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The Justice Department has called for an investigation of the alleged torture of terrorism suspects by the CIA during the years of President Bush’s rule. The recommendation came from the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and includes appointing a special prosecutor to pursue the CIA in court for allegations that include reliable cases of torture and even death in US custody. This puts the Justice Department seemingly at odds with the President. In April, after the release of secret Justice Department memos on interrogation techniques, President Obama firmly assured the CIA that its officers would not be prosecuted in any cases involving detainee abuses. The Inspector General had released a classified report in May of accounts of detainee abuse, excerpts of which were finally revealed yesterday in response to lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union. Some of the details revealed include CIA interrogators carrying out mock executions, threats against the detainees family, threats with guns, and even a power-drill held to one prisoner’s head. There are rumors circulating of CIA Director Leon Panetta’s possible resignation in light of the controversy. Meanwhile, in a move that seems to undercut the CIA’s role even further, the White House recently announced the formation of a new interrogation unit that would place the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the center of pursuing terrorism-related interrogations. But the Obama Administration also pledged yesterday to continue the Bush-era practice of rendition, that is, sending terrorism suspects to third countries for interrogation.

GUEST: Ray McGovern, retired CIA officer who served under 7 US presidents over 27 years – often presenting the morning intelligence briefings at the White House – he is now a antiwar activist