NBC News and news services

updated 11 minutes ago

 

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama left the door open Tuesday to prosecuting Bush administration officials who devised the legal authority for gruesome terrorism-suspect interrogations, saying the United States lost "our moral bearings" with use of the tactics.

 

The question of whether to bring charges against those who devised justification for the methods "is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws and I don't want to prejudge that," Obama said.

 

The president discussed the issue of terrorism-era interrogation tactics with reporters as he finished an Oval Office meeting with visiting King Abdullah II of Jordan.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30325495

What does "lost our moral bearings" mean? I am against torture too, but if we haven't already lost our moral bearings more by abortion, then we never had any.

Obama needs to take a closer look at his own morals before he casts any stones..:irked:

Do we as a country ignore the rule of law? I heard the former VP say that they should consider that the torture used brought about good info. Do the ends justify the means?

Obama needs to take a closer look at his own morals before he casts any stones..:irked:

 

So his stance on abortion precludes him from enforcing the nation's laws?

He made partial birth abortions legal.. At least water boarding is not murder.. In fact we water board our own troops in training.. Where is the outrage over that??

He made partial birth abortions legal.. At least water boarding is not murder.. In fact we water board our own troops in training.. Where is the outrage over that??

 

John McCain was also against water boarding.

The totally unnecessary release of the legal memos outlining the rationale behind the "aggressive interrogation techniques" clearly marked it as a purely political act. Since that decision was made in consultation with the attorney general, I have no confidence that the attorney general's decision to prosecute will be based on the "parameters of the various laws" and fully expect that it will also be a political act. Given the charges that the Bush administration politicized the Justice Department, Obama's actions would be dripping with both irony and hypocrisy.

 

However, the path is not without danger to Obama and the members of his administration. He should think long a hard about criminalizing policy decisions of former administrations. While discrediting or even jailing former officials might seem to be an attractive course of action today, sooner or later the Obama administration will also be a former administration. What goes around might come around. However, I doubt that Obama will shy away from such precedents. Such perils will be hidden from him by his hubris.

He made partial birth abortions legal.. At least water boarding is not murder.. In fact we water board our own troops in training.. Where is the outrage over that??

 

 

He made it legal? By himself? I missed that. I'm sure it would have been reported on here.

 

Is this how its going to go over the next 4 years? You disagree with a stance he takes and you yell "partial birth?"

The totally unnecessary release of the legal memos outlining the rationale behind the "aggressive interrogation techniques" clearly marked it as a purely political act. Since that decision was made in consultation with the attorney general, I have no confidence that the attorney general's decision to prosecute will be based on the "parameters of the various laws" and fully expect that it will also be a political act. Given the charges that the Bush administration politicized the Justice Department, these actions would be dripping with both irony and hypocrisy.

 

However, the path is not without danger to Obama and the members of his administration. He should think long a hard about criminalizing policy decisions of former administrations. While discrediting or even jailing former officials might seem to be an attractive course of action today, sooner or later the Obama administration will also be a former administration. What goes around might come around. However, I doubt that Obama will shy away from such precedents. Such perils will be hidden from him by his hubris.

 

Whew. I was beginning to think we would have no intelligent debate.

 

I think the POTUS will also come under attack for his "about face" on the issue. I don't have a problem with a leader changing his mind but I do think he has opened himself up to criticism.

One of his first acts as president was to over turn the previous administrations ban on partial birth murder, so yeah, when Obama starts talking morals about certain issues he needs to look in the mirror.. This issue is pure politics and will encourage future terrorist...

One of his first acts as president was to over turn the previous administrations ban on partial birth murder, so yeah, when Obama starts talking morals about certain issues he needs to look in the mirror.. This issue is pure politics and will encourage future terrorist...

 

You're talking about the Mexico City Policy.

 

Stick to the issue at hand and we can make this an education experience. Keep screaming "abortion" and you'll shut it down.

It's really simple.. It's not a moral issue, it's a political issue.. Obama trying to make it a moral issue is what concerns me....

BTW we're taking Cheney at his word that his office made a request of the CIA to release the documents showing the positive results of the torture methods used.

 

Taking Cheney at his word is a perilous venture.

In fact we water board our own troops in training.. Where is the outrage over that??

 

So you really believe its the same thing? Really?

 

Do you believe the trainees believe they are going to drown? Come on. Its like saying that the trainees also have shots fired at them in training.