[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Obama 'fails' on human rights, torture, rendition, secrecy and surveillance (sez CCR)

[Patrick Bond]

Center for Constitutional Rights: As we reach the 100th day of President 
Obama's first term, it is time to examine and assess what progress has 
been made toward restoring the Constitution - and where the Obama 
administration has failed to protect civil liberties and other human 
rights. The Center for Constitutional Rights has released an analysis 
and report card on the first 100 days of the Obama administration and 
calls for action to make real change. [See  
http://ccrjustice.org/100daysassessment]

The first 100 days of the Obama administration presented a historic 
opportunity to restore the Constitution after the Bush administration's 
systematic attempts to dismantle it, right by right, while ignoring 
international human rights standards. As we measured the Obama 
presidency against our 100 Days campaign goals, we found that in many 
areas of critical importance, including human rights, torture, 
rendition, secrecy and surveillance, despite several strong steps, the 
Obama presidency has failed to live up to its promises.

How the Obama administration handles these critical questions is the key 
to the success or failure of this presidency - and the central question 
confronting President Obama today is that of accountability and 
prosecutions for Bush administration officials. Click here 
[http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/383/t/4087/letter/?letter_KEY=1137] 
to write a letter to the editor discussing President Obama's first 100 
days and calling for accountability and prosecutions. The promises of 
the Obama presidency may yet be fulfilled - but accountability is a 
necessity to truly establish transparency, openness and meaningful 
change and to provide hope to the victims and survivors of torture, the 
people of the United States and the world.