What of the military commissions?
Though he condemned the tribunals, Obama said he would allow them to continue if some of the constitutional problems were resolved. He called for correcting what he considered abuses, such as barring hearsay evidence.
Obama also changed direction on a related issue, the release of photos that show the alleged abuse of detainees by U.S. troops. Originally, Obama agreed to release the photos but changed his mind at the request of U.S. military leaders, who feared the images would incite anger in the Muslim world. The courts so far have backed the release of the photos.
Has Obama's position on the photos created political problems?
Liberals have been unhappy with Obama's decision, but polls show that most people support the president in keeping the photos from the public.
But his original decision has given the GOP an issue. Former Vice President Dick Cheney has taken the lead in condemning Obama's security policies. Cheney is scheduled to give a speech today.
Who else has been caught in the fallout?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) ignited a firestorm when she accused the CIA of misleading her on interrogation issues. She said the CIA did not tell her during a September 2002 briefing that it was already using waterboarding. The CIA says it did tell her.
Pelosi was the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee at the time. Republicans accuse her of hypocrisy, saying that she condoned the technique then but now criticizes it.
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michael.muskal@latimes.com
