Crossposted at NION
While doing research on another topic, I ran across this little nugget, posted by Reuters less than an hour ago, titled US: Justice Department Brings First Charges for Torture Abroad.
(New York, December 6, 2006) ? The US Department of Justice today took a major step against impunity for atrocities in bringing its first-ever criminal charges for torture committed outside the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The Justice Department indicted Charles "Chuckie" Taylor, Jr., son of the former Liberian president and currently in custody in Miami, for torture committed in Liberia.
I am assuming that you all understand the implications of this development. Follow me below the fold for more....
Chuckie Taylor is an American citizen. His father, Charles Taylor, was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2002. Chuckie the Elder is currently awaiting trial after being transferred to the Hague, where he will be tried by the Special Court of Sierra Leone for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Chuckie Taylor led the Anti Terrorist Unit (ATU) for his father's regime, from 1997 to 2002. Human Rights Watch has collected evidence that implicates the ATU, under Chuckie Taylor's leadership, in committing acts of torture, including but not limited to, extrajudicial killing of prisoners and civilians, abduction, rape, beating people to death and burning people alive, along with 'recruiting' child soldiers.
"Today's first-ever charges for torture committed abroad are a crucial step by the US government to ensure justice for this crime," said Elise Keppler, counsel with Human Rights Watch's International Justice Program.
'snip'
"Enforcement of federal laws on torture committed abroad is long overdue," said Keppler. "The question is now whether the federal authorities are willing to apply the law against others. Particularly for the sake of victims, the indictment against Chuckie Taylor on torture should be the first of many cases of this kind."
I would suggest that you follow the link and read the entire article, but my interpretation of this is that this flings the door to prosecuting those who participated in acts of torture abroad (can you say 'rendition'?) wide open. If this indeed is the case, then perhaps the hearings and investigations in the 110th Congress hold more promise than some are willing to admit. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I am connecting the dots of torture abroad, those who committed it, and those who authorized it, from the top down. This could be a big step in getting our country back, and in regaining the respect of the world.