Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) speaks during a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill May 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. The hearing was to examine the Homeland Security Department's FY2010 budget request. By Alex Wong/Getty Images.
David Ignatius describes the president's about-face on torture photos as a "Sister Souljah" moment. The MSM cannot see the question of torture and violation of the Geneva Conventions as a matter of right and wrong, of law and lawlessness. They see it as a matter of right and left. And so an attempt to hold Bush administration officials accountable for the war crimes they proudly admit to committing is "left-wing." And those of us who actually want to uphold the rule of law … are now the equivalent of rappers urging the murder of white people. And the authorization of torture is reduced, in David's words, to "controversial Bush-era issues such as interrogation."
There is truth and power. In this town, you know what side the MSM is on. Just keep on walking. And let's have no more curiosity about this bizarre cover-up …
Zachary Roth has a very helpful round-up of today's developments at TPM. Zelikow's memo resisting the torture regime has been located. Then this:
How many lives have been lost because of Cheney's insistence on torture?
Here's how he has defended the decision not to release the photos of prisoner abuse:
"I want to emphasize that these photos that were requested in this case are not particularly sensational, especially when compared to the images we remember from Abu Ghraib," the president said on the South Lawn of the White House. "But they do represent conduct that didn't conform with the Army manual."
Obama said the publication of the photos would not add any additional benefit to investigations being carried out into detainee abuse — and could put future inquires at risk.
"In fact, the most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would further flame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger. … I fear the publication of these photos may only have a chilling effect on future investigations of detainee abuse."
Let's unpack this. It's understandable that releasing new evidence of the widespread torture and abuse policy of Bush and Cheney, including techniques that were tailored specifically against Muslims, could inflame the populations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the two newest military theaters for the US. On the brink of what may be a brutal summer in all theaters in a war whose purpose is now opaque, one can understand the caution, and there is no reason to doubt the genuine worries of commanders in the field. But it is important to remember that it is the abuse that inflames, not the accounting of the abuse. And for Obama 
to act as an extension of the Bush era of secrecy is potentially more damaging to the US and its interests and servicemembers. He risks looking like Bush's continuation, not a clear caesura. That does not help the war, although the loathing of America in Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan is so intense it is hard to see how anything could make it worse.
As to the "chilling effect" on future investigations, I confess to being stumped. Why would release of suppressed evidence further proving that Abu Ghraib was Bush-Cheney policy "chill" future investigation? Since when does evidence of crimes make future prosecution of them harder? It seems to me a fair point that these images add more heat than light. But that is an argument for a thorough and independent Truth Commission to sift all this evidence with responsibility and in context. If that were the decision, if Obama was telling us that he will release this evidence later, in a calmer, clearer context, then I think he can make a case. Right now, it seems pretty clear that the military knows that Afghanistan is going under, Pakistan is on the brink, Iraq looks fine but probably will fall apart if we withdraw, and they sure as hell don't need more grief or demoralization right now.
I understand that. But it's a reason to postpone, not conceal, to investigate more thoroughly, not to suppress. That's what matters. This is not in the past. We have one major political party and an important faction in American politics and a former vice-president openly defending and championing torture as a critical weapon, refusing to hold anyone accountable even morally, let alone legally, and threatening to impose a torture regime if they ever get their hands on power again.
You cannot show weakness in the face of this shamelessness. Maybe it's a long game and accountability is a dish best served cold and late. But what if there's always a reason in an endless war of occupation of multiple countries not to serve it at all?
Joe Weisenthal names economists jumping on the 'green shoots' bandwagon:
Barry Ritholtz downplays Greenspan's housing bottom call and Roubini's team gauges where we stand globally:
Many commentators are suggesting that the recent data from the manufacturing, housing market, labor markets suggest that the ‘green shoots’ of an economic recovery are blossoming. While there do seem to be some signs of improvement, ie that the pace of contraction has slowed, the most recent data may still suggest that the global economic contraction is still in full swing with a very severe, a deep and protracted U-shaped recession.
A.L. takes aim at Rove and Andy McCarthy:
To say that none of this makes any sense is an extreme understatement.
A reader writes:
I work for a university in the online learning department and there is a wall coming down in my office today. We moved once 2 years ago to accommodate our size, and today there is a wall coming down so that we can continue to grow (the store next door went out of business). We are hiring staff and making money. In every meeting I attend, there is talk of change and growth and how we can be better. There is no mention of cutting costs or downsizing or layoffs. It certainly looks like adult learners are choosing online to finish their degrees.
My husband works at a public school in special education, and his school is receiving stimulus money next year that will give him the help he has needed to help more students. We are in our late 20s; we bought a house last summer, adopted a dog, and are enjoying our little life in our little town. Everywhere I look, my life is unaffected by the recession. Truthfully, if I did not watch the news or read your blog every day, I would not believe that there is a serious economic crisis going on.
The way that it has affected me is entirely emotional. I have always been an extreme optimist, but this has shaken me. Even though my job is secure, I worry every day of losing it. Even though my husband and I can afford our home and have money in savings, I’m scared of losing it all. I keep waiting for that “big event” that will make us one of the many who have lost their jobs or their homes or their savings. I don't like spending money on anything non-essential and feel guilty when I do. I just don’t trust this ease that is around me. There is fear in the air and it’s contagious. Even in my office, where things keep feeling better instead of worse, there is still a dose of worry. I hear, “Well, I think my job is secure” a lot, and I think that is the biggest impact of this recession. We don’t know anything anymore. We don't feel safe anymore.
A reader writes:
I was a tepid Clinton supporter in the primaries last year and an enthusiastic Obama supporter in the general. I knocked on doors. I wore an Obama t-shirt. I teared up when he won. But now I kind of wish Clinton had gotten the nomination. Not because it wouldn’t be more politics as usual – it would – but because at least then we’d all expect it.
My job is to tell it like it is and push for change, not make excuses. Yes, it’s too early to write Obama off. A real judgment will be possible as his first term comes to an end. He deserves some lee-way. But he needs to know that we are not eager to acquiesce in our own civil inferiority. We have some self-respect.
Hilzoy is unfazed:
types of treatment would be available to whom and when."
Megan is for comparative effectiveness research, with a caveat.
A reader writes:
The Dish 