The Bush Administration is continuing to claim that it can torture prisoners in violation of international law despite the so-called “torture bill” and pledge of the President to comply with international rules. Congress, which has protected the president from any criminal investigation, is again professing shock and outrage in the longest institutional imitation of Claude Rains in history.
In a series of letters, the Justice Department has informed Congress that it continues to believe that torture can be ordered to fight terrorism. In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden (D, Or.) Brian A. Benczkowski, a deputy assistant attorney general says that “The fact that an act is undertaken to prevent a threatened terrorist attack, rather than for the purpose of humiliation or abuse, would be relevant to a reasonable observer in measuring the outrageousness of the act.” International law prohibits “outrages upon personal dignity.” For the letters, click here and here and here and here.
Obviously, since the Administration can claimed an anti-terrorism purpose in all of these cases, it is a meaningless standard. Moreover, international law does not change for motivation. When a cop tortures a prisoner in a Dirty Harry situation, he has the best motivations. However, it is a means that is prohibited under law.
The only thing for obnoxious than the Administration’s continued endorsement of torture is the continuing claim of shock from the Democrats. It was the Democrats (and specifically Senators Schumer and Feinstein) who saved Attorney General Mukasey’s confirmation on the torture question and helped him avoid having to answer whether waterboarding is torture.
Free from the threat of any serious congressional investigation, the Administration now openly discusses torture and compares our waterboarding techniques to other torturing nations, here.
Mukasey went on to refuse to answer the question after being given months of time, blocked any criminal investigation, and told jokesabout the issue.
The Democrats promised that they would not start impeachment proceedings against Bush when Speaker Pelosi was elected. Some Democrats would also be implicated in their knowledge of the torture program — a fact only recently revealed. So, many leading Democrats have the same interest as the White House in avoiding any recognition of the fact that the President ordered not just a crime but a war crime. This has led to some pretty twisted efforts at logic by Mukasey, who took an oath to prosecute criminals but has refused to acknowledge a criminal program repeatedly raised to him. Click here.
For the full story, click here.
rafflaw,
I agree. I have never heard a convincing explanation of why the old FISA law was inadequate to the task.
binx,
I agree with you as well. It is difficult to keep up with the sheer number of illegalities perpetrated by this administration (and that’s just the ones we know about–I’m guessing that means 3 % tops). Most people are backed against the wall economically. When that happens, one scandal after another just becomes so much background noise. It is clear to me that cheney and bush rely on people’s economic precariousness, the vapid “news” media, and (I suspect) blackmail of potential critics for cover to do just about anything they want. They do not seem all that concerned about releasing information on their past use and future promise of the use of torture. I find that lack of concern telling.
The only terrorists that we have to worry about are found in the George W. Bush administration. They have done more to recruit terrorists than anyone, by their use of torture and their invasion and occupation of Iraq. The old FISA where the poor guys have to actually go to a rubber stamp court for warrants is more than sufficient. I don’t agree with Pelosi very often, but I am glad the House took the stand against giving the Telecoms immunity for their illegal acts.
Meanwhile back at the ranch: The Torture Defense, as I see it, is only one of the components of a larger campaign (pardon the expression) to disgust the American Electorate and obfuscate the White Houses fingerprints on everything from Election Fraud to misinforming the public about the FISA realities. They’re already on the FISA fear train again – because as it stands – because of Pelosi’s leadership in not agreeing to the Senate amnesty – the potential of criminal charges is still wide open. Leading many leading Republicans to outright lie about he expiration of FISA and the associated danger.
The twist of course is the bi-partisan aiding and abetting. This unfortunately may end up being a case of Cat and Rat.
You can expect the Foghorn Leghorns of Congress to stop up tbe chest pounding about American danger from terrorists. When you see Democrats standing quietly by, or overtly passing on opportunities to dispel the fiction – it may suggest they are compromised as opposed to just indifferent.
Mespo,
I’m on ebay trying to purchase that cone off Niblet right now. Don’t bid me up–I’ll share!
Jill
rafflaw:
Well, I think you have something there. To paraphrase Henry of Navarre, maybe we too have our own “chicken in every pot”, so to speak. Viva la poule au pot!
I think Niblet doesn’t have to worry about being listened to by the NSA because he probably is an employee of the NSA(He sounds like their type) and this is their unique way of stirring the pot.
You see niblet feels utterly protected from surveillance by the government because his aluminum foil cap protects him from these small annoyances. I also happen to know that he purchased the last remaining “cone of silence” from the old “Get Smart” television program, and is totally secure in his thoughts, conversations, and public/private actions. Only the rest of us need worry.
Bob,
You are sick, sick man:)! I’m adding this to my list of things to say when people ask my (western) astrological sign. Thanks! Now the people watching my house are telling me it’s time to take my meds again so I must go.
Jill
Would this be considered an example of cronyism in the White House, as well as in the other branches of government? It seems to me that the problem is that they are looking out for each other more than they are looking out for the interests of the American people or following the laws they swore to uphold.
Jill,
I’m not sure I’m a ‘Pitta’ but I do tend to fall between an INTP and an INTJ.
Regards,
Bob
OMG,
I did forget my meds. Good thing the people watching my house came to the door to remind me to take them! Your tax dollars at work.
Dear Mike,
I hope you feel better soon.
Niblet
“You are three of the nuttiest liberals I have seen around for awhile. I bet you think the Government is listening in to your every conversation, right? Bet you think people are watching you as you walk down a street. Bet you even forget your meds.”
Are you capable of forming a syllogism?
Niblet,
They are only listening in on our conversations with you!
michael, jill & rafflaw.
You are three of the nuttiest liberals I have seen around for awhile. I bet you think the Government is listening in to your every conversation, right? Bet you think people are watching you as you walk down a street. Bet you even forget your meds.
Jill & Rafflaw,
The most frightening explanation that I can think of for the lack of action by Congress is that a coup has already happened and the powers that be are just letting things seem somewhat normal. I’m stuck in the house on a beautiful day with a savage head cold, so my perspective is much more gloomy than normal. Since this entire administration reeks of thuggishness, ego and stupidity if they had really taken over they would want to proclaim their power openly. They lack the subtlety to do it quietly. That’s my “ray of hope” for the day, I’m going back to sleep.
Mike
What about impeaching Mukasey and demanding the resignation of anyone else from “justice” involved in approving torture? I agree with you Michael, but this congress will not act on impeachment of cheney-bush (and I think this is a hugh mistake on their part). They might act on above with enough pressure from citizens. If this is not doing “the people’s business” (aka, acting in accordance with our laws) then I don’t know what is. cheney and bush need to have their firewalls removed, brick by brick, if necessary.
Michael S.,
I agree with you, but I think the best we can hope for realistically is criminal charges brought after they are out of office. The American people have to see that there are consequences for any and all who break the law.
The need to impeach Bush and Cheney are essential actions to stave off the end of our
Constitution as a viable schematic for our form of government. However, I believe that both these men and many others should also face severe criminal charges of the war crimes and war corruption variety. Anything less than this outcome will effectively destroy our freedoms and doom the American experiment.
This latest letter released from Sen. Weyden’s office is the latest example of sheer arrogance on the part of this felonious administration. The mainstream media should be all over this as an obvious attempt to walk around the domestic and international laws against torture. I am astounded that America has gotten to this point. This President, along with his cohorts and enablers, has brought this country down to the level of the Soviet-era gulags with its KGB and into the gutter. President Bush should not just be impeached for these actions. He should be indicted and carried out of the White House on a rail right to a individual cell at Guantanamo. It isn’t isolation, it is just an idividual in a small cage subjected to illegal torture techniques, as we recently heard from these pathetic criminals. They are not even being creative in their attempts to break the law. They are basically telling Congress and the world to go scratch!