Presidential Poison His invitation to indict Bush officials will haunt Obama's Presidency.

[bytor2112]

Mark down the date. Tuesday, April 21, 2009, is the moment that any chance of a new era of bipartisan respect in Washington ended. By inviting the prosecution of Bush officials for their antiterror legal advice, President Obama has injected a poison into our politics that he and the country will live to regret.

read more....Presidential Poison - WSJ.com

[Moksha]

I thought he said we would not prosecute those who ordered torture. Is this regarding other misdeeds?

If any prosecutions get too intense could they not flee to Brazil?

[Maxel]

I thought he said we would not prosecute those who ordered torture. Is this regarding other misdeeds?

He did say that. His most recent position is a complete turnaround from that.

[LittleWyvern]

I don't think I've ever seen a more melodramatic article. End of any chance of bipartisan politics? Presidential poison? Comparing the US to Malaysia (and hinting at the whole Obama dictator thing whilst doing so)? Certainly this isn't a smart move, but the world hasn't ended yet. The WSJ needs to pace its RAEG.

[Elgama]

why should people that ltook your country into wars, gave false information, caused deaths should get away scot free?

-Charley

[bytor2112]

why should people that ltook your country into wars, gave false information, caused deaths should get away scot free?

-Charley

You mean like our congress and justified it using the same information as Great Brittain and France?

[Elgama]

You mean like our congress and justified it using the same information as Great Brittain and France?

oh i do think our lot are just as bad, and if they can be I do think people should be prosecuted, the man responsible for the report here commited suicide Edited April 24, 2009 by Elgama

[bytor2112]

oh i do think our lot are just as bad, and if they can be I do think people should be prosecuted, the man responsible for the report here commited suicide

Prosecuted for what? Ridding the world of a dangerous tyrant? A man who had defied and been defiant towards the U.N. and the rest of the world? The intelligence may have been faulty, but it was considered reliable by many other countries as well.

[Elgama]

Prosecuted for what? Ridding the world of a dangerous tyrant? A man who had defied and been defiant towards the U.N. and the rest of the world? The intelligence may have been faulty, but it was considered reliable by many other countries as well.

sending our men to war without being sure of their facts - or are we going to take issue with every tyrannt in the world:? and go into war neither of our countries have the manpower

-Charley

[bytor2112]

sending our men to war without being sure of their facts - or are we going to take issue with every tyrannt in the world:? and go into war neither of our countries have the manpower

-Charley

So you would prosecute because we weren't sure exactly how dangerous Iraq was? Ignore all of the intelligence surrounding their desire to acquire WMD"S and the real possibility that they may have them? I an not sure what you mean by manpower, we have the manpower, it is the will power that is often lacking.

[Just_A_Guy]

As I understand it (and this was as of a few days ago; I've no idea what happened since then), President Obama said that the CIA agents who did the interrogation/torturing would be immune. He gave no such reassurance to the DOJ lawyers who gave the CIA the legal cover to do so. Never mind that it's starting to look like the CIA agents lied to the DOJ about exactly what it was they were doing.

[Maxel]

Never mind that it's starting to look like the CIA agents lied to the DOJ about exactly what it was they were doing.

I didn't hear about that. Where did you read/hear/see that?

[Madriglace]

Prosecuted for what? Ridding the world of a dangerous tyrant? A man who had defied and been defiant towards the U.N. and the rest of the world? The intelligence may have been faulty, but it was considered reliable by many other countries as well.

And then why would any one ever again step up and do the nasty dirty jobs that keep our respective countries safe if they can be prosecuted for it? Nope .... not me. Of course the Pres has to realize that it will be pay back time after his admin leaves office ... this won't go away anytimee soon. people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

[Madriglace]

So you would prosecute because we weren't sure exactly how dangerous Iraq was? Ignore all of the intelligence surrounding their desire to acquire WMD"S and the real possibility that they may have them? I an not sure what you mean by manpower, we have the manpower, it is the will power that is often lacking.

Personally JMHO I think those WMD are still out there ... just because we didn't find them doesn't mean they aren't there. They haven't found Obama (oops! Fruedian slip! I mean Bin Ladden) yet either. One of these days there is going to be another attack and folks will be whining "Well why didn't they know so they could stop it?" ...

[Just_A_Guy]

I didn't hear about that. Where did you read/hear/see that?

I don't recall where I first became aware of it--probably volokh.com or Instapundit--but see, for example, this Time article.

For all its faults, Bybee's August '02 memo was very clear that it was applicable only under specific circumstances as had been described to him by CIA personnel.

Edited April 24, 2009 by Just_A_Guy

[Traveler]

read more....Presidential Poison - WSJ.com

I do not see any possible problem or future repercussion as long as the current administration does not employ anything that falls under or comes close to the current definition of torture. That being the case I would expect that the offenders be patted on the head and told what they did was wrong and then immediately released to go about their business since confinement and other such things is inhumane and therefore a form torture itself.

The Traveler

[Maxel]

I don't recall where I first became aware of it--probably volokh.com or Instapundit--but see, for example, this Time article.

Well... That's a pretty damming account of events. And Obama is wanting to only go after those who suggested to use these torture techniques within proven limits of safety, and not go after those who abused said limits? Is that what's happening, or am I missing something?

[talisyn]

Personally JMHO I think those WMD are still out there ... just because we didn't find them doesn't mean they aren't there. They haven't found Obama (oops! Fruedian slip! I mean Bin Ladden) yet either. One of these days there is going to be another attack and folks will be whining "Well why didn't they know so they could stop it?" ...

I kind've expected better of someone with your good character

I agree, there more than likely was WMD considering who was in charge of Iraq lol. Too bad we couldn't find any. But after 6 years you'd think there would have been something. Maybe the USA should offer more reward money.

About the lawyers and judges....I just heard on Fox (why am I watching Fox? Cause it's 2 am lol) that Harry Reid says basically we should just drop the whole thing.

Edited April 25, 2009 by talisyn

[Moksha]

You mean like our congress and justified it using the same information as Great Britain and France?

Good point, Congress, Great Britain, France and the rest of the UN General Assembly got bamboozled by the same guys.

[Moksha]

... just because we didn't find them doesn't mean they aren't there.

While this is a good point for Book of Mormon cities, however the WMD cannot be hidden by vast passages of time. WMD was an invention sprung from known bad information.