Why CIA Probe Should Stop – Two Wrongs Make a Left

The current probe of past interrogations of suspected terrorists by the CIA is flawed at least and pure politics at worst.  It is flawed in a legal sense because if the CIA got legal “clearance” or “guidance” from the same Justice department that is now investigating them for following that guidance.  The names have changed but the department has not.

This would be like asking a cop if you are allowed to park your car in an unmarked parking space.  The cop says that it is okay to park your car.  You park the car and leave.

Several hours later, you return and see another cop writing you a ticket and then interrogating you because you parked in a spot illegally.

“But the cop that was here a few hours ago said it was okay.”

“Well NOW it is not.  While you were gone, a new ordinance went into effect and retroactively made any parking in this space illegal.”

That is unfair and unconstitutional.

Teddy and Mary Jo

If the late Ted Kennedy was subjected to the same misuse of laws, he could have been tried for vehicular manslaughter for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquiddick when no such law existed in 1969 when he fled the scene of the accident that led to her death.

Politics as Usual?

Dick Cheney is right to conclude that the CIA investigation is political in nature.  What was deemed legal then is no longer the case.  Obama and his administration should only focus on those who directly violated stated policy and laws at the time of the event.  It is impossible to follow the law of the land that has yet to be written.  Obama is often heard supporting a health care bill that is not complete.  So far, only a House version exists and has yet to be negotiated with a Senate version that has not been completed.

Obama believes that he transcends time and space.  After all, most gods are omnipotent.  The narcissistic personality disorder suffered by Obama and enabled by his followers will not dissolve easily.  The media abandoning him will not help.  He will blame others for persecuting him (probably because they are racist, right?).

The effects of this on the CIA is already having a negative impact.  The effects on the safety of the United States may not be felt for years.

This should be balanced against the notion of “doing the right thing.”  If evidence suggests that agents went “rogue” and ignored Bush-era policy, then by all means investigate.  But do so with discretion.   The events are already weakening our position in the world.  If Obama’s concerns centered on our moral authority, and he belives a change in policy is in order, then he should make the changes and move forward as planned and promised.

If this is simply “red meat” for the consumption of Obama’s left-of-center-political base, then it is just as “wrong” as the alleged “abuses” he hopes to correct.  In this case, two wrongs make a left.  They don’t make anything right.

Ted Kennedy – Lest We Forget

In the national media’s grief, they have forgotten so much of what Ted Kennedy accomplished.  They have described him as hard working, for the little guys, a champion of freedom, never petty or personal.  They forget how outraged he was over injustices imposed by conservatives and how he felt that Reagan was unfit to be President because on a radio show years earlier, had (correctly, I say) compared FDR’s liberalism to fascism.

Senator Kennedy put politics over country in this instance.  See below.

From the appendix (p 317-320) of one of my favorite books:  The Crusader.

TEXT OF KGB LETTER ON SENATOR TED KENNEDY
_________________________________________

Special Importance
Committee on State Security of the USSR
14.05. 1983 No. 1029 Ch/OV
Moscow

Regarding Senator Kennedy’s request to the General Secretary of the Communist Party Comrade Y.V. Andropov

Comrade Y.V. Andropov

On 9-10 May of this year, Senator Edward Kennedy’s close friend and trusted confidant J. Tunney was in Moscow. The senator charged Tunney to convey the following message, through confidential contacts, to the General Secretary of the Center Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov.

Senator Kennedy, like other rational people, is very troubled by the current state of Soviet-American relations. Events are developing such that this relationship coupled with the general state of global affairs will make the situation even more dangerous. The main reason for this is Reagan’s belligerence, and his firm commitment to deploy new American middle range nuclear weapons within Western Europe.

According to Kennedy, the current threat is due to the President’s refusal to engage any modification on his politics. He feels that his domestic standing has been strengthened because of the well publicized improvement of the economy: inflation has been greatly reduced, production levels are increasing as is overall business activity. For these reasons, interest rates will continue to decline. The White House has portrayed this in the media as the “success of Reaganomics.”

Naturally, not everything in the province of economics has gone according to Reagan’s plan. A few well known economists and members of financial circles, particularly from the north-eastern states, foresee certain hidden tendencies that many bring about a new economic crisis in the USA. This could bring about the fall of the presidential campaign of 1984, which would benefit the Democratic party. Nevertheless, there are no secure assurances this will indeed develop.

The only real threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations. These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign. The movement advocating a freeze on nuclear arsenals of both countries continues to gain strength in the United States. The movement is also willing to accept preparations, particularly from Kennedy, for its continued growth. In political and influential circles of the country, including within Congress, the resistence to growing military expenditures is gaining strength.

However, according to Kennedy, the opposition to Reagan is still very weak. Reagan’s adversaries are divided and the presentations they make are not fully effective. Meanwhile, Reagan has the capabilities to effectively counter any propaganda. In order to neutralize criticism that the talks between the USA and the USSR are non-constructive, Reagan will grandiose, but subjectively propagandistic. At the same time, Soviet officials who speak about disarmament will be quoted out of context, silenced or groundlessly and whimsically discounted. Although arguments and statements by officials of the USSR do appear in the press, it is important to note the majority of Americans do not read serious newspapers or periodicals.

Kennedy believes that, given the current state of affairs, and in the interest of peace, it would be prudent and timely to undertake the following steps to counter the militaristic politics of Reagan and his campaign to psychologically burden the American people. In this regard, he offers the following proposals to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Y.V. Andropov:

1. Kennedy asks Y.V. Andropov to consider inviting the senator to Moscow for a personal meeting in July of this year. The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA. He would also like to inform you that he has planned a trip through Western Europe, where he anticipates meeting England’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Mitterand in which he will exchange similar ideas regarding the same issues.

If his proposals would be accepted in principle, Kennedy would send his representative to Moscow to resolve questions regarding organizing such a visit.

Kennedy thinks the benefits of a meeting with Y.V.Andropov will be enhanced if he could also invite one of the well known Republican senators, for example, Mark Hatfield. Such a meeting will have a strong impact on American and political circles in the USA (In March of 1982, Hatfield and Kennedy proposed a project to freeze the nuclear arsenals of the USA and USSR and pblished a book on the theme as well.)

2. Kennedy believes that in order to influence Americans it would be important to organize in August-September of this year, televised interviews with Y.V. Andropov in the USA. A direct appeal by the General Secretary to the American people will, without a doubt, attact a great deal of attention and interest in the country. The senator is convinced this would receive the maximum resonance in so far as television is the most effective method of mass media and information.

If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about suitable steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y.V. Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interview. Specifically, the president of the board of directors of ABC, Elton Raul and television columnists Walter Cronkite or Barbara Walters could visit Moscow. The senator underlined the importance that this initiative should be seen as coming from the American side.

Furthermore, with the same purpose in mind, a series of televised interviews in the USA with lower level Soviet officials, particularly from the military would be organized. They would also have an opportunity to appeal directly to the American people about the peaceful intentions of the USSR, with their own arguments about maintaining a true balance of power between the USSR and the USA in military term. This issue is quickly being distorted by Reagan’s administration.

Kennedy asked to convey that this appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union is his effort to contribute a strong proposal that would root out the threat of nuclear war, and to improve Soviet-American relations, so that they define the safety of the world. Kennedy is very impressed with the activities of Y.V. Andropov and other Soviet leaders, who expressed their commitment to heal international affairs, and improve mutal understandings between peoples.

The senator underscored that he eagerly awaits a reply to his appeal, the answer to which may be delivered through Tunney.

Having conveyed Kennedy’s appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Tunney also explained that Senator Kennedy has in the last few years actively made appearances to reduce the threat of war. Because he formally refused to partake in the election campaign of 1984, his speeches would be taken without prejudice as they are not tied to any campaign promises. Tunney remarked that the senator wants to run for president in 1988. At that time, he will be 56 and his personal problems, which could hinder his standing, will be resolved (Kennedy has just completed a divorce and plans to remarry in the near future). Taken together, Kennedy does not discount that during the 1984 campaign, the Democratic Party may officially turn to him to lead the fight against the Republicans and elect their candidate president. This would explain why he is convinced that none of the candidates today have a real chance at defeating Reagan.

We await instructions.

President of the committee
V. Chebrikov

CIA Special Prosecutor May Please Hard Left – Will Hurt Obama, US

Obama is setting the stage for a new narrative about the United States, and his presidency.  That narrative may be heralded as a courageous stand that says that no one is above the law (except suspected terrorists), not even the CIA or those who work for the President of the USA.

In his decision to give Mr. Holder complete autonomy in making a decision on investigating possible abuses of terror suspects by the CIA, Obama has abdicated his own role as the “decider”.  It is the role of the President to be the executor of the law of the land.  He publicly said he’d prefer to move on, look forward, not back.  His actions speak otherwise.

How is the naming of a special prosecutor by Eric Holder to be seen as anything other than a nod to (and red meat for) the hard left that wanted Dick Cheney and Carl Rove indicted for “war crimes”?

I know, I know – the US does not allow nor does it condone torture, the threat of torture or even the display of bad manners at prisoners.

The vast majority of Americans don’t want this investigation (according to CNN polling – so don’t blame me for the biased results) and Obama claims that he’d rather not do it.  But gosh darn it, the stubborn Mr. Holder says that there is just a mountain of evidence that says that the investigation MUST go on.

The media headlines are already having a negative impact on our foreign policy and relations.   As any inmate or detainee is released, their method of operation will be as follows:

1. Call a press conference or have the press to his home
2. Claim that he was tortured, sodomized, raped, pillaged, etc.
3. Be seen around loving family praying or reading library books
4. Make no mention of the illegal activity (i.e. throwing grenades at US forces causing casualties) but repeat the judge’s rulings about lack of evidence to prove your guilt
5. Hire a good PR or agent to represent your interests in a book or movie deal
6. Blame Israel (if possible) and Bush specifically
7. Field offers from law firms that specialize in fleecing corporations and the US government – or just any run-of-the-mill ambulance chaser will do for the lawsuit against the USA

Obama will be percieved as weak by the world (rather than just naive or stupid).  Weakness will invite more attacks.  Weakness will not help the US in negotiations.  Weakness will not help the President win on his agenda (i.e. health care reform or change or whatever it is he wants to do for or to the health care industry).

A stronger position is one that angers some, but fulfills basic promises he made in his campaign of hope.  By ignoring the political realities he faces and clinging to angry, vengeful hatred of his predecessor, he will potentially undo all he aimed to accomplish.

From the pandering to every democrat-wish list project in the so called “stimulus bill”, clinging hopelessly to the “public option” in the so called “health care reform” bill, lashing out at Boston Police as “stupid” for arresting a friend for making a disturbance before he knew the facts of the case, and finally, for allowing a protracted investigation of the CIA to linger, Mr. Obama is showing that he came to office with an agenda that hardly resembles the theme of unity and hope he used to convince a majority of American voters to choose him.

That explains why independents are unimpressed with his plans or his work to date.  That explains why Republicans are energized and it even explains why his overall numbers dropped in recent days.  His own base is rejecting him when he strays off the reservation.

A strong leader?  Obama?

He may as well smile and ask us all to turn our thermostats down this winter as a way to deal with rising energy costs.

All I know is this – if I were President I would think twice about angering the very people he has just alienated.  No, not Republicans.  The spies of the nation are not happy.  These are some of the people who are in charge of assassinations.  I would want them on my side.

H1N1 Report – Pendng Pandemic or Another Obama “Crisis” Opportunity?

A presidential report claims that half of the US population could be infected and perhaps 90,000 dead from the H1N1 virus this winter.

The H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu virus, could infect between 30 percent and 50 percent of the American population during the fall and winter and lead to as many as 1.8 million U.S. hospital admissions, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reported.

The report says 30,000 to 90,000 deaths are projected as part of a “plausible scenario” involving large outbreaks at schools, inadequate antiviral supplies and the virus peaking before vaccinations have time to be effective.

Up to 40,000 U.S. deaths are linked to seasonal flu each year, with most of the fatalities occurring among people over 65. With seasonal flu and H1N1, this fall is expected to bring more influenza deaths and place “enormous stress” on intensive care units nationwide, which normally operate near capacity, the report says.

The season may begin as early as September and could peak by mid-October.  Yikes!  Does anyone think this strain of influenza could influence the outcome of the health care debate?

The administration wants to balance sensible advise verses creating a panic.  On the other hand, why pass up the chance to promote an agenda under the cover of a “crisis”?

If the vaccine is available, the most at risk ought to give the two shot treatment a chance.  In the meantime, make sure that health care debates are actually debated on C-SPAN by a round table discussion, as Candidate Obama Promised while still serving as the junior Senator from Illinois roughly one year ago.

Look! Look! A Special Prosecutor! Forget Health Care – Bush Tortured!

I said so yesterday and it happened today.  A source says that Eric Holder will name a special prosecutor to investigate some incidence of alleged torture of incarcerated terror-suspects at the hands of CIA.  It is a head fake to keep us preoccupied while Democrats craft a very unpopular health care bill.

Holder is poised to name John Durham, a career Justice Department prosecutor from Connecticut, to lead the inquiry, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is not complete.

Durham’s mandate, the sources added, will be relatively narrow: to look at whether there is enough evidence to launch a full-scale criminal investigation of current and former CIA personnel who may have broken the law in their dealings with detainees. Many of the harshest CIA interrogation techniques have not been employed against terrorism suspects for four years or more.

Meanwhile, look for the media to begin to feel sorry for the President.  He has sooo much on his plate.  No one has ever faced such daunting tasks, they’ll say.  His poll numbers are in free fall (among his base and his opposition).  He did climb back up to minus 12 from minus 14 on Friday, but he has little to celebrate while on vacation and much to ponder for his return to the very hot kitchen in September.  Prediction -public option is in deep doo-doo.

So for now it will be a chorus of “Look, look!  A torture story!  Look!  Bush was bad.  Investigations are on the way.  Please don’t hate me.  I am a democrat and I love you.  TRUST me man.  Just let me get something, anything done so we can declare victory and go back to spending your grandchildren’s money.”