Has America Forgotten the Crimes of Torture?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the moral and legal implications of torture practices employed by U.S. officials during the War on Terror, particularly in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. The participants express outrage over the lack of accountability for high-ranking officials, including former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who are compared to Nazi war criminals. The discussion emphasizes the need for justice and moral rectitude in addressing these crimes, suggesting that mere resignation of officials like Donald Rumsfeld and Alberto Gonzales is insufficient. The film "Torturing Democracy" is highlighted as a crucial resource for understanding these issues.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of international law regarding war crimes
  • Familiarity with the historical context of the Nuremberg Trials
  • Knowledge of U.S. government structure and accountability mechanisms
  • Awareness of the ethical implications of torture and human rights violations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the legal framework surrounding torture and war crimes
  • Watch the documentary "Torturing Democracy" for in-depth insights
  • Study the outcomes of the Nuremberg Trials and their relevance today
  • Examine the role of public opinion in shaping government accountability for human rights violations
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for human rights advocates, legal scholars, historians, and anyone interested in the ethical implications of government actions regarding torture and accountability.

FrancisZ
Having seen the film "Torturing Democracy"--a film documenting the cruelty inflicted upon detainees of Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib--I am made to wonder: how is it that the President and Vice President, among others in their administration, have not yet been incarcerated themselves? Impeachment would be a slap on the wrist.

Nobody cares about prisoners. We overlook their humanity when we want vengeance. But whether these men, whom have been tortured, are guilty of some terrible crime or not, what have we become ourselves in treating them as such?

The officials who have propagated this use of torture are absolutely no less guilty of war crimes than the Nazis of World War II.

And while I realize that this information is relatively old news now, watching it really puts things in perspective.

If you haven't seen this yet, here is a link to information about it, as well as the first segment of the film...

http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjF1gubaBw Seriously, I believe that whoever becomes President this January has a moral obligation to rectify this horrible licensing of torture; and to hold those accountable to the highest measure of authentic law.

I don't believe in Capital Punishment, and certainly not in torturing another person; but no man should ever be allowed to get away with this degree of cruelty. This is a disgrace that our country will never live down. And the absolute least that we can do is to fine and imprison the leadership that is responsible.

Rumsfeld resigned. And Gonzales resigned. But that still isn't justice.

Surely, just as the surviving Nazis during the Nuremberg Trials had claimed that they were only following orders; I'm sure that if either of these two men were actually put on public display (a la OJ, circa 1994), then they would agree that they were only following orders too. Cheney and Bush both need to be held accountable, if for nothing else, then for hiring such inhumane incompetents.
 
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FrancisZ said:
The officials who have propagated this use of torture are absolutely no less guilty of war crimes than the Nazis of World War II.

Given that we prosecuted Nazis for this very crime, there can be no doubt about it. It shows how far this once great nation has fallen.

We have met the enemy, and they are us.
 
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