Time For A Torture Commission

Andrew Cohen: Americans - And The World - Deserve Full Accounting Of Past Torture Policies

(CBS)  Attorney Andrew Cohen analyzes legal issues for CBS News and CBSNews.com.

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Let me hereby add my harmonic voice to the burgeoning chorus of lawyers, politicians, professors and pundits who believe that President Barack Obama’s Justice Department should not even attempt to prosecute Bush Administration officials who authorized the use of torture against terror detainees. Even if such prosecutions are legally tenable - and I doubt they are - the spectacle of public trials over anti-terror measures would split asunder the unity that Team Obama has tried to foster since his election to the White House.

Instead, as many terror-law geeks already have suggested, Washington’s new leaders ought to spend whatever political capital they have in this area on the formation and endorsement of a blue-ribbon commission, similar to the vaunted 9/11 Commission, that would investigate all aspects of the Bush administration’s torture policies. At a minimum, the American people deserve a full accounting of how it came to pass that so many leaders (elected and unelected) approved and implemented such practices in our name and on our behalf. Call it the “National Commission on Torture Policies.”

Indeed, the very act of chartering such a commission, and ensuring that it is fair and thorough, would send a productive message to the world (so much of it disappointed in the loss of our moral standing caused by Abu Ghraib and other torture-related scandals.). That message would be this: Even when we make grievous mistakes in judgment, we, as a people and a nation, have the self awareness and confidence in our own institutions, to shine a public light on those failures in order to help ensure that they do not occur again. In my view, there is no excuse for the machinations which led us to waterboard people. But a frank explanation sure would be helpful.

So how to do it? Well, first, the White House has to find courageous, bright, dogged people to head up the Torture Commission. A few years ago, Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, two lions of governance and integrity, chaired the 9/11 Commission, the final report of which was called by the Brookings Institution “an invaluable, detailed and authoritative history.” Why not, then, bring those two men back and allow them to chair the new commission?

They already are experts in our government’s response to September 11, 2001. They already know how to investigate well without jeopardizing national security. They know how to deal with classified information. They’d be perfect stars in a sequel. But they would need help. Former senator John Warner (R-Va.), head of the Armed Services Committee for so many years, also should be asked to serve. What a valuable institutional voice he would be. Bob Kerrey, another veteran of the 9/11 Commission, also should be invited back and maybe someone should call Gary Hart, who wrote about terrorism long before it was "popular" to do so.

The nation also would be served by inviting non-governmental experts to help in the effort to undercover the layers of deceit that marked our trail into torture. How about Georgetown Law Professor David Cole, one of academia’s leading voices in describing the legal impact on the war on terror. He’s been a strident critic of the current administration’s legal decisions - but this shouldn’t discount him. Ruth Wedgwood, currently a law professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Scott Silliman, an expert in military law at Duke, also would be good choices to serve. They are each brilliant and level-headed.

But we can’t just populate the panel with eggheads. Any commission on torture is going to need a dogged investigate arm - led by someone who isn’t afraid of powerful people. That’s why President Obama should ask Patrick J. Fitzgerald, currently the U.S. Attorney in Illinois, to serve on the panel as its lead investigator. Fitzgerald, who went after I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby in the CIA Leak Case won’t be afraid to go after Dick Cheney and John Yoo and David Addington. Perhaps it is also time to call to public service journalists Jane Meyer and Benjamin Wittes, who also know more than most about justice in a time of terror. They would help shed light where darkness now lies.

To do it right, to give the new commission the best chance to succeed, the White House will have to make some compromises. For example, the Justice Department should grant full legal immunity (except for perjury) to any and all government witnesses who are called testify. This guarantees that there will be no future torture prosecutions. But it also guarantees that we all will know more about what happened and why. To me, this honesty and transparency is more valuable than some pyrrhic court battle that would last for years without any assurance of success. Sometimes those who deserve punishment evade it. That’s just life.

Without such immunity, Yoo and Addington and Cheney and Gonzales and all the other architects and builders of the road to Abu Ghraib would be able to remain mute. With it they would be forced under threat of contempt sanctions to swear under oath and then testify truthfully. And to help ensure that these former officials and others speak fully and candidly, the White House also should be prepared to waive “executive privilege” to the extent that it is raised by the men and women who technically legalized such odious work. If these officials still don’t talk, or if they commit perjury, the federal courts will not look kindly upon them.

It’s time for us to face our mistakes; to air our dirty laundry on torture, and to come up with recommendations so we can avoid this down the road. That won’t happen in a criminal case against Alberto Gonzales or Dick Cheney (who’s proudly admitted his role in approving harsh interrogation methods). It will happen when Democrats and Republicans together search for answers the way they did in formulating the 9/11 Commission Report. And, not for nothing, if anyone on the panel needs an over-experienced but diligent clerk, well, count me in.

[stopkidding]

What a relief! Thank God I tortured all of those people before January of 2009!

[eroosevelt08]

Oh, I think public trials can be very healthy for this country!

[questionnews]

Before anything happens, figure out exactly what defines torture.
Is loud music torture?
Is sleep deprivation torture?
Is naked picture of Lisa Minnelli torture?
Is being forced to watch "The View" torture?

We need clear definitions.

[hdc77494]

Calling actions that leave the suspect unharmed is the left''s way of undermining the republicans they hate. Waterboarding only makes a person think they will drown. The congressional intelligence committes were fully informed of the policies, exactly what methods were used, and who they were used on. Their only question was why are we not using the same methods, or worse, on more suspects. Having a "commission" and explaining ourselves (or making excuses) to a public that believes what they want to hear.

[secundus2]

Calling it a "torture" commission prejudges the outcome. Such a commission would have to examine the role of Congressional Intelligence committees as well (and some sitting members are probably immune).

The best option: if there are allegations of torture, bring criminal cases.

If Congress wishes to outlaw specific techniques of interrogation under all or most circumstances, let it do so.

[sanfelz]

The problem with Kean and Hamilton is that one insisted upon, and the other agreed to, a 911 Commission Report that insisted on a unanimous conclusions. Consequently, the warts and errors pre- and post 911 were hidden under a cloak of unanimity. The report, and the nation, would have benefitted from a vigorous debate and minority opinions.

[hologram5]

Just a bunch of conspiritorial nut jobs. So what hit the Pentagon, an airplane that left engine parts at the impact zone.
Abraham Lincoln shot himself, it was just a giant coverup. Kennedy''''s wife had him snuffed for infidelity.
Bill Clinton and G H Bush planned the first bombing of the Twin Towers to create a bipartisan feeling among the people.



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Posted by jowand at 09:34 PM : Jan 08, 2009
+ report abuse
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You need to wake up. If you had seen anything on this you would have seen that the parts that were left over from the engines were parts from an engine retired 20 years ago. These parts have not been used in many years.

[ofbyfor3]

Awar crimes tribunal would not be in the bewst interest of the country. The only problem with a Commission is that even with immunity the Bush people are unlikely to come clean. They perjured themselves to start an unecessary war. Why would they stop lying now?

Posted by IMNHO at 10:42 PM : Jan 08, 2009

I''m not sure that it would be in the best interests of the country either. But it DOES beg the question: Was investigating Clinton for a BJ any MORE productive for the country?

I think not. The Starr investigation cost the taxpayers over $6 million. And over a marital infidelity that pales in comparison to this issue. Just saying...

[babooph]

Torturers not legally able to be prosecuted ??What kind of spin [LIE] is this propaganda-it surely qualifies as terrorism & all could be imprisoned for life ,without trial now that the bill of rights is gone.

[irmcvet971]

Ya might wanna forget the torture commission nonsense as America will be attacked within 30 days of Obama taking office.

Posted by donbl1 at 08:06 PM : Jan 08, 2009


Why is that? Oh! Don''t tell me the fuhrer and the Reich DIDN''T do what they PROMISED? Now help me out here Sparky but didn''t YOU fascist PROMISE to bring those who attacked this nation to justice...HUNT them down? Are you saying the FUHRER and the PARTY didn''t do what they PROMISED?? What''s that you say?? They attacked ANOTHER Country INSTEAD?? Honestly Sparky I really don''t think YOU are someone we should be listening to right now! Now be a good little fascist and go play with your Confederate Flag!! Sieg Heil Y''all.

[irmcvet971]

Renditions started under Bubba, and the Senate and House leadership from both paties were fully aware of what was going on, under Clinton and Bush. So get ready for BI-PARTISAN prosecution trials.

Posted by jowand at 09:19 PM : Jan 08, 2009

It''s AMAZING!! Absolutely AMAZING! Someone comes up with an Idea and these fascist start sandbagging! LOL Someone says the Bush Administration was WAY to secret and WE the PEOPLE need an accounting of what and why they did what they did and this poor 6th grade drop out starts IMMEDIATELY trying to blame Clinton or someone else. It''s like HE KNOWS wrongs were committed but like we did as children, he wants to blame the kid next door. He did it mommy so why can''t I? ROFLMAO Any question of HOW we got in this mess, just LOOK at this fool!!

[ramos937]

None of the powers that be have ever been held accountable for their use of torture. General Miller, the military guy mainly responsible for torture at GITMO and Abu Grahib has even refused to testify in front of Congress and the Pentagon has not disciplined him for that.

The Obama AG should immediately conduct an investigation into this matter and pursue the responsible inviduals to the fullest extent of the law.

Torture does not work and my authority for this is Senator McCain who does know.

[smurfcrusher]

Only by pursuing these war crimes and prosecuting all responsible, will we be able to deter future tyrants and war criminals - foreign or domestic.

We can''t put politics above human rights.

[imnho]

Awar crimes tribunal would not be in the bewst interest of the country. The only problem with a Commission is that even with immunity the Bush people are unlikely to come clean. They perjured themselves to start an unecessary war. Why would they stop lying now?

[ioweign]

Renditions started under Bubba, and the Senate and House leadership from both paties were fully aware of what was going on, under Clinton and Bush. So get ready for BI-PARTISAN prosecution trials.

Posted by jowand at 09:19 PM : Jan 08, 2009

Go back further...

http://www.pwcamp.algona.org/

The subject was torture though...

[jowand]

General Albert Stubblebine, former commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence. "I look at the hole in the Pentagon and I look at the size of an airplane that was supposed to have hit the Pentagon. And I said, %u2018The plane does not fit in that hole%u2019. So what did hit the Pentagon? What hit it? Where is it? What''''s going on?"

For more information on these and 1,000 other credible critics of the official account of 9/11, visit http://PatriotsQuestion911.com

Posted by AlanMiller3 at 04:05 PM : Jan 08, 2009.

Just a bunch of conspiritorial nut jobs. So what hit the Pentagon, an airplane that left engine parts at the impact zone.
Abraham Lincoln shot himself, it was just a giant coverup. Kennedy''s wife had him snuffed for infidelity.
Bill Clinton and G H Bush planned the first bombing of the Twin Towers to create a bipartisan feeling among the people.

[jowand]

Renditions started under Bubba, and the Senate and House leadership from both paties were fully aware of what was going on, under Clinton and Bush. So get ready for BI-PARTISAN prosecution trials.

[sandycat2]

When countries like Syria and Iran and Eygpt and Pakistan come clean about their torture activities, then the US will come clean on our torture activities and not before.

[donbl1]

Ya might wanna forget the torture commission nonsense as America will be attacked within 30 days of Obama taking office.

[babooph]

Generations of Bushes have never been prosecuted for their crimes &NEVER WILL.