This week, a U.N. human rights worker urged for the prosecution of former President George W. Bush, for his role in the torture that was documented in this week’s CIA interrogation report.
Ben Emmerson, a human rights researcher at the United Nations, spoke to the media on Tuesday, saying that the report proves that the former president was aware that the torture was taking place, and in some cases even ordered those acts to be carried out.
“As a matter of international law, the U.S. is legally obliged to bring those responsible to justice. The U.S. Attorney General is under a legal duty to bring criminal charges against those responsible,” Emmerson said in a statement.
“It is now time to take action. The individuals responsible for the criminal conspiracy revealed in today’s report must be brought to justice, and must face criminal penalties commensurate with the gravity of their crimes. The fact that the policies revealed in this report were authorized at a high level within the U.S. government provides no excuse whatsoever. Indeed, it reinforces the need for criminal accountability,” Emmerson added.
However, many years ago Bush plainly admitted to ordering acts of torture, he even wrote about it in his memoirs.
In his book, titled “Decision Points,” Bush featured an interview where he was asked about his approval of waterboarding early on in the 9/11 investigations. Bush replied that “Damn right!” he gave the orders, and he had no regrets.
Sadly, this report and even these calls for justice, may be too little, too late. Last year, the Obama Administration and the Department of Justice filed a motion to pardon George W. Bush and others for war crimes, so it is unlikely that they will be prosecuted under this administration.
By John Vibes, True Activist;
