Obama Releases Torture Docs

The day started as one of hope for the anti-Bush, Anti-war lefties who consider us as torturers on a par with Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Sudan:

UPDATE: Here’s a link to the memos (the Times also has them) with three cheers for the FOIA petition from the ACLU. …and on quick inspection of the documents, the redaction rumors are correct, with Obama deserving a lot of credit for allowing the bulk of the information into the light. I said earlier that the burden of proof was on Obama if he decided not to release the OLC memos. Now that he has, with few redactions, credit goes to President Obama. This is definitely change we can believe in.

Congress, you’re up.

However, they quickly became disillusioned when The One said he wouldn't prosecute those who performed the "torture":

This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions that these issues evoke. We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past. Our national greatness is embedded in America’s ability to right its course in concert with our core values, and to move forward with confidence. That is why we must resist the forces that divide us, and instead come together on behalf of our common future.

Alas for our left-wing friends, they will not see the objects of their scorn strung up because Obama--at least in prosecuting the War on Terror--knows full-well that he may be required to take steps that would have him answering to Congress in 2013 about the tactics he approved. He's now understanding that Bush took actions he deemed appropriate with arch terrorist Zubaydah who probably disclosed important info that we'll never hear about--info that may have saved lives. It seems Obama is realizing that repelling America's enemies and gaining intel is not like reading from a teleprompter in front of 10,000 Obamatons in Sioux City Sioux Falls.

And what of the allegations the alleged torture has been worse and more frequent since Obama took office? Water boarding versus hands-on physical abuse is more disconcerting, don't you think? Of course the source is al-Jazeerah but liberals always took their word when they complained while Bush was in office so I guess they are a legitimate source in their eyes.

Besides, he has been pretty zealous in going beyond the laws on wiretapping so why should BHO supporters be surprised?

Update: B & R had the same thoughts as I did before I did.