....asks John Brennan, Mr. Obama's Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, in an op-ed piece in USA Today.
No lectures, no dissent, no criticism, please, says Mr. Brennan.
Mr Brennan states, "Senior counterterrorism officials from the White House, the intelligence community and the military were all actively discussing this case before he was Mirandized", a statement which is questionable. National Intelligence Director Blair admits that the special interrogation unit wasn't called in, (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIEsvnXhoEw) and Blair, FBI Director Mueller and Homeland Security Napolitano have all testified that they weren't consulted by the FBI team that was interrogating the 'underwear' bomber.
Mr. Blair seems to insist that a 50 minute interview was adequate, which is difficult to swallow, and that "breakthroughs" that have occurred in the last few weeks of the underwear bomber's detention are to be applauded.
Indeed, any intelligence gathered from the terrorist is to be welcomed--but what about anything that has occurred in the intervening weeks while the terrorist has been quiet? Such as any would-be terrorists moving their bases of operation, or destroying implicating evidence, or changing their plans?
Finally, let's look at the old canard of "Well, it's Bush's fault." Mr. Blair insists that, because President Bush had would-be-shoe-bomber Reid was Mirandized and put into civilian courts, it's an okay thing to do. Quite a weak argument, IMHO. In 2001, there were no military commissions, no special interrogation units for suspected terrorists, nor was there a Guantanamo Bay prison.
Indeed, Mr. Blair insists that "we must come together to keep us safe." But his version of "coming together" is--don't criticize us, don't point out our failings. I might instead restate this "coming together" as working together, pointing out problems and alternate solutions, being critical where necessary, so that we can all be safe.
For some more info on why this is such a mess:
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