Holder: Justice to Drop Investigations into CIA Officials Involved in Torture

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: National Journal

The Justice Department will drop criminal investigations of most CIA officials who participated in the harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday.

However, Holder said his department will continue to investigate those officials responsible for the deaths of two detainees.

The announcement ends a wide-ranging probe that has hung over the CIA due to its past use of enhanced interrogation practices that critics say amounted to torture, such as waterboarding. "The Department has determined that an expanded criminal investigation of the remaining matters is not warranted," Holder said in a statement.

Instead, Holder decided to only conduct a full criminal investigation regarding the death of two detainees who were held by the CIA.

Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/holder-justice-to-drop-investigations-into-cia-officials-involved-in-torture-20110630

[Ian David]

1. "The Justice Department will drop criminal investigations of *MOST* CIA officials who participated..

[postulater]

2. Guess that means he's moving up the chain to the bigger fish in the White House!

[w4rma]

4. We must not prosecute crimes from the past. We must only look forward.

How does this even make sense to anyone?

[Bozita]

7. Yet every criminal trial is a result of "looking back"

Simply amazing.

[christx30]

32. Are they going to start

battling future crime now? Cause my neighbor has been eyeing my lawn mower for sometime now...

[No Elephants]

40. Sure Tom Cruise even made a movie about it.

[iwishiwas]

12. Dream on.

[annabanana]

13. It would be the just and honest thing to do. It would restore

our National Honor.


It will not be done.

[No Elephants]

41. "Restore" national honor? How far back in time are we talking here?

[madrchsod]

3. i`m sure george washington is really proud of the last two presidents....

oh well, the grand experiment has finally come to an end.

[gmpierce]

35. Yes, George Washington WOULD have been proud

It's sad to even write this one, so I simply recommend you look up George Washington's dispatches to Gen. Sullivan regarding the Iroquois. They are available on the internet.

The word "president" in the Seneca language translates literally as "Destroyer of Villages".

It's all available in the history books - just not the ones you might have once read in sixth-grade social studies.

[No Elephants]

42. Well, I guess that answers the question I asked in Reply 42.

(I reply to posts as I read a thread, instead of reading all the way down, then doubling back.)

[ProSense]

5. Eric Holder Announces Full DOJ Investigation Into Deaths Of Two Individuals In CIA Custody

Eric Holder Announces Full DOJ Investigation Into Deaths Of Two Individuals In CIA Custody

[rhett o rick]

19. But willing to let the rest of the crimes go w/o investigation. nm

[Fuddnik]

20. Translation:

We found two patsies to serve as a diversion. Lookie over here!

[EFerrari]

28. Thank you. n/t

[ProSense]

34. Here's another

From the OP:

The announcement ends a wide-ranging probe that has hung over the CIA because of its past use of enhanced interrogation practices, such as waterboarding, that critics say amounted to torture. "The department has determined that an expanded criminal investigation of the remaining matters is not warranted," Holder said in a statement.

Translation: Despite claims to the contrary, the Obama administration had been conducting a "wide-ranging probe" of torture.

Can't have it both ways: either there were no investigations or there were and this focus on these cases represent welcomed news.

[No Elephants]

43. "Translation?" Seems more like imagination.

[EFerrari]

46. There is no evidence that the Obama administration has closed it black site(s)

let alone conducted a real investigation of torture. They would have to investigate themselves.

[gkhouston]

29. Oh, a *full* investigation.

That means two coats of whitewash.

[No Elephants]

44. One coat. Two coats would be "a lengthy and exhaustive investigation."

[0rganism]

6. has to re-allocate time to go after the medical marijuana dispensaries

For Great Justice!

[plumbob]

8. A fool investigation is what we'll get, I'm sure.

Oh, well.

Why don't we just have federal buildings show a new slogan: "We can do anything we want, you fuckers! Na-na-na-na-naaaa-na!"

[Solly Mack]

9. Just in time to wave the flag

Snort

[Hubert Flottz]

10. COWARD!

Fire him and get somebody who wants to work, instead of someone who just wants a paycheck.

[Frisbee]

23. Oh, I think he is earning his paycheck....

just like most people do, by doing exactly what his boss wants him to do.

This country is fucked in so many ways I've lost count.

[No Elephants]

45. Self delete.

[RufusTFirefly]

11. Yes we can!! n/t

[postulater]

14. Good one.

'Yes we can!!n/t' looked like 'Yes we cant' to me.

I'm so stupid.

:silly:

[No Elephants]

48. Yes, we can! We would rather not, though!

[frylock]

15. good! that frees up the DoJ to pursue file-sharing terrorists and MMJ jihadists

[postulater]

16. Can I call him a Dick?

[sudopod]

25. He really seems to be more of a Cheney. nt

[No Elephants]

49. I would rather not see men or women described by their genitals. Women always seem

to come out worse when that happens.

[erickregger]

17. What this means is that torture can happen in the future...

...and those doing the torturing will have to pay zero consequences for their actions.

[No Elephants]

50. The future? Ask Amnesty International when the U.S. stopped torturing or subcontracting torture.

[rhett o rick]

18. Thanks for the article. How do you feel about this? Do you agree that Obama should let Bush and his

torturers walk free?

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. I don't think that President Obama should interfere decisions on who does or does not get prosecuted

Those decision ultimately rest with Mr. Holder. Mr. Holder needs to listen to his prosecutors and follow their advice.

[rhett o rick]

27. So you are ok with it if the Bush torturers walk free. Laws were broken and need to be investigated

Pres Obama has an obligation to see that his DOJ follow the law and prosecute those that break the law.
Don't you agree.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. I am ok with the President letting prosecutors do their jobs rather than micromanaging

[No Elephants]

53. As if any President doesn't control the Dept. of Justice and have final say

on high profile and/or highly politically charged matters.

And we know Obama is no exception to that.

[EFerrari]

30. I have an array of bridges when you're ready to buy. n/t

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[No Elephants]

54. My favorites are the bridge between Boston proper and Charlestown and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Either of those in your inventory?

[ReadTomPaine]

51. "Honestly, I just think we should trust our president in every decision that he makes...

and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens.."

Nice company you keep.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1576182/britney_mccain_trust_bush/

[No Elephants]

52. What we agree is irrelevant. Please see Replies 47 and 51.

"We want to look forward" was such a lame excuse for not bothering with investigations or prosecutions of Bushco--or any suspected criminal. Unless we are also prepared to stop prosecuting anyone--maybe even close all prisons--it made no sense.

[Tx4obama]

21. CIA Interrogation Deaths: Justice Department To Investigate Deaths Of Two Detainees

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department's probe of CIA terrorist interrogation practices is entering a new phase: Attorney General Eric Holder announces there will be a full criminal investigation into the deaths of two men while they were in custody.

The attorney general says that he has accepted the recommendation of a federal prosecutor, John Durham, who has been conducting a long-running inquiry into CIA interrogation practices during the Bush administration.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/30/cia-interrogation-deaths-justice-department-review_n_887969.html

[Javaman]

22. Queue the Death Star music.

well, folks any hope of going after moron* and his room full of dopes just vanished into a haze of corporate and repuke influence.

not like they ever were going to investigate anyone above the level of flunky to begin with, this just now confirms it.

ah yes, home of the brave...tortorers.

[StarburstClock]

26. Only in a criminal country without laws would this occur

Welcome to a 3rd world country.

[Fuddnik]

31. Or, to quote Chomsky.....

"When you're a criminal state, it doesn't matter."

[No Elephants]

55. We have scads of laws. Just ask poor folk.

[chill_wind]

36. So..."Two Dead Detainees May Get Justice. The Other 99 Will Not." (Marcy Wheeler)

By: emptywheel Thursday June 30, 2011 11:10 am

Oh well. I suppose as Americans we should be content that 2% of the people we torture to death might get justice.

Her write-up:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/06/30/two-dead-detainees-may-get-justice-the-other-99-will-not/

[rhett o rick]

37. The emphasis should be on the "may" in "may get justice". nm

[Romulox]

47. "New DOJ Memo goes on a major DEA attack on medical marijuana"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1396054&mesg_id=1396054

[No Elephants]

56. The Obama administration has no intention of going into the medical marijuana business.

So, those prosecutions are no problem.