Silence:

There is no clean side in Afghanistan

Thanks for noting that.

On another point: Also, I never get over the spectacle of trotting out Third World War Criminals for the entertainment of US human rights enthusiasts. The fact that the US often runs these special courts--the Balkans, Sierra Leone, and perhaps, new ones imagined by Obama--while they themselves have, during the same periods, merrily engaged in war crimes that dwarf the activities at issue, proves to the rest of the world that International Law isn't worth the paper its printed on. And when appeal to the rule of law is denied, the only other option is violence. Its a pretty simple equation and one that the US is ignoring at its own peril.

It is one of the many reasons they voted democrat instead of republican. That nothing to date has been done is surely a stain on Obama.

Keep the pressure up Glenn. At some point we can hope that Obama will change.

From the "supreme" war crime a few decades ago, a war of aggression waged by a superpower against a defenseless country is now not significant enough to warrant investigation, let alone punishment.

This is not justice; this is iron-fisted rule by the person with the most bombs.

Impeach!

Until someone gets hung by their nuts, nothing will happen.

Silenced, you wrote, among other things:

1. "That whole country (Afganistan) is a war crime."

Well, no, it's not. Most of the people who live there are trying to live their lives free of violence and tyranny--life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, if you will. Our political class doesn't believe that maxim, and we are proving it to the Afghanis every day there.

2. "I think Glenn is all fired up and is delusional about the country."

I assume by "country" you are referring to Afghanistan. GG's post was as usual clear and concise. If someone commits war crimes, and there is ample proof, that person should be held to account. If our government uses said war criminal to advance an agenda, then we are criminals as well. The entire last week (month, year) GG has been pointing out how political actors (mostly here) are never held to account. We need to start doing that. Let's give the regular Afghani people the benefit of the doubt here, and stop assuming that they are all a bunch of terrorist criminals. There's nothing delusional about that.

3. "There is no clean side in Afghanistan."

Oh yes there is. It's the aforementioned citizens there, being ill-served by their war-lords, presidents, and of course the United States. The fact, is, we should not be there. We are enabling the destruction of that country. We want their resources, and we will do anything to get it. I realize that realpolitik requires our government to sidle up to bad guys, but it doesn't have to be that way. We chose to destroy both Iraq and Afghanistan.

4. "In Pul-i-Charki prison, torture was not for extracting information. It was just for punishing people. And every single side in this prolonged conflict did it when they were in power."

Extracting information? You mean like we do? Torture is always about "punishing people." At least in this regard they are exactly like us.

5. "If you really want to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, you'll have to investigate every single last man in the country." (emphasis mine)

A bit hyperbolic, no? Do you really think that? That's how the reactionaries and right-wingers and various assorted ignorant dopes over here think. Judging from your posts here, Silenced, you are not one of them, but it seems like you really dislike Afghanistan in general.

In spite of Friday’s revelation that the Bush administration suppressed an investigation into what is potentially the worst war crime of the Afghanistan occupation, the Obama administration will not seek an inquiry.

“Asked about the report, Marine Corps Col. David Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, said that since U.S. military forces were not involved in the killings, there is nothing the Defense Department could investigate,” reported the Associated Press late Friday night.

An unnamed Justice Department source also reportedly told the AP that the FBI would not be able to investigate because the crimes were not committed within its jurisdiction.

Susannah Sirkin, deputy director of Physicians for Human Rights, called the administration’s position “absurd,” according to the report.

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/07/10/bush-probe-mass-afghan-slayings/

- because how many people really understand this 'concept' of: Holding YOUR war criminals accountable is just like holding MINE accountable too? -

As Glenn has found out - for some people - like this NPR ombudswoman - these are two completely different things - and after doing some research I found out that it hardly has

to do with 'American exceptionalism'.

It actually seems to be quite a 'international' phenomena because German, Italian, Spanish or Russian 'war crimes' are still supposedly not comparable (even if we are talking about excactly the same actions) - and if you are from 'CIA-America' or the country of the Nazis everybody seems to know, that everything is much 'bigger' and nastier in America and that the Nazis were the most evil people ever. And if you think that sounds stupid or illogical -

you are right and that's why everybody tells you these stereotypes and generalizations in a joking manner that you know how serious they are. And what can you say to a black German dude who tells you - (smiling): 'Call me N... (the N-word) -

And you look at him confused - and you say:No - and what does that have to do with anything?

And he tells you laughing: All my black friends call me the Nword but if a white girl would

do it - it would be STILL something completely else!

Now the thing to do is get yourself back to the States, get a WH press credential, and start asking them directly. I'm not convinced your sniping from Brazil does much good.

Keep the pressure up Glenn. At some point we can hope that Obama will change.

Hope, schmope. Interventions for apparently personality disordered individuals with predominantly antisocial traits and criminal conduct are long-term, and when public safety is obviously at risk, the indication is for placement in some type of secure facility.