Amnesty International today called for a criminal investigation into Bush's approval of torture.
Amnesty International today urged a criminal investigation into the role of former US President George W Bush and other officials in the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" against detainees held in secret US custody after the former president admitted authorizing their use.
The full story is at:
http://www.amnesty.org/...
Claudio Cordone, Senior Director at Amnesty International:
Under international law, the former President's admission to having authorized acts that amount to torture are enough to trigger the USA's obligations to investigate his admissions and if substantiated, to prosecute him.
His admissions also highlight once again the absence of accountability for the crimes under international law of torture and enforced disappearance committed by the USA.
Time for Obama to start looking backward for a change. If he doesn't do it, someone else might:
Under international law, anyone involved in torture must be brought to justice, and that does not exclude former President George W Bush," said Claudio Cordone.
"In the absence of a US investigation, other states must step in and carry out such an investigation themselves.
Update
It's time for Obama to show he means what he said in his "Statement by President Barack Obama on United Nations International Day in Support of Torture Victims":
Torture violates United States and international law as well as human dignity. Torture is contrary to the founding documents of our country, and the fundamental values of our people. It diminishes the security of those who carry it out, and surrenders the moral authority that must form the basis for just leadership. That is why the United States must never engage in torture, and must stand against torture wherever it takes place.