Now Can We Investigate?

[WilliamPitt]

With new revelations about secret intelligence activities under the Bush/Cheney administration, House Democrats are calling for a formal investigation into a secret CIA program that was not disclosed to Congress. (Photo: AP)

Now Can We Investigate?
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Columnist

Monday 13 July 2009

President Obama is in the process of losing what may be the most important argument of his young administration. The argument is not about health care, bank bailouts, the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, the environment or the auto industry, though arguments on these issues are indeed ongoing and hanging in the balance.

No, the Obama administration is losing the argument about the past being less important than the future. They would like his government, Congress and the American people to look forward, and to leave behind as much of the past as possible. The past, in this case, is the battery of crimes, cover-ups and tyrannies unleashed by their predecessors in the Bush administration.

The Obama administration's argument in favor of leaving the myriad abuses of the Bush administration to the dustbin of history is understandable, though hardly valid at this point. Obama and his team have a thousand and one problems to deal with in the here and now, and according to them, any attempt to quest into the past will derail all the work they have to do. They are also justifiably concerned that Republicans in Congress will try to burn down the Capitol building if Democrats even twitch in the direction of digging up the past.

Understandable? Sure. Valid? Not by a long chalk.

Half a dozen times since his inauguration, President Obama has seen his agenda depth-charged by a report on some nefarious activity by the previous administration. Not only have his plans and intentions been derailed by these reports - whether they be about torture, government secrecy, indefinite detention, or whatever else - he has himself become culpable for the damage done by either trying to ignore these transgressions or by adopting them himself.

It happened again this weekend. The Obama administration has been trying to gear up for a millennial debate over health care reform, but Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have once again gotten in the way, not once but twice. "The Bush administration authorized secret surveillance activities that still have not been made public, according to a new government report that questions the legal basis for the unprecedented anti-terrorism program," reported The Associated Press on Friday. "President George W. Bush authorized other secret intelligence activities - which have yet to become public - even as he was launching the massive warrentless wiretapping program, the summary said. It describes the entire program as the 'President's Surveillance Program.' The report describes the program as unprecedented and raises questions about the legal grounding used for its creation. It also says the intelligence agencies' continued retention and use of the information collected under the program should be carefully monitored."

"The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency's director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday," reported The New York Times on Sunday. "The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush administration had put a high priority on the program and its secrecy."

Thud. Nobody is talking about health care now, or Ghana or nuclear reduction deals with the Russians. Just like that, all discussion has once again turned to the actions and activities of the Bush administration. President Obama has been acting as if only two options - ignorance or adoption - are available to deal with these Bush-era eruptions, because he does not want his presidency to become overwhelmed by the third available option: investigation and prosecution.

Guess what? The Obama administration is already being overwhelmed, and will continue to lose ground every time another one of these wretched revelations hits the headlines, which they will, over and over again. There is more out there about Bush and Cheney's torture program. There is more out there about their indefinite detention program, about their broad policy of absolute secrecy, about how and why we invaded Iraq, about their domestic surveillance program - specifically, who got spied on in America and why - and even about exactly what happened before and on September 11.

Let's investigate. Let's prosecute. Let's clean out the Augean stables of the Bush administration and put things right again. It's not as if the desire to do exactly that isn't already present in the body politic. A majority of Democrats and a whole passel of Americans want to see the crimes and cover-ups of the Bush administration looked into and punished with vigor.

Some members of Congress appear poised to do just that. "House Democrats said yesterday that they expect to launch a formal investigation into a secret CIA program that was not disclosed to Congress for almost eight years, a probe that could entangle senior Bush administration officials who oversaw intelligence issues, reported The Washington Post on Sunday. "Democrats on the House intelligence committee said the inquiry would examine both the nature of the still-secret program and the decisions to keep congressional oversight committees in the dark about its existence."

And Congress, it seems, may not be alone. "(Attorney General Eric) Holder, 58, may be on the verge of asserting his independence in a profound way," reported Newsweek on Saturday. "Four knowledgeable sources tell NEWSWEEK that he is now leaning toward appointing a prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration's brutal interrogation practices, something the president has been reluctant to do. While no final decision has been made, an announcement could come in a matter of weeks, say these sources, who decline to be identified discussing a sensitive law-enforcement matter."

Let's get it over with, shall we?

http://www.truthout.org/071309A

[spanone]

1. the evidence is mounting.....on a daily basis

[bdamomma]

58. and how does Congress respond, they're angry

and so what's next??? Congress better get a spine and stand up to these criminals.

[Glorfindel]

2. We must investigate, prosecute, and punish where appropriate

If not, we become accomplices and history will not judge us well.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

53. BUSH - CHENEY IS A CANCER ON OUR DEMOCRACY

UNTIL THEY ARE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT, A=EVERYTHING AMERICAN IS TAINTED

[panader0]

3. I always wondered if Obama stood aside from the prosecution

knowing that these revelations would come to light and that Holder and others would be forced into investigation. Yeah, clean the stables, even if it is a Herculean task.

[MadMaddie]

42. I believe you are correct. He can't be seen as the one leading this

for many reasons.

1. Conflict of interest (How can he run the country while attacking the previous administration.

2. Interfering with the DOJ would be a continuation of the previous administrations policies of interfering and dictating the law.

[lazer47]

4. I mean, what does it take to get a simple investigation??,,

Bush, Cheney, and all their cabal have openly admitted to TREASON, Usurping the Constitution, and actual WAR CRIMES,, what more do they have to do to get charged, or at least investigated???,, a first year law student could get a conviction from all they have done and admitted to..

[blm]

5. Why, when it's so much easier to call it all 'conspiracy theory' and move on?

'Some say' anyway.

[Soylent Brice]

6. if only to prevent the same thing happening again should they be investigating.

if they don't they leave the door open for another egregious abuse of power to occur. justice is deserved.

[LiberalAndProud]

7. Yes, it is time.

It is the responsibility of Congress to recoup the power ceded under the previous (mis)administration. The precarious balance between the branches of our government must be restored. Having said that, I believe the Executive Branch should stay out of it.

[AlbertCat]

31. I believe the Executive Branch should stay out of it.

Indeed!

And this may be exactly why Obama is reluctant and keeps being reluctant. He knows he must stay out of it and not even seem to encourage investigations. Perhaps he'll even have a spat with Congress and the DoJ just to keep the proceedings looking NOT like a witch hunt....which the Repugs (and MSM) will call any degree of investigation no matter what happens. So worrying about it being called a partisan witch hunt is useless....that's a given. So go ahead.....

[Hawkowl]

34. I like your reasoning

It would be the best for the country in the long run if Obama gently nurtures the congressional investigations and encourages them to assert their oversight control. In any case, as long as the investigation gets underway, I don't care who gets credit for it.

[bertman]

8. AG Holder considers himself a "member of the President's team" and as such feels he

wants the President's agenda to succeed. Which agenda is that--the transparency in government agenda, or the looking forward not backward agenda?

Note to the Attorney General: You are an appointee of the President, but your sworn duty is to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States of America. If you base your decision on whether or not to investigate these abuses based upon your commitment to the President's agenda, you are of the same ilk as John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzalez--a political animal working for the President and not for the people.

Even if there is an investigation, rest assured that it will become a coverup. President Obama has already shown that he is more concerned with state secrets and his Imperial Presidential prerogatives than transparency or rule of law.

More of the same military-corporate complex fascism at work.

[rbixby]

9. I think that

Obama probably doesn't want to be seen as going on fishing expeditions into these matters, which could be construed as being politically based and a 'blame the republicans' sort of thing. I think that as the evidence trickles out, eventually it will lead to a case against at least some members of the Bush administration. Its looking worse and worse for Cheney every day, and I think eventually he'll be the whipping boy for all of this (and yes, he's probably responsible for the majority of it, so he deserves it). I think the idea is to avoid talk of a 'witch hunt' for political reasons and focus more on doing proper investigations through the normal channels of DOJ. I'm pretty sure justice will be served, it just needs to be done carefully because of the ridiculous screaming opposition to it.

[Laurab]

21. I think that

I very much agree with what you think. I agree that Obama has to be careful, and there will come a point when he will HAVE to do something - I think it's coming soon. In that way he's avoided the "witch hunt" accusations, and I too think justice will be served.

[kentuck]

10. "Let's get it over with, shall we?"

K & R

[mnhtnbb]

11. The past cannot be ignored or we're doomed to repeat it. Past time to investigate.

[L. Coyote]

12. Ignoring crimes is a crime too! Obama has to choose to either be or not be said criminal!

Rather simple choice, I'd say. Do the right thing, or join the criminals.

[SouthernLiberal]

13. I disagree with the President on this

It is not enough to agree that torture is wrong, and promise never to do it again.

The United States of America had agreed that torture is wrong for a very long time before Bush II, and we had signed a solemn promise never to it.

And this was not enough. When a couple of guys with a lust for blood occupied the two highest offices in the land, our history of disapproving did not stop them, the treaties we signed did not stop them - they tortured anyway. The transparent dodge of calling it 'enhanced interrogation' is just that, a dodge.

They ordered torture. They made torturers of the finest men and women in America - those that have agreed to offer their lives to protect ours. They made a torturer of me, without my knowledge or consent.

If there are no consequences for this, it WILL happen again.

[Echo In Light]

14. No prosecution = precedent established = Mission Accomplished!

[Autumn]

15. We should, but it won't happen.

Which is pretty fucking sad.

[Independent_Liberal]

30. It won't? I'd say it looks like it will.

Did you read what Will wrote? Congressional Democrats are getting on jumping onto this bandwagon and Holder is considering an independent prosecutor.

[Autumn]

37. Yes I did read it and unfortunatly

they fall off the wagon a little to often , I'll believe it when I see it. edited for spelling

[Richard Steele]

16. K&R

[bvar22]

17. At this point, Congressional Investigations are a waste of time.

I support the ACLU's call for Holder to appoint an Independent Prosecutor and get down to business....(Grand Jury, sworn testimony, Federal Indictments, Public Trials ...the whole 9 yards)

"Look forward" is just another way of saying "Look the other way".

[spanone]

19. i agree. a special prosecutor takes it as far out of the political realm as you can.

yet get's the business done

[bugisbug]

25. Agreed.

And just do it, already. It isn't like a new wound is going to be opened - it is already here, festering. Wash it out and let us heal.

[Vincardog]

27. I second bvar22's emotion. appoint an Independent Prosecutor and get down to business

[Duer 157099]

43. "Look forward" === "Look the other way"

Now there's a good question for Helen Thomas.

"Mr. President, can you explain the difference between looking forward and looking the other way?"

:thumbsup:

[Laurab]

18. K&R

This is the type of criticism I like to see! It's looking more possible every day now, and all of a sudden Cheney is back in his bunker - "not available for comment", indeed!

[Demeter]

20. Yup. Can't Get Out the Front Door With All That Trash Piled Around It

The house must be cleaned before you can expect company to come.

[redqueen]

22. Let's hope so.

And soon.

[zorahopkins]

23. I Agree. Investigate The Monsters Who Committed War Crimes

Well said. VERY well said!

I feel that the entire Bush/Cheney illegal regime of thugs and cronies should be investigated -- starting with Bush/Cheney/Rumsefeld/Rice, and continuing right through until every single war criminal, thug, cronie, lackey, and thief in that horrible, evil, corrupt and illegal regime has been completely and totally investigated.

It is NOT a waste of time to do these investigations. The illegal and totally corrupt Bush/Cheney regime of thugs and cronies engaged in torture and other terrible war crimes. They took this nation to war for NO reason, and they bombed innocent children and women in Iraq, and had thousands of American soldiers killed just to satisfy the blood lust of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and the rest of those evil monsters.

Also, they did everything they could to take away the rights of Americans. They listened in to our phone calls. They looked at our emails. They even demanded to see what books we checked out form the library!

They are all monsters -- everyone of them.

And they deserve to be not just investigated. They deserve to be indicted, tried, and CONVICTED for their terrible crimes. And they deserve imprisonment in the same types of cells they put "detainees" into. Monstrous people who commit monstrous crimes should be investigated. We did it at Nuremburg after WWII. We MUST DO IT NOW!

It is the ONLY way we can begin to move into the new era of peace, prosperity, justice, gender equality, and love that President Obama really wishes to move our country - and the entire world - to.

[kentuck]

24. I would simply like to know the truth...

It's the lies, and cover-ups, and subterfuge that get me. Then, if there were crimes committed, prosecute.

[mullard12ax7]

26. What about all the people who called me a "revengeful hater who can't move on"?

Shouldn't we just listen to them and forget about it and focus on putting money in my wallet? Isn't money more important than morals, laws, our democracy and justice? Shouldn't people just shut up about an ugly part of our history?

Of course I'm being sarcastic in asking questions that only a criminal supporter would ask or am I actually mimicking what a majority of Americans think? I mean aren't torture photos and political prosecutions just giving fuel to our enemies? Aren't there 1001 excuses I can invent to avoid prosecuting my cronies?

[guruoo]

29. I believe most political conflict weary Americans would begin to support it,

once it's happening.

[The Hope Mobile]

51. Yup! K & R nt

[Echo In Light]

32. Exactly why nothing will come of it besides a going-through-motions to provide illusory "action"

...so that the Dems can try to take the position of actually having done something. In other words, the rumble from the masses grew loud enough to force them into play acting, much like, say, the 9/11 whitewash commission. Even if there are investigations, nothing much will come of it.

[guruoo]

28. We're not quite to the tipping point yet -but it's coming....

perhaps being timed to go live after the health care vote.

[Time for change]

33. Yes indeed, let's get to the bottom of these abominations

[Wednesdays]

35. K&R

:kick:

[proud patriot]

36. see sig line

[WilliamPitt]

38. Afternoon kick

[reflection]

39. k/r. Time for a full-court press from Holder and Congress. n/t

[N.Y. to Paris]

40. I really don't think there's a choice left....

It will not go away and it should never. These criminals simply cannot hide anymore.
It's becoming too obvious and too embarrassing. There is no rug large enough to sweep
this shit under.......

[WillyT]

41. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[Duer 157099]

44. Mr. Will I have to disagree with some points

1) You say that "The Obama administration's argument in favor of leaving the myriad abuses of the Bush administration to the dustbin of history is understandable"

I say that it is absolutely not understandable. Really. Even an argument about political expediency, or whatever, when being considered as a rationale for not upholding the law, is never understandable. It appears that too many have already ceeded this basic principle. It's a premise we must reject outright.

2) It's not much different to say that the Bush crimes must be prosecuted because they are a distraction, than to say that they must not be prosecuted because they are a distraction. Both of those positions are equally invalid in this situation.

The law is the law, and if it is not, then all else is moot.

[conscious evolution]

45. K&R

Lets get it over with indeed.

[pacalo]

46. K&R :)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. I can't help wondering whether an investigation might bring down some important Democrats

as well as the "usual suspects," and that there is an enormous amount of pressure being brought to bear on the administration from some powerful members of the party to limit, delay or avoid investigations and any prosecutions that might result.

There almost had to have been some complicity in all this on the part of some Democrats in Congress. Even if Holder and/or Obama wanted to proceed, might they be dissuaded by the party and by the need to maintain a Democratic majority?

[LAGranny]

48. A Alabama Response

Will,I know your "roots" are here in Alabama, like
mine, so I'd just like to say I agree with your accessment
about how our President is "looking forward" while
ignoring past crimes committed.  How can anyone, in any
political or governmental capacity, "Look forward, past
crimes, when past crimes are so previlent that they could
majorly effect our future as a Nation founded on JUSTICE and
equality for all?  Do we, as a people, excuse rapists or
murderers.  No, we don't. We prosecute and enact justice. Do
we reward liars and manipulaters?  No we do not, or haven't
done so yet.  Do we, as a Nation founded on the principles of
democracy bow to political manipulators, who would sieze power
for themselves and a particular political party agenda? I have
no answer to that question, suddenly, because it seems that
the "change" I walked from door-to-door to make real
hasn't come yet. If We, the People, are really the true base
of government in these our United States, at what point do we
"bend down" to a Master, a King, or anyone who would
corrupt the principles of "justice for all?"  If so
we do we deserve to think of ourselves or be called "A
free people."

[valerief]

49. I wonder if Darth Vader still has his assassination squad and Obama is

afraid of it.

No, Obama just focused on the facilitation of the GoldmanRanSaching of America. I wish we had transparency and justice, but we're not France, are we?

[RainDog]

50. I wanna know which legislators were blackmailed

because it is really, really naive to think that the Bush administration did not use info on people in order to bend them to their will.

I don't want government by blackmail.

Gimme some truth, Obama. Platitudes don't cut it.

[wantoutnow]

52. I truly think

that Obama has been taken aside and given a talking to by the powers that be, and explains what goes on for people who deviate from the Fascist plan. Its my only explanation at this point. Either that or we may have a manchurian candidate, which I dont want to believe. Its now been six months and all the same players are still in place. We have a filibuster proof majority on paper, yet we dont want to believe that Congress is largely bought and paid for. I hope for the best as there are just so many criminal elements now, that its becoming hard to ignore and explain away.

[democrank]

54. Forget the don`t-make-waves BS and

prosecute these criminals!

[Egnever]

55. To the face of the public

I dont think you will see Obama say lets prosecute them. I think internaly though the wheels have been moving on this for some time.

Maybe I have rose colored glasses. But i see things lining up rather well for Obama with this. Congress is looking to begin acting aparently holder is near ready to ramp up, and obama doesnt look at all to be directing a witch hunt.

It will be interesting to see how he plays this going forawd to be sure. This latest revelation is a pretty hard one to ignore.

[tavalon]

56. It is so beyond time to get it on!

Thanks for the very cogent argument for why it needs to just happen, already!

[paparush]

57. Holder needs to do his job- prosecute. Obama needs to do his job - lead.

Simple really.

[JohnBT]

59. It's quite simple actually and I hope at what...

point even Obama will realize it: If he doesn't investigate the Bush/Cheney crimes, not just for the sake of it, but with the purpose of holding them accountable, his presindency will be doomed and he may not even get reelected.

[DailyGrind51]

60. If the President believes Republicans will cooperate with him by not investigating Cheney,

he really is too naive for the job and we would have been better off with Hillary.

"No gratitude is to be expected from the wicked." Aesop

[NashVegas]

61. I Believe It's A Matter of National Security to Investigate

If DICK had been content to fade into the sunset on January 21, I would probably agree with the 'it's over, move on,' crowd. Actually, I did.

But he just refuses to go away. He keeps interfering with the work of our elected president and while he continues his PR offensive on the current administration, he has his daughter going on the national stage guarding his flank.

That shit needs to be exposed for what it is.

Investigate.

[dgibby]

62. Time to clean house.

Having shouted our moral superiority and execptionalism from the rooftops since our inception as a country, we CANNOT ignore these crimes.
If we do, we have lost the right to sit in judgment of any other government, no matter how heinous it may be, and gawd knows, that's one of our favorite national pastimes. Hypocrisy at its' best.

[fascisthunter]

63. Now Will, there ya go again making sense

[pleah]

64. Prosecutions and nothing less.

[Maestro]

65. Investigate with an Independent Prosecutor.

And make sure John Yoo gets it too. The Bushies basically ignored everyone else except this guy's interpretation of torture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Yoo

[Kokonoe]

66. Democrats follow the law.

Republicans interpret their own law. But its still the law.

Its hard to do the right thing, but it must be done.

[johnhkennedy]

67. If Obama Ignores Prosecutions He Could Ruin His Place In American History

We can help him Avoid That Mistake

Do everything you can to push AG Holder, President Obama and our Democrats in Congress
TO PROSECUTE ALL That Violated Federal Laws and Our Constitution.

SIGN THE PETITION

Demanding both a
Commission of Inquiry
and a Special Prosecutor at ANGRYVOTERS.ORG.

http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG

Forward this url to your friends
We can't let them bury these crimes.

[ControlledDemolition]

69. Bobby Baker was being investigated just before JFK's assassination.

This could well have landed Lyndon Johnson in the pokie for years. It is also my understanding that JFK was planning on dumping Johnson before the next presidential election. History may well repeat itself if Obama doesn't play the hand he has been dealt with extreme skill.

[deaniac21]

68. There will be an invesigation by May 12!

[gimama]

70. emailing & callin' DC

like Our Country depends on it.