Obama's DOJ Loses... Three Cheers!

[LnGrrrR]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/28/secrecy/

Per the article, Obama's DOJ claim that the 'state secrets' privilege could apply to whole cases, rather than specific pieces of evidence, was shot down in court. Sounds good to me!

Let's hope this isn't reverse in an appeal.

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, that was Bush's DOJ claim too. One the new guys shouldn't have taken up.

[ElNono]

About time. Here's one for transparency! :toast

[Marcus Bryant]

So "change" came from the court and not the ballot box.

[DarkReign]

So "change" came from the court and not the ballot box.

...exactly. Raise your hand if youre surprised.

Bueller?

[DarrinS]

so "change" came from the court and not the ballot box.

lol

[DarrinS]

Morale must be really high at our intelligence agencies these days.

[ChumpDumper]

Morale must be really high at our intelligence agencies these days.So are you for or against this court ruling?

[DarrinS]

So are you for or against this court ruling?


I have to go read it. In general, I'm for transparency, but only if it's something that REALLY needs to be known by the general public. I don't think the public needs to know everything -- maybe something like a low altitude flight by AF1 over NYC.

[ChumpDumper]

Who do you want to decide whether you need to know anything?

[DarrinS]

Who do you want to decide whether you need to know anything?


Lord Obama, obviously.

[ChumpDumper]

Lord Obama, obviously.So you are against the court ruling.

[clambake]

he didn't read the court ruling........or the facts about yellowcake.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't read court rulings that often. From what has been reported on this one, I'm fer it.

[ElNono]

I have to go read it. In general, I'm for transparency, but only if it's something that REALLY needs to be known by the general public. I don't think the public needs to know everything -- maybe something like a low altitude flight by AF1 over NYC.

Then you should like this ruling. It doesn't prevent the court from keeping certain evidence secret at the government request. It merely states that because some of the evidence might be secret, the entire case cannot be thrown out.

[Wild Cobra]

The court ruling (http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/04/27/0815693.pdf) was an interesting read. I wonder how all will turn out.

[RandomGuy]

Morale must be really high at our intelligence agencies these days.

Man, that is just dying for me to dig up the reception Obama was given at the CIA where he had to get someone from the agency to quiet the crowds cheering for him enough to start his speech.

After getting pissed on for 8 years, you bet the intelligence community is happy to have someone actually listen to them again.

Your statement was stupidly partisan.

[DarrinS]

Man, that is just dying for me to dig up the reception Obama was given at the CIA where he had to get someone from the agency to quiet the crowds cheering for him enough to start his speech.

After getting pissed on for 8 years, you bet the intelligence community is happy to have someone actually listen to them again.

Your statement was stupidly partisan.

ok


http://www.poligazette.com/2009/04/25/former-cia-director-porter-goss-morale-cia-low/




Former CIA director Porter Goss says that morale at the CIA has been shaken to its foundation by the Obama administration’s release of secret memos and talks about possibly prosecutions of agents and officials who used or condoned torture.

“Circuses are not new in Washington, and I can see preparations being made for tents from the Capitol straight down Pennsylvania Avenue. The CIA has been pulled into the center ring before. The result this time will be the same: a hollowed-out service of diminished capabilities. After Sept. 11, the general outcry was, ‘Why don’t we have better overseas capabilities?’ I fear that in the years to come this refrain will be heard again: once a threat — or God forbid, another successful attack — captures our attention and sends the pendulum swinging back,” Goss said.

“There is only one person who can shut down this dangerous show: President Obama. Unfortunately, much of the damage to our capabilities has already been done. It is certainly not trust that is fostered when intelligence officers are told one day ‘I have your back’ only to learn a day later that a knife is being held to it. After the events of this week, morale at the CIA has been shaken to its foundation,” he added.

“We must not forget: Our intelligence allies overseas view our inability to maintain secrecy as a reason to question our worthiness as a partner. These allies have been vital in almost every capture of a terrorist.”

Obama overplayed his hand. He thought he could release the memos without calling for an investigation into the matter, and possibly bringing some of those involved in torture to justice. Sadly for him, however, the liberal base was not satisfied with the release of the memos: they demanded more blood.

The new president had two choices: tell them no investigation would be opened - with the risk of alienating his most passionate supporters and possibly causing a civil war in the Democratic Party - or leaving the door open to it, thereby demoralizing the CIA.

He chose the latter option.

We will now have to wait and see whether an investigation will indeed be launched. If it will, you can expect former Vice President Dick Cheney to come out swinging even more ferocious than he has done thus far. Launching an investigation will not cause a civil war in the Democratic Party, but it will cause a tremendous battle between conservatives and liberals - between the past and present administrations - and it will demoralize the CIA tremendously, which may very well turn against the 44th president.

To sum up: Obama made a big, potentially tragic mistake.

[ChumpDumper]

If the CIA were actually demoralized, so what?

[DarrinS]

If the CIA were actually demoralized, so what?

fuck 'em. Gawt damn torturers.

-libs

[spurster]

It's a self-esteem issue. Instead of telling them they were wrong, they should be given praise instead. Maybe giving them a trophy would help.

[ChumpDumper]

fuck 'em. Gawt damn torturers.

-libs
That wasn't an answer.

Please tell me what tangible effects you say Obama's actions will have in the CIA.

[MannyIsGod]

:lmao @ Darrin's inability to answer questions. He doesn't know what he believes, why he believes it, or who told him to believe it.

[baseline bum]

:lmao @ Darrin's inability to answer questions. He doesn't know what he believes, why he believes it, or who told him to believe it.

He clearly believes Obama is the Anti-Christ, after Angel_luv told him to believe it.

[LnGrrrR]

fuck 'em. Gawt damn torturers.

-libs

Pretty much.