The United Nations has released a new report on human rights that has found the record of the United states to be “deplorable.” With the continuing refusal of the Obama Administration to investigate war crimes and to support the Bush policies in court, we have lost an opportunity to show the country has committed itself to change these policies and demand accountability for those who implemented them.
The May 26, 2009, report by Australian law professor Philip Alston, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, states that “there have been chronic and deplorable accountability failures with respect to policies, practice and conduct that resulted in alleged unlawful killings — including possible war crimes — in the United States’ international operations.”
“credible reports” of at least five deaths caused by torture at the hands of the CIA. Yet, Attorney General Eric Holder continues to block any investigation into such cases or the torture program as a whole. This was not missed by the United Nation report, which states “U.S. prosecutors have failed to use the laws on the books to investigate and prosecute (contractors) and civilian agents for wrongful deaths, including, in some cases, deaths credibly alleged to have resulted from torture and abuse.”
For the story, click here.
Mespo,
I will pay for your gas to drive GM for his treatment.
GM SUCKS:
“THE CORRUPT ILLEGITIMATE UNELECTED UNITED NATIONS RUN BY CRONIES OF THE THIRD WORLD THUGS & FULL OF THIEVES LIKE KOFFI ANNAN AND HIS SON, TELLING THE UNITED STATES WE ARE SOOO BAD!
UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ONLY AT A LIBERAL BLOG WOULD WE SEE THE UNITED NATIONS HELD UP AS SOME KIND OF WORTHY INSTITUTION!
THE CORRUPT ILLEGITIMATE UNELECTED UNITED NATIONS RUN BY CRONIES OF THE THIRD WORLD THUGS & FULL OF THIEVES LIKE KOFFI ANNAN AND HIS SON, TELLING THE UNITED STATES WE ARE SOOO BAD!
UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ONLY AT A LIBERAL BLOG WOULD WE SEE THE UNITED NATIONS HELD UP AS SOME KIND OF WORTHY INSTITUTION!”
*****************
You know GM, irrational repetition and unwarranted shouting are key signs of mental illness. When single payer comes, I’ll drive you to the psychiatrist, ok?
THE CORRUPT ILLEGITIMATE UNELECTED UNITED NATIONS RUN BY CRONIES OF THE THIRD WORLD THUGS & FULL OF THIEVES LIKE KOFFI ANNAN AND HIS SON, TELLING THE UNITED STATES WE ARE SOOO BAD!
UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ONLY AT A LIBERAL BLOG WOULD WE SEE THE UNITED NATIONS HELD UP AS SOME KIND OF WORTHY INSTITUTION!
THE CORRUPT ILLEGITIMATE UNELECTED UNITED NATIONS RUN BY CRONIES OF THE THIRD WORLD THUGS & FULL OF THIEVES LIKE KOFFI ANNAN AND HIS SON, TELLING THE UNITED STATES WE ARE SOOO BAD!
UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ONLY AT A LIBERAL BLOG WOULD WE SEE THE UNITED NATIONS HELD UP AS SOME KIND OF WORTHY INSTITUTION!
Jill,
BVM is just another troll who is trying to deflect attention from the Bushites who started the war on a lie and authorized and ordered the torture. Many of us here, you included, are on the record that whomever an investigation finds has violated our laws on torture should be prosecuted. Period. No matter what party. The fact that members of Congress, Republican and Democrats alike, voted to fund the war has no bearing on the tortue subject. Why the war was started on a lie is a separate issue to be dealt with. However, if you investigate Cheney and Bush on the torture issue, you are getting the heads of the group that initiated the WMD lie(s).
Vince Treacy, an excellent poster on this site added this information on the Al-Haramain v. Obama state secrets case last night:
“As of Saturday, May 30, DOJ has completed a high level review of the state secrets defense in this cae.
It just filed with the court. It is continuing to maintain the defense.”
Yes, FFN, this certainly is the wrong direction to go in. Thanks for the link.
To BVM:
Please clarify your position. In addition to all the war criminals you believe should be prosecuted, do you believe Cheney and Bush should be prosecuted as well?
Let us not forget that this is in addition to the US deteriorating into an ‘endemic surveillance society’: http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-559597
Going the wrong way on all fronts, it appears.
BVM,
There is one way to sort out guilt and innocence–an independent criminal investigation. An investigation should be started immediately and should look at everyone involved. That such an investigation has not been started needs to be remedied immediately.
And don’t forget Biden, he played a major role along with most in Congress. They are guilty of “selling the illegal war.”
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5492
BVM,
I am all for a complete investigations into war crimes. Let’s start at the top, those who authorized torture and concocted evidence to present to the public and congress to gain support for what is in fact, an illegal war. That would be bush and cheney. Let the chips fall where they may.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
— Jesus Christ, Matthew 23: 14-15
Trying to evade and distract on the issue will not make it go away.
I didn’t vote for War-Funding and the above links will be remembered by the mothers and other loved ones of the murdered and maimed in the illegal Wars.
Those who voted ‘Aye’ on War-Funding in Congress Killed and Maimed Our Troops and Funded Torture!
Mary and BVM,
Could you tell me where in the Gospels Jesus preached hatred. You blaspheme your saviour, on Sunday of all days.
Sorry, typo on link
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Here are 2 links on Votes by War Criminals in Congress who voted ‘Aye’ on just 1 major War- Funding bill – H.R. 2642
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2008-432
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00162
These and All War-Funding Votes in Congress Killed Out Troops and Funded Torture!
THE CORRUPT ILLEGITIMATE UNELECTED UNITED NATIONS RUN BY CRONIES OF THE THIRD WORLD THUGS & FULL OF THIEVES LIKE KOFFI ANNAN AND HIS SON, TELLING THE UNITED STATES WE ARE SOOO BAD!
UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ONLY AT A LIBERAL BLOG WOULD WE SEE THE UNITED NATIONS HELD UP AS SOME KIND OF WORTHY INSTITUTION!
Here are 2 links to records of Votes by some of the War Criminals in Congress who voted ‘Aye’ on just 1 major War- Funding bill – H.R. 2642
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2008-432
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&sess ion=2&vote=00162
Those who Voted for War-Funding bills in Congress Killed Our Troops and Funded Torture!
Those in Congress who voted to Fund the War, Funded the Torture.
Those in Congress who voted to Fund the War, Killed Our Troops.
While it is still early in the Obama administration, I, too am concerned that Holder and the Jutice Department has not initiated investigations into the torture problems. I do believe that Holder will go after those that ordered the torture because he like his boss, President Obama, is a political animal and he knows it will be a short 4 years for him and Obama if he doesn’t investigate and prosecute. I am also confident that Congress will do their job and investigate the torture eventually. I just wish it was sooner than later. It is more than a little sad when the UN is citing the poor human rights record of the United States.
“credible reports” of at least five deaths caused by torture at the hands of the CIA. Yet, Attorney General Eric Holder continues to block any investigation into such cases or the torture program as a whole.”
The expense of prosecution is as nothing compared to the expense of failure to prosecute. This is exchanging short term money for long term money, pain and suffering. What we are doing is setting up blowback on a worldwide scale. This isn’t a financial calculation. If you see the film “Tortured Democracy” featured on Bill Moyers you will see that CIA and top govt. officials were promised immunity from prosecution, or made plans to insure they would not be prosecuted. I believe Obama is clearly carrying out the fulfillment of immunity for the people so promised it. He has clearly ignored admitted war crimes, time and time again. In fact, he has argued in court for top level officials to be held immune and he already granted blanket immunity to CIA personnel. As Vince Treacy pointed out last night Obama has affirmed another “principle” of bush, regarding domestic spying and state secrets. I think we need to take Obama at his word and his actions. He has said he doesn’t want to prosecute and has given out immunity. These are very clear intentions/actions.
Yielding up any moral credibility this nation had to its own citizens and the citizens of the rest of the world is both illegal, immoral and irresponsible. I fear the many “secret plans” explanations for Obama’s actions because they keep the left silent when in fact, we should be screaming. If we don’t wake up and stop making excuses, I promise you, there will be no prosecutions. Even if one wants to believe in these “secret plans”, it cannot hurt to demand prosecutions. If that is supposedly Obama’s goal, then let’s help him along by showing him what we want and what this country should be about.
Those who Funded the War Killed Our Troops – Obama, Biden, Bush, Cheney, Congress, et al Killed Our Troops.
Upon entering the Senate in 2005 through April 2007 Obama voted for every war-funding bill that came before him. On 6/26/08 Obama voted for passage of H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, a war- funding bill. Obama, despite his anti-war rhetoric, has cast at least 11 votes for war-funding bills.
The list of War Criminals includes all those in Congress who voted to invade Iraq, those who voted to fund the war and the continuing occupation and all the political, civil and military leaders of America responsible for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have all conspired in War Crimes against our country and internationally.
Obama is a fascist, murderous imposter who should be arrested and removed at once from the Office of President. Obama and co-conspirators are guilty in the deaths and maiming of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. Some estimate as many as 1,400,000 Iraqis have died due to the US-led war. Obama approved funds which were used to buy bombs and bullets to murder and maim tens of thousands of Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani children.
On following video a mother speaks to Ari Fleischer and the Freedoms Watch ad campaign.
The feeling of a lot of people in the Dallas area is lest just get on with this one term administration and be done with it. I hope that this delay is nothing more than political in undertones. I pray that All of the parties responsible are charged. I like Jill and a lot of can become a skeptic real quick. But then you have to accept the practicalities of the situation.
I don’t know if any of you are aware when the state of Texas tried the warren Jeffs faction of the Mormon Church. It was a massive seizure of children. This turned out to be very costly and expensive only to have it in reality dismissed. XYZ Ranch/Compound Yearning for Zion.
So I am hoping that this is why the delay, delay, delay. On the defense side, usually delay is on your side unless you are in the Federal Court system, then they can sandbag you right before trial.
Oh come on U.N. doncha know that “you had to be there” to get it?
Back off da bushies already, you were not there.
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/you-had-to-be-there-psychology.html