Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press today, Sen. Ron Wyden (D – OR) a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has promised to introduce a new bill next year which would make any future incidents of CIA torture prosecutable.
Sen. Wyden expressed concern that in CIA Director John Brennan’s Thursday defense of past torture, he left open the possibility that the CIA would do so again in the future.
The practical matter of the bill remains uncertain, however, as torture is nominally illegal already, and the Justice Department is simply choosing not to bring charges against CIA agents for engaging in it.
So long as the Justice Department remains content to look the other way, it’s not clear how any Congressional action can force a prosecution. Still, the fact that Sen. Wyden remains active in opposing torture suggests that the administration will face further embarrassment in its efforts to bury the CIA’s crimes.
Now that would be novel. Don't see it happening though.
Future is a moment in time Which is not there nor here yet, therefore, it won't effect things or matters that are not there nor happening, in the other hand, what has happened already been living a life time scares beyond repaire, therefore, for things as tortur or torturous or those whom governed it to learn they need to be prosecuted for what they have done. without prosecution the torturous and those who governed the torture will be free to do it again. What guarantee would the system or the governing system of torturous would give for people trusting them, when they know that almost everything that comes out of their mouth is a lie, what law would and needs to be changed to stop the culture of supremacy, would senate would positively vote for this bill to pass, would senate guarantee in one year time to vote yes for this bill?
Torture is nominally illegal? “Nominally illegal? How about serial killing, is it nominally illegal too? What makes a heinous crime like torture "nominally illegal"? Torture (cruel and unusual punishment) is illegal under US and international law, a law which states that those who commit such crimes "must be persecuted, must be brought to justice". What is nominal about the legality of torture laws? Who came up with this ridiculous phrase, and why?
This all sounds like that new phrase put out by supporters of torture after the Abu Ghraib pictures hit the streets, in order to water down the psychological effects on the American people that were brought about when using the term torture – it was, “enhanced interrogation”. Both terms make torture sound less evil than it really is. There is nothing whatsoever “nominal” about torture, it is totally evil, which is why it was outlawed by humanity in the first place. EVIL.
Jason, please explain why you chose to use such a word in your otherwise interesting article.
—–
Nominal Nom"i*nal, a. [L. nominalis, fr. nomen, nominis, name.
See Name.]
1. Of or pertaining to a name or names; having to do with the
literal meaning of a word; verbal; as, a nominal
definition. –Bp. Pearson.
[1913 Webster]
2. Existing in name only; not real; as, a nominal difference.
"Nominal attendance on lectures." –Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
—–
A perfect description of the force and effect of US and international law, both of which have always been enforced when convenient and forgotten when inconvenient.
Given that the perps can't travel abroad…I take it that anyone who can catch them can try them…
Perhaps the Senate should include an invitation to do so once DoJ shows it won't take the hint.
If the CIA is the only intelligence agency made subject to prosecution for torture, the programs will just be silently moved to an agency that has no such restrictions. We saw this with the "Total Information Awareness" program, years ago. Congress prohibited DARPA to continue work on it, so it was renamed and moved elsewhere, eventually re-emerging in NSA spying programs. There are at least 15 or 16 more intelligence agencies that we know of, possibly more of which we're unaware.
Under a Republican controlled Senate in the next session (when they come back from their month-long vacation) the possibility of Wyden's pipe dream ever coming up for a vote is less than nil. It will never even make it out of committee. But it sounded nice for the TV.
That's if he even gets it down on paper.
Future incidents??? Torture is already prosecutable. Now's the time for the US to stop spinning the wheels and see justice done. This idea can only be seen as damage control to protect the perps who are already guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Torture is already illegal. All this would do is provide cover for those who are already guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Probably the whole intent of it.
Gotcha!
A typical case of double standard.
Every other country would be punished.But if you are the Super-Power and the #1 nobody cares.
Who remembers the complain about the former Dictator of Nicaragua? As there came complains about the crimes against humanity the answer from the U.S. was: "Of course he is a son of a b****. But he is OUR son of a b****"". And the killings in the American backyard did go on.
Or what happened with the results from the Japanese Unit 731 who was responsible for Biological Warfare? They did kill several thousand people including captured American Bomber-pilots.The results went to the USA and the Japanese "Doctors" were NOT punished.
Torture IS illegal and has to be punished.It is a crime against humanity.
By the way,in Nuremberg Germans were punished from the Allies who did win the war with a law (crime against humanity) who didn't exist before.Should the US lose one day the status of a Super-Power there will be a lot of people who will end the same like the Germans.
Result:if you lose a war you will be punished,if you are a superpower you can do what you want.