Torture prosecutions finally begin in the U.S.-"A flagrant & pernicious abuse of power & authority"

[kpete]

Glenn Greenwald
Wednesday Dec. 31, 2008 07:56 EST
Torture prosecutions finally begin in the U.S.

While fiercely loyal establishment spokespeople such as The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus continue to insist that prosecutions are only appropriate for common criminals ("someone breaking into your house") but not our glorious political leaders when they break the law (by, say, systematically torturing people), the Bush administration has righteously decided that torture is such a grotesque and intolerable crime that political leaders who order it simply must be punished in American courts to the fullest extent of the law . . . . if they're from Liberia:

MIAMI (AP) -- U.S. prosecutors want a Miami judge to sentence the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 147 years in prison for torturing people when he was chief of a brutal paramilitary unit during his father's reign.

Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Charles "Chuckie" Taylor Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 by U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. His conviction was the first use of a 1994 law allowing prosecution in the U.S. for acts of torture committed overseas.

Even in the U.S., it's hard to believe that federal prosecutors who work for the Bush DOJ were able to convey the following words with a straight face:

A recent Justice Department court filing describes torture - which the U.S. has been accused of in the war on terror - as a "flagrant and pernicious abuse of power and authority" that warrants severe punishment of Taylor.

"It undermines respect for and trust in authority, government and a rule of law," wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Heck Miller in last week's filing. "The gravity of the offense of torture is beyond dispute."

more at:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TAYLORS_SON?SITE=ORBAK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/12/31/torture/index.html

[stillcool]

1. Got to love our 'justice' system..

[DCKit]

2. If prosecution for torture is good enough for the son of a third world dictator...

I would think it's good enough for our top officials.

[azul]

3. An anti-gravity population here in the US?

"The gravity of the offense of torture is beyond dispute."

It is a grave error to undermine the rule of law by not even investigating this shameful and provocative business that this administration has endorsed.

The whole darn world is watching the US justice system to see if the president is above the law or not.

[rhett o rick]

4. You still don't understand. Gonzo redifined torture so that bush is in the clear.

Actually, i believe that individual were even interrogated beyond Gonzo's definition. I mean if heavy interrogation brings about death, wouldn't that be considered torture, even by Gonzo's definition????

[Vincardog]

6. IF I can get as lawyer to sign a note saying removing money from a bank with a gun is OK is that

enough to get me out of a bank robbing charge?

[rhett o rick]

7. Sorry, should have included the "sarcasm" sign. nm

[bluesmail]

5. Once again it doesn't make sense. n/t