Yoo: I Defended 'Torture Memos' for Obama's Sake

The Bush administration lawyer who authored memos blessing harsh interrogation techniques and warrantless wiretaps says he's been defending himself in order to help...President Obama. The president "may not realize it, but I may have just helped save his presidency," by winning a fight "to protect his powers as commander in chief to wage war and keep Americans safe" John Yoo writes in the Wall Street Journal.

It's not been an easy fight, dealing with a Justice Department "witch-hunt" and an administration "hell-bent on finding scapegoats for its policy disagreements with the last president," Yoo writes. It had to been done, however, to keep the commander in chief's power intact and ensure that American commanders fighting war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and against al-Qaeda can make hard choices without worrying about coming under attack from vengeful prosecutors and congressional committees upon their return home.
(More Office of Professional Responsibility stories.)