According to the NYT’s Political Caucus, “After a tense internal debate, President Obama officially announced this afternoon that his administration would not prosecute C.I.A operatives for carrying out controversial interrogations of terrorist suspects, as the Justice Department began releasing a number of detailed memos describing harsh techniques used against Al Qaeda suspects in secret overseas prisons.”
Searchable versions of the released documents may be viewed here
No doubt, this issue will spark great debate, and for good reason. It is an argument facing the philosophy, integrity, and values of the American people. Before continuing to read, please take the time to overview the list of interrigation techniques allowed by following the link above.
And we’re not going to prosecute?
Good. This is an issue with no black and white definite lines. There’s a large gray area, and it goes like this. To a certain extent any educated American can tell the difference between right and wrong. These techniques were extreme, and albeit, morally unacceptable. But in light of necessity, who are we to judge a person of character for following orders. Where can we draw a line that allows retribution to American Soldiers and CIA Agents for administering even extreme interrigation techniques? Murder. Nothing less. Only at a point where clear and preimptive murder is at hand should any soldier or agent working for this countries greater good be prosecuted for declining to act. These techniques allowed by the Bush administration were harsh, but we certainly without a doubt cannot say that they weren’t necessary. I can already here the cries, “of course they weren’t necessary”….But do we really know that? No.
By issuing these memos President Obama let it be known what our country is morally capable of in times of war…or morally incapable of for that matter. However, I along with the President feel that to prosecute any man or woman that acted upon these interrigation techniques from orders issued by their superiors would be the most hypocritical and blatantly Un-American act possible. As I say the words “Un-American” I am aware of how biasedly conservative and somewhat “backwoods” the words sound. I claim to be neither. At some point, we have to be honest with ourselves. Post 9-11, most of America was for the war in Iraq. Although I am not a complete defender of President Bush, I will admit that had no actions been taken after 9-11, America would have turned on him just as quickly as we had in the later years of his Presidency.
President Obama has rejected the use of any such techniques in the future and he has chose to release the information to the American People so we can learn from the past. In light of the issue, he has said that this is a “time for reflection, not retribution.” President Obama made the right choice.
Pass
