President Bush, right, greets new Attorney General Michael Mukasey, center, at the conclusion of a ceremonial swearing-in, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007,at the Justice Department in Washington. Chief Justice John Roberts is at center. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)From an op ed piece in The New York Times by Nicholas deB. Katzenbach, U.S. attorney general from 1965 to 1966, and Frederick A. O. Schwarz Jr. senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.
RELEASE JUSTICE'S SECRETS
When the Justice Department, usually acting through its Office of Legal Counsel, issues legal opinions binding on the executive branch, there is never justification for keeping them secret. Opinions that narrowly define what constitutes torture; or open the door to sending prisoners for questioning to Egypt and Syria, which regularly use torture; or rule the president has some “inherent power” to ignore laws are all of concern to Congress and the public whether one agrees or disagrees with the legal analysis.
Yet all these opinions have been kept secret, along with many other, related post-9/11 opinions that purport to decide what America’s law is.
Secrecy always increases the risk of foolish mistakes. If the withheld opinions are sound, why fear letting them see the light of day? Is there ever a justification in a government of law for keeping what one believes to be the law secret?
Some may say releasing the opinions will lead to more embarrassment. To this, there are two answers. First, what is most important is that we get it right and remain true to our country’s values. Second, the best way to restore our reputation is to confront our mistakes openly and then resolve not to repeat them.
Foolish mistakes as subverting the values of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by targeting internet writers via criminal warrantless surveillance and law enforcement- particularly upon a time line suggesting the culprits as President George W. Bush and his masters at the Vatican.
U.S. National Capital Planning Commission's aborted South Capitol Mall
Washington Cardinal Archbishop Theodore Mc Carrick (2000-2006)
St. Vincent de Paul Church- the sole building along South Capitol Street saved by the South Capitol Mall's cancellation
Mark Tuohey of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, who sat on the Board of Trustees of Catholic University with McCarrick, and upon that of Gonzaga HS and Washington Jesuit Academy
The 2002 stadium study indicating St Vincent de Paul Church as the sole surviving building on the east side of this stretch of South Capitol Street
Major League Baseball: the entity that insisted upon cramming this stadium along South Capitol Street, by making the specific location a condition of allowing the establishment of the Washington Nationals franchise
2008 is the last year he can throw the 1st ball as U.S. President
More on this custom of the U.S. President throwing the 1st ball:http://www.whitehouse.gov/baseball/
"W" Stadium
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