Obama Wavering on CIA Memos-Top Officials at Odds Over Whether to Withhold Some Details

[kpete]

Source: Wall Street Journal

* APRIL 15, 2009

Obama Wavering on CIA Memos
Top Officials at Odds Over Whether to Withhold Some Details on Interrogation

By EVAN PEREZ and SIOBHAN GORMAN

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is leaning toward keeping secret some graphic details of tactics allowed in Central Intelligence Agency interrogations, despite a push by some top officials to make the information public, according to people familiar with the discussions.

These people cautioned that President Barack Obama is still reviewing internal arguments over the release of Justice Department memorandums related to CIA interrogations, and how much information will be made public is in flux.

Among the details in the still-classified memos is approval for a technique in which a prisoner's head could be struck against a wall as long as the head was being held and the force of the blow was controlled by the interrogator, according to people familiar with the memos. Another approved tactic was waterboarding, or simulated drowning.

A decision to keep secret key parts of the three 2005 memos outlining legal guidance on CIA interrogations would anger some Obama supporters who have pushed him to unveil now-abandoned Bush-era tactics. It would also go against the views of Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Counsel Greg Craig, people familiar with the matter said.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975168816518691.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. If it was all "LEGAL", then there is NO REASON whatsofuckingever to keep it hidden

in the shadows.

SHOW IT ALL.

How can we prevent such atrocities happening again if we don't face up to the atrocities that were done?

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Release it all, president Obama. Time to let it all be known. For our future.

[rpannier]

3. Among the details in the still-classified memos is approval for a technique...

Sounds like it's no longer a secret -- if it happened.

If it didn't happen, best to get it all out now so people know what did and didn't happen

It's unpleasant and embarrassing to hear, but they need to come clean.

It doesn't require them to out covert agents, it doesn't require them to release info about how close we are to capturing high ranking members of Al-Qaeda.

[JDPriestly]

13. It isn't a secret. It was published in the Red Cross report.

If it isn't a secret, and it isn't, there is not reason to refuse to publish the memos. The American people, especially those in the religious right, need to know what they are defending when they defend the Bush administration.

[Metta]

4. Don't give in, O. You ran on transparency. Think of the greater good.

and remember your karma.

[kas125]

5. Don't these people work for us? If they do, then why are

they even allowed to have secrets??

[jimlup]

6. There is a whole lot of stuff I'd like to see

in addition to the so called CIA torture memos.

[mzmolly]

7. Given he's trying to repair relations with the rest of the world,

I can understand some trepidation. Perhaps he could set a time limit and say in X years we'll reveal a full account?

[JDPriestly]

14. The rest of the world already knows this. He is hiding it from the

American people, and only from the American people. The victims of the torture have been speaking out and have been heard in other parts of the world.

[mzmolly]

23. Well

you may have a point there. However I don't think the Presidents goal is to hide anything from the American people. I think it's more about determining when to release such information and what happens next?

[EFerrari]

26. The timing has to be important for his administration given

every other part of the Bush mess from hell that they're dealing with.

It doesn't look good for them, though, not to get out ahead of these reports.

[JDPriestly]

29. I think Obama has made a deal with the criminals from the Bush

administration. The fix is in. The tape of Armitage on Al Jazeera English is enlightening. Armitage, in my opinion, is lying and acting like a real sleaze who has made a deal and is getting by with something. Armitage is a key person to watch. I think he took the rap and got off on the Valery Plame thing. He is some sort of enforcer for someone in my opinion.

Here is the link to the Armitage interview. Do you think he is lying and covering up? Watch is gestures:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/15/richard-armita...

[mzmolly]

31. Doesn't appear that way?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[chill_wind]

8. Spain has already figured out

what this govt bizarrely thinks it can continue to avoid: the growing world-wide recognized fact that we are willfully harboring and protecting heinous war criminals.

[Skittles]

10. you got that right

[grahamhgreen]

9. Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth - Albert Einstein

[Mari333]

28. amen nt

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. I'm going to start by considering the source

particularly since it's Murdoch's coup baby.

[JDPriestly]

12. Obama is too much of an appeaser. I'm afraid that the criticism of him

in that regard is somewhat true -- when it comes to the wealthy and influential criminals -- not when it comes to ordinary criminals.

[EFerrari]

15. That's censorship. Will someone please explain to me why the Executive

has that privilege? How does that work in a nominal democracy?

[Solly Mack]

16. Snort

[Zhade]

25. Yeah, at this point all I can do is laugh. It keeps me from screaming.

NT!

[Solly Mack]

27. That was contempt actually

Though I have been known to give a little snort while laughing.

[pfitz59]

17. If he releases the info.....

disclosing criminality he'll be forced to act against the perpatrators. I say go for it! Time for an open discussion of crimes of the past 8 years! Purge government and prosecute the perps!

[kpete]

18. from the article:

(it's not the description of water-boarding that the CIA wants to hide. It's the description of how the CIA threw people against the wall.)

Among the details in the still-classified memos is approval for a technique in which a prisoner's head could be struck against a wall as long as the head was being held and the force of the blow was controlled by the interrogator, according to people familiar with the memos.

[Javaman]

19. I seriously doubt we will see an nth of the total amount of information

otherwise it would kick the door open to prosecutions. not only would the evil fuckers* be held but quite a number of congress critters as well.

Obama and those in power are riding the fine line of keeping power and doing the right thing. The problem is, one can't only do the right thing in a limited amount. you either do or you don't.

So much bad to go around.

[bdamomma]

20. Just release the information enough with the secrecy.

[Vidar]

21. Release it all!

[FedUpWithIt All]

22. bush said he was not worried about his legacy. I am fairly certain Obama is. Do the right thing.

The only way to make amends for the wrongs we committed as a nation is to come clean and then implement change. He needs to release it all and allow us to begin to cleanse ourselves of it.

[bvar22]

24. Transparency you can believe in.

[w4rma]

30. Just release it all and let the chips fall where they may.

The people that didn't do wrong won't have anything to fear. The people who did should be replaced - especially in this economy.