...for prosecutions?
Children to be raped in American custody?
The Bush Administration using torture BEFORE they even took the time to write the memos saying it was legal?
The CIA lying to Congressional members about what they were doing and when they were doing it? And now lying that they told Pelosi what they were doing?
Medical experimentation on prisoners?
These are four of the very well sourced diaries on the Recommended List at this writing.
We now know many disgusting things that the Bush Administration did in the name of America. The thought of the things we don't know is chilling.
President Obama does know of these unknowns. I want to say he doesn't care, but I don't believe that is right at all. I believe he does care. I believe deep inside he wants to go after the psychopaths that did this to us. And that is what they are. Psychopaths.
But President Obama does not want to spend the political capital necessary to bring these criminals to justice. And that saddens me.
I know the health of the economy is critical to this country. And I highly approve with how you have handled it Mr. President.
I know reforming the healthcare industry in this country is vital, and I anxiously await seeing how it is changed.
I know education, agriculture, immigration, the environment, energy, labor issues, transportation all all very important in and of themselves. And they deserve your attention and leadership.
But damn it. This isn't a piece of legislation. This isn't appropriating funds for a new school or new highway. This is a fight for the collective soul of our country. Dramatic much? No. This defines us.
It isn't just about punishing those that did this. It is about stopping it from happening again. No Mr. President, you are not going to torture prisoners. I know that. But what about the guy that sits at your desk after you?
What about the next war we fight in? Hell, what about the wars we're in now? How should American soldiers be treated when captured? What would you have said if Iran had decided to torture that poor girl they convicted of espionage?
"Should any American soldier be so base and infamous as to injure any [prisoner]. . . I do most earnestly enjoin you to bring him to such severe and exemplary punishment as the enormity of the crime may require. Should it extend to death itself, it will not be disproportional to its guilt at such a time and in such a cause... for by such conduct they bring shame, disgrace and ruin to themselves and their country." - George Washington, charge to the Northern Expeditionary Force, Sept. 14, 1775
It is not just a disgrace to our country that this happened. It is a disgrace that it is going to happen again.
The next George W. Bush will look back to 2002-2008 and say, "Well that guy got away with it. There's precedent. String that guy up, lets see what he knows!"
There will be a next George W. Bush. You are wrong to think otherwise.
This is more a rant than bringing anything new to the table. This really is one of the few areas where this is no gray area. Right or wrong. No in between. Torture is wrong. It cannot be justified. Some say it works, I disagree. I say it is short term gain for long term loss even if it does.