Consequences for Yoo? (MoJo)

[struggle4progress]

... In 1947, the United States charged several high-ranking German lawyers in a U.S. Military Tribunal with conspiracy to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. Scott Horton, a prominent human rights attorney who lectures at Columbia Law School, suggests that Yoo may want to revisit the case. Under the ruling, writes Horton, "the conduct of is a criminal act not shielded by any notions of government immunity."

Horton also sites international lawyer and University College London professor Philippe Sands, who wrote a relevant Vanity Fair teaser for his upcoming book, The Torture Team. While conducting research, Sands met with European legal officials to discuss the doctrine of universal jurisdiction:

The judge and prosecutor were particularly struck by the immunity from prosecution provided by the Military Commissions Act. "That is very stupid," said the prosecutor, explaining that it would make it much easier for investigators outside the United States to argue that possible war crimes would never be addressed by the justice system in the home country—one of the trip wires enabling foreign courts to intervene. For some of those involved in the Guantánamo decisions, prudence may well dictate a more cautious approach to international travel. And for some the future may hold a tap on the shoulder.

"It's a matter of time," the judge observed. "These things take time." As I gathered my papers, he looked up and said, "And then something unexpected happens, when one of these lawyers travels to the wrong place" ...

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/04/7858_consequences_fo.html

[man4allcats]

1. There ARE no consequences for the Bushistas,

well at least not, as you note, in the U.S. Let's hope the rest of the world is less forgiving!

[rwenos]

2. John Yoo Permanent Stain on University of California

I speak as a holder of two degree from my beloved alma mater, UC Berkeley. How much blood does it now have on its hands, having extended John Yoo a professorship in the law school? And how can that professorship now be sustained, now that we have read the torture memoranda? (Thanks to the WashPo and others for publishing them.)

If Tony Platt could be fired from a professorship in the School of Criminology for being a Marxist in 1975, why can't John Yoo be fired for being a fascist in 2008?

Would that the great U live up to its motto, "Fiat lux."

[Mojorabbit]

3. It might be worthwhile

to start a letter writing campaign to the university.

[aquart]

4. Is he only teaching required courses?

Or can people simply refuse to sign up for his classes?

[Doctor_J]

5. If this November's election is stolen,

or if some loony winger follows his hate radio leaders' advice and does harm to Obama, we may well see a long-needed revolution. If so, Yoo and the rest of the Torture Team may head to to Gitmo and change their minds about torture.