Orin Hatch Fact-Check Today, Thursday November 18, 2010, Orin Hatch appeared on the morning fox reporting show Happening Now. He was there to talk about recent events that have occrued in his area of expertise, National Security. He used this opportunity to mislead the American public. First Orin Hatch discussed the recent Nuclear Arms Treaty between the United States and Russia that he will vote for or against in the Senate. He was asked if he believed we could trust Russia to carry out the reductions in its nuclear arsenal required by the bill, and he said, “its like Ronald Reagan said, 'you can trust but verify'” (Hatch Still Concerned About New Start). The ironic thing is that the bill allows nuclear scientists from the US to make sure that Russia is keeping its promise (GOP's anti-Obama strategy undermines National Security). Verify is itself within the treaty. Even more importantly, Regan's quote came from a speech he was giving in favor of a treaty between the US and Russia for Nuclear Arms reduction and verification (GOP's anti-Obama strategy undermines National Security). So, Orin Hatch was using Regan's quote that was used to support a Nuclear Arms reduction and verification treaty with Russia against Obama's Nuclear Arms reduction and verification treaty with Russia. Next he offered his opinion on the recently decided Ghailani case, where a Guantanamo detainee was found guilty of only 1 charge and acquitted on over 280 (Terrorism Verdict Complicates Issue of Detainee Trials). This was done in a civilian court in New York, and is understandably used as an example by conservatives against the use of civilian trials of suspected terrorists. But Orin Hatch went further than that. He claimed that in this case, “he was not water-boarded” (Hatch Still Concerned About New Start). However, the judge barred the prosecution from using evidence they received from other harsh interrogation practices and from using a witness that they learned about after performing harsh interrogation tactics on the suspect (Guantanamo Detainee Acquitted on all but 1 Charge). So while waterboarding was not used, other harsh interrogation tactics were.   I believe that anyone as knowledgeable in National Security as Orin Hatch would know these things. Politicians always leave out the part of the discussion that doesn't support their positions. But this level of hypocrisy and irony is far too much to bear. Works Cited "GOP's anti-Obama strategy undermines National Security." The Rachel Maddow Show. MSNBC: 17 Nov 2010. Television. 18 Nov 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908#40245119. "Hatch Still Concerned About New START." Happening Now. Fox News: 18 Nov 2010. Television. 18 Nov 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/happening-now/index.html#/v/4425090/hatch-still-concerned-about-new-start/?playlist_id=86919. "Guantanamo Detainee Acquitted on all but 1 Charge." All Things Considered. NPR: 17 Nov 2010. Radio. 18 Nov 2010. http://www.npr.org/2010/11/17/131399089/guantanamo-detainee-acquitted-of-all-but-1-charge. "Terrorism Verdict Complicates Issue of Detainee Trials." Morning Edition. NPR: 18 Nov 2010. Radio. 18 Nov 2010. http://www.npr.org/2010/11/18/131409750/terrorism-verdict-casts-doubt-on-white-house-strategy.