CIA Sellout

" And welcome to The Journal Editorial -- I'm Paul if you go attorney general Eric Holder named a special prosecutor this week to investigate allegations. Of CIA abuse against high level terror detainees. The appointment of federal prosecutor John Durham came the same day. As the release of a 2004 internal CIA report detailing that agency's interrogation program. So just what he is in that once classified report and could holder be starting a political war that President Obama. Will live to regret joining the panel this week Wall Street Journal columnist and deputy editor Bret Stephens. Columnist Mary Anastasia O'Grady Washington columnist Kim's Russell and -- And Brian Carney who joins us from London as the editorial page editor of The Wall Street Journal Europe all right -- You've read these documents what's that. Lesson you'd take away from it."

" Of the -- jumped all over this I think was some prodding from the administration suggesting that this is yet more proof of abuse at that at the hands and unleashed CIA. When you read these things what actually jumps out at you is that. This part -- was actually carefully developed it was carefully controlled it was widely brief the congress and -- yielded. In valuable results."

" Well I mean that I think that's the but that's the key point lead -- there is the sort of obsessive focus with a handful of instances. Where. Investigators potentially win over the line although it's important to note. That when career Justice Department prosecutors looked at these. Cases for years ago. They ruled that they did not merit interest in this is an internal CIA report that has only been released now but we'll start begun in 2004. And was shared with congress shared with congress. And turned over to justice and career prosecutors did not prosecute except in one case of abuse where a detainee was killed. By being hit on the head apparently with a flashlight that detainee was and that -- was prosecuted for assault and -- I mean I think this and it's a key point to note that the people who looked into this for career prosecutors this wasn't. The Bush Administration or tap -- ruling against the the bureaucracy of the Justice Department. "

" You know all the other thing about this that jumps out besides the fact that the report says that Counterterrorism Center did a commendable job. In staying within the but the rule of law and interrogating these -- detainees is that the common. Interrogators. Reported that they were quite concerned that they were going to be at a later date. Prosecuted in some ways they suspected that the US government was not gonna stand behind them even though they were following the rules and that's precisely what's about to happen."

" Yeah they said at one of the -- was very telling us at ten years from now we will regret this but it must be. -- one of the other things it's really interesting here Brian is the results. That are were relayed about how the information -- be very useful information that they ended up expose including plots to. Attack the US consulate in Karachi hijacked aircraft and fly them to Heathrow. Into Heathrow -- track spikes to US trains had any of that and several others had any of those happened."

" Of course it would have meant -- death of innocent Americans. Right and and one of the the lines that we hear over and over again is that torture doesn't work torture is an effective now. Nothing detailed in this report -- X obviously except for that the one case that was prosecuted. Really looks like quote most people would think of us torture I think people get treated worse every day in and the police stations and major cities around America. But the fact is these enhanced interrogation techniques do -- do it saved American lives exposed. Plots that could have been extremely deadly and that probably would have led to. A lot worse things being done. Two to even the detainees that we have -- try to stop this -- this is that this is a critical point because a lot of the critics of of what happened would say that there's no evidence here that enhanced interrogations made the difference that the detainees would've that would've told us would've given this information. Anyway. Is there something in the report that shows in fact that the enhanced interrogation techniques made a difference. Well the report very clear that people like like. Kuwait's Sheikh Mohammed. -- were extremely resistant to questioning and gave up on reliable or very little information. Before the before the enhanced interrogation techniques were introduced I think there's no question. That they made a difference in the material that was produced here."

" All right Kim why would -- given all of this why would air colder. The attorney general would do this now because in the past he has said look we don't wanna go after. Low level CIA. Interrogators and the president himself has -- often I'll look forward not back and I know people in the White House there are people might as a thank you we really don't want to pick this political fight so what changed."

" I don't know what you change it mean -- to -- too yeah. Modes of thought here either Eric Holder seems to really be of the ideological bent that this is something that needs to go back despite the fact -- we've mentioned that. Former career every other career prosecutors said that there was nothing here either he's of the belief that that actually -- this sort of purist view. Or it could be that there is this is a political move by the White House to try to appease their left wing they've been unhappy by the fact that the administration has retained some bush -- counterterrorism policies. They're unhappy by the way health care is going right now the fact that the public option. May not make it into a final bill so this might have been sent out of them as a way to kind of pacify the troops but. If -- doesn't it doesn't really work they haven't been happy -- be actually got a lot of criticism from their left that they hadn't gone further and in the meanwhile what they've done it. Is really made Republicans even less likely want to work with them on some of the stuff from -- that is."

" Is it possible that an -- a prosecutor like this the administration intent would like just. You appease the left -- a prosecutor. But then he comes back and says look there's nothing to prosecute and it goes away yeah we have a thirty year for almost forty year history of special prosecutors who always turn out to be. Well -- up to surprise the administration's if that's if that's in fact. The of the strategy here seems to me the Obama administration strategies pure -- Yogi Berra. You get to the fork in the road you take it they're trying to appease they're left let left flank while while the president say. I want so we'll we'll look forward not."

" And there's that he has been in a lot of reports about how upset Leon Panetta is that CIA director -- she didn't wanna do this he's been you know he's been. Time and time again when he's had to face up what they're called Eric Holder has one."

" Yeah well again I mean I think Leon Panetta understands that you know we need some of these interrogation techniques if we're going to take on the Senate and I don't think he wants to be associated with -- With with a decision by -- by the president. That could have very long term costs in terms of the way we fight the war you know there's another thing going on here which is that the Democrats have always thought we should fight the war. As a on the sort of a law enforcement problem right and that's kind of the path that they're going down now we're gonna litigate. All of these problems rather than than than fight the war on terror how far we've come from posted 2011. -- all right when we come back."