WSJ: Intelligence Policy to Stay Largely Intact

[JudyInTheHeartland]

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party.

Civil-liberties groups were among those outraged that the White House sanctioned the use of harsh intelligence techniques -- which some consider torture -- by the Central Intelligence Agency, and expanded domestic spy powers. These groups are demanding quick action to reverse these policies.

Mr. Obama is being advised largely by a group of intelligence professionals, including some who have supported Republicans, and centrist former officials in the Clinton administration. They say he is likely to fill key intelligence posts with pragmatists.

"He's going to take a very centrist approach to these issues," said Roger Cressey, a former counterterrorism official in the Clinton and Bush administrations. "Whenever an administration swings too far on the spectrum left or right, we end up getting ourselves in big trouble."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122636726473415991.html

[cali]

1. lol. The WSJ has a certain slant. Depending on them to accurately and truthfully

report on Obama, is foolish.

[Thrill]

2. These people don't know what Obama is going to do

[mmonk]

3. The last 8 years have taught me that the Constitution is a far left document

and freedom and liberty and inalienable roghts just too liberal and leftwing. Why wasn't I told that when I was younger?

[dissemination]

4. This makes

sense---Obama could do this easily.

He has promised to fix the FISA bill that was passed just a few months ago.




.........As a candidate, Mr. Obama said the CIA's interrogation program should adhere to the same rules that apply to the military, which would prohibit the use of techniques such as waterboarding. He has also said the program should be investigated.

Yet he more recently voted for a White House-backed law to expand eavesdropping powers for the National Security Agency. Mr. Obama said he opposed providing legal immunity to telecommunications companies that aided warrantless surveillance, but ultimately voted for the bill, which included an immunity provision.

The new president could take a similar approach to revising the rules for CIA interrogations, said one current government official familiar with the transition. Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater oversight.

[mmonk]

5. And who provides oversight to those that engage in oversight?

I do not concede my freedom for any political considerations.

[Alter Ego]

6. The Wall Street Assrag is hardly objective.

They know shit-all about Obama's plans.