The law applies to Bush, too (and Obama)

[Bragi]

...The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) has been signed by almost every nation on Earth. Canada is a signatory. So is the United States, thanks to Ronald Reagan.

The UNCAT requires states to make torture a crime under domestic legislation. It also requires states to conduct "a prompt and impartial investigation wherever there is reasonable grounds to believe that an act of torture has been committed."

So two conditions trigger an obligation to investigate: There have to be reasonable grounds and the suspected acts must constitute torture. On reasonable grounds, there is no doubt. The evidence amounted to far more than that even before Bush repeatedly and emphatically admitted what he'd done.

But was it torture? Bush and Company deny it, but legal scholars scoff. Domestic U.S. courts have convicted defendants for the very acts they authorized. So have U.S. military tribunals. And international tribunals. The U.S. government's own statements on human rights routinely describe waterboarding and the other techniques as "torture" when they are committed by foreign governments. It's torture. Case closed.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/applies+Bush/4248176/story.html#ixzz1DTHeufII

[DirkGently]

1. This issue will not go away by "looking forward."

[The Doctor.]

2. I want that POS chimp put away as much as anyone.

Dumbya deserves a cell at the Hague for the rest of his life, Once and for all to learn what it's like to deal with grown-up consequences for his actions.

Unfortunately, and I believe he knows this, Obama would be putting a lit match to the proverbial powder keg that's been stoked by wingnut fear-mongers. It would be spun as 'eliminating political enemies' in the first of many steps toward a 'fascist socialist state'.

These morons don't 'get' laws. They only get 'party'.

[indepat]

3. Case closed: let the perpetrators, facilitators, and those who ignore such be forewarned

:patriot: