NYT calls for prosecutor to "consider criminal charges against top officials at the Pentagon"

[ProSense]

Editorial

The Torture Report

Published: December 17, 2008
Most Americans have long known that the horrors of Abu Ghraib were not the work of a few low-ranking sociopaths. All but President Bush’s most unquestioning supporters recognized the chain of unprincipled decisions that led to the abuse, torture and death in prisons run by the American military and intelligence services.

Now, a bipartisan report by the Senate Armed Services Committee has made what amounts to a strong case for bringing criminal charges against former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; his legal counsel, William J. Haynes; and potentially other top officials, including the former White House counsel Alberto Gonzales and David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff.

The report shows how actions by these men “led directly” to what happened at Abu Ghraib, in Afghanistan, in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in secret C.I.A. prisons.

It said these top officials, charged with defending the Constitution and America’s standing in the world, methodically introduced interrogation practices based on illegal tortures devised by Chinese agents during the Korean War. Until the Bush administration, their only use in the United States was to train soldiers to resist what might be done to them if they were captured by a lawless enemy.

The officials then issued legally and morally bankrupt documents to justify their actions, starting with a presidential order saying that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to prisoners of the “war on terror” — the first time any democratic nation had unilaterally reinterpreted the conventions.

<...>

We can understand that Americans may be eager to put these dark chapters behind them, but it would be irresponsible for the nation and a new administration to ignore what has happened — and may still be happening in secret C.I.A. prisons that are not covered by the military’s current ban on activities like waterboarding.

A prosecutor should be appointed to consider criminal charges against top officials at the Pentagon and others involved in planning the abuse.

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U.S. Senator proposing an investigation of Bush administration officials?

[firedupdem]

1. edited..

read the entire article...punish them...first post was knee jerk reaction to something else. thanks

[ProSense]

2. It's a big administration.

I'm sure the DOJ can handle it.

[firedupdem]

5. You're right...

They do need to be punished...especially with that ass cheney stating he was all for the torture etc. I'm in not a good mood..perhaps I didn't think it through. Thanks!

[cosmicone]

4. So as long as you have food on the table and gas in your car,

you'll look the other way?

[firedupdem]

6. actually...

I have not much of either...I changed my view. thanks

[cosmicone]

9. I didn't mean any offense ...

glad you saw it through .... hope your situation and mood improves!

[firedupdem]

10. me too...

thanks

:fistbump:

[rhett o rick]

7. Sorry to disagree. The reestablishment of the Constitution and rule of law is top priority. With out

them all else is wasted. Everything can be undone in minutes without the Constitution and rule of law.

[firedupdem]

8. don't be sorry..you're right. n/t

[rhett o rick]

11. Figure of speech. Thanks for the response. nm

[karynnj]

3. Wow - If we are a country of laws, we really do need to indict

and try people who gave these orders. There is something wrong when the officials who ordered and approved these things are not punished yet low level people, who were unwilling to take the consequences of saying "no"are punished.

I'm glad that they are taking a strong stand, but they knew this in 2003 - and they downplayed it. Kerry and Dean called for Rumsfeld to resign as soon as Abu Ghraib came out and they pretty much ignored them.

[ProSense]

12. Exactly. n/t

[judasdisney]

13. Key word: "Consider"

As long as a prosecutor is appointed to "consider" criminal charges, the appearance of appropriate action is fulfilled.

[WinkyDink]

14. New report: "NYT Calls for Internal Investigation of Judith Miller Propaganda". Oh, wait....

[MyNameGoesHere]

15. Slow Clinton news week?

Thanks for this though.