Obama's CIA Nominee- Bush-Era Torturer? [View all]

[rachel1]

"Prior to President Obama's first inauguration in 2009, a controversy erupted over reports that he intended to appoint John Brennan as CIA director. That controversy, in which I participated, centered around the fact that Brennan, as a Bush-era CIA official, had expressly endorsed Bush's programs of torture (other than waterboarding) and rendition and also was a vocal advocate of immunizing lawbreaking telecoms for their role in the illegal Bush NSA eavesdropping program. As a result, Brennan withdrew his name from consideration, issuing a bitter letter blaming "strong criticism in some quarters prompted by [his] previous service with the" CIA."*

Obama's CIA director nominee John Brennan isn't getting as much attention as Chuck Hagel, but he should. Why would Obama nominate someone with a history in Bush-Era torture and drone strikes on civilians? Cenk Uygur breaks down exactly why.

*Read more from Glenn Greenwald/ Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/john-brennan-dishonesty-cia-director-nomination