What is to prevent the torture from continuing?

[Bandit]

Obama says we do not Torture, Bush* said we do not Torture. Torture was committed and no one is punished for it so it stands to reason no one will be punished in the future, so what is there to make us believe it will not happen again?

[HamdenRice]

1. Control of the Justice Department

It's important to understand that when the DOJ issues an opinion that something is legal, and a government officer relies on that opinion, it is virtually impossible to prosecute that person.

That's what a DOJ official opinion does. In the wrong hands, it's virtually a license to commit crime.

Rarely in the past has the DOJ been so politicized -- even under Republican administrations.

You can argue that control of the DOJ by professionals with ethics is not much protection against tyranny, but frankly, we rely on control of the government by law abiding citizens as protection against tyranny at many levels.

[Solly Mack]

2. Well, that's a poser

Fact is, laws don't (and didn't) stop it. Not even multiple laws/proclamations saying the same thing (over and over again). No matter how many times torture is banned, there will be those who don't mind breaking the law in their super-charged, let-me-get-my-patriotism on kind of way.

So, we know the law isn't respected and won't stop torture.


Maybe enforcement of those laws? (Just a thought...I know..crazy)

Of course, just because X goes to prison for torture doesn't mean Y won't try and get away with the same thing years down the road.

After all, people engage in murder all the time - even though they know it's illegal...even though they know they could go to prison for it.

So, we know the law isn't respected and won't stop murder. Neither does the threat of prison.

But that hasn't stopped us from arresting those who murder has it?
That hasn't stopped us from sending those who murder to prison has it?

And why? because Murder is illegal.


Just as torture is illegal.

If no one is above the law, that is...

[sattahipdeep]

3. Protecting the wrongdoers

Amy Goodman democracynow Scott Horton

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/17/memos