Trib trivializes Bush era torture in supporting Gina Haspel nomination

It was not surprising, but disappointing nonetheless the Trib Editorial Board supports confirmation of Gina Haspel to head the CIA. Haspel's conduct in overseeing a CIA black site in Thailand conducting torture, her drafting of a memo to destroy 92 tapes of the torture and her repeated lies to CIA bosses, Congress and two presidents about torture's effectiveness make her morally unfit for any job in government, much less heading the CIA. The Board goes to great length to both minimize America's descent into criminal war and torture in the aftermath of 911 and Haspel's role in it. The times were "perilous"; "nothing about the CIA is easy to understand"; Haspel was "extremely good at her job"; "Haspel... is a proven administrator."; the torture was only "one part of her record". Haspel may get "rave reviews from national security advisers from former national security officials from Republican and Democratic administrations", but she sure doesn't get high fives from torture victims, including Sen. John McCain who opposes her nomination with words the Board chose to ignore: "Ms. Haspel's role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture's immorality is disqualifying. I believe the Senate should exercise its duty of advice and consent and reject this nomination,"

The CIA will survive Haspel's rejection by a Senate that can find its moral compass. America's tattered reputation from the last 17 years of senseless perpetual war, regime change and, yes, torture, likely will not.