Obama thanks CIA for work against America's foes

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By NATASHA METZLER – 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is telling CIA employees that they must do their work scrupulously because they are standing as a security barrier for Americans who face attack from people who have no scruples.

Obama visited the Central Intelligence Agency on Monday, his first trip there since he released the so-called torture memos written by the Bush administration's Justice Department.

Obama said he understands that intelligence officials must sometimes feel that they are working with one hand tied behind their backs.

The president added that upholding American values and ideals in the face of such enemies is, as he put it, "what makes the United States special and what makes you special."

Obama has said he will not seek charges against CIA officers who took part in such tactics as waterboarding.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iuw8xavNhXoWUvazbODU3uOv3qtgD97MD9E80

[TheWatcher]

1. America, Meet Bill Of Goods. Bill Of Goods, Meet America.

Absolutely Stunning.

"Thanks for all your great torture guys, and for helping make us one of the most hated, feared Nations on the Planet. Keep Up the Good Work."

:banghead:

[Turborama]

2. Obama: CIA's 'best days yet to come'

Chicago Tribune

Posted April 20, 2009 4:30 PM
by Mark Silva

While banning the most controversial interrogation practices employed by the CIA in the past, President Barack Obama is calling on the agency to renew its mission under new marching orders.

Calling the CIA "an indispensable tool, the tip of the spear'' in America's national security, Obama personally addressed employees of the agency today standing before a marble wall with 89 stars marking, anonymously, agents who have died in the line of duty.

"I believe that the CIA's best days are yet to come,'' Obama told his audience. "We live in dangerous times. I am going to need you more than ever....We want to send a new message to the world... We're going to have to operate smarter and more effectively than ever.''

=snip=

"I have put an end to the interrogation techniques described in those memos,'' Obama said today. "I believe our nation is more secure when we employ the full measure of our power and our values, including the power of law...

"In the long term, that's why we'll defeat our enemies,'' Obama said, "because we are on the better side of history.''

Read more: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/04/obama_cias_best_days_yet_to_co.html

[irislake]

3. Hmmmm.

[irislake]

5. How many "foes" do you have?

Just wunnering.

[EFerrari]

4. The timing of this visit is sort of flabbergasting.

Can anyone else make sense of it?

[SkyDaddy7]

6. I think he is trying to reassure them?

I think we need to keep in mind not all CIA agents are guilty of breaking the law. Despite what some might think these men & women do have a very hard job to do and I am thankful for what they do. I know this will get me in trouble but it is the truth.

[EFerrari]

8. CIA is a sewer.

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."

How many people did nothing while a global network of rendition and torture was set up in secret prisons?

[SkyDaddy7]

12. That makes sense...

Blame the entire agency for what a few knew about...I understand your anger but don't let it corrupt your common sense.

[EFerrari]

13. Excuse me? So, how many people do you think had to stay quiet

about a global torture ring? Five? Ten? 50? 100? More?

And your gratuitous comments about anger are besides the point. My common sense is just fine, thanks!

[SkyDaddy7]

27. I will excuse you...

I understand some people overshoot when angry...Kinda like the Bush Admin after 9/11. However, considering you are not in a position of authority I see nothing wrong with excusing such broad unfounded complaints.

[EFerrari]

29. The correct answer is over 600 individuals.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5502041&mesg_id=5503663

:hi:

[SkyDaddy7]

30. Thanks...Did you read it?

This jumped out at me...I think it backs up what I said..."President Obama, in the face of overwhelming ugly opposition, handed us and Congress the ammo in the last of the damning memos to petition our Congress and AG Holder with new urgency. WE have to pressure Congress."

There is a way to do things and I think President Obama knows what he is doing...However, I happen to have voted for President Obama, did you? I did because I trust him.

[caseymoz]

26. I don't think he wanted the anger of the CIA leadership to spread to the ranks.

The intelligence community is very pissed at Obama for allowing the release of those memos.

Or it might also be, "hey, please don't shoot me."

[Vidar]

7. Way to pander!

[a la izquierda]

9. Ugh...

well, most of the agents who helped overthrow Arbenz are probably dead. Same with those who helped with Allende's overthrow. But FFS, I can assure you that Latin America hasn't forgotten and see the CIA as an evil tool of US imperialism.

Funny, the timing, as a few of you have mentioned.

[EFerrari]

10. At least one of them is co-chairing the House Ethics Office:

http://www.madcowprod.com/05072006.html

If we don't go after these torturers, I suppose our kids can look forward to their continued public service!

[a la izquierda]

15. Ick. It's so hard for me not to completely...

blast the US when I teach about indigenous Latin America. Or the rest of Latin America, for that matter. The legacy of the spooks is just appalling.

[EFerrari]

16. One of my comic friends had a line in his act about 2000:

"For one brief shining moment, we were Guatemala!"

And, he had it exactly backward.

[truedelphi]

22. Thank you for speaking out about this.

Only because of having a close friend from Brazil have I had my blinders slightly removed regarding the dastardly deeds this nation has undertaken.

Bless you for challenging people on this forum about this matter.

I guess its not okay to have an SS go after Jewish people, but it is okay for our CIA to go after any group of people south of the border. Overthrow their elected governments, torture, rape women, even nuns, and when we finally think there is change in the air, that we can maybe have a shot at the American ideal of being a nation of laws, we find it is just more jingo-ism.<sarcasm meant>

And of course, the people of Iraq were never people, were they? Just our enemies who might have possibly helped terrorists bring about 9-11 (Or so they wanted us to believe.) <more sarcasm meant>

Well frankly I am tired of jingo-ism. I want real change. It will come to us but not because of electing one man who not so incidentally has garnered more money from Corporate America than any other candidate previously.

It's going to be up to us.

[EFerrari]

23. You're right. It is up to us.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[truedelphi]

32. A hug from you makes my day.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[mitchum]

11. Pandering to the murderous thugs of blowback

[rcrush]

14. "Americas Foes" Yeah those kids were a real problem for us.

Good thing those heroes at the CIA raped them in the ass for us.

[Zhade]

17. "but don't worry guys, I don't really mean it about being scrupulous - I let criminals walk anyway"

NT!

[EFerrari]

18. We don't even know how many of those people were completely innocent. n/t

[glitch]

19. Christ. nt

[RufusTFirefly]

20. As if we had any doubts about who's really in charge....

... when you win, you go into this smoke-filled room with the twelve industrialist capitalist scum-fucks who got you in there. And you're in this smoky room, and this little film screen comes down ... and a big guy with a cigar goes, "Roll the film." And it's a shot of the Kennedy assassination from an angle you've never seen before ... that looks suspiciously like it's from the grassy knoll. And then the screen goes up and the lights come up, and they say to the new president -"Any questions?" -- Bill Hicks (1961-1994)

[truedelphi]

21. Bill Hicks and George Carlin have pretty much spelled it out.

And managed to keep us laughing while they did so.

[Prophet 451]

33. "Uh, just what my agenda is"

Man was a friggin' prophet.

[bottomtheweaver]

24. Skinny ninth grader thanks high school bullies for protecting his lunch money for him.

Cuz sadistic bullying is "what makes the United States special and what makes you special."

[caseymoz]

25. He fears the lone gunman all right.

:hide:

[Javaman]

28. "all hail", says the praetorian guard. nt

[goforit]

31. I agree the CIA agents involved should not be prosected. Only those who ordered it.

One by one we'll have to see WHO really did order them.

Believe me.......He is squirming away.

[No Elephants]

34. By all means, let's repudiate the Nuremberg trials. So last century.

[ohio2007]

35. Obama: CIA's 'best days yet to come'

Some day, if the rethugs regain majority rule inside the beltway, these words would come back to haunt Obama, but
the players inside the beltway march to a different beat and are above the law;

Obama: CIA's 'best days yet to come'
Chicago Tribune

Posted April 20, 2009 4:30 PM
by Mark Silva

While banning the most controversial interrogation practices employed by the CIA in the past, President Barack Obama is calling on the agency to renew its mission under new marching orders.

Calling the CIA "an indispensable tool, the tip of the spear'' in America's national security, Obama personally addressed employees of the agency .
"I believe that the CIA's best days are yet to come,'' Obama told his audience. "We live in dangerous times. I am going to need you more than ever....We want to send a new message to the world... We're going to have to operate smarter and more effectively than ever.''

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3840322&mesg_id=3840358

One by one we'll have to see WHO really did order them.

Believe me.......He is squirming away.

[bottomtheweaver]

36. Maybe he's planning on converting into a traveling theater company.

They'd do a far better job of spreading democracy that way than the crap they've been pulling since 1947.

:mad: