Attorney General’s investigations valid

President Obama, when asked about investigations into the actions by the prior administration, has said that he would rather look forward. He has said we are a country of laws and no one is above the law.

The second point trumps the first. The concept that no one is above the law is more important than the president's desire to look forward.

Attorney General Eric Holder is investigating the actions of the CIA under the Bush Administration. It is only a preliminary investigation to determine if a more comprehensive investigation is called for.

Note that previous investigations were conducted by a highly politicized justice department under the Bush administration.

Some say that this investigation is a political witch hunt. Any investigation into the acts of a prior administration will be called a witch hunt by some, whether it is or not. This one is not.

The attorney general reports to the president but maintains a certain independence from the president. One may say the attorney general's fealty is to the law, not to the president.

President Obama, unlike President Bush, realizes that it's inappropriate for the administration to intervene in judiciary matters. Holder is doing what the law requires him to do. We should be grateful and supportive.

Richard Greer

Cedar Rapids