From a lead article in today’s New York Times: “The Justice Department on Thursday made public detailed memos describing brutal interrogation techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency, as President Obama sought to reassure the agency that the C.I.A. operatives involved would not be prosecuted.”
The message below was sent out by Debra Sweet, National Director of World Can’t Wait immediately after reading of this development:
The following memos should be read this in full as soon as you can. The premeditated, systematic sadism is beyond words and needs to be immediately and loudly exposed and denounced.
Nobody in society who is familiar with these memos can any longer claim any doubt about whether torture was/is sanctioned from the highest levels of government.
And, given that Obama is releasing these memos AT THE SAME TIME as he is officially announcing he won’t prosecute those who carried all of this out means –in my view – – that nobody familiar with the release of these memos can any longer claim honest confusion about whether or not Obama represents "change."
Finally, as you read it, consider the 2 quotes below.
1) George W. Bush, March 23, 2003 —
"I expect them to be treated humanely, just like we will treat any prisoners of theirs we capture humanely. If not, the people who mistreat the prisoners will be treated as war criminals."
2) Barack H. Obama, April 16, 2009 —
“In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution.”
Anyone else notice how much is STILL hidden in these torture memos? Huge sections have been blacked out.
John Boncore attempted a citizen’s arrest of George W Bush when he visited Calgary, Canada on March 17. He himself was charged. Please support him when he goes to court in May. Condoleezza Rice is also visiting the University of Calgary on May 13. Although Canadian law says that “credibly suspected” war criminals must either be barred from entry or prosecuted, the pro-Bush government of Canada won’t enforce the rule of law. It is left as is obviously the case in USA, to the citizenry. Maybe this can be pursued jointly? Please see the website and spread the word. Solidarity and Justice!
JJ
Of course Obama bin ladin does not want to prosecute because it means he would have to prosecute himself as well partially due to the fact that he is Bush’s puppy dog and does whatever Bush says. He’d jump off the tallest bridge if Bush asked him to.