In principle, no one should be above the law. It is something for which we should all strive. However, expecting to attain that level of impartiality and to then keep it at that level is quixotic at best.

I can't tell if by this you are justifying not going for the upper echelons of command or if you simply are explaining why it is not happening ?

Obama it seems in the view of people here is being pragmatic and quite sensible by letting the previous administration away with its torturing...

To me this seems anything but sensible (i wan't quite sure of the definition of pragmatic and an online dictionary didn't paticularly help) this is some great propaganda for Al Qaeda and anyone who dislike America, but if Obama were to prosecute anyone and everyone involved in torture and allowing its use it would be the greatest PR move against Al Qaeda and American haters everywhere...

What better way to prove that America is not the great satan by prosecuting thier own who have done wrong... what better way to prove that we are far and above Al Qaeda on the moral high ground...

All Obama is doing is ceeding more of the moral high ground and giving a great pr coup to the islamic fundamentalists..