I'm glad you brought this up--security has been a defense for keeping embarrassing activities of the US from getting out for decades, and its been more to the detriment of marginalized Americans than any other group.

I agree, which is why it's so amazing to me that we still have so many people who unquestioningly believe our government whenever they utter these magic words. Evidently they have no clue about the old saying...fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

how do you explain elevating the photo issue over that of the civilian deaths?

I don't explain it because your above comment has nothing to do with this particular blog post. This piece is about the disingenuous reason given by Obama for suppressing the torture photos. If Glenn should write a piece that elevates the torture photo issue over the death of civilians then I could answer your query but until then I guess we'll just have to stick to the topic at hand.

I wish someone in the establishment media would ask Lieberman and Graham these very questions.

Obama blocks list of visitors to White House

Taking Bush's position, administration denies msnbc.com request for logs

-- LToothpick

Thanks for the link, LToothpick. Unbelievable! I'm becoming convinced that President Obama may be even more damaging than Bush. This will be yet another secretive Bush practice that the "Obama can do no wrong" supporters will now defend. When Obama talked about bi-partisanship I guess we didn't know just how far he was willing to go to be bi-partisan. This is truly pathetic.

CIA spokesman George Little said the agency "is reviewing the report to determine how much more of it can be declassified in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act."

An administration official said the CIA has not yet forwarded the document to the White House or the Justice Department for final review.

Link to WaPo story at sig.

By Friday we will probably be able to add another lack of transparency action to Glenn's list because Obama is evidently quite content to allow the CIA to decide how much information about their own crimes will be released to the public. Heckuva Job, Obama.

"It is critical that we hold accountable those who authorized, those who legally sanctioned and those who implemented the torture policies of one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history. What is at stake is nothing less than our democracy."

I totally agree. Maybe we can buy some TV time to do our own infomercial to let the American people know what is at stake and counter the "political" posturing that is being done. Most people are not aware that there are people of all political persuasions who want accountability. Our infomercial could have people coming on from all walks of life, all political persuasions to tell the American people why they must protest what's happening. The establishment media will NEVER cover this story as it should be covered. We have to come up with something creative to get the word out to the people.

Nevertheless, you did not answer my basic premise that it is not politically possible because the American Public knew full well Bush administration's position on torture and fully supported it.

Prosecuting the Bush administration is the fastest way for Obama and progressives to find their way out of office. If standing up for this principle trumps all else, then yes we prosecute and go back into the political wilderness. However, if health care, the environment, civil rights for all (including LGBT), an improved social safety net are our collective priority, we need to focus on these. (which a majoirty of Americans might actually support)

I think both your assumptions are wrong.

What makes you think the American people knew full well the Bush administration's position on torture much less that they supported it? Even today the Bush administration insists that it did not torture. They still call it enhanced interrogation and the establishment media helps them with this lie. The establishment media rarely uses the word torture and they cover this subject as if it were a political argument (like you do) and not a law and order issue and yet you think everyone knew? Please. That's just not true. The establishment media has also pretended that this is a "liberal" only issue. It's not. There are people of all political persuasions who want accountability but the media is not covering their POV and are therefore distorting the story even further. The one thing the American people don't know about this story is the truth.

You seem to go out of your way to argue against standing up for principle and appear more interested in what you think will enhance your particular political party. If we allow the rule of law to be pushed aside when it comes to torture what in the world makes you think that any program that is passed by Obama will be secure? What would prevent another administration from saying that the health care plan that was passed costs too much and is therefore, threatening national security? If you allow the rule of law to be subverted you have nothing on which to build all of these admirable programs. Your short sighted desire for political power weakens Democrats, it doesn't strengthen them.

In my opinion, those who look at this issue from only a selfish political perspective and who make decisions based only upon how they think their decision will benefit their particular political party instead of their country are to be pitied. They are to be pitied because in their desire for political power they willingly sell out their own country's best asset - the rule of law - for nothing more than the illusion of power.