DU This Poll: Torture Prosecutions

[Wizard777]

MSNBC Poll Here

Q:Should Bush administration officials who devised harsh interrogation tactics and provided legal cover for them be prosecuted?


Current Tally

Yes: 45.6%
3,740 votes

No: 52.9%
4,341 votes

Not Sure: 1.5%
119 votes

[bdamomma]

1. this has already been posted but for those who did not vote

VOTE YES.

[Wizard777]

6. I looked before I leaped. I didn't see it. So I posted it.

On this issue it's better to post twice than not at all thinking someone else has already posted it. Can't let this slip through the cracks.

[polysciguy420]

2. I

vote no.

[Avalux]

3. Really? Any WHY did you vote No?

:shrug:

[baldguy]

5. .

[polysciguy420]

7. well,

you said they devised "legal cover" for their actions. So I'm assuming that through some funky loop hole their actions were actually legal. While I don’t necessarily agree with everything( or anything) they may have done. Unless their actions can be found to be totally afoul of the law at the time of the allegations I can't see how they can be prosecuted. Unless some law is devised now and applied retroactively to make their actions illegal but I wouldn't support that.

[polysciguy420]

8. really

People need to stop worrying about prosecutions for members of the Bush administration accused of authorizing what we regard as torture. The whole debate is counterproductive. We all know that what they did was wrong, and now we have an administration willing to change American policy on the particular issue. That's all we should ask for, it's time to focus on the future, and leave the Bush debacle where it belongs, in the past.

[Wizard777]

9. If we can't prosecute them. Under equal protection of law. We can't prosecute anyone.

How would you like to be someone being held in an american secret prison being tortured unable to rely on anything to protect you from the cruelty of your captors but a law. Hoping and praying that law will be applied to protect you or punish those violating it. Then comes selective enforcement that is totally counter productive to equal protection you were relying upon? Equal protection of law cannot exist with selective enforcement in use. It's really that simple.

[polysciguy420]

11. o.k

though, equal protection for whom? These guys aren't American citizens for 1 and for 2 under the Geneva convention they do not even meet the requirements for POW status.But to answer your question directly, I would not like to be held in an American secret prison "being tortured unable to rely on anything to protect you from the cruelty of your captors but a law. Hoping and praying that law will be applied to protect you or punish those violating it" and that is exactly why I am not a member of a terroirist organization or any organization that could even be CONSTRUED as being such an organization by any rational thinking mind, so by default I exclude myself from any such treatment under the circumstances that these individuals were tortured under. Furthermore, I go as far as to agree with you on the point that these guys are WRONG in torturing other humans. My personal opinion is just that we have bigger fish to fry at this time, and prosecutions for members of the Bush adminstration would not be justice as much as it would be revenge on behalf of the left because of their hatred for Bush. Jusitice in this matter has already been served when the Obama adminstration realized their needed to be a poilicy change.

[Believing Is Art]

10. I really wish it was that simple

We regard it as torture because international law has defined it as torture. It's not a matter of opinion. International law also requires that we prosecute and by not doing so, Obama is effectively a co-conspirator. He leaves the door open for his administration (not likely) or future administrations (Palin, *shudder*) to do the same things without fear of consequences. What we did wrong and what we must do now are well defined in law that we agreed to.

Prosecution is the only way to get back our standing in the international community. It's not just about our pride or sense of image; it's about our safety. If we prosecute, we turn one of the best recruiting tools Al Qaeda has on its head. We will have better leverage to use when it comes to our citizens being held overseas. Torture has made us less safe, and to regain that safety, we must prosecute.

Do I worry what this will do to the unhinged on the right? Do I worry this hands 2010 and 2012 elections to the Republicans? Do I worry this jeopardizes any progressive policy we pursue in the next few years? Yes, yes, and yes. Unfortunately this is just not about politics.

[tbyg52]

4. Oooooookay.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[stillcool]

14. There is no rational explanation...

for not investigating. We have no idea what was done during the last 8 years. The little bit that has been revealed can in no way represent what really happened. 8 years. That's a lot of criminal behavior.

[stillcool]

12. done..and thanks..

[mod mom]

13. WTF...54% say NO! kkarl must have his minions on this!

[Supersedeas]

15. 55 now

[DKRC]

16. 56.3% now

42.4% Yes (6,366 votes)
56.3% No (8,444 votes)
1.3% I'm not sure (189 votes)

[Wizard777]

20. That's why we need to DU this poll. Call all your friends.

[spanone]

17. the constitution doesn't care one bit about a poll....nor should it.

[Wizard777]

19. But why allow republicans to use one to against even the idea of prosecution?

They've pulled this it's not the will of people thing about Impeachment. Why let them do it again? They should be derived of any and every weapon to use against prosecution. If voting in a poll does that. So be it.

[Vidar]

18. done