Power’s prerogative: Protecting presidential power

President Barack Obama has opted to protect presidential privilege, rather than allow the spotlight to be shined on the crimes and cynicism of the Bush years. He has released the so-called torture memos, but he also has said that futher investigation into the administration is dangerous.

The memos were released after a tense internal debate at the White House. Saying that it is a “time for reflection, not retribution,” Mr. Obama reiterated his opposition to a extensive investigation of controversial counterterrorism programs.

“In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carrying out their duties relying in good faith upon the legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution,” theWhite House statement said.

This is a mistake. The decisions made by the Bush administration, their justifications for disregarding international law, must be made public and those responsible must be brought to justice. Not out of some sense of retribution — that would make us look like a banana republic.

Rather, we should investigate and prosecute because laws may have been broken and to allow the transgressions to stand only further erodes our constitutional system of checks and balances. To allow the Our system of laws depends upon it.

This is not about retribution — that would be foolishused to recast our violation

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet