Investigating the Interrogators

An editorial written by an unnamed author in the Los Angeles Times is entitled "Investigating the interrogators" and discusses how the Justice Department should deal with the interrogators known to have tortured inmates at Guantanamo Bay. The editorial indicates that startling new evidence has surfaced indicting George W. Bush's own Justice Department in the use of torture. Apparently the Department defined torture extremely loosely, and as such was able to authorize methods of coercion including waterboarding, "facial slaps, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and the placement of Zubaydah, who has a phobia about insects, in a 'confinement box' with one." The evidence presented in the article is startling.

The article takes an unequivocal stance, and one that I firmly agree with: Obama's Justice Department must take legal action against these interrogators. The author is talking directly to the Justice Department, and his or her message is heard loud and clear. Obama has thus far avoided a tricky political situation by simply stating that we must "look forward, not back." However, the correct way to "look forward" in a position like this is to, without hesitation, firmly and strongly condemn the wrongs of the past. Only by denouncing past crimes can amends be made. While Obama has done a fantastic job changing America's message abroad, the abuses at Guantanamo remain one stumbling point. If Obama continues to do nothing about the interrogators, he is essentially turning a blind eye to what the author calls "one of the most shameful chapters in the war against terrorism." In this sense, Obama is hardly better than Bush at all. Sure, he didn't order the abuses, but he is hardly willing to admit they were wrong in any meaningful way.

The saddest part of this affair is that it is clear that Obama is unwilling to act mainly because of the political repercussions. While Obama can tout his "looking forward" rhetoric, it is obvious that he understands the need to apologize and correct for past wrongs. After all, Obama has at least offered an official apology to Native Americans, an Act that has been brewing for many years. Obama knows that the right course of action is to prosecute the coercive interrogators, and if he is unwilling to do so, then the Justice Department must take the lead.

Preparing for the Midterms (Elections)

In November, the next chapter in Obama's administration begins. The midterms are upon us, and many Democrats are starting to fear for their jobs on Capitol Hill. The atmosphere is remarkably different than it was 2 years ago, when Democrats represented change and hope and a glimpse into the future. Now Democrats must face reality. They can no longer bank on such ethereal concepts to win elections. They have been in power and they have a record that they must defend.

However, the DNC makes the case that all is not lost. Sure, the Democrats have been grounded, but compared to past terms, they are doing fantastically. The greatest fear in the eyes of the Democrats is repeating 1994, when the so-called Republican Revolution dramatically nullified Democratic control of Congress. However, today's times seem different. Sure, we are no longer in 2008, but 2010 doesn't seem so bad after all. The Huffington Post reports on a memo written by the DNC that cites more favorable Democratic statistics. For instance, "President Obama is much more popular than...President Clinton was in 1994." The memo is a reminder that while Democrats seem to be flustered in comparison to 2008, they are far better off than they were in 1994. In my mind, this kicks off the midterms races and sets the stage for the Democrats to pick up as many victories as they possibly can.