Obama Transition Team "Clarifies" Position On Torture: He May Be For It
TalkLeft — Change we can believe in? As a candidate, Mr. Obama said the CIA's interrogation program should adhere to the same rules that apply to the military, which would prohibit the use of techniques such as waterboarding. He has also said the program should be investigated. [But], [u]pon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater oversight. You see the proposal is to have greater oversight over the torture. Change ...

Another Obama Flip-flop?
Ace of Spades HQ — ... than anything else. Obama appears to be abandoning his promised commitment to end government torture . As a candidate, Mr. Obama said the CIA's interrogation program should adhere to the same rules that apply to the military, which would prohibit the use of techniques such as waterboarding. He has also said the program should be investigated. Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater oversight. Advisers caution that few decisions will be made until the ...

No "Change!" Alert
Tammy Bruce — Hey Obama Zombies, I can't find the change in here, can you? Intelligence Policy to Stay Largely Intact President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party. Civil-liberties groups were among those outraged that the White House sanctioned the use of harsh intelligence techniques -- which some consider torture -- by the Central Intelligence Agency, and expanded domestic spy powers. These ...

Obama not reversing course on intelligence agency policies?
Sister Toldjah — ... In a move that has the potential to upset the far left and “civil/human rights activisits,” the Wall Street Journal has a story up today that talks about how Obama is sending signals during the transition phase that it’s “unlikely” that he will make any major changes to our intelligence policy (via ...

Torture Lite?
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan — Siobhan Gorman reports: Mr. Obama said he opposed providing legal immunity to telecommunications companies that aided warrantless surveillance, but ultimately voted for the bill, which included an immunity provision. The new president could take a similar approach to revising the rules for CIA interrogations, said one current government official familiar with the transition. Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater ...

Rehabilitating Bush
Chicago Boyz — Let the rehabilitation of Bush begin! For the past 8 years, the most strident and hysterical leftist criticism of Bush has centered on his intelligence policies which leftist assured us arose purely out of a callous disregard for civil liberties and human rights if not outright evil.  Now we read this from the WSJ [h/t Instapundit]: President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say…They say he is likely to fill key intelligence posts with pragmatists. ...

WSJ: Obama may retain Bush interrogation policies, Gates as SecDef
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... Not so Changey. President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party… “He’s going to take a very centrist approach to these issues,” said Roger Cressey, a former counterterrorism official in the Clinton and Bush administrations. “Whenever an administration swings too far on the spectrum left or right, we end up getting ourselves in big trouble.”… [H]e more recently voted for a White House-backed law to expand ...

Torture, Interrogation, Etc.
Real Clear Politics - TIME.com — Interesting : President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party.... On the campaign trail, Mr. Obama criticized many of President George W. Bush's counterterrorism policies. He condemned Mr. Bush for promoting "excessive secrecy, indefinite detention, warrantless wiretapping and 'enhanced interrogation techniques' like simulated drowning that qualify as torture through any careful measure of the law or appeal to ...

Ch-Ch-Changes
Talking Points Memo — ... A couple of potentially disturbing reports today in the Wall Street Journal, one suggesting that Obama is not going to substantially rein in Bush-era intelligence activities and another reporting that Obama is ...

Blogging While Deranged
Taylor Marsh — ... Everyone would do well to consider the reality involved in the intelligence policy discussion today. First, as was said in the media call today with Podesta regarding Transition. Obama will be reviewing all Bush’s executive orders. So the report in the Wall Street Journal should be taken with that in mind. Secondly, the section about Obama and C.I.A. interrogation rules is analysis by Siobhan Gorman, which isn’t exactly shocking if you’ve been paying attention. ...

Obama’s Intelligence Policy to Stay Largely Intact (Broken Campaign Theme #53)
Flopping Aces — ... domestic spy powers. These groups are demanding quick action to reverse these policies. Former National Counterterrorism Center chief John Brennan, leader of Obama’s intelligence-transition team. Mr. Obama is being advised largely by a group of intelligence professionals, including some who have supported Republicans, and centrist former officials in the Clinton administration. They say he is likely to fill key intelligence posts with pragmatists. link EXIT QUESTION: If you voted for Barack Obama in the hopes of a more transparent ...

"Intelligence Policy to Stay Largely Intact":
The Volokh Conspiracy — Siobhan Gorman of the Wall Street Journal reports: President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party. Civil-liberties groups were among those outraged that the White House sanctioned the use of harsh intelligence techniques -- which some consider torture -- by the Central Intelligence Agency, and expanded domestic spy powers. These groups are demanding quick action to reverse these policies. Mr. Obama is being ...

Barry May Keep Some Torture Aspects
Pirate's Cove — ... (Wall Stree Journal) As a candidate, Mr. Obama said the CIA’s interrogation program should adhere to the same rules that apply to the military, which would prohibit the use of techniques such as waterboarding. He has also said the program should be investigated. ...

Barry May Keep Some Torture Aspects
Stop The ACLU — Excitable Andy/Glenn Greenwald freakout alert in 3…2…1…. ( Wall Stree Journal ) As a candidate, Mr. Obama said the CIA’s interrogation program should adhere to the same rules that apply to the military, which would prohibit the use of techniques such as waterboarding. He has also said the program should be investigated. Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military , but with much greater oversight. Advisers caution that few decisions will be made until the team gets a better picture ...

N/A — Great good news.  The centrists and pragmatist will advise Obama in his review of  intelligence and surveillance policy: “Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater oversight.“ Good to know that where things are right or wrong, there is always a centrist way down the middle, a pragmatic way to continue doing the same dark things, but with greater oversight. Yes, we can. Yes, we can close our eyes to what is going on.

The Lazy No Change Stories
democracyarsenal.org — ... be any real change.  It's much easier to imagine the status quo world than it is to think about the dramatic changes a President might make, and thus pretty easy for reporters to write stories about how nothing is going to change.  The other option is to speculate about how everything will be turned topsy turvy on day one, which is equally unrealistic.  Thus, we end up with two articles declaring simultaneously that Obama will instantaneously close Guantanamo and not really change the Bush administration's torture policies. Let's take a deep breath ...

The SYFP Brigade Out Early
TalkLeft — ... John Brennan is heading the Obama transition on intelligence issues. In the Wall Street Journal article cited today (and the WSJ news pages are not the WSJ opinion page, Obama Bots), the following is written: ...

A change in intelligence
Political Animal — A CHANGE IN INTELLIGENCE.... Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the upcoming Obama administration is not likely to make major changes to the government's intelligence-gathering operations. For those hoping to see a break with Bush-era intelligence-related scandals, the report was disconcerting, to put it mildly. As a reminder of why it's best not to invest too much energy on pre-announcement speculation, the Washington Post has a ...

The Daily Muck
TPMMuckraker — ... The Wall Street Journal suggests that the new president may retain controversial intelligence policies, pointing to centrist advisers from both Democratic and Republican camps and a recent vote supporting an expanded surveillance law. (McClatchy/Wall Street Journal) ...

Ex-CIA Analysts: McLaughlin Being Considered For Top Intel Post
The Huffington Post | Full News Feed — ... As for some of those officials rumored to be heading Obama's intelligence transition team -- specifically, former National Counterterrorism Center chief John Brennan and former CIA intelligence-analysis director Jami Miscik -- Henoch was less complimentary. ...

Ex-CIA Analysts: McLaughlin Being Considered For Top Intel Post
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... As for some of those officials rumored to be heading Obama's intelligence transition team -- specifically, former National Counterterrorism Center chief John Brennan and former CIA intelligence-analysis director Jami Miscik -- Henoch was less complimentary. ...

"Counterintelligence"
Daily Kos — ... A disquieting article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal claims that "President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies" and specifically references torture and surveillance as the policies Obama is not going to rock the boat on. ...

Feingold Nudges Obama To Select "New Leadership" For Intelligence Agencies
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — In a gentle yet clear nudge to President-elect Barack Obama, Sen. Russ Feingold released a statement on Thursday calling for "new leadership" in the nation's various intelligence services. "I am confident President-elect Obama understands the need for new leadership of the intelligence community and will appoint competent, capable people who will work aggressively to ensure the safety and security of Americans without undermining our laws and Constitution," Feingold said in the statement. "For eight years, the current Administration has shown contempt for the rule of law, including in intelligence-related matters, while repeatedly refusing to work ...

Feingold Nudges Obama To Select "New Leadership" For Intelligence Agencies
The Huffington Post | Full News Feed — In a gentle yet clear nudge to President-elect Barack Obama, Sen. Russ Feingold released a statement on Thursday calling for "new leadership" in the nation's various intelligence services. "I am confident President-elect Obama understands the need for new leadership of the intelligence community and will appoint competent, capable people who will work aggressively to ensure the safety and security of Americans without undermining our laws and Constitution," Feingold said in the statement. "For eight years, the current Administration has shown contempt for the rule of law, including in intelligence-related matters, while repeatedly refusing to work ...

Torture -- Yes We Can?
Antiwar.com Original — M ost politicians wait at least until they've been sworn in before they start breaking their campaign promises. In this sense, as in so many others, Barack Obama represents an entirely new phenomenon: the politician who preemptively reneges. A recent Wall Street Journal piece describing the transition process as it relates to intelligence-gathering reveals we aren't going to see much change in this vitally important realm, the one in which the Bush administration truly made its ...

Obama Pledges To End Torture To Help ‘Regain America’s Moral Stature In The World’
Think Progress — In recent weeks, there has been rampant media speculation that President Barack Obama would back off his campaign pledges to end torture. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote, “President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies.” In addition, some in the blogosphere have raised concerns about the fact that a key intelligence adviser to Obama has supported the Bush administration’s enhanced interrogation techniques. Tonight, in his interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Obama bluntly and directly clarified his incoming administration’s ...

Obama Pledges To End Torture To Help ?Regain America?s Moral Stature In The World?
The Hollywood Liberal — Obama Pledges To End Torture To Help ?Regain America?s Moral Stature In The World? In recent weeks, there has been rampant media speculation that President Barack Obama would back off his campaign pledges to end torture. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote, “President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies.” In addition, some in the blogosphere have raised concerns about the fact that a key […] In recent weeks, there has been rampant media speculation that President Barack Obama would back off his campaign pledges to end torture. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote, “President-elect ...

A change in intelligence
Political Animal — A CHANGE IN INTELLIGENCE.... The Wall Street Journal reported a few weeks ago that the upcoming Obama administration is "unlikely" to make major changes to the government's intelligence-gathering operations. The WSJ said this could lead to "tension within the Democratic Party." That would be a safe bet. Fortunately, everything we've learned since suggests Obama intends to go in a very different direction. Reports surfaced, for example, that Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and CIA Director Michael Hayden are ...

Retired generals meet with Obama to urge a clean break from Bush’s detainee policies.
Think Progress — Addressing speculation that he “is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies,” President-elect Barack Obama pledged last month to end torture as part of “an effort to regain America’s moral stature in the world.” Today, a dozen retired generals and admirals will meet with Obama’s transition team “to plead for a clean, unequivocal break with the Bush administration’s interrogation, detention and rendition policies.” The officers also want Guantanamo Bay closed, an effort that would force Obama “to decide what to do with inmates who can’t ...

Tim Shorrock and Frank Naif: Top Intelligence Picks a No-Win for Obama
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — The Obama transition team's highly anticipated announcement of its new national security lineup has telling omissions: there's no Director of National Intelligence or CIA Director. The Obama administration faces a daunting task in choosing new intelligence chiefs. Nearly any credible candidate for senior intelligence leadership appointments is likely to come with baggage, such as past involvement in questionable intelligence activities and/or the growing network of secretive intelligence contractors. Obama's presumptive top contender for an intelligence leadership post exited the stage last week. John Brennan--CIA veteran, leader of an ...