The Senate report released last week about the CIA's use of torture on detainees has divided America on ideological grounds. "Obviously, a debate that can't be debated because minds will not be changed can only be debated by the most unchangeable mind," said Stephen Colbert on Monday night's Colbert Report: "Me, Stephen Colbert." Then, through the magic of television, Colbert, wearing a blue tie, debated a red-tied version of himself.
The red-tie Colbert, agreeing with Bill O'Reilly, explained that the U.S. can't be held accountable for any excesses after 9/11, because it was angry, like the Incredible Hulk, and now it is back to normal, like Bruce Banner. The bottom line, red-tie Colbert said, is that "America does not torture, but we had to, and we will never do it again, unless it's to protect America." --Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Unprepared for a pandemicOpinion What happens if bird flu evolves to spread among humans?
-
6 impressive homes in TorontoFeature Featuring floating stairs in Lytton Park and a two-tiered infinity pool in Banbury-Don Mills
-
Samantha Harvey's 6 favorite books that redefine how we see the worldFeature The Booker Prize-winning author recommends works by Marilynne Robinson, George Eliot, and more
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
