Wow ...
Philip Butler, Viet Nam POW, wants to be heard on his views on Bush. A quiet man, I heard him speak a few years back on torture and his experiences in Viet Nam. Speaking from the heart, he told us of the unimaginable pain he felt then and which remains with him today. A tall and quiet man, his measured tone should make everyone listen.
His commentary today gives weight, again, to the case that it is just not immoral to torture, but against the law.
During these years, we have seen gross attempts to institutionalize torture. Our Article VI (2), commonly known as the "supremacy" clause, clearly states that treaties made shall become "the supreme law of the land," thus elevating them to the level of Constitutional law.
The Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners, ratified in 1949, says, "No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind." This and numerous other ratified treaties clearly stipulate that "prisoners" is an inclusive term that is not limited to any nation's uniformed combatants.
Gross Bush administration crimes, in addition to authorizing torture, include: 1) the use of "signing statements" to illegally refrain from complying with laws; 2) authorization of the illegal suspension of habeas corpus; 3) authorization of wire-tapping and other intrusive methods to illegally spy on American citizens; 4) unilateral declaration and pre-emptive conduct of war in violation of U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 8 (11).
We should listen to his voice. I'm sure that Panetta has with his thoughts reflected here.