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Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:00 AM

Binding U.S. law requires prosecutions for those who authorize torture

The new Attorney General just said that Bush officials authorized torture. A treaty signed in 1988 by Ronald Reagan compels the U.S. to prosecute those who authorize torture. What's the way out of that?

The letters thread is now closed.

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Monday, January 19, 2009 12:18 PM

But can't you see that NeoConCabal, steveindallas, Ray whatever, etc. etc. etc. are bringing new and interesting ideas to the table?!?!? -- Chris Sinnard

Well, no. I guess I can not see anything new. These ideas that these simpletons are trying out were debunked back when Hector was a pup.

I suppose that one of them may have found some solace for his manifold evils by concocting a dream in which the nukes were necessary to "save America", but historians say otherwise. (as does plain common sense)

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:17 PM

Jim

Our founding fathers were for human rights. And they were also against high taxes.

Sorta frustrating how you can't find a politician today who can simultaneously embrace both those ideals, ain't it?

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:17 PM

NeoConCabal

So in your world, is everyone who disagrees with you a big government liberal or something? I see you use that "Govt School" line a lot, is it supposed to be an insult or mean something?

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:17 PM

@ rawguy

I'm sure there is some US Code somewhere that has implemented the Torture Treaty, and this is the time to bring it forward. After all, any defendant would need to be prosecuted under a specified law that spelled what the punishment would be, X number of years, etc. Without that provision, any prosecution would likely fail for denial of due process and equal protection, wouldn't it?

Up to life imprisonment, and the death penalty if death of the victim occurs. For conspiracy to torture, same penalties, except for no death penalty.

Click sig for link.

Cheers,

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:13 PM

@ steveindallas

In the field, you use what tools you have. The more tools you have, the better.

"... like pliers. Rubber hoses. Ice-picks. Batons in the rectum and/or vagina. Electrodes. Things like that...."

Cheers,

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:13 PM

heru-huu...Go Back To Gov't School, Sonny...

Gen'l Lemay stopped the high altitude bombings and changed to 10,000ft night fire bombing. As in turning Tokyo to sand, along with vaporizing nearly 100 thousand of its best.

Yep, he was ALL shook up over those insensitive nukes.

BWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....!

Now, to more *VIGFM.

*Vast Inexpressible GOOD For Mankind*

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:12 PM

New World Ideas

Straight from the 16th century!

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:12 PM

If we don't, they will?

Overseas, Expectations Build for Torture Prosecutions

America’s closest allies overseas never understood the Bush Administration’s obsession with torture. “It’s as if an old friend had a stroke and suddenly went delusional,” a British Tory politician told me. And as the final hours of the Bush presidency tick down, the expectation builds in Europe that Obama will do the right thing. That would, of course, be to prosecute the Bush Administration figures responsible for introducing torture as a matter of formal policy. As they all point out, this is what the United States formally committed to do when it adopted the Convention Against Torture, which was largely the product of American advocacy to begin with.

[...]

Barack Obama and his advisors need to recognize that the prosecutions will occur. The only issue now is whether America will face the additional humiliation of having the prosecutions brought by our closest allies because we lack the moral strength and resolve ourselves to do what is necessary.

http://harpers.org/archive/2009/01/hbc-90004233

One can but Hope™.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:10 PM

@steveindallas

Was that a troll?

Yes, it was. By the way, the term troll refers to a person, not a message.

I'm assuming you think Bill Clinton raped someone, which is a weird projection of yours that's not pertinent at all. Why should anyone take anything you have to say seriously, Ticking Vagina Man? You've come here and lied, and said how you don't take any of us seriously.

You just want attention. Which is fine, but it works better when you're at least interesting.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:09 PM

B.O. Billy Owen

"You claim we should torture people because we think or believe that they are terrorists."

Maybe time to unwrap that hooked on phonics you got for Christmas...for the quote attributed to me by you, is, well, it's just wrong Bill, flat out 100% incorrect..

its always a good sign when trolls like yourself attempt to misrepresent what someone else says, obviously a nerve was been hit, and your best defense is attack to my typing (not spelling Bill, typing) or the other numbnuts who read my post and commented on my use of ????????????????????????????????s

Don't kill the messenger, there, board denizens.

We must deconstruct again, its weak sauce to attack form and not content...I took Glenn's manipulative word choice, something I have done once before with another essay he wrote.

A skilled polemicist he is not, and sly manipulator of words and reading audience he is. read a little closer, the first sentence is abominable.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:09 PM

heru-ur

But can't you see that NeoConCabal, steveindallas, Ray whatever, etc. etc. etc. are bringing new and interesting ideas to the table?!?!?

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:08 PM

@ steveindallas

Last reason that Obama / Holder will NOT prosecute Bush/Cheney:

There is no political upside.

Karl Rove (a/k/a "Turdblossom") is working at Faux Snooze, not in Obama's inner circle.

Cheers,

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:07 PM

steveindallas

Because you can't grasp the idea that sometimes a troll actually says something of more substance than some of the serious posters.

Too bad that isn't the case with you and Ray and Neocon.

Do you clowns really think you're bringing new and interesting arguments, scenarios, ideas, etc. to the table that haven't been discussed/debunked hundreds of times here already? You're not.

It is always the same thing with authoritarians like you and your new friends. Come in swinging your dick around, get clowned for it, and then resort to calling everyone "liberals" and "leftists" who Just Don't Get It when it comes to The Real World.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:06 PM

Bets on Bush's Pardons

I guess all of you betting on Bush's pardons have not heard he is done with pardons, and will no longer be president as of tomorrow.

Definition of torture. Reading Glenn's on going "assumption' articles about torture.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:05 PM

Billy Boy Owen...Sorry, Pally, NO Revisionist History On My Plate..

But, most dweeboes here will eat it up. It beats workin' for your historical knowledge, eh, Boyo? I suspect that I forgot more military and political history last night than you have between those perky lefty revisionist ears.

"Downfall" by Richard B. Frank is by far the best and most exhaustive work on the subject. For the third time, Kid, read Prime Minister Suzuki on the subject.

Monday, January 19, 2009 12:04 PM

"Demonstrate" the Atom Bomb?!!? LOL --- NeoConCabal

"Demonstrate" the Atom Bomb?!!? LOL. Only in that comfy, post-modern wilderness which the left has come to inhabit can one find such swill. Like many of my brethren in the Cabal, I was mugged by [a stupid stick]

-- NeoConCabal

My, we sure do have an ignorant one today. Say neo-thug, have you ever heard of Curtis B. Lemay? Even he said there was no military usefulness in using the nuclear bombs on those cities. Will you call Lemay a "lefty"?

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