French Detain Rumsfeld On Torture
It’s infuriating, disgusting and very sad that charges against the Bush administration war criminals have to be filed in
The Federation of Human Rights Leagues and the U.S. Center for Constitutional Rights should be applauded for their constant pursuit of war criminals. When will Americans pick up this cause of suing our own war criminals in American courts? Do we not share in some responsibility for allowing this administration to lie and create havoc around the world? Hopefully Rumsfeld won’t get away with his torture policy.
PARIS (Reuters) – Human rights groups have filed a lawsuit in France alleging that former U.S. defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld allowed torture at U.S.-run detention centers in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
The plaintiffs, which include the French-based International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and the U.S. Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), say Rumsfeld authorized interrogation techniques that led to rights abuses.
The United States says it does not torture, though it has authorized several methods widely condemned by rights groups such as exposure to extreme temperatures and ‘waterboarding’, or simulated drowning.
“We will only stop once the American authorities involved in the torture program are brought to justice,” CCR chief Michael Ratner said in a statement posted on the FIDH Web site.
“Donald Rumsfeld must understand that he has nowhere to hide. A torturer is an enemy of humanity,” he added.
The plaintiffs argue in their filing, which was also posted on the FIDH Web site, that French courts have universal jurisdiction — allowing them to try foreigners in cases that occurred abroad — under the 1984 Convention Against Torture.
They said Rumsfeld was visiting France on Friday and called for him to be detained.
“Rumsfeld’s presence on French territory gives the French courts the authority to try him, in that he ordered and authorized torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment on detainees at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and elsewhere,” the FIDH said in its statement.
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October 27th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Looks like we have a lot of people to ship over then.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Phil:
With any luck the French courts will be busy for a very long time.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:41 am
If our system is so broken at the moment, this is a good strong signal to those who would and do impose Tyranny even under the guise of the “GWOT” – the usa does need an outside intervention from the rest of the civilized world. Perhaps the pendlum of justice and humanity will begin to swing back the other way – Hopefully the Congress will cop a clue and start doing their job ! After all thats what checks and balances are for ….PBS has been doing a good job lately with Moyers and with Frontline exposing the blantant over reaches of government. While some lawyers may try to twist the law with the Unitary Excutive Theory – sooner or later. Some people will bring the case that this theory undermines the spirit of the Law , spelled out in the Constitution. We clearly have a secret government. Let these criminals be pursued to the ends of the earth. And its no wonder at all, that the evil bushs bought property in Paraguay where they can hide from their crimes. Bet that ranch has a lot of guest rooms
October 27th, 2007 at 10:59 am
ProudP:
Congress is so freaking clueless. They can’t even remember what the Constitution is.
I saw Moyers journalist night and it was outstanding. He seems to be the only journalist hitting on the correct subjects. Moyers seems just as amazed and stunned as the rest of us that Congress is asleep at the wheel.