The Torture Flip Flops

The United States is party to more than one international treaty that forbids torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment.  Those treaties forbid torture regardless of what rationale is given by those who think torture is a legitimate tool.

 

The Bush administration has repeated the line the U.S. does not torture however, we know now because of the release of intelligence documents and testimony before congress and the debate that is going on now the U.S. did indeed use torture on several prisoners.  More and more people who served in the Bush administration are now talking openly about the situation.

 

President Obama said it would be up to the Justice department to see if they have a case to prosecute those in the Bush administration who authorized torture.  Some seem to be getting scared, especially former V.P. Dick Cheney.  He has been on Fox cable news proclaiming that torture works and got results and prevented some terror attacks in the past.  After denying the U.S. tortured anyone he now wants to justify that action because he said they prevented more terror attacks.

 

Cheney wants it both ways especially now since he may be in legal jeopardy with more and more information coming out.  It is also reported that a few CIA agents said torture was used to establish a link between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and the 9-11 attacks.  Bush and Cheney have been trying to find that link before the Iraqi war and after when no WMD were found.  Their justification for going to war in Iraq was a lie so they were looking for another excuse and even though it did not exist, they still tried to plant that seed in the mind of the people.

 

The U.S. government should find out the truth and if indeed torture was authorized, those responsible should have to answer to the law.  Treaties are a two way street for all who are a party to them.  Laws are what people have to live by and the U.S. is the one nation that can make a difference in upholding the law.