New Job for New People = New Problem

The White House has decided that the best thing for the security of our nation is to pull the CIA’s authority to interrogate prisoners captured in combat as well as threats against America. This new route in how we handle terrorists shows a dramatic shift in policy among circles in the government we will be handing authority form a government agency with a history and a past track record in dealing with these situations over to a political and beaureucratic unit housed within the FBI that must follow protocol sent from the White House covered with oversight from the National Security Council. Many critics of this plan as well as former Justice Department officials say that this shift moves us back into a pre 9-11 role of handling these situations. With a multi agency collaborative interrogation group being dubbed the HIG it is easy to wonder if anything will get done with this oversight. The possibility is there for the government to meddle in these interrogations which could possibly hinder a successful operation. This happened once before during the Vietnam War with LBJ calling in to on ground battlefield commanders.
With President Obama’s approval rating at 51.8% and congressional approval rating barely clinging to 30.4% there is a key word for this situation. As many news reporters, government officials, and lobby groups throw around, the word is not torture, nor security, not even defense. They key word in a situation like this is results. The President and his cabinet are seriously looking for a win, especially since the continual decline of the economy coupled with staunch hostility for the health reform plan. Everyone is wondering if this new group will produce results. In the short term, no, it will not. Insiders know that collaboration between various government agencies is not smooth sailing to say the least. Especially here with a rookie handpicked team that will have to develop a practical base for this to even work. In the long run, it may produce results. But in this long term view the question lies, will this appease the “Change Hungry” American public. With 36.8% of the population believing this country is heading in the right direction can this new tactic work? Or are we allowing Capitol Hill and the White House to make tactical decisions behind maple desks in the comfort of their own chairs? Or should we allow those who already those who already have their hands dirty and have worked in this environment to continue doing their job? Grant it, the system we have for prisoner interrogation is not perfect but then can it ever be? With all the black marks against the CIA with prisoner abuse and torture they still have produced results. Do we want the problem solved or do we want to just sweep it under the rug solely because of faults and mistakes made in the past. World War II was not won on Capitol Hill, It was won on the beaches of France, in the air above England and upon the seas of Japan as well as through the countless efforts of the OSS and MI-6, under the cover of darkness in back alleys and basements doing what was necessary to get the job done.
We are faced with a new enemy now and we need to re-establish a new game plan to solve these threats and deal with the interrogation of prisoners. We must trust our leaders to make the best decision that ensure our safety.
And that’s how the cookie crumbles…