Thursday
Apr232009
Holder: No Jail Time For Torturers
Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service
The Obama Administration's release of formally classified memos detailing alleged pre-meditated torture techniques approved by Bush Administration officials has placed many lawmakers at a crossroads. President Obama recently delegated the monumental task of deciding whether to prosecute any formal high ranking officials who knowingly allowed for the use of torture against so-called enemy combatants to Attorney General Eric Holder.
Today while testifying in front of the House Appropriation Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Holder stated "With regard to those members of the intelligence community who acted in good faith and on the reliance of Justice Department opinions that were shared with them, it is not our intention to prosecute those individuals."
Holder's comments were nearly identical to Obama's recent remarks at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where he pledged his support to those officials who followed the orders of their superiors.
But U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) said that he wanted ensure that Americans understood all the facts behind the use of torture as a means of getting vital intelligence information for enemy combatants. Wold asked Holder if anymore memos existed, like those alluding to unreleased memos referenced to by former Vice President Dick Cheney which he says prove that the harsh tactics yielded positive results, Wolf asked Holder if any such memos existed.
"In fairness to the American people, once you (the Obama administration) made a decision to release the existing memos that you put out then you have an obligation to release the rest of the memos," said Wolf
Holder responded forcefully. "I am the Attorney General and I do not control many of these memos that you are referring to."
Yet, at the conclusion of the hearing, Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) stated his hope, "At the Justice Department politics is out and justice is back," he said.
The Obama Administration's release of formally classified memos detailing alleged pre-meditated torture techniques approved by Bush Administration officials has placed many lawmakers at a crossroads. President Obama recently delegated the monumental task of deciding whether to prosecute any formal high ranking officials who knowingly allowed for the use of torture against so-called enemy combatants to Attorney General Eric Holder.
Today while testifying in front of the House Appropriation Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Holder stated "With regard to those members of the intelligence community who acted in good faith and on the reliance of Justice Department opinions that were shared with them, it is not our intention to prosecute those individuals."
Holder's comments were nearly identical to Obama's recent remarks at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where he pledged his support to those officials who followed the orders of their superiors.
But U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) said that he wanted ensure that Americans understood all the facts behind the use of torture as a means of getting vital intelligence information for enemy combatants. Wold asked Holder if anymore memos existed, like those alluding to unreleased memos referenced to by former Vice President Dick Cheney which he says prove that the harsh tactics yielded positive results, Wolf asked Holder if any such memos existed.
"In fairness to the American people, once you (the Obama administration) made a decision to release the existing memos that you put out then you have an obligation to release the rest of the memos," said Wolf
Holder responded forcefully. "I am the Attorney General and I do not control many of these memos that you are referring to."
Yet, at the conclusion of the hearing, Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) stated his hope, "At the Justice Department politics is out and justice is back," he said.
tagged 
Holder, Justice Department, torture in News/Commentary
Holder, Justice Department, torture in News/Commentary
Reader Comments (2)
OF course Eric and Obama will persue this.... George Soroes and his zillions are at stake.... he is the monster being the curtin calling ALL the shots here.
Obama and Holder are just puppets for them.
This is ALL about GETTING EVEN with anyone in the BUSH Admin in what ever way they can...
You would think... after 9/11 we would do ALL THINGS POSSILBLE to get information to SAVE ONE LIFE.... I wonder WHAT RULES.... the taliban lives by as they murder... and beheaded Daniel Pearl and our US soldiers....
Fight FIRE with FIRE.... of course there will not be a hearing about the rights of the 2 gunman who were MURDERED by OBAMA's team when they were holding our guy.... those pirates... but in that case it was MURDER ... and TORTURE is more important then MURDER of course.... No RULES when it comes to SAVE a LIFE.... when the gun is pointed to the heqad of an officer but lots of hoops and rules when they are planning a 9/11 event that could kill thousands.....
This world is WACKIE..... We have so many REAL PROBLEMS in our USA and this is what we focus on.... makes me wonder WHAT is really going on that we are being DISTRACTED with... I say this is a WASTE of money... time... and for what.... A CHAGE we can believe in... not hardly... CAN THESE MAD MEN BE STOPPED.
My question... who is REALLY RUNNING THE COUNTRY... who is OBAMA Taking order from.
I will NOT vote for the Obama Group again... that is for sure... and I will be out there with anyone who protest this LEGAL TAKE OVER of our USA.