‘Holy Hell’ Over Torture Memos

Open the files and let the chips fall where they may. If war crimes were committed, the criminals should be tried in an international court of justice -- no matter what position(s) they may have held in the former U.S. government. If war crimes were committed by other nations under U.S. direction, this also should be a court proceeding. "I was just taking orders" has not been a defense since Nuremburg. The only way we can regain the moral high ground is to come clean on the mess created by Cheney & Company.

The ACLA has the best of motives. They want to see the illegal practices of a former administration brought to light. However, they are starting down a road long known for this; "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

In a real world, one cannot survive without allies (most times not friends). The USA was too powerful to ignore when it forced those allies into obediance. We held much of their economic and personal security in our hands.

Bush and company ran wild alone and we can see what that did. The ACLU action would keep us isolated if our reluctant allies are just more collateral damage of our uncontrolled selfish political system. Find a way to get the criminal activities out without endangering our allies that were forced into participating.

For..all..the..people..that..believe..that..they..*DID..IT..FOR..OUR..GOOD*...WAKE..UP..!!!...Politiciaqns,all..do

The..bush..crime..spree..used..torture..to..promote..their..WAR..for..OIL..agenda..WHICH..costs..TRILLIONS..!!

Find..out..what..happened..about..EVERYTHING....No,,CRIMES..should..be..covered..UP....If..politicians..can..break

the..LAW..at..will...Democracy..is..GONE..andthey..will..STEAL..ALL.YOUR..money..ala..AIG

I am so sick of one administration after another deciding the American people should not know the truth about embarrassing lies we citizens must know. This is a democracy!

And it's always done with the excuse of "national security interests." I voted for Obama, but if he does not stand by exposing this fascist b.s. we need to vote him out. You either believe in the absolute necessity of transparency, or our democracy is a joke... Which is what it's been for some time on issues like this.

Yes, again.... The United States of America can do no wrong; as long as no one reads the files. Justice Department?!?! What justice? Try War Crimes Tribunal. We jump with glee when other countries leaders are put on the mat for crimes against their fellow man. Bush should be called to task. With the release of the memos, he will be one step closer. Why cannot people see part of the bigger picture. Just because we are Americans, it does not mean we are better than any other country in the world. Yes, we have more opportunities, mostly due to our ancestors. And, if you had done your homework, you would know that the "evidence" said it was not Iraq and Bush knew that when he invaded. He just wanted to finish what his father started. And if you want to pass further blame, Clinton knew at one time where Osama Bin Laden was located and failed to take initiative prior to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This does not excuse Bush from approving torture. He made the final decision. Advisers are just that, people to give advice. He had the final choice. And I personally, will have a party and invite all my friends to celebrate his prosecution as he is found GUILTY of permitting crimes against Humanity!

Ukraine has also been involved with extraodinary rendition, which is not surprising since Ukrainian President Yushenko was a Bush protegee thanks to his relationship to his future wife.

It is never advisable to torture if you want to get information. Not only does it result in phony intelligence, it makes every American vulnerable to being tortured if they are captured. The Military will tell you this. The Intelligence Agencies will tell you this. What has happened is that there have been sadists running the United States with impunity. If these people really loved America and its' citizens they would never, ever torture, instead, they would stand up for justice and the rule of law. An American who has been involved with torturing detainees is a criminal. They are sadists and have sought out their jobs specifically because they are sadists, it has absolutely nothing to do with being patriotic. American Patriots do not make mistakes like this. They know and understand not just the spirit of the Geneva Conventions but the spirit of the US Constitution.

Of course all of the memos should be released and all of the countries involved, Israel, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and others, must be exposed for their involvement. Their citizens deserve to know just as much as the rest of the World. There must be consequences for the actions of all involved.

When the memo's are released, it would be a good day, for the Repug's to all go over to Sarah's, and sit in the back yard, and look at Russia, for a while....

Of what possible advantage to the US would making this stuff public allow!?

President Bush was faced with what was believed to be certain follow up terrorist attacks in this country following 9/11. He took proactive action which has successfully protected the nation for the remainder of his administration. The inevitable criticism of the ACLU was inevitable and quite insignificant relative to the outcry that would have occured and been deserved had he not been successful. President Obama's situation is unchanged and he is far too intelligent to make a decision other than in the best interests of the nation. He will engage in symantics to pacify the ACLU but continue proactively protecting this nation. Pragmatism will trump politics in this case.

Of course the memos should be released. If the Bush administration wasn't embarrassed about breaking international law and eschewing basic human decency then, why are they so concerned now? What about all the innocent detainees who have been released? They deserve some justice after what they suffered. Can you imagine how our government would howl in protest if Americans were held indefinitely without charge, sent to black sites and tortured?

We will work thru this but it will take time. This is a difficult issue. It involves not only something that has happened but will set a precedent for things that will happen in the future. It involves people who relied on the Justice Department assurance that what they were doing was all right, no matter how lame that Justice Department turned out to be. Would I like to see Dick Cheney indicated? Yes, a part of me does. I'm sure he deserves it. But ultimately I believe it would be a distraction. What we really need is for the country (or the country minus the neo-cons) to come together to work in a non-partisan fashion to move beyond this recession and begin to work as one person.

We will work this out but it will take time. These are not easy questions. They involve not only actions which were taken but also actions which might be taken. They involve individuals who believed that the Justice Department had cleared what they were doing, however lame that Justice Department turned out to be. Do I want to see Dick Cheney indicted? Sure, a part of me does, he probably deserves it but it is really a distraction. I think it is much more important for the country to come together and to work together in a non-partisan fashion (that would be the country minues the neo-cons) to move beyond this recession.

It looks like SPAIN is doing what our Justice Dept of Spec Prosecuter should be doing, looking into the possibility of war crimes being committed. This is such and embarrassment.