President Holds Open Door For Prosecutions of Bush Officials For...

ABC ^ | 4/21/2009 | Jake Tapper

[markomalley]

President Holds Open Door For Prosecutions of Bush Officials For Interrogation Policies, Truth Commission

President Obama suggested today that it remained a possibility that the Justice Department might bring charges against officials of the Bush administration who devised harsh interrogation policies that some see as torture.

He also suggested that if there is any sort of investigation into these past policies and practices, he would be more inclined to support an independent commission outside the typical congressional hearing process.

Both statements represented breaks from previous White House statements on the matter.

While the Bush-era memos providing legal justifications for enhanced interrogation methods "reflected us losing our moral bearings," the president said, he also that he did not think it was "appropriate" to prosecute those CIA officers who "carried out some of these operations within the four corners of the legal opinions or guidance that had been provided by the White House."

But in clear change from language he and members of his administration have used in the past, the president said that "with respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General within the parameters of various laws and I don’t want to prejudge that. I think that there are a host of very complicated issues involved there."

Just yesterday, asked by a reporter as to why the administration was not seeking to "hold accountable" Bush administration lawyers who may have "twisted the law," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, "the president is focused on looking forward, that's why."

On Sunday, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that "those who devised policy, he (the president) believes that they were -- should not be prosecuted either, and that's not the place that we go." Emanuel quoted President Obama saying, "'this is not a time for retribution.' It's time for reflection. It's not a time to use our energy and our time in looking back and any sense of anger and retribution."

The president made his Tuesday remarks in the Oval Office during a joint press availability with His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein.

Mr. Obama also today said that if there is any sort of commission or investigation into the approval and use of these interrogation methods, he would prefer that it be an independent bipartisan commission and not a congressional hearing, though he was clear to state that he was not expressing an opinion on whether should there be hearings.

"If and when there needs to be a further accounting of what took place during this period," the president said, "I think for Congress to examine ways in which it can be done in a bipartisan fashion --outside of the typical hearing progress that can sometimes break down and break entirely along party lines, to accept that there are independent participants who are above reproach and have credibility -- I think that would be a more sensible approach."

The president said that he's "not suggesting that should be done but I’m saying that if you’ve got a choice, I think it’s very important for the American people to feel as if this is not being dealt with to provide one side or the other political advantage, but rather it’s being done in order to learn some lessons so that we can move forward in an effective way."

Mr. Obama also stated his "general view," that "we should be looking forward and not backwards. I do worry about this getting so politicized that we can not function effectively and it hampers ability our ability to  carry out critical national security operations."

He said he considered it his "most profound obligation" to keep "the American people safe" and said he went to the CIA yesterday to communicate to officials who work to protect the American people to say "to all those who overwhelmingly do so in a lawful, dedicated fashion, that I have their back."

[markomalley]

I know that this is not the first time this subject is posted (thus "extended" vice "breaking"), but don't remember the others talking about truth commissions (haven't heard that one for a few weeks)

[Parley Baer]

If this happens I bet you will see some “tea” parties that liberals don’t expect.

[Argus]

How can any fair minded person have any doubt remaining that Obama intends to make himself the dictator of the US?

[Sudetenland]

Getting ready for kangaroo courts and Soviet style show trials...our Marxist in Chief is adhering to form.

[Dr. Ursus]

Obama can’t stand up against anybody in his own party!

[Braak]

He said he considered it his "most profound obligation" to keep "the American people safe" and said he went to the CIA yesterday to communicate to officials who work to protect the American people to say "to all those who overwhelmingly do so in a lawful, dedicated fashion, that I have their back."

So long as he can shove a knife in it. Get ready folks...here comes the Lib Kristallnacht, and guess who's going to be on the wrong end?

[PubliusMM]

And so it continues... 0Bama’s methodical, diabolical slink toward total control and his utopian socialism. Campaign rhetoric proven to be just that - rhetoric. No principled stand that supports the US Constitution, the legacy of the US, or the fabric of freedom that made this country great.

Time now for ‘truth squads’, partisan recriminations, even prosecution of those who have gone before, regardless of the fact that we have had no repeat of the barbaric savagery that was 9/11.

I am fearful that the US is so far down the path to the vision of the anointed one that we may never recover.

It’s time to take back the country.

[TexasNative2000]

While the Bush-era memos providing legal justifications for enhanced interrogation methods "reflected us losing our moral bearings," the president said,

No person who approves of abortion on demand, including partial birth abortions, needs to be lecturing me about "losing our moral bearings".

[4integrity]

‘..If this happens I bet you will see some “tea” parties..’

exactly what I told the White House comment line Operator.
also told the Operator....do we have more money to spend on nonsense investigations? Also, the President is willing to ‘forgive’ travesties of Castro, Chavez, Ortega but not wrongdoings that he believes were done by Bush Admin which millions of Americans supported cause they kept us safe for 8 years. ENOUGH!

[LasVegasMac]

No person who approves of abortion on demand, including partial birth abortions, needs to be lecturing me about "losing our moral bearings".

Well put.........

[Twinkie]

IF he pulls this, decent Americans need to STAND UP for the people who are charged with defending this country and then prosecuted for it after the fact. The people he seeks to prosecute were operating under the authority of a DIFFERENT PRESIDENT at that time!!! CLERKS and SECRETARIES pep rally for him (while the REAL agents are out really in harm’s way). He has, by releasing top secret documents, revealed to Al Quaida and all TERRORISTS that the so-called TORTURE tactics were in reality JUST SPOOFS and NO ONE IS GOING TO HURT THEM NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO! What is wrong with this guy??? He has gone too far when this sort of injustice to those who must defend this country are treated like criminals just to insure that the Obamassiah gets unlimited terms in office.

[San Jacinto]

I expect you are right, and whether it goes forward or not apparently depends on obama finding 2 or 3 RINO’s to provide the dim attack dogs with cover for a “bi-partisan” commission. It shouldn’t be too hard to find them.

[70th Division]

So much for the three seperate but equal branches of government

[TexasCajun]

It seems Obamah thinks all forms of U.S. military psychological operations to be torture?

[william clark]

[Mister Muggles]

TRUTH Commission? How utterly Orwellian...

What’s next, the Ministry of Fairness?

[neocon1984]

This is all about distracting the sheeple.

The “prosecutions” don’t have a leg to stand on. Any semi-serious attempts would unite conservatives more than it would pacify the far lefties.

[Always Independent]

We’ll also have the pleasure to see pelosi, reid and all the other demon leaders get called to the stand and have to testify that they were fully briefed on the issues of why torture was being conducted. This will be fun to watch. Bama and co. will also have to explain in detail why the other memos that detail the success of the CIA efforts to extract information from the suspects is not being released. Bama’s grandstanding for the left is going to blow up on him.

[genghis]

the guy seems more like stalin everyday.

[Sig Sauer P220]

I am fearful that the US is so far down the path to the vision of the anointed one that we may never recover.

It’s time to take back the country.

Damnit, I need more ammo.