Obama possessed

By Cheney that is.

Last Friday, the Obama administration turned to the “dark-side” yet again, and appealed a district court ruling that would give detainees in Afghanistan a chance to challenge their detention before a judge.

The Justice Department also went on to ask the judge to halt proceedings on three other habeas corpus cases.

This wasn’t the first time we’d seen this from the Obama administration. Back in February, the Justice Department announced it would no longer use the term “enemy combatant”, which sounds great!, until you hear the part about them saying that despite this change, they still have the authority to detain suspects indefinitely, without charge or trial.

Sounds like Cheney to me.

And get this, the detainees represented in this most recent case weren’t captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan. They were Yemenis and Tunisians the U.S. government decided might be a threat for whatever unknown reason, and locked them away for six years without any charges.

The judge, John Bates, said:

It is one thing to detain those captured on the surrounding battlefield at a place like Bagram, which respondents correctly maintain is in a theater of war. It is quite another thing to apprehend people in foreign countries — far from any Afghan battlefield — and then bring them to a theater of war, where the Constitution arguable may not reach. Such rendition resurrects the same specter of limitless Executive power the Supreme Court sought to guard against in Boumediene — the concern that the Executive could move detainees physically beyond the reach of the Constitution and detain them indefinitely

That’s coming from a judge who Glenn Greenwald notes:

is an appointee of George W. Bush, a former Whitewater prosecutor, and a very pro-executive-power judge.

And that Boumediene Supreme Court ruling he references? Listen to what Obama had to say about that before he was president:

Today’s Supreme Court decision ensures that we can protect our nation and bring terrorists to justice, while also protecting our core values. The Court’s decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration’s attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo – yet another failed policy supported by John McCain. This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus. Our courts have employed habeas corpus with rigor and fairness for more than two centuries, and we must continue to do so as we defend the freedom that violent extremists seek to destroy.

Right. So, what happened to Barack Obama? Why does that phrase “absolute power corrupts absolutely” keep ringing in our heads? The only way we’re going to banish the forces of the “dark-side”, as Cheney likes to call them, is by holding everyone responsible for unleashing said forces accountable.

Accountability means no one is above the law. President. Republican. Democrat. It doesn’t matter.

Spain is doing just that, moving ahead with indictments for six former Bush staff.

Greenwald argues Spain not only has the right to do this, but actually has an obligation under the Convention Against Torture and Geneva Conventions. And more importantly, the primary responsibility under these international laws to prosecute lie with the country whose officials authorized the crimes.

Why does it feel like Obama will fight to hold onto that “limitless Executive power” every step of the way? Could there be any clearer a reason why this nation must move forward with an independent commission of inquiry? (you can tell Congress to do just that here)

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12 thoughts on “Obama possessed

  1. Wow. Very, very ballsy of AIUSA to not hold back their criticism of President Obama, especially when doing so right now is almost like being "unpatriotic."

    The gusto of Amnesty to express these views — based on fact, no less — has just inspired me to make a donation to this wonderful organization.

    Kudos, Amnesty International. I've been a longtime friend for years, and I won't turn my back on you now.

  2. Obama said what he thought he needed to in order to get elected.

    Put this on your longlist of disappointments brought to you by the Obama Administration.

    The Cut-and-Run from Iraq SENATOR who voted against funding the troops because it didn't bring them home fast enough is no longer with us.

    The CANDIDATE who promised transparency, no earmarks, and no lobbyist in his administration was a figment of your imagination.

    The charming suave and debonair newly elected President who spoke those "Inspiring" "Hopeful" words on inaugration day is long gone.

    Welcome to the real world Mr. President. Now that you are actually the President and not some armchair quarterback you have to make some difficult decisions and are responsible for more then being popular and winning votes.

    Go get 'em Amnesty International ! He is all yours ! Get angry, hold his feet to the fire ! LOL Give 'em hell like you did GW.

    I'm just "hoping" more people see the fraud for what he is and he loses the second quadrennial "American Idol Contest" for President in 2012.

    OHHHHHH – BAHHHHH – MAHHHHH / YES WE CAN / HOPE / CHANGE / OHHHHHH – BAHHHHH – MAHHHHH

    Boy were you manipulated.

  3. Wow. Very, very ballsy of AIUSA to not hold back their criticism of President Obama, especially when doing so right now is almost like being “unpatriotic.”

    The gusto of Amnesty to express these views — based on fact, no less — has just inspired me to make a donation to this wonderful organization.

    Kudos, Amnesty International. I’ve been a longtime friend for years, and I won’t turn my back on you now.

  4. Obama said what he thought he needed to in order to get elected.

    Put this on your longlist of disappointments brought to you by the Obama Administration.

    The Cut-and-Run from Iraq SENATOR who voted against funding the troops because it didn’t bring them home fast enough is no longer with us.

    The CANDIDATE who promised transparency, no earmarks, and no lobbyist in his administration was a figment of your imagination.

    The charming suave and debonair newly elected President who spoke those “Inspiring” “Hopeful” words on inaugration day is long gone.

    Welcome to the real world Mr. President. Now that you are actually the President and not some armchair quarterback you have to make some difficult decisions and are responsible for more then being popular and winning votes.

    Go get ’em Amnesty International ! He is all yours ! Get angry, hold his feet to the fire ! LOL Give ’em hell like you did GW.

    I’m just “hoping” more people see the fraud for what he is and he loses the second quadrennial “American Idol Contest” for President in 2012.

    OHHHHHH – BAHHHHH – MAHHHHH / YES WE CAN / HOPE / CHANGE / OHHHHHH – BAHHHHH – MAHHHHH

    Boy were you manipulated.

  5. The tone of this message is unlike the considered voice that has helped AIUSA to gain widespread credibility.

    From a 20-year member.

  6. The tone of this message is unlike the considered voice that has helped AIUSA to gain widespread credibility.

    From a 20-year member.

  7. Allison, I wholly agree with you. The information in this column is so important I'd like to send it to my friends. Because of its very partisan tone, I will not.
    I've been involved with Amnesty since leading a student group in the 80s.

  8. Allison, I wholly agree with you. The information in this column is so important I’d like to send it to my friends. Because of its very partisan tone, I will not.
    I’ve been involved with Amnesty since leading a student group in the 80s.

  9. Wow! The truth hurts doesn't it. The man has lied about almost everything, and because the writer points this out it's now partisan. Treason, to speak so of the savior Obama.

  10. The brainwashing power this guy has over John Q. Public is very disturbing.

    Call him out on anything and you are instantly a racist, a partisan, a right wing nut, or just plain crazy.

    The results will speak for themselves…I don't care how charming or eloquent he is. I don't care how "inspiring" he is and how well he reads from his teleprompter. I don't care that he and Biden just went "slumming" at a Arlington, Virginia burger joint for lunch. What I do care about are his policies and his actions and the results of those policies and actions. The U.S. will wake up soon, just a matter of time.

    Good luck U.S.A.

  11. Wow! The truth hurts doesn’t it. The man has lied about almost everything, and because the writer points this out it’s now partisan. Treason, to speak so of the savior Obama.

  12. The brainwashing power this guy has over John Q. Public is very disturbing.

    Call him out on anything and you are instantly a racist, a partisan, a right wing nut, or just plain crazy.

    The results will speak for themselves…I don’t care how charming or eloquent he is. I don’t care how “inspiring” he is and how well he reads from his teleprompter. I don’t care that he and Biden just went “slumming” at a Arlington, Virginia burger joint for lunch. What I do care about are his policies and his actions and the results of those policies and actions. The U.S. will wake up soon, just a matter of time.

    Good luck U.S.A.

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