Obama Rejects Interrogation Commission

Washington Post: President Tells Congressional Leaders He Wants To Look Forward

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Shailagh Murray and Paul Kane.

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President Obama rebuffed calls for a commission to investigate alleged abuses under the Bush administration in fighting terrorism, telling congressional leaders at a White House meeting yesterday that he wants to look forward instead of litigating the past.

In a lengthy exchange with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Obama appeared to back away from a statement earlier this week that suggested he could support an independent commission to examine possible abuses, according to several attendees who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could discuss the private meeting freely. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, also seeking to clarify the president's position, told reporters that "the president determined the concept didn't seem altogether workable in this case" because of the intense partisan atmosphere built around the issue.

"The last few days might be evidence of why something like this might just become a political back and forth," Gibbs said.

The push for a "truth commission," which grew from the efforts of a few human rights groups, gained fresh momentum with last week's release of the memos from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel that provided the basis for the enhanced interrogation techniques, including the practice of simulated drowning known as waterboarding. Obama has said he is opposed to holding CIA interrogators legally accountable, but in a statement last week, he left open the possibility of legal jeopardy for those who formulated the policy.

On Tuesday, Obama explicitly raised the prospect of legal consequences for Bush administration officials who authorized the techniques applied to "high value" terrorism suspects, and said if Congress is intent on investigating the tactics, an independent commission might provide a less partisan forum than a congressional panel.

Some key lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), pounced on his remarks to push for a commission with subpoena power and the ability to grant immunity to some witnesses.

As Republicans rejected the idea, Democrats were deeply divided.

Yesterday in a briefing before the White House meeting, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) instead said that the Senate intelligence committee would conduct its own review, a process that could stretch through December.

At almost the same time at another briefing across the Capitol, Pelosi told reporters that she has "always been for a truth commission," a position she reiterated at the White House meeting, one participant in the session said.

But a White House official present at the meeting said Obama told lawmakers that a commission would "open the door to a protracted, backward-looking discussion."

Boehner also urged Obama to release further classified memos detailing the questionable interrogation techniques. Former vice president Richard B. Cheney has argued that the memos will make clear that aggressive tactics yielded valuable intelligence information that prevented further terrorist attacks.

Obama responded that Cheney had done "a good job at telling his side of the story," according to Democrats and Republicans in the room. "Obama said the memos weren't as clear-cut," one attendee said.

Earlier yesterday, Boehner criticized Pelosi and leading congressional Democrats who are pushing for the panel by noting that they had been briefed on interrogation tactics as far back as September 2002.

"All of this information was downloaded to congressional leaders of both parties with no objections being raised," Boehner told reporters. "Not a word was raised at the time, not one word."

But Pelosi said leaders were never briefed about the actual use of waterboarding, saying top lawmakers were told only about the existence of legal opinions supporting its rationale.

"We were not -- I repeat -- were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used. What they did tell us is that they had . . . the Office of Legal Counsel opinions [and] that they could be used, but not that they would," she said.

In late 2002, Pelosi was the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, so she was part of the "Gang of Four" briefings given to the top members of the intelligence panels in the House and Senate. Pelosi continued receiving highly classified briefings when she became Democratic leader in 2003, as it is customary to brief the top Democrat and Republican from the House and Senate.

The select few lawmakers who were briefed about the handling of detainees were then forbidden from discussing with their colleagues what they had learned, she said.

"They don't come in to consult," Pelosi said of administration officials. "They come in to notify. They come in to notify. And you can't -- you can't change what they're doing unless you can act as a committee or as a class. You can't change what they're doing."

Staff writers Perry Bacon Jr. and Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.

[toldyouso29]

would have agreed with that assertion until I read your post. What was done or not done to Al Qaeda, radical, Islamic, terrorists doesn't matter. They are considered enemy combatants, not soldiers fighting in a war. As such they are not covered by the Geneva Convention or any other legitimate international accord. So stop saying we need to "enforce the law". Make the claim that the previous administration approved of questionable tactics, but saying this stuff was illegal only proves the statement I copied above!

These are people who use rape, torture, and execution on a daily basis. Yet you defend them? How do you look to yourself in the mirror? I shudder to think.
Posted by chefjas1960 at 11:07 PM : Apr 25, 2009


You should actually read the entire Geneva conventions--it covers all persons involved/affected by war--not just soldiers--you don't change evil r wrong by re-designating it with new categories, no matter what Cheney and Rummy said.

[toldyouso29]

Obama is the quintessential politician. Morality or true justice falls victim to the next win.

republicans want this buried to not have the damage and evil attached to their party (they'd destroy the Dem party if it was reversed and call for outlawing it like the Nazis were)

Obama wants to sweep because he is already looking to his and his party's next win--news flash--you might have to do it without most Independents and many anti-war/anti torture supporters...

Fact is, both ideas want o ignore this: THE US PROSECUTED AND PUT TO DEATH JAPANESE WHO ENGAGED IN WATERBOARDING AFTER WWII. Allowances were not made for WHY they tortured--but here we are..considering ignoring law and evil--because it is us--one party because they don't want to own the taint of war crimes--the other party because they also are complicit and don't want the gamble of prosecuting war crimes---how about the principle of prosecuting and standing up by doing the right thing--no matter the outcome or how it hurts politically? Both groups are moral cowards--and their presence has corrupted and will destroy our country as we descend sooo deep into justification and self denial, that we won't even be able to stand ourselves.

[chefjas1960]

"We are not as stupid as many of them think we are."
drsam8,
I would have agreed with that assertion until I read your post. What was done or not done to Al Qaeda, radical, Islamic, terrorists doesn't matter. They are considered enemy combatants, not soldiers fighting in a war. As such they are not covered by the Geneva Convention or any other legitimate international accord. So stop saying we need to "enforce the law". Make the claim that the previous administration approved of questionable tactics, but saying this stuff was illegal only proves the statement I copied above!

These are people who use rape, torture, and execution on a daily basis. Yet you defend them? How do you look to yourself in the mirror? I shudder to think.

[chefjas1960]

Yo Tea! There is no such word as "onother". Scary considering that the "O" is on the other side of the keyboard from the "A". As to the "Rich, Governing Elite" you must mean Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. They are all rich, powerful, and are certainly the ruling body in our country. Yes, I believe you are right. There are 2 sets of laws in our country. One allows Pelosi to call the memos "reprehensible" and another that allows her to avoid criticism for the fact that she knew about the practices and said NOTHING!

[nearl451]

What is missed by the partisans is that these comissions rarely ever find blame. They are designed to avoid blame for one side and the other. Reference: 9-11 commission, Iraq policy commission.

If anything commissions provide enough public exposure to PREVENT possibility of prosecution.

Hence Obama is RIGHT to deny a commission (CYA excercise). If the evidence is there, it's a justice matter.

[slownewsday05]

That's all.
Posted by slownewsday05 at 5:23 PM : Apr 24, 2009

You are right. That's all. I told you yesterday and I will tell you one last time now. You cannot manipulate God nor me. You seemed to have a predisposition for argument.
I would suggest you go try and "bait" other people. You are beginning to remind me of a wolf in sheeps clothing.
Posted by Stuart2560

Manipulating? LOL! Manipulating WHAT?

Baiting? How so? I am simply saying that you protest people doing the exact thing you yourself do. That's being a hypocrite. Not arguing - just making a point.

[searingtruth]

"No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass."
George Washington, letter to Benjamin Lincoln, June 29, 1788

A Future of the Brave

[slownewsday05]

Hmmm - Stuart, I recall that just yesterday you were giving me grief for editing other peoples' posts. Are you the only one who doesn't have to play by your rules?
Posted by slownewsday05 at 4:54 PM : Apr 24, 2009

I often don't copy an entire post so as to save room on the board and avert wiping others posts off to quickly. What however, I took from Rowdy was a complete thought, not just some of it. "Torture is when you cut somebody head off," I did not edit her post....I did not change anything or try to manipulate her post. Thank you.
Posted by Stuart2560

Well, I did nothing more than that with your posts yesterday.

As a matter of fact you said "And I would apprecviate you being man enough to cut and paste ALL of my statements and not just what you choose to pick out of it in an attempt to make an inane point." - Posted by Stuart2560 at 11:19 AM : Apr 23, 2009

I simply took a sentence yesterday when you whined about my not reposting your entire post. So - you just did the very thing you whined about yesterday.

Just pointing out that between that, and your rant against Joe for things you've done yourself, you really ought to take your own hypocrisy into account before judging others.

That's all.

[searingtruth]

"...Still true today. Too bad some dismiss our core ideals, for their agenda."
gravypants


Indeed fellow patriot.

Our founding fathers were simultaneously extremely flawed, and extremely wise.

Because they were a product of their time, and human. But I will forever stand in awe of their triumph over both adversities.
ST


"It is yet to be decided whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing or a curse: a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved."
George Washington, Circular to the States, 1783

A Future of the Brave

[sillyrabbit9]

Saddened AND crushed? I'm touched. However, not as much as you are in the head. AND I'M JUST GRAVY, DAGNABBIT!
Posted by gravypants at 5:03 PM

if you use "dagnabbnitt" again these guys will ban you like "cfcs"

[searingtruth]

"It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a People always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence."
George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

A Future of the Brave

[sillyrabbit9]

That's what Rowdy plays after every post, with fists pumpin in the air. lol
Posted by gravypants at 5:07 PM : Apr 24, 2009

yeah i think hes turbo retarted but i still love that little fella'

[sillyrabbit9]

listen guys....here it is//
"all i wanna do is in my zoom zoom zoom and a boom boom"

[StillServing]

Now all you Dumbama America Sucks Campaign supporters enjoy your pithy little rap session like a bunch of slimy cowards who don't have what it takes to defend your families....

Ta ta!
Posted by Rowdy107 at 4:59 PM : Apr 24, 2009

Wow! Are you really that replete with detestibility?

[searingtruth]

"It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn."
George Washington, letter to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, September 5, 1789

A Future of the Brave

[sillyrabbit9]

Yeah, well, I'm just totally saddened and crushed by your pithy little remark, gravypants, raflin, rafterman jimsmename I mean, REALLY I am. (eyeroll)
Posted by Rowdy107 at 4:56 PM

i like you rowdy buy Gravys my "ace"

[sillyrabbit9]

A Future of the Brave
Posted by searingtruth at 4:53 PM : Apr 24, 2009

whatever

[slownewsday05]

Torture is when you cut somebody head
Posted by Rowdy107 at 4:45 PM

Rowdy....would'nt this be considered murder?
Posted by Stuart2560

Hmmm - Stuart, I recall that just yesterday you were giving me grief for editing other peoples' posts. Are you the only one who doesn't have to play by your rules?

[StillServing]

and BTW we are still by far the most hated country in history
Posted by sillyrabbit9 at 4:48 PM : Apr 24, 2009

I hope we're also the still the most revered as well. I would just like to see the balance shifted toward that direction some more.

[searingtruth]

"....never said it was justifiable nor an argument...its just the way Jesus planned it all out..... and BTW we are still by far the most hated country in history"
sillyrabbit9


I don't believe that Jesus would condone the torture of anyone, for any reason.
ST


"Recently I have oft been asked the question 'What would Jesus do?'.

Well, not being religious, but recognizing Jesus Christ as a real and compassionate historical figure, I could not begin to tell you what he would do given today's complex global issues.

But I can tell you what he would not do.

Jesus would never establish a global network of secret prisons.

Jesus would never arbitrarily abduct citizens and indefinitely incarcerate them without charge or representation.

And Jesus would never torture or murder anyone."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave