Like many other American progressive-types (title for sake of argument), I voted for Obama and hope every day he'll facilitate the change he promised. A big part of the change progressives interpreted that promise to mean was to bring an end to the Bush administration's "War on Terror." The White House no longer uses the term -- but how much of a break has the new administration really made?
I am not condemning his entire presidency -- nor am I debating it, and I would not debate his goodness as an individual man. I'm arguing that so far his administration has failed to resolve (by reversing) a massive constitutional and moral crisis which has resulted in the brutalization of thousands.
A lot of powerful people in Washington may think it's a crazy-leftist-fringe position to think the intellectual authors of a torture regime should be investigated and prosecuted. But recent polling suggests at least half of the American population favors an independent investigation or criminal prosecution of members of the Bush administration for torture. Half is not fringe. Maybe they say this because they're scared, and well they should be.
It seems most people are quite clear -- the law says if someone should be held underwater repeatedly on no sleep until he thinks he's drowning, or tortured in other ways, the people who ordered it or did it should be be arrested, charged, tried, and sent to jail. And even if, say, 40% of the country wants to advocate breaking the law -- they should still be resigned to see those who did it pay the price for it. How that is a left /right debate is beyond me. How that is even debatable is also beyond me.
Of course, I think it is legitimate for the Commander-in-Chief to be concerned for the safety of his soldiers. I am as well. But the reality is that anti-American sentiment has already been inflamed in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the Muslim world by horrific acts of torture and detainee abuse (not to mention arbitrary detentions and civilian casualties). The photos are evidence of what Afghans and Iraqis already know has taken place. And their number -- there are up to 2000 photos allegedly up for release -- is further proof that torture and abuse were widespread and systemically accepted in US detention facilities.
Whether or not the Obama administration releases them now, the pictures will eventually come out. And if Obama wants to make a true break with Bush/Cheney's "War on Terror" -- and not simply rebrand it -- releasing the photos would be an important step, and send a signal to the rest of the world. If the move is judged too dangerous for US troops, the president could at least ask the Department of Defense to release the photos to an independent council charged with investigating and prosecuting those at the highest levels responsible for mandating and creating a culture of torture and abuse. So far, he has done neither.
What is most disturbing about the refusal to release the photos is the broader pattern into which it fits -- a pattern of decisions that effectively preserve the framework of Bush's War on Terror, with all the violations of our constitution that it entails.
I spoke with Constitutional Law professor Jonathan Turley, and this is how he described the series of decisions that the administration has made:
"Well it can't get any worse: extreme executive privilege arguments in court, withholding of abuse photos, adoptions of indefinite detentions without trial, restarting military commissions, and blocking any torture investigation. Welcome to Bush 2.0..."
"In my view, it comes down to a simple question of the rule of law FOIA clearly mandates the release of the photos. Notably, even Obama says that they are not as bad as the first set. However, it does not matter. It would be a dangerous thing if an Administration can withhold documents and photographs on the basis for embarrassment to the country. FOIA is needed to get material that an Administration has refused to release. It is often embarrassing. If an Administration can simply invoke an embarrassment exemption, FOIA would be gutted..."
Obama never promised he would transform the entire architecture of the American system -- he's a pragmatist, not a revolutionary. But he did say he would restore balance and the rule of law to the existing system. For that, the Bush/Cheney "War on Terror" paradigm must be dismantled. Disclosing the photos and mandating an independent prosecutor to investigate those responsible for torture would be one step in signaling a genuine break with this endless-just war paradigm, and ensure the terrible violations it made possible will never again be perpetrated by agents of the United States.
And that a horrible precedent will not be set for future US state crimes.
Frankly, I think the only cure for your liberal thinking - is when you stop conceptualizing and start having some real experiences concerning the horrors of war. Yes, it would be nice if it was a Rodney King world, i.e. "Can't we all get along" - but sadly, war has gone on for thousands of years. You need to bone up on history and see how prisoners were treated in the Civil War. It wasn't then and isn't now a pretty picture - but neither is ruling from a position of weakness which America now does....as it moves towards Socialism.
Attilathehoney.com
War is what it is - do your research and check out the methods used in the Civil War to extract information and all wars since time began. I don't think it matters whether you are a liberal, green party or a conservative to appreciate the fact that Bush was elected a two term President and within a short period of his Presidency, he inherited a nightmare called Twin Towers on 911. What is the problem with you people? Those programs were put in place to keep you and all those who trash the Bush administration on a daily basis SAFE ON AMERICAN SOIL.
I feel terribly unsafe with President Obama yet -AlJazeera says the Muslim world has fallen in love with him. Why? He is playing a dangerous game with the lives of so many - and this isn't a partisan issue but rather a human issue. I don't give two hoots in hell about water boarding terrorists.
AttilaTheHoney.com
Is it perhaps a valid point to say Americans-well fifty percent of them-need to have this trial? Perhaps the USA will never feel whole again until this dreadful piece of hypocrisy has been thoroughly exposed and tried in court.
You are one of my favorite writers. This is who the President is fighting against. It is amazing he can get anything done with these horrific things going on... you are about to see what Newt is really up to...
Go to You Tube and search "avenger of blood Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee endorsed by pro-Christian martyrdom movement leader."
I debated just last week with my very conservative sister about you, brought about due to my niece wearing a JC t-shirt (from 16 Candles... LOL). She believed you were too liberal to do anything but support the current administration, and I contended that you paid very close attention to what was going on politically and that you were smart enough to form your own opinions of right and wrong, as well as just and unjust. Thank you so much for proving me right!
I also love the fact that you ask Constitutional lawyers for opinions. I heart you!
This imperils us all: if habeus corpus goes, freedom of speech will be next--who will speak out if they know they could be simply detained indefinitely with no charges as a "domestic enemy combatant", or some other such fluff? The fact that Obama, et. al, are simply shuffling the euphemisms does not fill me with anything resembling hope.
This ongoing euphemization of everything the government is doing must be nailed to the wall for all to see: somebody should set up a bulletin board-style virtual "wall" of all the euphemisms currently in the government lexicon, and what they're actually referring to, with specific, cited examples, along with actual pictures, if relevant. For instance, "enhanced interrogation methods" > "torture" > [example picture of what actually goes on].
I think its very important that we who are actually, deeply concerned about what these rogue financial empires are doing to governments around the world, OUR government especially, need to expose them and bring the ugliness they try to hide via evasiveness, condescension, and euphemism into the glaring light of day, for all to see. Obama must obey the law of the land like anyone else. Period.
Are the perpetrators actually proud of what they are doing?
My fear is that those pictures represent some kind of trophy. To me that is just further proof that war, even if started out of sincere morally good intentions (which I believe is hardly ever the case), in the end always destructs humanity. Literally and figuratively speaking.
This would give the space the administration needs to tackle more immediate issues and also put this issue to bed with finality once the investigation is concluded.
If the Americans wish to get back that high moral ground they should immediately call for a trial of these contemptible, corrupt politicians.
Even if Americans don't mind about the high moral ground, they could at least try them under the War Crimes act.
Venise Alstergren
We haven't only done evil, of course. Ending the Japanese Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere (Empire) was a good thing for most of the people involved. Helping to end the Nazi regime in Germany was a good deed. It's just that we preen so much over these occasions, and sweep the others under the rug.
So, yeah, trying our war criminals for a change would be a good thing. Might even prevent them from returning to power when the public gets off the D donkey and mounts the R elephant again.
This whole firestorm about not publishing the photographs is simply a distraction from the real issue, and is undoubtedly welcomed as such by those who fear to have their actions investigated.