Obama strikes a deal with CIA torturers not to prosecute them. This is a victory for Bush’s lawyers who justified torture.
by Jeremy Scahill
The White House has announced that CIA operatives, including contractors, who followed Bush guidelines for torturing prisoners will not be prosecuted for these actions, regardless of the Obama administration’s position on the legality of the techniques they used. “[I]t is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution,” President Obama said in a statement released today. This seems to be part of a deal struck with the CIA over the release of several torture memos today and it is a victory for Bush administration lawyers who sought to provide legal cover for US government torture.
The Washington Post also reported:
For the first time, officials said that they would provide legal representation at no cost to CIA employees in international tribunals or U.S. congressional inquiries into alleged torture. They also said they would indemnify agency workers against any possible financial judgments.
“It would be unfair to prosecute dedicated men and women working to protect America for conduct that was sanctioned in advance by the Justice Department,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.
Read on...
Peacenik thinks this is a very downer story for a beautiful Friday morning. No accountability. No Justice. Peacenik thinks the reason there will be no torture prosecutions is that Obama is afraid of the whacko wingnut backlash. Fox News. CNBC. And all the rightwing pundits who continue to pollute and shape the U.S. media.
If there is no prosecution, the U.S. is only one terrorist act or one election away from returning to full scale torture. And Peacenik isn't kidding Peacenik's self. The torture continues. And before Peacenik gets too worked up remember that Canada is completely complicit in the torture. Canada hands over detainees who are tortured. We are all torturers. Think about that while you quaff your beer and watch the hockey playoffs.
Peacenik needs to calm Peacenik's self. Peacenik needs to go back to reading about solar ovens.
by Jeremy Scahill
The White House has announced that CIA operatives, including contractors, who followed Bush guidelines for torturing prisoners will not be prosecuted for these actions, regardless of the Obama administration’s position on the legality of the techniques they used. “[I]t is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution,” President Obama said in a statement released today. This seems to be part of a deal struck with the CIA over the release of several torture memos today and it is a victory for Bush administration lawyers who sought to provide legal cover for US government torture.
The Washington Post also reported:
For the first time, officials said that they would provide legal representation at no cost to CIA employees in international tribunals or U.S. congressional inquiries into alleged torture. They also said they would indemnify agency workers against any possible financial judgments.
“It would be unfair to prosecute dedicated men and women working to protect America for conduct that was sanctioned in advance by the Justice Department,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.
Read on...
Peacenik thinks this is a very downer story for a beautiful Friday morning. No accountability. No Justice. Peacenik thinks the reason there will be no torture prosecutions is that Obama is afraid of the whacko wingnut backlash. Fox News. CNBC. And all the rightwing pundits who continue to pollute and shape the U.S. media.
If there is no prosecution, the U.S. is only one terrorist act or one election away from returning to full scale torture. And Peacenik isn't kidding Peacenik's self. The torture continues. And before Peacenik gets too worked up remember that Canada is completely complicit in the torture. Canada hands over detainees who are tortured. We are all torturers. Think about that while you quaff your beer and watch the hockey playoffs.
Peacenik needs to calm Peacenik's self. Peacenik needs to go back to reading about solar ovens.
