Obama Open to Prosecution of Officials Who Cleared Interrogation Tactics

Foxnews.com ^ | 04/21/09 | uncredited

[Big_Monkey]

President Obama left open the door Tuesday for charges to be brought against Bush administration lawyers who justified harsh interrogation techniques, though he continued to argue that CIA agents who used those tactics should not be prosecuted.

The president showed wiggle room on the issue as he faces calls from Democratic lawmakers and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union to support such charges. Asked about the possibility of prosecution related to the interrogation program, the president deferred to Attorney General Eric Holder.

"With respect to those who formulate those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws," Obama said. "And I don't want to prejudge that. ... There are a host of very complicated issues involved there."

[Big_Monkey]

Here it comes - the start of a two or three year criminal investigation into all things Bush.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

PING!!!!

[beebuster2000]

i dont get how rendering a legal decision can be a crime. isnt that what lawyers do?

this sounds like barack waffling, nothing gonna happen. we arent that nuts. yet.

[TYVets]

0bama starts to build Jamie Gorelick Wall II.

Another stupid move that endangers Americans.

[Matt Hatter]

This is an extremely treacherous road that Obama is traveling. Exposing national intelligence does not seem like something a president has ever done.

Notice the “treated like a Rock Star” statements that the media used in reference to Obama’s appearance at the CIA? Look closely at the crowd. It looked like a bunch of secretaries, low level employees, and general Obama supporters.

Please...treated like a rock star? Can you imagine the seething anger the agents must feel right now?

[Oldexpat]

Banana Republic. Prosecute and persecute your political enemies. If Zero tries to prosecute members of our armed forces and the Bush adminstration it could lead to the revolution that none of us want.

[SJackson]

I don’t know how you prosecute a lawyer for what at worst would have been bad judgement. But it might be fun to prosecute OJ’s lawyers.

[RobbyS]

Revolution? There's one underway right now. A revolution from above.

[pepsionice]

Politically...if you were a democratic representative or senator in the south...you’d really start to count up how much support you have in 2010’s elections at this point. If the Bush prosecutions go forward...your support starts to erode. This is problem number one.

Second, four months ago...there was a small discussion over powers that Bush has after he leaves office. If anyone tried to frame any member of the upper level of the Bush administration...then Bush could come out and say it was fully approved by him...thus forcing the attorney general to consider just how far he was really willing to play this game. The legal discussion then went to say that he had the power as president to assume responsibility, and that the AG could not touch Bush (even today). This would take an impeachment process to take on a ex-president...as was laid out in this discussion. There isn’t anything written into the constitution over this...but whatever happens on your watch...is your presidential action...and not that of the current president to toss into court over.

Third and final...there is this huge 400-lb guerrilla sitting there. If you start a process like this...and any 9-11 event occurs, then the public starts to question your wit and ability to corner the terrorists. If Obama feels charmed presently and confident of no 9-11 crisis period...he might go for the option. But he’s totally finished as an effective leader if another 9-11 occurs during this chase-down of Bush.

[skeeter]

Release ALL of the related documents, you POS. INCLUDING the lives saved by use of these techniques.

[nathanbedford]

The Damage Has Already Been Done.

Just as our operatives in the CIA have been intimidated by the inexcusable threats of the Obama administration, subsequently withdrawn, to prosecute CIA operatives, so now everyone who sets his hand to put pen to paper to render a legal opinion or simply a policy memorandum will hesitate to touch the pen to paper.

The liberals always loved to talk about the "chilling effect" upon free speech of a policy they do not like. Now they have become masters of the art. The Democrats have always tended to criminalize policy differences. Now Obama has one more tool to keep his administration under control.

There is literally nothing this man has done in office which is incongruent with a radical Marxist seeking due aggrandize personal power and irretrievably break our democracy.

[Big_Monkey]

"don’t know how you prosecute a lawyer for what at worst would have been bad judgement.

When you think of it, it really stunning and sobering that this is even being entertained. As you point out, these are bar-certified, well respected attorneys that did what they were charged with doing; rendering legal opinions.

I'm stunned. I can't recall anything similar in the history of the republic.

[MantillaMilitant]

When there is a 9-11 type crisis, it will be pinned on ‘right wing extremists.’

[CutePuppy]

"open to..." in Obama-speak means nothing is really going to happen, but it's necessary to placate the liberal nut "base". In other words, push the can down the road until it's forgotten or needed to be reminded to flame the fires again when the polls tank even more.

Really acting on this "threat" would be idiotic for many reasons, not the least of them would be the legal nightmare it will cause them and the fact that it could eventually backfire be used against him and "his people" - same reasons that Clinton was "generally for" International Court, but in reality he was not because it could endanger himself and his gang.

So, all talk for the crazed base, but no action should be expected outcome. Or, as they say in Texas, All hat, no cattle.

[Gator113]

They are playing with fire.

This reckless abuse of power needs to be stopped by 10 of millions of patriots making it clear that this game is over.

They can lockup 10’s of thousands of us, but millions of very pissed of Americans can make them a deal that they can not refuse. The Tea Party’s are a very good step and I hope they work, yet I am doubtful that it will be enough to turn these arrogant traitors around.

[MrB]

Banana Republic. Prosecute and persecute your political enemies.

Actually, this is typical of all collectivists worldwide, throughout history.

I assert that the left at this time is trying to corner everyone that disagrees with them with the intent of forcing some action that justifies interning them or murdering them.

[MrB]

“The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.” Karl Marx

[MrB]

That’s exactly what they want to happen - to justify the murder of their political enemies under color of and legitimized by defending the duly elected government.

[Gator113]

That could very well be the beginning of the end of this craziness.

[San Jacinto]

I don't think he has quite decided to go ahead and try to indict Cheney, Gonzales and others, but I think he would like to in order to please his hard core base. Whether it goes forward or not apparently depends on obama finding 2 or 3 RINO's to provide the dim attack dogs with cover for a "bi-partisan" commission. It shouldn't be too hard to find them. The only thing that would stop it would be if obama feared of political backlash, and he knows the press would cover him and support him as a brave hero.

Frankly, it might be good if he went full bore on this. There has to come a time when a clear line has to be drawn in the sand and people have to decide which side they are on. I say let's get it on.