It's understandable that he wants to get something done. If I was the President I would want the same thing: to begin working on my legacy right away. But that desire is really selfish. The nation needs reconciliation right now more than anything. We need to know that America can once again be the beacon of liberty that we claim to be.

Otherwise, what are we? We don't get our identity from ethnic heritage, or a connection to the land. Here in America, our national identity is all about mythology. We are a collection of ideals, and torture cuts right to the heart of it.

Obama needs to put aside his personal desire to transform government and convene a commission to restore our national identity.

This appears to me to be political posturing, washing "the old man's" (military parlance) hands while letting subordinates take care of the dirty nasty business.

V V

You've got an agenda to obstruct, and we're behind you in that effort!

Where can I make a donation to Salon, to keep up the good fight on "Torture Investigations"?

Old adage:

Don't listen to what people say, watch what they do.......he makes this statement while today releasing additional picture is worth a thousand words photos.

V V

I wonder what America needs more in the eyes of the world than some sort of investigation into our torturing ways. I sincerely hope that everyone who says Obama won't obstruct such an investigation and is only posturing for political ends is correct.

I'm no big fan of his legislative agenda, and yet I have no interest in doing this. Its TEDIOUS, EXPENSIVE, and will come to no good end. These sorts of inquiries are like Elephant sex, lots of noise, shit gets trampled on, and then NOTHING. In two years you either do, or dont get a little baby elephant.

Obama's secret plan seems to be to dump this problem on anyone but him. Congress, ICC, angry mob, terrorists it doesn't matter to him but he SWORE to defend the CONSTITUTION and is legally and morally obligated to prosecute the criminals.

The Left's only response - IMPEACHMENT!! If we don't punish our own than we are no better than the Republicans. If Impeachment fails than its time to plan for a primary challenge to Obama.

I meant to add

Old adage:

Don't listen to what people say, watch what they do.......he makes this statement while today releasing additional picture is worth a thousand words photos.

V V

-- vitamvas

Indeed, watch what Obama "does." He'll leave "prosecution" up to some guys in Spain...

Not least because Glenn Greenwald will be able to "neener neener neener" me if those prosecutions don't happen. But I'm sending a letter to Mr. Obama toot sweet about this. As Pogo used to say, "If I could only write I'd send an angry letter to the mayor, if he could only read."

Obama's self serving nature

Obama's secret plan seems to be to dump this problem on anyone but him. Congress, ICC, angry mob, terrorists it doesn't matter to him but he SWORE to defend the CONSTITUTION and is legally and morally obligated to prosecute the criminals.

The Left's only response - IMPEACHMENT!! If we don't punish our own than we are no better than the Republicans. If Impeachment fails than its time to plan for a primary challenge to Obama.

-- Yminale

Damn straight! Kucinich/Conyers in 2012!

Here's the link to sign-up and support Salon. Go ahead, part with a few bucks. I dare you. We'll all know when the star appears next to your name.

https://sub.salon.com/register/

Republicans learned an important lesson in 1992 thanks to Buchannan. Don't piss off the base. It's time the DemocRATS learn the same lesson.

Such an inquiry might actually result in limits being placed on what the Executive branch can do.

If there are no inquiries, then the answer is clear - the Executive branch of the government can do anything it wants without ever worrying about having to answer for it.

That, of course, is exactly why such investigations are necessary. Establishing a precedent that the Executive branch is not subject to U.S. law, ever, pretty much destroys everything this country stands for.

One would think that the Republicans would consider this, rather than simply conceding unlimited power to President Obama. Then again, they're kind of thick.

I can understand Obama's desire to move forward with his agenda, which, whether you fully agree with it or not, is very important given our economic, social and environmental state. But, I've also seen this movie before. Even though a number of Nixon's closest associates did some jail time for their unconstitutional activities, Nixon got off without prosecution as did many of the other dirty tricks folks like Cheney.

These criminals turned around, and at the next opportunity (Reagan) came right back and did it all over again. Then we got Bush the lesser, a malleable and gullible "leader," and they seized their opportunity to really screw things up. If we don't want to see the same problems crop up again in another decade or so, we need to make it clear that such behavior will not be tolerated.

And then there's the little nicety that torture is a war crime.

Obama is pushing forward on many fronts and that is great, but I'll wager that rather than being a distraction, prosecution of the war criminals would give the U.S. greater stature and strengthen his hand internationally. I also believe that the majority of the American people are not Fox News idiots and will understand the necessity of upholding the law.

Shame on you!! The ends never justify the means. Is health care reform, carbon trading, and a BS green revolution worth YOUR SOULS. Do you really want to live in a country that sanctions TORTURE?! Times are tough but that does that really justify prostituting your self to a false messiah for a bunch of empty promises. Remember Torture only ends we stand together and say STOP.