U.S. won't tolerate torture, Obama says

[bigtree]

Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The United States will not tolerate torture and will abide by the Geneva Conventions, President-elect Barack Obama said Friday.

Obama was responding to a question about how the international community may view his appointments of Washington veteran Leon Panetta and retired Adm. Dennis Blair as CIA director and national security director, respectively, and whether they signal a reassessment of harsh interrogation techniques.

Of renouncing torture and abiding by the Geneva Conventions regarding detainees, Obama said, "I think it is important for us to do that not only because that's who we are, but also, ultimately, it will make us safer and will help in changing hearts and minds in our struggle against extremists."

"I was clear throughout this campaign, and have been clear throughout this transition that under my administration, the United States does not torture, we will abide by the Geneva conventions, that we will uphold our highest values and ideals," he said.


http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/09/US_wont_tolerate_torture_Obama_says/UPI-66191231529104/

[EFerrari]

1. Brennan, Blair, Holder, Ross.

I know I sound like an awful killjoy but :wtf:

Is Obama just fronting macho or :wtf:

[bigtree]

2. guess it depends on what the definition

. . . of 'tolerate' is :shrug:

[polichick]

3. An msnbc guest just said that he is definitely changing course...

...but you have to keep experienced people to do it. Beats me.

[JuniperLea]

4. Keeping enemies close?

He was very specific about the GC.

[Solly Mack]

11. You're not a killjoy

(says one killjoy to another)

:)

[spanone]

5. a m e n

[mmonk]

6. I'll give this a recommend.

[derby378]

7. But the United States DOES torture

That's what's wrong with Obama's statement. And it's in direct violation of the Fifth and Eighth Amendments.

We need arrests and prosecution, not just talk.

[Chulanowa]

8. I agree, but there's a "but"

"But then what?"

Seriously. We arrest all the motherfuckers responsible. And you know what will happen? The same thing that will always happen. The government dumps a couple million of our taxpayer dollars into a trial. Then thirty appeals. then a settlement after whoever's being accused sues for defamation.

Not to be a killjoy, but every government in the world is set up so that members of that government will never be held accountable for their crimes, unless they happen to get scapegoated by their accomplices and partners in the crime.

[derby378]

12. If we could pull of Nuremburg, we can prosecute homegrown torture

My God, we even sent a Texas sheriff to prison for waterboarding a couple of decades ago. How hard can it be?

[Chulanowa]

13. I'm always open to giving it a try

Nothing ventured, nothing gained after all. But generally the only time the leadership of any country has faced actual punishment for their crimes is after getting their ass kicked by another country

[deaniac21]

9. Wasn't that Rick Warren thing torture?

[terisan]

10. Good statement on torture and GC. ! On Iran however, he has also said not serious threat.

Last year Obama said that Iran is a tiny country and does not pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union does so his statement about his stand on Iran is mixed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. I am really happy to hear this!

Of course he knows that torture has happened during the past 8 years...

He means that we will not tolerate it during his tenure...

K&R

[Norrin Radd]

15. Does this mean they are going to cancel American Idol?

[Olney Blue]

17. That's a change we can believe in!

[Senator]

16. That's What All War Criminals Say

He already HAS http://www.talkingimpeachment.com/blog/Hall-of-Shame-Inductee----Barak-Obama.html">tolerated torture for literally years. He does not consider it "grave" enough to act upon.

In fact, Obama's -- and other DC-Dems' -- refusal to police the war crimes and enforce our laws and Constitution has been a far worse failure than the torture itself. It is also a war crime in itself.

All http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Senator">this rationalizing rhetoric -- like "looking forward, not back" (squawk!) -- is not actually DOING some damn thing to end/remedy the ongoing atrocities. Nor is it abiding by Geneva. It is just kicking sand over the big stinking pile in our National Sandbox.

Impeachment first (there's still time, see Blago), then prosecution, remains our ONLY moral, patriotic option.

---

[tuckessee]

18. To paraphrase what someone said on NPR's ATC yesterady.....

........"If Obama wants torture to stop he can stop it by making it illegal his first day in office.".........

It is my opinion nothing of the sort will happen and torture will continue with Obama's & Brezinski's approval.