The LA Times reports:
Even while dismantling [other anti-terrorism] programs, President Obama left intact an equally controversial counter-terrorism tool.
Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States.
Current and former U.S. intelligence officials said that the rendition program might be poised to play an expanded role going forward because it was the main remaining mechanism — aside from Predator missile strikes — for taking suspected terrorists off the street.
(Via the Corner.)
President Obama deserves a little credit here for recognizing that fighting terror requires a more than just hope and change; we have to keep at least a few tools available. How will the liberal base respond, now that renditions aren’t evil incarnate, but once again a necessary tool? (Funny how renditions are necessary exactly when a Democrat is in office.)
