War Crimes and the White House (former USMC Commandant Paul Kelley)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/25/AR2007072501881.html

War Crimes and the White House
The Dishonor in a Tortured New 'Interpretation' of the Geneva Conventions

By P.X. Kelley and Robert F. Turner
Thursday, July 26, 2007; A21


...

In other words, as long as the intent of the abuse is to gather intelligence or to prevent future attacks, and the abuse is not "done for the purpose of humiliating or degrading the individual" -- even if that is an inevitable consequence -- the president has given the CIA carte blanche to engage in "willful and outrageous acts of personal abuse."

It is firmly established in international law that treaties are to be interpreted in "good faith" in accordance with the ordinary meaning of their words and in light of their purpose. It is clear to us that the language in the executive order cannot even arguably be reconciled with America's clear duty under Common Article 3 to treat all detainees humanely and to avoid any acts of violence against their person.

...

The Geneva Conventions provide important protections to our own military forces when we send them into harm's way. Our troops deserve those protections, and we betray their interests when we gratuitously "interpret" key provisions of the conventions in a manner likely to undermine their effectiveness. Policymakers should also keep in mind that violations of Common Article 3 are "war crimes" for which everyone involved -- potentially up to and including the president of the United States -- may be tried in any of the other 193 countries that are parties to the conventions.

In a letter to President James Madison in March 1809, Jefferson observed: "It has a great effect on the opinion of our people and the world to have the moral right on our side." Our leaders must never lose sight of that wisdom.

Retired Gen. P.X. Kelley served as commandant of the Marine Corps from 1983 to 1987. Robert F. Turner is co-founder of the University of Virginia's Center for National Security Law and a former chair of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security.

There is much more of value in the article that I had to snip out due to length constraints, so go to the link and read it.

That, in conjunction with:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=907504

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051602395.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

seem to show that these Generals, particularly the former Marine Commandants, are taking a strong, clear, and unambiguous stand on the torture "controversy".

[babylonsister]

1. We need all the military possible to pipe in and let their disgust be known.

After all, the dim one listens to the military, right?

[hobbit709]

2. Apparently he only listen to the voices in his head.

Which if was anyone else, they'd be in the rubber-room hilton in a nanosecond.

[90-percent]

3. Credibility

How can anybody with "X." as a middle name have any credibility in these matters?

disclaimer: for humor purposes only, not meant to be taken seriously. does not reflect the authors actual opinion.

-85% jimmy

[Mnemosyne]

4. Most sickening of all

is that filthy POS * probably actually reads the reports of "willful and outrageous acts of personal abuse".

I put nothing past * since I saw the interview in which he mocked Karla Tucker. It's good that I have faith in karma or I would have completely lost my mind in the last 6 1/2 years.

What could we expect from a boy that found pleasure in branding frat pledges with heated up wire coat hangers. I guess * dreamed of being a 'cowboy' even in college.

I never understood true hate until *co stole our country. I do not like feeling this way, sickens me. However; it is 'comforting' to not be called an 'alarmist' anymore, here and elsewhere. At least I finally could believe I wasn't delusional over this crap.

Thanks for the article, MM.