Obama Releases Interrogation Memos, Says C.I.A. Operatives Won’t Be Prosecuted

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Obama Releases Interrogation Memos, Says C.I.A. Operatives Won’t Be Prosecuted
By MARK MAZZETTI

Updated After a tense internal debate, President Obama officially announced this afternoon that his administration would not prosecute C.I.A. operatives for carrying out controversial interrogations of terrorist suspects, as the Justice Department began releasing a number of detailed memos describing harsh techniques used against Al Qaeda suspects in secret overseas prisons.

“In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carrying out their duties relying in good faith upon the legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution,” Mr. Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.

Saying that it is a “time for reflection, not retribution,” Mr Obama reiterated his opposition to a extensive investigation of controversial counterterrorism programs. The interrogation methods were among the Bush administration’s most closely guarded secrets, and today’s release will be the most comprehensive public accounting to date of the interrogation program that some senior Obama administration officials have said used illegal torture.

The documents are expected to include Justice Department memos from 2002 and 2005 authorizing the C.I.A. to employ a number of aggressive techniques- including sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme temperatures and “waterboarding,” the near-drowning technique.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/secret-interrogation-memos-to-be-released/?scp=1-b&sq=cia+Jan+21+2010&st=nyt

[madrchsod]

1. more change we can believe in.....

[Robb]

12. Actually, the story is from April 2009.

This was an early "whaaa...?"

[deminks]

2. One wonders how many deals were made, O, or

was it just one great big one?

No one ever held accountable. It will happen again.

[Vattel]

3. Fuck. We are owed better.

Releasing the memos is good, but Obama needs to act to ensure that it doesn't happen again. We need a President that recognizes the limits of executive power. And we need better criminal laws to ensure that even idiots in the DOJ can't provide legal cover for torture. The latter is the fucking elephant in the room! No one seems to realize it.

[Vattel]

15. Ok, old news here. What ever happened to DOJ's

restricted investigation?

[Lorien]

4. A “time for reflection, not retribution,”

What crimes does this concept NOT apply to for Obama? Probably 9/11, and any crimes committed by a non corporate or upper level government official (as long as they aren't a whistle blower).

[Karmadillo]

5. Presidents who engage in criminal wars aren't all that keen on accountability.

nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Notice 'on advice from the Justice Department'

Thanks Holder....

[Vattel]

16. Holder has pushed for greater accountability.

Others (e.g., Panetta) have pushed for less.

[xchrom]

7. retribution? -- really? retribution? -- interesting choice there. nt

[mod mom]

8. Equal protection under the law...not so much. Some in power are above all laws.

:mad:

[Swamp Rat]

9. Isn't Guantanamo Bay detention camp still open?

[leveymg]

10. What about those who had command responsibility? No accountability? Obama just violated the CAT,

which requires all signatory states to fully prosecute those who carry out acts of torture. If a state can not or will not prosecute, all other signatories have a duty to intervene, arrest, and try those responsible, including the top commanders.

Those responsible can have "time for reflection" in The Hague.

So much for Rule of Law in America when it's inconvenient.

[OnyxCollie]

11. Pathetic.

K&R.

[leveymg]

13. There's a link to the docs. The second memo, CIA Gen'l Counsel, pp. 10-11 long redaction of

information obtained during Abu Zubaydeh's interrogation concerning what he knew about the 9/11 attacks and al-Qaeda's genesis and operations. Why is this information still TOP SECRET/(redacted)/NOFORN - even the classification has been partially redacted.

Note that CIA also destroyed AZ's and KSM's interrogation tapes.

WTF is going on here? What is the Agency still covering up here?

Here's the link: http://documents.nytimes.com/justice-department-memos-on-interrogation-techniques#p=1

[vssmith]

14. Enabler-in-chief

[dionysus]

17. posting a year old article just to keep the rage alive?

[purrFect]

19. Good idea

Many have short memories :hi:

[bvar22]

18. Its OFFICIAL.. New Policy now in place.

The old policy of "Following orders is NO excuse" has been rescinded.
It has been replaced by:
If you following orders,
even implied orders,
or thought you might be following orders,
or have a note from your lawyer (Bush/Yoo),
then it Doesn't matter WHAT you did, its ALL good now!!!


Thank You Mr. President.
Many rich & powerful War Criminals are breathing FREE & Easy
with you as their protector.

[Senator]

20. And It Will Be Obama's ONLY Legacy

The rest pales in comparison to Driving of the Torture Getaway Car.

Perhaps Olbermann will consider running. A simple "prosecute torture" campaign could easily take the primary from the DC Avaristocrats.

---

[annabanana]

21. If they wouldn't prosecute the "legal advice from the Department of Justice "

How can we expect them to prosecute anyone?

It was the rot at the Justice Department, and their willingness to give B*sh exactly what he wanted that caused the whole fiasco.