Legal Commentary

CIA's Rearguard Action In Favor Of Torture Working?

By Big Tent Democrat

Jane Mayer writes:

Across the Potomac River, at the C.I.A.’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, however, there was considerably less jubilation [about Obama's executive orders.] Top C.I.A. officials have argued for years that so-called “enhanced” interrogation techniques have yielded life-saving intelligence breakthroughs. “They disagree in some respect,” admitted Craig. Among the hard questions Obama left open, in fact, is whether the C.I.A. will have to follow the same interrogation rules as the military. While the President has clearly put an end to cruel tactics, Craig said that Obama “is somewhat sympathetic to the spies’ argument that their mission and circumstances are different.”

(Emphasis supplied.) Actually, as written, the Obama executive orders bind the CIA to follow the Army Field Manual. In what way is the question open? Are Craig and Obama planning to backtrack on this point? A competent Media would be asking that question this morning.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 26, 2009 (boomark / email).