How difficult will it be to prosecute anyone for torture?

[kentuck]

Will Dick Cheney ever be convicted of anything? More and more, it appears that the torture operation was run out of the office of the Vice President. This would help to explain why the former VP has been all over TV and radio proclaiming the valuable rewards reaped from torture or "enhanced interrogation techniques".

What is the most we can expect from an issue that will create a clear divide between the Parties? There will not be a consensus to convict anyone. The partisan rancor will stall any efforts to bring anyone to justice. Neither Barack Obama nor his Justice Dept will have the power necessary to convict anyone, in the final analysis. That is the reality of partisan politics, in that even an issue like torture, will have enough defenders to prevent prosecution. It is sad but that is the reality in America today.

What is the best we can hope for? This is just my opinion, but I believe the best we can hope for is gradual exposure of the facts and the truth. Once folks close their minds, because they believe it is nothing but a partisan witchhunt, then the game is over. The truth will be stalled. We cannot permit that to happen.

This will be a long process. The photos may yet come out in the future, although the President has declined to make them public at this time. This is not a skirmish. This is a long-range war.

[leftofthedial]

1. As long as the current two-party system remains,

it will NEVER happen in this country.

We'll have to rely on a civilized country, probably European, to do what's necessary.



Actually, it will be relatively easy to continue prosecuting low-level flunkies. But the real criminals, cheney, bush, rumsfeld, et al are already off scot-free, protected by their fellow elites.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MikeNearMcChord]

3. Actually if you are in the service from E-1(private) to E-6(Staff Sergeant)

very easy, just ask those reservists from Pennsylvania(Abu Ghraib) they got justice, while everyone from E-7 and above got letter of reprimands(woo hoo)
Punishment like taxes are for the little people.

[blueworld]

4. The result doesn't matter - the procedure is vital

To me, the glory of the US judicial system isn't whether all the wrongdoers are always convicted, or whether some guilty bass turds occasionally go free. The beauty & honor is in the process. We humans can never control the outcome, but we have to do what's right when the path is clear.

There's certainly already evidence for prosecution under existing laws. Charges may not be filed for some specious reason or once filed, the scum will be acquitted.

But I believe strongly that we must try. Bush/Cheney & the neocons always choose the "end justifies the means". I believe the most important thing about America (if we actually still exist as America) is that the means (laws & process) is everything.

[kentuck]

5. I think that is a very idealistic America...

The real America would not permit such a process to continue, at this time.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. There's too much blood on too many powerful hands to prosecute.

That's why there is the ongoing effort to sweep it all under the rug and invoke the usual excuses for withholding evidence. The get-out-of-jail-free cards issued to the CIA thugs was a pretty good indicator of how ardent the bosses are to prosecute anyone.

We are expected, like the "good Germans" to participate in the pretense that it was all just a few bad apples, whether Bush and Cheney, or some low level sadists inflicting the torture. Or, that it was all just a "mistake" by a load of political opportunists who "didn't know" what was really going on.

[kentuck]

8. Bingo!

So what is the most we can expect? An investigation? A Special Prosecutor? A Commission? Will we ever know all the facts?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. The "investigation" will be done by outside parties like the ACLU.

And, similar troublemakers (in the eyes of the powerful) who will expose the crime and the attempted cover up.

[guitar man]

7. how difficult?

ever try to eat jello with chopsticks? :(

[L. Coyote]

9. It is beginning to seem slam-dunk easy, with victims, evidence and admissions

slam dunk pun intended

Bureaucracy is all about creating evidence!!

CIA Has 3,000 Docs on Torture Tapes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5303329

[rockymountaindem]

10. It will *not* happen.

Nobody (except the low-ranking people already tried) will be put up on charges for torture. I always thought it was kind of silly to think people like Cheney would ever see the inside of a courtroom.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. Put it this way: if the DOJ doesn't do something. . .

then private citizens should do something.

:evilfrown:

[mmonk]

13. In free countries that respect international law and human rights,

probably with not too much difficulty but here, I don't know.

[kentuck]

14. Laws were not made for people like Cheney, Bush, and...

Republicans. They were made for you and I.