|  Gregory D. Lee Read Greg's bio and previous columns here
September 4, 2009
More Evidence That Democrats are Weak on National Security
Despite the country’s
engagement in two separate wars, and the continued threat from Al Qaeda to
attack the U.S., President Obama is allowing Attorney General Eric Holder to
appoint a special prosecutor to look into alleged abuses by CIA officers
during interrogations of high-value detainees. This is contrary to the
president saying recently that he wanted to “go forward,” and not seek
prosecutions of CIA employees and contractors in the matter.
Holder said that he,
not the president, decided to conduct a “preliminary review” of the findings
of a formal investigation that was conducted by the CIA’s Inspector General,
and reviewed by career Department of Justice prosecutors, who found no merit
for prosecution. Why the sudden urgency to rehash the whole thing again?
Could it be that a distraction is in order because Democrats’ prospect for
taking over health care is fading?
OK, I know I sound
cynical, so let’s assume for a moment a distraction from the health care
debate is not the reason for resurrecting the matter. Then what is? Is it to
simply derogate the morale of CIA interrogators? Which is it? Either way,
this “preliminary review” of the same old, thoroughly investigated
allegations will only serve to further demoralize the CIA. Not only is
Holder’s “review” a complete waste of time, but it’s a waste of money and
scarce Department of Justice resources. Holder realizes that the review will
not enhance national security, but it will deter CIA employees from doing
controversial jobs in the future.
I’m not suggesting that
rogue CIA employees and contractors should be given a pass if they broke
regulations or committed crimes. I’m suggesting that in light of these CIA
employees already being investigated and disciplined by their employer where
necessary, this matter should be put to rest so the agency can “go forward”
as the president said.
Have Holder and the
president ever heard of prosecutor discretion? These interrogators did not
personally receive benefits from their actions, and their motivations were
purely to help prevent and disrupt future attacks on America. Wouldn’t a
little discretion be in order? If the career Justice Department prosecutors
who reviewed the original investigation felt there was a chance of securing
a conviction, they would have pursued indictments. Obviously there was
insufficient credible evidence. That’s the way it goes. The president,
Holder and their extreme left-wing friends need to get over it. The
president putting responsibility on his attorney general for the new review
demonstrates his lack of leadership and desire to appease his liberal base.
Who works for whom, anyway?
Imagine being a CIA
interrogator working within the legal parameters of your job. Then, years
later, a new presidential administration comes into power and decides that
the legal opinions of White House attorneys at the time about the way you do
your job are not the same opinions extreme liberal attorneys would have
given today. The new attorney general wants to prosecute you for doing your
job, and he wants to seek disbarment of the attorneys who wrote the legal
opinions and guidance you were following. And the Director of Central
Intelligence, Leon Panetta, doesn’t make a peep about it. You probably
wouldn’t want to continue your employment with the CIA, and wouldn’t
recommend government work to others.
What sense does any of
this make? It only does if your ultimate goal is to degrade the moral of
front line CIA employees who forever more will wonder if they will someday
be prosecuted for doing their jobs. How many people will accept future
controversial assignments if they think they might be prosecuted by a future
administration?
Liberals want law
enforcement to battle international terrorists instead of the CIA and
military. They want to give our sworn enemies hugs instead of water
boarding. They believe if we hug them, they will love us instead of hate us.
Either liberal
Democrats are stupid and naive, or they want to weaken national defense.
Which is it?
Gregory D. Lee can be reached through his web site at
www.gregorydlee.com
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