[Sosfbay-discuss] "The Accountability Imperative"

[Brian Good]

Hi Rob,

   Andrew Sullivan recently put forth the theory that by appearing to do
nothing, Obama was making Cheney crazy with waiting so he "puts
his head in the noose".  (1)

   Noting that Bush and Rice had declined to criticize the new president, 
Sullivan said that for Cheney to comment at all was "unseemly and 
unusual," and added that Cheney's remarks were were tantamout to 
accusing Obama of treason.  Sullivan says that "coming out so 
forcefully and so publicly.... intent on asserting that the torture 
programme he set
up was legal, moral and defensible.... he may come 
to regret making that move...."

    Sullivan also discusses the impending release of three "ugly" 2005 
memos about torture practices.  Now CIA director Leon Panetta is 
trying to block their declassification.  Jameel Jaffer, an ACLU lawyer, 
said "This is arguably the most important
test thus far of the Obama 
administration's commitment to transparency." (2)

   Though Horton seems to credit Obama with ending the extraordinary 
rendition program; Sullivan says it was only rolled back to Clinton-era 
standards--which sucked.  I am not very confident that we will get
Congress to undertake an investigation of Bush tortures, because any
honest probe will uncover Pelosi's complicity and the history under 
Clinton.

    Clinton started such renditions in 1995 after Gore said "Of course it's 
illegal. That's why it's a covert op."  They flew a kidnapped prisoner to 
Egypt in that year, and George Tenet told the 9/11 Commission that 
several dozen renditions were done before 9/11.  The CIA's Michael 
Scheuer said they could send a question to the Egyptian interrogators 
in the morning and get an answer from the detainee by the afternoon. 
Later he told a subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign 
Affairs:  

   "I have read and been told that Mr. Clinton, Mr. Berger and Mr. Clarke

    have said, since 9/11, that they insisted that each receiving country

    treat the rendered person it received according to U.S. legal
standards. 
    To the best of my memory, that is a lie."

    I can't resist a buit of moralizing:  This is what's wrong with just even a 
little bit of wrong-doing, even for a good cause. Your doings will be cited by 
those who come after you as justification for much greater wrongs done for 
bad causes, and will help them escape accountability.

1.  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/andrew_sullivan/article5992569.ece

2.  http://www.newsweek.com/id/192314/page/1


   




> From: rob.means at electric-bikes.com
> To: sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org
> Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:12:51 -0800
> Subject: Re: [Sosfbay-discuss] "The Accountability Imperative"
> 
> I agree that Bush administration torturers must be tried and punished.
> I'm hoping that Obama's reluctance to act is actually a decision to use
> one of Sun Tsu's tactics of war called "Kill with a borrowed knife."
> Why should he take on the grief of trying Bush himself when someone else
> will do it for him?  By not opposing the Spanish and Brits, he is
> already giving tacit approval to the prosecution.  Before Bush is
> arrested, Obama would be well advised to get on board and add the U. S.
> as another nation seeking justice through the Spanish Court.  IMO,
> anything less would be dishonorable.
> 
> Rob Means, Electro Ride Bikes and Scooters
> 408-262-8975   rob.means at electric-bikes.com
> 1421 Yellowstone Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035-6913
> Discover cycling that's Easy, Safe, Fast - and FUN!
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---
>  
> 
> 
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