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DOJ IG Report Takes It Easy on FBI
The DOJ inspector general's report on the FBI's role in detainee interrogations that we previewed yesterday has now been released -- all 370 pages plus appendices.
You can read the report in its entirety here (.pdf).
As Andrew Zajac at The Swamp notes, "The tortured title of the report -- A Review of the FBI's Involvement in and Observations of Detainee Interrogations in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, and Iraq -- suggests a certain amount of hairsplitting and eggshell-walking."
We'll have more shortly.
Late Update: The bottom line of the report?
In Sum, while our report concluded that the FBI could have provided clearer guidance earlier, and while the FBI and DOJ could have pressed harder for resolution of FBI concerns about detainee treatment, we believe the FBI should be credited for its conduct and professionalism in detainee interrogations in the military zones and in generally avoiding participation in detainee abuse.
Later Update: The ACLU finds the report more troubling than exculpatory:
Jameel Jaffer, national security director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the report "shows a failure of leadership on the part of senior FBI officials.""Senior FBI officials knew as early as 2002 that other agencies were using abusive interrogation methods," Jaffer said. "The report shows unequivocally, however, that the FBI's leadership failed to act aggressively to end the abuse."
The report is tagged "unclassified."
Does this mean there is also a "classified" version of the report?
May 20, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have been reading the report for about a hr, skipping around a bit, and this report generally puts the FBI in a very rosy light. The amount of agents that say they actually witnessed any torture is very low and suspect imho. The report does detail some sickening uses of Torture by the DOD, starting around pg 200, or Chapter 8.
While it does tip-toe quite a bit, it is enough of a smoking gun that any decent prosecutor would have no problem not only getting indictments. Some of the techniques described brings a huge amount of shame on our country and should be more than enough to send this and the Bush Admin. to court, any court, including the Hague.
This country can no longer claim it does not torture, not that anyone has believed those claims for quite a while now. It is time to change the narrative that no one will ever be brought to Justice. It is up to you and I to make sure they are brought before the Judges, Investigated, tried, Judged, and Imprisoned if found guilty.
May 20, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fine is probably the most straight-shooting official in the whole damn administration (since, of course, he is not of the administration, appointed as he was by Clinton). He doesn't whitewash or witch hunt; you can take his report to the bank.
But, of course, he is very much bound by the limitations of his jurisdiction. He is not authorized to investigate the CIA or the DoD. This report does nothing to dilute the shame of what our government has perpetrated in our names.
May 20, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Fine is probably the most straight-shooting official in the whole damn administration (since, of course, he is not of the administration, appointed as he was by Clinton). He doesn't whitewash or witch hunt; you can take his report to the bank."
Your correct in your assesment to my belief, in an around the beltway that is the word On Fine and an accurate generalized sentiment.
It is not often that a responsible post is found when reports such as these are released or where government'f findings upon itself are released. But if anyone could provide the credibility at DOJ to make a formal assertion and a conclusion it would be Fine who is above the partisan politics and a consumate professional. Not a sissy or a pushover, but by the book IG, respected because he earned it, lives up to his public trust role, and not that he demands it.
He plays a hardball game of Bball as well
May 20, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you "play ball" with war criminals, you become one yourself.
Mr. Fine has chosen to play for the Torture Team, as an accessory after the fact -- for all the world to see (and prosecute), for all posterity, for his grandchildren to read about.
The shame he adds to this is of a more profound type than those who stood sweaty and grinning, listening to the horrific, haunting screams.
Only impeachment can even begin the Redemption of Our National Soul. Mr. Fine has opted to join the firewall against it.
--
May 21, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone asked what is GLEN FINE doing looking at TORTURE and FBI REPORTS OF SUCH WHEN....FINE is at DOJ OIG.
DOJ OIG was created by PATRIOT ACT...to do oversite on PATRIOT ACT CRIMES...yes?
Or does OIG do the same oversite on FBI that DOJ OPR and FBI OPR does?
FINE and DENVER AND DALLAS FIELD AGENTS VAN LANCKER AND MONTE CASSON did not respond to my 47 page US DOJ OIG Complaint?
No letter acknowledging possession or reciept of the complaint sent certified mail?
Then I hear from DOJ OIG ass Dir in Denver that..."DOJ HQ put complaint over to FBI OPR" when...I WAS FOCUSING ON FBI CRIMES LIKE:
----TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS
----DEPRIVATIONS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES UNDER COLOR OF AUTHORITY;
----OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE;
----CONSPIRACY;
----INTERSTATE STALKING;
----TITLE III WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING, GPS, PIN HOLE SPY CAMERAS IN HOME;
----DISSEMINATION OF ILLEGALLY OBTAINED INFO IN VIOLATION OF TITLE III.
NO INTEREST FROM A COWARDLY PUNK NAMED PAT LEAHY whose staff, "scripted Mueller's testimony" as I watched Mueller "check off questions already asked by Leahy and Spector" during the bogus NSA TSP hearings?
May 21, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did I miss some important change in the legal standing of FBI agents? Aren't they always supposed to report observation of a crime? Did they stop being able to read and interpret law? Isn't every FBI agent supposed to be a lawyer? How is it OK that they didn't report these crimes?
May 20, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) FBI AGENTS must follow the state and fed codes prohibiting MISPRISON OF A FELONY (the failure to report a felony).
UNDER FREEH, FBI HAD TO SIGN A MISPRISON OF A FELONY FORM AT THE END OF EVERY CALENDAR YEAR.
2) My dealings with SIOUX FALLS, SD FBI, AUSTIN TEXAS FBI, AND MINNEAPOLIS FBI....tells me that...uh....THE FBI IS A SECRET RIGHT WING GESTAPO THAT FRONTS AS A LEGITIMATE law enforcement agency.
Do they know the law?
Nope.
Don't care.
Don't need to....99% all charges are plea bargained out?!
FBI has in house legal counsel to do "what a law trained agent" should be able to do...by himself without anybody helping him.
IN addition...FBI has access to US ATTY's who claim to be law trained...even though they are pathetic lying idiotic scheming grandstanders...who DO NOTHING FOR THIS COUNTRY.
3) 10--15 % of the FBI are law trained.
50% are ex military goons, cowards, lowlifes, and degenerate peasant stock who "think they know what is right" and "are the only ones who have the power to do anything about it".
4) They did report.
Mueller covered it up...like a good cowardly punk that Mueller is.
Mueller is a neocon.
He was handpicked by Darth Cheney.
What you meant to say is, "....WHY DIDN'T FBI SPECIAL AGENT PLACE A CRIM REFERRAL ON A US ATTY'S DESK IN PURSUIT OF A FED INDICTMENT AND EXPOSURE LEADING TO IMPEACHMENT?!"
Answer: FBI agents....are castrated by paper and a chain of command that...is POLITICAL...CRIMINAL...GUTLESS...UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
..PUNITIVE...MILITARIZED...WORTHLESS...INBRED...COWARDLY...UNPATRIOTIC...DEDICATED TO THE INTEL COMMUNITY'S DRUG DEALING, LAUNDERING, TREASON...TERRORISM....AND POLITICAL MURDERS AND NEUTRALIZATIONS.
That is BOB MUELLER'S FBI that has not got out.
May 21, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
To paraphrase Captain Renault in Casablanca: "I'm shocked, shocked to find that torture is going on in here! "
May 20, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just more of the interdepartmental "You cover my ass, I'll cover yours." There's no intent to do any better from any of these involved agencies.
And worse, there's not a damned thing the American people can do (even via their elected representatives) about it, except pay the price for this torture from other terrorists determined to get revenge for it.
We can claim in our country to be free, but we're watched more by our own government than by terrorists.
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
May 20, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
"shows a failure of leadership on the part of senior FBI officials."
Lack of leadership under Bush's watch? No. Really?
Is there a single agency, agency head, appointee - ANYONE who might be remotely connected to this administration competent in any fashion? I think the answer to that is a resounding NO.
Bush Administration officials have been charged with war crimes. The knowledge that they will eventually have to pay for these crimes is the only thing that keeps me going. I am embarrassed for my country, our actions, and our sorely tarnished reputation.
May 20, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
And how long before we're the next on the list?
Are you one of the eight million people on the government's watch list?
May 20, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
And while I am providing links, these two videos are well worth a watch. Short and to the point.
Be afraid, be very, very afraid.
(Sorry for the triple post...but TPMM spammed me for having multiple links.)
May 20, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink