I really like his attitude - "stop torturing but we won't be chasing past offenders".

The most popular route in politics (don't we know it?) is to say "there will be an enquiry; the guilty will be punished"... etc. They never are.

Where are Dr David Kelly's murderers?

But the main thing is -

It's a waste of time. It wastes energy and effort. Forget the past; get on with changing things.

I'd love the guilty false accusers and police persuaders and benders of "evidence" and dim judges and jurors to be prosecuted in my case, if my convictions were to be declared unsafe, but I'd much prefer for the system to be mended so this kind of thing never happens again.

Much though accountability is vital, let it be for future transgressions, not past ones.

I believe this is exactly right.

Sometimes it is essential to move on.

We know who is guilty for the torture. BUSH. Therefore if any trial was ever held then him and only him should be on trial. Those following orders are but drones in the story.

But well done Obama for acting so quickly to stop this terrible thing.

South Africa set the right example. It wasn't perfect but it was better to work together to try build a better future than to get bogged down in bitter disputes about the past.

Obama is right. The torturing stops now, and any future offences must be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Nobody can undo the past. Let's focus on the future.

vey interesting posts

I was ready to condemn Obama over this but yes you are right- bury the past and build a new future.

South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Committee (I may not have the right name) is an example to follow, even if it has not achieved all its aims.

to the contrary BR..there are heaps of other guilty ones who should be in the dock...Rumsfield, Cheney, John Yoo, Blair, Alastair Campbell..a long list. Just as in Nuremberg.

Yes and I have no doubt security services killed David Kelly.

I don't know if JK ever met the eccentric character Vikki De Lambrey who demolished a dinner party I was once at, at the late Ossie Clark's house.

Vikki worked as a prostitute in Shepherds Market and was always nicking clients wallets..which he did to an ex-head of MI6 and then sold his story to the lovely News of The World.

We all knew Vikki had gone too far..sure enough he mysteriously died 18 months later of unknown causes.

I'm not sure Barak Obama has the legal right to just "move on" and ignore crimes unless he actually issues a pardon. Afterall he is a law professor.

I have a theory but it may be fancful and wishful thinking. As a Spanish judge prepares to indict 6 Bush cronies for torturing Spanish citizens..is the Obama admin. quietly encouraging others to do likewise until the public outcry is so great he is forced to do likewise?. It is politics.

or am I dreaming ?

I'm not sure if it is alright to let the men & women go who acted "only" on orders.

But it is certainly wrong to pardon those who gave the orders.