T
“…..that this nation of the people, by the people and for the people may not perish from this earth” Abraham Lincoln
A democracy cannot flourish without transparency. The right of the people to know the truth is essential to intelligently select candidates for government office.
As a result of the release of torture memos by the Obama administration, cries for a truth commission have been coming from all directions. Sen. Patrick Leahey has championed the need to create such a group to investigate the crimes of the Bush Administration.
Yesterday, Obama met with a small group from the congress and attempted to dissuade creating such a commission. He apparently has the notion that other issues such as healthcare reform have a higher priority. Perhaps he wishes to be remembered for achieving that goal when predecessors have failed.
With the credibility of the United States teetering on the brink of collapse he is marking himself as totally lacking foresight. With that lack of foresight how does he expect to establish his pet ideas as law?
To allow the crimes of the past to stand as precedent for any future despotic commander in chief with claims of a unitary president to pursue whatever agenda he wishes is being as far sighted as a blind rat.
He suggested that Dick Cheney had pretty well explained the reason for the torture and that benefits for the country had been gained thus justifying its use. That statement displayed his apparent ignorance of the real history of the United States.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).