Obama refuses to stop torture investigations

[kpete]

Source: Earth Times

Washington - US President Barack Obama rejected on Sunday a request by several former heads of the country's intelligence community to end investigations into the alleged torture of terrorist suspects. Speaking to US broadcaster CNN, Obama said in rejecting the request that no one was above the law.

In addition the US president said that it was not entitled to interfere in an active investigation by justice officials.

The statement came in reference to a letter by seven former heads of the US Central Intelligence Agency to end inquiries into alleged abuse of terrorist suspects allowed under the administration of Obama predecessor George W Bush.

According to the CIA former chiefs, the investigation threatened to interfere with the effective anti-terrorism efforts by the agency and damage the security of the country.





Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/286473,united-s...

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more links:
http://www.kxmc.com/News/439832.asp
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article...

Associated Press:
CIA interrogations:
He does not plan to ask the Justice Department to end its criminal investigation into the harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists during the Bush administration. Seven former CIA directors have asked him to do just that.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_y8a...

Reuters:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama shrugged off a request by seven former CIA chiefs to end a probe into allegations of prisoner abuse, saying in an interview released on Sunday that "nobody's above the law."
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-42584...

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Oct8HobvU&feature=play...

[polichick]

1. Great answer! k&r nt

[Divine Discontent]

50. It's not only great - but George W B*sh agrees 100% ----

because he said this to the Iraqis in 2003 -

'"War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, “I was just following orders.”'


So, clearly, he agrees with President Obama.

[Arkana]

2. That's a good answer.

[Turbineguy]

3. The investigation will damage the CIA

somewhat. But it will definitely lead to evidence against those higher up in the food chain. I think that's why Poppy Bush did not sign on. If he had, it would have reduced the chances of an end to the investigation, slim as it was.

We will also find out just how many in the CIA were wary of the Bush administration's interference in their business.

After the CIA we can move to the Defense Dept.

These are mostly people who pledge to protect the Country and the Constitution and are smart enough to know that Presidents come and go.

[grahamhgreen]

26. The Bush torture policies damaged the CIA - this can clear them.

[Turbineguy]

36. Thank you.

Actually, that's what I meant.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

59. Yes. I completely agree!!!

Responsibility will be placed squarely where it should be.

There will be backlash but it will not be from the whole of the CIA, only those who breached their oathes,...I guarantee ya' that!!!!

[Soylent Brice]

65. powerful statement. speaks truth.

[Bucky]

42. It will punish criminals and get them out of government service.

[Twist_U_Up]

49. 9/11/01 damaged the CIA

just sayin

[katkat]

76. damage the CIA?

This reminds me of the Dave Barry line, The CIA, proudly overthrowing Fidel Castro since 1962.

Or, let's see, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Iran. How's that working for ya?

Or the assassination attempts against Qaddhafi when he was originally neutral.

[dreyer]

4. Effective?????

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, interfere with effective CIA efforts? I thought that was the whole issue? They are NOT effective (weapons of mass destruction and all that, and not calling out the bush lies), AND operate illegally. Sounds like the bush administration (but add destructive). They want a bail out like the banks, too big to fail. How much insult must go on after the eight years of the two stolen elections and illegal regime of bushco. The bank robbers don't want an investigation (of course) we might find all the stolen items.

[givemebackmycountry]

16. Welcome to DU dreyer!

Have fun and post often.

[Indenturedebtor]

29. Welcome and +1 - the inter and extragovernmental good old boys network needs to end

There are far too many powerful groups conspiring against the public.

[Xipe Totec]

35. +2 n/t

[ZombieHorde]

5. I made a poll about this thread.

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

[appamado amata padam]

6. BARACK ON!!!

[Indigent]

7. Obama cannot stop torture investigations. It's the responsibility of another branch

There are 3 branches of Government. And the judicial branch decided to investigate. The executive must sit and watch. Even if Obama wanted to stop it, he couldn't.

[No Elephants]

9. The Department of Justice is in the Executive Branch. Only federal ourts are in the Judicial Branch.

[totodeinhere]

10. You are wrong.

It is the executive branch that is doing the investigating. The investigation was initiated by Attorney General Holder who as a cabinet member is part of the executive branch, not the judicial.

[Indigent]

12. Oh. I see

I thought it was in the other branch. Thnxs

[Usrename]

70. You sort of have a point though.

What the former CIA heads asked the President to do is illegal.

They asked him, in no uncertain terms, to willfully obstruct justice.



I'm glad he turned them down.

[Joe Chi Minh]

30. I didn't realise that.

[No Elephants]

81. The poster was mistaken.

[DCKit]

51. He might, but that would make him no better than BushCO*.

If only a handful of these agencies had stood up the Cheney/Bush* and said "You don't have that authority" we'd be living in a very different country right now.

Unfortunately, too many were more concerned for their jobs than our Democracy or the law.

[Titonwan]

8. WHEW!

It's about damned time, isn't is? FINALLY Barack seems to be growing a pair. Now watch them try to make a fake 9/11 commission crap sandwich out of this and find no one guilty.

[subcomhd]

53. It's a DOJ investigation - quite a different animal than a blue ribbon commission. nt

[No Elephants]

83. Male genitalia does not = courage. Welcome, though.

[No Elephants]

11. Good for Obama! K & R

We don't want people who work for the CIA doing things they know are illegal. I am sure most of them knew the stuff in the lawyer memos was bs. We seem to be stuck with whatever was in those memos. But, if they exceeded even what the memos permitted, what the hell is their excuse?

Meanwhile, impeach Bybee.

[Wounded Bear]

13. If our intelligence agencies were so effective...how did 9/11 happen?

Just asking.

[gateley]

24. I would love to have that question asked, point blank like you

just did, to those who are trying to stop this.

[DCKit]

52. "THEY ARE HERE!" was too vague a warning for the last bunch. n/t

[provis99]

69. the CIA predicted bin Laden would strike, a month before 911.

The CIA was accurate; Bush was criminally negligent in listening to their warnings.

[No Elephants]

82. Bill Clinton predicted it too, though, and much sooner. By August 2001, there was enough specific

evidence around to do a lot more than make a prediction that vague and general, like tips about flight school students who said they didn't need to learn how to land.

The CIA and the FBI did not process reports and tips they were receiving fast enough and they did not share with each other, or with anyone else. That is supposedly why Homeland Security was formed. And let's not even talk about two years' worth of untranslated intercepted phone conversations that were lying around on 911. I don't think anyone in our intelligence community has much to brag about regarding 911. (Or WMD in Iraq, but that's another story.)

Our entire government was lax. We knew about terrorists attacking our embassies and our ship, hijacking planes and even a cruise ship, yet we did not even do something as simple as secure the pilot's cabin, or worry about box cutters and ceramic knives, until after 911.

[bhikkhu]

14. "Nobody is above the law"

That's about all he had to say. He hasn't always done as I would have wished in this area, but this was a good statement.

[gateley]

25. Your'e right - he doesn't have to say anything further on it - who could

argue with that?

[Ready4Change]

37. +1

.

[Piewhacket]

15. You are doing a dangerous "dance" Barak. There is no "middleground" on this issue.

[GodlyDemocrat]

17. He said no one is above the law ... how is that a dangerous dance

[grantcart]

19. The poster is suggesting that there are other more senior officials

of the Bush/Cheney administration who have been considered "above the law" and should be investigated if that standard is to be used, hence "no middle ground".

[midnight]

47. Exactly! I think Ms. Edmonds makes a good point for how

illegal wire tapping was used for bribery. We need to end that practice and prosecute those involved in that scheme.

[intaglio]

18. Obama is reversing Bush

The idea that Dubya tried to sell was the Unitary Executive; President Obama has exactly reversed this. Instead of ordering investigations he has left it to the responsible branch of the executive.

[Joe Chi Minh]

20. And so many DUers doubted his courage for the fray; probably, myself included.

May his name be be true.

A priest friend of ours said he once had an extraordinary escape from a car accident, and was told by an old French Foreign Legion padre who visited him each year, that he had what they called, the "baraka".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barakah

[twitomy]

21. Good On Him

Sunshine is a great disinfectant...

[Overseas]

22. K&R. //nt

[Swede Atlanta]

23. Let's hope the sticks with this position......

It is clear that all of the signatories to the letter have something to hide. They know that if this investigation starts to uncover the crimes committed under former administrations they could be at legal risk.

[gateley]

27. K&R -- good for him and good for those who instigated the investigation. nt

[BOG PERSON]

28. Also refuses to stop torture.

It must be lonely at the top.

[Lochloosa]

31. Really?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28574408 /


updated 4:39 p.m. ET, Fri., Jan. 9, 2009
WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama said Friday his administration would not compromise its ideals to fight terrorism, adding at a press conference to announce his CIA and national intelligence nominees that he has told them to honor the Geneva Conventions.

"I was clear throughout this campaign and was clear throughout this transition that under my administration the United States does not torture," Obama said, when asked at the news conference whether he would continue the Bush administration's policy of harsh interrogation. "We will abide by the Geneva Conventions. We will uphold our highest ideals."

[BOG PERSON]

32. Don't be so naive

[DutchLiberal]

57. It's now being outsourced to shady Middle Eastern countries...

Just like it was under Clinton. It's called "extraordinary rendition" and Obama is continuing it.

[Zhade]

66. Uh, as we've seen, his talk is cheap.

Check the date on your argument.

You lose.

[alp227]

33. Another reason why it was good he won

Otherwise, would McCain have even bothered to allow a snippet of investigations? NO. Hence Biden's catchphrase about McCain from last year's DNC: "That's not change, that's more of the same!"

[samsingh]

34. good for him

[humbled_opinion]

38. The Bush Loyalists will try t o do anything to stop this.

Watch for more intense attacks on Obama and Holder....

[buckrogers1965]

39. Finally a difference

Between Bush and Obama.

[pleah]

40. K& R

[Bucky]

41. There goes Obama, once again failing to politicize a national security issue.

[mod mom]

43. If we don't do it then the world will and we will look worse. Crimes deserve justice!

[Fire1]

44. Well well well. would you look at that. One more item to

cross off the "NOT DONE" list. Once again, egg on face for naysayers!

[defendandprotect]

45. OBAMA .... Thank you!! and A HUG . . . !!! Sensational . . .!!!

[AlbertCat]

46. Who the FUCK thinks the Prez should just stop any investigation????????

This Bush era mentality has got to stop....from both parties. Cheezus!

[Deja Q]

48. W00t!!

+1

[Clintonista2]

54. Thank you prez Obama! Proud to K&R

[gtar100]

55. Good.

[DutchLiberal]

56. No one is above the law... Except of course Bush, and Cheney, and Rumsfeld, and Rice, and...

Oh, the list is endless!

[Wizard777]

58. I hope he will take this investigation all the way.

[HappyCynic]

60. K & R

[krispos42]

61. Yay! n/t

[JBoy]

62. The "dog bites man" headline of this OP shows how fucked up things are.

The fact that the President of the United States does not want to interfere with investigations into torture should never be a headline.

It should be right up there with "President does not want to stop search for serial killer".

[ooglymoogly]

77. In a nutshell. Good post. nt

[lyonspotter]

63. Talk's cheap. NT

[wordpix]

64. that's my president! k&r

[unkachuck]

67. K&R....n/t

[Kermitt Gribble]

68. Great news! K&R!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

71. awesome

dare we believe in hope?

[Imagevision]

72. whoo-hoo...! Hey Porter Goss whatcha think about them apples fucking bubbah!!!

[Mosaic]

73. Obama is like ketchup

Slow moving but hopefully fulfilling the needs of the citizens to bring war criminals to justice.

[Apollo11]

74. President Obama: "nobody is above the law"

JOHN KING: Seven former directors of central intelligence have sent you a letter saying, please invoke your authority to stop the attorney general's investigation of the Bush-era interrogation tactics. Will you do that?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, first of all, I respect all seven of them. And as importantly or more importantly, I have absolute respect and have reliance upon a robust CIA.

And I've said before, I want to look forward and not backwards on this issue. On the other hand, I've also said nobody is above the law. And I don't want to start getting into the business of squelching, you know, investigations that are being conducted.

Now, it's not a criminal investigation as yet, my understanding. I trust career prosecutors to be judicious. I've made clear both publicly and privately that I have no interest in witch hunts. But, ultimately, the law is the law, and we don't go around sort of picking and choosing how we approach it.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0909/20/sotu.01....

[katkat]

75. Headline?

I think maybe you should edit your Subject to say Obama refuses to stop investigations of torture.

Otherwise, every time I see it I read Obama refuses to stop torture. Which of course, is also the case.

[SusanaMontana41]

78. A president who follows the law! Whoulda thunk it?

My only quibble is that he should have said it months ago.

[bobthedrummer]

79. K+ "CIA Torturers Running Scared" by Ray McGovern (9-21-09 Truthout)

http://www.truthout.org/092109C?n

The Torture Archive (8-25-09 The National Security Archive)
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/torture_archive/index.htm

[Vidar]

80. God for Obama.