Truth Through Transparency
Saturday's Washington Post opined on the release of the long-awaited Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) report. This report, you'll recall, is an ethics probe that considers the work of three DOJ attorneys — Steven Bradbury, John Yoo and Jay Bybee — who authorized the torture and abusive interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody through legal memoranda the three authored while at the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel.
The Post writes:
Investigations of this type are usually kept secret unless and until the investigating entity determines that wrongdoing has occurred…Yet the existence of the investigation and many details of the OPR report have already found their way into the public arena. For example, The Post and other news outlets have reported that the OPR will recommend that Judge Bybee and Mr. Yoo be referred to their respective bar associations for possible sanctions.Even though we're still waiting on the key information contained in this report, enough is already publicly known to warrant a criminal investigation. Call for accountability now. Ask Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate those who authorized the torture and abuse of prisoners.
The best way to proceed -- both to ensure fairness and to fulfill the strong and legitimate public need to know how questionable policies and legal opinions came into being -- is to make all material relating to this investigation public, regardless of the Justice Department's findings. Documents that should be released include the full OPR report, all submissions by the subjects of the probe, and the letter written by former attorney general Michael B. Mukasey and former deputy attorney general Mark R. Filip that criticized the draft report. (emphasis ours)
May 12th, 2009 at 8:41am
I have a question, releasing all this information before any trial or disbarment occurs doesn't this harm any defense these people are entitled to use? Aren't these people presumed innocent until proven guilty?
If this happens to people in high places what happens to us regular people?
May 13th, 2009 at 9:04am
Question: What AMERICAN civil liberties are in danger here?
I thought the ACLU was all about defending/enforcing the US Constitution, the US 'Bill of Rights', and other US amendments?
May 13th, 2009 at 1:16pm
folks,im sure your support of this "so called" picture issue stands mainly in the scripted liberal media and of course the steril bubble you live in that is located nowhere near commonsense u.s.a..its ok,luckily totus denied your pathetic attempt to put us all at risk..keep pushing just like this administration continues to do,soon america is going to roll over & ring the neck of the entire corrupt,arrogant,sarcastic political roller coaster inwhich will involve the likes of A.C.O.R.N, AMERICO, REP & DEM,ACLU,U.A.W, THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL KILL MORE OF YOU,YOUR FAMILYS ,E.T.C...no pictures is just the start of americas denial for what they are swiftly learning ,,this has been a severe mistake...hopefully by vote will this injunction be vanished ,,if not...the citizens will defend against any enemy..be it foriegn, or DOMESTIC...not sure how you feel ...but NO organization should cross the american public and expect any form of victory...good luck and please lose the power trip ....its not that impressive ...
May 14th, 2009 at 10:01am
I couldn't believe how insensitive and selfish that moron Chris Anders was when you asked him if releasing the pictures was more important than the safety of my brothers in combat.
I am one of the first Infantry Marines to insert into Iraq in 2003, and being a ground pounder is not the best life in the world, even years after actual combat. Until this day I still suffer the consequences of war in Ira, not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally. And is more hurtful when I see stupid morons like Chris Anders, who cannot even answer a simple questions, and that belongs to stupid interest groups or bureaucrats who only seek external approval by steering controversial issues even though it endangers not only the safety of our troops in Iraq, but also increase the safety of our nation.
I really hope God have mercy on our country because all these stupid democrats and interest groups are bringing down our country thinking they are doing "the right thing." We already have enough enemies around the world, and people like Chris Anders and democrats who endanger the safety of our men and women, are just part of those enemies who hate our American way of life!
Thank you for standing up to these idiots!
Jorge Guzman
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