CIA probe must go to highest level-UN rights boss

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

GENEVA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. prosecutor's investigation into alleged criminal CIA interrogation techniques must go right to the top political level, the chief U.N. rights official said on Thursday.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, 67, in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters, urged European and other countries to resettle Guantanamo detainees so that President Barack Obama can close the U.S.-run prison in Cuba by year-end.

She also called for credible investigations into killings of journalists and aid workers in Russia and voiced concern at the fate of detainees arrested in Iran in post-election protests.

The former United Nations war crimes judge, who marks her first year in office next Tuesday, said she has used an "instinctive" blend of quiet diplomacy and public condemnation to highlight violations worldwide.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR218160.htm

[lordhelmet]

1. Do you believe

that the UN or some foreign state should have the ability to prosecute our government's officials?

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. Do you?

[Vidar]

19. Absolutely. The US has been arogue state for far too long.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

3. yes

[Igel]

13. Not in her case.

You see, she doesn't believe in immunity from prosecution in this case: criminality should be investigated and prosecuted, especially when it reaches the top. It should be prosecuted to the highest levels, even before it's ascertained exactly how high the evidence points.

Thing is, in her native South Africa, she defended the ANC and, when there was widespread immunity from prosecution for criminality in exchange for "truth telling", esp. when it reaches the top. She whole-heartedly approved that.

Of course, she couldn't do otherwise, being utterly powerless, a simple attorney. Well, not counting that little stint when on the SA supreme court. And, of course, after going to the UN there's been no opportunity to comment on what happened in SA. I guess.

What's good for South Africa is obviously not good for the US. Why? Ah, that would be telling, I guess.

She has a point, however. It was a way of moving on in SA, of putting the past behind them so they could establish a new government; it served very important political and social ends, ends that she greatly desired, ends entirely in accord with her views. The ends obviously matter a very great deal in this matter, and I have to wonder if that's not generally true when it comes to her views. It makes principled pronouncements from her, however correct she may be otherwise in her views, able to be taken at rather more, and at rather less, than face value. It fuels cynicism, and while those who agree with her unquestioningly support her, some of those who actually tend to be questioning doubt if her support is really all that desirable.


In other words, it reeks of bias. Bias, however tangential, is precisely what you *don't* want associated with evaluating guilt and innocence, assigning blame and deciding when something must be prosecuted, ought to be ignored, or when immunity and reconciliation are appropriate.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

18. I'm sure you meant to reply

to the first post.

[Mudoria]

4. No

[Vincardog]

6. According the the treaties we ratified they do Check the Geneva Convention

[hootinholler]

7. They always die before I can play with them. n/t

[Winterblues]

8. The USA is special and no one on earth should have any say over the mighty USA

Everyone else on Earth is completely inferior and has no right to oversee anything the USA does as we are the Superior Nation...

[Uncle Joe]

9. When they commit and promote war crimes, hell yes!

There are six billion people living on this planet, the United States makes up 5% of that population if we can't learn to coexist and honor the treaties we signed then we have no right projecting our justice or sense of indignation on any one else.

If humanity can't learn to live by some rule or law other than that of the jungle, we will surely end up with World War III, lest you forget the U.N. came in to being because we had already fought two World Wars, we can't afford a third.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. Actually, we were the ones who helped set up an international court,....

,...ESPECIALLY in the event any nation, including our own, FAILED to prosecute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Do you believe we have succeeded in fully prosecuting war crimes or crimes against humanity committed by either government officials or those appointed/contracted/otherwise by government officials?

[madokie]

11. I think in the end it will be either we do it or they will

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

12. Our integrity depends on taking responsibility. nt

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[Hissyspit]

14. U.N. Rights Boss: CIA Probe Must Go to Highest Level

Source: Reuters

27 Aug 2009 18:33:43 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. prosecutor's investigation into alleged criminal CIA interrogation techniques must go right to the top political level, the chief U.N. rights official said on Thursday. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, 67, in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters, urged European and other countries to resettle Guantanamo detainees so that President Barack Obama can close the U.S.-run prison in Cuba by year-end.
She also called for credible investigations into killings of journalists and aid workers in Russia and voiced concern at the fate of detainees arrested in Iran in post-election protests.

The former United Nations war crimes judge, who marks her first year in office next Tuesday, said she has used an "instinctive" blend of quiet diplomacy and public condemnation to highlight violations worldwide. The U.S. Justice Department named a special prosecutor this week to investigate CIA interrogation techniques used on terrorism suspects after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States under then-President George W. Bush.

"Whenever people come under the jurisdiction of the United States, the United States has to be seen to be upholding the very high standards that they claim for their own citizens," Pillay told Reuters in her office overlooking Lake Geneva.

ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE TOP
Any torture or death inflicted on suspects held by U.S. authorities in places including Bagram detention centre in Afghanistan should be part of this investigation, she said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR218160.htm

[SpiralHawk]

15. "Oh noes. Smirk." - xCommander AWOL (R)

[SpiralHawk]

16. "Major assholes. Sneer." - xVP Dickie 'Five-Military-Deferments' Cheney (R)

[aquart]

17. You betcha.