[Peace-discuss] ACLU: Obama 'Institutionalizing' Bush's Abuses

[C. G. Estabrook]

[The ACLU?! You can't get more mainstream civil rights than that. Even they've 
seen through BHO. These are of course "high crimes and misdemeanors." --CGE]

	Obama Administration In Danger Of Establishing 'New Normal'
	With Worst Bush-Era Policies, Says ACLU
	Thursday, 29 July 2010 13:08 Press Release Analysis

...[President Obama] ... has failed to eliminate some of the worst policies put 
in place by President Bush, such as military commissions and indefinite 
detention. He has also expanded the Bush administration's "targeted killing" 
program.

The 22-page report, which was researched and written by staff in the ACLU's 
National Security Project and Washington Legislative Office, reviews the 
administration's record in the areas of transparency, torture and 
accountability, detention, targeted killing, military commissions, speech and 
surveillance and watchlists...

[The Obama administration was determined to] to fight the release of photos 
depicting the abuse of prisoners in CIA custody. The administration's commitment 
to dismantle Guantánamo has been undermined by its assertion of the authority to 
detain people indefinitely without charge or trial...

...[also] the use of the "state secrets" doctrine to block lawsuits brought by 
torture survivors, the revival of the discredited military commissions to 
prosecute some Guantánamo detainees, the assertion of broad surveillance powers 
and the authorization of a "targeted killing" program to kill terrorism 
suspects, including American citizens, wherever they are located, without due 
process.

"...some of the Obama administration's policies – like the policies on 
indefinite detention, military commissions and targeted killings – are 
entrenching this [Bush administration] framework, presenting a profound threat 
to human rights and the rule of law..."

"Establishing a New Normal" is available online at: 
www.aclu.org/national-security/establishing-new-normal

http://www.enewspf.com/index.php/latest-news/analysis/17840-obama-administration-in-danger-of-establishing-new-normal-with-worst-bush-era-policies-says-aclu-