Review of CIA Interrogation Programs

The Senate Intelligence Committee is preparing a review of the CIA's controversial interrogation programs under the Bush White House. There was a great deal of controversy on the interrogation practices when George W. Bush was in office, so now they are being looked into by the Senate. At first, I must admit that I did not see the value of the review. In the beginning of the article it does not provide exactly what they hoped to get out of completing the review. It reads, "The intention is not to find evil-doers or lawbreakers," according to the aide, but "the information will go where it goes." This is not very specific at all and leaves a great deal to the imagination. I thought that the article was very vague at the purpose of the review initially, but I now understand what exactly they hope to attain.
Evidently the committee will take a look at how the agency carried out interrogation tactics and decide if useful knowledge or information was attained from it. They say the review could be announced as early as Friday. In January President Obama issued an executive order that the CIA programs be reviewed to see if anything should be kept and used by his administration. I feel that this is a good idea. While he did call for change, there may be some good things that former President Bush used that might work for his administration as well. This is a very wise move on the part of the Obama team. The "enhanced interrogation techniques" included water boarding, a method that simulates drowning and is considered torture by the new administration and around the world. Obama has been very outspoken about his determination to ensure that the United States does not use torturous practices such as water boarding. I have heard him talk about this time and time again, so it is obviously something he is passionate about.
They will also look into the detention centers and secret prisons that were supposedly used in the past. CIA Chief Leon Panetta said he would cooperate with any congressional reviews or inquiries. "If those committees are seeking information in these areas, we'll cooperate with them," Panetta said Wednesday. "I think that we have a responsibility to be transparent on these issues and to provide them that information." I think this is the best way to go about things because a house divided will surely fall. If we are to be a great nation that we claim to be, we must work together and be transparent with one another; besides, the government should not hide any secrets from itself or the people.
It is in the best interests of all parties involved if the CIA complies with all reviews and investigations of the tactics used in Bush’s administration. They are saying that the review could take up to a year to complete. I hope and pray that some good comes out of this review so that we can move on to new heights as a nation.