UN expert urges full U.S. torture investigation

[Solly Mack]

UN expert urges full U.S. torture investigation


"The new U.N. torture expert urged the United States on Tuesday to conduct a full investigation into torture under the Bush administration and prosecute offenders as well as senior officials who ordered it.

Juan Ernesto Mendez told Reuters he also hoped to visit Iraq to probe a "very widespread practice of torture" of detainees with the help of coalition forces, revealed in confidential U.S. files issued by Wikileaks.


The United States has a duty to investigate every act of torture. Unfortunately, we haven't seen much in the way of accountability," said Mendez, himself a former torture victim, in the wide-ranging interview at the United Nations in Geneva.

"There is a lot more to the story than has been revealed. It is important to get to the bottom of what happened and under whose orders, and if necessary to bring charges," he added."

[democrank]

1. Hold the war criminals accountable.

[Solly Mack]

3. They need to be held accountable.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Only problem is...

we all know it will never happen.

[Solly Mack]

4. and how pathetic is that? Doesn't speak well of the US at all.

[spanone]

5. k&r

[Solly Mack]

8. Thank you, spanone

[piratefish08]

6. keep looking forward.

keep looking forward.
keep looking forward.
keep looking forward.

[Solly Mack]

7. While clapping my hands and clicking my heels together?

I believe. I believe. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

[merh]

9. That's the problem and why we need the investigation

This is no longer the home it once was.

No bravery is needed to torture a restrained prisoner. To do so out of fear (where is the dirty bomb, who hates us, bla bla bla) is cowardly and shameful.

We need to clean house, we need to restore integrity - we need to investigate and hold accountable and let it be known that it is not acceptable to torture.

And all those who took the investigations off the table need to be sitting at a defense table to answer to their accessory after the fact charges.

[Solly Mack]

10. I agree with everything you said

[piratefish08]

11. keep looking forward.

keep looking forward.
keep looking forward.
keep looking forward.
keep looking forward.

if we don't give our blind support and look forward as war criminals walk free, then the rethugs and terrorists will win!


the reverse logic makes my fucking head hurt.............

[Bragi]

12. This tactic is a prelude to international action

As I understand it, the International Criminal Court only has jurisdiction if the legal authorities in a country refuse to investigate and prosecute nationals under their own laws who may be guilty of war crimes.

I think what the UN is establishing, by asking for an investigation, is that the U.S has no intention of investigating and charging persons under the relevant U.S law who may have committed war crimes.

That won't make the matter go away, no matter how much the past and current US administration would like it to. Instead, it just clears the way for the matter going to the international criminal court.

[merh]

13. I believe you are correct.

And when the UN pushes for the International Criminal Court to become involved, we will publicize how corrupt and evil and unreliable the UN is and how we are so above their slimmy ways.

Just like what the republicans have been doing for years now.

[Bragi]

15. At least American war criminals won't be able to travel

Beyond upholding the rule of law, prosecuting and convicting American war criminals in absentia will at least mean that suspected and convicted American war criminals won't be able to travel abroad for fear of being arrested.

This will include Bush and most/many of his cronies, who are already unable to travel much abroad.

These restrictions may also include, however, Obama and members of his administration for refusing to bring war criminals to justice, and harboring them, in violation of international (and U.S) law.

[merh]

16. Doesn't Rummy stay in the states because of an indictment

waiting on him in Europe (France, I think)?

The Saudis will still welcome them all with open arms, we have been doing their bidding for years - war criminal convictions in absentia won't get in the way of those close relationships.

[Bragi]

17. Rummy was whisked out of Paris, yes

I don't have a link, but I recall that Rummy, after he stepped down, traveled to Paris to give a speech.

On the day of the speech, the CIA picked him up at the hotel early in the morning, and whisked him onto a plane and back to the US because they feared he was to be served with war crimes charges.

I loved it at the time, and I think it served as a lesson for the other Bushites, who one does not see traveling abroad much these days.

But yes, they will still be welcome in Saudi Arabia, and much in demand as guest speakers in corrupt counties ending in "stan".

They just need to hope their plane doesn't need to come down over Europe or anywhere else that respects international law.

[merh]

18. wouldn't you have just loved to have seen Rummy's face

when the CIA showed up to say "you have to leave, there is a warrant for your arrest as a war criminal"?

[Bragi]

19. Absolutely

And I'd like to see the awkward looks on all the memoir book promoters faces when a Bushite tells them they can't, ah, travel much outside the U.S to do PR for their books.

I guess If we can't have real justice, we can at least try to enjoy the lifetime of embarrassment for all the Bushites.

[Solly Mack]

14. If a qualifying party initiates proceedings, possibly.

I also think the UN is reminding other states of their obligations...and that does serve to establish the unwillingness or inability of the US to prosecute.

A state can use universal jurisdiction and try America's war criminals within their own court systems under conventions such as the CAT. (as well)

The ICC is independent of the UN but does work with them (United Nations Security Council can adopt a resolution to stop any ICC investigation...the UN Security Council can also initiate proceedings). As of right now, the US is still not a party to the ICC.....but that doesn't stop universal jurisdiction or the ICC.

[Forkboy]

20. K&R

[Solly Mack]

22. Thanks!

[malaise]

21. K & R

Lock up the war crminals

[Solly Mack]

23. Thank you!