'Scrap It and Start All Over': Ex-Bush and Obama Officials Say the War on Terror's Powers Have Gone Too Far

Former top officials from the Bush and Obama administrations, including Alberto Gonzales and Jeh Johnson, have publicly criticized the legal framework underpinning the War on Terror, arguing that its powers have eroded civil liberties and international standing. They highlight controversial practices like torture and indefinite detention at Guantanamo Bay, suggesting these policies have gone too far and need a complete overhaul. This candid assessment underscores a growing concern among former government insiders about the long-term damage these policies have inflicted on both U.S. values and global perceptions of American justice.