Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Is Texas Harboring Torture Decider?

By Ray McGovern
July 7, 2009

Seldom does a crime scene have so clear a smoking gun. A two-page presidential memorandum of Feb. 7, 2002, leaves no room for uncertainty regarding the “decider” on torture. His broad-stroke signature made torture official policy.

Read on.
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3 comments:

Mark E. Smith said...

Nice work, Ray.

But President Obama is pursuing the same policies and has said that people who commit crimes against humanity because they were just following orders, should not be prosecuted.

Doesn't that turn Nuremberg on its head?

Imagine yourself being a victim of torture, Ray. While I'm sure you would want to see the people who tortured you three years ago brought to justice, wouldn't you also want to see the people who are torturing you NOW also be brought to justice?

If today's torture decider isn't brought to justice, he will continue to protect yesterday's torture decider. And today's torture decider isn't being harbored in Texas, he's being harbored in the White House in Washington, D.C.

I guess it is politically safer to pursue the torturers out of power than the torturers in power now. But that sure isn't going to stop the torture.

Barbara Jordan would roll in her grave to see an African-American President pursuing the same policies as Bush and opposing the Nuremberg Principles.

Yes, he's black, yes, he's a Democrat, but when somebody says that no matter what crimes against humanity they commit, if they are just doing their job or just following orders they should not be prosecuted, you are quite correct in noting that, "the 'banality of evil' did not die with Adolf Eichmann and other functionaries of the Third Reich."

Young or old, black or white, Democrat or Republican, a fascist is still a fascist, and you can identify fascists by their torture, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

Tue Jul 07, 07:57:00 PM 2009
Anonymous said...

Why should Americans follow ANY law they can break without getting caught when our elected leaders do not? Baseball players are NOT role models, but presidents are.

Wed Jul 08, 05:21:00 AM 2009
JOHN L. OPPERMAN said...

Just sticking with Living ex-presidents, each and every one have commited constitutional, U.S., and International crimes, crimes against humanity and the earth. All serious blatently criminal acts, and all should be held accountable.
No question, some more numerous and extreme than others, but none of our Ex's served this country or the world very honorably. When metering out their punishment, the 'least offensive' of them must be awarded more than just 'honorable mention'...
~John L.

Wed Jul 08, 12:31:00 PM 2009

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