Obama Names Critics Of Bush Terror Tactics To Key Justice Jobs

McClatchy Washington Bureau :

WASHINGTON -- In filling four senior Justice Department positions Monday, President-elect Barack Obama signaled that he intends to roll back Bush administration counter-terrorism policies authorizing harsh interrogation techniques, warrantless spying and indefinite detentions of terrorism suspects.

The most startling shift was Obama's pick of Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen to take charge of the Office of Legal Counsel, the unit that's churned out the legal opinions that provided a foundation for expanding President George W. Bush's national security powers.

Read the whole story: McClatchy Washington Bureau

Comments

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

It's a sin there are only 34 comments on this issues.

This is exactly what progressive wanted and everyone is silent.

[jsgaetano]

The only bad thing about the announcement... not the appointments... is that it tips Obama's hand too soon. Now Bush will definitely know accountability could be on the horizon, and start passing the pardons around.

Had Obama made it seem like Bush was getting a free ride, he may have waited for a Nixonian post-office pardon. You know, "for the healing".

[scooterdog]

The article said the Republican lawyers who were imbedded in the Justice Dept. will have to be reassigned so they don't have any influence. Good idea. Maybe they can take out the trash, clean the bathrooms...

[Helzapoppin]

good. now PROSECUTE the f***ers

[JBryan]

It is terrific that he is appointing people who denounce torture. It is wonderful that we can once again say to the world we do not torture. All of this is good as far as it goes, but until those persons, who planned, directed, ordered and participated in torture and other war crimes are held accountable in a court of law, we will forever be seen as a Nation who condones such things.

Without punishment for these crimes, why should the world believe that our nation would not commit such atrocities again? Without accountability the world would always fear that we might foolishly elect another administration lacking integrity and honor.

If President Elect Obama is to restore our standing in the world as he has said he would, this administration must investigate and prosecute any and all war crimes committed in our name. We who elected him must do everything in our power to see that he does.

[BeasleysMom]

It is grand. Those of you old enough might notice how it feels like America once again. It has been so long.

[weatherwaxx]

Yes.... appoint people who had the COURAGE to speak up when Bush was in power -- not the sycophants flocking to whoever looks like a winner.

God, it's nice to have somebody at the helm who's got an IQ bigger than his shoe size!

[jan4insight]

Terrific! I especially like that Obama spoke directly about the judicial travesties of the Bush regime. Time to tell it like it is!

Along with Franken's win, and that Coluter-person's cancelling, this is the best news of the day!

[ReportThis]

The best part of this story is the mention that Alberto Gonzalez still hasn't found a job since his Sept. 2007 resignation. hahahahahaha

[Pauper]

I thought he was greeting people at the door of our local Walmart.........

[Saganslegacy]

No,

was denied on grounds of his earlier government employment: not sincere enough.

[weatherwaxx]

Couldn't pass the lie-detector test.

[ManyColored]

These seem like good choices; I'm still very unhappy with Holder's stated position that he does not believe in independent oversight of the Justice Department. That is dangerous thinking.

[dakotaharp]

Right on O.

[texasrodeoqueen]

YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!

[eremite]

Ther terrorists and their supporters are celebrating.

[jdmccl]

Stock up on guns and ammo anarchy is coming.

[anewdayinDC]

Please do not write such things. You make me wince.

Sort of like watching a car wreck with strewn mutilated bodies scattered about.

[BabsfromKansas]

Elena Kagan will make an excellent SG -- anybody who can organize the Harvard Law faculty through a overhaul of the first-year curriculum and a major new construction project is a force to be reckoned with. The Dawn Johnson nomination is pretty exciting, too; nice to see some American Constitution Society members in high-ranking positions.

[Bitsko]

No difference between the two political parties? Not hardly.