With the CIA torture report revelations fresh in the news, pro-fossil energy group, the American Energy Alliance, is using the torture report as a new springboard for pro-energy rhetoric, reported ThinkProgress. They group is now comparing EPA energy regulations with the CIA torture program.
Last Friday, the American Energy Alliance posted a blog with a comic depicting an absurdly thick book crushing Uncle Sam. The book was titled “EPA Torture Report.” Underneath the comic was a shot post that read “Whether it’s the costliest regulation in history or the coal-killing power plant rules, it’s clear that the CIA isn’t the only government agency engaged in torture. At least the CIA isn’t torturing Americans.”
The blog post and comic are an obvious shot the recently imposed EPA regulations brought forth by President Obama. The American Energy Alliance insists that the new EPA rules will raise costs, kill jobs, and kill the fossil fuel industry.
The comparison between the EPA rules and the CIA torture program is equal parts laughable and saddening. It’s funny because the rhetoric illustrates a desperate need to rally support. It’s saddening because the CIA torture program harmed and killed human beings. And many of those lives were innocent. What’s worse, the torturing produced nothing.
“At no time did the CIA’s coercive interrogation techniques lead to the collection of imminent threat intelligence, such as the hypothetical ‘ticking time bomb’ information that many believe was the justification for the use of these techniques,” according to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
It’s pathetic that the American Energy Alliance, a Koch-backed group, would use such a ghastly program that degraded humanity to push their pro-coal politics. It’s an unsubstantial attempt for cheap attention and publicity.
