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Apparently torture is now OK with liberals....

From WSJ:

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....

On the campaign trail, Mr. Obama criticized many of President George W. Bush's counterterrorism policies. He condemned Mr. Bush for promoting "excessive secrecy, indefinite detention, warrantless wiretapping and 'enhanced interrogation techniques' like simulated drowning that qualify as torture through any careful measure of the law or appeal to human decency."...

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....

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.

The intelligence-transition team is led by former National Counterterrorism Center chief John Brennan and former CIA intelligence-analysis director Jami Miscik, say officials close to the matter. Mr. Brennan is viewed as a potential candidate for a top intelligence post. Ms. Miscik left amid a slew of departures from the CIA under then-Director Porter Goss.

Advisers caution that few decisions will be made until the team gets a better picture of how the Bush administration actually goes about gathering intelligence, including covert programs, and there could be a greater shift after a full review.


What, uh, are campaign promises worth, anyway?

Oh, yeah. I remember now.

Comments

A story that can at best be called thinly sourced, from a paper with a clear partisan agenda (not that of the present administration), describing actions not yet taken by an administration not yet in office? Then dump the alleged views of what the story says is a handful of intelligence pros- none of whom are identified as liberals- and tie in everyone in America who might be called "liberal" as approving of torture? I give that essay very low marks indeed. But then, I'm just a liberal. I don't know any better.
A story that can at best be called thinly sourced, from a paper with a clear partisan agenda (not that of the incoming administration), describing actions not yet taken by an administration not yet in office? Then dump the alleged views of what the story says is a handful of intelligence pros- none of whom are identified as liberals- and tie in everyone in America who might be called "liberal" as approving of torture? I give that essay very low marks indeed. But then, I'm just a liberal. I don't know any better.
In please of "present administration" kindly substitute "incoming administration."
The Last Ephor said…
Which means Conservatives will become outraged by abuses at Gitmo sometime around 1/21/09
Ugh. I may have to regretfully agree with my liberal friend Waldo here.

Just as his campaign was vacuous and without substance, so are the innuendoes and conjuecture afterwards.

He hasn't done anything yet (well, he hasn't done anything EVAH), so we'll have to wait until Obama is fully vetted.

Unfortunately for us, that won't actually take place until he takes office.
Anonymous said…
There is only one president at a time. Obama will close GITMO just as McCain said he would. George
W. Bush will try to pardon himself and all the torturers and other traitors to the Consitution.

I don't recall any of you rejecting torture...despite the Geneva Conventions.

Take a chill pill, Obama will do it when he becomes PRESIDENT. Why didnt the idiot son do it...oh I forgot...he doesnt believe in constitional law...the imperial resident.

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