Taxi to the Dark Side and the FISA Amendments: Did the Bush Administration just escape the Hague?

[galledgoblin]

Who here has seen "Taxi to the Dark Side"?

if you haven't, I suggest you go right out and watch it now, but watch it with someone you love. it's a truly gutting film that sums up the misuse of our servicepeople and military over the last 8 years, and how the Bush Administration managed to talk good people into torturing prisoners of war.

a million disturbing facts and figures are thrown at you.

one of them is that FISA, at the time the movie was made, contained an amendment which granted the Bush Administration retroactive immunity for their actions.

don't get me wrong, the telecom immunity bothers me as well, but I can't see the unconstitutional parts of the bill lasting very long, nor can I see anyone able to abuse the power the law gives before it's overturned.

but Bush (well, ok, Cheney) and his cronies getting off scott-free because of an amendment which quietly slipped by?

yeah, I can see that.

I've been searching for an hour now for more information on this. I cannot find any. so I'd like to ask you, DU, did FISA pass the Senate with Retroactive Immunity for the Bush Administration?

[shraby]

1. There is no statute of limitations for

murder..Bush is still liable for murder for sending the troops to Iraq under false pretenses. His not now or ever off the hook for that.

[leftofthedial]

2. The US government can not pass a law that immunizes one from action by the Hague.

international law can not, by definition, be changed by an individual country.

[madokie]

7. And that is why I keep saying that this evil crew will face the music sooner or later

The cannot make up laws to their own liking and expect to get away with it. Theres too many people and countries on to their murdering ways

[Blue_In_AK]

3. We saw Taxi to the Dark Side a while ago.

What a harrowing movie that was, and I agree -- the comment at the end about the hold-harmless clause in FISA made me furious. I would like to know the answer to your question, as well.

[TheWraith]

4. I think either that documentary got the facts wrong, or you misunderstood.

There is not and never has been a clause in FISA giving retroactive immunity to Bush admin officials.

The source of the confusion may be the speculation that civil suits against the telecoms would reveal administration officials as having authorized illegal surveilance.

And in any event, the Hague wouldn't have anything to do with violations of the Fourth Amendment guarantees against unreasonable search and siezure.

[galledgoblin]

5. I hope you're right

the "Hague" comment is not about anything in FISA, it's about the torture and murder that the administration authorized.

I find it unlikely that the film would make a comment like that improperly, not only does it have a great deal of fame, but when I first saw it, the director was actually there, and he would have made some comment if it were incorrect information.

I'll see if the library has a copy handy for me to watch tomorrow, and will report back.

[galledgoblin]

6. well, that's depressing

I believe after some research that I was thinking of a provision in the Military Commissions Act... which passed back in '06.