Wednesday, December 10, 2014

emptywheel FOUND A CRUCIAL PARAGRAPH

(h/t L. A. Horton)

The Bush Administration KNEW AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS that the CIA was using torture:
Here, from page 33 of the Report, is the language establishing the above:
drafted a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft asking the Department of Justice for “a formal declination of prosecution, in advance, for any employees of the United States, as well as any other personnel acting on behalf of the United States, who may employ methods in the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah that otherwise might subject those individuals to prosecution. The letter further indicated that “the interrogation team had concluded “that “the use of more aggressive methods is required to persuade Abu Zubaydah to provide the critical information we need to safeguard the lives of innumerable innocent men, women and children within the United States and abroad.” The letter added that these “aggressive methods” would otherwise be prohibited by the torture statute, “apart from potential reliance upon the doctrines of necessity or of self-defense.”
They knew. And our government tortured anyway. Because they were crapping in their pants and afraid instead of protecting and defending the ethos of our country and its Founders.
UPDATE: Matt Osborne shared this link to a petition demanding the arrest of Cheney and Bush.

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