Either way, what we should all be cognizant of facts on the ground…and be willing to say that anyone, from any political party should be held accountable…we need to take the politics out of this as much as possible (at least in public) or the backlash may have unintended consequences. I am pretty sure that the current Administration can weather the political storm, but when the DOJ announces a SP, we should all respond as politely as possible.
There is sufficient hate on the blogs without us adding fuel to the bonfire that already exists.
As a member of the AARP website, I see bloggers that attempt to ridicule and demean President Obama every day with irrational charges. If the web fills with political instead of legal issues with the SP review, I do fear that some of those individuals will explode.

The attorney general would prefer to keep such an inquiry narrowly focused and assign it to a line prosecutor, if possible, rather than appoint a special prosecutor, the person said.

If that is the case, then this is all just kabuki. Holder gets to try to paint himself as brave and independent and it’ll just be window dressing.

You either INVESTIGATE or you cover up. Here’s one specific thing only you can look into kinda sorta but not if it takes you elsewhere and only under in house rules and regs with no reports to Congress isn’t even a joke, for all the invented press and “republican reaction” and “blue dog concerns” it will generate. That kind of an investigation is just involving the Dept in more cover up and more politics. Anyone who would take it on under those terms would be an idiot or a tool.

The regulations require a “specific factual statement” concerning the matter to be investigated,

is, IMO, going to be a disaster.

I don’t think Holder can do what has to be done without some thoughtful rewrite of regs and also without including as a centerpiece something that will make the mandate internally “self-expanding.” I think you have to incorporate an investigation/mandate that focuses on Executive Branch interaction and compliance with Congress and the Courts vis a vis GWOT programs under regulatory, statutory, published EO, and Constitutional requirements. They (investigators) need that kind of approach, that will allow for all the sideroads and byways that let them easily range from PRA to War Crimes Act to Nat Sec Act to Rules of Evidence to Obstruction to conspiracy to commit obstruction etc. so they can build the boxes they will need. And the regs are going to need to provide for corresponding reports to Congress and/or courts and I think this approach, investigating the interractions, opens a perfect avenue for that – with reports summarizing the kinds of findings that would be helpful to Congress and the courts in evaluating existing rules of conduct, evidence and statutory obligations on the Executive (including all components ). They really need to push, also, for a separate military investigation of MI bc a good military investigator is going to be able to handle that, imo, for reasons I won’t go into here & now, better.

To use an example from the Fitzgerald investigation, I’ll put out an analogy I know EW doesn’t completely agree with. But here is it is – IMO, if Fitzgerald had an only slightly broader mandate, he could have used the Cheney admissions on planting the NIE information covertly with the domestic press to fashion charges and put on pressure on the CIA agent outing. I tend to agree with EW that the NIE leak was a cover for more going on with the covert agent identity leak, but I also think that more than that, the NIE “leak,”(i.e., plant in domestic press to affect domestic politics) free standing, was a crime under the NSA. That is how you make the boxes – by having the ability to go into the “crimes” that they use to cover up other crimes. When you can “only” go after crimes directly related to a specific factual circumstance (as Fitzgerald’s mandate was limited to the Plame identity leak matter on which Ashcroft had recused himself) you end up with trying to make a box with just one side and no top or bottom. You cant catch what you need that way and you lose all leverage.

fwiw.

My impression of EW: She’s like a cat. Ready to pounce – just as soon as an issue she’s following appears on the radar screen. Then she’s completely focused, intently and relentlessly stalking her prey.

Here is Wright State University’s Press Release of his appointment. Notice there is no mention of his book “Fixing Hell: An Army Psychologist Confronts Abu Ghraib,’’ (which begins with fictional premise).

March 13, 2008
Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology Names New Dean
Col. Larry C. James, Ph.D., has been named dean of Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology effective August 1, 2008. He is replacing the current dean, John Rudisill, Ph.D., who retired at the end February after serving six years as dean.

Currently, James is chair of the Department of Psychology at the Tripler Army Medical Center, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he coordinates the activities of the psychology department. As the chief psychologist and senior mental health consultant at Tripler, he also coordinates the development of behavioral health services in primary care and is responsible for training and overseeing psychological services to the Army’s entire Pacific Rim operations. He is also Co-PI for a $850,000 Native Hawaiian Training Project grant.

Board certified and a diplomate in clinical psychology and health psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, James focuses his research on integrating clinical psychology into primary care and medical settings.

His commitment to training and recruiting minorities into the profession prompted the Association of Psychology Post-Doctoral and Internship Center to present him with an Award for Excellence in Diversity Training. He also received a presidential citation from the American Psychological Association for distinguished service to the field of military psychology and the global war on terrorism.

“Dr. James brings his extensive experience as an administrator, teacher, researcher and clinical practitioner,” said WSU provost, Steven Angle. “His record shows a strong commitment to diversity training and the development of innovative diversity training models. As dean, he will provide solid leadership in carrying out the school’s commitment to training practicing clinical psychologists for diverse community settings.”

Prior to serving as chair at Tripler, James was chair of the Department of Psychology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As the chief psychologist, he was responsible for credentialing, supervising, and setting standards for practice for over 100 psychologists in the North Atlantic Region.

It was in this position that he was called upon to provide his expertise and leadership skills to the Pentagon’s September 11th emergency response team.

James has co authored four books, his latest being Diversity and Human Interaction: the Tapestry of America and The Primary Care Consultant. He has been a contributing author to several scholarly works, including writing “Telehealth Applications to Expand Health Psychology Services in Primary Care” for the book The Primary Care Consultant: The Next Frontier for Psychologists in Hospitals and Clinics.

He has authored over 100 scholarly works including peer reviewed papers, abstracts, posters and presentations at national conferences.

Currently, James is president of the American Board of Health Psychology, and is a member of the Presidential Task Force on Military Services, the Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security and the Office of the Army Surgeon General Task Force on Interrogations.

James is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Health Psychology and the American Academy of Clinical Psychology. He earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology form the University of Iowa.

I received good advice on this site about how to register my disapproval but my artist’s voice was for naught