A Ticket to The Hague for Dick Cheney? By Scott Horton

[kpete]

A Ticket to The Hague for Dick Cheney?

By Scott Horton

Gene Burns is one of the nation’s most popular talk radio hosts. For years he has dismissed accounts of torture; America, he has said, does not torture. But last night, after watching Torturing Democracy and realizing that he had not understood how important and serious an issue torture had become, Burns abruptly changed his tune. Here’s a transcript of his remarks.
http://www.neverinournames.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2601

I now believe that some international human rights organization ought to open an investigation of the Bush Administration, I think focused on Vice President Dick Cheney, and attempt to bring charges against Cheney in the international court of justice at The Hague, for war crimes. Based on the manner in which we have treated prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, and the manner in which we have engaged in illegal rendition–that is, surreptitiously kidnapping prisoners and flying them to foreign countries where they could be tortured by foreign agents who do not follow the same civilized standards to which we subscribe.

I’ve always said that I’ve thought that even at Guantánamo Bay the United States was careful to stay on this side of torture. In fact, you may recall that on a couple of occasions we got into a spirited debate on this program about waterboarding, and whether waterboarding was torture. And I took the position that it was not torture, that it was simulated drowning, and that if that produced information which preserved our national security, I thought it was permissible.

And then I saw Torturing Democracy.

And I’m afraid, now that I have seen what I have seen, that I was wrong about that. It looks to me, based on this documentary, as if in fact we have engaged in behavior and practices at Guantánamo Bay, and in these illegal renditions, that are violations of the international human rights code.

And I believe that Dick Cheney is responsible. I believe that he was the agent of the United States government charged with developing the methodology used at Guantánamo Bay, supervising it for the administration, and indulging in practices which are in fact violations of human rights.

more at:
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/11/hbc-90003846

[TomInTib]

1. I would gladly lead him to the gallows.

With a cattle prod taped to his scrotum.

[H2O Man]

2. The ICC

(aka "World Court" or the "Hague") lacks jurisdiction over US politicians.

[Solly Mack]

6. Hey H2O Man. The ICJ is not the same as the ICC

The article says the ICJ (at least that's how I read it)

ICJ - International Court of Justice

http://www.icj-cij.org/court/index.php?p1=1&PHPSESSID=ae16ecd67a97a1c3e18be657fce242fe

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.


ICC - International Criminal Court

Based in the Hague, The Nederlands,

http://www.icc-cpi.int/about.html

FAQ - How is the ICC different from the International Court of Justice?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) does not have criminal jurisdiction to prosecute individuals. It is a civil tribunal that deals primarily with disputes between States. The ICJ is the principle judicial organ of the United Nations, whereas the ICC is independent of the UN.


http://www.icc-cpi.int/about/ataglance/faq.html

[tavalon]

8. Why?

[librechik]

3. Don't let Rummy and Junior off the hook

we will never again be respected as a world power with a working democracy until we can hold our criminal leaders to account. We didn't seem to have any before Nixon. Then we pardoned him and all the ones following who broke our laws and pissed on the constitution.

[MikeDuffy]

4. Free Tickets to see "Torturing Democracy" for yourselves!!!

Online: Go to www.TorturingDemocracy.org

On your local PBS: Maybe some day. Maybe soon if enough people request it of their local stations together with donations...

[struggle4progress]

5. better late than never, i suppose

[Usrename]

7. Justice?

Now they want justice?

It's about damn time, after millions have been killed and mutilated and driven from their homes.