Americans voted for Change

[Naked Gents Rut]

The Obama Administration has decided to press on with the Justice Department's defense of a civil lawsuit brought against John Yoo, a former department lawyer attorney whose controversial legal opinions have been roundly criticized by many members of Obama's legal team.

At a court hearing Friday morning in San Francisco, government lawyers said that despite the change in administration, there has been no change in Yoo's government-run legal defense against a suit brought by Jose Padilla, an American citizen who spent more than three years in a Navy brig after being designated as an enemy combatant.

"This administration has made no secret that we disagree with many of the previous administration's legal policies on national security issues," a Justice Department spokesman, Matt Miller, said after the court session. "Nevertheless, we generally defend employees or former employees of the department in litigation filed in connection with their official duties."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19734.html

Obama

Yoo

[Drake Tungsten]

Seeking to move beyond what he calls a "a dark and painful chapter in our history," President Barack Obama said Thursday that CIA officials who used harsh interrogation tactics during the Bush administration will not be prosecuted.

The government released four memos in which Bush-era lawyers approved in often graphic detail tough interrogation methods used against 28 terror suspects. The rough tactics range from waterboarding - simulated drowning - to keeping suspects naked and withholding solid food.

Even as they exposed new details of the interrogation program, Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, offered the first definitive assurance that those CIA officials are in the clear, as long as their actions were in line with the legal advice at the time.

Obama said the nation must protect the identity of CIA contractors and employees "as vigilantly as they protect our security."

"We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history," the president said. "But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past."

Holder told the CIA that the government would provide free legal representation to CIA employees in any legal proceeding or congressional investigation related to the program and would repay any financial judgment.

"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," Holder said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/16/politics/100days/main4950212.shtml

Obama

[Arrian]

Obama

I'm not so sure I like the bit about refusing to prosecute the torturers. I'm pleased with the release of the memos.

Just following orders...

-Arrian

[Drake Tungsten]

There's no way he can prosecute the "torturers" without a CIA revolt. This was a smart move.

[Darius871]

There's no way he can prosecute the "torturers" without a CIA revolt. This was a smart move.

What kind of "revolt" do you have in mind? Disregarding orders and getting fired for it, or mass retirement to save the trouble? They can't do ****, save for pulling a JFK...

And who the hell is Drake Tungsten, Naked Set Grunt?

[Drake Tungsten]

What kind of "revolt" do you have in mind?

Pushback against the administration, which happens all the time even when there isn't an Agency-wide beef with the President. Start prosecuting CIA officers for following presidential orders and you'll get Valerie Plame times a hundred in return.

[Darius871]

What kind of "revolt" do you have in mind?

Pushback against the administration, which happens all the time even when there isn't an Agency-wide beef with the President. Start prosecuting CIA officers for following presidential orders and you'll get Valerie Plame times a hundred in return.

What I'm asking for is the definition of "pushback." And I fail to see how Plame's analogous since she was the ****tee rather than ****tor.

[Drake Tungsten]

And I fail to see how Plame's analogous since she was the ****tee rather than ****tor.

She only got **** on because she and her husband tried and succeeded in undermining the Bush Administration.

[Grandpa Troll]

And I fail to see how Plame's analogous since she was the ****tee rather than ****tor.

She only got **** on because she and her husband tried and succeeded in undermining the Bush Administration.

Q F T

Thanks Drake

[Darius871]

She only got **** on because she and her husband tried and succeeded in undermining the Bush Administration.

Exactly - Obama would have nothing to worry about in that regard because he would never dream of stupidly exaggerating intelligence of questionable veracity for post-hoc justification of a policy decision and risk the CIA calling BS on it like the Plames did. Wouldn't dream of it.

[Drake Tungsten]

In many ways, Obama is in a weaker position vis-a-vis the CIA than Bush was. How many leaks about renditions would it take to irrevocably tarnish the Hopenchange Era?

[Darius871]

In many ways, Obama is in a weaker position vis-a-vis the CIA than Bush was. How many leaks about renditions would it take to irrevocably tarnish the Hopenchange Era?

Well obviously he'd have to cease renditions, along with any other stuff they could burn him with. I thought Panetta told Congress they'd already ended, or at least the "extraordinary" kind.

Anyway, voters don't give a **** about that **** anyway, so long as they get their free ****.

[chequita guevara]

And I fail to see how Plame's analogous since she was the ****tee rather than ****tor.

She only got **** on because she and her husband tried and succeeded in undermining the Bush Administration.

That's one way to lie about it.

[Drake Tungsten]

Educate us with the truth then, comrade.

[Darius871]

That's one way to lie about it.

What, calling BS on Nigerian yellowcake didn't undermine the Bush Administration? Or do you just mean Plame and Wilson weren't in cahoots?