Barack Obama today released four top secret memos that allowed the CIA under the Bush administration to torture al-Qaida and other suspects held at Guantánamo and secret detention centres round the world.

Classic attempts at slick political one-upmanship. Obama asserts he is morally superior to the previous administration by needlessly releasing their top secret memos and thereby making some CIA operatives feel just a little bit vulnerable.

But, in an accompanying statement, Obama ruled out prosecutions against those who had been involved. It is a "time for reflection, not retribution," he said.

But don't worry, his motives weren't at all malicious! God Bless this benevolent man!

Obama bases his successful political personality upon populist, contradictory rhetoric designed to appeal to everyone, just like Tony Blair did. If you ever feel like being cynical is just too much effort, you may end up being convinced that his actions are not overwhelmingly self-serving.

What if his eventual exit from Iraq, overtures to Iran and denunciation of torture techniques are only minor gambits for some awesome Bush-inspired strategy? Could the encouragement he gave Turkey for greater EU integration be a deft divide and conquer strategy designed to prolong a coagulating Europe's infighting?

“Time will tell. Sooner or later, time will tell.”