Why did our leaders think they could legally torture people ??

[kentuck]

The memoes were sent from the Justice Dept to the Pentagon to the White House and all said it was OK to torture the al Qaeda and the Taliban because they were not a "nation-state" and had not signed onto the rules of the Geneva Convention. The one opposing voice was from the State Dept and Colin Powell. But the issue must have been requested by the WH ? Otherwise, why were all the memoes going to the Executive Office?

The advice given in the memoes was that the pResident could order torture on these terrorist combatants. It was assumed that since they had not signed on to the treaties, we did not have to adhere to them either. Even though we are signees to the Geneva convention treaties. It was a total irrational decision, made supposedly by the lawyers and legal counsel at the Justice Dept, Pentagon, and the White House.

What type of environment could lead them to believe such a despicable theory? Was it similar to the Office of Special Plans, who gave Bush and Cheney the "intelligence" they wanted, even though it was not validated by the usual intelligence sources, the CIA or the FBI? Where did they ever get the idea that they could threaten POWs or "detainees" with death, for example?

[daa]

1. Chimpy and rich repukes

believe just like Mrs. Helmsley that rules are for teh little guys and they are above the law.

[wirenut]

12. torture?

I am not speaking on behalf of anyone but me, and this may be construed as disruptive to the cause, but if I caught one of the 3 people who held my wife hostage, I would definitely f**k him up to get info on where she was, he lost his rights, in my opinion. That may be over simplifying the subject, but f**k him! I had one goal, my wife.

[daa]

20. Like Senator Biden said

the only reason we sign these is to prevent them from doing it to our guys. I was trained by our military not to do that period. Go read Col. Hackworth - same thing, we are better than that. A nation of laws lives by the rule of law. Not really sure where you wife figures into this argument but I can understand your feelings; however, two not make a right.

[Straight Shooter]

2. bush/cheney modus operandi: The ends justify the means

They also believe they are above the law. We'll see. We'll just see.

[shraby]

5. Problem is,

so far they've gotten away with all their shenanigans. That may be one reason they have come to believe they are above the law. Someone has to step on them soon!

[Warpy]

7. We have to end one party rule.

They'll hold the USSC until death from damned meanness claims at least one of their majority. It's up to us to make sure they end their stranglehold on Congress and the executive branch.

Only with their party controlling all 3 branches of government have they been able to get away with TREASON (let's call it by its proper name). This is why the US has traditionally favored the executive and legislative branches dominated by different parties, with the appointed for life USSC justices considered above partisanship (HA!).

Only after we take back Congress can we begin to consider impeachment proceedings against 2 USSC injustices who compromised themselves with blatant conflicts of interest in the 2000 elections. Only by taking back the executive branch can we get a DOJ which will investigate fully the crimes of the Bush junta.

These men must be brought to justice if the US is ever to regain any of its former position within the world. It is essential.

[EstimatedProphet]

3. Because they're God's Holy Appointees on Earth

Everything They Do is Right, Because They Do It. They Are Better Than Everyone Else.
Fundamentally, that's it. The Bumblebush Administration has acted since day one that they are completely superior to the rest of the world and the US, and that we exist only at their sufferance. They think they clean up a room simply by going in it.

[jmags]

4. Absolute power corrupts absolutely

They are drunk with it right now.

[mmonk]

6. did or do think?

[kentuck]

8. Good question ..

Perhaps they're having second thoughts...and see the serious crime they have committed against humanity?

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. If they can steal a Presidential election,

why wouldn't their little pea brains think they can do ANYTHING and get away with it? So far, they have been right. They haven't paid for one damn thing they've done. Not one. I hope their time is up.

[Bandit]

10. Because Torture is the Christian Way

Spanish Inquisition ring any bells.

[DebJ]

11. because the American people have become too lazy to

participate in democracy...can't even barely get discussions out of most of them...and without participation, democracy dies and a despot takes over. Just as the Foudning Fathers predicted.

[librechik]

13. they're hateful sadists and they knew they could get off scot free

no, they are not normal Americans, or even normal Republicans.

They are powermad cultists in the grip of an ideological delusion. They are in positions of power so everybody goes along with them. It's not a nightmare, it's a horrible reality.

[genius]

14. We let them get away with stealing the White House.

We let them think they could get away with anything.

[KoKo]

18. Agree, and Congress gave them everything they wanted and our Dems

couldn't hold the line against them, sadly.

It was in the works since Nixon, though. So, they've had plenty of time to plan and execute the "Take Over."

[killbotfactory]

15. God told them to

You can't argue with God!

[Disturbed]

17. This will not stand!!!

The Congress has a sworn duty to uphold The Constitution of the USA. The memo that is now on the Net will force our representatives to act upon violations of the Constitution. Of course, most members of Congress were wishing and trying to push the Detainee Torture issue under the proverbial rug but with the Net they cannot stop documents from surfacing.

What is needed now is a document that proves that the Pres. authorized Torture.

[Aidoneus]

16. They think of themselves as above all laws

or rather, the creator of the laws as is seen fit for whatever big project is going on. It was like that 5-10yrs ago also, and much before then. And it's not like anybody will do anything about it anyway.

[Cleita]

19. Not to oversimplify this, but anytime a group adopts the mantra

that "the ends justifies the means", they abdicate all ethical considerations of their actions. This GOP faction has adopted that motto, so anything goes as long as those actions can be justified with a particular end in sight. Criminals, tyrants and other unsavory types have the same motto, too, so now you know how easy it was for them to rationalize all of this and even more. The torture is only part of it. There is also the grand theft of the national treasury because we needed this war on terror.

[Steven_S]

21. I agree with you and Straight Shooter above....

This keeps coming up over and over.

Theft of the election. War. Looting the treasury.

In most things that they do - The ends justifies the means.

It's an ugly mindset and an ugly way to live.