[lbo-talk] NYT: Impeach Judge Bybee

[Bill Bartlett]

Thabnks for posting that link. The editorial was very encouraging. It 
gives me hope that government in the US might eventually return to 
operating under the rule of law. I know Obama has vetoed the idea of 
torturers being prosecuted for their crimes, but to publicly expose 
US government crimes is still a very big step forward.

Now its just a matter of waiting to see if public opinion, forced to 
face the truth, stripped of any opportunity to deny the truth, will 
accept that the government murderers, the government torturers, the 
government kidnappers and the government rapists, that flourished 
under the Bush administration, should be treated as the criminals 
they are.

Obama has said they should not be punished, as they were only 
following orders. But what about those who gave the orders?? For that 
matter, what about those who justified the orders about those who 
knew about the orders and turned a blind eye?

The question that needs to be asked now and asked repeatedly, is 
this: Is it fair to those who did not turn a blind eye? Is it fair to 
those who refused to follow orders? Is it fair to those who refused 
to justify the crimes?

We know there are many who resisted, in the military, in the 
judiciary, in the public service and in the media, to the detriment 
of their careers and at great risk. Surely, if the cowards who 
followed orders are not to be punished, at least can those who refuse 
to follow orders be publicly recognised? A medal perhaps? Some kind 
of compensation for having their careers ruined as torturers and 
other war criminals are promoted in their stead?

If not a war crimes tribunal, at least a war non-crimes tribute?

Bill Bartlett
Bracknell Tas

At 7:23 PM -0400 20/4/09, Michael Pollak wrote:


>(h/t to Jeremy Scahill)
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19sun1.html
>
>    The New York Times
>    April 19, 2009
>
>    Editorial
>
>                            The Torturers Manifesto
>
><snip>
>
>    That investigation should start with the lawyers who wrote these
>    sickening memos, including John Yoo, who now teaches law in
>    California; Steven Bradbury, who was job-hunting when we last heard;
>    and Mr. Bybee, who holds the lifetime seat on the federal appeals
>    court that Mr. Bush rewarded him with.
>
>    These memos make it clear that Mr. Bybee is unfit for a job that
>    requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress
>    should impeach him.
>
><end excerpt>
>
>Michael
>
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