Maddow, Powell, and the Need for a Torture Commission-By Scott Horton

[kpete]

Maddow, Powell, and the Need for a Torture Commission

By Scott Horton

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow presents Colin Powell, whom she clearly admires, with a series of very tough questions. Most of the Washington press corps could learn from this technique:

Powell doesn’t want to answer the questions, yet his response is neither dismissive nor evasive: These issues are extremely important; they should be the subject of a full and formal inquiry; he should answer them on the basis of a review of his own notes and the documents. “But that complete record will in due course come out,” Powell says. Powell’s statement, fully recognizing the need for an investigation, contrasts sharply with the unfortunate comments made by Senator Patrick Leahy on April 1. Here’s Charlotte Dennett’s report of her recent discussion with Leahy:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/040109b.html

Halfway through the allotted 30 minute meeting (with him taking up much of the time explaining why he was not generally opposed to prosecution, since he had been a DA for eight years and had the highest conviction rate in Vermont), he told us that his truth commission had failed to get the broad support it needed in Congress, and since he couldn’t get one Republican to come behind the plan, “it’s not going to happen.”

Of course, John Conyers has found House Republicans to support his initiative. But why should the idea of a commission be subject to a veto by the Senate Republicans? Leahy should listen to Powell. He should recognize that the commission approach is the right thing, and that Karl Rove and John Cornyn should not be permitted to veto it.

VIDEO and more at:
http://harpers.org/archive/2009/04/hbc-90004669

[L. Coyote]

1. Rachel Maddow Show: Colin Powell interview

Colin Powell interview
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#30021162

William Cohen, former Secretary of Defense;
Michael Isikoff, Newsweek;
Colin Powell, former Secretary of State;
Clifford Alexander, former Secretary of the Army;
Vicki Ward, CNBC, Vanity Fair

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. Screw the "commissions".

We need a Federal Prosecutor -- nothing less.

[caffefwee]

3. I hope Obama will do the right thing

Countdown - Prof. Jonathan Turley - Obama adm. actively shielding Bush, Cheney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcRel5HKAV4

[caffefwee]

4. Spain investigates what America should

Marjorie Cohn

Monday, April 6, 2009

Spanish court has initiated criminal proceedings against six former officials of the Bush administration. John Yoo, Jay Bybee, David Addington, Alberto Gonzales, William Haynes and Douglas Feith may face charges in Spain for authorizing torture at Guantánamo Bay.

If arrest warrants are issued, Spain and any of the other 24 countries that are parties to European extradition conventions could arrest these six men when they travel abroad.

Does Spain have the authority to prosecute Americans for crimes that didn't take place on Spanish soil?

The answer is yes. It's called "universal jurisdiction." Universal jurisdiction is a well-established theory that countries, including the United States, have used for many years to investigate and prosecute foreign nationals for crimes that shock the conscience of the global community. It provides a critical legal tool to hold accountable those who commit crimes against the law of nations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Without universal jurisdiction, many of the most notorious criminals would go free. Countries that have used this as a basis to prosecute the most serious of crimes should be commended for their courage. They help to create a just world in which we all seek to live.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/05/EDSG16SH3N.DTL