"Only Obama can restore our moral compass on the crimes of the post-9/11 era"

[pat_k]

The Public Record
Obama's Search For A Moral Compass
Melvin A. Goodman
Monday, 13 April 2009

We know that the United States has committed crimes that violated the 8th Amendment of the Constitution against “cruel and unusual punishments;” the War Crimes Act of 1996; the Convention Against Torture of 1984 (the United States is a signatory); and of course Common Article Three of the Geneva Conventions. President Obama’s handling of the war crimes of the United States in facilities in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Iraq, and Afghanistan is particularly troubling because his administration has admitted that crimes were committed. He has condemned torture and abuse, closed CIA secret prisons, and ordered the closing of Guantanamo within the year. . .

But the president has stated that the United States “must look forward, and not backward,” and CIA director Panetta has proclaimed that CIA officers who conducted torture and abuse in CIA secret prisons "should not be investigated, let alone punished." . . .

Numerous reports, including the Taguba Report in 2004, the report of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the forthcoming report of the Senate Armed Forces Committee have fully documented the crimes. . .

The stature of international law is diminished when a nation violates it with impunity. The stature of a nation is diminished when it commits crimes against humanity. And the national leadership is diminished when it ignores the need for accountability and explicit repudiation. . .

. . .only President Obama can restore our moral compass on the crimes of the post-9/11 era. The judgment of history will be harsh if he chooses not to do so.

http://pubrecord.org/commentary/830-obamas-search-for-a-moral-compass.html">More. . .

[Senator]

1. K&R

[Mira]

2. K&R

[derby378]

3. Someone in the house say "Yeah!"

:woohoo:

[thedeanpeople]

4. Kick