Greetings. The GOP has been burning up recent news cycle with the inane claim that President Obama's release of the "CIA Torture Memos" threatens national security and (get this) that it violates the privacy of various involved parties. Privacy! Orwellian distortions to the max. Give me an everlovin' break!

Obama's release of the memos was exactly the right thing to do, as they now explicitly expose the recent Bush administration's use of illegal torture. They also reveal how (in direct contradiction to Bush officials' earlier claims) such "enhanced interrogation techniques" were repeatedly applied to some individuals with a frequency that would have probably violated the Spanish Inquisition's interrogation guidelines. And with little or nothing to show for it all, other than helping to ruin this country's reputation around the globe.

Obama is wrong about one aspect of the memos. He doesn't want to prosecute the torture ringleaders, those sneering lawyers and politicos who sat comfortably behind desks and rationalized the Bush Torture Regime. The field operatives who followed legal guidance from those monsters deserve to be immunized, but the officials who formulated the policies should be prosecuted -- period.

And what of the so-called "Torturer in Chief" ex-VP Dick Cheney? He continues enthusiastically trying to justify one of the most shameful sets of policies ever to be formulated by a modern government.

We may never know the full extent of Cheney's tortuous role. But here's a surprise! We were told that the CIA torture videos had been destroyed to protect the "privacy" of those involved. But apparently one heavily edited tape -- less than a minute in length -- escaped destruction, with ex-VP Dick Cheney at least appearing to be deeply involved. You have to watch closely though -- his face is only clearly visible for an instant.

YouTube: Leaked Video Reveals Cheney Torture Role?

"For the love of God, Montresor!"

--Lauren--

Update (April 21, 2009): Obama now open to torture charges