Today's Article
The Privacy and Civil
Liberties Oversight
Board is effectively
non-existent, since no
members have been
nominated and
confirmed.
Liberties Oversight
Board is effectively
non-existent, since no
members have been
nominated and
confirmed.
The American Spark
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‘Civil Liberties Oversight Board’ Has No Members
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 30 2011
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created to serve as an independent body which would
oversee U.S. ‘counter-terrorism policies’.
That almost sounds decent. Except for one catch: The board is effectively non-existent, since no members
have been nominated and confirmed.
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) study released in November traced the Board’s virtual non-being,
from its non-start as a mere 9/11 Commission recommendation through its first non-establishment as an
Executive Branch agency to the 2007 statute which--if only on paper--recreated the Board as an independent
panel.
The Oversight Board was to fulfill two principal actions:
Thus if the Board had been functional, it may have provided an independent judgment on such matters as the
propriety of military detention. But since no actual members have been appointed, there really is no Board.
Last January, Obama nominated James Dempsey and Elisebeth Cook to serve as panel members. The
Democratic-run Senate has not considered either nomination.
Even if the Senate does eventually confirm Dempsey and Cook, the two will not make a quorum. The president
must nominate additional Board members, and the Senate must actually confirm them. And that’s apparently
not going to happen anytime soon.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 30 2011
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created to serve as an independent body which would
oversee U.S. ‘counter-terrorism policies’.
That almost sounds decent. Except for one catch: The board is effectively non-existent, since no members
have been nominated and confirmed.
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) study released in November traced the Board’s virtual non-being,
from its non-start as a mere 9/11 Commission recommendation through its first non-establishment as an
Executive Branch agency to the 2007 statute which--if only on paper--recreated the Board as an independent
panel.
The Oversight Board was to fulfill two principal actions:
- 1.) It was to “analyze and review actions the executive branch takes to protect the Nation from terrorism,
ensuring that the need for such actions is balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties”;
2.) It was supposed to “ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the development and
implementation of laws, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation against
terrorism.”
Thus if the Board had been functional, it may have provided an independent judgment on such matters as the
propriety of military detention. But since no actual members have been appointed, there really is no Board.
Last January, Obama nominated James Dempsey and Elisebeth Cook to serve as panel members. The
Democratic-run Senate has not considered either nomination.
Even if the Senate does eventually confirm Dempsey and Cook, the two will not make a quorum. The president
must nominate additional Board members, and the Senate must actually confirm them. And that’s apparently
not going to happen anytime soon.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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