O.K., maybe I am a bit dim, but doesn't it seem highly disturbing that President Obama
is promising these C.I.A. agents who tortured totally immunity from prosecution because
they were just taking orders.
I don't think so, and even under the thickest ice, it is gonna break, and those arguments
are gonna sink. We all know you can't just use the "I was just taking orders excuse."
Does our President honestly think we are that naive/stupid/clueless/idiots to
buy such a weak and unsupported excuse to protect criminal actions, even murder.
That any US citizen can be plucked off the streets, tortured, denied access to council,
and the people that did this are not accountable because they were taking orders.
No fucking way, not now, not then, not since WWII. We all know it, President Obama
knows it, I love the guy, but I don't trust anyone enough to give them that kind of power.
The kind that lets blatant criminal, war crime actions go without comment or
responsibility. Mr. President the American People are not fools, and we want
to see justice, for All, not just the bottom feeders. Those of us not in a special
circle of warped protection because we were "Just taking orders" It is clearly spelled
out, even as a soldier, or CIA, whatever, you do not have to commit crimes, even
under orders from your Commanding Officer. In fact, you are bound by The Constitution
and the Geneva to not follow those orders.
This is the shakedown of the whole "I was just taking orders."
You are not required to obey an unlawful order.
You are required to disobey an unlawful order.
You swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
The Constitution states (Article VI):
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Further more it is clearly spelled out in the Geneva Convention rules on following orders:
Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions is straightforward and clear. Under Article VI of the Constitution, it forms part of the supreme law of the land.
You personally will be held responsible for all of your actions, in all countries, at all times and places, for the rest of your life. “I was only following orders” is not a defense.
What all this is leading to:
If you are ordered to violate Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, it is your duty to disobey that order. No “clarification,” whether passed by Congress or signed by the president, relieves you of that duty.
If you are ordered to violate Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, this is what to do:
- Request that your superior put the order in writing.
- If your superior puts the order in writing, inform your superior that you intend to disobey that order.
- Request trial by courtmartial.
You will almost certainly face disciplinary action, harassment of various kinds, loss of pay, loss of liberty, discomfort and indignity. America relies on you and your courage to face those challenges.
Finally here is thelink where I gleaned this information, which was provided by a retired
military officer. I know there have been many diaries on the torture issue. My son and
I had a discussion about the whole thing. He thinking it was harder to say no to unlawful
orders than I thought. But since my father, his grandfather was a holocaust survivor, and
his entire family were murdered, I am just not buying this whole move forward, don't look
back line of President Obama's. It is not right, and surely the President knows you can't
totally move forward until you deal with the past.
We always retain the right to say no if something is wrong, even under "Orders".
My son's argument was "How, do you know they won't torture you, if you
are torturing someone else"
I answered with "Oh no, you are an American Citizen."
His response, "They tortured, detained American Citizens."
Well he got me there. Just my thoughts for this Sunday.