I guess all of the back and forth surrounding the interrogation efforts that took place during the Bush Administration is the motivation for this.
Today, President Obama approved a revamp of the way that interrogation of prisoners connected to this war against terrorism. The revamp will include an elite unit of experts and officers, from the CIA and www.fbi.gov…, and will centralize the efforts and give the White House direct oversight over the team. Sound like a good plot for a new G.I. Joe Movie - G.I. Joe: Counter-Intel Super Ops.
Or more fitting, I am coining this the Justice League. Because it seems the revamp will focus on more coordinated efforts, and because it will be under the umbrella of the National Security Council, there will be a unified way in which interrogations are conducted. And hopefully, these efforts will bring more justice to the process and efforts of these men and women conducting the interrogation, but also will bring justice to the innocent harmed by present actions and future plots that are being concocted by terrorists.
Which is not to suggest that there is not currently a unified approach. I mean all of these agencies that are constantly working to protect the borders of America and providing data and analysis for the continued war on terrorism all have the same goal – but even Batman did things differently from Superman who did things differently from Wonder Woman when it came to fighting crime and the powers they used. They all wanted to thwart evil and protect the innocent, but they formed the Justice League to do it better and more efficiently. Because there is strength in solidarity, and shared resources.
And like I said, I think Obama is trying to safeguard himself from the allegations that are arising now about the conduct of CIA operatives back in the previous administration. I will not say one way or the other whether I believe that operatives behaved incorrectly in the handling of prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq (I know, taking the easy way out). All I will say is that I respect Leon Panetta for standing behind his employees:
“[I will] stand up for those officers who did what their country asked and who followed the legal guidance they were given.”
And now that U.S District Attorney Eric Holder has appointed a prosecutor to investigate CIA terror interrogations, they will need all the support they can get. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out, what is deemed improper treatment, and where the line is drawn for how far the U.S. should go to get information, before the moral costs outweigh the security benefits.
Contributor, Young Writer’s Block
Contributor, The Carmon Report
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