Barack Obama and his team in Washington sure have a strange way of promoting full disclosure, openness, and transparency in government. Give them an opportunity to trash the previous administration and those who worked for our national security, and they are all for it. But, ask them to come forward with pictures and a full explanation of a so-called public relations assignment, and they clam up.
In a pathetic display of both arrogance and indifference to America's safety and peace of mind, we see in two events everything we need to know about Obama. Just look at how differently he and his team handled the release of CIA interrogation memos and how they are handling the non-release of photos taken during their flyover photo op in New York City.
As many of you know, Obama decided last month to release previously classified memos which detail the interrogation techniques used in questioning terrorists. (Yes, I still use the word "terrorist" at GOPUSA.) The release of these memos was stunning in that it serves absolutely no useful purpose other than to make America less safe and to allow Obama to continue his message that America is bad.
I discussed the memos at length in my post Mr. Obama... How far would you go to save an American life?, and I came to one conclusion: It was strongly believed that certain high-ranking terrorists knew of another large-scale terror plot against the United States. Traditional interrogation methods were unsuccessful against these three terrorists, so they (and only they) were subjected to waterboarding. The result was that they produced information on a plot to fly at least one airliner into a building in Los Angeles. This plot, known as the Second Wave, would have certainly resulted in the loss of hundreds or thousands of American lives.
However, Obama apparently feels differently. He could have stated his case and his opinions without releasing the memos, but instead of just making a point, he'd rather see American security jeopardized and the careers and private lives of those involved suffer.
As noted in an AP story running on GOPUSA, although the attorneys responsible for approving the interrogation techniques used to obtain the information on the Second Wave will not face criminal charges, they will likely face professional sanctions.
Officials conducting the internal Justice Department inquiry into the lawyers who wrote those memos have recommended referring two of the three lawyers ... to state bar associations for possible disciplinary action, according to a person familiar with the inquiry. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was not authorized to discuss the inquiry.
The person noted that the investigative report was still in draft form and subject to revisions. Attorney General Eric Holder also may make his own determination about what steps to take once the report has been finalized.
Now, let's contrast these actions with the Obama team's handling of the idiotic and suspicious "flyover" that was approved in which the 747 used as Air Force One and a few F-16s flew ridiculously close to buildings in Manhattan... causing a panic. Under the pretense of a "photo op," the aircraft flew close enough to send a chilling reminder to people of the events of September 11, 2001.
In case you missed the video:
YouTube - Air Force One Flyin Low Over New York Caused Panic HD
Apparently, the photo-op cost the American taxpayers $328,835. The administration was looking for a good pic of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background. However, as FOXNews.com reports, the general public was not warned in advance, even though it is obvious that this could cause a panic.
Now, the White House is saying it will not release the photos taken during the flyover. When asked about the photos during Tuesday's White House press briefing, spokesman Robert Gibbs, first tried to joke about it, saying, "I've watched CNN -- I didn’t notice a lack of archival material from that flight."
When pressed about the photos taken from inside the aircraft, Gibbs responding by adding, "I don't know where those are." The White House spends over $300k on photos, and not only will they not release them to the public, but they don't know where the photos are? What is going on here?
In the New York Post story referenced by FOXNews.com, an Obama aide told the paper, "We have no plans to release them." The report added: "The photos have not technically been 'classified,' a White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view."
So, this is the way the Obama administration works: Release secret interrogation memos but withhold wasteful taxpayer-funded promotional pictures. Can someone please explain that one to me?
Source: The Loft – Posted by Bobby Eberle – May 6, 2009
Posted: Knowledge Creates Power – by Ask Marion
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