America's journey forward is a murky one, a course that demands the full attention of those elected to chart it.

So it's a difficult decision confronting the incoming administration: how to restore America's standing in the global community, a reputation severely tarnished by appalling departures from humane prisoner treatment in the "war on terror."

President-elect Barack Obama has sounded the right note of caution by underscoring his resolve to correct that record. However, he seems equally determined to avoid a costly and wide-ranging campaign of prosecution at the precise moment when the nation can least afford such divisiveness.

And it's naive to expect a war crimes investigation to be anything but partisan and divisive. After such a bruising and protracted campaign, it will be tempting for Democrats, who have just recaptured the White House after eight years, to put their GOP opponents — and President Bush's bitter legacy — through such an inquisition.

Yet something needs to happen to send the critical message to America's global neighbors that the U.S. intends to adhere to its commitments on the human rights front. There the focus must be on the way forward. Obama needs to meet his pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

Policies must be reframed and publicly enunciated, stating American intentions to treat prisoners humanely and adhere to the legal principles of habeas corpus in the adjudication of accused terrorists.

And yes, Obama should in short order determine the disposition of some 250 detainees, most of whom are not believed to pose a threat and should be sent to their home countries.

Had the U.S. not been facing the worst economic decline in generations, it might be easier to prosecute those who may have violated the Geneva Conventions in the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. For now, it can't rank high on the priority list.

The fact is, the acrimony from the pursuit would surely hurt the collective mission of solving the country's top problem: a failing economy.

Rather, the attention of our leaders must turn to nursing the economy back to health. That itself will strengthen America's stability and standing on the world stage.