President-elect Barak Obama made a heartening promise today on the occasion of the nomination of his choices for CIA Director and National Intelligence Director. MSNBC has the AP story:
WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama said Friday his administration would not compromise its ideals to fight terrorism, adding at a press conference to announce his CIA and national intelligence nominees that he has told them to honor the Geneva Conventions.
“I was clear throughout this campaign and was clear throughout this transition that under my administration the United States does not torture,” Obama said, when asked at the news conference whether he would continue the Bush administration’s policy of harsh interrogation. “We will abide by the Geneva Conventions. We will uphold our highest ideals.”
Obama announced his choice for CIA director, former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta, and director of national intelligence, retired Adm. Dennis Blair.
Obama has criticized interrogation practices he says amount to torture and also has promised to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The president-elect, who takes office Jan. 20, said he has given the men the clear charge to restore the United States’ record on human rights.
“We must adhere to our values as diligently as we protect our safety with no exceptions,” Obama said.
During the presidential campaign, Obama ha rshly criticized the Bush administration’s policy on interrogation practices.
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