Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposed on Monday to launch a commission that would have the sole purpose of investigating the truth about the Bush administration’s anti-terror programs and other issues that stirred controversy.

Senator Leahy said a “truth commission” is necessary as a way to heal the sharp political divides under the Bush administration. Mr. Leahy said the commission should be similar to the one that investigated the actions of the apartheid in South Africa and another one that looked into the 1979 Ku Klux Klan massacre in Greensboro. N.C.

The list of issues to be investigated by the commission includes the politically inspired firings of U.S. attorneys, the treatment and torture of terrorism suspects and the authorization of warrantless wiretapping.

According to Senator Leahy, the main goal of the “truth commission” would be to find out what really happened and find the truth rather than prosecute former officials.

"I'm doing this not to humiliate people or punish people but to get the truth out," he said.

President Obama seemed to be cool with Mr. Leahy’s proposition, but added that he is more interested in moving forward than looking back.

"I will take a look at Senator Leahy's proposal but my general orientation is to say, let's get it right moving forward," said Obama.

Sen. Leahy said the truth commissions he proposes would have subpoena power but would not bring criminal charges. Several Republicans and intelligence officials opposed the measure arguing that it would weaken the morale of the fight against terrorism.