ACLU calls for Holder (Obama AG) to appoint an Independent Prosecutor RE: Torture

[bvar22]

President Obama has called for "Reflection".
There is NO TIME for reflection.
The ACLU highlights the NEED to act quickly.
In this case, Justice Delayed is indeed Justice Denied.

The "Acting in good Faith" objection raised by the Obama Administration is a dodge to avoid the prosecution of Torturers & War Criminals. I support the ACLU's call for the Investigation and Prosecution of ALL persons involved in Torture and Abuse. Opening the door for exceptions is not good policy. The degree of the offense can be taken into account during the Sentencing Phase AFTER an indictment and public trial.

The appointment of a political Party Puppet will not suffice.
This prosecutor MUST have a verifiable track record of Independence, and squeaky clean ethics.

Donald Iglesias would be an excellent choice.
He is a Republican with a record of Standing Up against the Bush Administration when pressured to pervert justice for political reasons.


There is NO downside for the Obama Administration to quickly appoint an Independent Prosecutor.

*Appointing an Independent Prosecutor takes a politically explosive and time consuming issue off of Obama's plate

*It would protect the Obama Administration from the appearance that they are protecting War Criminals, or working to protect the Washington Insiders.


I STAND with the ACLU in calling for an immediate appointment of an Independent Prosecutor.
Let the chips fall where they may.

You can read the full letter here:
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/39054res20090317.html

[democrank]

1. I stand with the ACLU.

[Solly Mack]

2. I stand with the ACLU (too)

K&R

[EFerrari]

3. UN Special Rapporteur is coming to DC to talk about torture!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8353720

[biopowertoday]

11. yes, I saw that.

[ProSense]

12. He has spoken out before

Flashback: U.N. special rapporteur on torture calls on U.S. to prosecute Bush and Rumsfeld.

[EFerrari]

15. Thanks for posting that, ProSense. Yes, he has.

Here's hoping this can provide Obama with some political cover.

[Moochy]

4. Card Carrying ACLU member kick & rec!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Both the executive and legislative branches have abandoned their responsibilities.

I fully support the ACLU's efforts to bring the criminals to justice in the only apparent way left.

[EFerrari]

6. If Obama doesn't go forward, the Spanish court will.

I posted in another thread that if the UN and ACLU apply public pressure, maybe joined by ICRC, it just may be the political cover Obama needs to do the right thing.

[kentuck]

7. The ACLU needs to petition our Congress also...

And the Congress can request that the Attorney-General appoint a "special counsel" to investigate and get to the bottom of it. The President can then publicly state that he would not interfere in the process. It is up to Congress. That's the way it is supposed to work.

[EFerrari]

8. This is a point I'm not clear on. Does Congress appoint a SP?

Can either Congress or the Exec do it?

[biopowertoday]

9. REC. thanks

[inna]

10. kick and rec#21!! nt

[Mari333]

13. reflection?? what is he, the Pope? I stand with the ACLU, also. nt

[Vidar]

14. Kudos to the ACLU. Recommended.

[slipslidingaway]

16. Statute of Limitations - little more than a year - time is of the essence

The eight year statute of limitations will expire in the spring of 2010 for some of the best documented crimes.

The months pass quickly, this was written last month to AG Holder.

:(


(3/18/2009)

ACLU Asks Justice Department To Appoint Independent Prosecutor To Investigate Torture (3/18/2009)
Following Red Cross Report, Group Sends Letter To Attorney General Holder

"WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder reiterating its call for the Department of Justice to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate the authorization to use torture at CIA secret prisons. This follows recent revelations that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) concluded in 2007 that the treatment of detainees being held by American personnel constituted torture, as well as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The ICRC report is based on harrowing accounts from detainees about the treatment to which they were subjected.

The ACLU's letter, signed by Executive Director Anthony D. Romero, states in part:

"The fact that such crimes have been committed can no longer be doubted or debated, nor can the need for an independent prosecutor be ignored by a new Justice Department committed to restoring the rule of law … Given the increasing evidence of deliberate and widespread use of torture and abuse, and that such conduct was the predictable result of policy changes made at the highest levels of government, an independent prosecutor is clearly in the public interest. The country deserves to have these outstanding matters addressed, and have the assurance that torture will stop and never happen again. An independent prosecutor is the only sure way to achieve these goals."

A full copy of the letter can be found below and online at: www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/39054res20090317.html

[rhett o rick]

17. I stand with the ACLU and have made that clear to my congres-critters. nm

[pleah]

18. K&R

[defendandprotect]

19. Democratic Congress should be joining this call ---

Democrats in and out of office--!!!

[GreenTea]

20. One of many reason's to support the ACLU!

http://www.aclu.org/

[spanone]

21. knr

[LWolf]

22. Good. nt

[ThomWV]

23. ACLU Gets it right again

And of course the right wing will be up in arms.

[Fendius]

24. If they know what they would be up against....

We know what happened in 2000 with Bush/Gore.... It will be a lot of the same tactics of drawing things out and finding every loophole they could, but in my book they need to be tried, even if not convicted, lets give them a nightmare of a year to realize what they've done....