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Accountability
Apr. 18th, 2009 09:30 pmTaguba Speaks Out
Accountability is paramount. It's the basis of our Rule of Law, in which the Constitution is placed above people. Our government officials and federal employees swear to uphold and defend the Constitution; they do not swear fealty to any person.
Anyone thinking that American military or federal personnel can not be tried in "foreign" courts is clearly not thinking about the Rule of Law. It isn't new. American servicemen in Okinawa have been tried by Japanese courts as well as by the military judiciary, depending on the crime and location of the crime.
Anyone claiming that CIA personnel were "just following orders" has clearly forgotten the lessons of history. Using a desperate and tortured explanation of what constitutes "torture" indicates that the CIA personnel knew very well they were committing unethical acts, and were being pushed into doing so because of Langley, the Pentagon, and the White House.
They deserve their day in court, if only to determine the culpability of their supervisors and to be granted their penance. They can't be forgiven of their crimes until then.
As for the people who thought they could rewrite the Constitution, the Geneva Code, and all moral understandings, like John Yoo and Jay Bybee, and David Addington -- they deserve to be treated publicly like the criminals they are.
Accountability is paramount. It's the basis of our Rule of Law, in which the Constitution is placed above people. Our government officials and federal employees swear to uphold and defend the Constitution; they do not swear fealty to any person.
Anyone thinking that American military or federal personnel can not be tried in "foreign" courts is clearly not thinking about the Rule of Law. It isn't new. American servicemen in Okinawa have been tried by Japanese courts as well as by the military judiciary, depending on the crime and location of the crime.
Anyone claiming that CIA personnel were "just following orders" has clearly forgotten the lessons of history. Using a desperate and tortured explanation of what constitutes "torture" indicates that the CIA personnel knew very well they were committing unethical acts, and were being pushed into doing so because of Langley, the Pentagon, and the White House.
They deserve their day in court, if only to determine the culpability of their supervisors and to be granted their penance. They can't be forgiven of their crimes until then.
As for the people who thought they could rewrite the Constitution, the Geneva Code, and all moral understandings, like John Yoo and Jay Bybee, and David Addington -- they deserve to be treated publicly like the criminals they are.
