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Republicans on Torture Memos | 04/28/2009 9:50 am

GOP Wants White House to Name Names on Who Knew About 'Torture' Techniques

Republicans say Dems may have shot themselves in the foot with torture memos, want them to come clean about what they knew.
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Shutterstock

In order to cure what some Republicans have called a Democratic case of "amnesia" over the CIA interrogation techniques, the GOP is calling on the Obama administration to spill the beans on who knew what — and when.

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-MI, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, on Monday released a letter to Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, asking for the detailed notes kept by the CIA of all congressional briefings regarding enhanced interrogation. On top of Hoekstra’s request, CNN says, the White House is also reviewing former Vice President Dick Cheney’s request to make more memos public — memos he claims will prove that the interrogation methods worked.

Hoekstra said:

It is time for the administration to tell the entire story about enhanced interrogation. Lawmakers in both parties knew about this program and they knew of the valuable intelligence it was producing. A complete and accurate accounting of the facts is critical for the American people’s understanding. The CIA was not operating this program in a vacuum, they were operating it with the knowledge, authorization and funding provided on a bipartisan basis by Congress.

Hoekstra blasted the administration for not providing a full and accurate list of the names, dates and locations of members of Congress briefed. "The Obama administration chose to release the interrogation memos, needlessly risking national security. Now it seems content to slow roll releasing a complete and accurate list in an attempt to quell the political firestorm it ignited on Capitol Hill," he said.

Since the release of the most recent "torture memos," the entire thing has turned into what some are calling a witch hunt of Bush administration officials who insisted waterboarding and other tactics were legal. Republicans are fighting back against Democrats’ call for blood by saying leaders like Nancy Pelosi, D-CA,  knew full well what was going on, and never protested. Federal Judge Jay Bybee, the top Bush lawyer and author of the now infamous "Bybee Memo," is one target in liberal activists’ sights, Politico reports. They want Bybee impeached for his role.

President Obama says he prefers to move forward, but the nation seems split. A new CBS News/New York Times poll shows that most Americans don’t want an investigation at all. In fact, 62 percent of Americans don’t think Congress should hold hearings to investigate the Bush administration’s treatment of detainees, while only one-third thinks Congress should investigate. But a new Gallup Poll finds 51 percent of Americans in favor of and 42 percent opposed to a probe. However, 55 percent say they think the interrogation techniques were justified, while only 36 percent say it was not.

29 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

deber B

As a republican, I say, "Bring out the memos" to see how many democrats knew about and approved this exercise in interrogation.   It will be interesting to get to the bottom of this.

Democrats shooting themselves in the foot?   I’m surprised they have feet at all at this point.

By deber B on 04/28/2009 10:06 am
Cheryl Mitchell

And as a democrat I say let’s get it all out and let the chips fall where they may instead of sitting around playing stupid games.  That goes for the GOP too.  It takes real grownups to come clean and admit guilt. 

By Cheryl Mitchell on 04/28/2009 10:27 am
Beth Cornell
I say if the Democrats have the evidence where is it. To quote you deber, "Bring out the memos" I want to see who knew and approved and said nothing til this "it the fan".
By Beth Cornell on 04/28/2009 10:49 am
DeBúrca obj
That is why we need an investigation. It will all come out in the investigation.
By DeBúrca obj on 04/28/2009 11:45 am
S G
Yes Deburca I agree. Lets have a truth commission.
By S G on 04/28/2009 2:35 pm
Maggie W
Sorry, SG, but I had to laugh at that.  Think about it.  A truth commission in Washington.  What an oxymoron.
By Maggie W on 04/28/2009 4:17 pm
deber B

Beth, Obama releasing the memos has had a resounding effect on the CIA…..read this:

HAS OBAMA PARALYZED THE CIA?

By their very nature, intelligence officers who obtain secrets of other countries or of terrorist organizations are at risk. This is no amusement park.

They meet with terrorists in dark alleys to try to enlist them to spy for the agency. They break into foreign embassies to steal secret codes and install listening devices in homes of terrorists. They pick up top secret military plans from clandestine hiding places. They recruit arms dealers to report on efforts to steal nuclear weapons.

If their work is uncovered, they may be arrested by a foreign power or murdered by a terrorist.

Now, President Obama’s release of memos on harsh interrogation tactics and his condemnation of those tactics — though approved by President Bush, the Justice Department, and key members of Congress — is sending an even greater shudder through the intelligence community.

 

http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/obama_cia/2009/04/27/207740.html

By deber B on 04/28/2009 3:11 pm
Beth Cornell
A little to late in my opinion.
By Beth Cornell on 04/28/2009 3:29 pm
Patty E

As an Independent, Where else but the US Congress, can the bad guys blame the good guys, for what the bad guys did!  hahahhaha

First, disclosure—-the Hoekstra family ancestors, and my family ancestors were friends and went to church together—-good and dutch…..and the family store is but a few blocks away from my home—and I shop there, too….but I think Hoekstra is walking on eggshells right now—on behalf of Cheney and Bush et al…..they are pulling another ‘shenanigan operation’.

I agree with Cheryl…..let’s get it all out.  As one who at one time was employed with Gallup, I am fully aware that polls very often can be skewed to get a ‘desired’ response….I used participate in the writing of some of those questions…..you have no idea how powerful one word can be, when placed in a certain queue of words—-well sure you do….we have discussed that on WOW before….

Finally—The GOP seems to be fighting against quick resolution, and moving on…..instead, they are keeping this thing in the headlines, to give them more time, in attempts  to save the reputation of Bush and Cheney—when they should be concerned about the reputation of America as viewed by the rest of the world….the International view of America, regarding the torture and the shenannigans,  is just as bad, if not worse, than ‘who is at fault’.  We need to acknowledge—-if we do not, WHO will trust us?  We shoot ourselves in the foot, the more we try to hide from the consequences of our actions….   

  

By Patty E on 04/28/2009 11:11 am
S.J. Morgan

Thanks for admitting to this..

"I used participate in the writing of some of those questions…..you have no idea how powerful one word can be, when placed in a certain queue of words"….

By S.J. Morgan on 04/28/2009 11:20 am
Lady Gator
sj m —You noticed it too!  I always laugh when I get one of these calls.  I especially love the "Do you think he is doing a ‘good job’, ‘somewhat good job’, ‘medium job’ or ‘extremely bad job’.  Often wondered what they do with the ‘somewhats’ and ‘medium’ answers.  :)
By Lady Gator on 04/28/2009 1:09 pm
deber B

Lady G, is OBAMA PARALYZING THE CIA by releasing classified information?

http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/obama_cia/2009/04/27/207740.html

By deber B on 04/28/2009 3:16 pm
Patty E
I covered super Bowl Sunday Budweiser Ads, and the like……..not politics!  So there! 
By Patty E on 04/28/2009 2:03 pm
S.J. Morgan
same concept…..!  Amazing how one can distort the poll to meet your agenda!  Throw in a biased news source conducting the poll!…lights and mirrors?
By S.J. Morgan on 04/28/2009 4:20 pm
MK P
Which speaks to the margin of error (+ or -) which you always find on a reputable poll.
By MK P on 04/28/2009 7:21 pm