Another Day, Another GOP Attack on Our National Security Experts
The other day, John Brennan, the Obama administration’s counterterrorism adviser, publicly corrected Republicans in Congress who have been attacking Obama and the FBI for handling the attempting Christmas Day bombing as a criminal justice rather than a military matter. In his letter, he pointed out that he specifically briefed Sen. Christopher Bond, Rep. John Boehner, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Pete Hoekstra — on Christmas Day, after Abdulmutallab’s arrest — about the facts of Abdulmutallab’s arrest and interrogation; specifically, that he was being held and interrogated by the FBI — a civilian, not a military, agency which obviously mirandizes suspects as a matter of course. The Gang of Four offered no objections at that time.
Sen. Bond, upset that he and his colleagues had been outed like this, huffed to reporters that Brennan had never told him Abdulmutallab had been read, or was going to be read, his Miranda rights.
Well, he must have realized how foolish this made him look — to be admitting that he needed to be instructed on police procedures regarding treatment of criminal suspects — because now he is calling for Brennan to resign:
Brennan “needs to go,” Bond said in an interview with National Review Online, a stance that was confirmed later by a spokeswoman.
“A drastic change in policy is needed,” Bond said. “Our problem now is that we have to wonder whether we can trust [Brennan] after he has been a mouthpiece for the political arm that I thought only came out of the White House press office.”
Previous to this, Sen. Bond called for Eric Holder to resign, over the same horrific scandal of the Department of Justice continuing the Bush-era policy of handling terrorism cases as a law enforcement rather than a military matter. As Steve Benen wryly observes, “It must be a day that ends in “y” — a clownish far-right lawmaker is calling for another administration official to resign.”
17 Responses to “Another Day, Another GOP Attack on Our National Security Experts”
On a good note POTUS has said that he may resort to 'recess' app'ts if the Rs won't allow an up or down vote on some of his nominees.
If the tool is in your tool box, you might as well use it.
I made a comment about this the other day. The Repubs will do exactly the same thing the Dems did when W wanted recess appointments: send someone in to hit the gavel. And then we'll have yet another debate about the hypocrisy of “the other” party.
And while the R's do that I would hope the Dems would make them do actual filibusters, get up there and read the telephone book. Shut down ALL Senate biz. A week or two of filibustering on C-Span would not help the R cause.
Well, the Republicans should be happy with Obama on the national security front, given that Obama has basically decided that Bush was right on almost all counts on how to handle the terrorists, based on his actions and the positions taken by the Justice Department in multiple court cases.
Here is another example: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/…
Plus Obama has also decided to use the “If you don't agree with us, you are helping Al Qaeda” meme Bush was derided for using: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs…
BTW – just to be clear, both positions were wrong under Bush, and both are wrong under Obama.
Obviously Bond ain't shaken he is just stirred. Just back-biting a little too much. However, I hope this stirs someone to greater heights in codifying and accelerating procedures to be followed when a crotch explodes on a plane, over U.S., over international and all other places. Blame B if you want, but improve the system NOW.
For a less partisan, more moderate perspective on this matter, USA Today offers the following editorial:
Our view on war on terror: National security team fails to inspire confidence
Officials’ handling of Christmas Day attack looks like amateur hour.
http://tinyurl.com/yjol9no
And the Wall Street Journal points out that the basic defense of the Obama Administration for its mismanagement has been a vindication of the Bush policies, i.e. — 'we're acting the same as Bush did'. Too funny. He's now backtracking on the 'big policy changes' he took credit for when he first became President.
Cheney's Revenge
The Obama Administration is vindicating Bush antiterror policy.
http://tinyurl.com/yb4eq3u
In summary we have Obama clumsily trying to change the policy, falling flat on his face, and trying to excuse these foibles by wrapping himself in Bush. I believe the crowning achievement was disbanding the interrogation unit, saying he would set up a new one with great fanfare, and a year later when it might have been of some value, having to admit that it doesn't work yet. Apparently this vaunted Special Interrogation White House Interrogation Unit has yet to be able to even find itself office space in Washington, DC. What, there aren't enough Federal buildings there?
If the stakes were not so high, they could do a very funny “This is Spinal Tap” takeoff on the Obama Administration with national security being 'Stonehenge'. Unfortunately, it's too serious a problem for mere ridicule.
TW – just to be clear, both positions were wrong under Bush, and both are wrong under Obama.”
There is a new version of Alice In Wonderland coming down the pike. This affair, and national security in general remind that good ideas and bad ideas crop up, and get recycled again, and again. (BTW: We are Alice.)
Wait a minute… you mean to say that a national security issue would actually be exploited for partisan purposes? I'm shocked!!!
Amen!!!
“POTUS has said that he may resort to 'recess' app'ts [...]
If the tool is in your tool box, you might as well use it.”
Shelby asked for this to be done. It doesn't matter that he's backing down now:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar…
NPR reported today, that since 9/11, the Bush administration allowed prosecution of more than 150 terrorists under Constitutional laws afforded every American, but only three by military tribunal.
Miss that one Kathy?
Gee Kathy, did you borrow that headline from the Bush administration? Kinda sounds like what they were trumpeting not so long ago.
Anyhow, both the far right and the far left have done their typical role reversal each arguing what they used to criticize about the other. And even funnier, regarding national security, Obama is defending his policies by citing comparisons to Bush and how he is just following the Bush policies:
Bush Was Right, Says Obama
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 … 66720.html
My what a difference a year in the Oval office makes, LOL. Personally I think that Bush was often wrong and Obama isn't learning from history and is repeating many of the same mistakes.
Or as the Who sang
“Meet the new boss….same as the old boss”.
I remember when bush tried to do the same thing and Harry Reid kept Congress in a pro forma session over the Christmas holiday. Here is an exact quote:
” And, I will keep the Senate in pro forma session to block the President from doing an end run around the Senate and the Constitution with his controversial nominees.”
–Harry Reid , from December 2007.
Of course in typical hypocritical fashion he is singing a different toon with a Democrat in the Whitehouse. I don't fault the President, however, he is just doing a George Bush and he hadn't made previous statements like Reid did that make him look like a fool right now.
What is Reid's curent statement?
““What alternative do we have?” Well Seator Reid, why don't you ask Senator Reid from 2007, he has an answer to your question.
Not the phone book, read from the Best of Harry Reid Volume I, especially the section where he taks about the Present trying to sidestep the Constitution with recess appointments. Just keep reading that and other Best of quotes the whole time for the C-Span audience.
Why not, they tend to be partisan appointments for the most part.
I used to hate the following statement, but I will use it since the previous administration used it first:
“Same old, same old.”
Hey Kathy
Here is a blast from the past from Liberal Bill Press:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/21/…