Good for Them: Truth and Reconciliation

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 6:51 PM Share

I was surprised and impressed to see two centrist Washington bigwigs -- former diplomat Thomas Pickering and former FBI director William Sessions -- call for an independent commission to look into U.S. government policies on torture and detainees.

It is in the interest of our nation's security that President Obama should immediately appoint such a commission. To move ahead, make our country safer and strengthen the leadership position of the United States, we must have a full understanding of detainee policies and their consequences. Only then can we prevent any mistakes of the past from being repeated.

I am beginning to think this might just happen. And that would be a good thing indeed. We probably need one more round of revelations to push it over the top. Given the nature of things, I expect that murder will out. 

Photo: Flickr user CitizenSheep

EXPLORE:NORTH AMERICA, AFGHANISTAN, AL QAEDA, BUSH ADMINISTRATION, BUSH'S LEGACY, INTELLIGENCE, JUSTICE, LAW, MILITARY
 

BILL KELLER

7:02 PM ET

March 24, 2009

First we must be truthful about ourselves.....

If we don't I am afraid there is enough of this cancer still festering among the back benchers and supporting institutions to reappear in the not too distant future.

 

DATROY

6:05 AM ET

March 25, 2009

"Only then can we prevent any

"Only then can we prevent any mistakes of the past from being repeated."

Why should anyone agree to this when these guys have already decided the outcome?

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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