Advanced SearchUntil a few weeks ago, the Obama administration indicated that it intended to respect the longstanding decisions of career prosecutors, who, after careful review, determined that the facts did not support prosecuting intelligence officers who interrogated al-Qaeda terrorists. Indeed, President Obama has repeatedly said that he wants to look forward, not backward, on this issue.
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The attorney general did not mention the discovery of new evidence. And his words and actions failed to acknowledge that this inquiry had already been made and closed. In fact, three former attorneys general and numerous career prosecutors have examined the findings of the previous investigation and determined the facts do not support prosecution.
The passage of time since 9/11 seems to have dimmed memories. We need to remember that the whole nation feared more attacks. The interrogation techniques employed during that period produced information that saved lives.
Interrogations of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks and the man the CIA has called its pre-eminent source on al-Qaeda, revealed a plan to carry out a Sept. 11-type attack on the West Coast and to attack landmarks in New York, such as the Brooklyn Bridge.
The 9/11 Commission was appointed to determine why we didn’t foresee the attacks. It concluded that keeping our country safe from foreign attack requires that the Justice Department work cooperatively with the intelligence community, which was lacking before 9/11.
The appointment of a prosecutor to reopen cases that have already been investigated will again drive a wedge between the agencies that have been trying to work more closely together. After all, it’s hard to trust someone today who may be investigating and prosecuting you tomorrow.
Winds shifting?
At a minimum, members of the intelligence community will worry that actions they take today will be subject to legal recriminations when the political winds shift. Not only will this make them more risk adverse, it will occupy their time and drain their resources.
Former CIA director Michael Hayden writes in the Washington Times that many CIA officers are uncertain how this will ultimately play out, and some have already hired lawyers and inquired about professional liability insurance.
These are the people we count on to protect America and prevent terrorist attacks. There is no dispute that the techniques used to interrogate leading al-Qaeda members saved lives.
The nation would be better served if the administration focused more on supporting the intelligence community as it pursues the war against terrorists.
(Sen. Jon Kyl is the Senate Republican Whip and serves on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees. Visit his website at H www.kyl.senate.gov or his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/senjonkyl.)
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Comments
Rio Rican wrote on Sep 16, 2009 4:54 PM:
Loyal Democrat wrote on Sep 15, 2009 11:56 AM:
George Wilgers wrote on Sep 15, 2009 10:52 AM:
As to race, I am sick and tired of the fact that so very few people actually LISTENED to Dr. King and took his message to HEART. Here is a news flash, your skin color does not actually make you a different race. Neither does your eye color, hair color, country of origin, religion, or sexual preference. NONE of these alone or in any combination actually creates a different race. There is only one race of people on this planet, we call it the HUMAN RACE. There is only one species of humans, Homo sapiens (though I really doubt the sapiens part these days). We can say that scientfically there is one species, and hence one race. It is an immature attitude to believe that superficial differences really creates a districtive race. So please cut the tripe about skin color. "
weedly wrote on Sep 13, 2009 9:53 PM:
If what Senator Kyl's messages do not indicate bigotry, I sure would like to know what does Racist language really mean? He(Senator Kyl) has been sending hate mail to be published and has it published on a weekly basis. Maybe you don't pick up on it, just maybe you too have a problem with having a President who is a man of color. From all appearances, President Obama is a very nice man. A man who I would hope my children will grow up to be. And yet he is attacked by the conservatives in every way possible. If you keep ignoring what is going on, then you too are part of the problem, and not a solution. I would expect that kind of attitude from Ruport Murdock, but not from mot from my local paper. "
Weedly wrote on Sep 12, 2009 2:44 PM:
I also am ready to move from the Democrat Party. My reason is the same as yours. Interesting?
The Party is not at a level I wish it to be.
The Party has turned too conservative for my taste.
If one has the correct mindset, one is looking ahead. Always looking Ahead,
Gives one the opportunity to see all the possibilities available in the future. If one is always looking back, that is when one runs into the wall. "
Weedly wrote on Sep 12, 2009 2:36 PM:
against our President, by the Conservatives who created our problems in the first place.
It just so happens to be the White Southerners who are pumping this trash on us. Could it be that maybe there is a little bigotry involved? I am one who has no doubts thats what is going on. It is bigotry in its worst form.
Every single action that President Obama is being attacked by these people for no good reason.
Misguided Sense of Justice is just another attack by the very same people who attacked our justice department at its very base while in control during the last Administration. Anyone in their right mind, should understand that it is not a good or fair deal to let the guilty parties judge themselves. Which of course is exactly what happened.
Anyone who gives these people any credibility, are "blowing smoke up their own Butt" So to speak. "
George Wilgers wrote on Sep 11, 2009 10:53 AM:
Perhaps it is time to become independant. Then again, that would be admitting defeat to the socialist that have hijacked the party. "