Thread: Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes

Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes

President-Elect Obama’s advisors feared in 2008 that authorities would revolt and that Republicans would block his policy agenda if he prosecuted Bush-era war crimes, according to a law school dean who served as one of Christopher EdleyObama’s top transition advisers.

University of California at Berkeley Law School Dean Christopher Edley, Jr., left, the sixth highest-ranking member of the 2008 post-election transition team preparing Obama's administration, revealed the team's thinking on Sept. 2 in moderating a forum on 9/11 held by his law school (also known as Boalt Hall). Edley sought to justify Obama's "look forward" policy on Bush-era lawbreaking that the president-elect announced on a TV talk show in January 2009.

But Edley's rationale implies that Obama and his team fear the military/national security forces that he is supposed be commanding. It suggests also that Republicans have intimidated him right from the start of his presidency even though voters in 2008 rejected Republicans by the largest combined presidential-congressional mandate in recent U.S. history. Edley responded to our request for additional information by providing a description of the transition team's fears, which we present below as an exclusive email interview. Among his important points is that transition officials, not Obama, agreed that he faced the possibility of a "revolt."

But she did ask questions. Edley responded that Obama’s team feared that leadership in the U.S. armed forces, the CIA and NSA might “revolt” if the new Obama administration prosecuted war crimes by U.S. authorities and lower-ranking personnel. Also, Edley told Harman that his fellow decision-makers on Obama's team feared that a prosecution inquiry could lead to Republican efforts to thwart the Obama agenda in Congress.

This is a bit shocking. A coup? In America? These are smart men running the country and they actually feared the CIA and the military whom they are in command of? Kind of weak if you asked me. On the other hand I understand wanting no distracting in passing their agenda and ultimately that course would be better for the country but letting war criminals go just seems un-American. I guess it's a good thing the GOP didn't try to thwart his congressional agenda then eh? Oh wait....

So your saying Obamas team was a bunch of conspiracy nuts?

Originally Posted by Danny

Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes



This is a bit shocking. A coup? In America? These are smart men running the country and they actually feared the CIA and the military whom they are in command of? Kind of weak if you asked me. On the other hand I understand wanting no distracting in passing their agenda and ultimately that course would be better for the country but letting war criminals go just seems un-American. I guess it's a good thing the GOP didn't try to thwart his congressional agenda then eh? Oh wait....

Not shocking at all - this isn't anyone of responsibility claiming concerns of a coup, but rather some uber-partisan "advisor" claiming fear of it.

Here's a clue what we're dealing with here:

Then Dean Chris Edley volunteered that he’d been party to very high level discussions during Obama’s transition about prosecuting the criminals. He said they decided against it. I asked why. Two reasons: 1) it was thought that the CIA, NSA, and military would revolt, and 2) it was thought the Repugnants would retaliate by blocking every piece of legislation they tried to move (which, of course, they’ve done anyhow).

(from the OP's source)

Just as when you see some right wingnut calling Obama insulting names or ranting about "democraps", when you see a left wingnut using childish, ignorant names like "Repugnants" to describe the other party, you know you're reading the words of an idiot who may be safely ignored.

Really, Danny, you're smarter than to be drawn in by partisan shit like this. Seriously.

Matt

BTW, Danny, if Bush is a "war criminal" (as you've termed him in the OP) for Gitmo / Iraq / etc, then what is Obama (who continued / expanded the same policies)?

Originally Posted by MattInFla

BTW, Danny, if Bush is a "war criminal" (as you've termed him in the OP) for Gitmo / Iraq / etc, then what is Obama (who continued / expanded the same policies)?

The two policies in question have not been continued by Obama. Enhanced interrogation was stopped and domestic spying has been authorized. It just wasn't authorized when Bush started doing it.

Originally Posted by Danny

The two policies in question have not been continued by Obama. Enhanced interrogation was stopped and domestic spying has been authorized. It just wasn't authorized when Bush started doing it.

Fucking BULLSHIT.

Indefinite detentions are still going on, and you damn well know it.

We're still at war in Iraq, and you damn well know it.

And the left wingnuts refer to the Iraq invasion and indefinite detentions as war crimes, and you damned well know it.

Don't know why I expected an honest answer from you, but I am a bit disappointed that you'd be so disingenuous.

Many times, I notice (or think I notice) liberals, in particular, doing this or that NOT because they think it efficacious or effective, but because that is what they think everyone else whom they oppose would do it.

So when they think Republicans will revolt if they do this and such, they believe that's a possibility because that is what they'd do.

For example, Nancy Pelosi thought she saw swastikas in the back of the room to intimidate her and shout epithets ... because that is how she would break up a meeting like that.

Sigh!

Originally Posted by Danny

Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes



This is a bit shocking. A coup? In America? These are smart men running the country and they actually feared the CIA and the military whom they are in command of? Kind of weak if you asked me. On the other hand I understand wanting no distracting in passing their agenda and ultimately that course would be better for the country but letting war criminals go just seems un-American. I guess it's a good thing the GOP didn't try to thwart his congressional agenda then eh? Oh wait....

Just shows how paranoid they are. Paranoid people are people who are know they are doing something wrong.

I’m confused.

It looks like the right is admitting that Bush et al committed war crimes just so they can curse the name of Obama for not prosecuting them.

Originally Posted by RDK

I’m confused.

It looks like the right is admitting that Bush et al committed war crimes just so they can curse the name of Obama for not prosecuting them.

I've called the indefinite detentions out since day one. Nothing there has changed.

Unlike Danny, I don't care who the President is - wrong is wrong.

As you probably know, many on the left consider the entire Iraq invasion a "war crime", and yet those same people give Obama a pass for his continued involvement there, the drone attacks in Pakistan and his new war in Libya.

But that doesn't seem to confuse you. Odd.

Matt