As I write this, Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has yet to start his Tuesday briefing. Odds are, he's huddling with top administration officials trying to figure out what answers he'll give to the crack White House press corps when they bombard him with questions about Obama's statement earlier today that any decision to prosecute top Bush Crime Family operatives is up to Attorney General Eric Holder, and any decision to open Congressional hearings is up to, well, Congress.
The statement Obama made at a White House photo op with Jordan's King Abdullah concerned the opinions written by top Bush Justice Department Lawyers "legalizing" torture techniques. Having yesterday cleared the actual torturers -- who were, um, just following "legal" orders when they hit, stomped, slapped, restrained, partially drowned and otherwise committed acts against "detainees" that shredded whatever myths still exist that the United States respects the rule of law, our own and those found in international treaties we have agreed to -- Obama said "...with respect to those who formulated the policies, that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws". He also opened the way for a Congressional inquiry into the issue when he added, "...if and when there needs to be a further accounting," he hoped that Congress would examine ways to obtain one "in a bipartisan fashion," from people who are independent and therefore can build credibility with the public.
Well, well, well. A move toward justice? An attempt to undo some of the hideous damage the Bush Crime Family perpetrated against the foundations of this republic? A glimmer of light cast over the dark, filthy, sick policies of Cheney, Yoo, Bybee, Libby, Bush, and the rest of the nest of snakes that took this country into what became a slimy, twisted, lawless "reality" they so famously declared they would constantly be creating? If so, there will be no "bipartisan" effort to bring these thugs to justice. In fact, the Republicans in Congress and the Limbots in media will do anything and everything (more tea-bagging? gun rallies? immigrant burnings? lynchings?) to prevent such hearings or investigations ever from taking place.
For example, within minutes of Obama's statement, the warped television medium -- on which so many Americans rely for "news" -- was wetting its collective pants. Reporters began asking questions about the "influence" of "left wing" web sites like moveon.org and the awesome power these sites must wield over Obama's polices. It had to have been them, right? They must have pressed their magic buttons and Obama The Socialist, no, Obama The Communist, no, Obama The Fascist, no Obama The Muslim, no, Obama The Guy Born In Indonesia And Who Shouldn't Be President ...surely, they chanted almost in unison, surely the president has come under the spell of... of... these...liberals, liberals who want to (gasp!) try to suggest the so-called "rule of law" might be a better method of dealing with the Bush criminals than putting our collective hands over our collective ears and shouting the lyrics to "Onward Christian Soldiers." Rule of Law? Fuck that! We have to fight the Muslim terrorists! And, they're everywhere! Look! There's one now! Eeek!
Now it remains to be seen whether or not a committee -- any committee with the authority -- will move toward hearings that will expose the depth of the criminality under which this country has been managed during the past eight years. It remains to be seen whether or not Attorney General Eric Holder will honor his oath of office and designate a special prosecutor who will then begin the process of discovery that will reveal the Bush swine for what they truly were. Today Obama opened the door just a crack for those type investigations and hearings to begin. It is now up to members of Congress and the nation's law enforcement division to either follow through or turn away... from justice.
Wanna bet which way it's going to go??
Mike Malloy can be heard daily on his radio show 9pm - 12pm ET. Visit www.mikemalloy.com to stream live, purchase a podcast or find a station near you
Damn! It is such a thrill to be governed by a smart dude!
ROME (Reuters) – Lawyers representing CIA agents accused in Italy of kidnapping a terrorism suspect asked a judge to toss out the trial on Tuesday, after a higher court ruled some evidence used to help win their indictments was classified.
Judge Oscar Magi adjourned the proceedings until May 20 to consider the requests, which could abruptly end the most high-profile case in Europe into secret transfers of a terrorism suspect, known as "renditions."
Twenty-six Americans, almost all believed to be working for the CIA, are accused along with Italian spies of abducting Muslim cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr in Milan in 2003 and flying him to Egypt.
There, Nasr, who is also known as Abu Omar, says he was tortured under questioning and held for years without charges.
"All of the attorneys for the American suspects joined the request for an acquittal, or at least the annulment of the indictments," said Arianna Barbazza, a court-appointed attorney for suspects including the former CIA station chief in Milan.
Thus the Colgate Lapdog Tony Blair, Balkenende from Tulip-Land, Berlusconi the Mafiosi and that Spanish Toreador are as guilty, and so are the Twin Clowns from Poland, where the prisons were located. We had a joke going in Holland that said that the world was ruled by the 5 B's - Bananas in pyjamas - counting on the fingers, Bush, Blair, Balkenende, Berlusconi and with the middle finger, Bin Laden.
You seem to be devoid of European sources for news, otherwise you would be aware that Obama's reluctance could stem from that. Why upset the Allies? Why embarrass them even more than they already were with Bush?
What must have been a disccussion point at the G20 is exactly the prosecution of Bush officials, and the request must have been extended to not do so, because their own heads could fall as well. Don't think that anyone here liked what was going on. We would certainly demand an explanation too.
"Please!" he's begging the public. "Don't throw me into that briar patch!"
If they DON'T, why should I obey the law? Why shouldn't I take MY precision-guided weaponry knowledge and sell IT to the highest bidder? I've been out of work over two years. I could sure USE the money and I'm SURE there are people in the world who could use the fruits of that expertise.
If the CIA can't be tried for torture on the grounds they were following orders, maybe the courtmartialed soldiers should be given honorable discharges.
on releasing
"NEW" information about US torture.
However,
I found this out..
the Republicans are lying about the bush torture memos.
see the article for yourself,
date:
April 9, 2009
Article:
is based on a RED CROSS report
here you go:
http://zfacts.com/
Hate to say it, but I still think Obama will fold on this issue, as Feinstein did on banning assault weapons. We shall see.
Oh, and uh, I really dig your video readings of the letters you get from the crazy right. Very funny. LMAO!! Keep up the good work, Mr. Malloy!
any investigation look partisan.
They would be dead wrong. As usual.
AG Holder should appoint an independant prosecutor and turn them loose
on the bushies. War crimes have been committed and the frog marching should begin.
http://rhodesscholars.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mikemalloy&action=display&thread=1936&page=1
Call me a wild-eyed dreamer, an extra crispy bucket of liberal, but I think we'll see it happen. We need to keep the pressure up and make sure that President Obama and AG Holder know that we're on their side to pursue justice.
The way I see it, even if Republicans block the attempts and plant subterfuge to derail the process (and of course they will), by pursuing the cause of justice, The president can say he tried, and those who object and obstruct will be seen as traitors and treasonous for literally obstructing justice