It was with great concern that I learned about the Attorney General’s recent decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate our CIA for their role in interrogating terrorist detainees.  I believe we are setting a dangerous precedent when an administration, who disagrees with the policies of the past, takes it upon itself to start a criminal investigation against officials in a previous administration. 

On September 11, 2001, America experienced the worst attack on civilians in the history of our country.  It was carried out by an insidious enemy that wants to destroy our country and our way of life.  Our CIA had the task of bringing the perpetrators of 9/11 to justice.  They were also tasked with stopping any future attacks which were planned. 

With the recent declassification of CIA documents, we now know that they were successful in not only bringing guilty terrorists to justice, but also in stopping future attacks that were in the works. 

One of the declassified CIA reports clearly states, “Detainee reporting has helped thwart a number of Al-Qaeda plots to attack targets in the West and elsewhere.” 

Those plots included flying planes into buildings on the West Coast and blowing up the Brooklyn Bridge, to name just two. 

Our CIA captured Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11, after interrogating one of his al Qaeda associates.  Mohammed then revealed the identities of 70 people that al Qaeda was planning on using in future attacks against the West. 

While it is this administration’s right to change policies, I believe it is wrong to start criminal proceedings against the men and women in our CIA who have successfully thwarted more attacks on our country. 

We should work together to bring terrorists to justice, and stop any future attacks on American soil.  That is the job of Congress, and the administration.