Top Bush officials to be charged over interrogation policy?

> President Obama indicated that his preference would not be to spend a lot of time on the volatile issue, saying again that he thinks the country should be looking forward, and not backward.

A very, very sick country.

Barack Obama has left the door open to the possible prosecution of Bush govt. officials who approved harsh interrogation methods for suspected terror detainees.
B92

Is Obama a brilliant tactician or a populist waffler?

Firstly we had the announcement that torture was indeed carried out by CIA operatives.

Secondly, the admission the same CIA agents wouldn't be prosecuted because they were at the bottom of the hierarchy and were carrying orders.

Now we have a new statement issued claiming that certain members of the Bush administration could be prosecuted.

It seems to me that Obama wants to avoid a head-on confrontation with the right but at the same time he wants to repudiate Bush's years in power.

Obama should start with the attorney general Gonzalez and the advice he provided to Bush's torturers about the legality of their actions.One has to bear in mind Gonzale's role in the sacking of the constitutional judges in US back in 2006 and also his approval of laws allowing wiretapping and torture.

If Obama wants to reclaim US long lost respect for human rights he must make sure that
Bush's years won't repeat again.In order to do that Bush and his buddies must be delivered to the international criminal court.

Ataman,

You have to understand that no European or Asian, Arab or African really loves the USA, however, having said that, each and everyone one would love to use America for their own benefit,. To put it in a more simple context, America is like the Ugly rich girl with no personality who many would date use and then dump! Canada on the other hand is different, people around the world actually respect Canada and would be loyal to her if she granted them status in the great glorious North.

I am personally of the opinion that America has a lot of good in her but unfortunately I also believe that there is more bad then good in her thus overshadowing the positive in America. I have lived in the USA (9 years) lived in the UK (3 years) lived in Canada over 25 years and even lived in Serbia 4 years (2000 to 2004) and quite frankly I would not trade living in Serbia (with a little more money) for living in the USA (with a little less money).

There really is not much for the average American to harp about!

A very, very sick country.
(peter, sydney, 22 April 2009 15:29)

Yes, populated with Albo, Serbian, Russian, Hungarian, etc. "gastarbajteri". And if a "gastarbajter" returns back (like myself), we make it damn sure, our 401K, our salary, etc. and even the license plates of our cars are from a "very-very sick" country.

So there should be somewhat more, because of course it's home of pretty awful things (Bush - Cheney - double standards - Bible Belt - Redneck Race - etc) but somehow the same people who love to hate it, don't mind it's "green" money and it's "blue" passport in the home safe.

That "somewhat more" is that in general as long as you mind your own business, stay away from public life and pay the (relatively reasonable) taxes - no one will screw you.

It sounds simple - but all over East Europe (and most of EU) it's a PRICELESS benefit! Still there is a long list what is sick, but the governmental micromanagement so typical for EU and other countries in Europe is also sick.

Just the other side of the same thing from somebody, who is a "gastarbajter", too.

Ultimately it is endlessly sad, that most of us here spent their entire productive life as a "gastarbajter".

> President Obama indicated that his preference would not be to spend a lot of time on the volatile issue, saying again that he thinks the country should be looking forward, and not backward.

A very, very sick country.

A very, very sick country.
(peter, sydney, 22 April 2009 15:29)

Yes, populated with Albo, Serbian, Russian, Hungarian, etc. "gastarbajteri". And if a "gastarbajter" returns back (like myself), we make it damn sure, our 401K, our salary, etc. and even the license plates of our cars are from a "very-very sick" country.

So there should be somewhat more, because of course it's home of pretty awful things (Bush - Cheney - double standards - Bible Belt - Redneck Race - etc) but somehow the same people who love to hate it, don't mind it's "green" money and it's "blue" passport in the home safe.

That "somewhat more" is that in general as long as you mind your own business, stay away from public life and pay the (relatively reasonable) taxes - no one will screw you.

It sounds simple - but all over East Europe (and most of EU) it's a PRICELESS benefit! Still there is a long list what is sick, but the governmental micromanagement so typical for EU and other countries in Europe is also sick.

Just the other side of the same thing from somebody, who is a "gastarbajter", too.

Ultimately it is endlessly sad, that most of us here spent their entire productive life as a "gastarbajter".

Barack Obama has left the door open to the possible prosecution of Bush govt. officials who approved harsh interrogation methods for suspected terror detainees.
B92

Is Obama a brilliant tactician or a populist waffler?

Firstly we had the announcement that torture was indeed carried out by CIA operatives.

Secondly, the admission the same CIA agents wouldn't be prosecuted because they were at the bottom of the hierarchy and were carrying orders.

Now we have a new statement issued claiming that certain members of the Bush administration could be prosecuted.

It seems to me that Obama wants to avoid a head-on confrontation with the right but at the same time he wants to repudiate Bush's years in power.

Obama should start with the attorney general Gonzalez and the advice he provided to Bush's torturers about the legality of their actions.One has to bear in mind Gonzale's role in the sacking of the constitutional judges in US back in 2006 and also his approval of laws allowing wiretapping and torture.

If Obama wants to reclaim US long lost respect for human rights he must make sure that
Bush's years won't repeat again.In order to do that Bush and his buddies must be delivered to the international criminal court.

Ataman,

You have to understand that no European or Asian, Arab or African really loves the USA, however, having said that, each and everyone one would love to use America for their own benefit,. To put it in a more simple context, America is like the Ugly rich girl with no personality who many would date use and then dump! Canada on the other hand is different, people around the world actually respect Canada and would be loyal to her if she granted them status in the great glorious North.

I am personally of the opinion that America has a lot of good in her but unfortunately I also believe that there is more bad then good in her thus overshadowing the positive in America. I have lived in the USA (9 years) lived in the UK (3 years) lived in Canada over 25 years and even lived in Serbia 4 years (2000 to 2004) and quite frankly I would not trade living in Serbia (with a little more money) for living in the USA (with a little less money).

There really is not much for the average American to harp about!