President Obama's morally indefensible decision to block investigations and prosecutions of those in the American government who planned and carried out torture both at home and abroad is a clear and disgraceful obstruction of justice.  When Republicans obstruct justice, Democrats are quick to criticize and rightfully so.  But legitimate criticism of obstruction of justice is based on opposition to shielding criminal actions and illegality, not because a Republican did it.  There is no excuse for allowing barbaric criminal acts to go unpunished no matter who committed them.

Let's be clear.  The torture planned and carried out by the United States was illegal, aka a crime.  The investigation and potential prosecution of these crimes is a criminal and legal matter.  It is not a political matter and should not be treated as such.  The President makes a grave moral error by playing political games with such serious criminal activity.  War crimes are not political.  They shock the conscience of humanity because of their brutality and barbarism.  If these crimes are not heinous enough for the President to allow the law to be carried out and all the perpetrators from top to bottom made to answer for their crimes and complicity then what would it take for a crime to be heinous enough or so unspeakable that he would no longer be willing to obsruct justice in an effort to protect the criminals?

Prof. Jonathan Turley makes the case against Obama's obstruction very well on his blog:

"Former Bush officials, the Red Cross, the vast majority of legal experts, and numerous NGOs have confirmed these interrogations as premeditated torture. Obama and Holder have both declared waterboarding to be torture. The failure to simply appoint an independent investigator and allow the law to be enforced without concern for politics or passions. It is obvious that Obama does not want to allow an investigation that would likely lead to an indictment of Bush officials and probably Bush himself. If Obama wants to excuse war crimes, he can take the personal responsibility and pardon Bush and these officials -- tying his own legacy to the commission of torture. However, his blocking of an investigation is an international outrage and puts us into the same category as countries like Serbia. Obama has the authority to pardon crimes, not obstruct efforts to investigate crimes for political purposes. This may not be politically advantageous for Obama, but these treaties do not exist for his comfort or advantage. We made a pledge to the world that we would aggressively pursue any war criminals -- even if they happened to be made in the America."

President Obama garnered the support and votes of millions of people because he said he would be different.  He pointedly marketed himself as not being tainted by a lifetime in Washington.  Well some people are quick learners as it appears our President is when it comes to turning a blind eye to war crimes.  By failing to do his duty and by obstructing the legal process he is obligated to carry forward, the President disgraces not only himself, but all Americans.

Regardless of party, any President who knowingly and willingly obstructs investigation into crimes that he and everyone on earth knows have occured and which we are by our own laws and by international law are obligated to investigate, is committing a crime himself.  If we are a nation of laws and not of men then now is the time to prove it.  the President needs to change course on this matter, but if he doesn't we, as citizens need to do whatever we can to force him to do the right thing.  Those who do nothing contribute to this evil through our indifference.  No political rationale, no excuses, no fantasy about a secret strategy to do the right thing in the end excuses the President's or the Attorney General's immoral conduct as it relates to the war crimes we know were committed during the previous administration.

Remember, silence is consent.