(AG nominee Michael) Mukasey: Gonzo torture memo 'worse than a sin'

[sabra]

Source: ChicagoTrib Swamp Politics Blog

Attorney General nominee Michael B. Mukasey provided some reassurance today to critics of the Bush administration's anti-terror policies, but by and large avoided taking hard-and-fast stances about some of its most controversial practices.

Testifying before the Senate Judicary Committee this morning, Mukasey, a retired New York federal judge, explicitly disavowed the position taken on abusive interrogation practices backed by his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales.

Referring to a 2002 Justice Department memo that endorsed the legality of using such techniques on suspected terrorists, Mukasey said, "it was worse than a sin. It was a mistake."

Mukasey, 66, noted that the United States was bound by its own laws and treaty obligations to prohibit torture, but he went further, saying, "We don’t torture, not simply because its not against this or that law or this or that treaty. Soldiers of this country liberated concentration camps and photographed what they saw there as a record of the barbarism they opposed."

Read more: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/mukasey_gonzo_torture_memo_wor.html#more

[angstlessk]

1. So, if a mistake is worse than a sin..and getting a blow job by

someone other than your wife is a sin..and boosh has made 9,999,999,999 tp the tenth power of mistakes..can we impeach him yet?

[Buzz Clik]

2. We get these platitudes from the Bush administration all the time.

I'm sorry, but I can't help believing that he'd say anything to secure his appointment.

[struggle4progress]

6. Toss the committee a sop, snicker, and then back to business-as-usual

[global1]

3. At The * Presser This A.M. * Wouldn't Answer The Question As To What......

his definition of torture is.

[Fresh_Start]

4. if he said its worse than a sin, it's a CRIME

than he might be worth considering.

[merh]

5. Then will he seek to punish those that authorized torture, condoned torture,

ordered torture and used torture?

Put your office where you moral mouth is and prosecute those who violated the treaties and laws.

[Javaman]

7. ergo: he's ready to commit something worse than a sin...

as long as it's not a sin, isn't that correct mr., continue to torture, AG?. right, check, double check.

[pat_k]

8. Since our duty is to "treat all detainees humanely and to. . .

. . .avoid any acts of violence against their person," the question is not "Do we or don't we torture?"

The question is "Do we or don't we treat all detainees humanly?"

By asking the former, instead of the latter, we join the torturers on their turf.

We don't need to look at the torturered "definition" in the Justice Dept memos to prove they have turned the USA into a War Criminal nation. We don't even need to prove that Americans have actually engaged in acts of torture. Their executive orders are enough. Like the one they issued http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070720-4.html">July 20, 2007.

From WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/25/AR2007072501881_pf.html">War Crimes and the White House

One of us was appointed commandant of the Marine Corps by President Ronald Reagan; the other served as a lawyer in the Reagan White House and has vigorously defended the constitutionality of warrantless National Security Agency wiretaps, presidential signing statements and many other controversial aspects of the war on terrorism. But we cannot in good conscience defend a decision that we believe has compromised our national honor and that may well promote the commission of war crimes by Americans and place at risk the welfare of captured American military forces for generations to come. . .

. . .It is clear to us that the language in the executive order cannot even arguably be reconciled with America's clear duty under Common Article 3 to treat all detainees humanely and to avoid any acts of violence against their
person. . .
--Retired Gen. P.X. Kelley served as commandant of the Marine Corps from 1983 to 1987. Robert F. Turner is co-founder of the University of Virginia's Center for National Security Law and a former chair of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security.

Reject the transparent attempts to obscure the truth. Condemn the delaying tactics, misdirection, and endless hearings to seek unnecessary "evidence." Screw confirming a man nominated by war criminals. Demand immediate impeachment. Bushncheney and their co-conspirators admit their crimes. The case that removal is mandatory to enforce the terms of our common contract -- the Constitution of the United States, amended and entrusted to us to protect and perfect -- couldn't be any simpler. They could introduce Articles and vote today. All that's required is the will to act.

[Supersedeas]

9. note his reference to OWN laws and obligations -- not to internationally determined obligations

[UTUSN]

10. K&R #4 n/t