Panetta: No one to be punished for interrogations

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

Panetta: No one to be punished for interrogations

WASHINGTON (AP) — CIA Director Leon Panetta says agency employees who took part in harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects are not in danger of being punished.

Panetta delivered that message to CIA employees in an e-mail Thursday, reiterating what he told Congress last month. He said then that he would oppose prosecutions of any CIA employee who adhered to their legal guidance on interrogations.

He sent the message after the Senate Intelligence Committee announced its review of the CIA's interrogation and detention program under President George W. Bush.

The committee will look at how the CIA decided whom to interrogate, whether it told Congress the truth about the program and whether it was legal. It will also try to determine whether the harsher methods the CIA used elicited valuable intelligence.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guiSGrGEQgeNObPcnAnM5TH3aHIQD96O5AEO0

[onehandle]

1. They're far down the list of who should be punished.

But the ones up the list won't be punished either.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Did anyone really expect that to happen?

:shrug:

[Demeter]

2. Panetta Better Hang At Least Cheney Out to Dry, Then

For Valerie Plame and Gitmo.

[saigon68]

3. No Problem "Ve vere only folowink orders"

Disgusting.

Yet the system jails pot smokers, food thieves, welfare queens, bad check writers and people driving without a valid DL

[acmavm]

4. Well, that should do wonders for our standing in the international

community.

[Bette Noir]

6. Go over Panetta's head. Somebody call the Hague.

[HopeHoops]

7. This could be brilliant - if they have immunity they can point fingers up the chain!

And we know where the chain ends ;}

[atreides1]

8. Nice Theory

Only one problem it ain't gonna happen!!! Why should the underlings point a finger when they were just told they were not going to be held accountable for following orders.

What would be their motivation for ratting out their bosses or former bosses?

[HopeHoops]

9. Hmm. Bush is out of office so I guess "throw money at them" is out of the question.

[pocoloco]

12. Not familiar with the CIA?

[No Elephants]

16. Oh, yeah. Obama has a plan within a plan within a plan. Nothing is as it seems.

[stillcool]

10. there goes Spector's desire...

for prosecution.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Leon 'Sgt Schultz' Panetta

"I know nothing, I see nothing."
And yet the administration supports the jailing of non violent 'offenders', victimless crimes are punished to the maximum...war crimes? Who cares? Let's jail some poor sex worker and pat ourselves on the back during 'prayer breakfasts'.

[Elidor]

13. When have they ever been answerable for their crimes?

Overthrowing elected governments, funding right-wing death squads, arming terrorists...it's just all in a day's work for these selfless patriots.

:sarcasm:

[The Stranger]

14. Panetta is speaking out of line. He needs to STFU.

[No Elephants]

15. Disgusting. After Abu Ghraib, who can claim they honestly thought torture

was legal? In fact, who could honestly claim that before Abu Ghraib? If I find a lawyer who tells me I have a license to kill, should I be relieved of any and all responsiblity for serial killing?

This is disgusting.

[pattmarty]

17. I never really cared for Panetta. I always thought of him as a.........

........DLC type of Dem and VERY wishy-washy on ideas.

[antimatter98]

18. Fine, then let's get Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Yoo, send them to the Hague. n/t