Dispatches from the Bush Posse #21

Consensus Forming on Prosecution of Guantanamo Detainees from the Washington Independent

If true, this is an important development.

"A consensus is developing among legal experts that for the vast majority of them, the civilian federal court system — where terror suspects have traditionally been tried — is still the best way to go."

Abu Ghraib Guards Say Interrogation Memos Show They were Scapegoats from the Washington Post

WHO CALLED IT!  I saw this coming the day those memos were released.  Given the recent developments, these two definitely deserve a second look by the judicial system -- and it doesn't change the fact that several of them were morons, especially Graner.  Next prediction: there be big-buck lawsuits in them thar hills!!

"The recent release of Justice Department memos authorizing the use of harsh interrogation techniques has given Graner and other soldiers new reason to argue that they were made scapegoats for policies approved at high levels."

Obama v. the Justice Department (Scott Horton) from the Daily Beast

"Emanuel’s statement was unfortunate, because now if the attorney general decides against appointing a special prosecutor, people are going to believe that this was a politically dictated decision. The only clear way out of this bind may now be to do what the critics suggest and appoint a special prosecutor.”"

Reclaiming America's Soul (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times

"America is more than a collection of policies. We are, or at least we used to be, a nation of moral ideals. In the past, our government has sometimes done an imperfect job of upholding those ideals. But never before have our leaders so utterly betrayed everything our nation stands for. And the only way we can regain our moral compass, not just for the sake of our position in the world, but for the sake of our own national conscience, is to investigate how that happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible."

Truth Commission to Proceed Despite Obama's Wishes from Raw Story

"Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) plans to proceed with a special commission to investigate alleged Bush administration abuses of power, despite lacking President Barack Obama’s support, according to a report Tuesday"