There’s another aspect worth emphasizing. As always, in setting out this information, I am relying very heavily on the writings of Dr. Alfred McCoy, but any errors or mis-characterizations are all mine.

The non- or less-physically intrusive/abusive methodologies, such as sleep deprivations, isolation (e.g., hooding), disorientation through control of light/sound and stress positions, comprise the core program that the US government developed and wants to protect from legal scrutiny (and has made major strides in that direction, thanks to Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton) and to keep using.

These techniques can break a person down, mentally, within a few days of use, far more effectively and efficiently than, say, waterboarding.

Several points flow from this:

1) In addition to the deaths, there are many detainees who may be suffering a “living death” as a result of their treatment, i.e., a complete breakdown of their persona/personalities and the consequent traumatic effects that may afflict them for the rest of their lives.

2) The more intrusive/physically abusive methodologies often result from the sense of empowerment that the non-instrusive/abusive methodologies fuel, i.e., once you have seen how easily you can break down a person mentally, it becomes easier to abuse them physically.

3) I believe the fact that the physically abusive methodologies are allowed the air they’ve been given is, in part, driven by the need to keep hidden – to protect and preserve – the key methodologies that the US wishes to continue using, i.e., the non- or less-physically abusive methodologies such as sleep deprivation, isolation, disorientation through control of light/sound and stress positions.

I observe all this not to detract from Glenn's points - clearly, physical abuse and murder are horrendous crimes worthy of punishment - but to remind everyone that the deaths are merely one tip of this particular iceberg.

Alas, many Americans don't think so. And yet, four days from now, from sea to shining sea, they will set off spectacular fireworks to commemmorate a bunch of 18th century insurgents. They'll raise their glasses and toast the flag that symbolizes that insurgency -- and never notice the contradiction.

let the dead bury the dead. Leave it be. Let it heal.

How's this for a deal: if your family is tortured to death, then perhaps we can take your approach and let bygones be bygones. However, these crimes affect us all, and those of us with integrity have no intention of letting people torture in our names and get away with it.

Gee, how silly of us to even be discussing this pesky little torture issue since Obama has clearly indicated he prefers to look forward and not deal with all these petty Bush crimes. Shouldn't we be helping our Dear Leader sweep these crimes under the rug? Obama also went to the CIA and told them they ALL would be "immunized" for their involvement and participation in these war crimes. I am sure he will want to immunize the soldiers who tortured too when he has a good photo op chance to do so - they're all our best and brightest.

How dare Glenn put Obama on the spot like this and require him to prosecute any of these CIA torturers. How dare he!! Does Glenn want people to label Obama a flip-flopper?

Sorry I couldn't help being facetious here because it really is deplorable to me we are even debating whether these crimes should be investigated and prosecutor or the serious nature of the crimes. What is wrong with this country and what is wrong with Obama? And do we even have anything left of this country worth saving anymore?

Obama has no problem with that.

Neither did Bush.

Who killed Neda and who approved the coup?

Why is that guy smiling so much?

Everytime I see that SOB smile I think of how many people he is torturing right now. How many children are his drones blowing into hunks of flying meat. How many women his 'contractors' are raping and murdering. This 'man' lies with ease. He reassures with confidence. He promises nothing and delivers it with style. I predict that Barak H. Obama will eclipse George W. Bush as our worst president. Not for the atrocities he so eagerly embraces, but for the opportunities he is throwing away. And for the people who will die needlessly while he hosts cocktail parties at the White House. I do not trust this man any longer. If left unchecked, he will finish the job Bush started: turning the United States back to 12th centruy feudalism. With himself as King, natch.

http://www.linktv.org/programs/blueprint-for-accountability-working-the-dark-side

I found this worthwhile ... description:

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow launched Culture Project's "Blueprint for Accountability" series on May 31 with a gripping evening on accountability and the U.S. policy of torture in the “War on Terror.” This first episode is titled "Working The Dark Side."

In a multi-media production fusing live theater and journalism, Maddow was joined by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Ron Suskind, Vince Warren of the Center for Constitutional Rights, and Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded U.S. troops in Iraq during 2003-2004. The evening, directed by Fisher Stevens, featured performances by Liev Schreiber, John Leguizamo, Noah Emmerich and Julianna Margulies.

A striking bit was that there has been some accountability ... various members of the military have been held accountable. The policymakers? Not so much. Why should some inner city criminal take any grief for breaking the law, when the mighty get away with it? Oh, right. Equal justice is a dream, not a reality.

This has been coming in the way Americans seem to have accepted waterboarding as not really torture. And if that is not torture, then nothing is, at least that seems to be the way the media, and thus most Americans, look at it.

The whole idea of what torture is has been renamed, smoothed over, accepted, as part of The Way Things Have To Be To Protect Us. It is quite disgusting and disappointing.

I am embarrassed to say that I am an American when this country can treat others this way and then wave it off as though such treatment is acceptable, whether those in custody are criminals or not.

Glenn, I appreciate your writings. They are spot on. They also make my heart hurt for the country that I was once proud of.