Calls to try Bush administration officials for war crimes

[malaise]

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3267846.htm
<snip>
Human Rights Watch has released a report arguing that US authorities are legally obliged to investigate the Bush administration's most senior officials for war crimes.

It's singled out former president George W. Bush, his vice-president Dick Cheney, the former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and the ex-CIA director George Tenet.

Reed Brody is counsel for Human Rights Watch. He's been nicknamed The Dictator Hunter, and was lead counsel for victims in the prosecution of Augusto Pinochet.

He wrote the report, and says that if the Obama administration won't put George Bush on trial, foreign governments should.

[barbtries]

1. i hope they do.

heaven knows it is not happening here. :(

[malaise]

2. This is receiving lots of coverage on BBC International this morning

calling for an Independent Commission.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14119065
<snip>
The former president, vice-president, defence secretary and head of the CIA should all be investigated, the group says.

"There are solid grounds to investigate Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Tenet for authorising torture and war crimes," said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch's executive director.

"President Obama has treated torture as an unfortunate policy choice rather than a crime.

"His decision to end abusive interrogation practices will remain easily reversible unless the legal prohibition against torture is clearly re-established."

In its 107-page report, HRW claims there is substantial information warranting criminal investigations of Mr Bush and his senior officials for ordering practises such as waterboarding, the use of secret CIA prisons and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured.

[EFerrari]

3. I wonder if something has moved.

Because HRW is sensitive to the climate in DC. :shrug:

[malaise]

4. I doubt it

I think they completed their report. Maybe the best thing for the planet is the fall of Murdoch - hopefully journalism can be cleaned up and the power elite will be forced to follow the law.
I'm not particularly hopeful because too many people will destroy countries for power and wealth.

[Aerows]

13. Murdoch was manipulating people in the UK

I'm sure he was doing it here, too. Maybe they fact that he's in deep shit trouble now is giving people a little more confidence.

[gratuitous]

5. I'm glad for the calls for justice

Gee, we were all interested in justice when Seal Team Six gunned down an unarmed man back in April, but we seem curiously incurious about the very same crimes he was accused of when it might be our own people who committed them. There's a word for that, but it's early in the morning and I just can't think of it.

Think, think.

[EFerrari]

6. Ken Roth kicked Bush apologist @ss this morning on Amy's show.

I have no great love for HRW because their Latin America guy has politicized his mission. But Roth did great today. I wouldn't cross him. lol

Link will be up in about an hour.

[malaise]

7. I'd love to hear that

Thanks

[EFerrari]

18. Here's the link to the segment:

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/12/a_debate_on_human_rights_watchs

[spanone]

8. k&r... i'll be there's no statute of limitations on war crimes

[malaise]

11. Try and watch Professor Nowak on BBC

An amazing interview - the US has no choice but to investigate.

[spanone]

15. thanks!!!

[mysubs2012]

9. Bush = Human Rights ????

How can the Pastor of George W Bush even let him come into
God's House when he has the blood of innocent men women and
children on his hands ?  Money maybe  Maybe St Peter will give
him some change

[Scuba]

10. Add Gonzales and Yoo to the list. n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

12. YAWN. Nothing will happen.

Nor will any foreign government of any significance do anything either.

[Electric Monk]

14. You wish

I wish different.

K&R

[GreenStormCloud]

17. Not wish, I predict.

You may wish different, but wishing won't make it happen.

[crazyjoe]

16. ya, but it's fun to pretend.

[wildbilln864]

19. k & r! nt

[Electric Monk]

20. kick

nt

[FiveGoodMen]

21. ...fall on deaf ears in a White House committed to "Looking forward"

[rhett o rick]

22. I think Obama made a deal with the devil to get into the WH. Part of the deal was hands off the war

criminals.