Calls Mount to Investigate Bush Era Officials for Torture

[annabanana]

http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/122-122/6587-calls-mount-to-investigate-bush-era-officials-for-torture

Newly de-classified memos, transcriptions of congressional hearings, and other sources indicate that Bush officials authorised the use of interrogation techniques almost universally considered torture – such as waterboarding – as well as the operation of covert CIA prisons abroad and the rendition of detainees to other countries where they were subsequently tortured.

HRW also criticised the United States under the current Barack Obama administration for failing to meets it obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture to investigate acts of torture and other inhumane treatment.

"President Obama has defended the decision not to prosecute officials in his predecessor's administration by arguing that the country needs 'to look forward, not backward,'" said HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. " has treated torture as an unfortunate policy choice rather than a crime."

To date, both the Bush and Obama administrations have successfully prevented courts from reviewing the merits of torture allegations in civil lawsuits by arguing that the cases involve sensitive information, which, if revealed, might endanger national security.

Nothing in those "newly classified memos" is of any surprise to those of us who have been calling for accountability for years now, but it is nice to know that those foul fetid stinking filthy rotten crimes have not been forgotten.

[ThomThom]

1. Are people in the Obama continuing the Bush policies of torture

and other crimes? I think they might be. That would be a reason they don't want investigation. What has happened to our country?

[TBMASE]

2. One more reason why he's been so disappointing

Democrats, in general, have been disappointments since 2007 when Impeachment went off the table

[democrank]

3. If we do nothing about this.......

we should hang our heads in shame.

[gordianot]

4. My guess has been that there are ongoing covert operations based on Bush era intelligence.

Intelligence obtained by torture. Some one may have actually learned something have or are pursuing it and cannot afford to have it exposed. The past can haunt you even when you had no part in the actions of others.

I agree the crimes should not be forgotten.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Obama's entire moral universe has one rule 'no equal rights for

gays' after that, his version of 'Christianity' is freewheeling, no problem with torture, crimes, fraud of immense proportions.