Cowardice in Time of Torture-"Looks very much as if Cheney sized up Holder correctly"-Ray McGovern

[kpete]

Cowardice in the Time of Torture

By Ray McGovern
April 5, 2009


I used to take a certain pride by association with prominent Bronxites who have “made it.” Cancel that for Attorney General Eric Holder and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

......................

Looks very much as if Cheney sized up Holder correctly. During his confirmation hearings, Holder manfully agreed with Sen. Patrick Leahy that waterboarding, which subjects a person to the panicked gag reflex of drowning, is torture.

But Holder has been out to lunch since then, no doubt leaving Cheney and his torture-friendly friends smirking at having been correct in taking the measure of the new Attorney General. Call it chutzpah, intimidation, bullying — whatever; it does seem to be working.

Cheney endorsing waterboarding; Holder labeling it torture; and — Hello? Anyone home? Deafening silence.

Never mind that Holder, like President Barack Obama, took a solemn oath to faithfully execute the laws of the land. Why are they still afraid of Dick Cheney, whom even the neo-con editors of the Washington Post in 2005 branded “Vice President for Torture?”

more at:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/040509c.html

[mucifer]

1. Give them a little time.

See what happens.

[aquart]

2. Powell has had plenty of time. Holder is under his desk.

[zeemike]

3. What is not understood is that for 8 years

The DOJ was politicized and keep people in the department were put into place...and they are still there.
Now ask them to pursue criminal charges against the ones that put them there and see what happens...they mess up the case and guess what happens then...they skate.
This is not so easy as it seems.

[joanski0]

6. I believe that you are right.

Didn't the bush* people put a lot of political apointee people into civil service jobs just to keep them there as moles.

[Metta]

4. They want to be seen as bringing the country together, a waste of time and already a failure.

Obama is going to be losing lots of capital by colluding with criminals both in intelligence and finance. Watch as he wastes time propping up these failed efforts. Watch as he walks with one foot already firmly in Bush territory.

[noise]

5. What is the extent of the bullying?

A CIA that engages in a sickening torture program would seemingly not care about threatening political leaders with assassination or some sort of blackmail. I know we are supposed to pretend the CIA is full of patriots but that doesn't fit the facts as they don't respect the US Constitution and US law.

Or is it easier to vet the candidates/nominees before they get into office so CYA is guaranteed? Thus no threats are required.