Not Rick Santorum, surprisingly:
At the core of the legal arguments were the views of [John] Yoo, strongly backed by David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's legal counsel, that the president's wartime powers were essentially unlimited and included the authority to override laws passed by Congress, such as a statute banning the use of torture. Pressed on his views in an interview with OPR investigators, Yoo was asked:
"What about ordering a village of resistants to be massacred? ... Is that a power that the president could legally -"
"Yeah," Yoo replied, according to a partial transcript included in the report. "Although, let me say this: So, certainly, that would fall within the commander-in-chief's power over tactical decisions."
"To order a village of civilians to be [exterminated]?" the OPR investigator asked again.
"Sure," said Yoo.
Sure, John. Meanwhile, people wonder why I don't use the awesome power of the Attytood to criticize the current president more often. Point taken. Shame on you, Barack Obama administration, for failing to hold American citizens like Yoo accountable in any way for the war crimes of waterboarding and other forms of torture. Your actions guarantee that from now on, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and environs will be an accountability-free zone. That is almost as unconscionable as torture itself.
Let the defense of John "If Only I Had An Aeroplane" Yoo begin....— enabler1
As far as I can judge, Obama's allowing the war criminals like Yoo and Cheney off the hook is the least attractive part of his administration so far. I can only assume that he believes that he can accomplish more politically if he ignores the sins of the previous administration (except to say that they got us into this financial and war mess)--for even making the clearly correct attribution of our problems to the mismanagement of Bush years results in widespread howling by the far right (and Republicans in general). But he had better watch out for his base. Losing supporters like me is going to hurt him worse than any kvetching by conservatives.
Commander in Chief, not Campaigner in Chief— Mr. Smith- I understand that a lot of us disagree with the specifics of Yoo's legal argument. It's still far more dangerous to suggest that the new party in power go after the old party in power - only because it makes it less likely that the next transition is peaceful and legal. I choose democracy over revenge.— dragoon6
Comment removed.- How could someone with the perverted morals of a John Yoo be allowed to spout his "un-American" poppycock? dragoon6, yes, forget about integrity, honesty, veracity, and allow the plutocracy/power to circumvent and override truth and decency.— whatthe?
- am i the only one who thinks its unfair to use an extreme quote to label a man as a promoter of genocide as opposed to his legal opinion of presidential wartime power?— philafan
- To be fair to the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it would be a lot easier to hold Yoo and Bybee accountable for their shoddy work (something the OPR did) if the government didn't have a fixer at the DoJ whose specialty is to sweep stuff like this under the rug. (HTML deleted)— SouthernBeale
- RE: above "fixer" comment, Google "David Margolis Memory Hole" ....— SouthernBeale
- If it's Monday, must be a column about Yoo. Comimg attractions...Palin, Santorum, Beck, old lame songs and video of long forgotten musicans.— jimmymack
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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