Senate Intel Committee Announces Broad Investigation of CIA Interrogations
When asked whether she could support the call for a "truth commission" to investigate the civil liberties and human rights abuses committed under George Bush, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said that she expected to be doing similar work on her panel ... and she wasn't kidding.
The Intelligence panel announced today that it would conduct a year-long inquiry into the scope and performance of the CIA's interrogation program, including "whether the CIA accurately described the detention and interrogation program to other parts of the U.S. government" and "whether the CIA implemented the program in compliance with official guidance."
This investigation has the potential to unearth much more detail about the conduct of Bush's "war on terror" than we already have, but it is likely to be conducted largely in private. (The "truth commission," by contrast, is intended to operate in the public eye.)
Unfortunately, the Intelligence panel doesn't have the best track record when it comes to bipartisan investigations. The committee's reports on pre-war use of intelligence on Iraq (a.k.a. "Phase One" and "Phase Two," which was delayed by several years) were panned by progressive analysts for succumbing to White House pressure and ignoring crucial evidence.
It's worth noting, however, that Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) was the chairman senior Democrat on the panel at the time of those reports, not Feinstein.
Late Update: Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-WI) statement on the inquiry is after the jump.
I strongly support the review announced today by the Senate Intelligence Committee into the CIA's detention and interrogation program. I opposed the program on legal, moral and national security grounds and welcomed the president's executive orders to end it. By conducting a thorough review into the program, the committee will help bring to light some of the most horrific activities conducted under the past administration and help ensure that this country never goes down such a damaging and lawless path again.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
She just wants to cover her own ass. Do an in-house white wash and hope that is sufficient rather than an open and full investigation.
March 5, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed with Walter and calchala: if DiFi, J-Rock, and Pelosi are allowed to head up the investigation, there is zero chance they will incriminate themselves. They were briefed by the Bush Admin about the "Verschärfte Vernehmung"! ("Enhanced interrogation," a euphimism for torture used by the Nazi Gestapo.) And now they are "investigating" CIA interrogations -- and the mainstream media isn't laughing them out of the Capitol Building? What the hell, what kind of Looking Glass democracy and journalism is this?!
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/verschfte_verne.html
March 5, 2009 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
For Phase One, Roberts was the Chair. Rockefeller was the ranking member. Phase Two was led by Rockefeller, but he still didn't have the clout to get anything out of the Bush White House. He was obstructed by the administration and the GOP members of his committee.
Rockefeller wasn't exactly a ball of fire, but let's be fair about it.
March 5, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right, this is going to be a white wash. I don't trust DiFi for anything on Interrogations.
March 5, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Makes two of us!
March 5, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
White-wash or not, the more of these investigations there are, the more the bushies will have to quake in their boots and wonder.... I want them lawyered up and bankrupted in the process!
And perchance... things will come out.
March 5, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is needed is one central investigation/investigator. One special prosecutor to bind them all.
Remember Iran/Contra prosecutions were hampered and overturned because of immunities given for testimony? The truth commission leahy is trying to develop wants to offer BLANKET immunity? WTF?
Immunity is typically given to people when the prosecutor already has proof of their crime, in order to get them to roll on the bigger fish. (See Law & Order Seasons 1-3. :)
We've been sold down the river, and there's only one way to get back...
There is no democrat or republican party anymore. There is a congress and a senate and rico should apply to both.
btw, DF's husband is a military contractor, and a recipient of millions of dollars from the iraq/afghan boondoggles while she was on the military appropriations committee, a seat she held until 2007... too many scandals and conflicts with her to mention..google it.
March 5, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink