Cross-posted at The Stimulist
Yesterday shored up any lingering doubts I had: I am now convinced we'll see an investigation into the Bush administration's use of torture. America's just not going to let this one go. The politicians who fired shots across the bow minutes into yesterday's hearings aren't going to let it go. The media certainly isn't letting up--it makes for really good ratings. Already this week, I've seen several explosions on set here at 30 Rock. The public has a dog in this, too. We want the truth.
The question is whether investigators will push hard enough to get it. Some may hear the word "investigation" and rejoice, firm in the belief that wrongdoing will be cleanly exposed. Cynics who have been around long enough to remember Frank Serpico and the pseudo-investigations into corrupt police departments in the '60s and '70s assume that this will end the same way: with so many guilty parties there's nobody left to do the punishing.
Me? I'm interested in what else may be uncovered. When investigators truly snoop around, they almost always find something unexpected. Who would have thought Whitewater would lead to impeachment hearings over oral sex? That Watergate would end up with a resignation? Investigators will have the opportunity to scrutinize far more than torture policy. The entire Bush administration will be open for review. There's a world of shade we haven't even entered yet: unaccounted-for millions spent in Iraq, detainees who may have died in custody, the names of the people not only who did the torturing, but those who were photographing them doing it. What if waterboarding was the gentlest thing we did?
This is not unlike the latest credit default swap scandals; people knew what was happening in these detention centers, just like people knew about the AIG bonuses five months before the story broke. Forget the pictures of the torture. The pictures I'm imagining are the cell phone pics of politicians looking at those images, and not doing a damn thing. Let's be honest. Democrats may not want to pus on this because some of the blood may be on their hands.
For now, a question for you: was Obama's announcement yesterday that he would move to block the images of detainee abuse a step away from transparency, or an earnest attempt at protecting the well-being of American troops?
Carlos Watson is the founder & publisher of The Stimulist, where he blogs daily. You can also find him on Twitter, @carloswatson.
Sheikh reportedly detained pending torture investigation - CNN.com
Think Progress » Obama Hints At Torture Investigation: 'We Are ...
When summer comes rolling around, you'll be lucky to get out of town.
he is one skilled poker player.
After stating that he consulted with the generals, reversed his opinion about releasing the photos he now has both sides clamoring like small children for a Truth Commission (or Special Prosecutor) all the while knowing he has no say so about either. One choice is Congress' and the other is Holder's.
He comes off like Solomon and he knows the TRUTH will come out.
Amazing. He has gotten to Cheney. He allowed Vice to get his approval numbers even lower than the 13% when he left office, while having the GOP cringe and squirm in the background.
Talk about coming to a knife fight with a gun. Obama is a strategist of the first order.
Oh, and Notre Dame's speech today was a slow played pair of aces...
You asked whether Mr. Obama backing away from this is an honest attempt to protect the well being of American troops.
That begs the question: if that were a concern for him, why did he start this in the first place?
Did he just realize that he himself may rely on the troops and the intel community?
Are they just collateral damage--he was firing at Mr. Bush.
Why didn't he realize this would harm them, put them in danger, and ruin their morale? Was it a dumb mistake, or did he not care? Or did he think he could make his political points and back away in time to make it look like he cares about them?
You're doing it already right here in posts--someone posted that she cried and vomited at the same time when viewing the pictures (I guess she didn't know they hadn't been released). And someone else has alleged that our soldiers violated children. Your liberal imaginations are being counted on!
The administration will back away from this faster than you can imagine, while chanting that they want to 'look forward' (and they will be counting on you all to do your part and chime in lauding Mr. Obama for being such a benevolent person (forgetting that he's the one who started it all).
These folks play dirty, which is why they need such an iconic guy to stand out in front and get you all to drink the koolaid. Mr. Obama is the perfect one. Drink up.
Investigate and PROSECUTE to the fullest extent of the law.
If you can't handle the truth , LEAVE THE COUNTRY !
As any agent who has worked in intelligence gathering knows, the most effective method of obtaining intelligence is through rapport. A person will bare his soul to a “true friend” but will withhold all from his enemy.
Torture, like terror, is used to shock and punish. It is used to get the tortured to say or declare anything the torturer wants. This is why Mr. McCain made anti-American propaganda "confession" during his incarceration in Viet Nam.
This mess will not fade away; it cannot be allowed to fester under our nation’s skin by the skillful use of political cosmetics. The untreated boil will fester and grow until it bursts into the national scene, its tawdry pus oozing and infecting the surrounding area. Obama is ill advised to believe that the American people will allow this matter to fade away – if there is anything that may be learned of the Watergate mess and the 24/7 Lewinsky affair – it is that these situations should be met head on and vetted thoroughly to avoid being caught in a “cover up” investigation that dwarfs the original malfeasance.
UN F*INGBELIEVABLE.
Before some people are faced with going to prison, we will learn even more about the real
motivation behind the Bush Administration's hell bent effort to take us to war.
We must not forget that nearly a TRILLION dollars has been funneled to certain industry interest groups over the last 8 years. Talk about a motive.
Just imagine what we may learn when Mr. Addington and Mr. Yoo are faced with being
disbarred or facing criminal charges.
If they are stripped of all immunity,
How far will they go to protect Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz?
How far will members of Congress go to protect themselves from criminal jeopardy?
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We have already written laws through our Representatives in Congress and ratified in the Senate that make these things crimes. Our diplomats have negotiated and signed treaties with other nations which make these things crimes. We executed people for committing these same crimes. And now we have a former Vice President who has admitted that he was instrumental and is non-repentant in the commission of these things that we call war crimes. What more is there to talk about? Arrest this man.