"The evidence is now undeniable. President Barack Obama is flouting his unflagging constitutional obligation enshrined in Article II, Section 3 to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” He is also reneging on his signature campaign promise to restore the rule of law, transparency, and accountability to the White House. He is displaying the psychology of an arrogant empire as opposed to a modest republic in continuing and escalating the Bush-Cheney duumvirate’s global and perpetual war against international terrorism heedless of foreign sovereignties or the lives of civilians."
Bruce Fein, constitutional lawyer and former Associate Deputy Attorney General under Reagan, discusses the Obama administration's record on torture, secrecy, and the rule of law.
Update: Andrew Sullivan on Obama, Bush, and the Rule of Law: "...Obama's refusal to investigate war crimes is itself against the law."
Update II: Regarding Torture (via Glenn).
Monday, April 20, 2009
How Obama Excused Torture
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3 comments:
Jesus Christ. I can only echo the sentiment of Sullivan, Greenwald, and the others; with the release of the 4 DOJ memos, their contents, and with the language of the law being so plain, the fact that there is any debate over prosecution, whatsoever, truly speaks to the spirit of the times: America as a Bananna Republic.
I guess that the Obama administraion noticed the outrage. Despite Rahm Emmanuel's claims on Sunday, and Robert Gibbs' claims yesterday, that neither CIA officials nor administration figures responsible for the memos would be prosecuted, Obama is now claiming that the decision will be left up to the DOJ.
From the NY Times article:
"Mr. Obama said Tuesday that he feared a Congressional inquiry would turn partisan and divide the country. “I do worry about this getting so politicized that we cannot function effectively,” he said, “and that it hampers our ability to carry out critical national security operations.” He said he would prefer an inquiry “outside of the typical hearing process,” with “independent participants who are above reproach and have credibility.”
Good call. I mean, this could cause a partisan apocolypse that would surely end in the meltdown of the country as we know it, rather than result in the sexy orgy that we're all wishing for. But I think the president is wrong. We should just be pussies and not do anything; fuck independents, fuck congress, fuck courts, fuck questions. 'Cause seriously guys, we need to be looking forward.
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