It is too bad that you are ashamed to a member of our american family, but most of us care as much about that as we do about whether you got the pink sports car or the red one for your birthday.

[classvictim]

Gslinger3 (is the "g" for gun)? People like you scare the heck out of me. You think cutting off heads makes you a better American, it doesn't. As someone already posted how do you know that the information you get of someone from toturing them is valid? I bet you are Pro-life too.

[jswilliams451]

The problem is, Cheney is an idiot. He can't keep his $#%^!@$ mouth shut.

Has the US tortured suspected terrorists? Yes. Are we still torturing suspected terrorists? Probably. If I was a betting man, I wouldn't bet against it. Is it needed for our safety? Maybe. But, most would say, probably not.

But for the VP of the USA to even entertain an interview that would even touch on the subject, just goes to show what an piece of ***, out-of-touch psychopath the guy is.

Especially a few days before such a critical election! What was he thinking??

Dumb@#$.

[usawatchman]

The LEFT / RIGHT is a FRAUDULENT ARGUMENT
FIGHT for WE THE PEOPLE..!

THE (TYRANT) GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN THEIR COLORS
and NOW Cheney CONFIRMS with he thinks torturing US CITIZENS is a " NO BRAINER "

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

Apparently the US SUPREME COURT AGREES
Now POLITICIANS and BUREAUCRATS are IMMUNE to
COMMIT CRIMES against the People without the fear of RETRIBUTION in the COURTS,

and that FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS are WORK PROGRAMS designed
to give CRONIES and BUREAUCRATS high paying Jobs, and
their own back door access to the TREASURY.

Just in case you were not aware Citizens of this country must Now
PASS LITERARY TESTS in order to receive PROTECTION in the COURTS
(i.e. say the "MAGIC WORDS" for justice)
(i.e. put the "MAGIC WORDS" on " MAGIC PAPER ")
So much for looking out for the people...
apparently the courts are just a FORMALITY in the path of INSTALLING TYRANT GOVERNMENT.

the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT think they are EXEMPT from ALL (Civil rights and Constitutional) LAWS That is right you give them a little
bit of power these people, and they become TYRANTS and the US SUPREME COURT openly admits IT IS a CORRUPT INSTITUTION.

[kwameb-2009]

As much as I hate Cheney, and its MUCH,
he didnt truly "call" water boarding a "no-brainer".

Those appear to be the questioner's words. He agreed with the notion, because he is a paranoid slime bag, but your healdline is a little misleading.

[diamtool]

I will never be ashamed to be an American.. I am totally ashamed of this "government".
It is said that people in a democracy get the government they deserve, it has become obvious that scared people get very poor government. They will keep scaring you, if you will keep voting for them.
I'll bet Bin Laden thanks his lucky stars everyday for Bush and his rightwing keystone kops! Don't you think he knows that the war in Iraq is costing us $1600.00 A SECOND? We are borrowing that money from China and our grandchildren will have to repay it!
Then we have some cowardly old chickenhawk saying torture is OK while we have MIA on the ground in Iraq! Unbelievable!

God Bless our Troops
God forgive George Bush

[clestes-2009]

Stick your foot in your mouth more often, Cheney. It's good for the upcoming elections.

[jimb222]

Why is everybody in this administration so defensive about everything they are questioned on..Cheney is the worst VP of all time..and his inability to properly explain his actions are signs of arrogance and ignorance..the people that front for the president are grounded in secrecy..and have little regard for truth..they are the framers of Bush's legacy..he should take stock in their game playing..and are without any shame..and that is the sad part..they have shamed this country..and be replaced with some people that has competence and honesty as their virture..these people do not..then need to take that wall down..this is the USA..not USSR.

[clarenoi]

pisshutup - Any party who has the likes of that fat-mouthed, ignoramus Rush and that *** Ann NoCulture on its side deserves what it gets. Which will be its expulsion from its power-mongering place in Washington come Nov 7. Go tighten your regimental tie, yank up your pants until they're highwaters, and check the part in your hair for the hundreth time today. And take that filthy poster off your office wall. Oh- sorry - That's Ann!

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians
You use Christ to act like the DEVIL that you are.
I leave you only with these words.

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within."

"God has no religion"

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be."

"I consider western Christianity in its practical working a negation of Christ%u2019s Christianity."

Words from Mohandas Gandhi

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians
You use Christ to act like the DEVIL that you are.
I leave you only with these words.

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within."

"God has no religion"

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be."

"I consider western Christianity in its practical working a negation of Christ%u2019s Christianity."

Words from Mohandas Gandhi

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians
You use Christ to act like the DEVIL that you are.
I leave you only with these words.

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within."

"God has no religion"

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be."

"I consider western Christianity in its practical working a negation of Christ%u2019s Christianity."

Words from Mohandas Gandhi

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians
You use Christ to act like the DEVIL that you are.
I leave you only with these words.

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within."

"God has no religion"

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be."

"I consider western Christianity in its practical working a negation of Christ%u2019s Christianity."

Words from Mohandas Gandhi

[shingles1]

For everybody who keeps using the "but the terrorists don't think twice about decapitating heads" defense, I have a couple questions:

Is everybody in US custody (a number that is in the tens of thousands - when you add detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo together) as a result of the GWOT guilty of decapitating people? Are ALL these people even guilty of being terrorists?

I ask this in light of the fact that 160+ (or more than a quarter) of those who were at Guantanamo (or "the worst of the worst") turned out in fact not to be "the worst of the worst" but were determined instead by the US Government to be innocent and were thus set free.

Because unless you can prove that the US doesn't make mistakes and that they're ALL guilty we're torturing an awful lot of innocent people.

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians
You use Christ to act like the DEVIL that you are.
I leave you only with these words.

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within."

"God has no religion"

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be."

"I consider western Christianity in its practical working a negation of Christ%u2019s Christianity."

Words from Mohandas Gandhi

[usawatchman]

PEOPLE I voted for REPUBLICANS since 1976

I am now VOTING for INDEPENDENTS (INDEPENDENCE)

NOT LEFT
NOT RIGHT

IF they are IN they are going to be OUT !

I AM FOR WE THE PEOPLE !

[newsjeff-2009]

I think I better call Guiness Book of World Records. To hear Bush or Cheney speak about something other than verabally bashing homosexuals,same *** marriage,more tax cuts for millionaires,more breaks for corporate America,abortion,religion,the Iraq war,bashing all democrats as bad,etc. I am not impressed at all with the GOP this year, but at least Cheney at least said a little something new. All Bush and the rest of the GOP wanted to talk about this morning to a CNN reporter, I read, was homosexual marriage,traditional marriage,abortion, and the Iraq war. I admire that Laura and George Bush have a good marriage, if Bush wants to jump out of bed every morning and deliever Laura her first morning cup of coffee, and they have a great tradional marriage I admire that, but as an America I don't take to well to people telling me how to live my personal life. If I am married to a man or woman and how I treat my partner or mistreat him or her(according to world's standards)unless I am illegally abusive it is my business, not the government.

[concerned7]

Just in case any of you have forgotten. We, the US through the CIA, trained Al Queda in pretty much everything it knows about terrorism; torture, explosives and fear. Does anyone remember President Reagan with the Taliban declaring them to be like the founding fathers of the US? But thats not all, we also trained and supplied the Dictatorship of Sadam Husein. I know we have all seen the pictures of the Defense Secretary with Husein. We gave Sadam all of the weapons of mass destruction in the 804s to fight Iran that we were so worried about in the 904s. Thats right my point is that the US is just as guilty at using terrorism as anyone else. We need to forget about racist revenge and put an end to the cycle of violence. The US does not care about law and order unless it is in the interest of the US. Well this is all fine and dandy for US interests, we live in a global society and can no longer expect others to submit to our will if we will not even attempt to listen to them. The smartest thing the US could do to ensure peace and prosperity for the world would be to give full signatory to the UN and become apart of the world team rather than trying to be the world father, handing out punishment at will. Some day we might not be the lone super power and our actions could come back to haunt us. Lead by example . . .

[bz1960]

The U.S. has been a beacon of freedom ever since its creation in 1776. However, U.S. is losing its status as a moral leader in the wake of illegitimate war in Iraq and subsequent prisoner abuses at Abu-Gharaib and Guantanamo Bay. Enactment of laws such as Patriotic Act and detention of suspects without any changes or legal counsel for the last 5 years is another sign of US%u2019 departure from its moral grounds.

[jn122736]

The enemy/terrorists are winning on all fronts. A %u201Cgang%u201D of 19 men hijack a few planes (which at the time any %u201Cgang%u201D could have done) and surprise us by committing suicide.
They couldn%u2019t get away with that now because everyone is aware of what they can and will do.-- They are winning because we are lowering ourselves down to their level, We allow our precious civil rights to be crushed, sanction torture, allow ruinous tax cuts while waging war, running the national debt to un-sustainable heights, I%u2019m sure the American people would have gladly paid higher taxes to go after the terrorists.

We allow this administration, through scare tactics and lies, to divert the DEFENSIVE effort of going after al qaeda and taliban in Afghanistan to an unjustified OFFENSIVE invasion of Iraq, then, in the process of %u201Cstaying the course%u201D bogging down and depleting Our military capability to the point nations like N Korea and Iran feels free to do anything they want.
If this is what America wants then we are no better than those we condemn.

[mechupus]

To all Conservative Christians=GOP=Republicans
Saudi born Osama bin Laden was recruited during the Soviet-Afghan war "ironically under the auspices of the CIA, to fight Soviet invaders". 1

In 1979 "the largest covert operation in the history of the CIA" was launched in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in support of the pro-Communist government of Babrak Kamal.2:

With the active encouragement of the CIA and Pakistan's ISI [Inter Services Intelligence], who wanted to turn the Afghan jihad into a global war waged by all Muslim states against the Soviet Union, some 35,000 Muslim radicals from 40 Islamic countries joined Afghanistan's fight between 1982 and 1992. Tens of thousands more came to study in Pakistani madrasahs. Eventually more than 100,000 foreign Muslim radicals were directly influenced by the Afghan jihad.3

The Islamic "jihad" was supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia with a significant part of the funding generated from the Golden Crescent drug trade:

In March 1985, President Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive 166,...[which] authorize[d] stepped-up covert military aid to the mujahideen, and it made clear that the secret Afghan war had a new goal: to defeat Soviet troops in Afghanistan

To all Conservative Christians=GOP=Republicans