President Obama issued a statement today on the United Nations International Day in Support of Torture Victims. 

I wonder if Obama’s ghostwriter was wearing hip boots when this statement was put together.

The opening of his statement could have been recycled from the George W. Bush years:  “Torture is contrary to the founding documents of our country, and the fundamental values of our people.”

Obama declares that torture “surrenders the moral authority that must form the basis for just leadership. That is why the United States must never engage in torture, and must stand against torture wherever it takes place.”  (He neglected to mention that the U.S. is also obliged to never release any photos documenting torture – unless the torture was committed by foreign governments who were not allied to the U.S.).

Obama declared: “My administration is committed to taking concrete actions against torture and to address the needs of its victims…  My budget request for fiscal year 2010 includes continued support for international and domestic groups working to rehabilitate torture victims.”

Well now ain’t that just dandy.

Spending U.S. tax dollars for private groups aiding torture victims supposedly compensates for Obama’s coverup of the evidence of U.S. government torture and his de facto pardon of all the torturers and torture policymakers.