A good start: Holder appoints prosecutor for CIA torture

At last, Attorney General Holder has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the abuse of prisoners by the CIA in the "war on terror".

This is a good start. The CIA knew full well that some of the techniques they were using (including waterboarding) were in violation of the Geneva Conventions and other domestic and international laws and treaties. And so they should be held accountable for their war crimes.

But, while this is a good first step, it is not enough. The U.S. cannot regain a moral standing in this world until the Bush administration officials who authorized the torture are also held accountable for their actions.

That means Yoo, Bybee, Gonzales, Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney, Bush, and anyone else who authorized or "justified" the use of torture by U.S. agents.

To overlook these actions by Bush administration officials is essentially to condone them. And that would make Obama a protector and defender of torturers -- of war criminals.

I hope the Obama administration will ultimately choose the high road.