E-Mails Show How Cheney Forced DOJ Lawyers To Approve Torture

The Washington Post:

Three newly-disclosed Justice Department e-mails thoroughly vindicate the most cynical suspicions about how former vice president Dick Cheney bent ostensibly independent Justice Department lawyers to his will and forced them to manufacture legal cover for his torture policies.

The e-mails, which date back to a 2005 re-evaluation of interrogation policies, were written by then-deputy attorney general James Comey. They reveal Cheney's extraordinary influence over then-attorney general Alberto Gonzales and key lieutenants -- including top officials in the department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC).

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

Comments

[ThankGodhesgone]

How much more evidence is needed to bring him up on charges?

[KCFreedom]

Apparently it doesn't matter. Not even to Democrats.

[CigarGod]

The hounds have him running...­..

[felisa11]

Condoleezza] Rice was not interested in discussing details and that her attitude was that if DOJ said it was legal and CIA said it was effective, then that ended it, without a need for detailed policy discussion,"

So when condi says she was merely passing on the President's orders, she was out and out lying.

Maybe if Condi was arrested, then she would start talking.

[brandnewstuff]

Fugazi- Waiting Room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTWSSCYUD4E

still waiting- for the OPR report - The worse is yet to come- hold your breathe and your nose

[graceland9]

Thank you, Washington Post, for running this article. More of the same, plese. And thank you, HP, for bringing it to my attention.

[banker67]

Bent the DOJ to his will? Hardly.
Like too many Washington appointees, status, career, self-aggrandizement and promises of a seven-figure retirement in 'private industry' make it (still) unecessary to 'bend anyone" to anyone's will.
Undoubtedly, Cheney approved the appointments of all DOJ top officials. Those who might stand up for the rule of law, much less the Constitution, were never considered; those already in place were summarily fired with nary a whimper from our corporate TV or newspaper outlets.
Spineless weasels like Gonzales and the hundreds of attorneys fell all over themselves reassuring Cheney and the Bonehead-in-Chief that EVERYthing they wanted was legal. And of course, if your attorney says it's legal, it must be. Who doubts a lawyer's word?
And who cares if this is exactly the 'legality' that protected Hitler's every homicidal whim? Did Hitler ever violate a law of his country?
Nor will the GOP appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court tell Dick that arrest without cause or evidence, torture without reason, execution without trial could POSSIBLY violate the U.S. Constitution. Heaven forfend!
To further their careers and maintain a socio-political status light years beyond their intellect or capabilities, lawyers by the thousands beg for just for one chance to ANTICIPATE the least murderous whim of Cheney and his ilk.
Show me a single Cheney henchman who is not now a millionaire, if not a multi-millionaire many times over. Just one would suffice.
BB in NY

[CherokeeGirl]

so, he didn't bend them to his will, he hired the "yes men" and fired the ones who questioned.

[Appleton]

I believe that the role of David Addington in what is increasingly taking on the appearance of a conspiracy has been overlooked. He was Mr. Cheney's strong arm with the DOJ. Once the dust settles, I anticipate that Mr. Addington will prove to have been a much more prominent player in this drama than has been hitherto acknowledged.

[thepoliticalcat]

Never forget that Cheney's right-hand devil was David Addington. I'm glad to hear he's on the list of potential arrestees.

[peacegurl48]

Here's Adolf Hitler's take: "In starting and waging a war," he argued, "it is not right that matters, but victory."

Eerily similar. I truly hope that Cheney si prosecuted.

[ebanks84]

Chainey and H i t ler might as well had been brothers. The preach the same ideology!

[mmgbizgirl]

Shocker.

[ebanks84]

Cheney and Chenette are bound and determined to say their piece no matter how much is proven that the dad is a big liar. So just get ready to hear more excuses from the daughter about this, too :)

[brandnewstuff]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHjWYA50Ds
James Comey
took 2007 for him to speak verbal

2009 the release of many unconstitutional and illegal acts outed

Just like any form of forensics - computers, "Phone records"-- forensics, forensics, forensics.­....
James Comey knew ..........­..........­..........­........

[ObamAtomic]

In one e-mail, Comey describes a dramatic meeting with Gonzales, in which he warned that approval of the interrogation techniques would likely lead to criminal prosecution.

Likely ? Fact is, here or there now or later you Bushco will answer to torture.

[CherokeeGirl]

How far does this have to go before the current DOJ steps in and starts really investigating?

I think they are stalling so more of this stuff comes out on it's own and WE can see too.

What think you my fellow traveler?

[Tyler-Durden]

TRUTH IS BUOYANT. like cream it eventually rises.

[CherokeeGirl]

along with Hot Air :) Rising to the top for all to see, I mean, smell.

[Travis bdboy]

Say it isn't so