Update and More Background (August 12, 2011): A Federal Judge will not pursue action against the CIA for the destroyed interrogation tapes, an action that has been pending from 2005-2007 (link here). Refresher on the topic from the NY Times here. NY Times archives on related subjects here.
Previous Update (July 4, 2011): This article asks precisely the right and appropriate question: Is Torture In America's Future As Well As In Our Country's Past?
Notes from that article: The Fourth of July is a joyous celebration of the United States' independence. And yet this country finds itself turning 235 at a morally precarious moment. That's because President Barack Obama has made it clear that we don't torture now -- but he's done very little to ensure that we won't do it again in the future. The Justice Department's Thursday announcement that it has closed its investigation into all torture-related actions save two particularly gruesome fatalities was a poignant reminder of that inaction (see that aspect further down the page).
Obama has renounced torture. He has issued a new executive order defining acceptable interrogation techniques. He has reasserted the illegality of many of the techniques used in American prisons around the world during the first few years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But he has also repeatedly expressed his desire to "look forward instead of looking backward." As a result, there has yet to be any accountability for the actions of the Bush/Cheney administration. And none appears forthcoming.Without accountability -- without either criminal prosecutions or some sort of official national reckoning of what took place -- there's no reason to think that the next time a perceived emergency comes up, some other president or vice president will not decide to torture again.
My View: This has been my concern all along. That our national honor — our very soul in fact — are at stake and for anyone, including Mr. Obama on down the line who do NOT take this more serious is a grave breach of trust for us as a people and as a nation — one who always says it "We lead the world on human rights issues." Apparently we do not.
Original Post is from Here: One of my fav constitutional lawyers and scholars for anyone who reads this blog will see that it is Glenn Greenwald who writes for Salon.com. I reference and link his work at this page. I respect his view and work. He is seldom wrong on the tough issues. He wraps up the story of our torture policy at this point in a piece on torture and two scapegoats to be punished, or so it seems. I hope, however, that this is not his last article or say-so one on this serious topic. Part is his latest follows this short review, which I want to highlight in my own editing taken from his post linked below:
"If any democrat who had any balls and ample support (read: people and money) were to challenge Mr. Obama in a democratic primary next year, it should be over the issue of neglect: Detainee neglect and torture."
GREENWALD SAYS THE STORY IS APPARENTLY OVER — a portion follows: "Some 100 detainees died during U.S. interrogations, dozens due directly to interrogation abuse.
"Gen. Barry McCaffrey said: "We tortured people unmercifully. We probably murdered dozens of them during the course of that, both the armed forces and the C.I.A."
"Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who oversaw the official investigation into detainee abuse, wrote: "there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account."
"Thanks to the Obama DOJ, that is no longer in question." Continue the story here.
I would have to say in all honesty that is a national disgrace. It will haunt us for decades. We all share in this national shame. The greatest shame is on Mr. Obama, and certainly those before him who broke the law on purpose and continue right until today breaking the law.
They can all breathe a sigh of relief (again) right now based on this latest ruling, but how any of them sleep at night, remains a mystery to me and those who think the way I do on this topic.
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