Truth Commision Considered
Calls grow for Bush-era 'truth commission'
Debate is heating up in the United States on establishing a "truth commission" to investigate whether the Bush administration abused its legal powers under the guise of its "war on terror."
"Nothing has done more damage to America's place in the world than the revelation that this nation stretched the law and the bounds of executive power to authorize torture and cruel treatment," said Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He opened a hearing on Wednesday pressing for such an investigation saying it was badly needed as each week brought new revelations of alleged abuses under the administration of former US president George W. Bush.
On Monday, the administration of new President Barack Obama, published nine internal memos dating back to the Bush years.
They revealed how the former administration had given itself ample room to skirt the law on a number of controversial practices, such as the transfer of prisoners for secret interrogations or the power to wiretap phones without warrants.
Any eventual investigation could take various forms and be led either by the Congress, the criminal justice system or an independent commission.
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Debate is heating up in the United States on establishing a "truth commission" to investigate whether the Bush administration abused its legal powers under the guise of its "war on terror."
"Nothing has done more damage to America's place in the world than the revelation that this nation stretched the law and the bounds of executive power to authorize torture and cruel treatment," said Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He opened a hearing on Wednesday pressing for such an investigation saying it was badly needed as each week brought new revelations of alleged abuses under the administration of former US president George W. Bush.
On Monday, the administration of new President Barack Obama, published nine internal memos dating back to the Bush years.
They revealed how the former administration had given itself ample room to skirt the law on a number of controversial practices, such as the transfer of prisoners for secret interrogations or the power to wiretap phones without warrants.
Any eventual investigation could take various forms and be led either by the Congress, the criminal justice system or an independent commission.
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