Judge dismisses suit against Rumsfeld (allegations of torture)

[Kadie]

Judge dismisses suit against Rumsfeld
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld cannot be tried on allegations of torture in overseas military prisons, a federal judge said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan threw out a lawsuit brought on behalf of nine former prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said Rumsfeld cannot be held personally responsible for actions taken in connection with his government job.

The lawsuit contends the prisoners were beaten, suspended upside down from the ceiling by chains, urinated on, shocked, sexually humiliated, burned, locked inside boxes and subjected to mock executions.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First had argued that Rumsfeld and top military officials disregarded warnings about the abuse and authorized the use of illegal interrogation tactics that violated the constitutional and human rights of prisoners.

"Despite the horrifying torture allegations," Hogan wrote, he could find no case law supporting the lawsuit, which he previously had described as unprecedented.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070327/ap_on_go_ot/detainee_abuse_rumsfeld_3

[snappyturtle]

1. Despicable! n/t

[mike_c]

2. this is why the ICC exists-- because nations are always reluctant...

...to prosecute their own.

[Solly Mack]

3. Wow

"He said Rumsfeld cannot be held personally responsible for actions taken in connection with his government job."

Gee, and Nuremberg?
Just saying...

[hang a left]

4. Unprecedented here because well, we have only had a policy

of torturing people for a little while. Maybe the ICC has some precedent we could borrow.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

5. Judge Hogan just missed his big chance to be a real hero. n/t