Tornado Alley (PROG)

[StephanieVanbryce]

U.S. Accountability: Prosecution is Imperative for Abuses in "War on Terror"


NEW YORK, November 16, 2009 -- U.S. law, international legal obligations and the credibility of new policy directives require that criminal abuse of detainees in U.S. counterterrorism operations since 9/11 be prosecuted, the International Center for Transitional Justice says in an in-depth report released today.

Investigations and prosecutions should focus on the engineers of official policies that were the basis of illegal abuses, to send a clear signal that the absolute prohibition of torture and the ban on cruel and inhuman treatment will be respected by the United States, the report concludes. Should the U.S. fail to bring its own legal system to bear on such crimes, which also tarnish the nation's reputation, the recent conviction of 23 Americans by an Italian court for their involvement in one instance of "extraordinary rendition" may be only the first in a series of international legal rulings.

"Failing to hold accountable the architects and overseers of a policy of abuse undermines the U.S. justice system and the fundamental idea that law provides a check on power," said Alex Boraine, acting president of ICTJ. "As we have seen in countless examples around the world, abuse of power by allowing torture and cruel treatment can tear down what the law and democracy have built."

The report documents that practices that included slamming detainees into walls, extended sleep deprivation, suspending them by the arms, forced nudity, threats, prolonged shackling in uncomfortable positions and disrespect of the Qur'an, were the result of officially sanctioned policies and, as such, should be regarded as "system crimes."

"Our report shows that the veneer of legality over U.S. treatment of detainees is thin indeed," said Lisa Magarrell, director of ICTJ's U.S. Accountability Project. "The U.S. justice system has all the necessary tools at its disposal to thoroughly investigate up the chain of command to hold civilian, military and intelligence leaders responsible for what was in effect a prescription for torture, cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees."

Download the full report here. [ http://www.ictj.org/static/Publications/ICTJ_USA_CriminalJustCriminalPolicy_pb2009.pdf ]

I read somewhere that 'john yoo' wrote a piece this morning in the wsj, I just bet he did ... I do not really know anything about this organization... I hope one day too see justice here in our country which was abused in the first degree for eight years ... I wanted to see it in my lifetime, I've given up on that now, however, I saw that an SS something, officer, or guard ? .. just the other day .. is going on trial .. so - I hope these bastards need pills to sleep at night .. ..

http://www.ictj.org/en/news/press/release/3285.html