‘We crossed the line’, US admits to UN anti-torture body

[DonViejo]

Source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The United States said Wednesday it did not condone torture under any circumstances, but acknowledged to a UN anti-torture watchdog it had “crossed the line” following the September 11 attacks.

“The US is proud of its record as a leader in respecting, promoting and defending human rights and the rule of law, both at home and around the world,” acting US legal advisor Mary McLeod told the 10-member UN Committee on Torture.

“But in the wake of 9/11 attacks, we regrettably did not always live up to our own values,” she said. “We crossed the line and we take responsibility for that,” she said, quoting US President Barack Obama.

McLeod was one of about 30 top US officials gathered in Geneva for Washington’s first grilling by the committee since 2006.

-snip-



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/we-crossed-the-line-us-admits-to-un-anti-torture-body/

[on point]

1. Unless the perpetrators are charged and put on trial, we have NOT taken responsibility for it

All of the Bush cabal need to be arrested, put on trial and the guilty ones (like Dick Cheney who has already admitted his guilt on national TV twice) thrown behind bars for their crimes

[24601]

2. Except that no Vice President can order a department or agency to do anything. He has an opinion

and a tie-breaking vote in the Senate - nothing more.

[on point]

3. Helping craft a plan, sit on the NSC council to put it in place is sufficient. He's guilty.

[lastlib]

12. He is definitely complicit, a co-conspirator

He is definitely complicit, a co-conspirator. Hang him. From a high tree. But don't let him drip on the ground.

[24601]

24. So what would be his punishment if he ordered a fatal drone attack against a US citizen?

Because someone did.

[DonViejo]

5. You really think Dick Cheney didn't order departments to accomplish

tasks he felt were important, e.g. Dubya.

[DonViejo]

4. You're not incorrect, in point, however;

unless the tenor and tone in this country undergoes a dramatic change, the guilty will not be charged. President Obama could not lead the effort, neither can Elizabeth Warren or, Bernie Sanders for that matter.

[KingCharlemagne]

18. The U.S. tortured people in its custody to death (at Bagram). That's murder and Bush, Cheney and

Last edited Thu Nov 13, 2014, 02:12 PM - Edit history (2)

other figures in the Junta should be on trial for murder.

[Caretha]

25. + 1000

Sorry don't cut it.

[Cha]

6. Mahalo DonViejo!

“But in the wake of 9/11 attacks, we regrettably did not always live up to our own values,” she said. “We crossed the line and we take responsibility for that,” she said, quoting US President Barack Obama."

And, thank you President Obama!

[northoftheborder]

26. "WE" or NO ONE has taken "responsibility" for "not living up to values".

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Who is "we" Kimosabi?

The Bush era took us as far away from American ideals...it might as well have been a coup.

[Doctor_J]

8. So am I still sanctimonious for wanting Bush and Cheney to go for the big swing, on live TV?

so confused.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. We crossed the line in the past...

time to move on and all, doncha know?

[MisterP]

22. yes, because they were just so overcome with patriotism that they simply had to

do mock executions and real rapes on random people from the streets of Baghdad and Kabul

[malokvale77]

9. I don't like that "We" shit.

I and most people I know, never crossed that line.

[thesquanderer]

11. I never even VOTED for someone who crossed the line. (n/t)

[Marthe48]

17. I want names

Name names, people. Even if people in the U.S. government aren't brought to trial, I want history to portray them accurately as human rights violators, as torturers.

I will never condone torture, even when some idiot asks about the most extreme, unlikely scenario, such as: 'you have a terrorist in your grasp, who knows where the bomb is that will take out (put most vulnerable spot here), but the terrorist won't tell you. Would you torture him to get the information to save lives?"

I just recently read the 1948 U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. The governments are trodding heavy on those rights. And thumbing their noses at the rest of us.

[peacebird]

28. Me neither, and I want Bush/cheney/wolfowitz et al brought to the Hague

[nilesobek]

13. Creepy confessions of the guilty.

Reminds me of a time I was in court and observed the criminals in their jail attire giving excuses and pleading for the various serious crimes they committed. I noticed the judge didn't except or entertain such after the fact excuses.

[rock]

14. Yeah, what do you mean "we", Kimo sabe?

And while we're at it: don't we even get the name of the understatement master?

On edit: The US is full of shit and a hypocrite.

[easychoice]

15. Mary McPantload is a lying sack of shit...

Ask any COP...
The U.S. Gov't the same respect for human rights that they have for democracy...

[Javaman]

16. "Crossed the line"? We didn't cross the line...

we erased it.

[Jefferson23]

19. +1. n/t

[noiretextatique]

27. +1000 just some patriotic folks torturing some other folks

[grahamhgreen]

21. They broke the law.

[RoccoR5955]

20. So when does the Bush Crime Syndicate face charges at The Hague?

It would be nice to visit the city of Den Haag again. Between the trial you can go to the M.C. Escher Museum, visit the royal palace, or see the largest panorama painting.

All in all, it would give me a good excuse to go to the Netherlands again.

Not to mention I would be cheering as these bass turds are put on trial!

[blkmusclmachine]

23. Torture is wrong and against law. Prosecution is the only option. No weasel words.

[bl968]

29. Prosecute those behind the policies

The only way we can expunge the dark stain on our human rights record is to prosecute those involved.

[Old Nick]

30. Wll, DUH!

Tepid at best.