Obama Keeps Terror Rendition Policy
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.  That’s the sound of heads exploding from San Fran to Seattle by leftists who want to protect Al Qaeda, not Americans.
Obama preserves renditions as counter-terrorism tool – LA Times (h/t – The Corner)
The CIA’s secret prisons are being shuttered. Harsh interrogation techniques are off-limits. And Guantanamo Bay will eventually go back to being a wind-swept naval base on the southeastern corner of Cuba.
But even while dismantling these programs, President Obama left intact an equally controversial counter-terrorism tool.
Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States.
Current and former U.S. intelligence officials said that the rendition program might be poised to play an expanded role going forward because it was the main remaining mechanism — aside from Predator missile strikes — for taking suspected terrorists off the street.
The rendition program became a source of embarrassment for the CIA, and a target of international scorn, as details emerged in recent years of botched captures, mistaken identities and allegations that prisoners were turned over to countries where they were tortured.
The European Parliament condemned renditions as “an illegal instrument used by the United States.” Prisoners swept up in the program have sued the CIA as well as a Boeing Co. subsidiary accused of working with the agency on dozens of rendition flights.
But the Obama administration appears to have determined that the rendition program was one component of the Bush administration’s war on terrorism that it could not afford to discard.
That’s funny, I thought the American Left told me it was one of the WORST parts of “Bush’s War.” In fact, wasn’t there even a leftist Hollyweird movie, that made little, called “RENDITION”.  My, oh my.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Score one positive mark for President Obama.
Exit Question: Will the anti-Bush liberals who comment at GayPatriot now support this terror-fighting tool? Or are they just tools?
-Bruce (GayPatriot)
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Short answer: just tools.
Comment by Michigan-Matt — February 1, 2009 @ 7:13 pm - February 1, 2009
Contrary to the Los Angeles Times , Harsh interrogation techniques (torture) and secret prisons are NOT off limits — Obama is keeping those too:
In other words, the US will never ever ever ever ever tortire… UNLESS we decide its necessary.
Likewise, Obama has left a loophole that allow for “temporary” secret overseas prisons.
To translate for all our leftard friends: Obama approves torture, Obama approves secret prisons, Obama approves secret-rendition and all the Democrats know about it. They approve it because, contrary to their treasonous rhetoric undermining their own country during wartime for partisan gain, they have known all along (as the FISA court reaffirmed last August confirming the constitutionality of warrantless wiretaps) that President Bush was behaving entirely constitutionally and doing what was necessary for national security.
Are you going to call for Obama and Democrats to be prosecuted for war crimes now?
Comment by American Elephant — February 1, 2009 @ 7:14 pm - February 1, 2009
” pop pop pop … ”
That made me laugh.
It’s interesting how things tend to work themselves out in the context of reality vs. the campaign trail.
::: pop :::
Comment by Randy — February 1, 2009 @ 7:49 pm - February 1, 2009
The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round…….
Ah, reality smacks some in the head, again.
Comment by John in Dublin Ca — February 1, 2009 @ 7:54 pm - February 1, 2009
Lets give President Obama some credit for keeping the options on the table.
Even if the press allows him to hide it under the napkin like a 4 year old who doesn’t lke liver.
Comment by The Livewire — February 1, 2009 @ 8:15 pm - February 1, 2009
The Kossacks and the Dumbers and the Possies are now terror supporters if they continue to support Mr. Obama. Are they going to call for war crimes prosecutions against Obama/Biden/Clinton? Get the popcorn.
Comment by eaglewingz08 — February 1, 2009 @ 8:45 pm - February 1, 2009
Oh, Jesus Lord, of course, we are just totally anti-American, America-hating, America Last, and Blame America First, TOTAL TOOLS. What else would be we be? Tools. How serious can we take GPW about respect on this blog when we’re TOOLS, total TOOLS, JUST TOOLS? Borg Tools, LibToolsTards, what else? Please, what other serious names can you come up with which would signal respectful dialogue and adult discourse?
Comment by jimmy — February 1, 2009 @ 9:18 pm - February 1, 2009
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_02/016703.php
Comment by Martin — February 1, 2009 @ 9:30 pm - February 1, 2009
I’m all for protecting Americans first and not terrorists. However, I keep wondering when you armchair “patriots” are going to volunteer for military service…..
Comment by Kevin — February 1, 2009 @ 9:38 pm - February 1, 2009
And Kevin trots out the ‘chickenhawk’ arguement. *yawn*
So is it a rule that the frequent liberal posters have nothing to say when they can’t critique their own man?
Comment by The Livewire — February 1, 2009 @ 9:40 pm - February 1, 2009
I can’t believe they are still hauling out the chickenhawk argument. (No offense to Democrat Portland Mayor Sam Adams). Can’t the left come up with any new idiotic cliches to spout?
Comment by V the K — February 1, 2009 @ 9:44 pm - February 1, 2009
It’s an especially stupid argument to make considering Kevin’s Dear Leader not only didn’t serve, but is subcontracting the dirty work of fighting terrorism to third parties.
Comment by V the K — February 1, 2009 @ 9:49 pm - February 1, 2009
I love how the liberals like Kevin call conservatives who support the troops ‘chickenhawks”. They wish we’d all be like them “chicken/chickens”. That way no one would support the armed services.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 1, 2009 @ 10:13 pm - February 1, 2009
Oh I can’t believe how my President Obama is shredding the constitution. hehe rendition indeed.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 1, 2009 @ 10:15 pm - February 1, 2009
Here’s an adult on “rendition” (which isn’t “extraordinary rendition”): http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/02/the-rendition-c.html Seriously, if this blog was truly interested in facts and analysis and serious thinking, it wouldn’t be marked up with posts like this “Obama Keeps Terror Rendition Policy,” which are really internet equivalents of farts: a lot of gas. Bad gas.
Comment by jimmy — February 1, 2009 @ 10:17 pm - February 1, 2009
And btw I’m ex Army if you wanna continue the chicken hawk discussion we can take it outside. Come on Man up.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 1, 2009 @ 10:29 pm - February 1, 2009
I will wait and see what happens instead of trusting preemptive spin
Comment by gillie — February 1, 2009 @ 10:55 pm - February 1, 2009
What’s spin about it gillie? He has approved the tactics, plain and simple. They continue to be the policy of the United States and will continue on into the future because Obama approves them and when given the opportunity refused to say no.
Sucks to be you.
Comment by American Elephant — February 1, 2009 @ 10:58 pm - February 1, 2009
Yeah Jimmy, I’m ex-military too. So was my partner of 30 years. And guess what, we’re even gay. Unlike your demo mayor of Portland, we were not chickenhawks, but Sam Adams sure as hell is.
Comment by John in Dublin Ca — February 1, 2009 @ 10:59 pm - February 1, 2009
Kevin. I am one of those armed chair “patriots” I served in the army from 1942 to 1946. Are you asking why I am not in the military service now? Actually, while I was in uniform, there were lots more people doing more important work to end the war than I was and they were not in uniform. So you don’t have to be in uniform to be a patriot.
Comment by John W — February 1, 2009 @ 11:42 pm - February 1, 2009
You said it, team killing fucktard.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 2, 2009 @ 12:50 am - February 2, 2009
However, I keep wondering when you armchair “patriots†are going to volunteer for military service…..
The Obamamessiah is supposedly going to double our number of troops in Afghanistan. What’s your excuse for not volunteering and deploying now?
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — February 2, 2009 @ 2:00 am - February 2, 2009
I have registered my displeasure with the Obama Administration over this. See, Liberals QUESTION authority.
Comment by Timothy — February 2, 2009 @ 6:32 am - February 2, 2009
Ummm….Kevin,
Many of the, as you put it, “armchair Patriots” here….Already have served and I have to tell you that many of them feel that service is “not” for everyone., so what’s your point?
Comment by Drider — February 2, 2009 @ 6:42 am - February 2, 2009
Good for you Timothy. Seriously for standing up for something you believe in.
Now if you’d just look over the last 8 years, you’ll see you’ve made your first step to conservatism. The first step is ALWAYS the hardest.
Comment by The Livewire — February 2, 2009 @ 6:43 am - February 2, 2009
Andrew “Milky Loads” Sullivan is being cited as an “adult” authority? Andrew “RawMusclGlutes” Sullivan is being cited as an “adult” authority? Andrew “Sarah Palin is not Trig Palin’s Mother” tinfoil beanie Sullivan is being cited as an “adult” authority?
ROFLMAO!
Comment by V the K — February 2, 2009 @ 7:31 am - February 2, 2009
Jimmy,
That you cite Miss Milky Loads as an “adult” let alone a source only proves you are the one with no interest in facts. Sullivan is only slightly less credible than the DailyKos.
Unfortunately Richard Clarke disagrees with you and agrees with me regarding Obama and extraordinary rendition.
Incidentally, isn’t Miss Milky Loads the one who hyperventilated that even threatening rendition was torture? His contortions are worthy of the freakiest of freak shows, but alas, I think even they demand a higher degree of integrity.
Comment by American Elephant — February 2, 2009 @ 8:59 am - February 2, 2009
Littleletterpeople jimmy starts his #7 comment with a prayer
and then just dribbles and babbles and waste’s the Lord’s time. Happily, the Lord is forgiving and non partisan and keeps a special eye on drunks, little children and people who should be swathed in bubble wrap.
Littleletterpeople jimmy: please don’t call on the Lord for balloons and ice cream. He is busy doing the Lord’s work and your prank calls don’t help.
Comment by heliotrope — February 2, 2009 @ 10:06 am - February 2, 2009
Kevin, we can keep track of Obama’s promises here:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/
Comment by DoorHold — February 2, 2009 @ 10:29 am - February 2, 2009
BTW, Patterico PWNS Milky Loads on his Rendition about-face:
http://patterico.com/2009/02/01/andrew-sullivan-tortures-himself-for-obama/
Comment by V the K — February 2, 2009 @ 10:52 am - February 2, 2009
I, too, was RA and served Viet Nam era. At the end of my three years I mustered out Sgt, E-5. a rank I held for 18 months. I will say that after basic, I found a satisfactory gay life. I have yet to meet a radical leftist who actively served or who has anything positive to say about the military.
As for Obama, he must have learned something on his visit to the Pentagon.
Comment by Roberto — February 2, 2009 @ 12:39 pm - February 2, 2009
Heliotrope, you REALLY should have a blog. You crack me up daily.
Comment by American Elephant — February 2, 2009 @ 1:30 pm - February 2, 2009
Please, what other serious names can you come up with which would signal respectful dialogue and adult discourse?
Yes. Give us a moment to dredge up the hundreds of oh-so-clever vitriol you guys dumped on us for years, “tools” being perhaps the kindest cut of all…
Give us a break, jimmy, the Left only wants a “respectful dialogue and adult discourse” when it’s on their terms. Most of the time they are truly some of the worst SOBs one will ever come across.
Comment by John — February 2, 2009 @ 6:05 pm - February 2, 2009
I’m all for protecting Americans first and not terrorists. However, I keep wondering when you armchair “patriots†are going to volunteer for military service…
I already did, Kevy. Have you? After all, this is now Obama’s War…
Comment by John — February 2, 2009 @ 6:07 pm - February 2, 2009
I will wait and see what happens instead of trusting preemptive spin
So…I guess all that talk about shredding the Constitution was just bullshit now that your man has given it the okay? Yeah I thought so, Hypocrite.
Comment by John — February 2, 2009 @ 6:09 pm - February 2, 2009
I have yet to meet a radical leftist who actively served or who has anything positive to say about the military.
Come to think of it, that’s my experience as well. I’ve met gays, of course, who have served and are liberals but are not what I’d classify as being “radical leftists”. Those folks seem to avoid the military like the plague…
Comment by John — February 2, 2009 @ 6:13 pm - February 2, 2009
Kevin (#9) — Since President Obama has publicly asked for more troops to go to his war in Afghanistan, I suppose that means unless YOU sign up — you oppose the war?
I’m using your logic for the past 3 years, my friend.
Comment by GayPatriot — February 2, 2009 @ 6:19 pm - February 2, 2009
Boy we are hard on the lefties in here. We do blow them out of the water, but I gotta tell you I hope they stay and argue. It is a pleasure to spar with them and try to educate them. Though it does seem hopeless, it gives me insight into how they think. Plus it spurs me on to try to upgrade our public education system before it is too late.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 2, 2009 @ 6:46 pm - February 2, 2009
Gene in Pennsylvania
There is nothing you can teach the radical left. They know it all. Their minds are made up. I gave up a long time ago. All they want to do is engage in a pissing match.
Comment by Roberto — February 2, 2009 @ 8:39 pm - February 2, 2009
#26 and #27. Ad hominems save you the time of having to deal with facts and evidence and arguments, eh? Another adult on these issues, showing how infantile this “blog” is when it comes to, well, anything. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_02/016703.php This “blog” don’t know shit.
Comment by jimmy — February 3, 2009 @ 2:57 am - February 3, 2009
#40, and jimmy resorts to ad hominims….
Comment by The Livewire — February 3, 2009 @ 7:16 am - February 3, 2009
And links to an article that’s a copy of the first article. Amazing.
Comment by The Livewire — February 3, 2009 @ 7:20 am - February 3, 2009
jimmy proclaims
and then forgets to explain why he keeps showing up. Perhaps talking up to us is beneficial to his constricted view of the world.
Comment by heliotrope — February 3, 2009 @ 7:51 pm - February 3, 2009
It’s always a pleasure to drop by here and read the invective. The LA Times completely screwed up the facts, failing to distinguish between rendition and extraordinary rendition. The latter is ending. The former, which has been around for some time, is not ending.
There is nothing complicated about this. The LAT screwed up. Why does citing this produce such a wave of insults?
Comment by Mikado — February 3, 2009 @ 11:50 pm - February 3, 2009
#39 – Roberto, that explains why Her Speakerness can’t even get her numbers straight regarding monthly job losses. And if you try to correct her (the way Chris Wallace did previously), you still get a snarl.
Libtards think they know it all – which really hacks off those of us who really do.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — February 4, 2009 @ 11:16 am - February 4, 2009