Obama Hints At Torture Investigation: ‘We Are Moving A Process Forward’

[ProSense]

Obama Hints At Torture Investigation: ‘We Are Moving A Process Forward’

Earlier this month, a Spanish court said it would consider opening a criminal case against six Bush administration officials “over allegations they gave legal cover for torture at Guantanamo.” The Spanish attorney general said today that he would not recommend a case, but Judge Baltazar Garzon “will decide whether to press ahead with a criminal investigation.”

Thus far, Obama administration officials have tried to skirt questions on the matter. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded, “We may have some reaction based on what ultimately happens.” Today, CNN’s Juan Carlos Lopez asked Obama about the investigation ahead of his trip to Mexico. Obama repeated his desire to look forward:

OBAMA: I’m a strong believer that it’s important to look forward and not backwards, and to remind ourselves that we do have very real security threats out there. So I have not had direct conversations with the Spanish government about these issues. My team has been in communications with them.

Obama did, however, say he was aware of a “process” moving forward in the U.S. to “understand” what happened under Bush. Notably, he did not endorse or rule out an investigation or commission:

I think that we are moving a process forward here in the United States to understand what happened, but also to focus on how we make sure that the manner in which we operate currently is consistent with our values and our traditions.

Obama concluded: “And so my sense is, is that this will be worked out over time.” Watch it:

(Is Obama endorsing investigations into Bush's torture program?)

It’s unclear what process Obama is referring to. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) has prominently called for a truth commission to investigate Bush-era abuses, but he is uncertain whether it can proceed. House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) recently called for “congressional investigations,” “a blue ribbon commission, or “independent criminal probes to be conducted by federal prosecutors.”

Attorney General Eric Holder told Katie Couric last week that a commission is something that “Senator Leahy, the people in the Senate Judiciary Committee, .”

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[HopeOverFear]

1. Great news!

[JuniperLea]

2. It would behoove Obama and the US

To do this ourselves; however, if we don't, I'm all for Spain taking the lead. The world needs to know this is the end of atrocities at the hands of Americans, and those who authorized such heinous behavior will be held accountable, prosecuted, imprisoned, as far as it can be pushed.

I'm outraged at the lack of outrage in this matter.

[Uzybone]

3. I am still not sure why Congress is waiting for Obama

if that is in fact their excuse for not investigating the Bush crimes. I really don't expect the executive to make prosecuting the past executive his top priority....Its wrong, but I really don't expect it.

[ProSense]

5. "I really don't expect the executive to make prosecuting the past executive his top priority"

The Department of Justice and the courts, although appointed by the executive and confirmed by the Senate, make up an independent branch of government: the judicial. It is not the executive branch.





Edited for clarity.

[SpartanDem]

12. It would look very bad

politically if he did you'd be giving a lot of ammo to the GOP to say that he's ignoring economy etc. That I think you'll see a process were info comes out slowly to build pubic case for more investigation I think worst thing you could do is going running head first into this battle.

[lyonn]

4. This is encouraging

When your plate is so full you must proceed carefully, especially when your approval rating is so high. One screw up and the RW goes ballistic. The pirate situation was a good example where the RW was ready to pounce, even brought up Carter and his failure, ugh. That was one sweet operation. It could have gone poorly and we would have had hell to pay, yet, Obama did what needed to be done. Edit: He allowed those that know their job to do it. So let's hope Congress will do their job.

[Orsino]

6. While part of me wishes he would just go ahead and *do* it...

...there is a point to repairing our rep among the rest of the world before digging for and/or revealing the crap that will make us more hated. Do we want another government moving ahead with prosecution outside of our ability to massage things? Is there an overriding advantage to having foreigners break the ice, so to speak? Is the Executive Branch really hoping that we'll just forget about it, and save them the trouble?

I assume that there is a balancing act here, but delay by the Obama Administration can't help resembling cover-up by its predecessor.

[ProSense]

7. Part of repairing our reputation is moving forward with this investigation

If alleged torture at Guantanamo is going to be investigated at all, that should be done first in the United States, so that the former American officials would have a chance to defend themselves there, Conde-Pumpido added, according to his press chief, Fernando Noya.

The prosecutors will inform the investigating judge, Baltasar Garzon, of their decision, and the judge would then have to decide whether to proceed or shelve the case, Noya said.

Former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and five other ex-Bush administration officials are accused in the human rights group complaint of allegedly sanctioning torture at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

The complaint alleges the six former officials were the legal architects of a system that allowed torture of prisoners at Guantanamo, in violation of international law.

The case might still go forward at the court, despite the prosecution opposition, said Gonzalo Boye, a lawyer who filed the complaint for the human rights group.

Boye told CNN that prosecutors earlier opposed the court's human rights investigations of ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and, separately, the former military regime in Guatemala, but that those cases went ahead anyway.
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The world isn't going to hate us more for investigating war crimes commited by our government.

[Orsino]

9. The world *will* hate us more when they learn more of our crimes.

We will have to hope that good faith in prosecution can offset that.

[ProSense]

10. Many around the world already know the crimes committed under the Bush administration,

that is why so many are calling for prosecutions. I still don't see how postponing this is a positive, and why anyone would want to.

You seem to be saying that we should get stuff done, as if there is a limited amount of stuff to be done, and then prosecute. By your logic, we'll be postponing the hate and we can only hope that prosecuting these crimes at a later day will return us to a place of respect in the world.

If it doesn't, should we no longer be expected to get stuff done?

[Orsino]

15. I'm not sure what you're asking...

...but I don't want to see any delays.

Trouble is, the current administration obviously does--or at best, doesn't want to seem too eager to prosecute.

[ProSense]

16. I agree with that. n/t

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

8. consistent with our values and our traditions?

the manner in which we operate currently is consistent with our values and our traditions.


Not sure about this. Doesn't seem so.


Recommended btw.

[AtomicKitten]

11. I remain hopeful.

K&R

[pleah]

13. I want PROSECUTIONS AND NOTHING LESS!

If you want to stay "consistent with our values and our traditions", UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW AND THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS TREATY!

Damn it, we put people to death for the very same things that bushco did.

[midnight]

14. Some posts say that Obama ok's

tortue, and now this says he will investigate? Do we have a consenses?