John Yoo in National Review: "Prosecute Snowden"

[JackRiddler]

That would be the Bush regime's legal counsel at DOJ, who wrote the key then secret opinions justifying torture that served as the preemptive defense for the torture complex. The same one who should have been the first prosecuted after the Bush regime, but was instead provided with legal representation by the Obama DOJ.

Here's what this war criminal on the loose says about Snowden - urging also the prosecution of Greenwald, the Guardian, etc.

By the same logic of those who wish to distract us from the NSA practice of spying on EVERYONE without a warrant by pointing to China's position on #Snowden, those who defend the NSA and the administration are lining up with John Yoo and National Review.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/350676/prosecute-snowden-john-yoo

Edward Snowden should go to jail, as quickly and for as long as possible. This is a leak case that should be difficult for even Eric Holder to bungle. Snowden has already confessed in public to the crime of leaking classified information. He has said in public how he did it, that he did it with intent, and that he knowingly harmed our national security. Holder will finally find a leaker that he can prosecute. But given the Holder Justice Department’s record on the other leak cases, who wants to take a bet that Snowden gets a generous plea bargain or even walks?

Snowden might be guilty of espionage, or even treason. If he is telling the truth that he leaked the existence of the PRISM program to inform the American public, then he should turn himself in. A trial would give him the opportunity to explain in public why he broke the law. If he is a spy — it is amazing that someone with such little education and background was given such extensive security clearance — he may well continue running abroad. It is telling that he immediately fled to Hong Kong; one wonders whether he will offer his services and knowledge to the Chinese security services next.

The NSA leak case will reveal if the Obama administration really means what it said about its foolish and unconstitutional pursuit of the AP and Fox News in other leak cases. Recall that the Obama Justice Department claimed that Fox News reporter James Rosen was a co-conspirator in the alleged leak of classified intelligence. If the Justice Department truly believed what it told the courts when seeking a wiretap on Rosen, then it should indict the reporters and editors for the Washington Post and the Guardian newspapers who published information on PRISM. They clearly “conspired” with Snowden to publish classified information, information that was much more harmful to the national security than in the Rosen case (on North Korea’s predictable response to sanctions). Personally, I think that the Post is protected by the First Amendment, but Holder’s Justice Department clearly doesn’t think so.

So either the Justice Department will indict not just Snowden, but also the Post and Guardian reporters, or it will have been shown to have been untruthful to the courts in the Rosen case (which I think has become clear), in yet another demonstration of this president’s incompetence in managing the core functions of the executive branch or his willful abuse of its executive authorities.

[hlthe2b]

1. Says the man who ought to be sharing a cell next to Cheney...

or at least whining over his lost law license a la Scooter.

[alsame]

2. And this is what happens when we

don't prosecute criminals in previous administrations.

[Octafish]

3. John Yoo? The same man who says it's OK for the president to crush a child's testicles?

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/03/john-yoo-rand-paul-andrew-mccarthy-obama-holder-drones

Berkeley? Geesh.

[Puzzledtraveller]

6. that be him

[Octafish]

8. Says a lot that a guy who should be on trial for war crimes has got a cushy gig as a law prof.

Should Justice return to the United States, Mr. Yoo would immediately find himself at work on the rock pile, making big ones into little ones, for the rest of his natural days.

[City Lights]

4. That's rich.

[CincyDem]

5. Well there's the experienced voice of reason. WTF??? n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. the ghastly John Yoo?

[Newsjock]

9. Newsjock in Democratic Underground: "Prosecute Yoo"

An opinion which, in the grand scheme of things, is about as significant, albeit more justified.

[ljm2002]

10. Yoo first, John. n/t

[SamKnause]

11. John Yoo

This is what happens when the president of your country says, "We need to look forward, as opposed to looking backward".

He protected the guilty.

He used all the destructive tools they put in place.

He added an array of destructive tools.

Both administrations should be investigated and prosecuted.

[sibelian]

12. "I think that the Post is protected by the First Amendment"

Hmmm. Why did he say that?

[Catherina]

13. What fine company the pro-surveillance apparatchiks choose to keep

That war criminals like this! Like Rumsfeld! Cheney! are roaming free, propping up the surveillance monster on national TV, makes a total mockery of spending a Trillion dollars a year to catch *terrorists*.

Bookmarked and filed under war criminals.

[Katashi_itto]

14. +100

[backscatter712]

15. +1,000,000 more! n/t

[Raster]

16. This coming from John "it's OK to torture" Yoo?

Two words for you, John: WAR CRIMINAL!

[Hydra]

17. What a wonderful cast of characters in this play

So much for this not being Bush's 3rd/4th term.

[think]

18. For the man who's legal opinion spurred an era of American torture

this one's for you John Yoo

[L0oniX]

19. "Prosecute Snowden" NO NO NO ...TORTURE HIM FIRST ...then ship him off to a secret prison forever.

[HardTimes99]

20. In case anyone has forgotten, female inmates at Abu Ghraib were

begging their male counterparts in the resistance to shell and mortar the prison (including their wing), so grievous was the behavior being meted out to them by their American captors.

Of course, you did not hear one word about this in the mainstream American media.

That's the frame, though, through which I view Yoo and other members of the Junta: their conduct was so egregious that those subjected to it actively sought to be killed rather than submit any longer. If Yoo and Cheney speak against Snowden, then I feel simple human decency compels me to weigh in on behalf of Snowden.