Torture Memo Prosecutions Increasingly Unlikely

Probe May Lead to Disbarments, But No Prosecutions

Sources familiar with the latest draft of the Justice Department’s torture investigation report say that it makes no calls for the prosecution of any Bush-era officials involved, making it extremely unlikely that such prosecutions will ever see the light of day.

On the other hand the report is said to refer some of the authors of the torture policies of the Bush Administration for bar associations, which could potentially lead to disciplinary action up to and including disbarment. Those hoping for criminal proceedings to flow from the report are likely to be disappointed, however.

The torture policies of the previous administration started in 2002, and sought to produce evidence of a link between al-Qaeda and the Iraqi government to use as a pretext for war. Though it failed in that regard, the policy continued and expanded throughout both terms of President Bush. President Obama has sought to distance himself from the policy, but has pledged immunity for the interrogators and has spoken out against prosecutions for the policymakers.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.