WHAT'S UNDER THAT ROCK AT ERIC HOLDER'S DOJ?

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is building quite the reputation lately. Whenever he is being questioned by Senators or Congressmen, he comes across as virtually clueless in his defense of untenable positions. That might explain what seems to be a recurring theme with Holder - clamming up. Coming to mind is the inexplicable decision by the DOJ to drop charges against the Black Panthers in the voter intimidation case in Philadelphia.

However, equally maddening is Holder's blatant arrogance and refusal to name the attorneys in his department who have defended Gitmo detainees in the past. This started in November when Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley (R) demanded that Holder release the names of ALL DOJ attorneys that have worked for detained terrorists in the past. Whether Holder got tired of being on the wrong end of logical arguments or simply had no answer, no answer was given. Grassley and his Republican counterparts grew increasingly agitated.

The Washington Examiner reports:

Finally, last week, Grassley and his colleagues got a response -- they wouldn't really call it an answer -- from the attorney general. Holder told Grassley that at least nine department officials formerly represented detainees. (It is "at least" because Holder conceded that he did not make a complete survey of DOJ's political appointees.) Holder confirmed that Katyal and Daskal worked on detainee issues -- something Grassley already knew -- but did not reveal the names of the other department officials involved. He did say that they are allowed to work on detainee issues.

That would equate to SEVEN department officials - still unnamed - who once worked for detained Islamic terrorists and are now working inside the United States Department of Justice and whose boss, Holder, refuses to name.

How about one of the two who are known, Jennifer Daskal (pictured)? She represented detainees while employed by Human Rights Watch. Check out what glowing things she had to say about the mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed:

"What should have been a major victory in holding the 9/11 defendants accountable for terrible crimes has been tainted by torture and an unfair military commissions process," said Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch. "These five men are known to have been mistreated and tortured during their years in CIA custody, including the acknowledged waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed."

Or how about this beauty?

"In light of the men's severe mistreatment and torture, the judge should require a full and thorough factual inquiry to determine whether or not these pleas are voluntary," Daskal said.

How do citizens of this country become so emotionally invested in defending the plight of our enemies?

When I read things like this, the best explanation I can come up with for why someone like Daskal would choose the path she does is Stockholm Syndrome. It is a condition that can be described and identified but it is extremely difficult to explain. Here is an excerpt from a site that concisely explains it but then uses it as a justification for feminist activism (another condition entirely, not worth exploring here)

The term, Stockholm Syndrome, was coined in the early 70's to describe the puzzling reactions of four bank employees to their captor. On August 23, 1973, three women and one man were taken hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm. They were held for six days by two ex-convicts who threatened their lives but also showed them kindness. To the world's surprise, all of the hostages strongly resisted the government's efforts to rescue them and were quite eager to defend their captors. Indeed, several months after the hostages were saved by the police, they still had warm feelings for the men who threatened their lives. Two of the women eventually got engaged to the captors.

Here is a link to one of the more thorough explanations of SS if you have time.

But I digress.

What about the other known employee at the DOJ in question? That would be Neal Katyal, who represented Osama bin Laden's driver. Considering Katyal's history along with Daskal's predilections, shouldn't we be concerned that Holder refuses to name the other seven employees in his department who likely have similar backgrounds?

Grassley is not happy about it but being in the minority, there's not much he can do. I only hope that if the Republicans gain majorities in both houses of congress this year, they remember these things and go on offense instead of seeking some twisted brand of reconciliation. If they seek the latter, it very well could be a sign of Stockholm Syndrome.

h/t to Gateway Pundit for link to the Daskal dreck at Human Rights Watch.