CIA Destroys Tapes – Like a bad movie

Evidence for the Bush/Cheney Truth Commission being shitcanned according to AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) – New documents show the CIA destroyed nearly 100 tapes of terror interrogations.

The figure is far higher than the handful of recordings the agency has previously admitted destroying, and the revelation comes as a criminal prosecutor is wrapping up his investigation in the matter.

Change Begins – No More Torture Says Obama Executive Order

I actually started to get cynical before the inauguration, mainly due to the then President-elect’s picks for top economic posts in the Cabinet.  Today as I look at the Briefing Room on the White House website, the cynicism is giving way to hope once again.

President Barack Obama today signed an Executive Order essentially rescinding Bush Administration policies proscribing torture.  The order carries the title, Ensuring Lawful Interrogations.

This brought a smile to my face:

All executive directives, orders, and regulations inconsistent with this order, including but not limited to those issued to or by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from September 11, 2001, to January 20, 2009, concerning detention or the interrogation of detained individuals, are revoked to the extent of their inconsistency with this order.

Then there’s this:

Effective immediately, an individual in the custody or under the effective control of an officer, employee, or other agent of the United States Government, or detained within a facility owned, operated, or controlled by a department or agency of the United States, in any armed conflict, shall not be subjected to any interrogation technique or approach, or any treatment related to interrogation, that is not authorized by and listed in Army Field Manual 2 22.3 (Manual).

So, what’s so big about the Army Field Manual?  It’s called setting and abiding by a standard that is in accordance with the U.S. Constitution, international treaty obligations and federal law.  It means no more episodes of “24″ playing out in Guantanamo or black sites in Poland.  You see, Jack Bauer is a TV character.  To move the plot along his forays into torture often lead to good information.  In the real world, harsh interrogation techniques often yield bullshit.

The order also calls for the closure of CIA operated detention facilities.  To the credit of some in the CIA, they were never for getting into the jailer’s business in the first place.  Obama established a task force to study and make recommendations on issues around agencies other than the Dept. of Defense employing Army Field Manual techniques and how to lawfully transfer detainees from one place to another, ostensibly the kinds of folks who have been picked up through the use of extraordinary rendition, some of who were innocent, one of whom was innocent and died in American custody in Afghanistan.

The Constitution and laws and the understanding of basic human rights are what separates us from the apes who live and think in the Middle Ages and seek to terrorize us.  Today, we began to reclaim the moral high ground.

Hey Senator Feinstein – Get Over Yourself!

The more I think about it, the more inspired I think President-elect Barack Obama’s pick of Leon Panetta for CIA Director is.

Senator Diane Feinstein apparently doesn’t.  Why?  Because she wasn’t consulted.  CALL THE WAHMBULANCE!

Dame Feinstein is apparently having a hissy.  Here’s what she’s sending around to the media this afternoon:

“I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director.  I know nothing about this, other than what I’ve read,” said Senator Feinstein, who will chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the 111^th Congress.

“My position has consistently been that I believe the Agency is best-served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.”

Guess what, Lady?  The O is in charge of presidential appointments.  You’re just making yourself look like an ass by complaining.  I should also note that as of 5 p.m. EST, your crybaby statement wasn’t posted on your Senatorial website for all of the constituents to see what a political hag you are.

Just looking at what’s on the president-elect’s plate – Gaza, depression economics, Wild Man Putin, China building aircraft carriers, Gitmo, his girls starting at a new school, Bill Richardson – do you think you could give the man a break, Diane?

Seeing as how Leon Panetta is supposedly a friend of yours, could you have handled this tirade with a call to Rahmbo?  This the kind of shit that guy lives for – Rahm would’ve made it right.

Instead, you act like a bitter, old hag and look like a tool.  Get over yourself!

Leon Panetta a Curious but Intriguing Choice as CIA Director

We’ve become a nation of technicians, specialists, degreed and certified to do specific things.    When the big jobs come up, you’ve got to have experience in a specific area to get noticed.  We often overlook making personnel choices which could add another dimension, challenge the status quo or effect change merely by dint of the choice being made.

The potential appointment of former Congressman, White House Budget Director and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to lead the often embattled Central Intelligence Agency is a refreshing appointment by President-elect Barack Obama.  Rather than choose a technician from either the operations or analytical ranks of the intelligence community, Obama’s choice is to put a public service-oriented smart-guy manager in charge.  With Panetta’s service in the Clinton White House, Obama will be served by Panetta’s perspective on what the chief executive needs from the CIA.

There is a great deal of analytical and operational skill within the ranks of the CIA.  Putting a big picture-oriented thinker and manager in charge who brings a better understanding of intelligence product from the customer’s perspective is a worthy experiment.

We are at a time when the CIA is also smarting from the influence of the Cheney Vice-Presidency.  Panetta is smart enough – and humble enough – to not come to the intelligence table with unsubstantiated pre-conceived ideological notions which may bring outcomes damaging to our country’s standing in the world.  Panetta is also service-oriented, spending time over the last few years helping to build the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at a branch of the California State University sited on a former U.S. Army base.

Obama’s choice may get some flak from intelligence community insiders and pundits who were awaiting the annointing of the next director from within their own ranks.  Putting a citizen in charge with a fresh perspective on the world and our place in it may turn out to be a tremendous win for Obama.

Wednesday Clips – Jobs and China, Dimora, Russo, Sick Days, Bridges, Obama, Cali Quake, Etc.

Ohio News

• China siphons Ohio’s jobs – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio bridges rated safe but costly work ahead – Columbus Dispatch
• Election Board has plan for long lines – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio Roundtable to fight sick days – Columbus Dispatch
• Capital Notes – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio EPA chief asks Congress to restore regional rules – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Make it right – Columbus Dispatch
• Cuyahoga Corruption: Probe bad for Democrats? – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Raids sought records that could show favors, influence – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Raid kept secret, even from agents – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• How Democrats would replace them – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Bush visits factory, attends fundraiser – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Some BP gas customers charged twice – Associated Press (Dayton Daily News)
• Suspected bombs found at two Ohio Post Offices – Associated Press (Toledo Blade)

Nation/World

• CIA outlines Pakistan links with militants – New York Times
• Energy prices bright sliver in grim economy – New York Times
• Teaching law, testing ideas, Obama stood out – New York Times
• With security at risk a race to patch the Web – New York Times
• ‘Really scary’ quake in Chino Hills – Los Angeles Times
• Quake registers 5.4 – Los Angeles Times