This article seemed to have caused a stir in the news recently. On Thursday, April 13, President Obama authorized the release of classified Bush-era interrogation memos. Had there not been staunch opposition from four former CIA directors, the memos would have been available to the public much sooner. Apparently, the memos' release might open up CIA officers to lawsuits filed against them on accusations of torture and abuse. The former CIA chiefs argued that opening the memos to the public could hinder current intelligence operations. Interestingly, the Jusitice Department urged senior CIA members to release the memos almost completely uncensored, which they were.
While I can understand why former CIA directors wanted to delay the relase of these once classified memos, I'm curious as to why Obama and his administration was pushing for their declassification. Because these documents are relatively recent, they contain important information on how our secret service operates that is not yet outdated, and to release the memos would be a considerable security leak. Exposing the acts of "torture" may be important for future reform of the department, but it definitely isn't helping the organization and efficiency of the department right now. To cover up human rights violations is bad, but to threaten the security of the nation just to satisfy the curious demands of society doesn't seem much better. Thoughts?
Two Things
20 minutes ago
7 comments:
I think that maybe one reason Obama would want to release them if they are topic of controversy for the Bush administration regarding torture and such and Obama wants to make Bush not look so great, or to reveal even more about what a horrible person he was, and so Obama himself will look better. Also maybe he just believes that the American people need more freedom to information like that, which it seems we should have some right to....
Well, i agree with Roxane about the Bush thing. Let's remember that there was a lot of controversy in what concerns to torture during the Bush years. Not even McCain supported the administration's stand. The FBI refused to go along with the torture severeness that was offered by the White House. The CIA don't believe that much of the American secret strategies overseas will be affected. They are going to be careful.
I definitely agree with the whole making Bush look bad reason. I personally don't care too much to see these torture videos, but I think Obama knows whether or not the release of these videos will threaten the nation's security. If they did, I'm sure Obama wouldn't have pushed for them to be released. Clearly, the CIA directors just don't want the people to see proof of their inhumane methods.
In part I think some of reasoning behind the release was to make Obama look better in contrast to Bush, but also to reveal the workings of the CIA that are more unattractive because lets face it, the CIA deals with some of the ugliest aspects of human nature. I am all for saving lives and punishing those who commit horrible deeds, but not with torture, by torturing these people it makes us no better than them. However, I do think that while it is time for a reform, I think they should have agreed to show aspects of the torture program that don't show any critical information that may impair our national security.
Lauren C Strojny- I dont think Obama needs to make Bush look bad he already looks bad. In turn we already know that Obama wants to shut down operations that include torture, so we are already aware that this has been used in the country I dont understand why there was a sudden push for their release. The CIA has let out enough information regarding the use of torture I further detail is unecessary considering torture will be ending.
Obama may try to make Bush look bad, but if we follow up with establishing tribunals to try Bush and his people as war criminals for their violations of human rights, then I'd imagine many people would accuse Obama of merely running a "partisan witch hunt".
It has been pretty much established that torture was used. As such, I don't really see the need to release documents to the public about the more specific details. I think we definitely should be able to see the documents, but I also think that it would be a bit unnecessary in these times.
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