Comments on: Everyone Knew http://newledger.com/2009/04/everyone-knew/ The New Ledger on News, Politics, and Market issues of the day. Welcome to the Know. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:21:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Pejman Yousefzadeh http://newledger.com/2009/04/everyone-knew/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Pejman Yousefzadeh Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:20:46 +0000 http://newledger.com/?p=7798#comment-113 Giving "bipartisan support" constitutes more than "urging on," of course. It represents the active approbation of the relevant Congressional members concerning interrogation policy. Since those members are the funnel through which intelligence consultations run, and though which, Congress's own stance on intelligence policy is formulated, that active approbation is tremendously significant because that active approbation prevented Congressional action from being taken earlier to stop the implementation of the interrogation policies at question. Writing legal memoranda concerning what can and cannot be done in formulating and implementing interrogation policy is not illegal either. But the advocates of universal jurisdiction like to pretend that it is. As long as we are changing international law to suit the various partisan interests of some, I see no reason why it cannot be changed some more to include members of Congress standing in the dock. Turnabout is fair play. Giving “bipartisan support” constitutes more than “urging on,” of course. It represents the active approbation of the relevant Congressional members concerning interrogation policy. Since those members are the funnel through which intelligence consultations run, and though which, Congress’s own stance on intelligence policy is formulated, that active approbation is tremendously significant because that active approbation prevented Congressional action from being taken earlier to stop the implementation of the interrogation policies at question.

Writing legal memoranda concerning what can and cannot be done in formulating and implementing interrogation policy is not illegal either. But the advocates of universal jurisdiction like to pretend that it is. As long as we are changing international law to suit the various partisan interests of some, I see no reason why it cannot be changed some more to include members of Congress standing in the dock. Turnabout is fair play.

]]> By: Andy Vance http://newledger.com/2009/04/everyone-knew/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Andy Vance Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:44:34 +0000 http://newledger.com/?p=7798#comment-112 The "Gang of Four" and the "Gang of Eight" have no authority to approve or disapprove anything. And, unlike implementing a torture regime, "urging them on" is not illegal. So again, what law could these Congress members violate? The “Gang of Four” and the “Gang of Eight” have no authority to approve or disapprove anything. And, unlike implementing a torture regime, “urging them on” is not illegal. So again, what law could these Congress members violate?

]]> By: Pejman Yousefzadeh http://newledger.com/2009/04/everyone-knew/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Pejman Yousefzadeh Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:17:34 +0000 http://newledger.com/?p=7798#comment-111 The words "We gave the CIA our bipartisan support," would tend to indicate approval, would they not? And this went beyond a mere failure to conduct oversight, of course. As made clear in the post, Congressional leaders of both parties urged the Bush White House on in its interrogation procedures. The words “We gave the CIA our bipartisan support,” would tend to indicate approval, would they not? And this went beyond a mere failure to conduct oversight, of course. As made clear in the post, Congressional leaders of both parties urged the Bush White House on in its interrogation procedures.

]]> By: Andy Vance http://newledger.com/2009/04/everyone-knew/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Andy Vance Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:50:00 +0000 http://newledger.com/?p=7798#comment-110 What do you mean by "approved?" And under what law would legislators who failed to conduct oversight be prosecuted? What do you mean by “approved?” And under what law would legislators who failed to conduct oversight be prosecuted?

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