Obama: Defending the IndefensibleStephen Lendman Throughout his tenure, he governed lawlessly. Hes done so at home and abroad. He spurns rule of law principles and other democratic values. Nothing suggests change. Business as usual continues. War on humanity is policy. Rogue leaders govern that way. Obama threatens everyone. On May 23, he spoke at Washingtons National Defense University. He defended what he urged changing four years earlier. More on his Thursday address below. On May 21, 2009, he spoke at the National Archives. He addressed national security. He said America cant be safe unless we enlist the power of our most fundamental values. He called doing so neither effective nor sustainable. He pledged change. He said he took steps to prohibit torture. He ordered Guantanamo closed, he claimed. He made other high-minded promises. He swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, he said. He systematically spurned it. He did so across the board. He represents the worst of rogue leadership. His Thursday address reflected same old, same old. It was beginning-to-end demagogic boilerplate. Weve heard it throughout his tenure. He repeats it ad nauseam. Promises made are broken. Defending the indefensible doesnt wash. CODEPINK Women for Peace co-founderMedea Benjamin challenged him. She interrupted his speech. She did so several times. She called on him to close Guantanamo, release cleared detainees, and stop killer drone attacks. Will you apologize for the thousands of Muslims that you killed, she asked? Will you compensate the families of innocent victims? Speaking truth to power has a price. Benjamin was forcibly removed. She was detained. She was interrogated by Secret Service, military and FBI personnel. She was then released. Asked why she challenged Obama, she said: Obama defended drone strikes. He did so disingenuously. Extrajudicial killing is lawless. Weasel words fell short of explaining his failure to close Guantanamo. What he said didnt wash. He lied. He blamed Congress for his own transgression. He bears full responsibility. He can close Guantanamo today. He can do so with a stroke of his pen. As president and commander in chief, hes fully authorized to do so. Congress has no say. He can order all uncharged prisoners released. Indefinite detention is lawless. He claimed a nonexistent terror threat. The only ones are those he and complicit allies invent. Theyve done so throughout his tenure. They continued what Bush officials began. In 2009, Obama promised change. He spurned what he pledged to uphold. He did what core supporters thought impossible. He exceeded the worst of his predecessor. He turned truth on its head. He claimed extrajudicial murder is legal. On 9/11, America was attacked, he said. Doing so was state-sponsored terrorism. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were wrongfully blamed. Days later Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) was introduced. Congress passed it near unanimously. Bush signed it into law. Americas war on terror began. Police state laws were enacted. Multiple direct and proxy wars were launched. Theyre lawless. They target humanity. They remain ongoing. Obama continues what he promised to stop. Rule of law principles dont matter. Diktat authority is policy. Obamas weasel words belie his actions. His promises arent worth the paper theyre written on. He broke every major one made. Nothing ahead suggests change. Straightaway in office he promised Guantanamo closure. Nothing whatevers been done to do so. Innocent victims remain imprisoned. Indefinite detention is policy. So are lawless military commissions. America maintains a global gulag. Extraordinary renditions fill it. Torture continues. Drone killing is prioritized. More of the same is planned. No ones secure anywhere. US citizens are vulnerable. Summary judgment is policy. Attacks can occur anywhere. US soil is unsafe. Theres no place to hide. Secrecy prevents public disclosure. Promised transparencys nonexistent. Whats most important continues out of sight and mind. Media scoundrels suppress what demands highlighting. Obama reflects the worst of rogue leadership. War on terror policy continues. It does so when no threat exists. Its lawless and unconscionable. Obamas heading America for full-blown tyranny and ruin. He threatens humanity. Doublespeak duplicity reflects it. His speech didnt surprise. Same old, same old remains policy. Nothing he said suggests otherwise. Following his address, the Center for Constitutional Rightsresponded as follows: Lifting the ban on Yemeni transfers fell short. So far its rhetoric, not policy. (W)e are disappointed by (Obamas) comment that cleared men will only be released to the greatest extent possible. Obamas equivocation is troubling. After eleven years of detention without charge or trial, all of the men President Obama does not intend to give fair trials should be released and reunited with their families. Targeted drone strikes remain policy. Reasserting the right is legally flawed and dangerous. Whether or not the United States can use lethal force under the laws of war is not a matter of policy preference it is a matter of law and facts. Continuing current policy in any forms sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations and other countries. Hundreds of activists endorsed a New York Times ad. It called on Obama to Close Guantanamo Now and stop the torture. Nothing Obama said suggests change. Business as usual remains policy. War on humanity continues. No end in sight appears likely. New world order harshness threatens everyone. Its a clear and present danger. Its much too great to ignore. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 