The Illusion of Inspection: Iran and our Department of Justice

The Illusion of Inspection: Iran and our Department of Justice

James Longstreet

There will be inspectors who will inspect, with exceptions and limitations.

What then, exactly, is gained other than an illusion? We might as well roll dice over the phone.

We all read now about the absurdity of the Iranians inspecting their own nuclear facilities. The concept of "trust yet verify" seems lost in this nonsensical arrangement.

Closer to home we have a similar absurdity. Judicial Watch reports that our very own Department of Justice (DOJ) has curtailed the powers of the inspector general assigned to keep an eye on the DOJ. First question to come to mind is "why would they do that"? Second question is "how can they do that?"

Inspectors general, appointed by the President (curious arrangement) are supposed to report to Congress. They are the eyes and ears and hoped-for inspectors that will help ensure honesty and adherence to law in the realms to which they are assigned. Except, sometimes their efforts to execute their duties are curtailed.

Judicial Watch reports,

(In fact), a few years ago a number of IGs came under fire and faced retaliation and scrutiny after exposing wrongdoing at the agencies they were charged with investigating…. This goes contrary to a 1978 law requiring that inspectors general act autonomously when they conduct probes of the federal agencies they're assigned to keep in check. (snip)

Remember that President Obama promised to run the most transparent administration in history yet the Department of Justice (DOJ), an extension of the executive office, is limiting what its watchdog can see during what's supposed to be an independent investigation.

Inspectors general are now summoning Congress to pass legislation that will guarantee and allow them the independence required to permit them to execute their duties. 

From Judicial Watch,

Under the new guidelines the DOJ's IG can only obtain what may be considered "sensitive" information if DOJ officials in charge of the cases being probed give permission. In some instances permission could be granted but in others the information could be completely kept from the IG under the new rules, which were initially proposed by Obama's first Attorney General, Eric Holder.

Eric Holder. A soldier in President Obama's mission of transparency. And here, in his branch of our government, Obama has put up the blinders. There is only one main reason why things are hidden, and that it is to keep other people from seeing. Simple.

And where, might we ask, is the outrage from Congress and those so residing, that place country above party? The absurdity of this inspector general handcuffing is exactly what we see from the Iranians and their "deal". Who could be a proponent of curtailing those who are charged with rooting out fraud and corruption in our system? I think I know. 

Everybody is rolling sevens, just ask them.