Obama to release once-secret, considered the "Rosetta Stone" Bush Admin torture report

[sabra]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/roodfromdc/2009/06/obama-to-release-key-torture-report.html#more

Mark your calendars: Next Friday, the Obama administration plans to release a once-secret report on the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” program which many experts and critics consider the Rosetta Stone to understanding how agency officers conducted themselves in the operation, the New York Times reports today.

Bits and pieces of the report – the result of a 2004 investigation by then-CIA Inspector General John Helgerson – are already public.
In particular, Helgerson reportedly concluded the program, which sought to elicit actionable intelligence from the agency’s “high-value” terror detainees, violated international bans on torture, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which the United States signed.

Helgerson’s report contains “the most powerful evidence of apparent excesses” in the controversial interrogation program, knowledgeable officials told the Washington Post earlier this year.

Helgerson’s investigation included “more than 100 interviews, a review of the videotapes and 38,000 pages of documents,” the Post said.

In short, it’s the most thorough investigation of the program to date, and it’s been kept secret until now. No word on how heavily the Obama administration might redact the report. But expect it to fuel more criticism of the now-defunct program.

[surrealAmerican]

1. kick.

I can hardly wait.

[felinetta]

2. Yes!!

[Hekate]

3. My man

:kick:

[redqueen]

4. Nice.

[Arkana]

5. Eh what?

Huh. This oughta be interesting.

[Occam Bandage]

6. Kick for greater transparency.

[L. Coyote]

7. Report by Bush/Cheny CIA Inspector General John Helgerson =

a shitload of CYA, compared to the real truth, no doubt.

[redqueen]

9. I expect that even the cleaned-up version will still be damning.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[myrna minx]

8. K&R n/t

[derby378]

10. Will this result in prosecutions?

:shrug:

[wiggs]

11. I will be surprised if it adds to the debate. Even though I have confidence

that PO is for transparency, he is known for his centrist, pragmatic, balanced approach to issues. He will not upset the apple cart. He may slowly advance an issue in small steps, but he will not make national headlines with this report. Plus, the report appears to be on the CIA program, not on the irresponsible, twisted legal opinions that the administration relied on. The CIA works for Obama now and he will not appear to throw them under the bus.

Add to that the fact that dems in general have used hearings, reports, petitions, letters, and speeches for 8 years as tools for making issues GO AWAY, rather than as a basis for action. I become skeptical about this particular report and how it's redacted.

I expect to hear the GOP and its pundits whine that this represents a breach of protocol, national security, and the constitution...that it is a betrayal of the highest order. This will not mean that they are scared of the report; it is merely what they do at the drop of a hat. Then they will claim that the report exonerates all republicans everywhere.

[donheld]

12. K & R

[ColbertWatcher]

13. Next Friday? Aww, why can't they release it on Monday? k+r, n/t

[kentuck]

14. He's playing hardball.

Either you bunch of morons get your shit together and support my healthcare plan or I will continue to embarrass your entire Party. :-)

[pleah]

15. I'll believe it when I see it. n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

16. "Enabler" "same as Bush"-- MY ASS

This is not the action of a stealth Republican.