A decision by The Associated Press to release a photo of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard in his final moments of life has sparked widespread controversy and a harsh rebuke from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The 21-year-old Marine died Aug. 14 in Afghanistan.

Warning: This Gallery Contains The Graphic Image In Question. Some People May Be Offended.

Due to their decision to release a graphic photo of a dying Marine, the Associated Press (AP) has come under fire. Many including the Defense Secretary Robert Gates have criticized the AP for them releasing the image that has since been known as the Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard dying photo.

In the photo taken while under enemy fire, AP photographer Julie Jacobson captured the image just seconds after Bernard was hit with a grenade in his legs. The image shows two of Bernard's fellow Marines over his bleeding body helping him. The photograph does show a puddle of blood and that is one of the main reasons behind the criticism for the release of the image.

AP is also being highly criticized since they decided to release the dying Marine photo even after Bernard's father asked them not to. A retired Marine himself, John Bernard asked that the image of his son dying on the battlefield be released after seeing the photographs by representatives from the AP.

More evidence that the smug Cheneys are talking out of their ample bums in what I can only presume is a preemptive effort to derail prosecution of Mr. Cheney for war crimes.

Todays' column by Ali Soufan, a former FBI Special Agent, tells us that, according to newly released memos, one from 2004 , one from 2005, and a 2004 IG report tells us what we've always known - that both Cheneys are desperately spreading bullshit.

"The inspector general’s report distinguishes between intelligence gained from regular interrogation and from the harsher methods, which culminate in waterboarding. While the former produces useful intelligence, according to the report, the latter “is a more subjective process and not without concern.”

And far from making us safer, as the soulless supporters of torture contend, Mr. Soufan says,

"It is surprising, as the eighth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, that none of Al Qaeda’s top leadership is in our custody. One damaging consequence of the harsh interrogation program was that the expert interrogators whose skills were deemed unnecessary to the new methods were forced out."

Still Dick "Dick" Cheney goes on Fox News to be interviewed by a fawning Chris Wallace.

Andrew Sullivan compared the interview to "a teenage girl interviewing the Jonas Brothers," and gave us a few examples of Chris Wallace's hard-hitting questions:

"Republicans have made the charge before, do you think Democrats are soft on National Security?"

And this:

"So even these cases where they went beyond the specific legal authorization, you're OK with it?"

To which Cheney says yes. If he's ever on the witness stand at the Hague, he might want to reconsider that answer.

Sullivan points out two of his favorite moments. Here's mine:

WALLACE: Well, we want to thank you for talking with us and including in your private life putting up with an interview from the likes of me.

CHENEY: It's all right. I enjoy your show, Chris.

WALLACE: Thank you very much, and all the best sir.

I was surprised that Wallace could even ask questions with Mr. Cheney's member so far down his throat. But we're used to this Cheney-fellating from Fox News.

What's more galling is Liz Cheney's unchallenged defense of her father on CNN and MSNBC where she is a frequent guest. On those rare occasions when another guest has the effrontery to dispute her bullshit, her debate style, like so much of the rabid right these days, is limited to rudeness. She shouts, she interrupts and she tells bald-faced lies without a qualm.

All in the defense of her father's war crimes, crimes that not only did nothing to protect us but, in the opinion of men like Mr. Soufan, made us less safe than before.

For those who really want to understand what works and what doesn't work, or who want to know more about what's been done in your name, here are some helpful links:

Mark Bowden's The Dark Art of Interrogation, follow-up Lessons of Abu Ghraib,and The Ploy, a piece on how traditional interrogation methods helped locate and kill Zarqawi.

Finally, Stephen Budiansky's Truth Extraction, about a WWII Marine interrogator of Japanese POWs who concluded, "The successful interrogators all had one thing in common in the way they approached their subjects. They were nice to them."