Navy SEAL Would Like Dick Cheney to Confess to Murder
“You give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I’ll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.”
So says Navy SEAL, professional wrestling entertainer, star of “Predator” and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura in an interview with Larry King. Ventura claims that waterboarding is torture, based on the waterboarding he endured during SEAL training.
He also says some negative things about former President George W. Bush. Watch the entire clip at CNN (via The Awl).
Under the Radar is commentary. We don’t report the news; we offer our take on what happened.
50 Comments
A sad day in America when a US Navy
Seal has become a pinko commie loving
democratic hack. I guess living in
Minnisota can do that to you.
Ventura fell for the Hollywood left garbage and found the only way to get noticed is to turn on your true beliefs’. Bad on you Ventura — you’re a shame to your uniformed past.
Ventura must have had his head slammed into the turnbuckle one to many times. Not much of a wrestler or actor and a lousy Governor. He’ll do anything to get press.
Cheney was a punk and I would back Mr. Ventura before him any day. Yes, we tortured people to get answers and saved lives. He stated a fact and many of our brothers/sisters have died because of the mistakes of the old administration. Let us be cut and dry here.
Cheney is a F#$%ing TRAITOR and anyone who supports him is one as well.
Dick Cheney is a F$%^ING TRAITOR and all those who support him and the former Bush REGIME are as well
wht
I would rather follow a been-ther-done-that hero like Jessie than a neverwazzer like Dickie any day. The law is tha law, and we vets swore to uphold the onstitution — not a failed president.
Mr. Ventura may have been a Navy Seal but when and where did he ever serve in harms way?? Once again we have some liberal left wing nut job wanting to arm chair quarteback the previous admin. I dont agree with everything that Cheny authorized but I do agree with the torture. I fyou havent served in a combat zone then shut the *^&$ up!!
I get so tired of the RightWingNuts. If torture was legal, why did Chinnney and the ol’ wingers let those young soldiers go to jail? Chinnnney, who had 9 deferments sat on his ARSE and turned his back on them. I can name at 7 more loud mouth wingers who got deferments during VN war. I served 22 years in this man’s Army. Bush couldn’t find one person who served with him. KIssinger, Chinnnney, and Dumsfeld should be tried for war crimes. Committing young people to fight for oil, and then it went all wrong. I lost a young friend to this war in Iraq. He was the 2000 service member to die as a result of injuries. He was a young men and had 2 kids. His father G.A. sr, was my best man in 1968 at Ft Bliss . What a loss?? For what??
A proud Independent.
I get so tired of these Socialist Liberals and there same old lies.Chaney’s deferments like Bill Clintons,I guess he should have run off to Canada like the rest of your liberal teachers did.Then come back and spread their mental disease in government run scools.
Dems took over Congress in 06 and Bush spent money like a drunken liberal to appease them.Now you elected The “One” who has spent everything we don’t have.See how much you like Double digit inflation,unemployment,and interest rates like your hero Jimma Carter.Comming soon.
All You turds slamming Ventura when He knows more about combat , torture ‚and the world in general must be shell shocked. Waterboarding and torture will have ANY man admitting to the crucifixtian of Jesus. You people calling Ventura a ” Commie Pinko ” must be arm chair warriors like Cheney and His 5 deferments
I guess everyone has the right to speak their mind. I know that we normally do not believe in torturing other peoples. however, in this account who knows, with the enemy and that is what they are…the ENEMY…one who has already attacked our country, mind you not talk about doing it but did it already. They are not afraid to die. they actually feel esteemed at AMERICANS doing anything to them at all. its a badge of honor if that happens. I think they know how fickle we AMERICANS are and how we will FIGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER..YOU KNOW..LIKE IN THE CIVIL WAR. We are like a bunch of spoiled brats wanting each our own way instead of coming together. well, the ENEMY knows us and how we fight about things and never have any cohesion about anything so they USE IT AGAINST US BY COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT WAS DONE TO them WHEN ALL ALONG THEY WOULD SOONER CUT OUR HEADS OFF AT FIRST GLANCE. THEY ARE PLAYING US LIKE A FIDDLE AND WINNING. we have people like this NAVY SEAL, who got HOLYWOOD, and comes out and shows his leftiness, saying the last presidency was wrong and lets hang them up to dry. HOW SOON HE FORGETS THAT MORE THAN LIKELY HE EVEN DIDNT MIND THE WATERBOARDING WHEN WE NEEDED TO FIND OUT INFO ABOUT SAVING OUR MEN…OUR MEN..FROM OUR COUNTRY..NOT SOME OTHER COUNTRY. I hate torture, but imagine your child in the service ..or a child period..what would you to to save your child. Pretty much anything. we the guilty will not prosecute our last president who was a republican to RAISE UP THE SO CALLED LEFT WING SOCIALISTIC PARTY TO BLOW THEIR PRIDEFUL SMOKE so they can swirl it for the next election. OR TO… distract THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY FROM THE mess up that is going on with this economy and how they the left wing are trying a complete government take over.. AND THAT IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT..COMPLETE GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER SO WE DONT HAVE TO THINK..THEY WILL DO IT FOR US..TOTALLY MESSING THIS COUNTRY UP FOR GOOD.
He’s an old, washed-up, traitor. I am not surprised by his comments one bit. I am surprised that it took him this long to try and get the spotlight with it. He’s a disgrace to this country, and the uniform he once wore. He is a shame to himself, his bloodline, and the blood spilled by every American that has ever fought for freedom. But then again… that goes for 99% of the government today, doesn’t it? It’s only taken about 4 months to see this country dive into filth and depravity, and THAT is what surprises me. Come quickly Lord Jesus… I’m tired of seeing my beautiful country destroyed…
Ventura was actually a member of the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT-12), while he served in Vietnam. It wasn’t until he returned and went to the reserves that he actually became a SEAL, by that time Vietnam was over. He is considered a SEAL since in the early 80’s all the UDT teams were changed to SEAL Teams. He earned a National Defense Service Medal, and a Vietnam Service Medal however he didn’t qualify for a Combat Action Ribbon.
Besides all the name calling I don’t see much going on here. If I rememeber from my Boot Training at MCRD San Diego in 1967. The Code of Conduct was because so many of US had been tortured by the Koreans and the Chinese, you know those Chinese who practically own us without one shot. When you are being tortured you will confess. Cheney and Bush two cowards, their brother coward Bill Clinton is included. I fought in Vietnam, I actually believed in what we here doing. My Dad was a retired Navy Chief. These people where in it for money and control of oil. Sad what this country has come to now. The lies that flow from Washington make me sick. Either side has a hard time telling TRUTH from LIES.
Cost to this Nation because the lies led to Iraq, instead of staying with and winning Afganistan who knows, it will be years before we will know. Another generation of Veterans sacrificed because of the lies from Washington
This BS lefties/righties HOW ABOUT AMERICANS!! WE have the right to speak sometimes its just total BS> but still our right.
Funny how the moment a veteran or distinguished service member disagrees with ethically questionable procedures that they immediately become traitors and not worthy of respect by the ultra-right wing. I guess all these right-wingers traitors have no problem seeing our guys getting tortured by terrorists as well.
Aaron, Jesus can come more quickly to you if you use your pistol. Otherwise, love it or leave it, gtfo.
Vickie your logic so warped. By that same reasoning, terrorists will do whatever they can to secure their objectives. Strange, they already do! Thanks for asking us to stoop to their level. Look in the mirror, your dynamite vest is showing.
Wow, Mr. Big UDT turned SEAL is going to waterboard a 70 year old wheelchair guy. I hope I can be that tough some day. We are so worried about going to war. We want it sanitized, surgical, and clean. There’s nothing clean about a fox hole. The enemy doesn’t fight fair, because there is no fair in war. They take people’s heads off on TV, and we’re worried about waterboard tourture? The problem with going to war is like pregnancy; you can’t “be kind of” you’re either in it or not. It should not be easy to go to war, it should be terrible, hidious, sickening. Making it surgical or clean only makes it easy…except for those that fight and die. The enemy understands this already. They play on our hesitation, our tendency to be rule based. We are like the British 250 years ago lined up in regimental form shooting straight in bright red uniforms. The rules of engagement for us is a document. For the enemy it is kill them all create terror everywhere. Who do you think’s strategy is going to win???
Wow, Mr. Big UDT turned SEAL is going to waterboard a 70 year old wheelchair guy. I hope I can be that tough some day. We are so worried about going to war. We want it sanitized, surgical, and clean. There’s nothing clean about a fox hole. The enemy doesn’t fight fair, because there is no fair in war. They take people’s heads off on TV, and we’re worried about waterboard tourture? The problem with going to war is like pregnancy; you can’t “be kind of” you’re either in it or not. It should not be easy to go to war, it should be terrible, hidious, sickening. Making it surgical or clean only makes it easy…except for those that fight and die. The enemy understands this already. They play on our hesitation, our tendency to be rule based. We are like the British 250 years ago lined up in regimental form shooting straight in bright red uniforms. The rules of engagement for us is a document. For the enemy it is kill them all create terror everywhere. Who do you think’s strategy is going to win???
cont. notice how we each have a difference of opinion. that is what this country is about ..its what keeps it on an even keel. I do not believe that the last presidency should be prosecuted or cia or any of that who were given orders to waterboard..wartime is different then peacetime. I dont believe we are terrorists. we were doing what we believed best to PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. I think the people who are squaking about all this are left wing people who want to change our country to become the peoples republic of AMERIKA..yes, that is what is happening here. DIVIDE AND CONQUER, LEARN FROM HISTORY. We are the so called JACKLES, dogs of satan…to islamic extremists. During the CLINTON ERA..an open door policy was in effect and I saw what was happening. One day I was living in AMERICA and the next my neighborhood became the middle east..he let so many in this country, we will not know what to do when we go down. people from other countries who come here..love this place or leave it..stop trying to change it from where you left..you hated what you left..why bring it here..or..middle easterners..wait awhile then go back home..we dont want our AMERICAN HERITAGE to change ..live here but become AMERICANS…assimilate..however, I dont think you are here for that reason. sleeper cells..how can I draw you a picture…people regular americans..falling down and crying over the fact that we are protecting ourselves or even defending ourselves, meanwhile islam is taking over our country and every other country. read the statistics. you try to shame christians for being christians taking away thier rights..which allow others freedom to worship here in this country, when islam gets going as it is..there will be no freedom of any worship other than islam..and islam isnt mediocre..no sir its all extremist. Think, NAVY SEAL crying over something like this..DID HE CRY AFTER 9/11…bet not..bet he thought it was our fault…we deserved it..what about the torture we had then..or does he think maybe we made it up and did it ourselves..yea right..murdering 3000 people…dont think so..he should be ASHAMED OF HIMSELF.. we need to wake up…dont be so naive..let this man squak..left wing media is tryint to help you feel guilty so maybe one day when you need to fight …you won’t..
Funny that the interview mentions SERE school. In recent years the curriculum has removed waterboarding because it was determined that the use of waterboarding was so effective that there was no point in training people to resist. Part of the problem with this situation is cultural. What we deem as torture, the terrorist consider useful. In the 1980s when Americans were being kidnapped in Lebannon, the same kidnappers attempted to kidnap some Soviets, instead of negotiating, the Soviets kidnapped one of the kidnapper’s own men decapitated put his head in a box with a note in the mouth of the would be kidnapper and the hostage was promptly released.
Gee, Jessie Ventura!Former Navy Seal turned fruit cake. I’m impressed
“He’s an old, washed-up, traitor. I am not surprised by his comments one bit. “
#15 Posted by: Aaron
I could not agree more, Cheney is every bit that and much more.
We were fooled by him when he won the gov race in Minn. He’s a loon and it became very apparent soon after the election. Anyone who goes on Larry King is simply a whore looking for a john. Question is, who’s his pimp.
jesse ventura is a washed up old big mouth & a disgrace to the seals, he’s a left wing nut job like the rest of the wacko left..everytime i see a photo of someone jumping from the wtc & i hear these liberal bastards complain about “torture” of a terrorist i get crazy!!! 343 firefighters dead & how many others & we’re worried about pouring some water down some low-life assholes throat!!! what has happened to our country!!!!
Anyone out there really think “waterboarding” is the method used to get info out of scumbags? The press likes the word so they use it like TP. Don’t fall for the left’s trick of puking a word 10,000 times a day until we all start thinking it’s real. They are the enemy. Don’t forget that.
Dick Cheney was the proud recipient of five, yes, five college deferrments during Vietnam. Because, as he stated,“I had other things to do.” At least the 165,000 troops in Iraq during the surge had nothing better to do. Way to go Mr. Cheney.
I’d be willing to bet that Ventura had the same kind of medical people standing by to stop things before they got out of hand that the CIA had. Those who are boarded these days know full well that the US military will take every precaution to ensure they don’t die. It’s no different than with Ventura was trained for them and they are fully aware of it.
Of course, accidents happen.
Okay. Ventura was a Seal before he knew he was a Seal. Got it. Further to what “Ray” said above. The CAR (or combat action ribbon) signifies satisfactory performance in combat. You only have to be in combat one time and you earn it. Which means even though he was in “Nam” he was never in combat or his performance didn
one more thing. Bush, Cheney, rumsfeld wolfovitz and the whole federal reserve bank(not owned by Americans) should be tried for treason.
G.I.Doc
Thanks everyone for the circus popcorn & candy…You all speak with forked tongue…Bush is gone & you don’t let go long enough to look back to the future.…
You damn right I am mad– I’m still patching up the boys from the shah valley and the tunnels of kuntum. the 103rd is still bleeding and the wall of stone is weeping
SEALS are dangerous in the water.They board ships…Marines are there to kick their a-s…
I believe the point of Mr. Venturas’ comment about “a waterboard, Cheney, and 1 hour” was meant to imply that, under extreme duress, a person will confess to anything to make the torture stop. It is never a question of IF one will break but WHEN. The results of turture can be unreliable but, in certain cases, it does expedite info and save lives. Anyone who believes that the US has never, or will never again, utilize “creative interigation” is either niave or stupid.It may not work as reliably on the true believers of a cuase but on the lower-level, not-as-indoctrinated guy, it can work very well for obtaining time sensitive info.
On to another point, I am in agreement with the make pot legal arguement. Doing so would give farmers a good cash crop, allow law enforcement to concentrate on more serious crimes, and create a HUGE tax base similar to alcohol and tobaco. It would also create jobs for people to help regulate the industry. A win-win for all but the most serious drug users, most of whom use the really hard stuff aleady anyway. When buy some messed up stuff full of who knows what when you can get Grade A from the pharmacy.
Also, I would love to be able to go to Cuba. We are missing a big market for our products and services. Like Mr. Ventura said, the US is now at least on speaking terms with Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Panama, granada, and every other “clime and place where we could take a gun” so why not Cuba? Better relations with Cuba could also aloow the Coast Guard and ICE to use resources for other things like terrorists and real drugs like cocaine.
One thing I do disagree with Mr. Ventura on is who is the most embarassing President in my lifetime. I still think Bubba Clinton did an awful lot to bring shame to the US (Monika, Vince Foster, Clintongate, etc.). I know Bush II was not perfect, nobody is, but I still respect him and what he tried to do. It is easy to second guess after the fact, but I would venture to say very few of us would want or could handle the job of President. I wish President Obama all the luck and prayers we can give him.
Don’t know or care if you served in combat. Jesse Ventura served with the SEALS, I in the 82nd Airborne Division. I jumped with Marines and SEALS, you won’t find better combatants to stand by. Run you mouths until the cows come home. Hey, squirrel-nuts, Ventura fought battles still classified. His fault? Get a friggin’ life. Hell, we were fighting in the jungles of Panama, Central America, before you could fart. i am flat tried of you nutless-wonders trying to second guess what we had to do. If Ventura ran for president, I’d vote for him! My life was in the hands of some damned good Psyops operation. In other words,my fellow Americans, I and members of the 501st owe SEALS bigtime. Any of you jack-offs have any damned questions? Jesse is my Brother in arms. And if you served in combat, may I salute each and every one of you; however, if you run your civilian mouth, best stick it where the sun don’t shine. Screw you and that horsey you rode in on.
Open your minds and conduct your own research to find out who really is telling the TRUTH. Learn to tell the difference between who lies with propaganda and who is telling the TRUTH. Was WMD fabricated or did it really exist?
I believe it’s time for Jesse to sit in his rocking chair, and retire because he has been a fake wrestler to many years , and he is confused with realty
Yes, you can get people to confess to anything, but that’s not the purpose of interrogations. Interrogators know the answers to most of the questions they ask and “punish” the subjects when they lie. After a few “punishments”, the subjects conclude that other subjects have already given information, so why endure more “punishment.” They talk. It’s a tough world, but I don’t believe in trading lives for someone’s psychological comfort and totally support pouring water on somebody’s face if there is a possibility of saving lives.
Just from a practical standpoint once you are tortured you will confess to anything — dont take my word for it. Ask the interrogaters who know their business and what they say — forget that Cheney is a moron and forget his politics. THe most successful German interrogator in WWII didnt get his info by torturing allied pilots, he tricked cajolled and psychologically played with his oponents. They gave up info and didnt even know it! Jessie knows what he is talking about. Studies by the military of Korean war veterans showed that under extreme torture even the bravest will sign anything. Sear training uses waterboarding and all kinds of goodies to break you but torture is not reliable and worse yet it doesnt exactly make the enemy who are even bigger a– holes than Cheney want to surrender. If you know you are going to be tortured you would fight to the death too! So on all counts torture is not a good way to get information. In war you do what you have to but you have to be smart as well “know yourself and your enemy and you will not lose in a hundred battles” Sun Tzu. That is what they teach at West Point. Yup most military people are on the right but professional soldiers are practical — get the job done –that means do it the smart way and anyone who has been in combat doesnt like to inflict harm on others. If you do, you do it for yourself and your buddies. Your country is second bub! Sorry but thats a reality. I dont wave a flag but when I want to get the job done I do it smart. Our enemy is not stupid. He is a sneaky son of a bitch. Our goal is to make sure no more people join Al Qaeda or the Taliban or else we will be fighting the hundred years war — that is our goal. Leave the strong arm stuff to guys like Putin. We are americans not barbarians and unless we play this smart we will end up screwing ourselves.
First off Jesse Ventura is not a Seal and has never been a Seal. He was UDT. At the time Seals and UDT were separate. After the Vietnam War Seal and UDT were rolled into unit called just Seal Training. I guess Jessie fees that change makes him a true Seal. Since Jessie (Big Mouth) Ventura wants everyone to believe he was a big man in the war. He did nothing. Look up what some of the people say about him. He was like John Kerry.
Here is the kicker on how brave he was. During the Vietnam War there were two Seal teams, team 1-west cost and team 2-east cost. The Seal teams in Vietnam were taking such high causalities that were begging for replacements. The Navy
It is a shame that everyone of you have forgotten the oath you took when you entered the military, and the Constitution that you swore to defend.
Everyone has the right to their opinion.
Therefore, yes water boarding is a form of torture. And, it was used to save American Lives.
I am a “RIGHT WING NUT” and will die for each of you to make a fool of yourself.
But remember that regardless of the politics, we fight to protect the Constitution.
You had better pray ‚as each one of us get older, that the younger generation never looses sight of the freedoms the possess and why they possess them.
You also had better pray the current administration has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the aggressors and water board the hell out of them to save our freedoms.
Just from a practical standpoint once you are tortured you will confess to anything — dont take my word for it. Ask the interrogaters who know their business and what they say — forget that Cheney is a moron and forget his politics. THe most successful German interrogator in WWII didnt get his info by torturing allied pilots, he tricked cajolled and psychologically played with his oponents. They gave up info and didnt even know it! Jessie knows what he is talking about. Studies by the military of Korean war veterans showed that under extreme torture even the bravest will sign anything. Sear training uses waterboarding and all kinds of goodies to break you but torture is not reliable and worse yet it doesnt exactly make the enemy who are even bigger a– holes than Cheney want to surrender. If you know you are going to be tortured you would fight to the death too! So on all counts torture is not a good way to get information. In war you do what you have to but you have to be smart as well “know yourself and your enemy and you will not lose in a hundred battles” Sun Tzu. That is what they teach at West Point. Yup most military people are on the right but professional soldiers are practical — get the job done –that means do it the smart way and anyone who has been in combat doesnt like to inflict harm on others. If you do, you do it for yourself and your buddies. Your country is second bub! Sorry but thats a reality. I dont wave a flag but when I want to get the job done I do it smart. Our enemy is not stupid. He is a sneaky son of a bitch. Our goal is to make sure no more people join and Al Qaeda or the Taliban or else we will be fighting the hundred years war — that is our goal. Leave the strong arm stuff to guys like Putin. We are americans not barbarians and unless we play this smart we will end up screwing ourselves.
Jessie Ventura is completely whacked out.
Look at all of you. It’s a competition of facts. And none of you state all of them. You only mention the ones that help prove your outlook/opinion on the situation. You’re doing exactly what the media thrives on. It’s what makes me media. Amercia was built on teamwork and togetherness. I’m active duty military and I did not vote therefor I cannot complain about our presidency of previous presidency. If you disagree with our country and what they’re doing that strongly then get the hell out. I for one joined the military because I wanted a paycheck everyweek and I didn’t want to contribute to the welfare collectors society. I chose to fight just so I wouldn’t burden this country. No miltary member is asking for your sympathy, they’re asking for your support. So when I get on here and read how all of you have the time to bash our government instead of getting off your damn computer and working it makes me really impressed with what you had to say. And if you wanna complain about how you didn’t vote for our president theN you’re wrong. This is what a democracy is about.
Semper Fidelis
Jesse Ventura is a sad fat man with penis envy…the closest he ever got to a real man was when he stood next to a Marine on guard of a Navy ship…he belittles Marines every chance he gets as if he actually could have been one…well he could have if his balls were as big as his mouth…tough guy my ass…lol
If it saves one American’s life then I am all for it! So far it is saved thousands of American’s lives. Why should we play by rules that the rest of the is not honoring? Answer: We shouldn’t!!
He should think about being a passenger on an flight that has a detour through an sky scrapper. Oh that makes me pity the little wet guy so bad, you are a disgrace to the NAVY and The USA.
Ventura has once again demonstrated that he is more interested in portraying an image as a tough guy who knows better than others and can prove it by belittling others, including those who believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Or, perhaps some did not catch that clever attempt to link himself with some proven brave Seals while disparaging Christian beliefs. Got to give him his due though… as a pretty good grade B actor. He’s right where he needs to be to build his own self image… hanging out in an imagined paradise as a surf bum, once again portraying himself as something special while being very very ordinary.
Jesse Ventura is truly an uncommon warrior to speak the truth. Down with all those who claim he’s done harm to the uniform or the U.S.
Wake up America!
Greg Lammers, 100% disabled U.S. Navy vet
SERE, Larry. Not sear. Maybe if you at least got the name of the training right, you wouldn’t come off like such a jackass. Americans may not be barbarians, but you also can’t win a street fight by playing by the rules. That only happens in Hollywood.