Obama, Secrecy and the Rule of Law - UPDATE

For those of you who think I'm being too hard on Obama, here's what Obama said while speaking from Senate floor on January 28, 2008. He's speaking in opposition to the retroactive immunity bill that eventually passed in last year's FISA bill, but his alleged beliefs on secrecy and the rule of law couldn't have been more clear.

Let's go to the tape.

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I strongly oppose retroactive immunity in the FISA bill.

Ever since 9/11, this Administration has put forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand.

The FISA court works. The separation of power works. We can trace, track down and take out terrorists while ensuring that our actions are subject to vigorous oversight, and do not undermine the very laws and freedom that we are fighting to defend.

No one should get a free pass to violate the basic civil liberties of the American people - not the President of the United States, and not the telecommunications companies that fell in line with his warrantless surveillance program. We have to make clear the lines that cannot be crossed.

That is why I am co-sponsoring Senator Dodd's amendment to remove the immunity provision. Secrecy must not trump accountability. We must show our citizens – and set an example to the world – that laws cannot be ignored when it is inconvenient.

A grassroots movement of Americans has pushed this issue to the forefront. You have come together across this country. You have called upon our leaders to adhere to the Constitution. You have sent a message to the halls of power that the American people will not permit the abuse of power – and demanded that we reclaim our core values by restoring the rule of law.

It's time for Washington to hear your voices, and to act. I share your commitment to this cause, and will stand with you in the fights to come. And when I am President, the American people will once again be able to trust that their government will stand for justice, and will defend the liberties that we hold so dear as vigorously as we defend our security.

UPDATE

Tomorrow is the Court appointed dealine for the Obama administration to release the remaining "torture memos." It is very likely that these memoranda will contain highly damning information About what CIA officials did to detainees, with authorization from our highest government officials. The Obama administration could redact the specific techniques by claiming (somehow) that revealing them would compromise national security. Of course, that would be complete and utter nonsense, given the fact that none of these techniques are allowed at present or are planned for the future. The only thing it would accomplish is to protect war criminals from shame - Obama has no intention of prosecuting anyone as far as I can tell.

As Andrew Sullivan eloquently put it, tomorrow is Obama's moment of truth. If he covers up for Bush, he lost my support for ever.

Joe H.