Obama Keeps Prosecutions on the Table

[one...two...tree 2,762]

During a press availability Jordan's King Abdullah, President Obama fielded a couple of questions about possible sanctions against Bush administration officials who wrote torture memos. The president went a little further than Rahm Emanuel and Robert Gibbs were prepared to go.

President Obama suggested today that it remained a possibility that the Justice Department might bring charges against officials of the Bush administration who devised harsh interrogation policies that some see as torture.

He also suggested that if there is any sort of investigation into these past policies and practices, he would be more inclined to support an independent commission outside the typical congressional hearing process. [...]

Calling the Bush-era memos providing legal justifications for enhanced interrogation methods "reflected us losing our moral bearings," the president said that he did not think it was "appropriate" to prosecute those CIA officers who "carried out some of these operations within the four corners of the legal opinions or guidance that had been provided by the White House."

But in clear change from language he and members of his administration have used in the past, the president said that "with respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General within the parameters of various laws and I don't want to prejudge that."

Obama added that he believes it would be "more sensible" if there were some kind of independent commission on this, "outside of the typical hearing" process.

The president reiterated his sense that "we should be looking forward and not backwards," but given that this was the first time Obama publicly expressed at least tacit support for a probe into the activities of high-ranking Bush administration officials, this can be seen as a step in the right direction.

Think Progress, which has video of the president's remarks this morning, added that Obama's comments seem to effectively put "the ball in Holder's court." And if the A.G. follows the vision he outlined during his confirmation hearings, Holder may conclude he has no choice but to pursue this matter.

Update: Here's a transcript of Obama's comments this morning.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[mawilson 2,133]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

That's why you British lost.

[Niels Bohr 72]

If I am caught and they have linked me to a terrorist organization with falsified evidence, I would be dam pissed if they arrested me refusing my rights. And refuse my plea for an attorney. It's not uncommon with officials play bad cop good cop. For example, tricking suspects that they have evidence against you.

Edited April 21, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[mawilson 2,133]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

That's why you British lost.

That's why we lost what?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

I agree.

[SMOKE 1,426]

oh goody! more stupid sh!t to waste money on.

yesterday 'no cia operatives will face charges'

today 'open to prosecution of Bush administration officials'

how many do you think will do time?....not a damn one. how much is it going to cost?.....idk a couple million?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

oh goody! more stupid sh!t to waste money on.

yesterday 'no cia operatives will face charges'

today 'open to prosecution of Bush administration officials'

how many do you think will do time?....not a damn one. how much is it going to cost?.....idk a couple million?

Its just a distraction, while they pilfer your wallet.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

That's why you British lost.

That's why we lost what?

Your moral compass.

[mawilson 2,133]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

That's why you British lost.

That's why we lost what?

Your moral compass.

This guy?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Maybe he should go after the terrorists instead of the people who tried to make America safer.

Sorry, but if a terrorist is captured with a WMD, I want Jack Bauer to be there with a blowtorch,

not civilian lawyers with Miranda rights.

That's why you British lost.

That's why we lost what?

Your moral compass.

This guy?

LOL...that's him. The one with the shifty eyes.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Good one.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Obama is turning the US into a banana republic. This is the kind of sh!t junta leaders do to the regime they overthrew. I can't say what else I'm thinking.

[rebeccajo 14]

Obama is turning the US into a banana republic. This is the kind of sh!t junta leaders do to the regime they overthrew. I can't say what else I'm thinking.

Really? What's stopping you this time?

[mawilson 2,133]

Obama is turning the US into a banana republic. This is the kind of sh!t junta leaders do to the regime they overthrew. I can't say what else I'm thinking.

Really? What's stopping you this time?

She's afraid you'll move all her threads to Regional Discussion -> Subforums -> Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia) -> Asia -> Central Asia -> Kyrgyzstan.