What About the Next Time?

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

What About the Next Time? [Victoria Toensing]

“All volunteers step forward. We have a person in custody who is high-ranking al-Qaeda. He taunts that an attack on United States soil is imminent but laughs mockingly when we ask for specifics. We need interrogators.” Such was the threat in the summer of 2002 when the CIA asked the Justice Department for guidance on what its personnel could do to get such information from captured al-Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubdayah.

Since then, the lawyers who stepped forward to provide carefully structured counsel have been criminally investigated and told that, even if they are not prosecuted, their conduct will be turned over to their state bars. The interrogators who stepped forward were promised in early spring by President Obama that, even if they erred in judgment while protecting our country, the president would rather “move forward.” However, in late summer, they are under criminal scrutiny.

Even though an earlier investigation by career prosecutors reviewed the same conduct and refused prosecution of all but one contract employee who was brought to trial in 2007. Even though congressional leaders had knowledge of the interrogation techniques and made no attempt to stop them. Even though the conduct is more than six years old. Even though the CIA has taken administrative action against some of the personnel involved in the interrogations. Even though being just a target of a criminal investigation costs thousands of dollars in legal fees. Even though being just a target of a criminal investigation takes a horrendous mental toll. Even though the morale of the CIA will plunge to the depths it did in the wake of the Church Committee attacks. Even though the release of the names of those being scrutinized will make them terrorist targets for the rest of their lives. Even if they are cleared.

The next time our government employees are asked to step forward to get information of a possible, even probable, imminent attack, no one will. Even though . . .

— Ms. Toensing is a former chief counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a former deputy assistant attorney general, criminal division. She is in private practice in Washington, D.C.

The world has just become a much more dangerous place.

1 posted on 08/25/2009 4:46:07 PM PDT by greyfoxx39

To: brytlea; Diana in Wisconsin; Kakaze; Tammy8; unkus; metmom; Cap Huff; svcw; leapfrog0202; Concho; ..

Victoria Toensing ping

2 posted on 08/25/2009 4:49:28 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 (BARF of the YEAR: Obama "We are God's partners in matters of life and death,")

I made the mistake of watching the Fox panel tonight. Juan Williams actually said that some of our interrogators pulled fingernails out. I don’t know how he can look at himself in a mirror without feeling disgust.

3 posted on 08/25/2009 4:59:28 PM PDT by maica (Politics is not about facts. it is about what politicians can get people to believe. - Thomas Sowell)

Who knows what will happen, I don't want anything to hit the homeland but if something big did happen BO and Holderman will be responsible and my greatest hope is that BO is a one term Carter.

4 posted on 08/25/2009 5:00:32 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Warning: Some words may be misspelled/ You will get over it / Klingon is my 1st language)

“The world has just become a more dangerous place”

Hard not to be a more dangerous place with a President who feels it is necessary to “change” this country into a bad remake of Nazi Germany.

5 posted on 08/25/2009 5:01:12 PM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))

"The world has just become a much more dangerous place."

Not for everybody..

6 posted on 08/25/2009 5:11:57 PM PDT by Jaxter (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum.)

7 posted on 08/25/2009 5:12:40 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck. (Let them eat arugula!))

Those CIA wont have much to do now.......I wonder if they could put together a really nice Kenya birth certificate ?

8 posted on 08/25/2009 5:18:58 PM PDT by woofie

Those CIA wont have much to do now.......I wonder if they could put together a really nice Kenya birth certificate ?

Wouldn't that be a kick in the butt, ROTFL!

9 posted on 08/25/2009 5:21:54 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 (BARF of the YEAR: Obama "We are God's partners in matters of life and death,")

10 posted on 08/25/2009 5:24:18 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 (BARF of the YEAR: Obama "We are God's partners in matters of life and death,")

Victoria Toensing supported Eric Holder for Attorney General.

11 posted on 08/25/2009 5:59:10 PM PDT by Taliesan

Who should worry more?

The CIA knowing that the President is having them investigated...

The President knowing that the CIA is having HIM investigated...

12 posted on 08/25/2009 6:08:37 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

The President knowing that the CIA is having HIM investigated...

If only.... But Leon Panetta will protect ZERO to the bitter end.

13 posted on 08/25/2009 6:23:48 PM PDT by Bullish ( Reality is the best cure for delusion.)

There may be other Charlie Wilson’s hanging around...

14 posted on 08/26/2009 3:40:30 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

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