Everyone already knows about revelations that the CIA had destroyed footage of its "interrogation techniques" used on detainees - which makes it even more obvious that they had something to hide. And that something was most likely torture. And that apparently many Democratic leaders actually knew about it.
John Edwards was asked about his response to this and since it hasn't gotten much notice, thought I would pass it on. The gist is we can't trust Bush's DOJ to investigate this - we need an independent investigation with the ability to prosecute.
Read on for more details.
Prior to Thursdays's debate, Edwards spoke some with Radio Iowa on a number of issues, including the desturction of the CIA tapes:
Edwards, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and was a member of the Senate's Intelligence Committee for four years, says there should be an investigation of the C.I.A.'s decision to destroy two tapes of interrogations of terror suspects. "People need to get to the bottom of this and be held accountable," Edwards says.
That means an independent investigation of the matter, according to Edwards. "I'm completely supportive of an independent prosecutor," Edwards says. "I think that having somebody who is not from the (Bush) administration is the best way to get to the bottom of this." The C.I.A interrogations took place in 2002 and agency officials say they notified congressional leaders in 2003 that they intended to destroy the videotapes.
I completely agree. Edwards was asked to lead the fight against the bogus Clinton impeachment while he was in Senate. If anything merits needing a special prosecutor, the Bush administration encouraging and practicing torture in violation of US and international law certainly does.
And Edwards noted, as he has noted often, how unfathomable it is that any candidate for president should even have to deride the use of torture by the American government:
"The very idea that we're having a debate about torture in America is offensive in and of itself because America should not tolerate any form of torture and that's something I intend to do something about as president of the United States," Edwards says, "and the fact that these tapes have been destroyed just feeds the idea that there are things being done that have to be hidden."
Edwards also made similar comments on MSNBC's Morning Joe where he made it clear that the Department of Justice, which has been turned into a political arm of the Bush administration, instead of a caretaker of the constitution (my words, not John's) just won't do. Its more than just the tapes, and the wrong thinking they represent, but about restoring our government. The comments on the tapes are about 2:40 into the video after a good question from Mika:
Also some other great questions from Joe and Mika, real questions, on the state of the campaign and the issues. They recognized the serious momentum winning the recent debate has given him. In particular I liked his answers related to some of the recent "silliness" between the Clinton and Obama campaigns. More importantly very good questions and answers on Iraq and Iran. Edwards also mentions briefly his plan, widely praised by international counter-terrorism experts, to create a new mulitlateral organization to "beyond the failed "war on terror" approach".
No transcript up yet that I could find, but if you aren't able to see the video, there is an earlier December 4th interview up that is very in-depth (partial transcript only.
I also thought I would share the Edwards campaign's latest video in Iowa, capitalizing on his recent debate victory:
As he notes about corporate and big money interests in Washington, "they aren't going to just give their power away". Edwards has fought them all his life, and if anyone knows that and can beat them, its him. Here's the full text:
This isn't about petty politics or good intentions.
Corporate greed and influence in Washington are stealing our children's future.
The moral test of our generation is whether we're going to allow this broken system to go on without a fight or take on corporate greed and stand up for the middle class and American jobs before it's too late.
They aren't going to just give their power away.
Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that's a fight I was born for.
I'm John Edwards, and I approved this message.
Perhaps this is one reason why Republicans fear his candidacy more than anyone else?
When MSNBC host Tim Russert asked Feehery to assess the Democratic race for President, Feehery probably surprised many viewers by saying, "I think we (Republicans) would be very comfortable with either Hillary or Obama (as the Democratic Presidential nominee)."
"I think the one that scares me the most is Edwards," Feehery said. Continuing Feehery said, "Edwards is the one that scares me the most--and that’s because he's a Southern Democrat and Southern Democrats are the ones that usually win."
The video is here:
If you are still undecided and looking for a candidate who will fight for you and for all of America, who won't back down, who is ready to lead and restore our constitution and American's social and political contract with its people, take another look at John Edwards.