Lieberman and others claim torture has been outlawed by Obama . . . well, sort of

[bigtree]

The executive order issued by the president applies only to his term (unless retained by a different administration) and is a mere statement of his intended conduct. I'm not sure that he couldn't (likely wouldn't) just issue another one to reverse the order. That's not 'outlawing' torture in any broad legal sense. Any future administration could lift the restrictions or modify them to suit their own purposes and views.

Besides, the entire effort smacks of ignoring the fact that the actions taken by the Bush administration were illegal. The precedent set by refusing to pursue investigations and prosecutions is to allow future administrations full reign to set their own standard of abuses.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Another disgusting Lieberman moment.

Just on MSNBC saying we ought not review recent American history on torture and other Bush crimes. Look to the future, let's not see if crimes were commited in the run-up for war. Lieberman's interest in not looking back is personal...he's got plenty of blood on his hands when he helped undermine political opposition to the IWR.

[bigtree]

4. he wants to just move on

. . . along with his republican party pals.

Does anyone over on that side really believe any Democrats are still listening to him?

[sui generis]

2. hey lieberman they outlawed concentration camps too

but people still died and criminals were still held accountable, and it's a piece of our world history and cultural history, complete WITH photographs.

Never again? REALLY. What a moron.

[stillcool]

3. I agree...When was it in-lawed?

let them keep stoking that fire. I hope they continuously blame the Democrats, and especially this President for all that went on before. Anything and everything to keep this in the news. Where are all the bean-spillers?

[leftofthedial]

5. It is not in his power to outlaw anything.

[bigtree]

6. right, it isn't in his power

That's to the point of the assertion that it's been 'outlawed' by the Executive order.

I don't believe, though, that there isn't more the administration could do to encourage prosecutions and investigations in the effort to establish a line of accountability under the law (either existing or new ones).

[leftofthedial]

7. Obama apparently sees it as his responsibility to prevent

the bush-cheney cabal from being held accountable.

[bigtree]

8. I believe it's more about preserving some of that assumed authority for himself

-power corrupts-

[leftofthedial]

9. protecting the prerogatives of the office