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Biden Not Ruling Out Prosecuting Bush Officials For Prisoner Abuse
December 21, 2008 9:19 AM
The Senate Armed Services Committee last week released a unanimous report that said that the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, at Guantanamo, at prisons around the world, is a direct and indirect result of decisions made by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other high-level Bush administration officials.
So I asked the future vice president: Should they be prosecuted for that?
"That's a judgment, remember, four years ago on your program I made, so I haven't changed my mind. And this confirms," Biden told me.
"But the questions of whether or not a criminal act has been committed or a very, very, very bad judgment has been engaged in is -- is something the Justice Department decides.Barack Obama and I are -- President-elect Obama and I are not sitting thinking about the past. We're focusing on the future," he said.
Biden argued it's up to the Justice Department, under Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, to determine whether the case should be reviewed.
"I'm not ruling it in and not ruling it out. I just think we should look forward. I think we should be looking forward, not backwards," Biden said.
--George Stephanopoulos
December 21, 2008 in This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (54)
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Our poliitical system is in "real trouble"
Biden said this morning on your news show that "the Democrats are inheriting the largest deficits in history." Just how much of the deficit was already in place when Clinton left office. It ain't all a Republican Problem.
We didn't elect Biden to become the candidate of choice for the Democratic Party. Just what is he doing now as Vice President. What a joke.
How long do you think it's going to take
before the Government starts announcing
they are "nationalizing ownership" of
everything. They've already started with the banks, brokerage firms and auto industry. What next.
God Forbid; but, with the incomming Democratic Politicians replacing the current politicians in office, that's what I expect to happen.
Posted by: bill bonner | Dec 21, 2008 10:15:39 AM
A criminal act vs. very, very, very bad judgement sounds existentialist. An act is either criminal or not.
Posted by: kat | Dec 21, 2008 10:42:07 AM
hmmmmmmmm, BHO is not in office yet. I believe it is shrub-a-dub who has 'nationalized ownership of everything.' just have to ask: Do you honestly approve of what his ghastly administration has done? I find that so hard to understand - it just takes my breath away that anyone could be happy with what has been done by bushco.
Posted by: Mary | Dec 21, 2008 10:42:34 AM
Mary:
No one approves what was wrongly done.
What we do not approve is looking backwards instead of forwards.
Even a child who is practicing to
make one step after the other, instead he drops that stage and starts crawling again, that baby will never run or will take unusual time to do so!
Posted by: Rita | Dec 21, 2008 11:19:07 AM
Does this c*ck sucking Barney Frank ever get anything accomplished OR take the blame for anything? Now I see why there are so many angry fags prancing around in the streets - look at their slobbering hero!
Posted by: Marcus | Dec 21, 2008 11:23:39 AM
biden is a simpleton, he is old, and senile and he cannot articulate a coherent sentence.
omg and he is only a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Posted by: stella | Dec 21, 2008 12:07:53 PM
come on, barry wouldn't prosecute bush for beating his wife on the white house lawn.
The man( either one) has no balls, no morals, and is only interested in fame weath and power.
Posted by: Tra la la | Dec 21, 2008 12:07:55 PM
Biden is correct. How can charges be considered or not until all facts are known. Fortunately military individuals have an obligation to answer all questions asked of them by a superior. If evidence comes to the President through a chain of command that there was criminal activity via the Cabinet, then he should turn it over to the Attorney General. If it stopped at the level of the military then he should have the Defense Secretary investigate.
Posted by: Arnie | Dec 21, 2008 12:08:21 PM
He and his treasury sec.she be tied to a tree and beaten I just read the bank big wigs got billions and the Sec wants to give out the rest TAKE this money away from him.....Honest to God what to hell does he think he is doing....Not helping the little guy.
Posted by: NH voter | Dec 21, 2008 1:19:29 PM
All of our financial troubles can be traced to the democrats. BARNEY FRANK SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AND PUT IN PRISON,for the YEARS of giving out unqualified mortgages. We lost so much in our hard earned retirement stock account. McCain was going to investigate him and now we got this lib in their who will do nothing. Very very sad............
Posted by: Anna | Dec 21, 2008 2:51:34 PM
We should prosecute Biden for being Stupid.
During about the 5th or 6th dem. primary debate he said, in Absolute Definitive terms that Iran doesn’t have a Nuclear Weapon (if not an absolute quote then very close, --which also implies they are not close, or even more so that we don’t need to worry about it). He was rather Absolute & I wondered if he would get more questions, from the moderators, to back up his strong statement. The moderators let it slide (did they just figure it was another one of his Gaffs - or were they just favoring the democrats as they so often do).
BIDEN'S 'METAMUCCIL-INDUCED' "MOUTH".
Posted by: I Can Hear Biden From My House | Dec 21, 2008 3:05:25 PM
Bush & Cheney saw a Modern Day Hitler for what he was and they preempted him. Should Hitler have been preempted!!
When I was growing up (in the 60's) I heard that all the time. The world has seen a world class tyrant and never again should we let it happen.
Apparently that has been forgotten over the years as new generations came along and were indoctrinated by the Liberal Press. The WWII lesson has been totally forgotten by most. Thankfully not Bush & Cheney, they were old enough & experienced enough to not be SO Clueless.
Posted by: I hear Biden Talking Again | Dec 21, 2008 3:11:21 PM
Republican's complaining about Barney Frank is like a cancer victim complaining about a pimple. George Bush is the President that has presided over this mess and he gets the blame, Repubs can squirm and moan about this person or that, talk about how it is Obama's fault (already), but all they are doing is hurting their own credibility. It didn't work during the campaign and it really won't wash now.
On the subject of whether Bush should be prosecuted, the answer is he probably should be, but probably won't. Obama will do what is needed for the country first and not be distracted. Doing what is right for the country is a sport Bush never played, and we all know it.
Posted by: Rich | Dec 21, 2008 3:19:41 PM
Obama, Biden, a democratic controlled congress and senate should make for the all time worst administration we have ever seen! and you thought Jimmy Carter was bad, just wait! Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Posted by: BB | Dec 21, 2008 4:22:05 PM
Blame the American people for being so heartless,greedy, stupid and uncouth about everything that is happening here in America!!!!
It's not the Republican, Independent or Democrat fault!!! It is EVERYONE FAULT and until we come together as a NATION, then we can not expect any hope for change in this country!!!!
ENOUGH!!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | Dec 21, 2008 4:44:20 PM
Nice try "BB",but I think the "ONE" has already filled the "Custodian position ?
Posted by: Doug Russell | Dec 21, 2008 5:22:47 PM
Welcome back Carter/ Obama/ Biden.
You all voted for the liberals, so now live with them.
I didn't vote for such idiots.
Forest was right, You can't fix stupid, so we got dumb and dumber in charge on 20 January 09.
Now put your head between your legs and kiss your bottom end good bye because you won't have two nickels to rub together when Biden, Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Barney get done. OH I forgot Charlie .
Posted by: W. Orrin Eldred | Dec 21, 2008 5:26:23 PM
Rich, You are magnificently too DUMB to talk to. All our recent financial crisises can be traced to the democrats starting with crazy Jimmy Carter, unto Billy Boy. I have NEVER seen people truly dumber than democrats. they refuse to be "good". I personally think they dem leaders do not like this country. I so wish they would leave.
Posted by: Anna | Dec 21, 2008 5:43:12 PM
I second the comment about it not being a republican, democrat, or independent issue, we had better all smarten the f.. up. If these monkeys get away what they have done--so be it. But we must vow to never be so stupid again--in who we place in that office.
Posted by: jrc903 | Dec 21, 2008 5:43:55 PM
Screw Bush and Cheney and their whole administration against the wall like they did to the America people. They deserve nothing less.
Posted by: Gig51 | Dec 21, 2008 5:55:02 PM
Biden is a dufus. He proves it when he speaks.
Elections have consequences and Americans are about to learn that.
Posted by: Jack | Dec 21, 2008 6:19:43 PM
Would someone at ABC News please remind Mr. Stephanopoulos that he is only the interviewer and his job is to ask questions, not to argue with his guests' answers. This morning's interview with Senator Biden bordered on disrespect to the Senator. Mr.Stephanopoulos should be told not to interrupt his quests trying to answer his questions. Regards.
Posted by: D.G.Murphy | Dec 21, 2008 7:14:54 PM
Just reading the above comments shows that all Republicans can spout is vitriol.
They have been in charge for the last eight years and got us into the mess we are in - a trillion dollar deficit, stock market crash, major job losses, and an unnecessary war. Bush and friends have lost our standing in the world, created a terrorist hotbed, and bankrupted millions of people - But hey, they made their millions, and that's all that counts!
Posted by: Very Jane | Dec 21, 2008 7:19:12 PM
This is not a partisan witchhunt done for vengeance. This has been an assault on OUR (all of us) Constitution and without review and possible prosecution, this will set a precedent. When you set a precedent, you GUARANTEE it will happen again. This is not even questionable, as this is the most important problem our Nation faces. If Barack doesn't pursue this, he's basically aiding and abetting criminal behavior. Screeching for health care, gay rights, better wages or the economy before this is basically decorating a sinking ship. First things first or we will lose America for good. YOUR choice- get involved and DEMAND this!
Posted by: Titonwan | Dec 21, 2008 7:26:24 PM
We should prosecute Biden for government corruption. By failing to regulate Fannie, and Freddie and pressing lending institutions to make Ninja loans he and his cohoerts destroyed the housing and credit markets. Now they must apply Robbin Hood policy to clean up the mess they made. It won't do much good, as these are the same FDR policies that extended the depression by 7 years and market recovery by 21 years.
Posted by: Dave | Dec 21, 2008 7:43:12 PM
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