Amnesty: US must begin criminal investigation of torture following Bush admission

[deminks]

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/us-must-begin-criminal-investigation-torture-following-bush-admission-2010-11-10

10 November 2010

Amnesty International today urged a criminal investigation into the role of former US President George W Bush and other officials in the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" against detainees held in secret US custody after the former president admitted authorizing their use.

In his memoirs, published yesterday, and in an interview on NBC News broadcast on 8 November 2010, the former President confirmed his personal involvement in authorizing "water-boarding" and other techniques against "high value detainees".

"Under international law, the former President's admission to having authorized acts that amount to torture are enough to trigger the USA's obligations to investigate his admissions and if substantiated, to prosecute him," said Claudio Cordone, Senior Director at Amnesty International.

"His admissions also highlight once again the absence of accountability for the crimes under international law of torture and enforced disappearance committed by the USA."

(snip)

"Under international law, anyone involved in torture must be brought to justice, and that does not exclude former President George W Bush," said Claudio Cordone.

"In the absence of a US investigation, other states must step in and carry out such an investigation themselves."

(end snip)

If we don't take care of this, someone else will.

[Oceansaway]

1. K&R...n/t

[DCKit]

2. "If we don't take care of this, someone else will."

This has been discussed many times over the past few years.

It will harm our standing further if we don't do it ourselves, but foreign action will send the right signal to those tempted to follow in BushCos* missteps.

[Solly Mack]

3. k/r

[Dragonfli]

4. A constitutional scholar told me that moving forward was a legal defense so

powerful that the law breakers need not even face a judge.

He must know the law and the law must not have been violated because of the power of that critical defense.

Shouldn't we listen to the legal advise of this renowned scholar?

[deminks]

5. Kick for the morning.

In case anyone hasn't seen.

[snappyturtle]

6. A U.S. led criminal investigation? Never will happen and gwb knows it.nt

[indepat]

7. We can take comfort that the administration will get right on this

;)

[indepat]

8. We can take comfort that the administration will get right on this

;)

[steve2470]

9. k&r nt