John Nichols: It is time to apply the rule of law to Dick Cheney

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/john-nichols-it-is-time-to-apply-the-rule-of/article_264047fb-afdb-5e44-8bed-6abd5a96c228.html

Arizona Sen. John McCain, who during his time as a prisoner of war came to know something about the abuse of incarcerated combatants, provided the soundest assessment of the revelation that the United States abandoned its values and international standards in order to permit practices that the world knows as torture.

“We gave up much in the expectation that torture would make us safer,” McCain said after the release of details from the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on Central Intelligence Agency abuses. “Too much.”

McCain's calculation raises a question: If the United States has given up too much moral territory, what might be done now to regain the high ground? Surely, President Obama's curtailing of the worst practices was a start, as are the protocols that have been developed to guard against future abuses.

But what about accountability?

Doesn't that have to be part of the response?

Experts in international law believe this to be the case. “The United States is obligated under both the Geneva Convention and the convention against torture … to investigate and prosecute the commission of torture," Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor of international law at the University of Notre Dame, told the Guardian newspaper.

Groups that seek to stop torture agree. "Torture is a crime and those responsible for crimes must be brought to justice," says Steven W. Hawkins, the executive director of Amnesty International USA. “This was not some rogue operation. This was a program, chilling in its detail, unlawful from day one, that gave the green light to commit the crimes under international law of torture and enforced disappearance — with impunity. It’s time for accountability, including a full investigation, prosecutions and remedy for victims."

Joining the chorus of calls for accountability are Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights; Juan Mendez, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture; and Ben Emmerson, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch have gotten specific about how to pursue accountability. In a joint letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, they urged the nation's top law enforcement officer "to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the crimes detailed in the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the CIA’s torture program."

"Even though our organizations have dedicated tens of thousands of staff hours to researching, litigating, and advocating on concerns related to torture and other ill treatment in the RDI program, the depravity of the tactics and immensity of the enterprise still astound us," the letter explained. "There is no need to repeat the details in this letter to you, but we believe it is fair to say that many of these crimes would be horrific even if committed by an individual acting alone; but when done as part of a deliberate, coordinated government program, the crimes are more shocking and far more corrosive to U.S. democracy."

[belzabubba333]

1. yup k.r

[Control-Z]

2. K&RRRRRR (nt)

[randys1]

3. Obama should have the pulse of the nation taken when he is months away from

leaving office, if he thinks it wont hurt Hillary too much (or whoever the nominee is which we would know at that time), indict the torturers, have the AG do it.

I am not justifying the action of only doing it if you think it wont hurt you politically, I am simply stating the fact that it would be a consideration.

[OnyxCollie]

6. How about those who were anally-raped, or had to stand on broken legs,

or were stripped naked and doused with ice water, when does their hurt begin to enter your calculus?

Fucking depraved.

[randys1]

7. It is not my calculus, I was merely pointing out that as it is now NOTHING will be done

I was simply hoping that there could be a scenario where something could be done.

[rock]

4. I hope he doesn't confess

I'll get the buckets of water ready.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Not going to happen!!!!

As long as the DOJ has todays actors in place,no way Jose'. Did they take down Tricky Dick,no. Did they take down any of the Bush's,no. Will they take down Cheney,no. It's all about the Clubyness of Washington D.C.,they don't give a tinkers damn about the rule of law. It's all about protecting the 1% ers.

[randys1]

8. Well, that is what George Carlin said, almost verbatim, and he was right about

absolutely EVERYTHING else.

I dont blame any one person in the power structure, that would be too easy.

[lobodons]

10. Gonna have to be UN/The Hague

Gonna have to done on an International basis.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. MUST. LOOK. FORWARD.

Because (the people who control) Obama said so.

[JDPriestly]

12. K&R.

[SmittynMo]

13. Did I see the word "accountability" used in

reference to republicans?

There's your first mistake.

The two shall NEVER be used together. It does not exist.

[lame54]

15. at least without the words "lack of"

[lame54]

14. We can raise money for his victims...

by putting his arrest on pay-per-view