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• Tuesday, January 13, 2009 09:10 AM

  FISA, Brennan, Iraq and other Illusions

  The pressure applied with regards to FISA resulted in a temporary reprieve and then, well, you know the rest.

  Drawing attention to John Brennan's support of certain policies led to his withdrawal from an arm's-length position to one where he has the president's ear on counterterrorism (which is surely the realm where, ah, "harsh" interrogation techniques are most relevant).

  Promises made with respect to the withdrawal from Iraq were framed in such a way as to lead many to reach an erroneous conclusion.

  So...isn't it possible that the first-day Executive Order will be framed in such a way as to be entirely consistent with Obama's remarks on Sunday's TV? Sure, he'll immediately issue an EO to close the prison, but as far as implementation goes...the devil is in the details.

  My point is this: just as one should wait until the man actually does something before reaching any conclusions as to his plans and intentions...one should wait until the man actually does something before reaching any conclusions as to his plans and intentions! So far the safest conclusion is that Obama's a master illusionist - he's got everyone looking one way when the real "action" (such as it is) is happening somewhere else...or not happening at all. (Hmmm...is this what is meant by change you can "believe" in...?)

  Not to put too fine a point on it, but Boumediene was a wonderful decision unless you're one of the prisoners still rotting in prison.

  —The Reality Kid Read The Reality Kid's other letters
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