Hindsight is 20/20

"With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws, and I don't want to prejudge that. I think that there are a host of very complicated issues involved there." – Barack Obama

Notice how he washes his hands of it by attempting to pass the buck to his attorney general…whom he appointed and controls?

However, Obama has said that he will not seek prosecution of intelligence officers carrying out orders. So....he has control over the prosecution of these folks, but he is claiming to be powerless when it comes to the prosecution of Bush's legal team?

We are witnessing something truly remarkable this week. A president who campaigned on bringing the country together is now allowing his Justice Department to pursue indictments against those who formulated legal decisions condoning extreme measures when interrogating terror suspects.

As have you, I have seen the CIA memos released which not only vindicated the intelligence community by exposing the rather un-harsh interrogation methods, but also hint at the large amount of information gleaned from these techniques. I am relieved that the intelligence community took steps to secure our safety after watching businessmen falling to there deaths in Manhattan.

Last week, Obama’s own Director of National Intelligence, former Admiral Dennis Blair, defended the actions of the intelligence community after 9/11.

He wrote in a memo that “High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country.”

He added: “I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past, but I do not fault those who made the decisions at that time, and I will absolutely defend those who carried out the interrogations within the orders they were given.”

Of course he is singing a different tune this week.

Obama has every right to abdicate the policies of the previous administration. However, politically, he is venturing into dangerous waters when he is vilifying those who kept us safe through extraordinary measures after our country was attacked. I am guessing public sentiment will lash out against this witch hunt.

I am fully aware of the importance of keeping the power of the Executive Branch in check. I do not want “extraordinary measures” to translate into intrusive actions by our government against US citizens. Can always be a slippery slope. But the Bush Administration obviously used discretion when determining who to interrogate….and I’m appreciative of that.

If Obama wants to play that game, then I call for a Congressional inquiry into the “abuses” of prisoners at Guantanamo since Obama took office….