OK, I don't agree with the President on torture prosecutions. But he isn't most to blame.

[mvd]

You know who gets most of the blame?

- Bush/Cheney of course.

- American apathy. It would make Obama's job a lot easier if there was a groundswell of support for prosecutions.

- The Congress who took impeachment off the table and didn't do meaningful investigations. And won't help Obama out now.

- The climate of the CIA

I do blame Obama for acting like we should move on in any way. I know that inaction does not set a good precedent. But the above don't make these decisions easy for a new President who hasn't been ingrained in Washington for long. Sometimes I feel like Obama must think he's alone. How can we make our case or make progress besides just complaining about Obama?

[FrenchieCat]

1. We Can't!

Remember what happened to those soldiers that had done torturing at Abu Ghraib? Noticed they got prosecuted and that is where it ended. I can see it now, 50 prosecutions going on all at once against CIA agents, while those who came up with this shit walk free because we are distracted by the low hanging fruit. I don't think that is the right way to proceed.

[mvd]

3. I don't agree that there isn't a way

They RULED OUT prosecutions, which I don't agree with. Maybe we should start at the top. But the approach is just not right IMO.

But did you read the rest of my topic? I'm acknowledging that Obama is facing a lot of pressure.

[global1]

12. Think About Who Was The President At The Time Though......

Bush had to prosecute the little guys and protect the ones closer to him. That decision was made to save his ass. We sat back and knew that was what was going on and did little to protest it - knowing that there was little we could do to change that. Now we have a sitting President letting the little guys go with no promise of going after the big enchilada's.

I'm not sure which is worse. A president making the decision to save his criminal ass or a president making the decision to save the ass of a criminal.

[mvd]

2. And adding a couple things

- I think this issue is just as important as any facing the country right now

- Patience isn't always an excuse. I'm hoping that there WILL be prosecutions; I'm just not encouraged. But anyone just lashing out at Obama isn't seeing the whole picture. And I encourage thoughtful discussion on what can be done and what is being done to change things.

[HopeOverFear]

5. Thank you for your calm and reasoned arguments

I welcome this rather than childish, immature character assassinations.

[mvd]

7. Thanks!

Appreciate the kind words. :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

6. There were prosecutions.....

But I still think that we got distracted!

Perhaps I read things differently.....

"The president has stated that it is not his administration's intention to prosecute those who acted reasonably and relied in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice. As I understand it, his decision does not mean that anyone who engaged in activities that the Department had not approved, those who gave improper legal advice or those who authorized the program could not be prosecuted. The details made public in these memos paint a horrifying picture and reveal how the Bush administration's lawyers and top officials were complicit in torture. The so-called enhanced interrogation program was a violation of our core principles as a nation and those responsible should be held accountable." Russ Feingold

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/russ_feingolds_reaction.php

[mvd]

8. I'm hoping that interpretation is right

There was just nothing that the President said that made me think so. I surely hope this is not over.

[Uzybone]

4. Glad to see the mention of Congress

our direct representatives, who stood by and covers their eyes, ears and mouth while this went on.

[Hanse]

9. I'm willing to admit the possibility that the President may know something I don't know.

And while I do insist he prosecute the big fish over this, I'm not going to call for the prosecution of the little guys until they're made to pay. If the little guys get punished and the big ones get away with it, that's pretty much the worst thing that can happen.

[mvd]

10. I agree with the big guys being prosecuted first

But I don't know why he had to start out with ruling out these prosecutions on the same day he did a good thing and released the memos.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Because they need folks coming forward without fear of prosecution?

[mvd]

13. I don't know if that would work out

There's no pressure now.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Perhaps they don't need pressure, but rather to be relieved of

of the pressure and fear.

[mvd]

15. With the pressure by the CIA spooks, I think they might need the threat

of prosecution at least. IMO.