Fleischer: Torture Investigation "Disgusting;" Nadler: It's Too Limited

Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to launch a limited investigation of Bush-era interrogations of terror suspects has sparked intense criticism from Republicans who say it's going too far -- and from progressives, who say it's not going nearly far enough.

"I think the decision is disgusting," Ari Fleischer, President George W. Bush's first press secretary, told the Huffington Post. "It's amazing to me that the people who kept us safe may now become the people our government prosecutes. There are plenty of real criminals out there -- it would be nice if the Justice Department went after them."

Lawmakers who have long called for an investigation expressed their pleasure with Holder's decision to move forward: "I recognize how difficult this decision has been for Attorney General Holder, and I am grateful that the Justice Department is finally being led by an independent Attorney General who is willing to begin investigating this dark chapter in our country's history," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, (D-V.T.) said in a statement. "I had no doubt that he would put the interests of the law ahead of politics, and he has demonstrated that."

But the "preliminary review" to be conducted by Assistant United States Attorney John Durham, who has already been investigating the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes, is only "into whether federal laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of specific detainees at overseas locations."

In other words, while the investigations could conceivably expand over time, in the beginning stages at least the lawyers who devised the policies would be off the hook.

"I applaud the Attorney General for this first step. But, we must go further," said Rep. Jerry Nadler, a chief proponent of the investigations. "As I have said for many months, it is vital that this special counsel be given a broad mandate to investigate these abuses, to follow the evidence where it leads, and to prosecute where warranted. This must be a robust mission to gather any and all evidence without predetermination of where it may lead. Seeking out only the low-level actors in a conspiracy to torture detainees will bring neither justice nor restored standing to our nation."

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[Passenger57]

12:54 PM on 08/26/2009

You're on the list, Sorry Ari, for providing cover for those monsters with your lies.
When you see wrongdoing, you do the right thing and speak up - not figure out how to make it palatable to Americans. Hear how he lies now for his former masters ; torture doesn't work, so it couldn't have "kept us safe".
I find YOU disgusting, Fleischer!

[hrholmes]

11:31 AM on 08/26/2009

Ari would be singing a really different tune had he been in 1942 Germany huh? lol hypocrite for money.

[hrholmes]

11:28 AM on 08/26/2009

Very well written and reasoned. We need to prosecute and punish everyone involved in these war crimes for the same reason we pursued and prosecuted war crimes after 1945 and continue to this day. These crimes were never ever made legal and 'following orders' is not and never was a real defense as the criminals of Nuremberg came to finally realize. If we don't round up and punish all of the participants they will be back to do it again and then it may be you. I say never again and make a harsh example of these criminals.

[S1m0n]

01:16 AM on 08/26/2009

They're crimes. It's his obligation to investigate credible reports of criminal acts. Not doing so is itself a crime.

[ThermoChemist]

08:09 PM on 08/25/2009

Hey, Ari. Please stop with the nonsense...!

Your Admin, and its subordinates, failed to keep America safe right from the beginning. Failing to heed PDB; the 9/11 attacks; failing to implement 9/11 Commission recommendations, etc.

If one listened to the Dubya Admin, 9/11 was the greatest catastrophe to befall America since Pearl Harbor.

So, WHY was Dubya reluctant to officially sanction/authorize a 9/11 Panel (it was finally done at the bequest of 9/11 families; How's that for being Presidential, huh?). The commission convened on November 26, 2002 (441 DAYS after the attack) and their final report was issued on July 22, 2004. [nearly 3 years after 9/11?].

Didn't he care..?

December 2005, in its FINAL report, the 9/11 Commissioners gave the Administration and
Congress MANY POOR GRADES on implementing the recommendations; including 5 F's,
12 D's, 9 C's, and 2 Incompletes.
http://www.speaker.gov/legislation?id=0004
-- 4 years later, they STILL DID NOT CARE ABOUT KEEPING AMERICA SAFE...!

Feb. 2007 - Vital 9/11 Commission Recommendations STILL Remain Incomplete, Unaddressed
-- 6 years later, they STILL DID NOT CARE ABOUT KEEPING AMERICA SAFE...!

H.R.1 - Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1/show

On August 3, 2007, Dubya signed H.R. 1, which implemented MANY of the recommendations, into law.

It took the DEMOCRATS to force Dubya's hand in FINALLY signing legislation to KEEP AMERICA SAFE..!?!

[zendem1]

05:12 PM on 08/25/2009

Throughout his rather shady career, Ari always had an on-again off-again relationship with the truth.The stench of corruption screams around Ari loudly, like a gunfight in a bell factory.

[lthuedk 1]

05:08 PM on 08/25/2009

At the very least, the Neo Cons allowed what they knew was about to happen: 9-11. All authority seekers ought to prepare for Cheney's bunker behavior by open, corroborrating testimony, on 9-11. Twisted heroes and the Party pushing Cheney's plans, are about to fall.

From Wolfowitz's dream in '72 to the formulation of the PNAC manifesto, the entire matter of invading the Middle East for world domination, became the Neo Con reality. That reality was toxic to democracy. The members of Coup2000 are well-delineated, and by now, courtroom-ready.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/genocide_forgiven.html

[Appleton]

04:27 PM on 08/25/2009

What is disgusting is not the fact of the investigation, but what it will reveal. The loudest and most self-righteous criticisms will undoubtedly come from those who, like Mr. Fleischer, approved and even encouraged the lawlessness and contempt for the Constitution that is the legacy of the Bush administration. His objections are not principled, but self-serving. His outrage is not meant to protect others, but himself. And so it will be until the last claim of executive privilege has been defeated and the last dirty secret dredged up from its hiding place.

[MeddlingMonk]

09:34 PM on 08/25/2009

And the congregation said, "amen".

[Chris Cain]

04:26 PM on 08/25/2009

the people who kept us safe?

REALLY?

dear ari,
please google:
LARGEST TERRORIST ATTACK ON U.S. SOIL

[Henry Chukuka]

04:19 PM on 08/25/2009

"It's amazing to me that the people who kept us safe may now become the people our government prosecutes.

So Ari ur defense is similar 2:

I robbed a bank ...

2 pay my bills....

Its amazing that I'm being arrested for paying my bills ?

Welcome 2 republican thinking

[hollybork]

04:18 PM on 08/25/2009

The word "disgusting" does come to mind, Ari. It sums up the entire Bush era of cronyism, war profiteering, ultra vires action, flaunting of treaties, repeal or evasion of privacy and due process protections, and utter administrative incompetence. Let the truth out.

[DestinationsUnknown]

04:05 PM on 08/25/2009

8 years of Bush- Ashcroft, Gonzo, Mukasey?

This is what the American people have been under- No wonder they are so familiar with Communism- Socialism- Nazism- Marxism!

Do we need a few civics lessons Gene?

Justice O'Connor stated Americans need many more civics lessons-K-12!

The POTUS is not the DECIDER!

He is not KING- like King George! Wake up people!

I believe AG Holder will teach Americans what the DOJ office was intended to be. Chief Law enforcement officer NOT Commander in Chief!

I think the POTUS knows this also.

Along with the Communism- Socialism- Nazism- Marxism remarks and comparisons-

Do you notice all the comparisons of so many past Presidents and all the pundits cannot quite get their fingers on who President Obama is.

Quite amusing.

Apparently- Murdoch followers have never heard of C-Span.

Worldwide Americans do not even rank in the top 25 for education

[DestinationsUnknown]

03:39 PM on 08/25/2009

Apparently- Murdoch followers have never heard of C-Span.

Every word of yours is false. That is the pity.

I am ashamed that you cannot at least refrain from lies- when you cannot or will not admit truths.

C-Span has been showing our troops in Afghanistan. Have you ever watched those?
Do you recall our troops begging for more troops for years? Do you recall the phrase "The Forgotten War" ?

Do you recall this? "The Forgotten War"? Support our troops?

The man with five deferments was the best person in the GOP –since everything was political with Bush- to advise our military and security.

Spain and UK are coming Dick -keep talking!

In the 2009 interview - Cheney would not agree to testify 'UNDER OATH' during his recent appearance on Face the Nation.

9-11 happened on Mr. Cheney's watch.

Tom Kean, the Republican co-chair of the 9-11 Commission, has said the attacks could have been prevented.

Before they took office, senior Bush administration officials were briefed repeatedly about the al Qaeda threat.

Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger told incoming National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice,

"I believe that the Bush administration will spend more time on terrorism in general, and on al Qaeda specifically, than any other subject.''

[kindGSL]

03:38 PM on 08/25/2009

Just some background,

http://www.voxfux.com/features/bush_child_sex_coverup/article_archive.htm

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=182423138094287597

[Daniel Leyva]

03:37 PM on 08/25/2009

Yes, there are a lot of criminals out there... Chenney id one of them, a criminal of war.