May 31--With ambitious health care and clean-energy proposals soon to be on the table, it is understandable that President Barack Obama has no desire to see Congress divided into warring camps in a review of past actions taken in the war on terrorism.

U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M., who was in Las Cruces on Wednesday in one of his many trips back to the district since taking office, said he agreed with the president. Teague, however, said he also agreed with those in Congress who allege that laws were broken and international treaties violated through the use of waterboarding and other acts euphemistically referred to as "enhanced interrogation techniques."

"My colleagues who say that are telling the truth," Teague said. "But I tend to agree with the president, we've got to move forward.

"I know when I say you can't dwell on the past, you've got to move forward, people say you can't move forward until you fix the past. I know that it's a double-edged sword there. But I think, the most important things have to be the economy, health care, education."

Teague added that that we need to put safeguards in place to "make sure that these things don't happen again."

"But, I think our assets are better used going forward," he concluded.

If that position seems conflicted -- yes, laws we're broken; but no, we shouldn't do anything about it -- it's because it is. But Teague is far from alone. The president is clearly conflicted on this issue. Most of Congress is conflicted -- and, I

suspect, much of the country.

We are due, it seems to me, for a long, harsh, brutally honest examination of the facts. What was done? Why was it done? What was gained through these actions? What damage did they cause? What lessons should we learn for the next time America is attacked?

Congress, with its subpoena power and its vast resources, would be the best place for that examination to take place. But if it won't do the job, others will. Most of what we've learned to this point did not come through Congress. While CIA Director Michael Hayden may have confirmed our use of waterboarding during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, it had been widely reported years before then in a number of reputable media sources. Likewise, none of the information contained in memos recently released by Obama was new.

In a nation that values transparency and allows for a vigorous and aggressive press, it's hard to conduct secret campaigns and expect them to stay secret. Sooner or later, it will all come out.

If we don't achieve a consensus as to where we draw the line, even in times of great danger, we will leave it up to each new leader to draw his or her own line.

Yes, health care is important. So is energy, the economy, education and the many other policy decisions being debated. But not as important as who we are as a people. Not as important as the core, fundamental values that have served as the underpinning of our nation for more than 200 years.

Walter Rubel has been a newsman for more than 25 years and is managing editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com.

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