Feinstein to Obama: Torture prosecutions should still be on the table.
Feinstein to Obama: Torture prosecutions should still be on the table.
In recent days, President Obama has reiterated his pledge to oppose prosecutions of individuals responsible for torture under the Bush administration. However, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) yesterday wrote to the President and asked him to keep the door open to prosecutions. From the text of the letter, obtained by ThinkProgress:
I am writing to respectfully request that comments regarding holding individuals accountable for detention and interrogation related activities be held in reserve until the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is able to complete its review of the conditions and interrogations of certain high value detainees.
This study is now underway, and I estimate its completion within the next six to eight months. A study of the first two detainees has already been completed and will shortly be before the committee.
Please join our campaign calling on Congress to begin impeachment hearings against Jay Bybee.
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It doesn’t make up for voting to confirm Mukasey. But it’s a step in the right direction.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:24 amOh, this is going to be interesting. When the Republicans start screaming that this is a partisan witch hunt, Obama can now say that, initially, he took it off the table. It was only when an outcry from the American People compelled him that prosecutions were put back on the table.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:29 amGotta love the separation of powers.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:37 amAnother smart move my Obama. He’s in effect positioned himself to say, “Hey, I was willing to let the past remain in the past and move forward, but I have no authority to prevent Congress and/or the Justice Department to move forward on investigations and possible prosecutions.”
April 21st, 2009 at 11:39 amDiFi must be getting heat from constituents, otherwise she wouldn’t give a rat’s ass & certainly not publicly. I’m betting she actually doesn’t give one but it’s important to make noise now, fold quietly later if expedient or told to do so.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:39 amObama to Feinstein you got caught for the second time giving your husband millions of taxpayers money in contract. Obama to Feinstein you approved all of Bush/Cheney Policy now you want to act like you didn’t know about it. Talk to the hand the big ears aren’t listening.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:40 amGood on Feinstein – I think that it’s going to take pressure from American people and Congress to get this process moving forward. Let the Rethuglicans scream and let their heads explode. LOL
April 21st, 2009 at 11:41 amAnd Yet,
You nailed DiFi’s MO!
April 21st, 2009 at 11:42 amConservativeForProgress Says:
THE STUPIDITY, THE IGNORANCE, IT BURNS!!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2009 at 11:43 amcfp, no legal memo was penned in the policies in place leading to these supposedly worsening conditions. How convenient of you to omit that gitmo is due for closure. The previous administration’s crimes are their own, and your strawman won’t change a thing.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:44 amdixie blood @ 9-
Yeah, unfortunately we’ve all seen this movie before.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:46 amtorture prosecutions should still be on the table
phucking A straight
April 21st, 2009 at 11:50 amOT only kinda but important…
This link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/us/politics/21harman.html?_r=1
points to the problem we have with the Democrats in power and the unchecked, undue influence of Israel over our elected officials and our government.
I had hoped that TP would post this. I sent the link as an email. This cannot be ignored!!!!!
Harman and Pelosi both must resign. And this might just explain Feinstein’s sudden “change of heart!!!!”
April 21st, 2009 at 11:52 amHoly smokes, Batman! When Dianne Feinstein is reining in your torture apologia, you’ve gone way too far!!
April 21st, 2009 at 11:52 amcareful DIFI……investigations and prosecutions will lead to the cracking open of the AIPAC and the rest of the zionist agenda.
you’ll be walking back that advocacy shortly
April 21st, 2009 at 11:53 amConservativeForProgress Says:
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Then, of course, we’ll follow it with prosecutions of the Obama administration based upon first hand reports that conditions at Gitmo have “worsened sharply” since he has taken office.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am
From your link :
Exclusive: Lawyer says Guantanamo abuse worse since Obama
Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:23pm EST
LONDON (Reuters) – Abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay has worsened sharply since President Barack Obama took office as prison guards “get their kicks in” before the camp is closed, according to a lawyer who represents detainees.
How is Obama liable/responsible for this type of behavior ?
It isn’t a direct or even an implied order from the CIC , you stupid tool…………..
April 21st, 2009 at 11:54 amWe seem to have forgotten what an independent DoJ looks like. So whenever Obama says he’s not interested in prosecution we take that to mean he intends to interfere with any potential DoJ investigations, because that’s the sort of behavior we’re used to.
.
ConservativeForProgress Says:
Then, of course, we’ll follow it with prosecutions of the Obama administration based upon first hand reports that conditions at Gitmo have “worsened sharply” since he has taken office.
(your link)
Quit spamming that. Nobody’s impressed.
.
dixie blood Says:
OT only kinda but important…
dixie, TP has that story here, and here.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:57 amConservativeForProgress Says:
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Try reading the rest of the article.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:57 am
Try dealing in reality instead of going off on some half-assed fishing expedition ………..
April 21st, 2009 at 12:00 pmDiFink (Jello Jay in drag) doesn’t want real investigations or hearings. She’s like Spector and Leahy; tough sounding (on the side of justice and god), then undercutting she position and causing the whole effort to implode. As has been stated before, she’s culpable for the excesses of Bushco and will cover her backside at any cost.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:00 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Try reading the rest of the article.
You should do that, yes.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
What I would prefer to see is someone who isn’t worried about protecting their ‘political future’ doing the investigations.
Is it possible there is an ‘agenda-free’ individual out there…anyone?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:04 pmCFP, you’re not getting anywhere. Is that story posted out of sincere outrage or is it an attempt on your part to scrape for a few political coins out from under the cushions?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:05 pmThanks ElBruce…I missed it…it’s not the first time…8-))
April 21st, 2009 at 12:05 pmI estimate its completion within the next six to eight months….
…unless the public forgets about it before then.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pmdef.
Conservative: dedicated to MAINTAINING the status quo., opposes change.
Progressive; dedicated to CHANGING the status quo.
so, ConservativeForProgress, you are contradicting yourself.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:11 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
——————————————————————————–
Obama doesn’t want to prosecute and set a standard by which he, himself can be prosecuted for allowing the conditions at Guantanamo Bay to worsen under his watch.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Obama CANNOT prosecute anyone , you mental furball ; he’s the President of the US , not Judge of the US………
BTW
He just said during a Q&A session with reporters after meeting with the King of Jordan , that investigations/prosecutions of those involved in regards to trying to justify/legalize torture are left up to his AG , Eric Holder………..
April 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Obama doesn’t want to prosecute and set a standard by which he, himself can be prosecuted for allowing the conditions at Guantanamo Bay to worsen under his watch.
a) according to one lawyer
b) as opposed to creating the conditions
c) as opposed to authorizing the abuses
No really, you’ve got nothing.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pmJust breaking news on Huffingtonpost. Obama is now open to prosecuting Bush officials.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pmHer request is fair and reasonable.
Where are the similar calls from the Republican side of the aisle?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:23 pmCan’t recall the exact wording but President Obama stated that no CIA underlings who may have performed torture on detainees by following the directives in the memos would face prosecution. This leaves a bit of wiggle room regarding prosecutions as it appears that several CIA agents went much further than even the memos allowed. When the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence finishes it’s review I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a long list of abuses that took the Administrations guidelines much further than even the Bush Administration intended. These agents would be the first to willingly give up the goose as to exactly what may have been officially sanctioned. I suspect that this went much deeper than these despicable memos even allowed and I agree with Senator Feinstein that to make blanket statements of forgiveness to the CIA may be a bit too hasty. I understand to an extent that Obama needs to ease the fears of a CIA that he must rely on for National Defense but if crimes were commited there needs to be a major house cleaning and those that participated in these abuses should be made afraid enough to step forward and do their patriotic duty. Right now I have strong reservations as to the competency and ability of our CIA to perform their duties within the law. President Obama needs to step outside of that bubble that he said he would avoid. It’s rapidly closing in around him and he is becoming deaf to the continued efforts of the Progressive community.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:33 pm#21 Bushie Says
April 21st, 2009 at 12:38 pmI fear you are too right. She’s been on Intelligence Committes, vote for the Patriot Act, for the new “improved” FISA, Mukasey, Roberts. This is one statement I don’t feel the need to apologise to the rest of the country over. But’s got to put a lot into action before she’s even close to catching up. Not Holding My Breath.
“I estimate its completion within the next six to eight months”
Why six to eight months? that’s a long time from now.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:40 pmhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/obama-administration-bush_n_189521.html
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is leaving the door to open to possible prosecution of Bush administration officials who devised harsh terrorism-era interrogation tactics.
He also said Tuesday that he worries about the impact of high-intensity hearings on how detainees were treated under former President George W. Bush. But Obama did say, nevertheless, he could support a Hill investigation if it were conducted in a bipartisan way.
Obama has said he doesn’t support charging CIA agents and interrogators who took part in waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics, acting on advice from superiors that such practices were legal. But he also said that it is up to the attorney general whether to prosecute Bush administration lawyers who wrote the memos approving these tactics.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:43 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Are you STILL pushing this ignorant meme? Arent you embarassed to be so stupid? Obama should be punished because a story says the guards at Guantanamo are ON THIER OWN abusing the inmates??? MY GOD you are stupid
April 21st, 2009 at 12:45 pmJackie
Congratulations you have combined impressive stupid with long ago debunked talking points. Does the Limborg hivemind give extra credit for that?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:47 pmConservativeForProgress Says: 28
At this point you have gone beyond stupid. You are a liar and a fool. A punk who is trolling. You KNOW it is BS you dont care because you are a liar. You LIKE to tell lies you worthless punk. Go sit in the corner and STFU
April 21st, 2009 at 12:50 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Eugene: I have posted links to back my story. You have posted nothing but name calling. Typical.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
__________
We don’t need to post links to verify that you are a moron. Your posts are proof enough.
PWN
April 21st, 2009 at 1:04 pmBuh-bye, Bybee…
April 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pm.
I hear voices from the Senate asking, “Where is that Impeachment?”
Will John Conyers respond?
.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:19 pmFire Feinstein, burn the GD table, and follow the law!
How hard could it be…?
April 21st, 2009 at 1:25 pmpandoras box has been officially opened
April 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pmNot prosecuting torture is a violation of our international agreements and the Geneva conventions !
April 21st, 2009 at 1:30 pmhttp://www.propeller.com/story/2009/04/18/un-official-obama39s-decision-not-to-prosecute-torture-violates-international-law/
4.ConservativeForProgress Says: Then, of course, we’ll follow it with prosecutions of the Obama administration based upon first hand reports that conditions at Gitmo have “worsened sharply” since he has taken office.
Your article does not support your contention. This paragraph pretty much broadsides your implication:
On the other hand, the torture of detainees under bush was directed from above. Q.E.D.
You really have nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:32 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Eugene: I have posted links to back my story. You have posted nothing but name calling. Typical.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
You are such a LIAR. Your links do not in ANY way back up your ignorant claims. You are a troll. You KNOW you are a liar and just keep lying or are so brainwashed by Rush Limbaugh that you are incapable of independent thought and cant even SEE that we have completely debunked your claim is in ANY way backed up by your stupid link. If you dont like being called a liar I have a simple solution STOP LYING
April 21st, 2009 at 1:55 pmI suppose even Feinstein can get something right sometimes.
April 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pmBesides, “ConservativeForProgress” is an oxymoron…
April 21st, 2009 at 2:24 pmNah…just a moron…
April 21st, 2009 at 2:45 pmYeah… here is Feinstein saying what we want to listen, however, when it comes to the crunch, she is always a disapointment…
April 21st, 2009 at 4:47 pmDog the democrats in Congress.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:56 pmlink