Must-Reads on the End of the Bush Administration

There are two great stories out discussing what we should do with all the national security secrets that, if made public, could (1) expose the full extent of the Bush Administration's torture, detention, rendition, and wiretapping programs, (2) make Bush Administration officials vulnerable to criminal prosecution, (3) create a public circus that overshadows the Obama Administration's early actions and spoils a moment of goodwill that Obama wants to exploit, and (4) potentially make our defenses weaker in the war on terror.

Result (1) is obviously a good thing. Is (2)? Even if it comes with effects (3) and (4)? Is there a way to do this that avoids (4) entirely?

Check out the thoughts of Dahlia Lithwick in Slate and Charles Homans in the Washington Monthly. Obama seems interested in establishing a commission that ferrets out the who/what/where/when/why, but doesn't initiate criminal proceedings. That's probably the approach the majority of the country would prefer, but is bound to anger some on both the right and the left.

Comments

Legacy?

A culture that defines its very raison d'etre by endless accumulation of material possessions; by the unbounded acquisition of more money, money, money, money; by recklessly overconsuming and relentlessly hoarding limited resources, demonstrably declares to all the world that greed is good.

Are we not members of a culture that worships consumerism? Are the products of greed nothing more or less than the objects of our idolatry?

Are the pin-striped suits, fleet of cars, chauffeur, private jets, McMansions, distant hideaways, secret handshakes and exclusive clubs...... all signatures of success in a culture borne of the 'goodness' of greed?

Consider for a moment what greed has wrought.

Steven Earl Salmony
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population,
established 2001

Posted by: Steven Earl Salmony on 11/30/08 at 6:15 AM Respond

At the start of Dem and Repub administrations, there are always a set of executive orders that change some things like 'gag rules' on abortion policy.

If there is no prosecution of the crimes committed during the last four years, then these ideas of torture and illegal detention of prisoners will be the same way. It will come back for sure the next time the Republicans take power.

Prosecuting the Bush criminals isn't about being vindictive about the last 8 years. Its about firmly enforcing the laws of the United States and its treaties. And only by enforcing those laws now can we start to ensure we won't see such crimes again.

If no one is prosecuted over these crimes, then its a sure bet that we'll see them again in this country.

Posted by: Samson on 11/30/08 at 9:59 PM Respond

Bring accountability back to the United States executive branch. Two is good.

Don't sweep this under the rug.

3? Probably nonsense. Whose, goodwill, exactly, would this jeopardize?
4? How? Yes, these things may outrage some who would do harm to Americans. But would that not be ameliorated if the U.S. itself punishes these acts?

The supposed downsides are only downsides if it appears that the crimes go unpunished.

Posted by: cj on 12/01/08 at 7:43 AM Respond

I think I'd wait and see if it actually goes away now that Democrats control, not only Congress, but the Whitehouse as well. Their voting records on such matters (warrantless spying, support for undeclared wars and invasions, etc.) don't inspire a great deal of confidence.

What I've watched for 30+ years is federal political power expanding, administration after administration, and NO administration actually undoing the usurpations of power and violations of the Constitution pressed by the previous one. Simply building on them, and expanding them in other directions as well.

Posted by: Droolius Sneezer on 12/01/08 at 11:05 AM Respond