UPDATE BELOW
America used to hang people for waterboarding. We hanged people for waterboarding in Dick Cheney’s lifetime.
Former VP, Dick Cheney:
"I was aware of the [torture] program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared…that is the Agency [The CIA] in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn’t do. And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it.”
(AP) "Republican presidential candidate John McCain reminded people Thursday that some Japanese were tried and hanged for torturing American prisoners during World War II with techniques that included waterboarding.
"There should be little doubt from American history that we consider that as torture otherwise we wouldn't have tried and convicted Japanese for doing that same thing to Americans," McCain said during a news conference."
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According to Politifact, a fact-checking project sponsored by the Pullitzer Prize winning St. Petersburg Times, the following is accurate:
“……..referencing the Tokyo Trials, officially known as the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. After World War II, an international coalition convened to prosecute Japanese soldiers charged with torture. At the top of the list of techniques was water-based interrogation, known variously then as ‘water cure,’ ‘water torture’ and ‘waterboarding,’ according to the charging documents. It simulates drowning.” Politifact went on to report, “A number of the Japanese soldiers convicted by American judges were hanged, while others received lengthy prison sentences or time in labor camps.” See full article here
Politifact interviewed R. John Pritchard, the author of The Tokyo War Crimes Trial: The Complete Transcripts of the Proceedings of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. They also interviewed Yuma Totani, history professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and consulted the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, which published a law review article entitled, “Drop by Drop: Forgetting the History of Water Torture in U.S. Courts.”
Cheney, by these accounts, is guilty of war crimes.
UPDATE
Scott Horton has more on Cheney's war crimes.
There's plenty of reasons for the powers that be/were to fear public trials of suspected terrorists. This is one major one.
ReplyDeleteState sponsored torture never looks good in the light a federal courtroom would provide.
Better to keep thing much quieter by the military tribunal route.
Prosecution of the 'war on terror' by Dick Cheyne and his gang of criminal enablers and apologists is not one of the nations finer moments.
They know and they certainly don't want the rest of us to discover the depths of cruelty and incompetence with which they acted.
Let's get started with the trials and see what we learn.
We can take it.
Shaw,
ReplyDeleteGood post.Yes international standards which we created and endorsed recognize it as a war crime and hanging offense;by this standard Cheney is indeed a war criminal.
Sad, but many will say it's different in our case. The victor makes the rules.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather said today that he was like Malcolm X.
ReplyDeleteI think Cheney was more like Malcolm X in that Cheney also believes "By any means necessary."
Unfortunately Malcolm was looking for equal rights. Cheney was looking to turn the presidency into a monarchy. And if that meant torture, so be it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI see the paid trolls are at it again shaw.
ReplyDeleteOpinion? this troll believes that what Cheney did--committed a war crime by approving waterboarding is an opinion? and you're trying to censor him?
If you tried to make up a more idiotic response, you couldn't. This troll's comment is a perfect example of cement-headed thinking--it's not even thinking. It's cynical and deliberate obfuscation in order to deflect the spotlight from Cheney's crimes. Notice how the troll gets everything you stated wrong and then changes the subject.
But the troll is correct in saying that what Cheney said is true:
IT IS TRUE THAT HE SUPPORTED AND APPROVED OF A WAR CRIME. By his own words, Cheney admits to a criminal act.
The troll got that right. The rest of its rant is disconnected lying blather, a perfect example of what they excel at.
Cheney should be brought to trial and put in jail.
"And, why can't Cheney express his opinions openly?"
ReplyDeleteOpinion? What Cheney stated is not an opinion, it is an admission of a crime. But that may be too intricate of a thought for you to grasp.
"It sounds like you want to censor him."
You're hopelessly mixed up on this, too. Censor Cheney? Hilarious. His words are clearly published in every venue all over the internet--including my blog. How is that censorship? Do you read what you post of just pull stuff out of your, um, ears?
"What's the matter progressives? Does the truth hurt?"
Hilarious! Just hilarious! No, m.t. we love it when Cheney admits to the truth: That he approved of waterboarding--torture--a war crime. I'm glad you see his admission as the truth as well.
"It would seem so by your posting crap like this."
We agree, t.m., that Cheney's words ARE CRAP. Those are his words, not anyone else's. Pure crap. Glad you think so too.
The rest of your silly rant is not worth responding to.
Sorry, the malcontent. But your comment is going back up so that the answer to it from "Cheney is guilty of war crimes" and me makes sense. I left the rest of the rant off, since like you, I was embarrassed by it as well.
ReplyDeleteHere is what C.i.g.o.w.c. and I responded to:
the malcontent has left a new comment on your post "FORMER VP, DICK CHENEY, ADMITS HE COMMITTED A WAR ...":
the malcontent wrote, then deleted: "And, why can't Cheney express his opinions openly? It sounds like you want to censor him. What's the matter progressives? Does the truth hurt? It would seem so by your posting crap like this."
Shaw Kenawe said...
ReplyDeleteSorry, the malcontent. But your comment is going back up so that the answer to it from "Cheney is guilty of war crimes" and me makes sense. I left the rest of the rant off, since like you, I was embarrassed by it as well.
I only took it down because i realized it was fruitless to even try and get MY point across on your blog.
But like a typical COWARD you met my opinion with insults, and name calling.
So much for the "civil discourse" that Octo wished to promote.
Waaaaah.
ReplyDeleteThe reactionary motto.
And insults in CAPS are what passes for discourse du jour among that pathetic crowd.
But back to the point at hand.
What I wouldn't give to see Dick, George, Yoo, Bolton, Addington and Rumsfield et. al. cuffed and enjoying a perp walk together.
Sigh.
I know it won't happen but one can dream.
Spare us your indignation, "the malcontent." No one called you any names here. The comnmenter "Cheney is guilty..." said your RESPONSE was idiotic--not you.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is no name-calling in my comment to you at all. It's there for anyone to read.
You returned and call me a COWARD for answering your comment with facts.
On your own blog you excel at name-calling. Here is what YOU write:
"You liberal are pathetic. You are weak. You are lame. You are nothing. You are experience your own medicine. Deal with it sissies!"
and this:
"Beware you liberal kooks and Obama knob-slobbing trolls, Beware you America apologists Communist finks. Muslims, and atheist and all other unpatriotic America loathing ass-hats."
Hello pot! Meet your friend, kettle.
The rest of your comment that I didn't repost here was nothing more than a boiler-plate rant that had no arguments, facts, or ideas. Just ranting about how much you hate Mr. Obama.
You can't deal with anyone who demolishes your comments with facts. And that's a pity. But please don't come crying here and on your own blog about being insulted.
You weren't. You were bested.
shaw
ReplyDeletewhy do you waste your time with these trolls?
everytime you answer them with facts they cry WAAAAAAH! and accuse you of calling them names.
waste of time.
Arthurstone who is a coward that dosn't have a blog calls someone a "coward"
ReplyDeleteAnd Anonymous calls someone a "troll"
How strange is that!
Republican Girl,
ReplyDeleteThis is what Arthurston wrote:
Arthurstone said...
Waaaaah.
The reactionary motto.
And insults in CAPS are what passes for discourse du jour among that pathetic crowd.
But back to the point at hand.
What I wouldn't give to see Dick, George, Yoo, Bolton, Addington and Rumsfield et. al. cuffed and enjoying a perp walk together.
Sigh.
I know it won't happen but one can dream.
February 16, 2010 12:22 PM
It is "the malcontent" who called ME a COWARD.
But thanks for running over here and getting it wrong.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteShaw, it has been more than 24 hours since my last comment at Pamela’s weblog. What I find most curious: The harassment has virtually stopped. Those who hijacked comment threads and disrupted discussions have disappeared. It seems to confirms what TAO has been saying …
ReplyDeleteTAO: “ … 90% of the folks that post here are paid political hacks out of Long Island, New York … Its a blogging sweat shop … They do not want to debate you they want to silence you …”
The same actor who hijacked Pamela’s weblog is here … hijacking this discussion. Even more curious, I find myself being quoted, but the context is, how shall we say, strange.
A simple difference of opinion is now akin to “insults, and name calling.,” although the same person calls you “COWARD” in the same statement. In debating terms, it is an example of stacking the deck or pulling poker cards from under a sleeve.
Shaw, maybe it is time to come to terms. These weblogs have become troll treadmills. Maybe it is time to go private … by invitation only .... where REAL citizens, both conservative and liberal, can have an honest and civil debate.
I think you're right.
ReplyDeleteThat last post by "the malcontent," the one that he deleted, was all over the place and made no sense as a rebuttal to my post on Cheney.
I do believe that people like "the malcontent" are paid trolls who slum the internet looking to disrupt anything being discussed by liberals and conservatives.
Just one look at his "blog" will show anyone with any sense what is really going on.
I've replied to the invitation.
What a great resource!
ReplyDelete