Pops In
11-21-2008, 04:27 AM
George W Bush could pardon spies involved in torture
George W Bush is considering issuing
pardons for US spies embroiled in allegations of
torture just before he leaves the White House.
By Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 5:20PM GMT 15 Nov 2008
Senior intelligence officers are lobbying the outgoing
president to look after the men and women who could
face charges for following his orders in the war on
terrorism.
Many fear that Barack Obama, who has pledged to
close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and put an
end to the policy of extraordinary rendition, could
launch a legal witch hunt against those who oversaw
the policies after he is sworn in on Jan 20.
Most vulnerable are US intelligence officers who took
part in intensive interrogations against terrorist
suspects, using techniques including water boarding,
which many believe crossed the line into torture.
A former CIA officer familiar with the backstage
lobbying for pardons, said: "These are the people
President Bush asked to fight the war on terror for him.
He gave them the green light to fight tough. The view
of many in the intelligence community is that he should
not leave them vulnerable to legal censure when he
leaves.
"An effort is under way to get pre-emptive pardons.
The White House has indicated that the matter is under
consideration."
In addition to frontline CIA and military officers, others
at risk could include David Addington, Dick Cheney's
former counsel, and William Haynes, the former
Pentagon general counsel who helped draw up the
regulations governing enhanced interrogations.
Many in the Democratic party and human rights groups
are calling on President-Elect Obama to tear up Mr
Bush's executive orders licensing intensive
interrogations on his first day in the Oval Office. They
also want an immediate end to rendition, whereby
suspects are flown to countries that practise torture.
But some in the intelligence community fear that an
overhaul of the justice department could embolden
those who would like a full-blown investigation of what
went on at Guantanamo Bay, with charges to follow for
those involved.
Presidents can issue pardons at their discretion and
those granted the immunity of a pardon do not need to
have been previously charged with a crime...
Continues @ Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3464442/George-W-Bush-could-pardon-spies-involved-in-torture.html)
George W Bush is considering issuing
pardons for US spies embroiled in allegations of
torture just before he leaves the White House.
By Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 5:20PM GMT 15 Nov 2008
Senior intelligence officers are lobbying the outgoing
president to look after the men and women who could
face charges for following his orders in the war on
terrorism.
Many fear that Barack Obama, who has pledged to
close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and put an
end to the policy of extraordinary rendition, could
launch a legal witch hunt against those who oversaw
the policies after he is sworn in on Jan 20.
Most vulnerable are US intelligence officers who took
part in intensive interrogations against terrorist
suspects, using techniques including water boarding,
which many believe crossed the line into torture.
A former CIA officer familiar with the backstage
lobbying for pardons, said: "These are the people
President Bush asked to fight the war on terror for him.
He gave them the green light to fight tough. The view
of many in the intelligence community is that he should
not leave them vulnerable to legal censure when he
leaves.
"An effort is under way to get pre-emptive pardons.
The White House has indicated that the matter is under
consideration."
In addition to frontline CIA and military officers, others
at risk could include David Addington, Dick Cheney's
former counsel, and William Haynes, the former
Pentagon general counsel who helped draw up the
regulations governing enhanced interrogations.
Many in the Democratic party and human rights groups
are calling on President-Elect Obama to tear up Mr
Bush's executive orders licensing intensive
interrogations on his first day in the Oval Office. They
also want an immediate end to rendition, whereby
suspects are flown to countries that practise torture.
But some in the intelligence community fear that an
overhaul of the justice department could embolden
those who would like a full-blown investigation of what
went on at Guantanamo Bay, with charges to follow for
those involved.
Presidents can issue pardons at their discretion and
those granted the immunity of a pardon do not need to
have been previously charged with a crime...
Continues @ Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3464442/George-W-Bush-could-pardon-spies-involved-in-torture.html)