Bob Graham: Bush Criminal Prosecutions Should Be On The Table

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/bob-graham-bush-criminal_n_190140.html

Sam Stein
Bob Graham: Bush Criminal Prosecutions Should Be On The Table
04/22/09 02:54 PM




Bob Graham, the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Wednesday that the criminal prosecution of Bush administration officials involved in implementing torture policies should not "be taken off the table," as the Obama administration decides how best to deal with potential illegalities from its predecessor in the White House.

The former senator and longtime Florida Democrat said in an interview with the Huffington Post that he favored an inquiry into what transpired during the Bush years "so that there could be a record that is not too distant from the acts themselves for the benefit of the American people and the benefit of history." As a rationale for such an inquiry, he noted that historical knowledge would have benefited the Bush administration officials who did not, according to a report in the New York Times on Wednesday, know about the "gruesome origins of the techniques they were approving."

Regarding the outlines of a possible committee to investigate the Bush administration's tactics, Graham said that it would have to be bipartisan, but could "be done within the Congress or another 9/11 commission-type citizens group."

"As to criminal prosecution," he added, "I don't think that should be taken off the table. But I think it is premature with the current state of knowledge to determine if that is appropriate."

snip//

Graham also called for the release of legal memos requested by former Vice President Dick Cheney -- who contends that these memos will provide proof of the effectiveness of enhanced interrogation techniques -- arguing that the American public should be able to "evaluate what benefit we have derived for the dramatic change in our fundamental values that those interrogations represented."

As for the largely conservative critique that by releasing these memos the Obama White House had damaged the country's counter-terrorism measures, Graham objected strongly. "The use of these extra-constitutional measures has seriously damaged the U.S. ability to be an effective leader in the world," he replied. "We have been that shining city on the hill and I am afraid that that light is now significantly dimmer."

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. Brave man taking the right stand since he knows he himself is involved.

I applaud him. He should offer right now to sing like a canary in exchange for immunity. I know that some one the intelligence committee were extremely disturbed by what was going on. Jay Rockefeller wrote himself a letter so he could have a timestamp on his thoughts at the time.

[monmouth]

2. I'd be happy if Scooter Libby were to speak up also. I bet he could

literally write a book. Cheney failed to come through for him, axe to grind...