Obama AG To Probe Alleged Terrorist Torture?
President Barack Obama’s Attorney General may open an investigation into whether or not government personnel tortured terrorism suspects after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says he will make a decision on whether to appoint a special “torture prosecutor” within a few weeks, but Newsweek is reporting that he’s “leaning toward” doing so.
From their story:
Four knowledgeable sources tell NEWSWEEK that (Holder) is now leaning toward appointing a prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration’s brutal interrogation practices, something the president has been reluctant to do. While no final decision has been made, an announcement could come in a matter of weeks, say these sources, who decline to be identified discussing a sensitive law-enforcement matter. Such a decision would roil the country, would likely plunge Washington into a new round of partisan warfare, and could even imperil Obama’s domestic priorities, including health care and energy reform. Holder knows all this, and he has been wrestling with the question for months. “I hope that whatever decision I make would not have a negative impact on the president’s agenda,” he says. “But that can’t be a part of my decision.”
So let’s get this straight, terrorists can crash airplanes into American buildings in a deliberate effort to murder as many people as possible, but America can’t dunk somebody underwater for a few seconds in an effort to find out who those terrorists are?
Sheesh …
Comments
By ron on July 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Thank God for Bush and Cheney who protected us the past 8 years!
By sith on July 12th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Holder is doing what his master Obama bids him to do. If Obama wants a special prosecutor, then we will have one. It’s a great way to distract the country from the abysmal failure of Obama’s socialistic financial policies which have increased unemployment, devalued the dollar, and critically worsened the national debt.
Bushchenyhitler is still a great strawman.
Eventually, Americans will tire of Obama’s games.
Too bad Saul Alinsky didn’t write a book on how to actually govern.
By bill on July 12th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Let’s see… China’s economy is up 71% since last year… The Emerging markets are up 25%…World stock index is up 4%…The Dow Jones is down 7% year to date…
Obama’s stimulus has been a predictable toxin to the American economy.
Maybe a witch hunt against Bush/Cheney will distract the groundlings just enough…
By Default on July 12th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Look at the IRC and physicians for human rights reports. Most of the people we tortured were not terrorists. They were farmers, shepherds, shopkeepers, people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, people who were handed over to us by drug dealers to whom we paid a bounty. Nor was it “just” waterboarding (which you couldn’t take for 30 seconds). It was flat out brutal torture of the worst kind, the kind that leaves permanent physical scars. The kind that, in several cases, apparently resulted in death.
But cowards like you want to tear up the constitution, respect for human rights, and everything this country stands for because the giant 3D radioactive terrorists might get us.
Grow a pair.
By Doyle on July 12th, 2009 at 9:53 am
This is supposed to be a nation of laws. Torture is against the law, not just when republicans find it convenient, all the time. Now we read that the vice president ordered the CIA to conceal some activities from congress, that is also against the law. Oh wait you did not report that did you?
By Mab on July 12th, 2009 at 10:50 am
BHO = America’s Suicide Bomber
By Freedom for Me on July 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Prosecute all of them!!!!….Then go after all of the politicians shiting on the Constitution…OHH wait,that would be almost all of them…Get’em all!!!
By cnn on July 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
That’s right Default. 9/11 never happened. I repeat 9/11 never happened. Just a Carl Rovian ploy to abuse poor, innocent farmers, shepherds, shopkeepers, and taxi cab drivers.
Bushitler must pay!
By fran on July 12th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Isn’t it just wonderful that Obama just returned those five, peace-loving Al Quds terrorists to Iran?
I mean, Iran has MURDERED over 2,500 US soldiers and maimed thousands more over the past 5-6 years.
At least Obama knows who his “allies” are.
By jan blotchsky on July 12th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Question for all of you Code Pinkies:
Whom would you rather be?
A) An “innocent victim” of government sanctioned water boarding
B) An innocent victime of governemnt sanctioned abortion
By rham on July 12th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I think HOlDER should charge Cheney with being a patriot!
By James the Foot Soldier on July 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Default: There were only a handful of “shepards” like Khalid Sheik Mohammed that were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques such as waterboarding.
Waterboarding (as much as you pussies would like to make believe) is not torture.
Go back to your moveondotorg festival and such michael moore’s pair.
By DJ on July 12th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
They will do it and all the Huffpo readers will rejoice and sing to dear leader because no matter what, nothing is more important on these lunatics minds than watching Bush go to jail. It is their ultimate orgasm. I believe Obama really didn’t change any of the same policies right? I mean most are still intact, so how would you go about prosecuting the last administration for policies you are continuing? Eh, Obama’s ratings are already turning the other way and by the end of the year he will be a politician like every other politician, all talk, no walk. He knows this and he will try and cram as much of his radical left agenda down America’s throat before its too late.Gawd, I cant wait till the sixties generation dies out, you guys have fucked up the world beyond belief.
By K Trane on July 12th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I can’t help but think that as Americans we should be held to a higher standard of conduct with our prisoners of war. Then again, I can’t help but notice that the emerging superpowers (China and India) have an atrocious record of human rights abuse. And how does our enemy treat captured soldiers (or innocent reporters) on the battlefield? They cut their heads off and post it on the internet.
Thus, my stance is consistent with that of the Australian politician T.B. Betchel.
“If hooking up one terrorist prisoner’s testicles to a car battery to get the truth will save just one Australian life, then I have only three things to say: Red is positive, Black is negative, and Make sure his nuts are wet.”
By The Truth on July 13th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I love the cowards whos ay waterboarding isnt torture..not one of you could last more than 20 seconds being waterboarded. Jesse Venture, (ex navy seal) said all he needed was 5 minutes alone with cheney and a waterboard and he could have Cheney admitting to the Manson murders. Mancow the radio personality tried it and lasted less than 10 seconds and then completly changed his tune, saying without a doubt torture, go google the video. I will bet any chickenhawk out there that they couldnt last 30 secs, ill bet a thoussand bucks, if you cna make 30 secs ill pay you, if you cant you pay me..anyone man enough (cough, cough, james the toy soldier, cough..)
No Bush Cheney did not keep us safe, the worst attack in Americas history happened on their watch (after repeated warnigngs of just such an attack) as well as North Korea and most likely Iran getting nukes, all on Bush Cheney. Bush/Cheney released over 500 prisoners from Gitmo, 14% went back to kill our brave troops, didnt hear a thing from you chickenhawks about that?? Hypocracy, i suggest many of the posters on here look up the term.
By The Truth on July 13th, 2009 at 7:06 am
jan, do you just go around to various web stories posting irrelevent rants on abortion regardless of the topic being discussed? perhaps your time would be better spent helping out orphaned children or you could always go back to painting your closet with the door closed again…
By Sally on July 13th, 2009 at 7:08 am
This torture probe is just a diversion to keep the public for paying attention to
1. Cap and Trade in the Senate
2. Health Care reform
3. A sneak attack on the amnesty for nearly 20 million illegals!
This last item is the below the radar, monumental, Obama orchestrated attempt to ram amnesty through Congress without debate. They will “spring” it on Congress in the fall, and pass it in record time.
The American people will have no say.
By BeingARepugIsEasierThanThinkin' on July 13th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Let me see here, first of all – find it so interesting that right-wingers placed NO blame for 9-11 on Bush but rather it was all Clinton’s fault. Well, we are in July, not September, of Obama’s first year and they are blaming the economy on Obama. Double standard? Standard practice for Republicans.
As for torture, many, many of our veteran servicemen and women have voiced serious concern about what happened under the Bush administration. Forgetting that we are a nation of laws, just the fact that our use of torture further endangers our servicemen and women is reason enough to investigate.
For those closed minded right-wingers, keep voting Republican, it is so, so much easier than thinking.
By Pat Hendrix on July 13th, 2009 at 8:39 am
It’s lovely to start my day with the stale and idiotic talking points of the bedwetting, mouth breathing retards that make up the posting community of fitsnews.
Socialism, check. Obama is a terrorist, check. Torture is not torture and if it was torture it would be okay, check. Liberals are “pussies,” check. Reference to moveon, code pink and hippies, check. Illiterate responses, check. Too bad we didn’t have a reference to abortion – oh, sorry, thanks jan, check.
Yeah, I wish we had a strong and resolute defender of the homeland in the office of the presidency when we were ignoring reports that stated “Bin Laden determined to strike in the United States.” A ballsy, no-pussy leader like James the foot soldier, a swaggering badass willing to fight the evils of terrorism with all the might of his word processor.
By Woodrow on July 13th, 2009 at 9:27 am
I think Holder should charge Cheney and Bush with treason. This recent CIA flap is going to slap those two right in the damn face. I can not wait to see Cheney squirm. BHO is the man and to all of you haters out there you might as well sit back and suck it because we got over 3 years to go and the Republicans are fractured as ever with their unholy alliance of the Christian right and true fiscal conservatives. It is fair to say that whoever gets the Republican nod in 2012 is out there right now and looking at all of the people the Republicans have to “buy” off the shelf I don’t see anyone that can take BHO is 2012. I see more of a chance of a fractured Republican party spinning off a 3rd party candidate than ever in 2012. They might as well just hand the second term over at that point. BHO’s popularity will rise, fall and rise again over the next few years but given the status quo this thing is moving along just great for him. Think about it and match up any of those people one on one with him and you will reach the same conclusion if you know anything about electoral politics and general elections.
By bill on July 13th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Woody,
We all know that BHO will win in 2012. It’s a foregone conclusion. With criminal organizations like ACORN hauling in BILLIONS of tax dollars from tax payers, Obama has an enormous war chest. Additionally, with 30+ million soon -to- be -legalized Mexican, Guatemelan, and Hondorun nationals voting for their “liberator”, Obama has it in the bag.
If an articulate Republican does surface, Obama’s media machine will decimate and destroy them, just like Saul Alinsky recommends.
By dirtbogger on July 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am
The bastards that you are saying protected us the past 8 years commited the 9-11 attacks. how does 2 planes hit 2 buildings and 3 fall at the rate of gravity? Controlled demolition that is how. Odd how the only time while Bush was Presedent he visited an elementary school was during the 9-11 attacks, as if to project inocence. Go watch Loose Change, or Zero. Go to the website A&E for 911 truth. Do it now while we still have a little freedom left on the internet! The Revolution will not be televised!
By dirtbogger on July 13th, 2009 at 10:17 am
We did not extract intellagence from torture we only obtaned false confessions. The War On Terror is a LIE!
By seymour on July 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Ms. “Botox” Pelosi wasn’t informed of super secret plans to take out Iranian terrorist trainers?
Off with Cheney’s metaphoric head!
We all know that Congress leaks like an old panty liner.
The information the media guards are:
(1-kidnapped reporters
(2 Democrat scandals
By Pat Hendrix on July 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Hey Bill,
I know you like to think that the losing ways of the Republican Party are a product of several conspiracies, but there is a problem with your theories. They’re not based in fact, or anything approximating fact.
First, Acorn is not set to get a nickle of federal money, much less “BILLIONS” to reelect the president. The organization is not even allowed to apply for money. It’s a silly canard you happily repeat but it’s not based in reality. Here, try reading occaisionally:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/may/21/michele-bachmann/bachmann-claims-acorn-has-access-85-billion-federa/
As for the legalization of 30,000,000 illegals, ugh, that number is absurd. Additionally, it was the past adminstration that spearheaded efforts to bring illegals to citizenship, not Obama. The reason the Republicans are doing so poorly is because nobody agrees with your agenda. Come up with a new one and you might win. Beating the Dems sure shouldn’t be difficult.
By stede on July 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
The Dems are just pissed off because the CIA actually wanted to protect and defend AMERICA.
I remember Dems ranting on and on about how evil Reagan was and how the nuclear defence shield was a waste of money.
I’ve never once heard a Dem acknowledge that Reagan was right.
Ever.
By peewee on July 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Just call Obama and his bunch Candy Cotton – colorful, good to look at and all fluff and no substance!
By Pat Hendrix on July 13th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Gee Stede,
I wasn’t aware that the nuclear defense shield was even operable. You know, because it isn’t. Despite the fact we have sunk more than 100 billion dollars on SDI since 1984, it still can’t shoot down a ballistic missle even if the coordinates and trajectory are faxed to the Pentagon. Given that fact, it is hard to make that concession.
Oh, and you’re right – I hate America. I want terrorists to take over your homeowners association and make your children labor in the falafel mines of Mesopotamia. Long live the Tyranny of Mullah Obama Saladin.
Sigh.
By stede on July 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Pat,
The nuclear defence shield is only partially functioning as it has not been fully depolyed. The Alaska based missile shield has been tested numerous times successfully and receptors were recently re-located to Hawaii to track N. Korea’s missiles.
However, I don’t expect you to acknowledge that Reagan was right.
(Ironically, when N. Korea and Iran and China and Pakistan are dramatically increasing their missile technology, Obama has reduced funding on the defence shield)…Surpised anyone?
By James the Foot Soldier on July 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Patricia – what did your ballsy, no-pussy leader like President William Jefferson Clinton, a swaggering badass willing to fight the evils of terrorism with all the might of his cigar do when the Saudis offered Osama Bin Laden to the United States on a silver platter??
By K Trane on July 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
“For those closed minded right-wingers, keep voting Republican, it is so, so much easier than thinking.” – BeingARepugIsEasierThanThinkin’
Is voting in a politician with a little over a year of experience as a Senator thinking intelligently?
Is placing a woman on the Supreme Court solely because she is a Latina woman (even though out of the 7 cases granted certiorari to the Supreme Court, she has been overruled by the Supreme Court 6 times) thinking intelligently? (Note: in the 1 case affirmed, her reasoning was unanimously faulted)
Is increasing Bush’s $200 Billion deficit to $2.1 Trillion dollars thinking intelligently?
Is raising the corporate tax rate to the point where businesses leave our country thinking intelligently? (Tim Horton’s just moved the Canada to take advantage of their tax incentives…Yes…Canada)
…Guess I’m a dumbass.
By Ed on July 14th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Forget Republicans and Democrats and throw off your party blinders.This has nothing to do with Obama. Cheney and Bush broke the law. They trashed the Constitution. No war has ever been officially declared by Congress as required by the Constitution.
After Bush and Cheney watched 9/11 happen on their watch they panicked.They made up the law as they went along. They went to Ashcroft’s hospital room and tried to get him to sign papers allowing spying on Americans.
We need an Attorney General with balls to prosecute these war criminals.Then start investigating and prosecuting companies who have stolen our money by war profiteering.
I don’t care if they never pass health care reform. I hope Congress does nothing but hold hearings on this illegal war .Please dont do anything for the next 4 years. All the laws Congress would pass are only to benefit the corporations that pay them off or make us go deeper into debt.
We prosecuted the woman who had the dog leash in Iraq and she was just following Rumsfeld’s and Cheney’s orders.
Let’s prosecute the powerful or we aren’t a nation of laws.
By Pat Hendrix on July 14th, 2009 at 8:18 am
James,
That never happened. You would know that if you read anything outside the conservative circle jerk of fitsnews. And even if true, the fact you personally called 50 percent of the country “pussies” has nothing to do with Bill Clinton. It does, however, call into question the personal stake you have in protecting this country. So let’s hear it, tough guy, what heavy lifting have you been doing?
By Pat Hendrix on July 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Stede,
The “nuclear shield” is the 21st century equivalent of the Maginot Line. No serious person thinks it could stop a ballistic strike, especially given the less than stellar “successful” tests. So yes, I’m still waiting to give my nod to it as a good use of defense dollars.
K Trane, where do I even begin? The Bush Adminstration took over a budget that was running an annual surplus of 300 billion and turned it into a trillion dollar deficit by the time he left office. The Obama Administration was left with a structural deficit and dredging economy that will leave us with a 1.8 debt (not 2.1). Yes, and the stimulus, which I did not support, will cause a one year spike in the debt. But aside from that one time expenditure, the Obama Adminstration has not behaved with anything approximating the recklessness of the previous adminstration which passed a tax cut that cost more than the stimulus and a war in Iraq that did as well. They also created an entirely new entitlement program that had no source of funding and did little more than ensure the profits of the phara companies. The expected costs according to CBO are 300 billion. According the CBO, which has an outstanding record, the Obama policies would create 900 billion less in deficits over 10 years than if we left the last adminstration’s policies in place (Bush and the congress used a series of gimmicks to mask the true numbers).
Here is a good read on the subject:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2755
and
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=46270d4d-61a1-4c1a-af71-92b5ddda9b6c
As for her percentages with the SC, I suggest you look at the record of Samuel Alito, who had a 100 percent strike out rate. Her percentage actually, is about average. Look into it.
We agree on corporate tax rates. They’re too high.
By stede on July 14th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Pat,
If the missile system, as you suggest, is unable to stop a nuclear missile attack, then why is Russia so afraid of it’s deployment in Poland?
Maybe, just maybe, the Russians know something you don’t.
By dirtbogger on July 14th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Best way to stop a intercontinel bolistic missle is to stop policing the world, mind our on buisness and quit sending forgian aid to everyone especially Isreal. Switzerland does not bother anyone an nobody bothers Switzerland. Republicans and Democrats do a lot of chest pounding but we do their fighting, piss on them. Two sides of same coin Obama brought no change and only expanded Bushes wars and policies. The problem is dumb ass Republicans dont mind when a republicain President makes bad desisions and vise versa for the dumb ass Democrats just as long as their guy does it its ok. The last President of the People this country had was JFK, no if ands or buts! But he challenged the Military Industrial Complex so they murdered him! You all need wake up and start fighting for our freedom instead of our safty! The enomies of freedom are not on forgian soil but right here at home! We live in a facist country ruled by the eleite now!
By Pat Hendrix on July 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Yes, I’m sure the Russian nuclear arsenal could not defeat the *cough* nuclear umbrella. Right, gotcha. Airtight, that’s why the Russians oppose any expansion of NATO and NATO weaponry to their borders – they know something I don’t. It has nothing to do with an historic paranoia over being surrounded.
By James the Foot Soldier on July 14th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Patricia – denial of the truth is not a good strategy to win folks to your view. President William Jefferson Clinton was recorded on tape (in New York City of all places) stating the Saudis wanted to turn Osama Bin Laden over to America.
Or is it just a matter of what the interpretation of the words “hand him over on a silver platter” is?
Furthermore, I never stated 50% of Americans are pussies. The fact is, a vast majority of Americans support enhanced interrogation technigues. It is folks like default and you and your fellow kool-aid drinkers within the moveondotorg fold that think every word from Michael Moore’s food-gorged mouth are truth. A technique that causes NO physical damage would only be construed as torture within that cess-pool of whacked-out liberalism.
Where have all the Sam Nunn’s and Fritz Hollings of the Democrat Party gone?